Brussels meet breaks ice with EU: THE Deputy Foreign Minister, U Khin Maung Win, said last Friday that Myanmar would no longer be a "hostage" in relations between the European Union and the Association of the South East Asian Nations... Health official seeks more youth education programs: YOUNG people need more education about reproductive health to ensure they do not indulge in risky behaviour, an official from the Department of Medical Research said at a medical research meeting in Yangon late last month... Blood law to save lives, says doctor: A SENIOR health official has welcomed the introduction of a law aimed at ensuring that blood products are safe. The Blood and Blood Products Law was enacted by the government on January 29...Campaign cuts hepatitis C infections: A HEALTH Ministry campaign to control the spread of hepatitis C has succeeded in achieving a sharp reduction in transmissions of the disease through blood transfusions... Luxury condos cater for new wealthy class: BUILDING work for Yangon?s tallest residential condominium is due to begin next month at a site overlooking the Hantharwaddy roundabout on Pyay Road, the developer Zaykabar Company announced last week... Negotiations begin with Thai carrier on direct Bagan, Angkor Wat flights: MYANMAR has begun negotiations aimed at launching direct flights between Bagan and Angkor Wat in Cambodia, the director general of the Directorate of Hotels and Tourism, U Khin Maung Latt, told Myanmar Times last Wednesday... Sculpting team claims world record with replica of monks? alms bowl: A TEAM of sculptors in a village near Mandalay has completed work on a huge marble replica of a Buddhist monk?s alms bowl said to be the largest of its kind in the world... FAO funds farm sector study: THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has provided US$238,000 to Myanmar for a study to assess the competitiveness of the agriculture sector, a government official said last week... Mandalay market favours local satellite dishes: SATELLITE dishes made in Mandalay have taken a big share of the market in upper Myanmar, say market sources. They said eight-foot models are the most popular... Myanmar-made brand come out tops in toothpaste survey: A SURVEY of toothpaste products in Myanmar has found that a brand produced by a Yangon company is the most effective for preventing tooth decay... Border road upgrades would increase farm sector cooperation, says official: MYANMAR has nominated road upgrade projects in its border regions as being essential for agriculture sector development in the Greater Mekong Sub-region, a government official said last week...Meeting hears of radiation safety concerns: RADIATION safety measures in Myanmar laboratories should be upgraded, experts said at the Medical Research Congress symposium in Yangon on January 27... Regional forum explores link between media, human security: THE link between the media and human security was explored at a journalists? forum in Bangkok last month...Ivanhoe to expand gold mine project: IVANHOE Mines says it is preparing to begin underground mining at its Modi Taung gold project in central Myanmar... Farm training school launches first course: A US$150,000 agricultural training school in Pyin Oo Lwin funded by a South Korean Christian organisation launched its first course last week...Pre-schools competition: NEARLY 200 children from pre-schools and day nurseries throughout Yangon Division have been taking part in a six-week series of contests organised by the Social Welfare Department to assist in their physical and mental development... Interest in growing coffee increases as prices rise on domestic, foreign markets: HIGHER prices for coffee beans on the domestic and export markets have contributed to a sharp rise in the number of potential growers attending training courses on the crop, an employee of Myanma Farms Enterprise said last week...It?s the difference that counts in thanakha products market: BODY products made from the wood of the thanakha tree are competing in a growing market in Myanmar and Asia, and the key to remain competitive appears to be the ability to be different.