Myanmar morning news for September 21

World Bank grants Bangladesh $50 million for Rohingya refugee health services
Bangladesh has signed a $50 million grant financing agreement with the World Bank to strengthen its health services in order to respond to the needs of its population of almost a million Rohingya refugees.
— Tamil Guardian

Average inflation rate hits 5.50 pc in August
The average inflation rate in late August stood at 5.50 per cent, a slight increase compared with 5.02 per cent in late July, according to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Inflation Rate by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO).
— Eleven

Telenor Myanmar hits 75% LTE coverage
Telenor Myanmar has expanded its LTE network to cover more than 75% of the company, and has revealed it is on track to nearly match state-backed rival MPT by covering nearly 300 townships by the end of the year.
— Telecomasia.net

Ministry allocates Ks 1.5 billion for 2018-19 FY medical research
Ministry of Health and Sports has allocated Ks 1.5 billion for medical research efforts for 2018-2019 fiscal year.
— Eleven

Asean must not remain silent
OVER a year has passed since the Myanmar military, the Tatmadaw, began its August 2017 “clearance operations” targeting the Rohingya Muslim population of the country’s Rakhine state.
— The Star Online

Yangon’s new town plan expected to create about 900,000 job opportunities
The intended area for Yangon’s new town plan will cover up to 168,000 acres, and 20,000 acres of which will be used for the first phase and it is expected to create about 900,000 job opportunities, accord to the Socio-Economic Mater Plan of New Yangon Development Company.
— Consult-Myanmar

Democratic Transition in Myanmar ‘at standstill’: UN Rights Panel
Myanmar’s democratic transition has ground to a standstill as authorities seek to silence critics while allowing hate speech, particularly against Muslim Rohingya, the head of the UN human rights mission said on Tuesday.
— Thai PBS World

TPG said to seal deal to become Myanmar’s biggest tower owner
US private equity major TPG has finalized a deal to fully acquire tower operator Pan Asia Majestic Eagle, a rival to its portfolio company Apollo Towers, according to a report by the Nikkei Asian Review.
— Deal Street Asia

Rohingya crisis declared genocide, MPs unanimously agree
Thursday, members of Parliament unanimously agreed to pass a motion recognizing the treatment of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar as genocide.
— CTV News (video)

Myanmar sees imbalances in its economy as US dollar becomes strong
Trade imbalances exist due to current account deficits as imports are much higher than exports.
— Eleven

Protection of ethnic rights bill discussed
A coordination meeting for discussing the Protection of Ethnic Rights Bill was held at the Mingalarthiri Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Only if Constitution is amended can government guarantee transition to democracy
Only if much-criticized 2008 Constitution is amended step by step can the current NLD influenced government guarantee a transition to democratization process, said Union Minister Kyaw Tint Swe of the Ministry of State Counsellor Office.
— Eleven

Rakhine Parliament approves proposal for securitizing NRCs issuance to Bengalis
The Rakhine State Parliament yesterday approved proposal calling for government to scrutinize issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) to Bengalis living in Kyauknimaw village-tract, Ramree Township, Rakhine State, with ethnic Kaman status.
— Eleven

Govt bans MLM firms
The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on September 18 issued notification (46/2018) which prohibits the business of multi-level marketing (MLM) in Myanmar. The ban will take effect immediately.
— Myanmar Times

Chinese medical team provides free cataract surgery to over 120 Myanmar patients
Chinese medical team began on Thursday to provide free cataract surgery to 120 patients under “China-Myanmar Brightness Journey 2018” in Myanmar’s Yangon.
— China.org.cn

Pressure On Myanmar Over Rohingya Crisis Grows Amid UK Foreign Secretary’s Visit
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt on Thursday called for justice and accountability for Myanmar’s Rohingya while a U.S. congressman announced a hearing on the treatment of the Muslim minority group, in the latest signs of mounting pressure on Myanmar to bring to justice those responsible for the violent campaign.
— Radio Free Asia

UN chief urges Myanmar to pardon Reuters reporters
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday said he hoped that Myanmar’s government will pardon two Reuters journalists who were sentenced to seven years in jail after they reported on massacres in Rakhine state.
— France 24

U.K. Says Myanmar May Need to Be Referred to ICC over Rohingya
British Foreign Minister Jeremy Hunt said on Thursday that the international community should consider referring the treatment of Rohingya in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) unless those responsible are tried and held accountable in the country.
— The Irrawaddy

Fake alcohol kills 16 Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia
A total of 16 Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia died while three are being hospitalized as inpatients after poisoning from fake alcohol, said Chairman San Win of Kepong Free Funeral Services Society based in Malaysia.
— Eleven

NLD Urges China to Respect Local Laws, Concerns on Beijing Trip
China must respect local concerns when implementing projects in Myanmar, the vice chairman of the National League for Democracy (NLD) told his hosts during a recent goodwill visit to Beijing, according to a press release from the party.
— The Irrawaddy

Sustainable ecosystem needed for telecom boom in Myanmar
THE PROSPECTS of Myanmar experiencing a sudden boom in telecom will not be realised if the authorities failed to create a sustainable ecosystem in time, according to speakers at Myanmar Connect 2018, held on September 18-19.
— The Nation

Seven mudslide victims remain missing in Mae La Oon refugee camp
Rescue teams have not been able to find seven people who were washed away during a mudslide in Mae La Oon Karen (Kayin) refugee camp in Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand on Sunday evening, the Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) chair Saw Robert Htwe said.
— Burma News International

Permanent Representative of Myanmar to Geneva responds during Interactive Dialogue with Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar
The 39th Session of the Human Rights Council held interactive dialogue with Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar on 18 September 2018 from 0900 hours to 1200 hours at the United Nations Office at Geneva.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Two jail escapees killed, 19 returned to Hap-an prison
About half of the 41 prisoners who broke out of Hpa-an township prison in Kayin State in a daring daylight escape on Sunday have been recaptured and two of the escapees died in a shootout with police, the Ministry of Home Affairs said in a statement.
— Myanmar Times

Kayah’s timber deal undermines govt’s forestry reform: EIA
A UK-based non-profit has warned that a timber trade deal in Kayah State represents “a significant step backwards” for the government’s commitment to forestry reform and urged the authorities to revoke the agreement.
— Myanmar Times

Video ‘shows soldiers knocking down church in Wa state’
The United Wa State Army (UWSA), Myanmar’s largest ethnic armed organization, is detaining Christian clergymen for questioning and destroying “unauthorized” churches in the area under its control near the Chinese border, according to news reports this week.
— Asia Times (video)

Cox’s Bazar: Rohingya Refugees Abused & Beaten in Denial for Accepting SmatCrads
Rohingya refugees in makeshift camps of Cox’s Bazaar have been forced to accept the UNHCR smartcards by Bangladeshi authorities through beatings and abuses yesterday (19th Sept), complains several Rohingya in extremely terrifying condition.
— Rohingya Vision

Feature photo Wikimedia Commons

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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 September 21 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on September 21, 2018
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.