News Watch

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 8 (December 29)

• The European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) was providing humanitarian assistance for millions of poor people throughout Burma since 1994, head of the Rangoon office, Mr Bernard Delpuech said. In health sector ECHO is providing aids for combating malaria and tuberculosis, as well as in the area of water and sanitation, protection and nutrition. (December 22 news) 

• Awareness on deforestation arises as public are given the ownership of the forestry resources, an official from FREDA said. FREDA educated local people on environmental conservation as well as growing environmental friendly mangrove plantations. (December 16 news)

• Railway project that would link Burma and India would soon be materialised, Indian Railway Ministry was quoted as saying by Indoasean news agency. Both sides have already negotiated in October for establishing rail link as part of Mekong-Ginga co-operation project. (December 16 news)  

• MBCA, established with the collaboration of the businessmen supported by UNAIDS and FHAM, is expanding its network not only with local NGOs but also with AIDS combating organisations in Asian region to help develop its work on AIDS combating. (December 14 news)      

News Watch Vol. 1, No. 7 (December 22)

• Government authority should ban birds capturing legally in Mandalay's municipal areas in order to protect those birds from extinction. (December 15 news)  

• China (Taipei)'s Union Association and Ship-owner Association will recruit 30,000 Burmese seafarers in 2006, a joint secretary of Myanmar Overseas Seafarers Association said. (December 12 news)

• As population of Pyinmana reaches threefold journal and magazine demands also become higher in the town. (December 10 news)  

• MOGE will open six more CNG filling stations in East Dagon, South Okkala, Kyitmyindaing, Mingala Taungnyunt, Thanlwin and Insein (Zaw-bwa-gyi-gone) to help facilitate the growing numbers of vehicles that operate on CNG. (December 2 news)

• The cultivation of a high yield Sinn-shweli paddy during next summer and raining seasons will be expanded to 0.1 million and 1million acres respectively. Sinn-shweli was grown in about 0.2 millions acres in 2004-05 raining reason.