**********************************************************************
___________________________
(1) More paddy, oil palm and rubber in Taninthayi for regional sufficiency
YANGON, 8 Mar - Vice-Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Commander-in-Chief (Army) General Maung Aye met Chairman of Taninthayi Division Peace and Development Council Commander of Coastal Region Command Maj-Gen Thura Thiha Thura Sit Maung and departmental officials at the hall of the command on 7 March.
General Maung Aye said emphasis is to be laid on paddy, oil palm and rubber cultivation and there are no full cultivation acreage for various reasons though there is plenty of farmland in Taninthayi Division.
______________________________
(2) State Central Working Committee of the Sangha holds Fourth Meeting
YANGON, 8 Mar - The Fourth State Central Working Committee of the Sangha held its Fourth Meeting at Maha Pasana Cave, Kaba Aye, beginning today.
The meeting was attended by the State Ovadacariya Sayadaws, Chairman of the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee Abhidhaja Maha Rattha Guru Abhidhaja Agga Maha Saddhammajotika Bhaddanta Sobhita and member Sayadaws, members of the Central Working Committee of the Sangha, Minister for Religious Affairs Maj-Gen Sein Htwa, Director-General of Department of Religious Affairs U Arnt Maung, Director-General of Department for Promotion and Propagation of Sasana U Sann Lwin, Deputy Director-General of Department of Religious Affairs Dr Myo Myint, officials of the two departments and religious officers of states and divisions.
_________________________________
(3) Myanmar women enjoying status equal to men Role, contribution to society vital for development
YANGON, 8 Mar - A ceremony to observe the International Women's Day was held at the International Business Centre on Pyay Road this morning, attended by Secretary-1 of the State Peace and Development Council Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt.
Chairman of the Leading Committee for Observance of the International Women's Day Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Brig-Gen Pyi Sone extended greetings.
Present also were member of the State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Yangon Division Peace and Development Council Commander Maj-Gen Khin Maung Than, ministers, the chief justice, the attorney-general, the mayor, the vice-mayor, deputy ministers, the ambassador of the Republic of Philippines, resident representatives and officials of UN agencies, department heads, members of Myanmar National Working Committee for Women's Affairs, work committee and subcommittee members, representatives of non-governmental organizations and guests.
_________________________________
(4) Minister for Energy tours Bago Division
YANGON, 8 Mar - Minister for Energy Brig-Gen Lun Thi, accompanied by Managing Director of Myanma Oil and Gas Enterprise U Kyaw Nyein, Managing Director of Myanma Petrochemical Enterprise U Kyaw Shein and officials, inspected drilling at the test well No 1, Aphyuak well No 33 and 35 and No 3 Gas Control Station.
Then, minister met officials and staff at Aphyauk Oil and Gas Field and gave instructions.
The minister and party went to Aphyauk-Pyay 14" Gas Pipeline Station in Minhla Township, Bago Division, and inspected connection of Innywa-Gyobingauk gas pipeline.
Then, they arrived Pyay Taungtan Oil Field and inspected drilling the test well No 154 in the evening.
The minister and party arrived at No 3 Fertilizer Factory (Kyaw Swa) this morning, where Factory Manager U Maung Maung briefed the minister on arrangements for production of fertilizer.
Then, the minister inspected the factory and looked into the requirements.
The Minister and party inspected the gas control station at Kyaukswekyo Village, in Aunglan Township.
_____________________________________
(5) Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee presents gifts to foreign gem merchants
YANGON, 8 Mar - Myanma Gems Emporium Central Committee presented gifts to the gem merchants attending the 35th Myanma Gems Emporium at the Ministry of Mines yesterday evening.
On behalf of the Patron of the Central Committee and Minister for Mines, Chairman of the Central Committee Deputy Minister for Mines U Myint Thein presented gifts to Mr Kichiro Ichonose of Japan who attended the emporium 25 consecutive times.
Members of the Central Committee also presented gifts to Mr Cham Kwok Man of Hong Kong who attended 20 consecutive times, 10 from Hong Kong who attended 15 consecutive times and seven from Hong Kong who attended 10 times.
Secretary of the Central Committee presented gifts to the company which bought a 8,250-kilo jade at US$ 181,818.
___________________________
(6) Hussain of Pakistan champ in London-Myanmar Open
YANGON, 8 Mar - Taimur Hussain of Pakistan emerged champ with a total of 280 strokes in the four-day London-Myanmar Open today winning $ 36,337.50.
Runner-up Zhang Lianwei of China with a total of 281 won $ 25,042.50.
Ted Purdy of the United States was third with a total of 282 winning $13,950, Vivek Bhandari of India fourth with 284 winning $ 11,250, Christian Chernock of the United States and Thammanoon Sriroj of Thailand fifth each scoring 285 and winning $ 8,437.50, Brad Andrews of Australia, Carlos Espinosa of Mexico and Ed Fryatt of England sixth with 286 each and winning $ 5,797.50, Chen Liang Hsi of Taiwan, Arjun Singh of India, Charlie Wi of Korea, Greg Hanrahan of the United States and Gaurav Ghei of India seventh with 287 each and winning $ 3,910.50, P Gunasegaran of Malaysia and defending champ Boonchu Ruangkit of Thailand eighth each with 288 and winning $ 3,240, Takeshit Ohyama of Japan, Paul Foley of Australia, Namyoung Woo of Korea and Jyoti Randhaiva of India ninth each with 289 and winning $ 2,857.50, and Shaun Michael and Aaron Meeks of the United States tenth each scoring 290 and winning $ 2,598.75.
Myanmar golfers who advanced to the final-day play were Win Naing Tun with total of 291 and won $ 2,328.75, Soe Kyaw Naing and Myint Thaung each with 296 and winning $ 1,247.50, Win Aung with 300 and winning $ 163.64 and Win Zaw Oo scoring 311 and winning $ 163.64.
Among the spectators who attended the final-day play at Bagan Golf Resort were Minister for Sports Brig-Gen Sein Win, Judge Advocate-General Chairman of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd Maj-Gen Than Oo, President of Myanmar Golf Federation Brig-Gen Win Hlaing, Deputy Commander of the Central Command Brig-Gen Tin Soe, Chairman of Magway Division Peace and Development Council Col Thein Zaw and special guests.
_____________________________
(7) Excavation of fossils, ancient artifacts inspected in Budalin Township
YANGON, 8 Mar - Member of he State Peace and Development Council Chairman of Sagaing Division Peace and Development Council Commander of North-West Command Brig-Gen Soe Win and Minister for Culture U Win Sein yesterday inspected the fossils and ancient cultural artifacts excavated from the farms 200 yards south of the site presumably to be ancient town Razagyo, which is located southwest of Ywatha Village, Nyaungkan Village-tract, Budalin Township, Sagaing Division.
Deputy Director U Pauk Pauk, leader of the excavation group of Archaeology Department (Mandalay Branch), explained salient points about the site, preservation of the excavated fossils and ancient artifacts and plans for further excavation work.
The Commander and the Minister inspected the fossilized skeletons and bones, earthen pots and the brick pieces presumably the brick walls of the ancient town.
The Minister gave suggestions on systematic preservation of the archaeological finds, preparations to be made for presentation on the ancient civilization based on the information acquired from the regional people and initial excavators and continual excavation.
Minister U Win Sein, who is a member of the Secretariat of the Union Solidarity and Development Association, attended a ceremony to present an X-ray unit by ChaungU USDA to ChaungU Township People's Hospital.
_________________________________
(8) Artistes who participated in Mya Yeik Nyo Funfair honoured
YANGON, 8 Mar - A dinner to honour the artistes who participated in Mya Yeik Nyo Social Funfair was held at No 18, Inya Road at 7 pm today, attended by Minister for Information Maj-Gen Kyi Aung.
Present also were Vice-Chairman of Yangon City Development Committee Vice-Mayor Col Maung Pa, heads of departments, artistes and invited guests.
First, Minister Maj-Gen Kyi Aung extended greetings and presented K 1.6 million to Chairman of Myanmar Music Asiayon Accordion Ohn Kyaw for artistes.
On behalf of the artistes, Accordion Ohn Kyaw donated K 500,000 to Minister Maj-Gen Kyi Aung for social fund.
Then, Accordion Ohn Kyaw thanked the officials.
________________________________________