They are the first of over 40 from 13 countries committed to investing in the zone. The construction work is underway for most of the other factories.

Police target taxi crimes

Police took action against 146 unlicensed taxis in Yangon in a move to control crimes committed by cabbies.

Pol Captain Aung Ko Oo said last week that some of them carried fake licences and these people are more likely to commit crimes. A passenger was beaten by an iron rod and robbed on Tuesday.

All taxi drivers in the city must show a valid licence or risk a six-month suspension, 50,000 kyat (Bt1,375) fine and a month in jail.

Perilous Facebook post

Facebook user Zaw Myo Nyunt was

sentenced to one year in prison with hard labour for his Facebook post that “defamed” Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

He was also convicted of distributing materials that upset public tranquillity.

He was arrested on October 6.

“It’s unfair that I was punished like this. There should no longer be such prosecutions that oppress the people,” he said.

Two other users – Chaw Sandi Tun and Kachin national Khum Jar Lee – were earlier sentenced to six months in jail for similar defamatory posts.

Power transfer talks

Aung San Suu Kyi, chairwoman of the National League for Democracy, met the commander-in-chief for the second time since the election for nearly two hours.

They discussed the post-election transition, parliamentary affairs, duties of the incoming government and future steps for the national peace process.

The government’s support committee for the handover of the duties of the head of state and NLD’s transition committee held another meeting, about two months from the first meeting on November 22.

Information Minister Ye Htut said they discussed plans to hold a handover ceremony. Another meeting is scheduled for next month.

$1 bn in development loans

Myanmar received loans worth over US$1 billion (Bt36 billion) in fiscal 2014-15 from the governments of Japan, China and South Korea and international organisations, according to the National Planning and Economic Development Ministry.

The loans were used to upgrade telecommunications infrastructure and railroad sections, build subpower stations and reform the financial sector throughout the last fiscal year.

Japan loaned $628 million for the upgrades of the Thilawa-Thanlyin road and Yangon-Mandalay railroad project by the Rail Transportation Ministry, extension of the Lagonepyin water supply project in Yangon under the Yangon City Development Committee and development of dam projects in western Bago region.

China loaned $20 million for the construction of the Athoke-Pathein power grid and subpower station. South Korea loaned $200 million for the construction of the Taunggo-Kamarnat subpower station and the purchase of farm equipment through a long-term instalment plan.

Microsoft hosts workshops

Microsoft has hosted a series of workshops and seminars for local business leaders and entrepreneurs, sharing emerging trends in technology and discussing how technology innovation can help local businesses grow, transform and build the local economy.

It also met with management from the Yangon Stock Exchange. They shared ways that modern exchanges from the region and globally are helping to protect companies and investors with cybersecurity best practices.

Security bill passed

MPs passed the controversial security bill just days before parliament was adjourned.

Under the law, President Thein Sein will be shielded against legal charges regarding his decisions while serving the nation.

The Home Affairs Ministry will take responsibility for his security after leaving office. The original text of the bill said this duty would be shared with the Defence Ministry.

Rental housing project

Construction of a rental housing project began in South Dagon township in Yangon, involving 26 local construction companies. Monthly rents are set at 30,000-50,000 kyat. The project is expected to be completed at the end of March.

The Yangon government was allocated 20 billion kyat for the project.

The amount shows no change from its target for the 2015-16 fiscal year, which will end on March 31.

From April to December 2015, FDI inflows from 20 countries were more than $5 billion.

Journalist wins award

Myanmar national Htet Khaung Linn was among nine journalists, selected from more than 1,400 registered participants from across the world, awarded the European Commission’s Lorenzo Natali Media Prizes.

The prizes honour those reporting on development issues. The winners’ reports covered topics ranging from the e-waste economy in Ghana to innovative farming methods in slums in Kenya, drug crime in Mexico, and child prostitution in Myanmar.

Htet Khaung Linn’s winning article “Poverty drives Myanmar girls into underage sex work” can be found at http://bit.ly/1ZwLpgH.

CNPC faces disruption

China National Petroleum Corporation’s land fencing in Maday Island, Kyaukphyu township, Rakhine state, was suspended because of protests.

The administrator for Kyaukphyu township, along with CNPC and the Land Records Department, promised 1 million kyat per acre (Bt68,000 per hectare) to each of 12 landowners, but some owners do not want to leave their farm land.

Kyaw Hla, one of the landowners who is also a member of Maday Island Development Committee, said some landowners were threatened to take money and leave. He said he might leave if the compensation were raised to 40 million kyat.

CNPC plans a port and oil-storage tanks on the island, as part of its oil pipeline from Kyaukphyu to Yunnan.

Budget bill approved

The Myanmar Parliament approved the budget bill for the 2016-17 fiscal year, which targets revenue of 17.45 trillion kyat (Bt483 billion) and expenditure of 20.74 trillion kyat.

The fiscal deficit is projected to account for 4.16 per cent of gross domestic product.

The deficit ratio could be 4.66 per cent but for a budget cut worth 625 billion kyat.

Tram link

Myanma Railways reportedly plans to link tram routes to Kyimyindaing and Pazundaung railway stations in the next fiscal year.

Domestic and foreign companies would be invited to bid for the project, designed to promote public transport.

Ethnic MPs win nominations

The National League for Democracy nominated four MPs for Speaker positions in the two parliamentary houses, including three ethnic-minority MPs.

NLD spokesman Nyan Win said Win Khaing Than, an ethnic Karen, and spokesman U Win Myint were nominated for upper and lower house Speaker. The other nominations for deputy Speakers are an ethnic Rakhine from the Arakan National Party and an ethnic Kachin from the incumbent military-backed party.

The vote is set after both houses convene on February 1.

Suu Kyi inspects MP guest houses

National League for Democracy chairwoman Aung San Suu Kyi and lower house Speaker Thura Shwe Mann inspected Nay Pyi Taw’s guest houses, seeking accommodation for MPs who do not live in the city.

They talked with guest-house managers on security measures and availability of rooms.

The MPs are set to arrive in Nay Pyi Taw before January 26 tomorrow.

Expenses are to be billed to Parliament as part of the capital’s municipal budget.

Higher arsenic level

The arsenic level in drinking water in Ayeyawady and Bago regions and Rakhine state has reached dangerours levels, said the Department of Medical Research.

It took samples from 97 wells in Ayeyawady region and found that 29 per cent exceeded the standard level.

Protest anniversary marked

The All Burma Federation of Student Unions for Upper Myanmar marked the one-year anniversary of the march against the National Education Law. The march to Yangon culminated in a crackdown in Letpadan on March 10.

The students joining the commemoration demanded the release of all students still detained, as well as other political prisoners.

On Friday, Myanmar pardoned more than 100 prisoners, including a New Zealander and 34 others jailed on political charges. The move comes after a US envoy urged the quasi-civilian government to free all remaining political prisoners before the new Parliament convenes next month.

Last week, 12 workers protesting for a pay rise in 2015 were indicted for unlawful assembly.

Age restriction on car importers

MP Win Oo submitted a proposal to raise the age restriction on car imports, from 18 to 25.

He said Myanmar had imported around 600,000 cars over the last five years, causing traffic jams and parking problems.

Military appointees

A total of 220 military personnel were appointed as members of regional and state parliaments. On the list of 220 appointees, 203 are from the army, seven are from the air force and 10 are from the navy. The new MPs include one brigadier-general, 14 colonels and 10 lieutenant-colonels.

On the list submitted to the Election Commission, 13 military personnel were appointed to the Kachin state parliament, five for Kayah state, six for Kayin State, six for Chin state, seven for Taninthayi region, 19 for Bago region, 17 for Magway region, 19 for Mandalay region, eight for Mon state, 12 for Rakhine state, 31 for Yangon region, 34 for Shan state and 18 for Ayeyawady region.

No show for some candidates

Only 14 out of 34 candidates for Yangon Region Parliament who failed to submit election expenses during Myanmar’s general election in November appeared before the Union Election Commission.

The UEC will rule on whether they were qualified on February 4, while the verdict for those who failed to appear will be issued on February 5.

A total of 52 new MPs for the lower house, 30 for the upper house, 122 for regional and state parliaments and three ethnic representatives failed to submit expenses.