Myanmar morning news for July 25

Satellite images show Myanmar’s ‘minimal preparations’ for Rohingya return: think-tank
Myanmar has made “minimal” preparations for the return of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslim refugees sheltering in neighboring Bangladesh, according to an Australian think-tank, despite the country saying it is ready to start repatriation.
— Reuters

Myanmar to pick deep-sea port location next year
The location for Myanmar’s first deep-sea port will be decided next year, according to a senior government official.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar invites foreign investment in microfinance
In response to growing investors’ interest in Myanmar’s finance sector amid on-going market liberalisation, key players in the microfinance industry gathered on Tuesday at an event in Yangon, the nation’s hub of commerce.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar says plans to build villages on empty plots of land in parts of northern Rakhine
Myanmar said it has plans to build “better villages and include religious buildings, schools, clinics and other public infrastructure” on empty plots of land in parts of northern Rakhine, where Rohingyas’ homes used to be.
— Channel NewsAsia

AA/ULA welcomes Chinese investment in Rakhine
The Arakan Army (AA)/United League of Arakan (ULA), has said it welcomes foreign investors, including Chinese investment in large-scale infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in western Myanmar’s underdeveloped Rakhine state, where it is fighting the national military for greater autonomy and self-determination, RFA reported.
— Mizzima

Resettlement programmes discussed for displaced persons in Kachin State
Dr Win Myat Aye, the Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, attended the discussion yesterday morning between the government bodies and the Kachin Humanitarian Concern Committee to collaborate in resettlement programmes for the displaced persons in Kachin State.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Peninsula Hotel Shareholder Eyes $1.6-Billion Project in Rakhine
State govt has yet to release details of the project, which would be developed jointly by Singapore’s Huacheng and a Chinese firm.
— Irrawaddy

US Ban on Generals an Act of Bullying against Whole Country, Military Says
Spokesman says Washington’s sanctions against military leaders insult not just the Tatmadaw, but all Myanmar people.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar exports 5 million tonnes of crude to China
China imported 5 million tonnes of crude oil via the China-Myanmar oil and gas pipeline in the first half (H1), up 2.7 percent year on year, hellenicshippingnews.com reported quoting Kunming Customs in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
— Mizzima

Microfinance growth expected to drive higher financial inclusion
Under the Myanmar Financial Inclusion Roadmap for 2019 to 2023, authorities are working with the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) to raise the percentage of the population covered by the financial sector to 60 percent from 48pc currently, said Willian Naing, national officer at the UNCDF, during the Microfinance Success Asia event in Yangon on Tuesday.
— Myanmar Times

EITI applied in forestry sector for the first time
Myanmar’s forestry sector was included in the Myanmar Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MEITI) report for the first time this year. Myanmar is the second country to have its forestry sector included in the EITI.
— Myanmar Times

New study raises fresh concern over Rohingya repatriation plans
A new study by researchers in Australia challenges claims that conditions are in place in Rakhine State to support a safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingya refugees from Bangladesh.
— Frontier Myanmar

Banks need to be more transparent on fraud
Banks should report fraud cases involving their staff in a more transparent manner in order for them to maintain the public’s confidence in their ability to keep money safe.
— Myanmar Times

Mother in Myanmar girl rape case says wrong man charged
The mother of a toddler raped at her nursery school in Myanmar told a court Wednesday that she believes the man charged with the crime is not the perpetrator.
— Bangkok Post

Myanmar to compete in SEA Amateur Golf Team Championship
Myanmar will compete in the Southeast Asian Amateur Golf Team Championship at Heron Lake Golf Course and Resort in Hanoi, Vietnam on July 24 – 27.
— Myanmar Times

Tatmadaw will only ask for necessary amount of budget: Secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team
Tatmadaw will only ask for necessary amount of budget for salary and rations and is working to reduce the country’s defence budget amongst others, said Brig-Gen Zaw Min Tun, Secretary of Tatmadaw True News Information Team, at a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw on July 23.
— Eleven Myanmar

Workshop held on forest conservation
Myanmar has hosted a workshop on teaching skills and information for carrying out community-based forest conservation in regions with different agricultural systems, Xinhua reported.
— Mizzima

Judges to undergo media relations training
A plan is under way to conduct proficiency courses on media relations for judges and extend the international information program at the courts, said Yangon Region High Court Chief Judge Hla Aye.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar seventh in Asean School Games ranking
Myanmar emerged seventh in the Asean School Games medal tally at the end of the games which took place from July 17 to 23 in Central Java’s Semarang in Indonesia.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s president urges people to promote cultural heritage to world
Myanmar President U Win Myint has urged people in the country to strive for promoting Myanmar’s cultural heritage to the world and elevate the dignity of the country.
— Xinhua

Sittwe court penalizes eight people for collecting money for refugees
Eight members of an activist group, Arakan Alin Dagar, were found guilty and fined by Sittwe township court on July 22 for disobeying a civil servant, after they collected donations for Arakan refugees without a permit.
— BNI Online

Investigative Report on Librarian’s Suicide Coming Next Month: MNHRC
A month ago, Myanmar’s human rights commission said its investigation of Ko Kyaw Zin Win’s suicide over homophobic bullying would take one week; activists demand results.
— Irrawaddy

MoE organizes disability-inclusive education seminar in Nay Pyi Taw
The Seminar on Inclusive Education – Inclusion for Children with Disabilities was held at Mingalar Thiri Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Union Minister for Education, Dr Myo Thein Gyi, first delivered a speech.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Unexploded grenade found near Myanmar ruling party office
Police in Myanmar’s biggest city said an unexploded grenade was discovered next to a township office of the ruling National League for Democracy party.
— Bangkok Post

Office of Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy, Air) holds second monsoon tree planting ceremony
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief (Army, Navy, Air Force) held the second monsoon tree planting ceremony near Yezin Dam in Zeyathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Grenade Found Outside NLD Office in Yangon’s Thingangyun Township
Incident follows bomb scare at party lawmakers’ living quarters in Naypyitaw, and comes amid tension over govt’s charter-amendment push.
— Irrawaddy

Anti-grave violations committee discusses draft action plan for implementation
The Committee for Preventing Violence against Children in Armed Conflicts held its second coordination meeting at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

NLD among four parties seeking new national flag
In an unexpected move, the National League for Democracy has called for the adoption of a new national flag among the 114 amendments it has proposed to the military-drafted 2008 Constitution.
— Frontier Myanmar

Corruption Prevention Unit technical workshop 2/2019 held in Nay Pyi Taw
Anti-Corruption Commission, UNDP and UNODC held Corruption Prevention Unit technical workshop 2/2019 collaboratively at Park Royal Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Survey shows insurance market has potential to grow
A survey on insurance showed that the Myanmar insurance industry has potential to grow to K1.75 trillion in the next 12 months and grow to a K4 trillion market in 10 years.
— Myanmar Times

Over 9,000 households evacuated from flood-hit areas
The water level in the Ayeyawady River is rising due to the continuous heavy rainfall, forcing flood victims from more than 9,400 households in eight regions and states, where they are being evacuated to flood shelters, according to Disaster Management Department headquartered in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

At Least 7 Dead, Dozens Missing in Magwe Land Dispute
Two people died in a clash and over disputed land on an Irrawaddy River island; five villagers later drowned as their boat overturned and 36 are still missing.
— Irrawaddy

Hluttaw Offices hold 2019 Monsoon Tree Planting Event
The Hluttaw Offices held a monsoon tree planting event for 2019 in the Hluttaw compound in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister U Kyaw Tin delivers a statement at Ministerial Meeting of Coordination Bureau of Non-Aligned Movement held in Caracas
Union Minister for International Cooperation U Kyaw Tin participated at the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordination Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) held in Caracas, Venezuela from 20 to 21 July 2019 and delivered a statement in the debate under the theme “Promotion and Consolidation of Peace through Respect for International Law”.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Britain is Still Being Beastly to its Former Colony Myanmar
As Boris Johnson prepares to take over as Britain’s next prime minister, we revisit this 2017 commentary on a classic Johnson gaffe, made during the then foreign minister’s visit to Yangon.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo Jacob Clere

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on air quality 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.