Myanmar morning news for June 24, 2020

Myanmar SMEs Urge Suu Kyi to Ease COVID-19 Loan Policies
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Myanmar say they aren’t able to access government and foreign-backed loans due to strict repayment and application requirements.
— Irrawaddy

Natural gas exports to Thailand down by $400 mln in current fiscal
Myanmar’s exports of natural gas over the past eight months of the current financial year amounted to US$1.8 billion, a decrease of about $400 million compared with the corresponding period of 2018-2019 FY, according to the Commerce Ministry.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar economy to expand 1.8% this year: ADB
The Myanmar economy is expected to grow at just 1.8 percent in 2020, according to updated forecasts by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), released June 18.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar fruit export revenues stable due to strong banana demand
Revenue from Myanmar’s fruit exports have reached US$370 million in the current fiscal year, which is on par with revenues generated over the same period in the previous fiscal year despite COVID-19, according to the Myanmar Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Producer and Exporter Association.
— Myanmar Times

Internet Ban in Myanmar’s Rakhine and Chin States Will Continue, Military Says
Myanmar’s military said Tuesday it will maintain a year-long shutdown of internet services to war-hit areas of Rakhine and Chin states, dismissing calls from rights groups and diplomats to lift the ban, which has cut civilians off from information flows and help from aid groups amid the coronavirus outbreak.
— Radio Free Asia

Myanmar Leaders Face Heat Over Retirement Perk They Once Swore Off
Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other top officials have come under fire for being granted prime real estate in the capital at preferential prices under a state program, contradicting their reformist pledges to shun perks of power in a country impoverished by decades of misrule.
— Radio Free Asia

Two more COVID-19 cases reported in Rakhine, four recoveries
Two more people who entered Myanmar from Bangladesh have tested positive COVID-19 cases, the Ministry of Health and Sports reported on June 22. Meanwhile, four patients are on the road to recovery.
— Myanmar Times

Monk Charged with Murder of Teenager in Myanmar’s Magwe Region
A teenager was stabbed to death in Aung Lan township of Magwe Region last Thursday. The perpetrator has been detained and police have filed a case against him pressing murder charges.
— Irrawaddy

UN charts new territory with project to track all Myanmar’s forests
A new five-year project in Myanmar will for the first time document all forests in the South-East Asian nation – including places affected by ethnic tensions – to pinpoint deforestation risks and boost conservation, the United Nations said.
— Sightmagazine

Bidders line up for Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Green Towers
SHORTLISTED bidders for Myanmar telecoms tower company Irrawaddy Green Towers (IGT) include Axiata Group of Malaysia, Guodong Group of China, and global private equity firm CVC Capital Partners, local press in Myanmar have reported.
— The Asset

MFF Futsal Knockout Cup to be held in September
Although the committee originally planned to hold the tournament at the end of July or early August, it was postponed after a meeting of the committee on June 18.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Seeks to Fly Illegal Migrants Home From Malaysia As More Suicides Reported Amid COVID-19
Thousands of unregistered migrants are stranded without work in Malaysia but the government cannot bring them home yet despite the eighth reported suicide.
— Irrawaddy

Top Myanmar General’s Visit to Russia Will Strengthens Ties: Myanmar Military
Myanmar’s military says that Senior General Min Aung Hlaing’s visit to Russia this week will continue to bring the militaries of the two countries closer together.
— Irrawaddy

More children getting ‘killed, maimed’ in Myanmar conflict
Violence against children increased sixfold in first three months of 2020 compared with the last three months of 2019.
— Aljazeera

UNHCR asks Myanmar to ensure safe return of Rohingyas
The UNHCR has adopted a resolution on Monday calling upon Myanmar to create conditions for the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of Rohingyas and all forcible displaced persons.
— News On Air

Myanmar to provide jobs for villagers
A CASH-FOR-WORK programme will be launch-ed to provide jobs in 2,500 villages in Myanmar under its Covid-19 Economic Response Plan (CERP).
— New Straits times

The first aquatic world of Myanmar will complete in December
The first international-standard Myanmar Aquarium including an underwater tunnel is expected to complete in coming December according to Mottma Development Group.
— Eleven Myanmar

UN-Habitat supporting fever clinics and hospitals serving Yangon’s informal settlements
Fever clinics and public hospitals have been at the center of Myanmar’s public health efforts to combat COVID-19. Set up specifically in response to the threat of the virus, the clinics clinics work towards early identification of symptoms of COVID-19 and at present, they operate in 17 townships in Yangon and have been the first port of call, especially for residents of informal settlements.
— Reliefweb

Myanmar’s military unlisted from recruitment, use of children as soldiers
Myanmar’s military has been unlisted from recruitment and use of children as soldiers in military services since June 9 this year, an official from the Ministry of Defence told a press briefing on Monday.
— The Star Online

Northern Alliance rejects Myanmar govt offer of video conference
The Arakan Army (AA) and three other ethnic armed groups in the Northern Alliance have rejected the government proposal to resume peace talks via video conference, a member of a group helping in the talks said.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar destroys seized precursor chemicals in eastern state
Myanmar authorities have destroyed seized precursor chemicals and paraphernalia worth over 3.38 billion kyats (over 2.4 million U.S. dollars) in Shan state on Tuesday, according to a release from the Ministry of Information.
— Xinhua

Myanmar opposition party leaders to contest November poll
Leaders of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will contest the November elections to try to revive the fortunes of the military-backed party that opened the door to democratic reforms in the country in 2010
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar wants to repatriate illegal workers in Malaysia after spate of suicides
Myanmar has asked Malaysia for assistance in repatriating illegal workers following reports that eight suicides of undocumented migrants from the country had taken place.
— FMT

Community volunteers visit thousands of homes in Myanmar slums with COVID-19 information
UN-Habitat supported a team of community volunteers in five informal settlements in Myanmar’s largest city Yangon who have contacted over 13,2000 households to provide accurate information about COVID-19 and dispel false rumours.
— Reliefweb

Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation makes official visit to Russian Federation
The Myanmar Tatmadaw delegation, led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, took a special flight of Myanmar Airways International on 22 June to visit the Russian Federation at the invitation of its Defence Minister Army General Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu to attend the 75th Anniversary of Victory Day of Great Patriotic.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar citizens from foreign countries brought back home by relief flight
A total of 129 Myanmar nationals – 92 from the Republic of Korea and 37 from Belgium, Norway, Switzerland and the United States — were repatriated yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

COVID-19 committee honours volunteers, CSOs in Shan, Kayah states
The National-Level Central Committee for Prevention, Control and Treatment on COVID-19 presented certificates of honours, badges, face masks and hand sanitizers to the volunteers and civil society organizations (CSOs) that are fighting against COVID-19 pandemic in Shan and Kayah states yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Arakan Army Blamed for Ambush on Police Trucks in Western Myanmar
Three border police were killed and four others injured in an alleged AA attack on trucks bringing reinforcements to tackle the rebel army.
— Irrawaddy

State Counsellor discusses impact of COVID-19 on trade sector
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi holds the videoconference on the impact of COVID-19 on the trade sector from the Presidential Palace in Nay Pyi Taw on 23 June 2020.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Ceasefire work group meets for framework negotiation
Representatives of government and NCA-S EAOs held the fourth negotiation at the National Reconciliation and Peace Centre at Shweli Road in Yangon yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Tour guide turned Arakan Army commander sees nationhood in victory
While the world’s attention is focused on COVID-19, war is brewing in the jungles of western Myanmar.
— Coconuts Myanmar

Tatmadaw True News Information Team holds press briefing
The Tatmadaw True News Information Team held a press briefing at the Defence Services Museum in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Agro exports up $466 mln as of 12 June
Myanmar’s exports of agricultural products between 1 October and 12 June in the current financial year 2019-2020 increased to over US$2.9 billion from $2.4 billion in the corresponding period of the 2018-2019 FY, according to the trade figures released by the Ministry of Commerce.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister U Thaung Tun participates in the virtual 10th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting (RCEP ISSL MM 10)
Union Minister U Thaung Tun participates in the 10th Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Intersessional Ministerial Meeting via videoconference on 23 June 2020.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Precursor chemicals destroyed to welcome World Drug Day
Anti-narcotics police destroyed seized precursor chemicals worth nearly 3,379 million (US$2.3 million) at the field near the Asia World toll gate in Kutkai Town, northern Shan State, yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Monk Charged with Murder of Teenager in Myanmar’s Magwe Region
Police say the monk stabbed the teenager out of anger but the victim’s family believes it was premeditated and are calling for justice.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo CCDAC Myanmar
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, June 26.

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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