Myanmar morning news for March 6, 2019

Chinese company to build new city by Yangon
A Chinese company that has signed an agreement with the Yangon regional government to build a new city across the river from the old one has been embroiled in many controversies, the Myanmar website Irrawaddy reported on March 4.
— Asia Times

Agro exports up $81.9 mln in Oct-Feb
Myanmar’s exports of agricultural products from 1 October to 22 February in the current fiscal year increased to over US$1.28 billion from $1.2 billion in the corresponding period of the 2017-2018 FY, according to the trade figures released by the Ministry of Commerce.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

A touch of micro financing for renting homes in Yangon
As more and more people move to Yangon to seek work every year, the housing shortage in the city becomes increasingly acute.
— Myanmar Times

U.N. Myanmar expert wants tighter checks by Facebook and investors
Facebook, Twitter and foreign investors need to do more to ensure they support human rights in Myanmar, the U.N. Special Rapporteur Yanghee Lee said in a report published on Tuesday.
— euro news

US$96 million for first phase upgrades of three airports
A raft of agreements between the government and private firms are expected to be signed this month for the upgrading of three regional airports to international standards.
— Myanmar Times

Traditional leather footwear industry faces extinction
The traditional leather footwear industry is on the verge of extinction in the Kanbya Village-tract, Monywa Township, Sagaing Region, according to local manufacturers.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar land ownership law could displace millions of farmers
Under a land reformation act, millions of farmers across Myanmar could be forced from land they have tilled for generations. Many are unaware of the danger they face. Peter Yeung and Carlotta Dotto report from Yangon.
— DW

Ooredoo champions digital inclusion in Myanmar
Ooredoo, one of the world’s leading ICT providers, is bringing the immense benefits of digital technology to millions of previously unconnected people in Myanmar through its cutting-edge Supernet, innovative apps, and partnerships with public and private organisations, in line with the GSMA’s commitment to deliver digital inclusion for all.
— Mizzima

Ministry to conduct survey of persons with disabilities in 2020
With the aim of promoting the interest of the people living with disabilities, Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement will conduct a survey in 2020.
— Eleven Myanmar

In Myanmar, ‘pervasive hate speech and shrinking freedom’
UN expert on Myanmar decries ‘shrinking democratic space’ in new report, urges ‘concrete action’ from global community.
— Aljazeera

Late timber kingpin who plundered Myanmar’s forests unmasked
A secretive timber kingpin who died last year has been unmasked as the shadowy figure at the center of a vast network that illegally sources teak, deliberately misgrades it to alter the price, and keeps stockpiles that eventually end up in Europe and the U.S.
— Mongabay

Chinese Envoy Offered Rohingya Money to Return to Myanmar: Sources
A Chinese government delegation met Rohingya Muslims in Bangladesh, promising each refugee up to U.S. $6,000 if they returned to Rakhine state in Myanmar, a Bangladeshi official and refugee leaders said Tuesday.
— Malaysia Sun

Health minister urges public to eat fortified rice
Health and Sports Minister Dr Myint Htwe has urged people to eat fortified rice to prevent stunting in children and anaemia in pregnant women and children.
— Myanmar Times

EU highlights need to protect wildlife in Myanmar
In line with World Wildlife Day (3 March), the European Union is launching “Larger than Tigers”, a ground-breaking report that sets out a roadmap for an integrated environmental conservation approach in Asia.
— Mizzima

Hundreds and thousands of Myanmar migrant workers coming back daily for Thingyan
To welcome Myanmar New Year and to do meritorious deeds, hundreds and thousands of Myanmar migrant workers coming back daily through Mae Sot-Myawaddy route.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s historic municipal poll to take place in Yangon
Myanmar’s first directly-elected municipal election will be held this month. There are huge capacity challenges to organise the poll but this will set precedents for the rest of the country.
— Myanmar Times

Fire Guts Homes in Refugee Camp at Thailand-Myanmar Border
A fire at the Nu Po refugee camp sheltering Myanmar refugees in Umphang District of Tak Province in Thailand destroyed at least 50 houses on Monday, according to refugees at the camp.
— The Irrawaddy

Uncertainty clouds bank equity move
Domestic banks have been slow to act on a reform allowing equity injections of up to 35 percent by foreign banks, with some citing continued confusion over the rules.
— Frontier Myanmar

Farmers to receive K600 billion in funds
The Myanmar Cooperatives Society will extend funds totaling K600 billion as loans to farmers for the winter and summer harvest this year.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar terminal to aid Australian wheat sales, boost pulse competition
MYANMAR’S first major grain terminal is expected to be a boon to Australia’s wheat exports as they transition from containers to bulk, but will boost the competitiveness of Myanmar’s pulse exports into key Australian markets in South Asia.
— Grain Central

Express bus overturn kills 8, injures 25 on Myanmar’s highway
A total of eight passengers were killed with 25 others injured in an express bus overturn on Myanmar’s Yangon-Mandalay highway on Tuesday morning, said a release from the Highway Police Office.
— Xinhua

NLD MP urges all Myanmar nationals to have military training, national service
An MP from the ruling NLD party has urged the government to consider military training by all citizens and to serve in the national service for the sake of public security.
— Mizzima

Mandalay starts to streamline land records
The Mandalay City Development Committee (MCDC) has begun streamlining land records such as maps, surveys and title deeds, to be in line with rules and regulations.
— Myanmar Times

Once Unspoken, “Vagina” Gets Stage Debut In Myanmar
In Myanmar, where sex is still a taboo subject, co-director Nandar told AFP she hopes to “normalise conversations about women’s bodies” even if it makes people uncomfortable.
— NDTV

SF Holding acquires 25pc stake in KOSPA for US$4 million
Shunde, Guangzhou-based logistics service provider SF Holding has acquired a 25pc stake in KOSPA, a Yangon-based logistics provider, for US$4 million.
— Myanmar Times

The surprising lives of Myanmar’s logging elephants
Most captive elephants are kept under immensely cruel conditions. In Myanmar, they’re treated differently.
— Big Think

Auntie Anne opens in Myanmar
Pretzel franchise Auntie Anne’s opened its first store in Myanmar recently at Yangon’s Junction City Mall.
— Myanmar Times

Islamic bloc approves legal action against Myanmar
In a major diplomatic breakthrough, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) unanimously adopted a resolution to move the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for establishing the legal rights of Rohingya Muslims, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry said Monday.
— AA

Govt to open elderly care training course
The government will hold an elderly care training course this month to promote the welfare of senior citizens and open up more overseas job opportunities, said Myanmar Health and Sports Minister U Myint Htwe.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar youths enjoy education melting pot
Catholic youngsters from various ethnic backgrounds are benefiting from a new approach to education at a center set up by a Columban priest in Myanmar.
— UCA News

UN agency wants to improve four regional parliaments
The United Nations Development Programme has proposed 37 measures to improve the efficiency of four regional parliaments to make them more responsive to the needs of constituents.
— Myanmar Times

41 human trafficking cases exposed in Myanmar in 2 months
Myanmar authorities exposed 41 nationwide human trafficking cases as of February this year, according to the figures from the Anti-Trafficking Police Force on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

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