Foreign banks voice renewed hope for operational licences: A SCORE of foreign bank representatives met in Yangon last week voicing their optimism for renewed activity in Myanmar and eventually attaining fully-fledged banking operational licenses...Govt step prompts positive signal from United States: RECENT events in Yangon ? and the positive international reaction to them ? seem likely to result in an increase in humanitarian aid from the United States, one of Myanmar?s most vociferous critics...UNAIDS post for Myanmar: MYANMAR has been appointed to the program coordinating board of UNAIDS, the United Nations agency established in 1996 to tackle the global HIV-AIDS epidemic... Tamarind trees at risk: Alternatives are needed to using tamarind trees to make incense because they are at risk of disappearing in Myanmar, a columnist argues... Swiss national appointed as interim officer to ILO: THE International Labour Organisation has appointed a Yangon-based expatriate as its interim liaison officer in Myanmar...Government dismisses report about plan to attack Wa group: THE government has dismissed a report by Reuters news agency that the Thai military was preparing to launch an attack on the United Wa State Army, in Shan State... Disease alert for shrimp farms: THE Department of Fisheries has issued an alert to shrimp farmers following the discovery in Ayeyarwaddy Division of a disease called ‘black gill.?...Anti-drug official holds talks in US: A SENIOR government official responsible for drug control work has ended a five-day visit to the United States for talks with the Bush Administration... Architects urge closer ties with developers: THE chairman of the Association of Myanmar Architects, Dr Hla Than, has called for closer cooperation among members of his profession and developers and engineers...Singapore-Kunming railway spur line would cost about $200m, says official: MYANMAR would need to spend about US$200 million to build a spur line which would form part of a proposed railway linking Singapore and Kunming in China, it was revealed last week...Footwear factory begins operations at Kyaukse: A FACTORY built to meet demand for competitively-priced footwear has gone into operation at Kyaukse, about 400 miles north of Yangon...Australian company wins sunflower seed contract: AN AUSTRALIAN agricultural firm has clinched a US$144,000 deal with a local company for the supply of 36 tonnes of hybrid sunflower seeds... Asean officials back draft agreement to fight terror: SENIOR officials from the 10 Asean nations have backed a draft statement calling for closer cooperation against terrorism which will be adopted at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur this week...Certificate course for pre-school instructors: THE social and psychological development of pre-school children is the focus of the first course of its kind to be offered in Myanmar...Special awards honour Red Cross volunteers: TWO young Red Cross volunteers who drowned while trying to rescue flood victims were honoured by the government and the Myanmar Red Cross Society at an event marking World Red Cross on May 8... Asean trade exhibition: THE Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry has urged Myanmar companies to take part in an Asean trade fair in Bangkok later this year... Indian business group signs deal to buy teak worth $1m: MYANMAR has agreed to sell US$1 million worth of teak to India, according to an Indian business delegation which visited Myanmar from May 10-15.