9 types of passports to be issued for Myanmar citizens

The Myanmar passport board has announced that nine types of passports in different colours will be issued to Myanmar citizens.

The nine types will be: PB - Business Passport;  PT - Dependent Passport; PJ - Job Passport; PR - Religious Passport; PS - Seaman Passport; PE - Student Passport; PV - Visit Passport; PD - Diplomatic Passport and PO - Official Passport. A red passport will be issued for citizens, a blue passport for diplomats and a green passport for governmental officials.

A Myanmar citizen will be able to get a passport in 10 days at a cost of Ks25,000 ($25).

Myanmar citizens in Thailand who want to apply passports will have to come to Myanmar and can obtain passports in Yangon, Mawlamyine, Pha-An, and Dawe, it is learnt.—Kyaw Soe (Kawthaung)

Heroin worth Ks77.76 billion and weapons confiscated in Shan State (North) and Mon State

A combined team comprised of members of Tatmadaw Region Battalion,  police from the Anti-Drugs Squad Unit 21 based in Kumlong and members of Kumlong Myoma Police Station searched a motor vehicle  driven by Nyi Ryin at the Kumlong Suspension bridge on 29 October and seized 144 kilos of white heroin and 50 kilos of brown heroine. At the same time, the team searched a car driven by Leekhinephone and confiscated 154 kilo of white heroin and 150 kilos of brown heroin powder worth ks77.760 billion (local price). On the same day, a combined team comprised of police from the Aint Drug Squad Unit 38 based in Mawlamine and members of the Mon State Police Force raided a house owned by Kyi Soe in Kawpanaw village of Kyaikmaraw township.  Police found Kyi Soe together with Kyaw Ngwe and Ma Ei Ei Phyu. Police seized 344 yaba pills and Ks6.295 lakh, one AK-47 gun with 361 bullets, one .22 rifle, one M-16 rifle, two pistols, a hand grenade, 361 rounds of various ammunition and 11 magazines containing bullets. Police are  preparing to charge them with illegal possession of weapons and drug trafficking.—Myanmar Police Force

7^th Asian Senior Chess Championship Tournament opens in Mandalay

Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung delivering opening speech in the ceremony.

The opening ceremony of the 7^th Asian Seniors Chess Championship tournament, jointly organised by the Asian Chess Federation and the Myanmar Chess Federation, was held in Hazel Hall on 53rd Street in Maha Aungmyae Township in Mandalay on Friday 28 October.

Present at the ceremony were Mandalay Region Chief Minister Dr. Zaw Myint Maung, Mandalay City Mayor Dr. Ye Lwin and members of Mandalay Region Government, U Maung Maung Lwin, the president of the Myanmar Chess Federation and executive committees, judges, supervisors and players.

At the ceremony, the Mandalay Chief Minister gave an opening speech and Mr. Bharal, the vice president of the Asia Chess Federation and president of the Myanmar Chess Federation, gave words of greeting. The Mandalay Region Chief Minister and the vice president of the Asia Chess Federation exchanged gifts to mark the opening of the tournament. The event will run from 28 October to 5 November. Chess players from across Asia are participating in the tournament.—Thiha Ko Ko (Mandalay)