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Hanoi (VNA) - Myanmar has recently designated two new public forest areas in the western state of Chin's Paletwa Township and in the west-central region of Magway's Gangaw Township. According to Xinhua news agency, the Southeast Asian nation’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation announced they consist of the 4,988 acres Paletwa and the 8,400 acres Pawle-Watchipa forest in Gangaw. The designation of the protected areas aims at conserving watershed areas, mitigating climate change, protecting biodiversity, ensuring soil conservation and fulfilling the needs of local residents, the ministry said. A total of 11 protected forest areas have been designated across the country so far this year, according to Maung Maung Kyaw, a director of the Forest Department. In the 2020-2021 fiscal year, Myanmar had a total of 67,559.66 square miles of reserved forest and protected public forest areas , or about 25% of the country's national territory, … [Read more...] about Myanmar has two new protected public forest areas

Thai Airways plane (Source: AFP/VNA) Bangkok (VNA) – The Central Bankruptcy Court of Thailand on September 14 approved a request for a debt restructuring plan of Thai Airways International Plc, the nation’s flagship carrier, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19. Thai Airways reduced its stake in May and went to the insolvency court to resolve its debt, which totalled 332.2 billion (10.6 billion USD) by the end of June, according to local media. The carrier, which reported a loss of nearly 900 million USD in the first quarter of this year, is seeking a loan worth around 1.78 billion USD in the short term to operate and pay for its employees. It is expected to submit the debt restructuring plan by the end of this year. The global aviation sector has plunged into crisis by the pandemic as countries severely restricted travel, forcing airlines to ground vast numbers of planes and seek government help as they hemorrhaged cash./. VNA … [Read more...] about Thai Airways receives court greenlight for debt restructuring

NC212i Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) produced by PT Dirgantara Indonesia . (PTDI). (Photo: indonesiawindow.com) Jakarta (VNA) – PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI), an Indonesia n aerospace company, has handed over an NC212i plane to the Thai Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (DRRAA). aircraft which can be used for passenger transport, cargo, rainmaking, troop/paratroop transport and medical evacuation operations. This specification of the NC212i is ideal for Thailand’s geographical conditions, he noted. Another type of aircraft that also fits Thailand’s geography is the N219, which is expected to become the next purchase by Thailand, he said, adding that one more NC212i plane will be delivered to Thailand by the end of December. VNA … [Read more...] about Indonesia exports aircraft to Thailand

Jakarta (VNA) - Secretary-General of ASEAN Dato Lim Jock Hoi highlighted the need for closer public-private partnership amid challenging global economic outlook, at the 14th Dialogue with the Federation of Japanese Chambers of Commerce and Industry in ASEAN (FJCCIA) on August 10. FJCCIA representatives along with key important figures in ASEAN – Japan cooperation including Ambassador of Japan to ASEAN Akira Chiba, President of the Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) Professor Hidetoshi Nishimura and Chairman of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Sasaki Nobuhiko attended the meeting. At the dialogue, Secretary-General Dato Lim highlighted ASEAN’s strategies to attain economic resilience in the post-pandemic world by leveraging on trade openness, digital transformation, and sustainability. He also welcomed closer engagements with Japanese businesses to increase trade and investment activities and deepen collaboration in technology transfer, digital … [Read more...] about ASEAN chief highlights need for closer public-private collaboration

The head of the European Space Agency (ESA) has warned economic damage from heatwaves and drought could dwarf Europe's energy crisis as he called for urgent action to tackle climate change. Director General Josef Aschbacher told Reuters successive heatwaves along with wildfires, shrinking rivers and rising land temperatures as measured from space left no doubt about the toll on agriculture and other industries from climate change. "Today, we are very concerned about the energy crisis, and rightly so. But this crisis is very small compared to the impact of climate change, which is of a much bigger magnitude and really has to be tackled extremely fast," he said. He was speaking in an interview as heatwaves and floods generate concerns over extreme weather across the globe. More than 57,200 hectares have been swallowed by wildfire in France this year, nearly six times the full-year average. In Spain, a prolonged dry spell made July the hottest month since at least 1961. … [Read more...] about Climate risks dwarf Europe’s energy crisis, space chief warns

In the letter, the Vietnamese top legislator showed delight at the progress of the Japan-Vietnam Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia, including the ties between the two legislatures. He expressed his strong belief that with the rich experience gained through different working positions, Hidehisa will achieve great success in his new position and continue to promote the partnership between the two countries in all fields. N.A. Chairman Hue underlined his hope to work closely with the Japanese House of Councillors leader to make the cooperation between the two legislative bodies deeper and more effective for the benefits of peoples of both countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. On the occasion, N.A. Chairman Hue also invited Hidehisa to visit Vietnam at a convenient time. Source: VNA … [Read more...] about N.A. Chairman extends congratulations to new Japanese House of Councillors President