Myanmar morning news for August 27

Myanmar attracts over 3.5 bln USD of foreign investment in 10 months
More than 3.5 billion U.S. dollars of foreign investment entered Myanmar from 224 enterprises permitted by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) as of July 31 in present fiscal year 2018-2019, according to figures released from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Monday.
— Xinhua

Supply, distribution of water in Yangon to be privatised: Mayor
The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) will invite the private sector to take over the supply and distribution of water in Yangon, Mayor U Maung Maung Soe was quoted by state media as saying.
— Myanmar Times

Powering a conflict: the Kachin Independence Organisation’s hydropower business
While Tatmadaw and Kachin Independence Army soldiers face off in a long-running conflict, a company owned by the Kachin armed group has been profiting from the sale of power to government-controlled Myitkyina and Waingmaw townships.
— Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar’s maritime trade reaches over 21.6 bln USD in FY 2018-19
Myanmar’s sea trade with foreign countries reached over 21.6 billion U.S. dollars as of Aug. 16 in present fiscal year 2018-2019, said figures from the Commerce Ministry on Monday.
— Xinhua

Illegal border imports threatening SMEs
Myanmar has exposed illegal import worth of 12.99 billion kyats (8.65 million U.S. dollars) from September 2018 to July 2019, Xinhua reported quoting the Private Sector Development Committee (PSDC).
— Mizzima

Foreign rentals crucial to property market during rainy months
Renting to foreigners is one of the few pockets of support for the local property market, which is undergoing a multiyear slowdown that began in 2015.
— Myanmar Times

Ongo digitises microfinance loan repayments
Digital payment service provider Ongo is partnering with microfinance lender Advans MFI Myanmar Co to digitise loan repayments.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar aid groups struggle to reach displaced people
Thousands of displaced people taking refuge at monasteries and churches in Myanmar need food and proper shelter as aid groups struggle to provide humanitarian assistance due to continued fighting in Shan State.
— UCA News

Expect kyat to depreciate over the next two years: Fitch
The Myanmar kyat could weaken in the coming quarters as a result of renewed trade tensions between the US and China and resistance against pressure to slash interest rates by the Federal Reserve.
— Myanmar Times

New entrepreneur’s association formed to voice concerns
Myanmar entrepreneurs now have a new platform to voice their concerns and to share knowledge and experience among members with the formation of the Myanmar Entrepreneurs Association (MEA).
— Myanmar Times

UN Report: Myanmar Military Systematically Mass Raped Rohingyas With the Intention to Commit Genocide
Myanmar’s soldiers “routinely and systematically employed rape, gang rape and other violent and forced sexual acts against women, girls, boys, men, and transgender people,” concluded a UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on the 2017 Rohingya violence, according to a report released in New York last week.
— Theswaddle

In Bangladesh refugee camps, Rohingya youth speak out
After two years languishing in camps in Bangladesh, young, educated Rohingya are finding expression through writing… and demanding a say in decisions about their future.
— Frontier Myanmar

Man who abused Myanmar maid gets longer jail term on prosecution’s appeal; his wife convicted of not paying worker’s salary
A former regional manager who assaulted his Myanmar maid – the second domestic worker he was convicted of abusing – had his jail term for the second set of charges raised from 24 months to 30 months on Monday (Aug 26) by the High Court.
— Asia One

Myanmar takes measures to ensure buildings quake resistant
Myanmar government is preparing to issue bylaws for the construction of buildings to push for quake-resistant architectures in the country, according to the Construction Ministry Monday.
— China.org

Suspected Myanmar drug courier shot dead in Chiang Mai, another arrested
A drug suspect believed to be a fighter with an ethnic group in Myanmar was killed in a shootout with Thai police and soldiers while attempting to bring drugs across the border into Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai district early Monday.
— ThaiVisa

The monk fighting a tide of hatred in Myanmar
While the world keeps its eye on Myanmar’s firebrand monk U Wirathu and his encouragement of anti-Muslim sentiment, another prominent monk is also making headlines there … for entirely the opposite reason.
— UCA News

Fashion brands rethink Myanmar position after report on military ties
Clothing brand Esprit says it will no longer source from a garment factory located in an industrial park linked to Myanmar’s military in a recent United Nations report, while other brands — including H&M and Bestseller — say they will look into the situation.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Magnitude 5.1 earthquake jolts India-Myanmar border region, tremors felt in entire Northeast
An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 struck struck India-Myanmar border region in Nagaland on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The epicentre of the earthquake was reported to be in Burma, Myanmar.
— One India

China’s Shadow Looms over Recent Attacks in Myanmar’s Shan State
Can Beijing be considered an honest broker in Myanmar’s ethnic conflicts? Military officials appear increasingly wary.
— Irrawaddy

Businesses learn hard lessons when not prepared for disaster
When Hurricane Irma hit Puerto Rico in September 2017, Carlos Melendez couldn’t contact the staffers or customers of his San Juan-based technology firm, Wovenware.
— Myanmar Times

Lawmakers press to keep Myanmar sanctions in defense bill
Top lawmakers are using Sunday’s anniversary of the forced migration of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar to encourage defense negotiators to keep new sanctions in the annual defense policy bill.
— RollCall

Myanmar Military Arrests 2 Brothers over Attack on Defense Academy
Brothers are teachers at a school in southern Shan State, but returned to their home near Pyin Oo Lwin, where the academy is located, on the day of the attack.
— Irrawaddy

Subsistence gem mining to be allowed in Mogok after new rules issued
Subsistence gem mining will be allowed in Mandalay Region’s Mogok, which produces rubies and other precious stones, after new rules are issued, said U Myo Thit, regional minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
— Myanmar Times

Four Trapped in Collapsed, Flooded Coal Mine in Central Myanmar
Rescue workers were still trying to get to the miners, who became trapped when heavy rains flooded and then collapsed a mine in Minhla Township Sunday evening.
— Irrawaddy

Promoting tourism and culture through beauty pageants
While many local beauty pageant winners seek fame and fortune overseas, through sponsorships with international companies and in the Miss World Competition itself, local Kachin organisers Ko Lamai Robin and Kyaw KyawOo have created a pageant with a difference.
— Myanmar Times

Nongpok Thong Hangba: The Revelation of Puya
In the galaxy of luminaries and parliamentarians from all over South East Asia that packed into the Conference Hall of the Pan Pacific Hotel, Yangon in early November 2017, Shri N.Biren, the Chief Minister of Manipur thundered from his podium “Unless the border between Myanmar and India opens at Tammu there will not be a deeper meaning of Act East Policy”..
— Mizzima

Wounded Myanmar Civilians Evacuated after Being Trapped for 10 Days
Villagers in Kutkai Township trapped by heavy fighting; Kutkai town now sheltering more than 2,000 IDPs amid rice shortage in rural areas, aid workers say.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar clashes between army and rebels force thousands from home
An army helicopter buzzes overhead and ambulances travel up wet empty roads in Myanmar’s northeast, ferrying aid to thousands of residents displaced by fresh clashes between rebels and the military.
— CNA

Karenni Activists Charged in Loikaw, in Myanmar’s Kayah State
The Loikaw court officially charged six Karenni youth for calling state officials traitors to Karenni culture and identity over their support for a Gen. Aung San statue.
— Irrawaddy

Caneball, an ancient east Asian sport, helps refugees from Myanmar feel at home in Australia
The ancient east Asian sport of caneball, also known as chinlone, is helping Karen refugees from Myanmar feel more at home in Australia.
— ABC

Alliance urges public’s cooperation in conflict zones
Three armed ethnic groups in the Northern Alliance issued a statement on Sunday urging the cooperation of people caught in conflict zones in northern Shan State.
— Myanmar Times

Trading places: countries that moved their capitals
Indonesia is moving its capital to Borneo island from Jakarta, a traffic-clogged megalopolis that is one of the world´s fastest-sinking cities. The relocation is set to start from 2024.
— The News

762 kg of ICE seized in Myanmar’s eastern state
Myanmar authorities seized 762 kg of ICE worth over 19 billion kyats (12.67 million U.S. dollars) in Myanmar’s Shan state, according to the commander-in-chief of Defense Services Office on Monday.
— Xinhua

BNP talking in the same vein as Myanmar: Quader
Awami League general secretary and road, transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader on Monday alleged that BNP is talking in the same vein as Myanmar on Rohingya repatriation issue.
— Newagebd

Formal Peace Talks Will Resume in Step-by-Step Process: EAOs
At the end of the five-day conference, leaders of ethnic armed organizations called for continued political negotiations and an end to current fighting.
— Irrawaddy

The Day the Burma Translation Society was Born
Seventy-two years ago today, the Burma Translation Society was formed to bring the world’s culture and literature to the Burmese public.
— Irrawaddy

Sri Lankan Navy to visits Yangon for exercises
Two ships of the Sri Lanka Navy left the country for ports in Myanmar and Bangladesh on training missions, ColomboPage reported.
— Mizzima

Feature photo Voice of America (VoA)

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, August 30.

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).

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About Myanmar morning news.

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