More Rohingya fleeing Myanmar after monsoon season ends, as boats set sail for Thailand and Malaysia
The recent flurry of voyages making the treacherous crossing of the Andaman Sea to seek refuge in Thailand and Malaysia is close to reaching levels last seen in 2015, which prompted the Thai authorities to crack down on human smuggling networks.
— South China Morning Post
Information minister’s allegations of bias draw ire of media groups
Journalists and media advocacy organizations on Wednesday condemned Information Minister U Pe Myint over a speech in which he championed the role of government-owned media, questioned the very possibility of editorial independence at private news outlets, and made other statements the groups said were unacceptably at odds with their ethical standards
— The Irrawaddy
Is Myanmar ready to become a regional trade and supply hub?
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently pledged to promote more than 150 quality infrastructure projects in five nations in the Mekong River subregion—Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos—under a new blueprint, the Tokyo Strategy 2018 for Mekong-Japan Cooperation, which will be effective from 2019 to 2021.
— The Irrawaddy
Too much testosterone in country’s peace negotiations, say experts
Myanmar’s peace process – described by some as “a dialogue between men with guns” – involves far too few ethnic women, and closing the gender gap would increase the chances of the talks’ success, campaigners said.
— The Myanmar Times
Lego Foundation donates $100m to aid Rohingya, Syrian kids
The Lego Foundation says it will donate $100 million to U.S. non-profit educational organization Sesame Workshop to fund projects aimed at helping young children affected by the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh and the civil war in Syria.
— The Washington Post
Ethnic Zomi group rebuked for giving ‘Hero Award’ to military chief
The Zomi Student and Youth Organization (ZSYO) is criticizing a local Zomi group in Chin State for bestowing the Chin Hero Award on the commander-in-chief of the Myanmar military on Tuesday.
— The Irrawaddy
UN calls for attention to displaced ethnic groups in Myanmar
The top UN humanitarian office has called for attention to the plight of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Myanmar’s northeastern states of Kachin and Shan, a UN spokesperson told reporters here on Monday.
— Mizzima
(India’s) President Kovind to visit Myanmar from Dec 10-14
President Ram Nath Kovind will embark on a five-day visit to Myanmar from December 10 to December 14, in an aim to boost bilateral relations between the two countries.
— The Business Standard
NHRC advises action to be taken against those who killed taxi driver
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sent a letter to the concerned ministry in relation to taking action against police personnel who beat a taxi driver to death in police custody.
— Mizzima
KNU’s demands military road construction halt in Taungoo
The KNU released a statement declaring the road as a military extension, rather than a project to serve the citizens in the area. The Karen National Union (KNU) in Taungoo District called for the Burmese Army to stop the construction of a road in the area.
— BNI
Man jailed for 60 years for killing one monk, two nuns
Yangon East District Court has sentenced a 40-year-old man to 60 years in prison for killing a monk and two nuns in East Dagon Township, Yangon Region.
— Eleven Media
Three militia members killed in Northern Shan State shootout
Three members of People’s Militia Forces (PMFs) were killed and two more were wounded after shots were fired near the Shan-China border town of Muse on Sunday. “Three armed men in civilian clothes came to shoot at the PMF’s entrance gate,” a local said.
— BNI
UMFCCI, Nepal Chamber of Commerce sign MoU on promotion of economic cooperation
The Republic of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) and Nepal Chamber of Commerce has signed a memorandum of understanding to promote economic cooperation between the two countries.
— Eleven Media
Parliament to decide on proposed €70 million loan for Yangon govt
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (bicameral legislature) will decide on Thursday whether to approve a €70 million (K127 billion/US$79.68 million) loan to the Yangon regional government from the French Development Agency.
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar loses out on forex losses as domestic debt rises
External debt over the last year has risen as a result of the higher dollar exchange rate, according to the Public Accounts Joint Committee report
— The Myanmar Times
Project bank to facilitate infrastructure development established
A Project Bank of Public Investment Programs to facilitate major project proposals from the States and Regions has been established under the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP), Minister of Planning and Finance U Soe
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar earns over US$4.7 billion from foreign trade in two months of 2018-19 FY
Trade deficit is at over US$0.5 billion in that period, according to Ministry of Commerce
— Eleven Media
Rice exports decline after China intensifies crackdown
During two months, Myanmar’s rice exports via border trade have declined by more than double due to China’s crackdown on contrabands, said Aung Than Oo, Vice-President of Myanmar Rice Federation.
— Eleven Media
Hydropower projects in Nepal and Myanmar remain uncertain
Hydropower is the foundation of the Chinese transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
— Future Directions International
Feasibility study underway to build elevated railroad in Yangon: deputy minister
Deputy Minister for Transport and Communications Kyaw Myo has said a detailed feasibility study is being conducted to build an elevated railroad in Yangon
— Eleven Media
Home-grown talent bring digital transformation to Myanmar enterprises
A GROUP of Myanmar whizz kids have set their hearts on becoming an integral part of Myanmar’s digital transformation journey by building up their own venture
— The Nation
Myanmar earns US$260m from cattle export in 12 months
Myanmar has earned 260 million US dollars from export of over 200,000 cattle since the announcement of permitting live cattle export a year ago, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Wednesday.
— Global Times
SolarHome raises US$10 million in debt financing, targets 100,000 off-grid households in Myanmar by the end of 2019
The new funds will enable SolarHome, which has already installed close to 28,000 solar home systems, to accelerate expansion across Myanmar
— AEC News Today / PR Newswire
KBZ wins Financial Times honor for sixth year running
Myanmar’s largest private bank, Kanbawza (KBZ), was named Myanmar Bank of the Year for 2018 by The Banker, a service of the Financial Times, for its leading role in the country’s financial sector by using new digital technologies
— The Irrawaddy
Ooredoo Myanmar to provide tax payment services using M-Pitesan
The M-Pitesan users can pay water tax and electricity bill and the users can transfer money also. M-Pitesan is a mobile service which can transform cash into digital money.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar Strategic to open its first international school in Yangon
Investment company Myanmar Strategic Holdings Ltd said Wednesday it will open its first international school in Yangon, Myanmar, in August 2019 after completion of a USD1.0 million development project.
— Morningstar
Sandbanks hinder transportation in upper Chindwin River
Sandbanks are hindering transportation in upper area of Mawlaik in upper Chindwin River and vessels are run aground in the river.
— Eleven Media
State Counselor urges teachers to fill remote posts
State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has urged teachers to take up teaching posts in remote, inaccessible areas of the country.
— The Irrawaddy
Census to include areas not under govt control
The 2019 Interim Census will collect population data from all parts of the country, even areas not under Myanmar government control, said U Nyi Nyi, acting director general of the Department of Population
— The Myanmar Times
Talks held on simple ways to advance national development
MRTV aired a live program on talks under the Theme — National Development through simple ways – in which Deputy Minister for Commerce U Aung Htoo, General Manager of YESC U Tin Aung, Secretary of YCDC Daw Hlaing Maw Oo, and Executive of UMFCCI U Zeya Thura Mon were the speakers.
— Ministry of Information
Authorities uncover WWII-era underground Japanese hospital in northern Myanmar
A secret underground military hospital used by the Japanese during WWII has been uncovered in Sagaing State, along Myanmar’s northwest frontier with India.
— Coconuts Yangon
Authorities plan to build a small airfield in Kokant
The plan will be submitted to the union government if the necessary information is gathered, said Deputy Minister Kyaw Myo for Transportation and Communications
— Eleven Media
Messages of welcome sound hollow in northern Rakhine State
The Myanmar government insists it is ready to receive Rohingya who want to return from camps in Bangladesh, but is it being sincere?
— Frontier Myanmar
#Hearmetoo: Women fleeing humanitarian crises also need to be heard
Two weeks ago, Malar (not her real name) went to the police station in her township on two occasions to report the domestic abuse she had been facing. The police did not take her case seriously and sent her home.
— The Irrawaddy
Corruption embedded in human society should be rooted out in systematic manner
It not only delays development of the people but it also tarnishes prestige of the State, said State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi
— Eleven Media
Exhibition in Yangon seeks to sell the idea of ‘upcycling’
Pure Gold, a design exhibition that is coming to Myanmar in December, presents the many ways that people all around the world upcycle or repurpose items in a way that creates value.
— Mizzima
The joys and perils of living in Moe Yoon Gyi Wildlife Sanctuary
Pyun Su villagers always wear a cheerful smile on their faces.
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar’s next breakout star: Punnya Sai
At the start of the year, the 19-year-old was an unheralded talent living at the edge of the world searching for a way to turn his martial arts dreams into reality.
— The Myanmar Times
Feature photo UNHCR/Roger Arnold
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day of Commemoration and Dignity of the Victims of the Crime of Genocide and of the Prevention of this Crime, December 5.
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Myanmar morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.
Myanmar morning news for December 6 added by Mark Roy on
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A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
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