Environment and natural resources
Philippines says China ships still at shoal, but fishermen unhindered
China has scaled down its presence at a disputed South China Sea shoal but has not interfered with Filipino fishermen, the Philippine president’s security adviser said on October 30, after the administration had said China had withdrawn completely. Hermogenes Esperon said Chinese ships were still present ...
How has outdated Chinese technology entered Vietnam?
Vietnamese businesses are continuing to import outdated Chinese technology despite repeated warnings by scientists that the country could become a ‘technology landfill’. The latest report of the Ministry of Science & Technology shows that technologies used in most industries in Vietnam are outdated, causing serious pollution ...
Ministry demands closure of factory, chicken farm
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has recommended revoking the licences of a chicken farm and a brick factory in Xaythany district, Vientiane, after learning they were causing pollution and affecting nearby communities. Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sommad Pholsena told the National Assembly ...
300 million children live in areas with extreme air pollution, data reveals
Global study reveals huge number of children breathing toxic fumes more than six times over safe limits, while billions are affected by air pollution that exceeds guidelines. Three hundred million of the world’s children live in areas with extreme air pollution, where toxic fumes are more ...
Mekong Delta steps up climate change fight
The Cửu Long (Mekong) River Delta needs to be more innovative in production and development to grow sustainably in the context of climate change and environmental and integration challenges, a conference heard. Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Trần Văn Tùng told the Mekong Connect-CEO ...
Authorities bolster efforts to stem illegal wildlife trade
Despite concerted efforts by officials to end the illegal wildlife trade through regular inspections at markets throughout the country, the trade continues to flourish. To reduce illegal wildlife trading in Laos, especially in the main towns, the authorities have asked various agencies to join the ...
Government criticised in first independent report on Formosa disaster
The Vietnamese government has been accused of a slow response, and a lack of transparency and accountability, in the first independent report into the environmental disaster that killed millions of fish off the central coast earlier this year. The report by the unregistered civil society organisation, ...
Facing donors, Vietnam urged to rethink coal-fueled growth
Vietnam seeks financial support for its ‘black to green’ transition, but international partners say what’s needed is better policy. International development partners and donors have called on Vietnam to commit to bigger greenhouse gas emission reductions, warning that fueling growth with coal will hurt the ...
Agro-forestry-fishery export value up 6.3%
The total export value of agro-forestry-fishery products in the first ten months of this year reached US$26.4 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.3 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Specifically, export value was $12.5 billion from of main farming products, ...
Plan to boost children’s healthcare, education, protection
The Union government is drawing up a plan to help children survive and thrive, Ministry of Planning and Finance director general Daw Whar Whar Maung told The Myanmar Times on October 26. Specifics details were not released for the plan, which was discussed at a meeting ...
