As colonial buildings crumble, modernity marks Yangon: ON the corner of Mahabandoola and Bo Aung Kyaw streets, a colonial building a lifetime old is drawing its last breath.Having been labelled a ?dangerous building” by the authorities, the two storey structure is being demolished. Men chop at its remaining walls with picks while others cart bricks out of its decaying entranceway. Inside, vestiges of its colonial character ? square columns, iron railings, rounded windows ? are crumbling away. A stairway to the ‘first floor? leads to the open air; the building is being taken out top-down, brick by brick. The structure is colonial, not traditionally Myanmar, but it is part of the motley of architectural styles ? Indian, Chinese, Anglo-classic and late Victorian, among them ? that make Yangon stand out among Southeast Asian capitals... $36m in grants to combat disease due to flow in: THE first of US$35.6 million in approved grants from the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is expected to begin flowing into Myanmar in September under a process that will see a major expansion of healthcare resources... Capital set to expand: THE Yangon municipal area is expected to cover nearly 300 square miles by 2010, show figures released by Yangon City Development Committee. The projection shows that the city will cover more than 294 square miles by 2010, an increase of nearly 30 square miles over its current size... Government urges Britain to drop stand on ASEM membership issue: THE government last week called on Britain to drop its opposition to Myanmar becoming a member of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) forum.The call was made in a government statement issued on July 19, a day after Reuters news agency reported that Britain was adamant in refusing to approve Myanmar?s membership of the 25- member grouping... Plastic bags a growing threat to environment, says official: ?Tons of polymers are used each month as a raw material for producing plastic bags in Yangon Division,” said the official with the Pollution Control and Cleaning Department of Yangon City Development Committee... Australia lends a hand to counter activities of human traffickers: The training course in basic investigation techniques, presented by two officers from the Australian Federal Police, was held at the Drug Elimination Museum in Kamaryut township from July 15 to 23... Myanmar police to attend training course in China: The state-run China Daily reported on July 5 that training was being provided to police from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam as part of efforts to expand security cooperation with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ten police officers from Cambodia completed the course in late July, becoming the first from an ASEAN member to receive training in China... BIMST-EC to hold first summit: THE first summit will be held in Bangkok this week of grouping established in 1997 to promote economic cooperation among countries in South and Southeast Asia... Public internet access centres on way: THE Myanmar Information and Communication Technology Development Corporation plans to launch a project in August aimed at increasing public access to the internet... Company mergers key to competing internationally: They agreed that Myanmar?s ability to reach international markets depends on company mergers, with the result that most will then become public companies with greater access to human and financial resources as the company grows in size... S?pore to hire Myanmar workers: ELECTRICIANS, container drivers, and mechanics are in demand from the Port of Singapore Authority, which will hire 160 Myanmar workers to start work in October... Work begins on K65b development in Ahlone township: DEMOLITION work necessary before the construction of a multi-billion kyat housing project, at the junction of Kyeemyindaing Kannar Road and Ahlone Road in Ahlone township, began on July 15, the developer said last week... Celebrity wives: the off-centre of attention: THE life of a celebrity?s wife can be exciting and privileged, but having the attention of thousands of people has drawbacks, the wives of several Myanmar celebrities told the Myanmar Times.Ma May Thu, the wife of actor Lwin Moe and Ma Khin Ei Ei Khin, the wife of singer Alex, agreed that being in the spot light has pros and cons... Hiking team makes Waso robes donation: A TEAM from Yangon University made a cash donation to the monasteries in the mountains of Mon state last week to celebrate the start of the month of Waso and the start of Buddhist lent.Offering Waso robe to monks is considered a significant way to earn merits and it was the fifth time a delegation from Yangon University had made the journey to the mountains in Beelin township in Mon state... Health official highlights the high cost of malaria: The comment by Dr Saw Lwin, a deputy director of the Central Malaria Control Unit, followed the release of Health Ministry figures showing that about 750,000 cases of the mosquito-borne disease were reported last year.