DURING excavation work at the ancient city of Toungoo Ketumati in Toungoo Township, Bago Region, archaeologists discovered a buried turret, according to sources from the Toungoo Ketumati excavation site. 

The excavation of the ancient city of Toungoo Ketumati began in January and remains ongoing. The city walls unearthed during the process will be preserved in their original state to maintain their historical value. 

THE Buddha Pujaniya Festival at Zalun Pyidawpyan Pagoda will be held for eight days, from 7 to 14 March 2025, featuring ceremonies and festivities to honour the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, according to U Khin Maung Oo, a member of the Zalun Pyidawpyan Pagoda Board of Trustees. “The Zalun Pyidawpyan Pagoda’s Buddha Pujaniya Festival takes place from the 9th waxing day to the 1st waning day of Taboung. During the festival, we will offer whole-body gold foils and a gold ceiling to the Buddha, as well as alms and rice offerings to members of the Sangha.

Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing and his wife Daw Kyu Kyu Hla hosted a dinner in honour of the 78th Anniversary of Union Day 2025 at the square of the City Hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday evening.

THE Gaza ceasefire appeared increasingly fragile Tuesday after Hamas said US President Donald Trump’s latest warning “further complicates” the agreement with Israel, which has so far led to five hostage-prisoner swaps. 

Trump said that “all hell” would break out if Hamas failed to release all Israeli hostages by the weekend. The truce, in place since 19 January, largely halted more than 15 months of fighting in Gaza but has come under strain in recent days. 

WITH the elevated temperature, the consumption of watermelon has increased, helping the sale of watermelon expanded internally. The temperature has started rising from this month, meanwhile, watermelon trade has mounted as people buy it for eating, or reselling or making juice as watermelon is a fruit which improves hydration. 

AS its fourth international flight schedule, Myanmar Airways International said a new direct flight from Mandalay Airport to Chiang Mai was launched on 10 February. 

MAI said it is the fourth direct international flight, to provide more options for more convenient travel for passengers, after previous direct flights to Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok-Don Mueang and Novosibirsk from Mandalay. 

The Mandalay-Chiang Mai flight will run on every Monday and Friday weekly, it said. — MT/ ZS

11 February 2025

CHINA is accelerating the market-oriented re form of its renewable power pricing system in a bid to build a new power system and promote the sustainable development of renewable energy generation. 

The National Development and Reform Com mission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration (NEA) recently issued a joint notice on deepening the pricing re form for electricity generated from renewable energy.

ACCORDING to the Research and Development Division of the Department of Fisheries, a total of 35 new fish species were recorded in Indawgyi Lake, Myanmar’s largest lake — a home to over 80 species of amphibians and reptiles and more than 90 species of fish — and its surrounding creek areas in January 2025. 

ALTHOUGH the grapes from Yamethin in Mandalay Region are in low production, there are orders from all over the country, said Ko Nanda Aung, a grape wholesaler.

 “The price is good com pared to last year. Trading is not very brisk. Sales are not active due to poor road con nections and prices. This year, the yield is low, not as much as last year. The low yield means a high price. Orders are placed from all areas with road connectivity. Yangon is the largest buyer,” he said.