Myanmar morning news for January 1, 2020

Tax rates for vehicle ownership changes may differ after Sept 2020: official
Tax rates for vehicle ownership changes may differ after September 2020 and the vehicle owners may pay 15 per cent of their car market price as a tax after September, said Lian Cin Mang, Director of Road Administration Department (Myinthar) on December 27.
— Eleven Myanmar

Five sectors in Myanmar to watch this year
The Myanmar economy is expected to expand by 7.1 percent in fiscal 2019-20, up from 6.8pc in the previous fiscal year, buoyed by reform momentum, improving business sentiments, strong growth in garment and other manufacturing products, an expansion of tourism-related services and stronger fiscal spending, according to the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office.
— Myanmar Times

Regional trade touched nearly $1 bln in Oct, reports Ministry of Commerce
The value of Myanmar’s regional trade with ASEAN countries through the sea route and border gates was estimated at US$998.18 million in the month of October in the 2019-2020 financial year, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Senior General urged to drop incitement charges against poet, Press Council patron
The Myanmar Press Council has urged Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to prevail upon his subordinate to drop charges of incitement against poet Saw Wai and council patron U Kyee Myint.
— Myanmar Times

Arakan Army Seizes Ferry, Unveils Taxation Agency, in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
The Arakan Army (AA) abducted 16 drivers traveling on a river ferry in western Myanmar’s war-ravaged Rakhine state Tuesday, capping a yearlong uptick in hostilities with government forces, local officials said.
— Radio Free Asia

Myanmar armed group seizes 16 boat passengers in Buthidaung
Arakan Army (AA) fighters have seized 16 people from a passenger boat travelling from the state capital of Sittwe to Buthidaung township in northern Rakhine State, a district administrator said.
— Myanmar Times

The top-10 events that shaped Myanmar’s economy in 2019
Myanmar witnessed an economic slowdown in fiscal 2019, with GDP growth downgraded to 6.5 percent from 6.8pc in 2018, and foreign direct investments (FDI) hitting just 70pc of official targets.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s border trade with neighbours surges
Myanmar’s border trade with neighbouring countries reached about 2.4 billion USD as of December 20 in present fiscal year 2019-2020 which started from October 1.
— VietnamPlus

Myanmar to issues visa on arrival for five more countries
As of January 1 next year, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism will issue visas on arrival to tourists from five countries including Hungary and the Chez Republic.
— Eleven Myanmar

Solar mini-grid brings power to Yesagyo’s community
Parami Energy connected 1442 households to the newly-launched mini-grid mid-December with plans to expand the coverage to more than 4000 households Magway’s Yesagyo.
— Myanmar Times

Master plan for Myanmar SMEs ready by February
The government will release a master plan for micro, small and medium enterprises in February, a senior finance and industry official said.
— Myanmar Times

Onion crisis, dengue menace, corruptions keep nation rocking
The nation bid farewell to the year 2019 forgetting all odds and sorrows of the past and usher in the new decade with hope for peace and prosperity and look forward for building the country into a great nation.
— New Nation

MAI buys two more Embraer 190 planes to operate domestic flights
The Myanmar Airways International (MAI) is planning to cooperate with Air KBZ to run more domestic flights and planned to buy two Embraer 190 planes, according to its Chief Operating Officer Kyaw Han.
— Eleven Myanmar

Voice for the LGBT: Will society in Myanmar embrace the community?
LGBT organizations in Myanmar have become more active in voicing support for the local LGBT community and organizing more public activities to bring public attention to the LGBT issue through empowerment, education and community.
— Mizzima

Rohingya Issue Gaining Int’l Support In Favour Of Bangladesh
The atrocities committed by the Myanmar military by killing, raping, slaughtering, torturing the Rohingya Muslims are known to all.
— New Nation

Daily life of female puppeteer in Yangon, Myanmar
Thet Thet Htwe Oo performs puppet show at her family-run theatre in Yangon, Myanmar, Dec. 31, 2019. Thet Thet Htwe Oo, 22, is a female puppeteer who began to learn puppetry since her middle childhood.
— Xinhua

Transport authority opens new bus parking facility
The Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) has announced the opening of a new parking complex for buses in Pazundaung township, under the Mahar Bandula Bridge.
— Myanmar Times

India ‘plotting’ Myanmar-like massacre in IHK
Hurriyat leaders – Abdul Hameed Lone and Muhammad Shafi Dar have denounced the continued military siege and communications blockade by the Indian government in the occupied Kashmir.
— The Nation

Chinese runners win China-Myanmar cross-border marathon
Chinese runners swept the titles in both men’s and women’s events at a cross-border marathon between China and Myanmar held Tuesday in southwest China’s Yunnan Province.
— Xinhua

Not a good year for peace process
The year 2019 has been a difficult one for Myanmar’s peace process. As the year draws to a close, the sounds of gunfire get louder and louder, forcing thousands of civilians to flee their homes for safety.
— Myanmar Times

Over 600 local, foreign artists to reveal integrity of Bagan from 7 to 11 Jan
Over 600 local and foreign artists and sculptors will gather in Bagan to exhibit their works from 7 to 11 January, 2020 at the Bagan Archaeological Museum honouring the World’s Heritage Bagan.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Work on US$230 million industrial park in Hlegu expected to start in March
Work on the US$230 million (K338.7 billion) Singapore-Myanmar Hlegu Industrial Park project is set to begin in March 2020, one of the investors in the project has announced.
— Myanmar Times

Tax revenues for untaxed income exceed Ks 21 bln
Till November since October this year, the income tax revenues of untaxed income exceeded Ks21.478 billion, according to the Internal Revenue Department at the Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry.
— Eleven Myanmar

Hundreds of displaced villagers seek to return home in Kachin
People from more than 100 households staying in internally displaced person (IDP) camps want to return to their homes in Nam San Yang village in Waingmaw township in Kachin State, a village priest said.
— Myanmar Times

Shareholders of YBS public companies asked to wait for share dividend payout
By Nyein Nyein The shareholders of YBS public companies need to wait to receive a dividend payment, said U Phyo Min Thein, Yangon Region Chief Minister.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Locals demand compensation for confiscated lands
Nearly 200 locals staged a protest in Yinmabin Township in Sagaing Region on December 29, demanding compensations for the lands confiscated by Myanmar Yang Tse Copper Company.
— Eleven Myanmar

Drastic power bill hike
On June 25 this year, the Ministry of Electricity and Energy announced it would increase the power bill from July 1, without first seeking public opinions and making discussions at parliament. The Weekly Eleven picks the power bill hike as the significant one for the year 2019.
— Eleven Myanmar

Fun, glitz and glam in 7th Myanmar International Fashion Week show
There was no doubt about the sense of glamour getting stronger as I witnessed glowing beams of stage light dancing across the starry night sky. Faint rhythmic beats from afar would surely put a rave enthusiast into PLUR-y vibe; you know the peace, love, unity, respect principles of the rave culture.
— Myanmar Times

Hard labour for migrant workers on the Yangon circle line
Frontier meets the migrant labourers from rural Myanmar who have been put to work on an upgrade to the Yangon Circular Railway.
— Frontier Myanmar

Report to be compiled to protect Ayeyawady dolphins
To protect the endangered Ayeyawady dolphin at the regional level, a dolphin survey report is being compiled and will be submitted for consideration at the Hluttaw, said U Aye Khaing, Chairman of the Mandalay Region Hluttaw Resources and Environmental Conservation Committee, state media reported.
— Mizzima

Japan to launch project to boost farm productivity in Myanmar
Japan will launch a 390 million yen ($3.6 million) project in May in Myanmar to boost irrigation and agricultural management as part of efforts to increase productivity and eradicate poverty in the Southeast Asian country.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

New Year messages from entertainment industry
Interviewed by Myat Sandi Multiple Academy Award winner Director U Kyi Soe Tun May all the people of Myanmar be safe from sinister thoughts.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

New Year Wishes of Businesspersons for 2020
Thi Thi Min, Min Thit (MNA), Photo: Nay Lin Wunna Kyaw Htin Sithu U Aung Ko Win, Patron of Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI) On this auspicious New Year eve I would like to first wish physical and mental wellbeing on all the citizens of Myanmar.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Wheat straw hats selling well in Lashio of nothern Shan State
Wheat straw hats, which are produced by traditional businesses in Ngar Lone Tin Village, ChaungU Township, are selling mostly in Lashio township of Northern Shan State, said Daw Khin Than Win, the owner of Hlaing Myint Moh Wheat Straw Hats Business in the village.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo fabulousfabs

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on focuses on environmental concerns throughout Asean — soil erosion and deforestation.

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.