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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/ann/40018848

Human-elephant conflicts are increasing due to “competition for resources” with around 500 people in the country dying in elephant attacks and 100 jumbos “killed in retaliation” annually.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said this while addressing an event to mark the World Elephant Day at the Periyar National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala. The minister said India has emerged a pioneer in elephant conservation and managing human-elephant conflicts is the major focus of the government.

“With competition for resources, (the number of) human-animal conflicts are increasing, and it is very unfortunate that around 500 people are killed in elephant attacks and 100 jumbos are killed in retaliation annually,” Yadav said.

“Managing human-elephant conflict is the major focus of the government. The Narendra Modi government has increased the ex-gratia amount for families of those killed in elephant attacks from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

“To find a long-term solution, we are revisiting the elephant corridors of the country and have finished more than 50 per cent of the task involving key stakeholders,” he said.

According to government data presented in Parliament last month, 1,578 people have died in elephant attacks in the country in the last three years.

The government said 222 elephants have died due to electrocution, 45 in train accidents, 29 due to poaching and 11 died due to poisoning during this period.

Yadav said India has done remarkably well in elephant conservation despite challenges.

The country has 29,964 jumbos, according to the latest elephant census in 2017.

“India continues to be a leader in elephant conservation. It has the largest and most stable population of asian elephants. In fact, more than 60 percent of the wild asian elephants are in India,” the minister said.

Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily,  Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia,  Dawn (Pakistan),  The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Published : August 13, 2022

By : The Statesman

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/ann/40018847

The governments of Laos and Brunei Darussalam have agreed to enhance economic, trade and investment cooperation, the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press statement.

The agreement was reached at the third meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between the two countries held in Brunei Darussalam, which was co-chaired by Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof.

The meeting took place to further strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between Laos and Brunei. 

The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations, including in the fields of human resource development, air transport, and women’s cooperation.

The two countries also agreed to encourage industry, economic, and trade investment cooperation as well as encourage cooperation in agriculture, especially the possibility of trading in rice and other agricultural produce.

The two sides agreed that future cooperation should be broad and cover multiple areas, with the aim of making cooperation more efficient and effective in order to bring real benefits to the people of Laos and Brunei. In 2023, the two countries agreed to jointly organise various important events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Laos-Brunei diplomatic relations (July 27, 1993-July 27, 2023).

In previous years, the government of Brunei has supported Laos’ hosting of the 9th Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM-9) Summit in 2012 and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summits in Vientiane in 2004 and 2016, as well as human resource development, the building of schools, and sports development.

Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily,  Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia,  Dawn (Pakistan),  The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Published : August 13, 2022

By : Vientiane Times

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/ann/40018846

Since Việt Nam officially joined UN peacekeeping forces in 2014, it has successfully deployed over 500 personnel on peacekeeping missions and to the UN headquarters.

HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam is ready to take part in more UN peacekeeping operations in the future, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoàng Xuân Chiến said to UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis in Hà Nội on August 12.

Chiến praised the cooperation and assistance provided by the UN and its agencies, especially the UN Resident Coordinator Office, when Việt Nam served as the ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2020 – 2021.

He thanked the UN and relevant agencies for working closely with Việt Nam to successfully carry out many war aftermath settlement activities, particularly programmes and projects on addressing unexploded ordnance and toxic chemicals, which brought positive outcomes.

The official said he hoped the UN would continue coordinating with the Defence Ministry in war aftermath settlement through financial and technical aid, capacity building, experience sharing, and database building.

Since Việt Nam officially joined UN peacekeeping forces in 2014, it has successfully deployed over 500 personnel on peacekeeping missions and to the UN headquarters. It is also the first country in Southeast Asia to implement three training courses on heavy engineering equipment, under the Việt Nam-UN-Japan trilateral partnership programme, which received strong evaluations from UN leaders.

The country has maintained a rate of female participation in peacekeeping operations that is higher than the average and pledges to maintain and increase this rate to over 20 per cent by 2025, according to Chiến.

Việt Nam would further engage in UN peacekeeping operations, including sending personnel on more missions and diversifying participation forms, he noted, adding that police would also be deployed on operations.

The official asked the UN to continue supporting Việt Nam’s commitments and political resolve to join peacekeeping operations, and create favourable conditions to further enhance cooperation in this regard.

Tamesis applauded Việt Nam’s efforts, especially its military and police forces, in containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

The UN would assist the Vietnamese Government and people in securing the best possible post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and meet healthcare-related demand, she said.

The official said she recently had the honour of signing the Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation with the Vietnamese Government, describing it as a very important document that outlines the UN’s strategy and assistance priorities for the country in the next five years. The document also underlines the UN’s role in helping Việt Nam recover after the pandemic and ensuring that no one is left behind.

The Resident Coordinator spoke highly of Việt Nam’s achievements in joining UN peacekeeping operations, including the high rate of female participation, noting the UN pledges to continue assistance in this field.

The UN also highly valued Việt Nam sending police officers on peacekeeping operations, including three to the mission in South Sudan and one to the Police Division in New York, Tamesis added. – VNS

Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily,  Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia,  Dawn (Pakistan),  The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Published : August 13, 2022

By : Vietnam News

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/ann/40018845

UN fully supports S.Korea’s every effort to resume dialogue with N. Korea, says Guterres

The South Korean President and the UN chief had a “candid” discussion on the North Korean nuclear issue and shared their view that the country’s development of missile and nuclear weapons posed a “major challenge” to regional and world peace.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had a luncheon meeting that lasted for 2 hours and 20 minutes on Friday in Seoul, the South Korean presidential office said.

Both sides discussed the North Korean nuclear issue and other major global issues, including the regional situation, climate change and the Sustainable Development Goals, during the in-person meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul.

Candid discussion on N. Korea

Yoon and Guterres “exchanged candid views on the history and controversial points of the North Korean nuclear issue,” the South Korean presidential office said in a press statement.

The two leaders “shared their view that the advancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs pose a major challenge to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) system as well as peace in Northeast Asia and in the world.”

“Secretary-General Guterres expressed his view on the situation in North Korea based on his visit to North Korea in 1999 and said that he would continue to support our government’s efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue,” according to the presidential office.

During the meeting, Yoon also discussed concrete ways to advance cooperation between South Korea and the UN with other senior UN officials in charge of development, peace building and climate change.

Guterres was accompanied by UN Undersecretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenca, and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action Selwin Hart, among others.

Ganbold Baasanjav, head of the East and North-East Asia Office at the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, also attended the meeting.

Yoon also said his government would fulfill its responsibilities and role worthy of its global status in the fields of climate change, international development cooperation, peacebuilding and human rights.

The South Korean president explained that the government “values solidarity and cooperation to maintain international order based on universal values and norms.”

In return, Guterres said he looks forward that the South Korean government and the UN will strengthen cooperation in the areas of international peace and security, human rights, development and climate change.

Against that backdrop, Guterres asked Yoon to attend the UN General Assembly in New York in the middle of next month.

“I thank President Yoon Suk-yeol for his kind invitation and the rich discussions on non-proliferation, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula & climate action,” the UN chief said Friday on his official Twitter. “The Republic of Korea‘s strong commitments are a solid contribution to peace among nations & peace with nature.” 

South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin (right) holds talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap) South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin (right) holds talks with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during their meeting at the foreign ministry in Seoul on Friday. (Yonhap)

S. Korea calls for UN support

The UN chief also met South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin on Friday afternoon.

Park and Guterres discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, global issues such as the war in Ukraine and the upcoming 77th UN General Assembly, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said.

During the meeting, Park pointed out that the “international community including the UN need to be united and send a clear message that they do not tolerate North Korea’s nuclear development.” The South Korean foreign minister also called for the UN to “provide continuous support to come up with effective countermeasures against the North Korea nuclear issue.”

In response, Guterres reaffirmed his support for the Yoon Suk-yeol government’s efforts to establish sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to South Korea’s Foreign Ministry.

“Everything that can be done to launch a process of dialogue aiming at denuclearization … will be very much welcome and you will have the full support of the United Nations,” Guterres said in his opening remark.

In his remark, the UN chief underlined that he was very impressed with South Korea’s strong commitment to “do everything for full, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

During the meeting, Park also said the government seeks to strengthen its partnership and cooperation with the UN as the country moves forward toward the “global pivotal state.”

Park said the South Korean government intends to “play a more proactive role in defending the fundamental values of the UN Charter as a global pivotal state which contributes to freedom, peace and prosperity,” according to Foreign Ministry.

South Korea is currently a member of the UN Economic and Social Council and Human Rights Council. The country plans to bid for its third non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2024-25 period.

In response,Guterres called for the South Korean government to continue to contribute to protecting and developing multilateralism, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in the areas of climate change, humanitarian aid, international peace and security and others, according to the Foreign Ministry.

The UN chief arrived in South Korea on Thursday afternoon for a two-day trip on the third leg of his tour to three Asian countries including Japan and Mongolia. Guterres’ visit to South Korea marks the first time in four years since the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

By By Ji Da-gyum

Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily,  Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia,  Dawn (Pakistan),  The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Published : August 13, 2022

By : The Korea Herald

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/ann/40018844

The approval rating for the Cabinet of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plunged to an all-time low of 51% directly after a Cabinet reshuffle, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun nationwide opinion survey. This made for a 6 point drop from the previous survey.

According to an emergency public opinion poll conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun on Wednesday and Thursday, the disapproval rate for the Cabinet hit a record high of 34%, up from 32% in the previous survey conducted on Aug. 5 to 7.

However, when compared to average approval ratings of cabinets led by the Liberal Democratic Party in recent years, support for the Kishida Cabinet remains high, given that the average approval rating was 56% for the Junichiro Koizumi cabinets; 47% for the first Shinzo Abe Cabinet; 38% for the Yasuo Fukuda Cabinet; 26% for the Taro Aso Cabinet; 53% for Abe’s second term as prime minister; and 48% the Yoshihide Suga Cabinet.

With regard to Kishida’s request that his new Cabinet members personally inspect and review their links to the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification — widely known as the Unification Church — 36% thought Kishida’s request was an adequate response, while 55% said it wasn’t.

The survey showed that voters remain critical of links between the Unification Church and political parties such as the LDP.

Forty-five percent said they support the Cabinet reshuffle as a whole, while 34% said they do not.

When asked to rate the appointment of Taro Kono as the digital minister, 63% said they support the move and 21% said they do not. Regarding the appointment of Koichi Hagiuda as the chairperson of the LDP’s Policy Research Council, 32% said they support it and 40% said they do not.

Asked how long they would like Kishida to continue as prime minister, 45% said “until September 2024, when the LDP president’s term expires,” down from 52% in the July survey, followed by “as long as possible” at 21%, down from 27% in the last survey, and “about a year” at 19%, up from 12%.

The percentage of those who said they would like to see Kishida replaced immediately accounted for 10% of respondents, compared to 6% in the previous survey.

The results showed a downward trend in the number of respondents who want the administration to continue long-term.

When asked which party they supported, 35% of respondents chose the LDP, down from 38% in the previous survey, marking the lowest percentage since the Kishida Cabinet was formed. 37% of independent voters chose the LDP compared to 36% in the previous survey.

Support for the opposition parties remained virtually unchanged, with 6% choosing the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and 5% the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party). 37% of respondents described themselves as independent voters, up from 36% in the previous survey.

Unusual drop in support

The drop in support for the Kishida Cabinet following the reshuffle is unusual given that reshuffles typically raise people’s expectations for the Cabinet.

In the 17 previous Cabinet reshuffles since the first Koizumi Cabinet, including reshuffles for cabinets led by the now-defunct Democratic Party of Japan, the approval rating fell immediately after a Cabinet reshuffle on three occasions, remained unchanged twice and rose on 12 occasions.

During Abe’s second stint as prime minister, there was only one drop in six reshuffles of the cabinets.

The survey was conducted by calling 770 households and 1,605 users of mobile phones using random digit dialing. All respondents were eligible voters age 18 or older. A total of 1,095 respondents gave valid answers, with 448 valid answers on landline phones and 647 on mobile phones.

Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily,  Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia,  Dawn (Pakistan),  The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Published : August 13, 2022

By : The Japan News