Myanmar morning news for May 19, 2020

COVID-19 cases in Myanmar stand at 188 on 18 May 2020
The Ministry of Health and Sports released an update report of COVID-19 in Myanmar yesterday, with 4 new cases and national tally reaching 188.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar GDP estimate to be slightly reduced
The estimated GDP for the current fiscal year of 2019-20 will be slightly reduced, said U Maung Maung Win, Deputy Minister for Planning, Finance and Industry.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar police make Asia’s biggest drug bust in decades, seizing 200 million meth tablets
Hong Kong (CNN)Myanmar police have made Asia’s biggest drug bust in decades, seizing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of contraband including “unprecedented” amounts of methylfentanyl, a chemical used to make a dangerously potent synthetic opioid.
— CNN

Rubber export income down about $30 mln in seven months (Oct-Apr)
Myanmar has exported 114,000 tonnes of rubber worth over US$140 million as of April-end in the current financial year since 1 October 2019, which shows a decrease of about $30 million compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, the Ministry of Commerce’s data showed.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Yoma Strategic’s mobile payments joint venture in Myanmar ties up with Alipay operator
Alipay operator Ant Financial Services Group will invest $73.5 million in Digital Money Myanmar (Wave Money) – a mobile payments joint venture (JV) between Telenor Group and the Yoma group – as part of a strategic partnership to promote financial inclusion in Myanmar.
— The Straits Times

‘All my dreams are shattered’: coronavirus crushes Asia’s garment industry
Zarchi Lwin pawned her only two gold bangles for $140 when the owner of the Myanmar factory where she sewed winter coats for British retailer Next Plc shut it down after orders dried up due to the coronavirus.
— Reuters

Wave Money and Ant Financial Services Group Forms Strategic Partnership
Digital Money Myanmar Limited (“Wave Money”) and Ant Financial Services Group (“Ant Group”), operator of Alipay, have announced a strategic partnership to promote financial inclusion for the unbanked and underbanked communities in Myanmar, according to a press release.
— Mizzima

Myanmar Ethnic Armed Group Seizes $1.28 Million in Meth From Smugglers After Firefight
The United Wa State Army in Myanmar’s Shan state seized drugs after a firefight with drug smugglers last week, UWSA said on Monday as the UN praised a two-month operation in which the country’s police and military seized a record amount of methamphetamine and other drugs in the state.
— Radio Free Asia

Reasons for optimism in Myanmar’s coronavirus fight
Despite ominous predictions, there are few signs of a disastrous spread of COVID-19, while the capacity to control and treat the disease is increasing with each day.
— Frontier Myanmar

CVC Capital, Guodong in race for Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Green Towers stake
Private equity firm CVC Capital Partners and Chinese wireless infrastructure company Guodong Group are among shortlisted bidders for Myanmar’s biggest telecommunications tower company, in a deal worth as much as $800 million, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
— DealStreetAsia

Myanmar to invite tenders for solar power: MOEE
The Ministry of Electricity and Energy (MOEE) will invite local and foreign investors to tender for a solar power plant project, said U Soe Myint, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the ministry.
— Myanmar Times

K1.2 billion in drugs seized in Myanmar’s Shan State
Police seized illegal drugs and weapons worth K1.2 billion (US$854,329) during a raid in Muse town in Stan State.
— Myanmar Times

Govt to disinfect all schools used for quarantine in Myanmar
The government ordered all schools used as quarantine facilities to be closed and returned to the Ministry of Education no later than June 16, in preparation for the beginning of the school year.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar seamen to have coronavirus-free certificate arrangement
The Myanmar Seamen’s Federation (MSF) and the National Health Laboratory (NHL) under the Ministry of Health and Sports are arranging to give out health certificates recommending that the seafarers are free of COVID-19.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar Strategic Holdings makes key senior management appointments
Myanmar Strategic Holdings (MSH), a Myanmar-based investor in the local consumer market, has executed senior management changes to enhance its operations.
— DealStreetAsia

Myanmar govt says Northern Alliance not interested in peace
The Myanmar government said the Northern Alliance of four ethnic armed groups is not interested in peace because it has rejected all proposals for peace talks.
— Myanmar Times

COVID-19 cases rise to 187 in Myanmar
The total number of COVID-19 cases in Myanmar has risen to 187, with three more confirmed cases reported on Monday, according to a release from the Ministry of Health and Sports.
— Xinhua

More migrant workers return from Thailand
A total of 90 Myanmar migrant workers returned through the Friendship Bridge No 2 in Myawaddy on 17 May, the 17th consecutive day since the government resumed accepting returnees on 1 May amidst the spread of COVID-19, state media reported.
— Mizzima

Huge fentanyl haul seized in Myanmar as Asian gangs shift to opioids
Myanmar police say they have seized a huge haul of liquid fentanyl, the first time one of the dangerous synthetic opioids that have ravaged North America has been found in Asia’s Golden Triangle drug-producing region.
— FMT

Ant Financial to pour $73.5m into Myanmar fintech firm Wave Money
Ant Financial has announced its plans to invest US$73.5 million in fintech firm Wave Money as part of a strategic partnership to boost financial inclusion in Myanmar.
— Tech In Asia

Korea extends $30 million to support Myanmar’s COVID-19 relief plan
The Export-Import Bank of Korea will provide Myanmar with a US$30 million COVID-19 Emergency Equipment loan from its Economic Development Cooperative Fund (ECDF).
— Myanmar Times

Beijing urges citizens to take precautions, asks Myanmar to tackle crimes against Chinese
China has urged the Myanmar authorities to tackle a spate of crimes apparently directed against Chinese nationals after the death of a prominent businessman who was attacked in Yangon in broad daylight last week.
— Myanmar Times

Despite COVID-19, China urges Myanmar to move forward with BRI project
China is urging Myanmar to move forward with several agreements made during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the country in January.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to Introduce Tougher Law to Control Communicable Diseases
Parliament is set to debate a new law on communicable disease control that will create a central committee to tackle outbreaks and boost punishments for violators.
— Irrawaddy

Well-wishers donate face masks, hand sanitizers to NPE
Gold Lite Myanmar and Sawdee Electronics donated 1,500 face masks and 60 bottles of hand sanitizers to Kyemon newspaper building in Pazundaung Township yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Virus derails Rakhine Muslim repatriation, Myanmar says
The first COVID-19 case found among the more than 700,000 northern Rakhine State Muslims living in crowded refugee camps in Bangladesh could delay their repatriation, a Myanmar government spokesperson said.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar brings back 81 citizens from the Philippines
The relief flight of Air Asia Philippines landed at Yangon International Airport yesterday, carrying 81 Myanmar citizens who stranded in the Philippines due to the suspension of international flights.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Government Promises Cash to Families Hit by COVID-19
Cash delivered to struggling families through phone apps is more efficient than delivering food packages, the government says.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar’s Return of Indian Rebels: Act of Friendship or Strategic Trade-Off?
Myanmar’s recent repatriation of 22 captured Indian rebels suggests Naypyitaw’s embrace of New Delhi as a counterweight to China is entering a more concrete phase.
— Irrawaddy

Tour operators for Chinese visitors discuss better services in post-COVID-19
Union Minister for Hotels and Tourism U Ohn Maung held a video conference with Chinese tour operators based in Yangon Region and Mandalay Region from his office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

U Soe Han, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Participates in the Video Conference of the 32nd ASEAN-Australia Forum
U Soe Han, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs participated in the Video Conference of the 32nd ASEAN-Australia Forum yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Migrants Deported from Malaysia Test Positive for COVID-19
Five Myanmar migrant workers out of hundreds deported from Malaysia in recent weeks have tested positive for COVID-19.
— Irrawaddy

Amyotha Hluttaw discusses landholding permits, ethnic youths & literature
The first day meeting of the Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 16th regular session took place in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s armed forces declare three-month ceasefire
From May 10, Myanmar military has started a three-month ceasefire. However, it will not cover areas where ethnic rebels, the government considers as terrorist groups, are based.
— New Dealhi Times

Pyithu Hluttaw raises the curtain on its 16th regular session
The Second Pyithu Hluttaw began its 16th regular session yesterday, in line with healthcare guidelines on preventive measures against the COVID-19 viral disease.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Fourth-Year Performances of Mandalay Region Government
“Tampawaddy” is the name of Mandalay during Myanmar Kings, and that the scholars have accepted the land as the birthplace of the patriots, loyalists and nationalists.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Huge fentanyl haul seized in Golden Triangle as Asian crime gangs shift to opioids
Myanmar police say they have seized a huge haul of liquid fentanyl, the first time one of the dangerous synthetic opioids that have ravaged North America has been found in Asia’s Golden Triangle drug-producing region.
— CNA

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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