Myanmar morning news for May 20

World Bank under fire for Rakhine development plan in Myanmar
Rights groups are concerned that the development initiative could exacerbate divisions in the conflict-torn state.
— Aljazeera

Some 250,000 Rohingya refugees receive first ID cards: UN
The UN said Friday it has registered more than 250,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, providing many with their first ever identification cards and proof of their right to return to Myanmar in the future.
— Mizzima

170 domestic companies wind up in Myanmar
The Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) announced that a total of 170 companies had submitted voluntary winding up notices. The companies will wind up and have been removed from DICA’s register.
— Myanmar Times

More than 40,000 local and oversea jobs created in late April
Myanmar created more than 40,000 local and oversea jobs for citizens in late April, according to the Department of Labour.
— Eleven Myanmar

MRF urges the gov’t to extend helping hand to the rice sector
Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF) issued a statement yesterday, calling on the government to provide assistance such as policy, cash and market exploration as the private sector alone is unable to solve the farmers’ difficulties caused by the declining rice prices during the summer paddy harvest season.
— Eleven Myanmar

Feature: Myanmar pilot becomes national hero after safely lands plane
Now recognized as a hero in Myanmar after saving 89 lives by landing a passenger plane without the front landing gear, Myat Moe Aung, who became a pilot by chance in the first place, appreciated the flight training he received, including the part of which he undertook in China.
— Xinhua

Domestic steel demand projected to surge
According to World Steel Association’s projections, market demand for steel in Myanmar will surge to five million tonnes in 2025, said U Myint Swe, executive director of Danieli Myanmar, an Italian supplier of equipment and physical plants to the metal industry.
— Myanmar Times

Amnesty: Israel arms human rights violators UAE, Myanmar
A new report by Amnesty International has accused Israel of selling arms and intelligence equipment to serial human rights violators, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), South Sudan and Myanmar.
— Middleast Monitor

Myanmar’s Fragile Democracy Needs the US, Not China
The US and its allies must engage more directly with Myanmar, lest China’s influence derail its democratic potential.
— The Diplomat

The risks and rewards of running in Myanmar
Running competitively in Myanmar can be a rewarding experience for foreigners who don’t mind rising early and being beaten by kids in bare feet.
— Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar-EU Economic Forum to return on June 5
After the success of the previous two editions, the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham Myanmar) is proud to announce that the third Myanmar-EU Economic Forum will be held on June 5 in Nay Pyi Taw.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar: Signatories Of NCA Meet, Lofty Ideas But No Clout – Analysis
The ten signatories to the National Cease fire Agreement started a five-day meeting at Chiang Mai from May 14-18 to discuss about the agreement and how to move the peace process forward.
— Eurasia Review

Myanmar fears Chinese influence
Despite western insensitivity towards the problems Myanmar faces in dealing with well-armed separatist-oriented, ethnic insurgent groups, Aung San Suu Kyi has acted skillfully and carefully in dealing with both India and China, on problems and challenges arising from cross-border insurgencies.
— New Indian Express

The Day Independent Myanmar’s 1st Charter Began to Take Shape
On this day in 1947, less than one year before Myanmar regained independence from the British, the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) met to draft a constitution to prepare for independence.
— Irrawaddy

Govt, Tatmadaw and Northern Alliance to meet again on May 24
The government, Tatmadaw (defence services) and Northern Alliance formed with four ethnic armed organizations are going to meet for matters relating to NCA signing in the last week of this month, said the Peace Coordination Group (PCG).
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar Court Sentences 24 Indian Rebels to Two Years in Prison
A Myanmar-based rebel leader said the jailed separatists belong to the United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent, Manipur People’s Army, Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup, People’s Liberation Army, People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak.”
— News18

Myanmar man killed in head-on collision with six-wheeled truck
PHUKET: A Myanmar man has died after the his motorbike with sidecar slammed head-on into a six-wheeled truck in Thepkrasattri yesterday evening (May 18).
— The Phuket News

MPTC quits Myanmar, Laos toll road projects
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. has abandoned its plans to expand in Myanmar and Laos due to unviable markets for toll road roads.
— Manila Standard

China vital to Myanmar’s peace, progress
Amid rapidly changing Asian dynamics and news reports on claimed civilization clashes, China hosted the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) last week.
— Global Times

Top steaming apps available in Myanmar
Since the Yangon rain has already come, most people are not happy with it–most of us dislike going out when it’s raining. So if your weekend plans are ruined and there’s nothing you can do staying inside — of course, watch a film! Our interns Kyaw Soe Han and Min Pyae Sone came up with some streaming applications that you can stream movies with or download and save it for watching later!
— Myanmore

Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services honours maritime and aviation youths
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing met with maritime and aviation youths at Zeyathiri Beikman in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Speaking at the meeting, the Senior General called upon the youths to work hard to become good citizens and make all efforts to repay the.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Tax revenue hits 58.09 pc of the target
From October, 2018 to April, 2019, the Internal Revenue Department has collected a tax revenue of Ks 3601.721 billion or 58.09 per cent of the total tax revenue target, in 2018-2019 fiscal year.
— Eleven Myanmar

Deputy Information Minister inspects MoI staff housing in Nay Pyi Taw
U Aung Hla Tun, the Deputy Minister for Information, inspected the healthy and happy living conditions of Ministry of Information staff at their housing yesterday. The Deputy Minister looked around Thazin 1, Thazin 3, Thazing 6 and Thapyay 3 of Gant Gaw Housing, the directors’ residences, 1,000.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar becoming an important catalyst in US-UN, China-Russia tensions?
Much has been reported on the recent release of the two Reuters journalists in Myanmar. Whilst the focus has been on issues of press freedom, many commentators have not evaluated the international response to the release.
— Mizzima

Mango growers face hurdles posed by higher prices for inputs
Mango growers in Sagaing Region are now facing hurdles posed by an increase in prices for various inputs, such as fertilizer, insecticide and farming equipment.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Seek out ministries’ assistance to display significant developments through photography: Union Minister
Hundreds of photographers are participating in a photo contest organized by the Ministry of Information, and assisted by the Myanmar Photographer Association.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Young Buddhists conduct white rose campaign for Yangon Muslims
Young Buddhists who claim they love peace conducted a “white rose” campaign at Bahadur Zafar Shar Dargah mosque in Dagon Township, Yangon on May 17 by giving out roses to Muslims.
— Mizzima

UEHRD collaborates with international community, supported by ASEAN
Advisor to the Chairman of UEHRD committee, U Toe Aung said to media that Union Enterprise for Humanitarian Assistance, Resettlement and Development(UEHRD) project is gaining international collaboration and ASEAN countries support the work of it.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

EU and Myanmar hold their first Senior Officials’ Meeting
The first European Union-Myanmar Senior Officials’ Meeting took place in Brussels on 16 May 2019, according to a press release issued 17 May.
— Mizzima

Nay Pyi Taw observes International Museum Day
Nay Pyi Taw hosted the International Museum Day (IMD), with its global theme “Museums as Culture Hubs; the Future of Tradition” yesterday morning. Organized on 18 May each year or around this date, the objective of the International Museum Day (IMD) is to raise awareness of the fact that,
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

The Day Independent Myanmar’s 1st Charter Began to Take Shape
Seventy-two years ago today, the Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League began drafting what would become independent Myanmar’s first constitution.
— Irrawaddy

Union Minister promises housing for Rakhine IDPs before monsoon
A high level meeting on locating the internally displaced persons (IDPs) of Rakhine State in safe housing before the arrival of monsoons was held yesterday in Sittway, the state’s capital.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

I visited a nursing home for retired lumberjack elephants in Myanmar — here’s what it’s like to care for aging elephants every day
Burmese Asian elephants have been timber loggers in the country for hundreds of years. They help lug teak wood out of the dense forests that cloak roughly half of Myanmar in verdant canopies.
— Business Insider

UN specialists urge ‘monetary isolation’ of Myanmar navy
Myanmar’s military commanders should be financially “isolated” and brought to trial to face charges of war crimes and genocide against the Rohingya minority, UN investigators said Tuesday.
— Infosurhoy

China to cooperate in Rohingya repatriation: envoy
Chinese ambassador in Dhaka Zhang Zuo on Sunday reiterated that China would extend cooperation in repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingya people, who took shelter in Bangladesh, to their homeland Myanmar.
— NewAge BD

Samsung Myanmar sure of staying top
Amid stiff competition in the market as major smartphone brands vie for market share in Myanmar, South Korean giant Samsung Electronics remains confident that it will manage to maintain its leadership position this year, according to Zarni Win Htet, the head of mobile group at Samsung Myanmar.
— The Nation

Feature photo Plan Bee

This week’s morning news photo features World Bee Day, May 20.

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.