Whale skeleton to go on display: THE complete skeleton of a fin whale will be put on permanent display at Kandawgyi Park?s Freshwater Fish Garden, which will raise awareness of these big mammals and contribute to their conservation, an official from the Department of Fisheries said last week... PetroChina seeks Myanmar gas deal: A CHINESE oil company, PetroChina, signed a memorandum of understanding with the government?s Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise last month that could pave the way for the Beijing-based company to buy natural gas from the A1 block off the coast of Rakhine State, a Yangon-based energy expert told Myanmar Times last week... Bid to end illegal timber trade: THE Myanmar government is currently under negotiations with China to find ways to end the illegal extraction and trade of timber along the border between the two countries, the Minister of Forestry, Brigadier-General Thein Aung, said on January 5... Chindwin River lifeblood of upper Sagaing: WATER transportation on the Chindwin River, the second busiest inland waterway in Myanmar after the Ayeyar-waddy River, remains a vital means for people in the region to travel and transport goods... Myanmar Language Commission wins government honours: THE government conferred honours on members of the Myanmar Language Commission on Independence Day for outstanding contributions to the development of the Myanmar language... Ministry warns against abuse of drug import rules: THE Ministry of Commerce has warned pharmaceutical importers against selling drugs that are imported under the government?s free of charge (FOC) rules... MWJ A ssociation names winners of literary award: DAW Kyi Kyi Hla has been named the winner of the Dr Tin Shwe Literary Award for an English-language publication for her book A Myanmar Tapestry, which was published in 2004... Govt official encourages grassroots health research: THE Minister of Health, Dr Kyaw Myint, last week encouraged government health professionals to focus on community-based and clinical research projects, saying they can make an important contribution to achieving national development goals... Research on ancient cities to be presented: THOSE who are interested in history will have an opportunity to hear about research on ancient Myanmar cities like Dagaung, Hanlin, Vesali and Mrauk-Oo at a paper reading session to be held at the Yangon University Diamond Jubilee Hall on January 19 and 20... CNG conversions catching on: SEVENTY-TWO year-old bus operator U Tin Thein has more than half a century experience behind the wheel of Yangon buses and, after weighing up the options, has some straightforward advice for those new to the business: ?You should start with a bus that runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).”... Used cars drop off shopping list: THE used-car market was slow and prices remained largely unchanged last week from mid-December, market sources at Hanthawaddy, the biggest car-trading zone in Yangon, said... Economy tipped for brighter year ahead: With the tough times of 2003 having had a lasting impact on many business sectors, sources from a range of industries say they expect 2006 to be the last year of a tiresome transitional journey towards a rosier economic picture... Shayi, sleekly blends old and new: STANDING inside her shop on Nawady Street, draped in a traditional Myanmar cotton dress over blue jeans, Ma Sann Bawk Rar epitomises the kind of style she has come to be known for as a designer... Celebrities hold fair to raise funds for orphaned girls: MYANMAR celebrities from the film and music industries will hold a fair at the Myanmar Convention Centre on January 22 to raise money for the needy. Strand's new executive chef elbows in on male territory: SOME may think that a woman chef, especially a highly skilled one, may find it hard to work in the very male dominated kitchen of one of Yangon?s most prestigious hotels, but so far Renee Mundheuk has fit in seamlessly.