Myanmar morning news for February 18, 2020

Myanmar students evacuated from SARS-CoV-2 hot zone go home (video)
Myanmar Minister for Health and Sports, Dr Myint Htwe, yesterday (Feb 16) met with the 59 Burmese students and officials repatriated from the coronavirus hot zone of Wuhan as they completed their 14-day quarantine and prepared to return to their homes.
— AEC News Today

China’s CITIC to build Myanmar’s huge Kyaukphyu Deep Seaport, first phase to cost US$1.3 bln
The planned multi-billion dollar Kyaukphyu Deep Seaport project will be developed with the contribution of 70 per cent by the China International Trust and Investment Corporation Consortium (CITIC) and 30 per cent by Myanmar, said Deputy Commerce Minister U Aung Htoo on Feb 16.
— The Star Online

Myanmar Tour Guides Object to Granting Entry to Chinese Tourists With Health Notes
Mandalay tour guides say the government’s call for travel agencies to ask Chinese visitors for health clearances is motivated by financial concerns, not health worries.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar: More ‘outrageous’ convictions for satire performers
Responding to news that three members of the Peacock Generation poetry troupe were convicted and sentenced to six months in prison for “online defamation” today for sharing their performances on social media, Amnesty International’s Regional Director Nicholas Bequelin said.
— Amnesty

Tourists who shot porn at Myanmar temple to be prosecuted
Officials in Myanmar say they aim to prosecute a tourist couple who filmed themselves having sex against a Buddhist temple in the ancient city of Bagan and uploaded the video to the internet.
— 9News

Myanmar seaman drowns in Taiwan sea accident
A Myanmar seaman fell from an oil tanker and died on the spot on the weekend in southern Taiwan, the Taiwan Coast Guard said on Monday.
— Myanmar Times

China not protecting Myanmar, says envoy
Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jiming yesterday said his country is not trying to protect Myanmar over the Rohingya issues as his country has friendly relations with both Bangladesh and Myanmar.
— The Independent BD

6.6kg of heroin, stimulants seized in Northern Myanmar
Myanmar authorities have seized a large haul of narcotic drugs including 6.6 kg of heroin and 89,300 stimulant tablets in Sagaing region, according to a release from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Sunday.
— The Star Online

Survey shows inequality a serious problem in Myanmar
Inequality across different sections of people in terms of their wealth and incomes, and their initial resource endowments like education, nutrition, health, and even their collective political power are becoming central to the development policy discourse in recent years.
— BNI Online

Myanmar govt seeks resumption of ceasefire meeting in March
The Myanmar government on Sunday proposed the resumption of the regular truce monitoring meeting with the ethnic armed groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA).
— Myanmar Times

Gas production and distribution inspected in Rakhine State
Union Minister U Win Khaing of the Ministry of Electricity and Energy, together with Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu and state government’s Electricity, Industries and Transportation Minister U Aung Kyaw Zan, inspected the test drill Mahar (1) that is located at the Block A-3 of Myanmar west offshore.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Cyber security solutions are needed to keep companies in Myanmar safe: MIBS
Mascon International Business Services (MIBS) will be promoting its cyber security and risk management solutions at the Mobile Money & Financial Inclusion Summit 2020 on February 18 and 19 at the ParkRoyal Hotel Yangon.
— Myanmar Times

Ooredoo Myanmar hails Facebook action on fake accounts
Ooredoo Myanmar hailed social media giant Facebook for removing 13 accounts and 10 pages for spreading fake news that damaged the company’s reputation.
— Myanmar Times

Graft accusations swirl over 190M kyat Myanmar blew on diploma mills
Myanmar paid over 190 million kyat (US$130,000) to bogus academic institutions for educational services, lawmakers revealed during a recent assembly debate, amid allegations of graft.
— Coconut

Virus outbreak causes layoffs at Chinese-owned factory in Yangon
A Chinese-owned garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar township in Yangon Region has temporarily shut down and laid off hundreds of workers due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
— Myanmar Times

Posco International discovers new gas field in Myanmar
Posco International said Monday that it had discovered a new offshore gas reservoir near Myanmar, raising hopes for a new cash cow for the company.
— Korea Herald

Indian Navy chief in Myanmar to bolster maritime relationship
To strengthen relation between India and Myanmar, Indian Navy chief Admiral Karambir Singh is on four-day trip to Naypyitaw and other parts of the neighbouring country to bolster the bilateral maritime relationship.
— Newkerala

Call for an end to violence against children in Myanmar
A rights group has strongly condemned all forms of violence against children in conflict situations as fighting between Myanmar’s army and the insurgent Arakan Army intensified in Rakhine state.
— Herald Malaysia

Passengers, trucks stranded near Yarmaung Bridge
Passengers and trucks are left stranded for three days due to the suspension of ferry services caused by the fights near Yarmaung Bridge in Minbya Township in Rakhine State.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar-China Border gates see arrivals of more migrant workers
Myanmar migrant workers continue to return home due to the shutdown of plants and factories in Ruili and Kyalkhaung on China-Myanmar border in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak in China.
— Eleven Myanmar

Ethnicity, Security, Connectivity key to Indo-Myanmar borderlands – Book Review
Eleven articles by scholars and field journalists have sought to provide a fresh outlook to understanding the borderlands of India and Myanmar, troubled as they are since both countries became independent.
— Mizzima

Yangon garment workers demonstrate over handling of dispute
Over 100 workers from Zheng Zhang Popular garment factory from Yangon Region, Hlinetharyar Township, No. 2 industrial zone staged a demonstration Friday in front of Hlinetharyar Township Department of Labour Relations office and called on the government to settle labour rights issues and grievances suffered by the workers.
— BNI Online

Women protection draft law introduced to Hluttaw representatives
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement introduced its draft law for Protection and Prevention of Violence Against Women to the Hluttaw representatives at Horizon Lake View Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Yangon MPs Draft Bill to Rein In Mismanagement of Public Funds
Yangon’s lawmakers are drafting a law to stop the authorities wasting funds, awarding contracts behind closed doors and failing to pay taxes on profits.
— Irrawaddy

Govt prepares for religious titles conferring, alms-giving ceremonies next month
Vice President U Myint Swe presided over a meeting yesterday for organizing ceremonies to confer religious titles and offer donation items to the Buddhist monks in March.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Govt, NCA-S EAOs hold coordination meeting to further peace process
The working groups of the government and Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement-Signatories, ethnic armed organizations (NCA-S EAO) held a coordination meeting on implementing the decisions made at the 8th Joint Implementation Coordination Meeting (JICM) yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Rakhine Delegation Meets with Myanmar Military Chief, Draws Criticism
An ethnic Rakhine delegation led by a senior Arakan National Party member met with Myanmar’s military chief Thursday, prompting questions from the Rakhine community.
— Irrawaddy

Certificate course in Enhanced Diplomatic Skills (EDS – 6/2020) inagurates
The Inauguration Ceremony of the Certificate Course in Enhanced Diplomatic Skills (6/2020) conducted by the Strategic Studies and Training Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was held at Wunzinminyarzar Hall of the Ministry (Yangon) at 10:00 am yesterday with an opening address delivered by U Kyaw Tin,
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Ethnic Shanni Reject Move to Grow Naga Territory in NW Myanmar
Ethnic Shanni communities in Sagaing Division are speaking out against a move by an ethnic Naga politician to add land to the Naga Self-Administered Zone.
— Irrawaddy

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw discusses JPAC report, EDCF loan
The second Pyidaugsu Hluttaw held its 15th regular session of 9th day meeting yesterday, discussing the second part of report (1/2020) on findings and recommendations of Joint Public Accounts Committee and the US$ 113.036 million loans from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of South Korea.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Water and dirty Yangon streets breed diseases
U Kyaw Aung, who is about 50-years-old, moved from Maubin in Ayeyarwady division, to a slum in Yangon over ten years ago. Over 60 migrant households live in the same squat at the corner of Seikkan Thar Street and Wutmasut Wun Htauk Street in Industrial Zone No. 4, Yay Okkan Ward, Hlaing Tharyar township.
— Myanmar Times

National Health Laboratory set to test for COVID-19 in Myanmar
Since 26 February 2008, the National Health Laboratory (NHL) has been recognized by the World Health Organization as a national flu center and conducts tests on flu and respiratory viruses and assist in surveillance and treatment of communicable respiratory viruses.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

1st Myanmar-Poland Foreign Office Consultations held
The 1st Myanmar-Poland Foreign Office Consultations was held on 17 February 2020, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s five Ms: misunderstanding, mistrust, misinterpretation, misconception and mistreatment
These stresses, compounded by the missteps of successive administrations, have led the country to fall into a deep chasm of political and ethnic disunity and its development to lag behind other countries in the region.
— Aspi Strategist

New insolvency legislation passed
Pyidaungsu Hluttaw on February 14 passed a new Insolvency Law to further strengthen the business environment and draw more foreign investors to the country. The new legislation will become effective after a notification is issued by the President of Myanmar.
— Myanmar Times

Third Story Project organizes storytelling workshop in YGN
Third Story Project, in collaboration with the Asia Foundation, organized a storytelling workshop called ‘Let’s Read’ at the News and Periodicals Enterprise building on Theinbyu Road, downtown Yangon, yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Enforcing safety rules can help prevent accidents in heavy fog season
Fog is a major travel hazard in the winter season in Myanmar on account of the resulting poor visibility.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Operator of Water Bus Service in Myanmar’s Biggest City Faces Lawsuit for Unpaid Fuel Bills
Petro & Trans Group said it would sue the operator of Yangon’s Water Bus service over nearly $50,000 worth of unpaid fuel bills.
— Irrawaddy

Blame game between Tatmadaw and AA over shelling on primary school
The Tatmadaw (Defence Services) and Arakan Army (AA) are blaming each other for shelling on the Khami Chaung village post-primary school in Buthidaung Township, Rakhine State.
— BNI Online

Feature photo Build a School in Burma

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on International Mother Language Day, February 21.

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).

—

About Myanmar morning news.

Myanmar morning news roundup is the most comprehensive hand-curated selection of Myanmar English language news headlines published. Each weekday we scour hundreds of local and international news sites and websites to find the freshest Myanmar English language news today.

We filter our the dull, the boring, the repetitive, and the click-bait and package all of the Myanmar daily news that you need to know to start your day into an easy to read, time saving format of Myanmar news headlines and first paragraphs before 7.00am Naypyitaw time.

We clearly identify the source of all the Myanmar news headlines, whether it is behind a paywall, a media release, or whether the news site uses annoying pop-up advertising or auto-play video, in case those things annoy you too. If a website uses particularly invasive pop-up adverts, we’ll tell you.

This enables you to make an informed choice of whether you want to learn more by clicking directly through to the original Myanmar news article, or keep on reading the remaining Myanmar daily news headlines.

Click here to get your Myanmar English language news today by email before 7.30am Naypyitaw time daily. Remember to watch out for the confirmation email from us to confirm your subscription. Check your trash folder if you do not see it.

For more immediate updates download the AEC News Today Mobile App from the Apple or Google stores, or follow us on Twitter.

#Independentmedia

Governance, not government; policies not politics.