Myanmar morning news for May 18, 2020

Two more COVID-19 cases on Sunday, total cases reach 184
THE Ministry of Health and Sports reported two more confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of people tested positive to 184.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Thai-Myanmar border trade value declines this FY
Values of Thailand-Myanmar border trade from 1 October to 1 May this financial year 2019-2020 amounted to more than US$1.4 billion which showed a decrease of $170 million against last FY, according to the official statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Needy Myanmar citizens to be given financial help during COVID-19 crisis
Myanmar’s Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of the COVID-19 virus will provide financial assistance to needy citizens as part of the COVID-19 economic relief plan, a government official said.
— Mizzima

Myanmar journalist Kyaw Linn attacked, threatened in Rakhine state
Myanmar authorities must conduct a swift, thorough, and impartial investigation into the assault of journalist Kyaw Linn and ensure that reporters can work in Rakhine state without fearing for their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
— CPJ

Myanmar flight brings back Sri Lankans from Yangon
The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Myanmar with collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the support of the Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka, coordinated the repatriation of seventy two (72) Sri Lankans mainly comprising monks, nuns, students and professionals today (16th May, 2020) from Yangon through a special relief fight 8M 611 arranged by Myanmar Airways International.
— Menafn

Canadian pastor charged in Myanmar for defying COVID-19 restriction on gatherings
He’s become known as the pastor who preached that devout Christians could not get the coronavirus, then he got it himself.
— CBC

UK urges Myanmar military to extend cease-fire, citing virus
The United Kingdom and the United Nations urged the Myanmar’s military to extend its recently announced cease-fire to include the escalating conflict in northern Rakhine and Chin states where civilians are suffering a heavy toll at the time of the Covid-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.
— The Star Online

Myanmar to provide cash assistance to needy citizens amid COVID-19 crisis
Myanmar’s Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of the COVID-19 will provide cash assistance to needy citizens as part of the COVID-19 economic relief plan, a government official told a press briefing on Saturday.
— Xinhua

Yangon government relaxes curfew hours during COVID-19 crisis
Yangon region government on Friday announced the relaxation of two hours to a dusk-to-dawn curfew imposed in the region amid the fear of infectious COVID-19 spread.
— Mizzima

Locally made cotton clothing to beat the summer heat
The weather has been burning hot lately. The above 40 degrees everyday weather has been affecting people physically and been draining our energy, leaving us being unable to focus on whatever we are doing.
— Myanmore

144 Myanmar citizens brought back from Singapore in 4th group as total number reaches 577
The 4th relief flight of Myanmar that brought back 144 returneesfrom Singapore landed at the Yangon International Airport yesterday evening.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister observes transport projects in Shan State (South)
Union Minister for Construction U Han Zaw, accompanied by Deputy Minister Dr Kyaw Lin and officials, inspected, road and bridge construction sites, rural road/bridge construction undertakings and progress of work in Shan State (South) through the video conferencing from Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

H&M, Inditex Sign ‘Framework for Action’ to Protect Myanmar Garment Workers
Some of the world’s biggest fashion brands have signed a “framework for action” aimed at protecting Myanmar’s garment workers from the worst impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
— Sourcing Journal

COVID-19 supplies reach IDP camps in Kachin, Rakhine states
The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, in cooperation with related departments and organizations, has implemented prevention, control and response actions against COVID-19 at the IDP camps in Kachin and Rakhine states on 15 and 16 May.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar: Couple Arrested Over Explosion In Maungdaw Twsp Face Terrorism Charges
A recently married couple were arrested and charged under the Counter-Terrorism Law earlier this month in connection with a deadly explosion near the village of U Daung in southern Maungdaw Township.
— Eurasia Review

Three more trains added to Yangon Circular Railway for rush hours
The Myanma Railways (MR) expanded its rush hour train services on the Yangon Circular Railway as of 18 May (today), according to the MR’s regional transports Assistant General Manager U Zaw Lwin.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

90 migrant workers return from Thailand via border on Sunday
A total of 90 Myanmar migrant workers returned through the Friendship Bridge No 2 in Myawady on 17 May, the 17th consecutive day since the government resumed accepting returnees on 1 May amidst the spread of COVID-19.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

2nd batch of COVID-19 medicines, equipment arrives in Yangon by humanitarian flight
A second humanitarian flight carrying Personal Protective Equipment – PPE, medicines and medical equipment procured by the World Food Programme-WFP and World Health Organziation-WHO arrived in Yangon yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

MoSWRR distributes healthcare items at IDP camps in Kachin, Shan states
THE MINISTRY of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement has provided healthcare items to the camps of internally displaced persons in the battle against COVID-19 in Kachin and Shan states.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Police arrest illegal Chinese with narcotics, weapons in Muse
A total of 19 Chinese citizens illegally living in Myanmar were arrested in possession of weapons and illegal narcotics in four separate raids in Muse, northern Shan State on 15 and 16 May.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Eligibility for maximum coronavirus loan amount can vary on workforce: UMFCCI
The eligibility for the maximum amount of emergency Coronavirus Fund to enterprises hit hard by the pandemic can vary depending on the workforce in factories, said UMFCCI General Secretary U Aye Win.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Race to prevent coronavirus ‘nightmare’ in refugee camps
Emergency teams are racing to prevent a coronavirus “nightmare” in the world’s largest refugee settlement after the first confirmed cases in a sprawling city of shacks housing nearly a million Rohingya.
— Mizzima

Cyclone Amphan coded yellow by DMH, likely to cross West Bengal of India
Weather report on Cyclone Amphan Cyclonic storm Amphan has intensified to a severe cyclonic storm but has not showed no change in trajectory within the southeastern and southwestern region of the Bay of Bengal, according to a weather bulletin issued by the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology at 2 p.m. yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Over 487,000 stimulants seized in Myanmar’s western state
Myanmar authorities seized over 487,000 stimulants in Rakhine State, according to a release from the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday.
— Xinhua

The Day Myanmar Experienced the Socialist Era’s First Demonetization
On this day in 1964, Gen. Ne Win’s regime caused financial havoc when it demonetizedtwo banknotes and ceased exchanging them for legal tender just a few days later.
— Irrawaddy

Follow-up lab tests reveal negative for Nay Pyi Taw Tatmadaw man
The Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services reported on 4 May that a Tatmadaw man within the Nay Pyi Taw Command territory had tested positive for COVID-19 and relocated to the Tatmadaw’s quarantine facility.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

UN Chief: Move Myanmar Rohingya on Bangladesh island to refugee camps
Hundreds of Rohingya rescued by Bangladesh and sent to a flood-prone island after being stranded at sea for weeks should be moved to existing refugee camps, the UN secretary general said.
— The Star Online

12 insurgents handed over by Myanmar, 206 others test COVID negative in Manipur
The Myanmarese army on Friday had handed over to India 22 insurgents wanted in Assam and Manipur in a clandestine operation monitored by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval.
— New Indian Express

Tatmadaw donates COVID-19 articles to New Mon State Party
The Tatmadaw donated protective equipment and other items for COVID-19 to the New Mon State Party (NMSP) on16 May.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Disinfection conducted at Hluttaw buildings in Nay Pyi Taw to prevent spread of COVID-19 disease
Disinfectants were sprayed at the buildings of Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, Pyithu Hluttaw and Amyotha Hluttaw yesterday morning as a move to prevent spread of COVID-19 in Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Pastor faces 3 years in jail for defying Myanmar’s COVID-19 stay-at-home orders
A controversial Christian pastor and three others in Myanmar face three years in jail for organizing services in defiance of a ban on large gatherings in the Southeast Asian country due to COVID-19.
— Christian Post

Strong winds destroy houses, religious buildings
Strong winds devastated houses and monasteries in eight regions and states on 14 and 15 May. In the pre-monsoon periods of March, April and May, strong winds, heavy clouds, lightning, and falling hailstones occur in Myanmar. Strong winds in Kayah State blew off the roofs of four houses in Dimawhso and Meisei townships, and strong …
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

More migrants prepare to return, but is Myanmar ready this time?
Tens of thousands of migrant workers in Thailand are anxiously waiting to return to Myanmar, where capacity to safely quarantine arrivals has transformed since the chaotic returns of March.
— Frontier Myanmar

Four Manipuri women sneak into Myanmar, detained
Four Manipuri women who had sneaked into Myanmar through the international border were picked up on their return and have been detained in quarantine centres, according to official reports.
— The Hindu

Thai authorities hand over 76 Myanmar citizens
MYANMAR began accepting Myanmar migrant workers returning from Thailand on 1 May and Myanmar officials accepted 76 Myanmar citizens who have served jail terms in Thailand for various offences at Myawady Friendship Bridge 2 yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Director-General of Ministry of State Counsellor Office holds online press conference about government’s handling amid COVID-19
Director-General of the Ministry of State Counsellor Office U Zaw Htay held an online press conference yesterday, about government’s management on various topics, including COVID-19 crisis.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Mandalay Region reopens over 100 highway bus lines
The highway bus lines have all been suspended starting from April to prevent the spreading of coronavirus disease.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association – BANCA-BirdLife Myanmar
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on International Day for Biological Diversity, May 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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