NEWS TOPICS: * Monsoon rain shines on local farmers: ?We are getting rain in areas of the country that usually see little rainfall, including Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing divisions,” said Dr Tun Winn, the manager of the Myanmar Rice Research Centre under MAS. ?This means the country will produce more crops this year. * US sanctions policy a failure: Daley: ?We can?t escape the conclusion that our policies have simply not moved Myanmar in the right direction nor do they have any reasonable prospect of doing so” * HIV support group arranges Waso donation: DAW San San, 45, was overwhelmed with emotion and tears filled her eyes. She said she could not express her happiness at having the unexpected opportunity to donate Waso robes to monks at a monastery in Yangon last week. * Fish farms weather storms in early July: ?Most shrimp farms are not in danger right now but we would like to be informed if high water is to be released from dams, or we would like to suggest that they do it during low tide,” * Vietnam PM plans ASEAN tour: Vietnam?s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will visit five Southeast Asian countries ? Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar and Brunei ? next month, the government said last Thursday. * Reward offered to accident witnesses: ?Anyone who informs the police when they see someone breaking traffic rules will get a reward equal to eight percent of the fine,” said an official from the committee. * Fines increase for ticketless train riders: FINES went up earlier this month for passengers who ride the trains on Yangon?s Circular Line without buying tickets. The fines are now K1000 for adults and K500 for children under the age of 10, up from the previous penalty of K100 for everyone. * FDA expansion aimed at fighting toxic products: ?The FDA currently has only 100 staff, which is not enough to carry out strict monitoring processes to ensure the safety of the 50 million people in Myanmar,” he said. ?In comparison, Thailand?s FDA has more than 1000 staff to monitor products there.” * Publisher of The Myanmar Times to launch lifestyle journal for women: ?I?m happy to announce that the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division has given us formal approval. We have a dedicated, disciplined team at MCM involved in this project, which will allow the company to train key staff in publishing management skills,” * Course fills management gap at hotels: THE Myanmar Hoteliers Association (MHA) is offering a course in middle management from July 23 to August 17 to help fill managerial gaps in Myanmar?s hotel industry. * Thingangyun to host five-day festival: A MARKET festival jointly organised by the Yangon City Development Committee and Ruby House Exhibition, Advertising and Trading Company will be held at Nga Moe Yeik market in Thingangyun township from August 3 to 7. * Teashop business on upswing in Pyinmana: TEASHOPS in Pyinmana have experienced an upsurge in business since Myanmar?s administrative capital moved to nearby Nay Pyi Taw in November 2005, local residents and businesspeople said last week. *Japan to host ASEAN Tourism Fair: ?We are now working hard on rehearsals so we can present marionette demonstrations and traditional dances at the fair,” * MRCS reveals future plans at council meeting: THE Myanmar Red Cross Society discussed plans for future trainings and other programs at its 61st Central Council Meeting held at Yangon?s University of Nursing on July 14 and 15. * Astrology design book to be published soon: ?These horoscope floral arabesques are part of Myanmar?s cultural heritage,” she said. ?They show scenes from the life of the Buddha, horoscopes of kings and queens of Myanmar and celestial maps depicting the zodiac.” * Kayah projects get aid: THE Japanese government has provided nearly US$120,000 under its grassroots grant assistance scheme for two humanitarian assistance projects in Kayah State. * Domestic autos take over Mandalay streets: JEEPS, mini-trucks and light trucks manufactured in Myanmar using high-quality imported parts are becoming an increasingly common sight on the streets of Mandalay due to their low prices. Domestic vehicle production started in Myanmar in 2000. * Japanese speech contest announced: During the contest, which will be held from 9am to 1:30pm, each participant will deliver a four- to five- minute speech, after which he or she will face two minutes of questioning by the judges on the speech topic. * GPs get training in diseases: THE Myanmar Medical Association is planning to provide training in basic health information about the country?s three main diseases ? HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria ? to general practitioners at six townships. * Students flock to low-cost home sciences schools: THE School of Home Science run by the Department of Social Welfare provides an inexpensive option for people who want to learn vocational skills such as sewing or baking, said Daw Tin Tin Aye, the principal of the school. * Locals hope for good jobs Singapore: ?Job agencies send you to a laboratory to have tests run on the blood, urine and heart for problems like hepatitis B, HIV and sexually transmitted diseases” * Ngwe Saung car service coming soon: ?Our company already has enough cars to run the service so I thought it would be a good idea even if other companies are not interested in running similar services,” * Myanmar U20s will shine at ASEAN champs, says coach: MYANMAR?S national under-20 coach, U Sann Win, said last week he was sure the team would make it to at least the semifinals of the ASEAN U20 Championships, which kicks off in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, this week...BUSINESS: * Fisheries factories divided over exclusive power plan: LESS than half of fisheries factories in Yangon want to participate in a government plan to give them exclusive power supplies that are designed to help the industry maintain production over the dry summer months when blackouts are common, according to the Myanmar Fishery Federation. * Pretty fish sales hit a bump: ?Another thing is there are few direct flights to foreign cities from our country. As ornamental fish have to be exported live, they need to be sent by direct flights in order to cut back on transport times,” * B?deshi sets sights on Myanmar gas: ?A consortium comprising private sector entrepreneurs is ready to import gas from Rakhine in Myanmar. I don?t want to wait for donors? suggestions or their money,” Syed Mahmudul Huq told bdnews24.com. * MMA expands youth training programs: THE Myanmar Medical Association is planning to offer courses later this year to provide life skills training and health education to young people at Taungoo in Bago Division and Pathein in Ayeyarwady Division. * B?desh eyes deep-sea port near Myanmar: Bangladesh has zeroed in on Sonadia Island in the Bay of Bengal to develop its first deep-sea port, which, if given the green light, will be in direct competition with a Myanmar deep-sea port planned for Maday Island in Rakhine State. * Landscapers see signs of Yangon makeover: ?When I was young, landscaping was very rare in Myanmar and most people weren?t familiar with what it entailed. But after 1989, when construction began picking up again, the YCDC (Yangon City Development Committee) helped spread the idea of landscaping through a number of parks and gardens across the city,” * Sakura office space, going up: ?We charge US$14 to $15 per square metre on a monthly basis for the ground floor to 12. ?But we will charge a little bit more for the extended 13 to 19 floors, which will be $16 to $19 per square metre,