Myanmar morning news for September 28

Local fuel prices increase by over 17% in four months following dollar appreciation
Local fuel prices have increased by over 17 percent over the past four months due to dollar appreciation, according to filling stations.
— Eleven Myanmar

Telecommunications sector a bright spot for economy in 2018-19
Amid slowing demand in the economy, the Myanmar telecommunications sector is expected to be among the handful of sectors yielding opportunities for growth in the coming fiscal year.
— Myanmar Times

Rohingya crisis: New video of Myanmar military exposed
Fortify Rights today released a fresh video footage claiming it is proof that Myanmar authorities are responsible for crimes against Rohingya civilians in northern Rakhine State.
— The Daily Star (video)

U.N. sets up body to prepare Myanmar atrocity prosecution files
The U.N. Human Rights Council voted on Thursday to set up a body to prepare evidence of human rights abuses in Myanmar, including possible genocide, for any future prosecution.
— Reuters

FAO to provide technology in arid zone in mid-Myanmar
A signing ceremony for the project document of Food and Agriculture Orgazniation (FAO) support to the Global Agriculture and Food Security Programme(GAFSP) in Myanmar was held at the Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw on September 25.
— Eleven Myanmar

Flagging tourism sector pivots to Asian market
TOURISM IN Myanmar boomed after political reforms were launched in 2011, but against the backdrop of the crisis in Rakhine State, recent tourism statistics have spelled trouble for an industry currently angled towards big-spending, longer-staying tourists from Europe and North America, and have prompted a move towards the Asian market.
— Frontier Myanmar

Those responsible for Myanmar crimes could face genocide charges: U.S.
A U.S. government probe into Myanmar’s campaign against the Rohingya Muslim minority was not aimed at determining whether genocide or crimes against humanity had been committed, but those responsible could still be held accountable for those crimes, a top State Department official said on Thursday.
— Reuters

Myanmar signs Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
H.E. U Kyaw Tin, Union Minister for International Cooperation of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, attending the 73rd United Nations General Assembly, signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, at the High-Level ceremony on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, on 26 September 2018, during the United Nations Treaty Event 2018.
— Global New Light of Myanmar

KBZ Bank to finance the restoration of Yangon’s Secretariat
Myanmar’s largest private lender, Kanbawza Bank, said Thursday it would finance the entire restoration of the Secretariat, one of Myanmar’s most historically important buildings, as a mixed public and commercial development.
— Frontier Myanmar

Taunggyi demand prompts KFC to expand into Monywa, Pyay
US-based fast-food chain KFC has expanded into Bago and Sagaing regions as its operating company seeks to broaden the food and beverage footprint beyond Yangon.
— Myanmar Times

Minor quake jolts northwestern Myanmar
A 4.3-magnitude quake Thursday jolted Myanmar’s Sagaing region, said a release from the meteorology and hydrology department.
— Xinhua

UWSA denies drugs seized in Thailand produced by them
A United Wa State Army (UWSA) spokesman Nyi Ram said on his Facebook account on September 26 that news saying drugs seized in Thailand were produced by them was not true.
— BNI

Tough time for Mandalay’s iron smelting businesses
The iron smelting industry using iron scraps is facing challenges to survive, according to the business managers and owners in Mandalay.
— Myanmar Times

The EU brings relief to vulnerable communities in Myanmar’s restive states
The European Commission has announced a humanitarian aid package worth €5 million to bring emergency support to vulnerable communities living in Myanmar’s Kachin, Rakhine, and Shan states. This comes on top of the €40 million committed in May 2018 to respond to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh and Myanmar.
— Reliefweb

Myanmar does India-China balancing act in Rakhine
Myanmar has signed agreements with India for assistance in development of Rakhine state while asking China to scale down its presence in a mega dam project in the state which has seen armed clashes between government forces and Rohingya insurgents since October 2016.
— Economic Times

Vice President U Myint Swe signs book of condolences for President of Viet Nam
Vice President U Myint Swe signed the book of condolences for Socialist Republic of Viet Nam President, Politburo permanent member Mr. Tran Dai Quang at the embassy of Viet Nam in Yangon yesterday.
— Global New Light of Myanmar

Shoppers frolic In The Land of Giants in Junction City
Myanmar art enthusiasts are enjoying a unique treat in the extraordinary giant paintings entitled “In the Land of Giants” being showcased from September 24 to 30 at Art Ant Pop Up Art Gallery.
— Myanmar Times

Seminar on business and human rights held
A seminar on business and human rights was jointly held by the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC)and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Four Paws

This week’s morning news feature photo acknowledges World Rabies Day, September 28.

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.