Myanmar morning news for August 22

Over $100m earned from export of 400,000 tons of broken rice in 10 months
Myanmar exported over 400,000 tons of broken rice worth over US$100 million to 36 countries over the past 10 months with 50 percent of the total tonnage going to Belgium, according to Myanmar Rice Federation.
— Eleven Myanmar

‘Not without our rights’: Rohingya refugees refuse to return to Myanmar
Muslim Rohingyas housed in sprawling refugee camps in Bangladesh are refusing to return to Myanmar, United Nations and local officials have said.
— The Guardian

Rebel Strikes Cast Shadow on China’s BRI Projects in Myanmar
A series of recent clashes between the Myanmar Army and an alliance of ethnic armed groups in northern Shan State has raised concerns over the feasibility of Beijing’s push to implement the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), part of its region-wide Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
— Irrawaddy

Total FDI hits over 3,800 USD this FY
The total foreing direct investments are expected to hit up to 5,800 million US dollars in the current fiscal year, according to the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).
— Eleven Myanmar

Thai, Indian Firms Selected to Supply Power, Gas to Myanmar New City Near Yangon
PTT Group, IGL Consortium are preliminary choices to supply mega-project across river from Myanmar’s commercial capital.
— Irrawaddy

Growing mobile penetration gives Myanmar fintech a big boost
Financial technology services in Myanmar have boomed following an increasing number of mobile users, according to a report from Fitch Solutions Macro Research.
— Myanmar Times

At Talks in China, Beijing Urges Myanmar Rebel Groups to Stop Fighting
Special envoy Sun Guoxiang tells northeast-based EAOs their attacks are ‘unacceptable’; govt welcomes China’s efforts but says peace deal can only be reached in Myanmar.
— Irrawaddy

Japan’s Taiyo Life buys 35% stake in Myanmar insurer
Japanese provider Taiyo Life Insurance will acquire 35% of Myanmar’s Capital Life Insurance, a deal that creates an early foothold in a growth market.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Telenor, Plan International launch digital literacy project in Myanmar
Telenor Myanmar and Plan International have partnered to launch a nationwide Digital Literacy, Online Safety and Resilience Project.
— Telecompaper

Can Chinese tourists save Myanmar’s floundering travel industry?
Myanmar has endured a lot in recent history. A brutal military dictatorship, which transformed its robust postcolonial economy into one of Asia’s weakest and set in motion the ongoing persecution of the Rohingya Muslims.
— South China Morning Post

Myanmar Police Captain Killed as Convoy Hit by Mine Blasts in Rakhine
Four police also wounded in two explosions; in separate incident, Myanmar military sergeant killed as artillery shell strikes home in Minbya.
— Irrawaddy

Route of new Muse-Mandalay express railroad selected
The route has been finalised for the Muse-Mandalay high-speed railway line to be built by Myanmar and China, according to Myanma Railways.
— Myanmar Times

Welcome wears thin for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh
When hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled Myanmar into Bangladesh two years ago, local communities were mostly welcoming.
— CNA

Myanmar sending fishery workers under contract with South Korea
The Myanmar government has started sending fishery workers to South Korea, and 20 of them are already working on fishing boats, the Myanmar Labour Ministry said on Monday.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to compete in World Dragon Boat Racing Championship in Thailand
Myanmar’s traditional boat team will compete in World Dragon Boat Racing Championship organised by International Dragon Boat Federation-IDBF in Pattaya, Thailand frp, August 20-25.
— Myanmar Times

NGOs warn of worsening crisis in Myanmar
Rohingyas have been struggling for their rights, security and dignity since they were forced to flee to Bangladesh from their homeland two years ago.
— DhakaTribune

Hyundai releases new SUV as locally assembled model
After receiving feedback from customers who bought the 2019 Hyundai Creta, Hyundai Motor Myanmar will release an enhanced model for 2020.
— Myanmar Times

In Myanmar’s Commercial Capital, Mayor’s Sidewalk Store Plan Draws Criticism
A plan by the mayor of Myanmar’s commercial capital to install mini convenience stores next to bus stops has Yangonites and regional lawmakers crying foul.
— Irrawaddy

Teachers campaign for continuing education
Education colleges across Myanmar will conduct a campaign to push the government for a continuing education plan for teachers, said Ko Nyi Nyi Zin, communications officer at Mandalay Education College.
— Myanmar Times

Feature: Myanmar craftsman makes wooden miniatures of vehicles from bygone era
Zay Yar is a craftsman who has been making wooden miniatures of vehicles dated back to bygone era in Myanmar’s largest city Yangon for three years.
— Xinhua

Myanmar wives fight against domestic abuse
Cradling her 1-year-old daughter in a house in southern Myanmar, 22-year-old Nu Nu Aye recalled the reasons her husband gave for beating her. She hadn’t looked after his rooster. She wouldn’t have sex with him.
— The Japan News

Box-Pak 2Q loss widens four-fold amid operational loss in Myanmar, impairments
Box-Pak (M) Bhd continues to bleed, hurt by its Myanmar operations and doubtful debts as its net loss widened more than four fold year-on-year to RM7.41 million or loss per share of 6.18 sen in its second quarter ended June 30, from RM1.71 million or a LPS of 1.43 sen previously.
— The Edge Markets

CB Insurance and Thai Life signs JV agreement
Yangon-based Citizen Business Insurance Public Ltd (CB Insurance) has formalised a joint venture with Thai Life Insurance PCL (Thai Life) through an agreement signed on August 16 that will see both companies working together to offer new insurance products in the Myanmar market.
— Myanmar Times

Tealive partners MFFT to open five outlets in Myanmar
Malaysian bubble tea brand Tealive has partnered with Myanmar Food For Thought Co Ltd (MFFT) to open five outlets in Myanmar by year-end.
— The Edge Markets

Shan State fighting displaces over 4000, aid group says
More than 4000 people have fled fighting in northern Shan State, said U Haung Daung, spokesperson of the Northern Shan State Humanitarian Cooperation Association.
— Myanmar Times

Temporary bridge to open after attack
A temporary bailey bridge replacing the Gote Twin Bridge blown up by armed groups last Thursday is due to open for traffic after emergency reconstruction work was completed on Monday, Xinhua reported.
— Mizzima

Militia Leader, Wife Dead in Alleged Rebel Attack in Northeast Myanmar
U Win Maung, a militia leader in Myanmar’s Shan State, and his wife were killed by rebel-fired mortars and grenades Tuesday evening, according to the military.
— Irrawaddy

Ethnic Alliance Says 30 Myanmar Army Troops Killed in Northern Shan
Military denies losing any soldiers as ethnic groups’ offensive focuses on Kutkai Township; aid groups say thousands of civilians displaced, many trapped without food.
— Irrawaddy

German Firm to Advise Central Bank of Myanmar on Licensing Foreign Lenders
Roland Berger Co. selected from among four consultants; govt plans to allow foreign banks, insurers to provide retail banking services next year.
— Irrawaddy

Being Muslim in Myanmar
From difficulties in getting jobs to mounting online abuse, some Muslims in Myanmar are uneasy over what they say are signs of daily discrimination, which have grown since the Rohingya crisis erupted in 2012. Three Muslims share their stories with the BBC.
— BBC

New SR-Myanmar flights set to take off
Cambodia’s JC International Airlines plans to launch new flights between the Kingdom and Myanmar, according to the airline’s COO and Chief Pilot Anupama Pathirana.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Myanmar: Two years since Rohingya exodus, impunity reigns supreme for military
With the threat of returns to Myanmar once again looming over Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Amnesty International warned that Rakhine State remains unsafe while those responsible for atrocities continue to evade justice.
— Amnesty

Rights Groups Urge Bangladesh, Myanmar to Suspend Rohingya Returns
International rights groups on Wednesday called on Myanmar and Bangladesh to suspend their second attempt to repatriate some of the hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims who fled a brutal military campaign in 2017, until the members of the minority group are guaranteed a safe and voluntary return and are granted citizenship and other basic rights.
— Radio Free Asia

Nagas in Myanmar appeal for unity
Naga Civil Society Organisations in Myanmar have sent greetings to ‘all Nagas across ancestral Naga Homeland divided by two countries, regions and states’ and appealed for unity.
— Eastern Mirror Nagaland

Defending and promoting freedom of expression in Myanmar
After graduating from Harvard Law School, Jenny Domino LL.M. ’18 was awarded a Satter Human Rights Fellowship from the Human Rights Program at Harvard Law School for the 2018-2019 year.
— Today law

Ooredoo Myanmar given CSR award
Ooredoo Myanmar has been awarded the Asia’s Business Leaders Award 2019 “Corporate Social Responsibility Program of the Year”, which was held in Singapore for its CSR initiative “Community Libraries to Community Centres” according to a statement.
— Mizzima

Police convoy hit by landmine near Ponnagyun, one dead
Col. Win Zaw Oo from Western Military Region Command confirmed to Mizzima that a police convoy led by second-in-command (2 IC) of Police Battalion (32) hit a landmine while returning from Kyauktaw to Sittwe.
— Mizzima

Small vehicles and mini vehicles start passing through Goattwin bridge
Small vehicles and mini vehicles were allowed to start passing through on August 20 afternoon as newly-built Goattwin bridge on Mandalay-Lashio Union Highway between Kyaukme and Naungcho in the northern State State has been already reconstructed.
— Eleven Myanmar

Remodelling an interior design dream into a thriving business
Ma Nandar Win, founder of N7 interiors, started work in sales at age 17 and gained valuable experience during 20 years in the cosmetics business with a focus on marketing.
— Myanmar Times

Feature photo Rohingya Blogger

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focuses on International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief, August 22.

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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About Myanmar morning news.

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