US vote a ‘weapon of mass destruction?: THE government has condemned a decision by the United States Congress to widen sanctions against Myanmar, saying the move amounted to a ?weapon of mass destruction” that would create havoc among the population. Legislation approved by Congress last week imposes an import ban, freezes the government?s assets in US banks, widens a visa ban on government members and their relatives and authorises President George Bush to aid Myanmar democracy activists... Relieved seafarers return home after six torrid months in Liberia: A GROUP of 16 merchant seamen returned to Myanmar last week after a harrowing six months in the west African nation of Liberia, where their vessel was impounded and they were caught up in fighting between government forces and rebels... Myanmar, India forge closer economic ties: MYANMAR and India have signed an agreement to streamline trade and investment in the latest step by the neighbours to strengthen an increasingly important economic relationship. .. Annan urges govt to continue with reconciliation process: THE United Nations Secretary-General, Mr Kofi Annan, has called on the government to press ahead with the national reconciliation process and hold talks with the leader of the National League for Democracy, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi... Travel industry must do more to attract visitors, says minister: TRAVEL and hotel industry representatives must try hard to attract more international visitors during the coming peak season, the Minister for Hotels and Tourism, Brigadier General Thein Zaw, said last week... A novice meditator follows his breath on a journey to inner discovery: THERE were 82 yogis, and as is usually the case in religious activities in Myanmar, women exceeded men by a big margin: ... Locally-made air compressors reduce imports: LOCALLY-made air compressors are proving to be a significant import replacement, providing good... • Pearls up for auction and design quest too • Thai cadets pay visit • Bagan tower • Office, market projects aimed at promoting fisheries industry • Film festival targets young directors • International meeting discusses ways to reduce child blindness • German aid for rural project • South Koreans treat 1150 patients • World population facts and figures • K200m in renovations for world Buddhist summit • New course for budding entrepreneurs... Medical plants harvest to be tripled... WHO project has improved patient care, says senior nurse... Open source software a Myanmar first... • US firms seeking more Asean trade • Government?s retail outlets expand across the country • Market for locally-made chemicals grows as reliance on imports falls • NDC Group dividends sweeten new share offer...Thinking Aloud talks to Daw Su Su Thartun, acting regional program manager for UNIAP, the UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.