Facebook among firms named on Myanmar human rights ‘dirty list’
Facebook is among a number of companies from the US, UK, France, Switzerland and China named on a “dirty list” of corporations accused of involvement in human rights and environmental violations in Myanmar, or of doing business with the country’s military, which is accused of genocide.
— The Guardian
One year on, families of Reuters journalists hope for release
“We went to the market on the evening of December 12 to prepare for the next day’s lunch,” said Ma Pan Ei Mon, the wife of jailed Reuters journalist Ko Wa Lone. The memory of their time together a year ago is one that Pan Ei Mon cherishes.
— Frontier Myanmar
India to expand gas pipeline network into Bangladesh and Myanmar
The Indian central government will initially spend Rs 700 billion (70,000 crore) to spread gas pipelines across the country.
— Energy Infra Post
Denmark confirms the commitment of 80 million USD in Development Cooperation
Myanmar and Denmark have concluded their annual bilateral government-to-government talks on development cooperation in Nay Pyi Taw. Denmark used the opportunity to confirm the commitment of DKK 505 million (about 80 million USD) for continuing cooperation in the three focal areas of peace, rule of law and human rights; fisheries, climate change and SME support; and basic education.
— Mizzima
Business confidence in Myanmar sinks as scepticism mounts
More European businesses say they have lost confidence in Myanmar due to concerns about the National League for Democracy-led government’s management of the economy compared to the last two years, a new survey shows.
— The Myanmar Times
Twitter CEO responds to Myanmar criticism: ‘I need to learn more’
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has admitted he needs to learn more about Myanmar after coming under fire for his recent comments about the country.
— CNN
From Myanmar jail, Wa Lone pens children’s book on exposing truth
Jay Jay the Journalist was written in prison by Wa Lone, one of two Reuters reporters arrested in Myanmar a year ago.
— Al Jazeera
Commission Invites Victims of Violence in Rakhine State to Submit Evidence
he commission formed by the Myanmar government with the purpose of investigating allegations of human rights violations against the Rohingya community in Rakhine State said that they welcome victims of the alleged abuses to submit their evidence to them.
— The Irrawaddy
Myanmar and India strengthen ties in key state visit
Myanmar and India inked science and tech deals during President Mr Shri Ram Nath Kovind’s state visit on Tuesday as Delhi also pledged to train judges and build houses in crisis-hit Rakhine State.
— Frontier Myanmar
Enquiry panel on Rakhine holds closed-door meeting
Members of Myanmar’s independent panel investigating the alleged human rights abuses in northern Rakhine began a four-day closed-door meeting yesterday to evaluate information that the panel has gathered despite questions from international human rights organisations about its independence.
— The Myanmar Times
Marise Payne urged to ‘step up’ at Aung San Suu Kyi meeting in Myanmar
Amnesty International Australia has called on Australia’s foreign affairs minister to act on the Rohingya crisis, as she visits Myanmar this week.
— SBS
‘Thumbs up’ pics for Myanmar Reuters reporters as they mark year in jail
Messages of solidarity pour in from around the world on the first anniversary of the arrest of two Myanmar Reuters journalists who exposed a massacre of Rohingya Muslims
— Rappler
In Aung San Suu Kyi’s Myanmar, free press hopes wither
A year since the arrest of Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, media battle official distrust, repressive laws.
— Al Jazeera
Shan armed group kills at least four ethnic Pa-O in shooting
The Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) shot dead at least four ethnic Pa-O in southern Shan State on Tuesday in what the armed group said was self-defense.
— The Irrawaddy
Rights group welcomes EU’s Myanmar decision
The Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN) welcomed on Wednesday the European Council’s recent decision to adopt additional sanctions against Myanmar’s senior military and border guard officials for alleged human rights violations.
— Anadolu Agency
Heritage regions bill submitted ahead of UNESCO deadline
The Religious Affairs and Culture Ministry yesterday submitted to the Upper House (Amyotha Hluttaw) a new draft law for the protection and preservation of cultural heritage regions, which is a UNESCO requirement for Bagan to be included in the list of world heritage sites.
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar on US list of worst religious freedom violators
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called out Myanmar for severe violations of religious freedoms over its treatment of religious and ethnic communities in a statement on Tuesday.
— The Irrawaddy
Yadanabon Cyber City Students Union meets tegion government over murder
Students from Technology University (Yadanabon Cyber City) met Mandalay Region government on December 11, 2018, at the regional government office to discuss the murder of a student from the university.
— Mizzima
Min Ko Naing says it is important to detect stubborn points in peace process
Min Ko Naing from 88-Generation Peace and Open Society said that the peace process needed to be monitored continuously to find out who was stubborn and in which points.
— Mizzima
Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups voice support for gov’t peace efforts
Myanmar’s Northern Alliance Ethnic Forces, comprising three ethnic groups, on Wednesday voiced support for the government’s efforts for national reconciliation and nationwide peace, according to a joint statement of the forces.
— United News of India
Kachins protest jailing of peace activists convicted of defaming Myanmar military
About 6,000 residents of Myitkyina, capital of northern Myanmar’s Kachin state, staged a protest on Tuesday over the jailing of three prominent youth activists who helped organize peaceful demonstrations earlier this year, demanding their immediate release, those who took part in the event said.
— Radio Free Asia
Activists demand release of two Reuters reporters on anniversary of arrests
Freedom of expression activists and civil society organizations on Wednesday called for the unconditional release of two local Reuters journalists who were arrested by the government one year ago Wednesday.
— The Irrawaddy
AHRC: Seeking applications for parliaments and people in Myanmar and Ethiopia
The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) is seeking applications for its Parliaments and People programme with an aims to create opportunities for scholars and artists in Myanmar and Ethiopia to undertake research that helps scrutinise, understand, communicate and support the processes and relationships required to deepen democracy in those countries.
— Funds for NGOs
Myanmar moves to implement child labour eradication program
Myanmar is taking steps to implement its child labour eradication program as part of efforts to secure a better future for the children in the country, which has 1.1 million children below 18 years of age engaged in labour and more than 600,000 children working in vulnerable situations.
— Global New Light of Myanmar
Myanmar seizes stimulant tablets in western state
Myanmar authorities have seized 292,500 stimulant tablets worth of 585 million kyats (377,419 U.S. dollars) in Rakhine state, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Wednesday.
— china.org.cn
Mandalay govt to make regional laws more responsive
Authorities are looking into amending Mandalay’s City Development Law to make it more responsive to the needs of the people.
— The Myanmar Times
Credit bureau to be up and running within next 12 months
Myanmar will start collecting and providing credit data after a new credit bureau opens in the next 9-12 months, after which banks will be in a better position to offer loans to a larger volume of businesses, said U Zaw Lin Aung, chair of Myanmar Credit Bureau Ltd.
— The Myanmar Times
Mining applications flow in, but few are complete
Over 1000 applications have been received for mining blocks since July, according to U Min Min Oo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation … However, only 193 of all the applications received are complete, he said.
— The Myanmar Times
Kovind launches mobile app for farmers in Myanmar
President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday launched a mobile app for farmers in Myanmar and dedicated a centre to promote agricultural research and education to the people here.
—Times of India
Telenor completes NB-IoT trials in Myanmar
Telenor Myanmar worked with Ericsson to conduct NB-IoT trials on its LTE network in the city of Mandalay, claiming to be the first in the country to test IoT networks.
— Mobile World Live
Myanmar, Thai universities to cooperate in education sector
Universities of Myanmar and Thailand have vowed to cooperate in education sector following a Thai delegation’s recent visit to a Myanmar university in Myeik, Myanmar’s southern Taninthayi region, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Sunday.
— Myanmar Business Today
Visa launches financial education website for Myanmar people
The Financial Education for Sustainable Growth Study conducted in August 2017 surveyed 1,044, people across Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi, Pathein and Magway. The study exposes a need for financial education among Myanmar people.
— Myanmar Business Today
Only 3 out of over 800 islands remain for pearl farming
Out of over 800 islands in the Myeik archipelago, there are only three islands left for pearl farming, according to U Myint Thu, General Manager of Myanmar Pearl Enterprise under the Ministry of Resource and Environmental Conservation.
— Myanmar Business Today
Myanmar Distillery Co. launches the first international scotch whisky bottled in Myanmar
MacArthur’s Blended Scotch Whisky will be the first in a new range of products to be introduced into the Myanmar market for its consumers.
— Myanmar Business Today
Inle-based tourism victorious at Responsible Tourism Awards night
The awarding ceremony of the second Myanmar Responsible Tourism Awards was held at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon on Tuesday evening.
— The Irrawaddy
Government relaxes visa rules for Indian travellers
India citizens can now apply for visas on arrival (VOA) at the country’s three international airports in Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw starting from this month, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population said.
— The Myanmar Times
Best Western marks time in Myanmar
The owner of a hotel on Myanmar’s Inle Lake has dropped the Best Western brand reverting to the hotel’s original identity ‘Thousand Island Hotel’.
— TTR Weekly
Myeik Archipelago: A Special Place in the World
White sandy beaches, sunsets that take your breath away, and emerald-green waters surrounding an endless stream of lonely islands are only a part of what makes the Myeik Archipelago a special place.
— Myanmar Business Today
Capturing the essence of Myanmar through camera lenses
The title of the Burmese Days photo exhibition is evocative of George Orwell, but the event had little to do with the renowned British novelist.
— The Myanmar Times
Musings on a literary journey
Among the Myanmar writers who have grasped the elegance of the written words is essayist Maung Yint Mar (Kyaung Kone). He is the latest winner of the National Literary Award for Essays announced late last month.
— The Myanmar Times
Myanmar stands a chance in football, grabs more golds in wushu
Myanmar beat Singapore 2-1 while Thailand won over Malaysia 3-1 in men’s football tournament of the ASEAN University Games in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on December 10.
— The Myanmar Times
Feature photo Oriental Review.org.
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges Human Rights Day December 10.
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.
Myanmar morning news for December 13 added by Mark Roy on
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A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
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