Yangon Heritage Preservation Project Launched
A cultural heritage preservation project for Yangon has been launched to be carried out through a financial aid of $213,169 provided by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation.
The tender-winning Yangon Heritage Trust (YHT), a non-governmental organisation to conserve historic buildings in Yangon, will undertake the implementation of the project.
There are around 600 heritage buildings in Yangon, according to the surveys conducted by the YHT. The organisation will preserve and renovate some unused state-owned buildings for public welfare after getting approval from the government. The YHT, founded by historian writer and an adviser to the President of Myanmar Thant Myint-U, aims to maintain ancient buildings amid the modernisation of Yangon.
Yangon has Asia’s largest collection of colonial-era buildings.
President Attends Funeral Procession of Late Thai King
President Htin Kyaw attended the royal funeral procession of Thai monarch King Bhumibol Adulyadej held near the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand on October 26. Myanmar President was among the international leaders who attended the five-day Buddhist ceremony that started on October 25.
It took nearly a year to prepare the cremation ceremony of the king, who passed away in October last year. Thailand set aside $90 million for the funeral, and the ceremony drew thousands of Thais who crowded in a tropical downpour for the final farewell to pay respects to their much-loved monarch.
Hotels in the old town neighborhood have been booked up weeks in advance, and a national holiday has been declared for October 26, the day of the cremation. King Bhumibol Adulyadej, also known as Rama IX of the Chakri dynasty, reigned Thailand for 70 years and 126 days. The monarch was 88 when he died.
Myanmar to Launch Own Satellite System in 2019
Myanmar has plans to launch its own satellite system in 2019 through a joint ownership arrangement. The MyanmarSat-2 system project, scheduled to be set up in June coming year, will cost the country about $155.7 million. The budget for implementing the system will be allocated in the 2018-2019 financial year, which will start on April 1 next year. Myanmar is currently using MyanmarSat-1 on lease system.
Vice President Myint Swe, chair of the steering committee to set up own satellite system, called on the ministries which are currently working for MyanmarSat-1 using the foreign satellite to hire Myanmar Sat-2 after their contracts with foreign firms expire.
