Thai policy attracts criticism: THE government says Thailand?s policy of harbouring armed terrorist groups from Myanmar will have an adverse effect on the security and development of the Southeast Asian region... Japan hopes for expanded investment and trade ties: A JAPANESE businessman has predicted better economic ties between his country and Myanmar... US official warns ofnew terror threats: UNITED States Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz warned of a "gathering storm" of terrorism threatening the world as he arrived in Singapore last Friday for a regional security conference... Thai military accused of killing 3 Myanmar: THE government last week accused the military in Thailand of killing three Myanmar migrant workers and reiterated its claim that the Thai army has been supporting anti-Yangon rebel groups... Consortium unveils K30b high-rise plan: IN another sign of the improving climate in the construction sector, a Myanmar consortium has revealed plans to build a K13 billion high-rise development on a 2.64 acre site in central Yangon... Second white elephant found in Rakhine State: THE second rare white elephant to be discovered in Rakhine State in three months has been brought to Yangon... Myanmar elected to chair WHO board: MYANMAR has been chosen to chair the executive board of the World Health Organisation for the next 12 months... MT opens bureau, office in Mandalay: THE Myanmar Times opens a bureau in Mandalay this week... Ne Win?s family claims ‘bodaws? were used to help plan coup plot: FORMER president U Ne Win had attributed his recovery from illness while in a Singapore hospital to the intervention of a bodaw, or clairvoyant, who at the time was in Myanmar, a Yangon court last week... Planned pharmaceutical factory to boost output: DEMAND for medicines has pressed the establishment of a new pharmaceutical factory in Myanmar as Myanmar Pharmaceutical Factory (MPF) is now planning to double production... Local engineers acknowledged: THE first group of Myanmar engineers has been listed on the Asean Engineers? Register, enabling them to work throughout the region... Bad driving habits: ACTION is needed to ensure that motorists observe traffic regulations, says a regular columnist in Interview weekly. One example of the improper behaviour of motorists is their constant use of the horn... Donations sought to assist kidney patients: A PROMINIENT Yangon doctor has appealed to wealthy members of the community to donate money for less fortunate people suffering from kidney diseases... Lokanat sculpture for UN: MYANMAR has presented the United Nations in Geneva with a teak sculpture of a Lokanat, a mythical figure which represents peace... Schools seek more students: THE Ministry of Education has launched a program aimed at increasing enrolments at primary schools in 55 townships throughout the country... New bus terminals to ease traffic congestion: IMPLEMENTING a new bus route system aimed at easing traffic congestion in central Yangon will involve dealing with some major issues, says the head of the committee which oversees the city?s bus services... New TV relay station for Shan State: A TELEVISION relay station has been opened at a town in southern Shan State as part of a border area development program... Millions of Britains show support for Queen at Golden Jubilee celebrations: ROSTROPOVICH and Elton John playing in the gardens of Buckingham Palace, street parties across the country, pomp and parades in London: it can mean only one thing ? Britain is celebrating a royal jubilee... Lockerbie victims face $2.7b payout: REPORTS that Libya has offered to pay US$2.7 billion in compensation to the families of the victims of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing were welcomed by the British government last Wednesday... Kadhafi condemns terrorist acts: LIBYAN leader Moamer Kadhafi stressed his condemnation of international terrorism late last Wednesday at a meeting with French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin, a diplomatic source said... Umbrella sales boom as retailers welcome early rains: SALES of umbrellas are soaring with the market in its peak season following the early arrival of wet weather. In normal years, the peak season is between the third week of May and the last week of June. Thailand stands by growth forecast: THAILAND said last week it would maintain its economic growth forecast of 3.6 per cent for 2002 after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently revised its estimate up to 3.2 per cent.