Myanmar morning news for July 2

First commercial solar power plant launched in Myanmar
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi last week launched the first phase of Myanmar’s first commercial solar-power plant in Minbu, Magwe Region, adding 40MW of power to the national grid.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to Send Envoys to Rohingya Camps in Bangladesh
Myanmar is sending a high-level delegation soon to camps in Bangladesh to attempt to convince hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims they can return home, Myanmar’s U.N. ambassador said Monday.
— The Globe post

A Digital Nation for the Stateless Rohingya?
A team of Rohingya Muslims is using blockchain technology to forge digital identities for the persecuted minority’s diaspora.
— The Diplomat

UN Views Myanmar 2020 Election As Opportunity To Ease Rohingya Crisis – Special Envoy
The United Nations views Myanmar’s 2020 general election campaign as an chance for peaceful reconciliation between ethnic Rohingya and government forces, provided fighting eases between government troops and the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army (AA), UN Special Envoy Christine Schraner-Burgener said in a speech to the General Assembly on Monday.
— Urdupoint

Telenor Myanmar inaugurates head office in Yangon
Telenor Myanmar has opened its new head-office in Yangon. At the inauguration ceremony, a collaborative dance performance from Project K and Telenor employees illustrated how Telenor’s new office is set up to create a collaborative workplace for employees, the company said.
— Telecompaper

Ministry of Border Affairs conducts capacity building course for development projects
An opening ceremony of border area development project capacity building course was held at Ministry of Border Affairs Assembly Hall yesterday morning. In his speech at the opening ceremony Union Minister Lt-Gen Ye Aung said the aims of the course were from skillfully conducting surveys to implementing the projects, approach.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Work on foundation of Yangon-Dala bridge begins
Drilling work for installing bored piles on the Dala side of the Yangon-Dala bridge across the Yangon River was started on 28 June. The bridge is expected to be completed by December, 2022, according to the Bridge Department under the Ministry of Construction.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Hasina to China: Push Myanmar to accept Rohingya
PM will warn that leaving refugees in Bangladesh camps makes them easy targets for Islamist radical recruiters
— Asia times

Karen refugees return to Myanmar
A total of 151 Karen refugees from 39 families were returned voluntarily to Myanmar from their camp in Umphang district of Tak on Monday morning.
— Bangkok Post

Union Minister U Thant Sin Maung receives KOICA representative Ms Lee Youn Soo
Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung received Chief Representative of Korea International Cooperation Agency Myanmar Office Ms Lee Youn Soo and party at the ministry office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Kargo cuts out middleman to simplify goods transport
Kargo, a Yangon-based start-up founded by Australian Alexander Wicks in September 2016, is out to simplify a fragmented transport and logistics market and an opaque pricing structure for transporting goods in Myanmar.
— Myanmar Times

Meiktila mountaineering team ascends 6020ft high Elephant Mountain
An 80-member mountaineering team from Meiktila successfully reached the peak of the 6020 feet high Elephant Mountain on 30 June. The team started their climb from Myindike Village at 5 am, and reached the mountain’s peak at 11 am.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar: Current Developments – Analysis
The unilateral cease fire ordered by the Army ends Sunday and there is as yet no sign whether the ceasefire will be further extended by the Army.
— Eurasiareview

Sagaing improves value chains of climate friendly agribusinesses
A project to improve value chains in the climate friendly agribusiness sector was inaugurated yesterday in Sagaing Region. “The project aims to improve infrastructure in the climate friendly agribusiness value chain.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

EIA exposed – the campaign against Myanmar’s teak trade accused of making false allegations against innocent timber trader
A London-based campaign group which achieved international headlines by alleging massive corruption in Myanmar’s timber industry now stands accused of getting its facts wrong.
— Eleven Myanmar

More Clashes Between AA, Myanmar Military in N. Rakhine, S. Chin
Rathedaung, Kyauktaw, Minbya and Paletwa see fighting; Tatmadaw denies AA’s claim to have killed scores of soldiers as baseless.
— Irrawaddy

Veterinary University students visit ancient Bagan
Fifth year students from the University of Veterinary Science started their Bagan-NyaungU excursion yesterday, said its Deputy Rector Dr Saw Po Po. The excursion group first arrived at Bagan-NyaungU cultural heritage zone in the morning and visited prominent pagodas there.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Aid denied to Myanmar displaced
An armed policeman stands in front of a house with a sign reading ‘Will take part in census only with the name Rohingya’ at the Thel Chaung Muslim majority village during a census taking near Sittwe, Rakhine State, western Myanmar, April 1, 2014. (Photo by EPA/LYNN BO BO)
— La croix

57 more cyclone shelters under construction in Myanmar’s southern region
A total of 57 more cyclone shelters are being built in Myanmar’s Ayeyawaddy region in the event of natural disasters, the region’s department of disaster management said on Monday.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar seizes stimulant drugs in two states
Myanmar security forces have seized stimulant drugs separately in Maungtaw, western Rakhine state, and Muse, northeastern Shan state, according to local police force Monday.
— Xinhua

Alternative education programme students receive financial rewards for passing 2019 matriculation exams
The Department of Alternative Education held a graduation ceremony for participants primary-level alternative education trainer course of Yangon education zone at B.E.H.S. 1 Kamayut on Sunday. Firstly, course leader U Aung Soe commented on the course.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Digital literacy training for Yangon teachers
Just over 10 years-ago Myanmar had some of the lowest rates of mobile phone ownership in the world. This was not surprising, given that a mobile phone license could cost the average person US$20000. The country was quite disconnected, in terms of media and technology usage.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar university delegation joins football festival in France
A student from Hpa-an University left Yangon on Saturday for Lyon, France, to join the Streetfootballworld Festival 2019 on July 2, according to a statement from French embassy in Yangon. The head of the delegation Thaint Myat Noe is a youth leader for “Football for Good” sport for social change programme called Football United, a joint initiative by the Myanmar Red Cross Society and Australia’s University of New South Wales, operating since 2013.
— Myanmar Times

FMI Posts Record Profits for FY 2019
First Myanmar Investment Co. saw a 36-percent rise in gross profits over last fiscal year, while expenditures of 14.4 billion kyats held net profits back by 41.7 percent.
— Irrawaddy

Children’s rights law to be enacted soon, despite USDP’s opposition
A children’s rights law will soon be enacted despite some of its provisions coming in for criticism and opposition.
— Myanmar Times

NDAA Chief Vows ‘Eternal Peace’ at 30th Anniversary Event
State Counselor urges Mong La group to join NCA as it commemorates three decades since its formation and the signing of a truce with the government.
— Irrawaddy

Union Govt Rehashes Kayah State Playbook in Mon State Dispute
Refusing to learn the lessons of past mistakes, the NLD’s backing of Gen. Aung San statues in ethnic states will hurt them in 2020 elections.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s federal union dream fades as peace talks falter
MYANMAR’S hopes of becoming a federal union are fading amid the ongoing struggle to build trust with ethnic armed organisations (EAOs), stakeholders in the nation’s peace process say.
— The Nation

Military Extends Ceasefire by 2 Months, Rakhine Still Excluded
The military says the move aims to foster constructive peace talks with ethnic armed groups that have not yet signed the NCA.
— Irrawaddy

Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief’s Office urges effective peace building works during ceasefire period
Tatmadaw Commander-in-Chief’s Office issued an appeal yesterday to conduct effective peace building works during the ceasefire period. The appeal issued stated that any organization or person should demand their wishes according to democratic methods when establishing a modern developed democratic nation desired by the entire.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

How Myanmar is smuggling gold into India
When militant outfits in the northeast started laying down arms five-six years ago, the parallel economy that depended on them took a hit. Arms smuggling had been big across the India-Myanmar border. The routes were in place. So were the networks of carriers. All that was needed was a new product. So a switch was made – from AK-47s to gold.
— Economic Times

Animals seen at Zoological Gardens in Yangon, Myanmar
A star tortoise is seen at Zoological Gardens in Yangon, Myanmar, July 1, 2019. Mandalay, Sagaing and Magwe regions in central Myanmar are the habitats of endangered Burmese Star Tortoise. It has star-shaped patterns on domed carapace.
— Xinhua

Union Minister Dr Than Myint receives Thailand Ambassador
Union Minister for Commerce Dr Than Myint received Thailand Ambassador Mrs Suphatra Srimaitreephithak and party at his ministry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Hong Kong Braces for Annual Handover Rally as Fresh Protests Erupt
Organizers of recent protests are confident that anger over the government’s failure to withdraw an extradition bill will boost numbers at Monday’s rally.
— Irrawaddy

Weight Loss Explained
Weight Loss Explained If you aren’t losing weight, there’s a rather high possibility that you’re not in a calorie deficit. At the start of your weight-loss process, you might find it beneficial to share your goals with friends and family who may be prepared to assist. A lot of people don’t exercise since …
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Peace Commission and Northern Alliance Hold Positive Peace Talks
At the meeting, the government’s Peace Commission shared the negotiated version of the Northern Alliance’s ceasefire agreement proposal.
— Irrawaddy

The Insider Secrets for Hello World
The Insider Secrets for Hello World You will carry on to let it operate since you stop by this next report. Nothing might have assisted them longer. Yes, in the event that you should be doing Math. If you should be capable of going into the candidate name in the writing box and vote and …
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar begins repatriating 4th batch of migrant workers from Thailand
The fourth batch of Myanmar migrant workers returning from Thailand on their own volition are being scrutinized and welcomed at the border gates from 1 to 3 July.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Nearly Half a Million People Urge Indian Government to Declare a ‘Climate Emergency’
Two signature petitions have seen over 450,000 Indians calling for their government to take climate change at home more seriously.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo Hkun Lat

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focuses on plastic waste throughout Asean.

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.