Myanmar morning news for February 12, 2020

Myanmar inflation peaks at 8.8% in December 2019
Inflation in 2019 peaked at 8.81 percent in December, the highest level in 12 months, according to the latest available data released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO). In January 2019, inflation was 6.94pc.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar earns over 907 mln USD from mineral export in 4 months
Myanmar earned over 907 million U.S. dollars from mineral export in the first four months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures of the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

Is Facebook’s bias a source of concern for Myanmar’s 2020 election?
“There are plans to form a group that will monitor words being said on Facebook, to remove words that will impede or harm the election, and to delete words that can be classified as hate speech. We’ve discussed these matters with Facebook’s representatives. We have talked it over to either delete items that they found to meet this criteria and have also asked Facebook to also remove items that we submit to them.”
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar govt sets rules for contract farming
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has released rules for contract farming to boost Myanmar’s agriculture sector.
— Myanmar Times

Central bank will reduce interest rates at a suitable time: Dy Governor
The Central Bank of Myanmar is thinking about a plan to reduce interest rates and will implement it at a suitable time, said U Soe Min, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Myanmar, at the session of the Union Parliament on 10 February.
— Eleven Myanmar

Ministry to conduct demographic and health survey (2020-2021)
The Ministry of Health and Sports will conduct the demographic and health survey (2020-2021) in cooperation with the ICF.
— Eleven Myanmar

Female in close contact with confirmed coronavirus patient in Singapore under quarantine
A 29-year-old woman who shared the same room with a coronavius infected person in Singapore, is being quarantined at Waibargi Specialist Hospital in Yangon, said Dr. Tun Myint, Deputy Director-General of Yangon Region Health Department.
— Eleven Myanmar

Metro’s top picks of Yangon housing projects
The numbers of high-quality housing projects and highrise apartments have increased substantially in Yangon over the past five years.
— Myanmar Times

Legislator pushes Myanmar govt to educate children in IDP camps
A legislator from strife-torn Rakhine State urged the government to come up with a plan to educate children living in camps for people displaced by conflict (IDPs).
— Myanmar Times

Mandalay GDP estimated at K12 trillion this year
The Mandalay Region economy is expected to be worth K12 trillion in fiscal 2019-20, expanding about 9 percent compared to the year before, according to the regional government’s estimates.
— Myanmar Times

Rohingya boat capsizes in Bay of Bengal; at least 16 dead
Rescuers have recovered at least 16 bodies after an overcrowded boat carrying about 125 Rohingya refugees sank off an island in the Bay of Bengal. Authorities say some 62 people survived and a rescue operation is continuing.
— The Publics Radio

Heartbroken Myanmar worker with axe talked down from high-set billboard frame
A fellow labourer convinced a heartbroken Myanmar construction worker to safely climb down from a large billboard frame beside Thepkrasattri Rd the he had scaled while brandishing a small axe on Saturday (Feb 8).
— The Phuket News

Media threatened over protest coverage
Nationalists in Myanmar threatened the media over their coverage of a pro-military rally in Yangon, demanding that at least two outlets remove reports from their websites about hate speech against State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and the religious affairs minister, RFA reported.
— Mizzima

Illegal fishery and fishing raft operations result in human trafficking, says Dr. Aung Naing Oo
Illegal fishing industries and fishing rafts are the leading causes of human trafficking in Ye Township. Dr. Aung Naing Oo, the parliamentary representative for Chaungzone Township Constituency (1) during a presentation at the Mon State Hluttaw15th regular session held yesterday.
— BNI Online

CBM set to reduce interest rates if needed
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) may consider reducing interest rates to better align with high inflation rates should the need occur, vice governor U Soe Min said at the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on February 10.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Insurance introduces housing insurance packages
State-owned Myanmar Insurance announced that it has introduced housing insurance packages for homes bought by installment for the first time in the country.
— Myanmar Times

Nationalists decry amendment effort
Hundreds of nationalists marched through downtown Yangon to oppose amendments to the 2008 Constitution, particularly a provision that bans citizens who marry foreigners from becoming president or vice president.
— Myanmar Times

Japanese, Myanmar concert draws thousand despite virus concerns
Performances by artists from Japan and Myanmar drew an enthusiastic audience to a concert held in Yangon, despite corona virus concerns, NHK report.
— Mizzima

In Oklahoma, a Myanmar refugee community worries about Trump’s expanded travel ban
Trump’s new travel ban expansion will increase prolonged family separations for this Myanmar refugee group.
— NBC News

Myanmar Plans Emergency Coronavirus Funding, Lab Tests
Myanmar’s Health Ministry has set up an emergency fund to support the response to coronavirus and says the National Laboratory will soon be able to test for the virus.
— Irrawaddy

With Virus-Hit China ‘Closed for Business’, Myanmar Exporters Feel the Pinch
With China’s coronavirus shutdown costing Myanmar $15 million a day, experts and business owners are calling on the government to diversity the country’s trade ties.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar bamboo body seeks land on lease in Bago for bamboo, hardwood plantation
By Nyein Nyein The Myanmar Rattan and Bamboo Entrepreneurs Association has asked the government to allow it to lease 5,000 acres of land in western Bago for planting bamboo and hardwood, said U Nay Tun Min, chair of the association.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

President U Win Myint holds meeting with State/Region ethnic affairs ministers
President U Win Myint urged ethnic affairs ministers of States and Regions to make more efforts in making peace, unity and development of respective areas as he met with them at the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister U Thein Swe attends Labour Migration Stakeholders Meeting
Union Minister U Thein Swe of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population attended the Labour Migration Stakeholders Meeting, assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT – Australia), the Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the Developing International Internal Migration Governance (DIILM) and the Livelihood and Food Security Trust Fund.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Military Denies Shelling Villages in Karen State
The Myanmar military has denied accusations that it fired on Karen villages in early February, claiming it fired only on a Karen National Liberation Army Brigade 5 base.
— Irrawaddy

Yangon Pollution Hits Danger Levels Each Morning: Monitors
A team of Yangon scholars says the city enters the pollution red zone each morning, where otherwise healthy people can suffer health problems.
— Irrawaddy

Recruiters Face Ban as Myanmar Assesses Their Efforts to Aid Sailors Held in China
With 20 Myanmar sailors still in Chinese custody, the Myanmar government is considering whether to cancel the licenses of the recruitment agencies that sent them abroad.
— Irrawaddy

Message sent by President U Win Myint on the occasion of the 73rd Union Day 2020
Esteemed national brethren of the Union, Today is auspicious 73rd Union Day for the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Pyithu Hluttaw discusses measures relating to 1963 Nationalization of Business Law
The second Pyithu Hluttaw held its 6th day meeting of 15th regular session yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

State Counsellor talks with school children in Taunggyi
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the Central Committee for Development of Border Areas and National Races, visited No.1 Basic Education High School in Taunggyi Township in southern Shan State yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker attends States/Regions U-21 men’s football final
The final match and award-giving ceremony of 2020 States/Regions U-21 men’s football match was held at the Wunna Theikdi Stadium in Nay Pyi Taw, with Speaker of Amyotha Hluttaw Mahn Win Khaing Than and wife Nan Kyin Kyi in attendance yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

MIFER holds second traditional Htamane making competition
With the view to increase solidarity and harmony, friendliness and team spirit, the second ever competition of Htamane was held at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, Office Building No(1), Nay Pyi Taw on 11th February 2020.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

15 Rohingya Women, Children Dead as Fishing Trawler Sinks in Bay of Bengal
At least 15 Rohingya refugees were killed, 73 were rescued and many more were missing early Tuesday after a fishing boat capsized en route to Malaysia from Cox’s Bazar.
— Irrawaddy

Trishawmen profit from ferrying tourists around Dala
Trishawmen are pleased with the profits earned from driving tourists around Dala of late even as they face competition from the entry of motorcycles with carriers in the transportation market.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Yamaman goes to Myanmar
Japanese realtor Yamaman Co will be making its first foray overseas, with the launch of a hotel in Myanmar on February 17.
— TTG Asia

VPower, CNTIC forms JV to operate Myanmar emergency power plants
Hong Kong-listed VPower Group has set up a 50-50 joint venture with a Chinese state firm to develop three power plants in Myanmar as part of the government’s bid to stop power cuts this year.
— Myanmar Times

Amyotha Hluttaw convenes 8th day meeting
The second Amyotha Hluttaw held its 8th day meeting of 15th regular session, raising queries to the relevant ministries and discussing two bills and bylaws.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Rohingya Boy Killed as Village Hit by Artillery Shells in Western Myanmar
‘An artillery shell fell onto my cowshed… Naval vessels fired the shells,’ Rohingya villager says after attack that killed a teenage boy and left two others hurt.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo Nor Khay

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on the signing of the Panglong Agreement, February 12, 1947.

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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