Latest news with #VijianParamasivam
Barnama
a day ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Myanmar Battles To Replace Poppy Cultivation With Cash Crops
Poppy cultivation is still prevalent in the mountainous region of Myanmar. (Photo credit: UNODC website.) caption: Farmers opt for poppy cultivation instead of other cash crops as they fetch lucrative prices. (Photo credit: UNODC website) By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, June 27 (Bernama) -- The ongoing armed conflict is hindering Myanmar's efforts to eliminate poppy cultivation and combat drug trafficking, posing a threat to national security. The prevailing political instability, due to conflict between the military and armed militias, and rising economic hardships, are pushing farmers in remote mountainous regions to cultivate poppies. bootstrap slideshow 'Growing poppy and heroin production were a major issue for Myanmar in the past. Currently, the country has been facing challenges of synthetic drug production, trafficking and trading similar to other countries across the world. 'On the other hand, the number of sown acres of poppies rises again in the areas controlled by ethnic armed groups,' said Home Affairs Minister Lt-Gen Tun Tun Naung, reported the state media, The Global New Light of Myanmar. Myanmar is working to introduce alternative crops, such as coffee and tea, along with livestock projects, to replace poppy cultivation among farmers. During the 2024-25 poppy cultivation season, security forces destroyed nearly 1,900 hectares (4,734.5 acres) of poppy plantations. In conjunction with the 2025 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Thursday, Myanmar authorities destroyed 66 kinds of drugs and precursor chemicals, including heroin, opium, methamphetamine, cannabis and ketamine worth RM1.3 billion (US$297 million) in Yangon, Mandalay, Taunggyi and Sagaing, said the state media. In a lengthy article published in the state media on Thursday, the occasion of the global anti-drug campaign, Tun Tun Naung revealed the monumental task his government faces in eradicating the social scourge.
Barnama
20-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Cambodia Airways Launches Phnom Penh-Penang Flight To Spur Visit Malaysia 2026
Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing delivering his speech at the launching of Visit Malaysia 2026 in Phnom Penh. By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, June 20 (Bernama) -- Cambodia Airways's inaugural direct flight from Phnom Penh to Penang, set to take off on June 26, is poised to boost tourist flow in tandem with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign. Malaysia's Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing when launching the flight on Thursday in Phnom Penh said the move dovetails with Tourism Malaysia's efforts to prioritise improved connectivity between the two countries as part of its strategy to position Malaysia as a key tourism destination in ASEAN. bootstrap slideshow 'This important milestone will significantly enhance connectivity between our two countries and open new opportunities for tourism, business and cultural exchange,' he said at the launch held in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 and Malaysia My Second Home campaigns in Phnom Penh. Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak was the special guest at the event. An Airbus A319 aircraft with a capacity of 150 seats will ply the route twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays, catering to tourists and business travellers from Malaysia, Cambodia and other nations. Tiong said the event was a renewed promise to work hand in hand with Cambodian partners, building a bridge of opportunity for travellers, businesses, and communities across both nations. 'We are not just promoting destinations. We are co-creating experiences that are authentic, accessible and inclusive, and we see Cambodia as a vital part of that journey. 'Malaysia and Cambodia share more than just geography. We are linked by history, culture and the common aspiration to grow sustainably through tourism.
Barnama
17-06-2025
- Science
- Barnama
Mountainous Nepal Favourite Home To Elusive Snow Leopards
Snow leopards live a solitary life in the high mountain terrains in Nepal. -- Photo credit: Madhu Chetri, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal Nepal's long-term conservation efforts helped to stablise the population snow leopards. -- Photo credit: Madhu Chetri, National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, June 17 (Bernama) -- In the snow-capped, steep terrains of the Himalayan mountains in Nepal, the world's most prized and endangered animal, the snow leopard, dwells in harmony with nature. The tiny, landlocked Nepal, sandwiched between China and India, has transformed its mountainous landscape into a safe and sustainable habitat for these big cats, now totalling 397 in number. bootstrap slideshow The Himalayan nation is one of the few countries in the world where the population of charismatic snow leopards is stable, according to the latest report. The country's National Trust for Nature Conservation released the 'Status of Snow Leopard Population in Nepal 2025' report after conducting a comprehensive scientific study. The study was conducted with technical and financial support from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Nepal. Experts utilised high-tech tools, including camera traps and genetic analysis of scat samples, to track the species' population. Nepal now hosts about 10 per cent of the global snow leopard population, estimated at around 4,000 felines. Snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is classified as 'vulnerable' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, highlighting the urgent need to protect the species.
Barnama
11-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
IRRI Calls For Collective Action As Rice Faces Mounting Global Pressures
Farmers continue to face multiple challenges to produce the much sought-after rice in the world. Photo credit: IRRI, Philippines. By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, June 11 (Bernama) -- The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is urging rice-producing nations to take bold, collective action to address the growing environmental and sustainability challenges in rice cultivation, a staple crop that remains essential to millions worldwide. Unveiling its 2025-2030 strategy on Monday, the Philippines-based institute said despite advancements, rice cultivation still accounts for 1.5 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes 30 per cent of the world's freshwater resources. bootstrap slideshow 'Rice feeds more than half the world's population, but its potential as a climate and development solution remains underleveraged. Our future depends on how we grow, consume and govern rice. 'This strategy is our call to partners everywhere—let's act together, with urgency and ambition, to ensure rice remains a force for good in a changing world,' said IRRI Director General Dr Yvonne Pinto. The new vision comes at a time when farmers worldwide are facing a host of challenges, including the impacts of climate change, the loss of fertile land to rapid urbanisation, concerns over food safety, and increasing water scarcity. According to IRRI, rice feeds over four billion people and supports 150 million farmers across 100 countries. The RM1.4 trillion (US$332 billion) rice industry is the world's third most traded commodity and a growing global market. IRRI's strategy seeks to tackle pressing global issues ranging from food price volatility and climate-related pressures to health disparities and social inequalities within rice-growing communities. Jagdish Kumar Ladha, Adjunct Professor at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, told Bernama that IRRI's strategy comes at a critical stage for rice-producing nations across Asia.
Barnama
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Barnama
Ex-Thai DPM: Myanmar Must End Conflict Or Face Humanitarian Crisis
By Vijian Paramasivam PHNOM PENH, May 30 (Bernama) -- Former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prof Dr Surakiart Sathirathai said Myanmar military leaders and all resistance groups must end the conflict immediately, failing which could drive the nation into a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Surakiart, who was also the former Thai foreign minister, said the derailed peace process coupled with the recent earthquake has only punished millions of innocent Myanmar people. bootstrap slideshow At least 3.5 million have been displaced internally due to the armed conflict and the March earthquake killed over 3,800 people. According to the Myanmar Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, 15.2 million or one in four people are already facing hunger in 2025. The current ceasefire, declared by the junta to facilitate relief efforts post-earthquake, will expire on May 31. '2025 is a crucial year for peace in Myanmar. We have to work together to ensure that the ceasefire and inclusive dialogue can take place before the election. 'The fighting on the ground that we have seen in the past years has come to the point that no one can win total control of the territory in Myanmar,' Surakiart, currently the Asian Peace and Reconciliation Council Chairman, told Bernama from Bangkok. The veteran politician served as Thailand's deputy prime minister between 2005 and 2006 and was the foreign minister from 2001 to 2005.
