International
Myanmar: Forest Dept Replants Trees in Shan State
Jun 7, 2016
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Maung Zaw, Myanmar Times
More than 100,000 trees will be planted in northern Shan State by mid-June to mark World Environment Day, forestry officials said. Kyaukme district forest department’s…
Afghanistan: Afghanistan, Turkish Company Sign MoU for Extension of Kajaki Hydropower Dam
Jun 7, 2016
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Khaama Press
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Ministry of Energy and Water of Afghanistan and a Turkish company for the extension of Kajaki…
Myanmar: Kyaukphyu Farmers Refuse Pipeline Compensation
Jun 7, 2016
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Su Phyo Win, Myanmar Times
Holdout farmers are threatening to sue the Southeast Asia Gas Pipeline Company unless they receive the compensation they demand for damage caused by a pipeline…
Iraq: Iraq is Pumping Oil at Record Pace Despite Chaos
Jun 7, 2016
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Matt Egan, CNN
Iraq is pumping more oil than ever before, even as ISIS-fueled chaos grips parts of the Middle Eastern country. Iraq, which relies on oil to…
Myanmar: Fragrant Oil, Rare Fungi, Big Bucks
Jun 7, 2016
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Ann Wang, Frontier
The remote northern town of Putao is poised to reap rich rewards from a project that capitalises on the production of a prized raw ingredient…
Colombia: In Colombia, Abundant Water Brings No Security
Jun 7, 2016
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Stratfor
The country is just as vulnerable as those that have much less water.
Myanmar: Myanmar Targets Closure of Notorious Wildlife Trade Hub on Chinese Border
Jun 7, 2016
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Agence France-Presse
Myanmar authorities plan to shut down a notorious border town where exotic animal parts are sold openly, an official said on Tuesday, as Southeast Asia…
China: We Have No Fear of Trouble': China Talks Tough over South China Sea
Jun 6, 2016
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Tim Hume, CNN
A senior Chinese admiral strongly defended his country's activities in the South China Sea Sunday, restating Beijing's sovereignty in the region and warning it "had…
Afghanistan: Illegal Mining of Lapis Lazuli Fuels Taliban's Rise in Afghan Province
Jun 6, 2016
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Joe Boone, The Guardian
Struggle for control of mines producing blue stone is claiming lives in Afghanistan’s once peaceful province of Badakhshan.
Afghanistan: Blood Lapis: How Mining Funds Afghanistan’s Violence
Jun 6, 2016
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Megan Alpert, Foreign Policy
In northern Afghanistan, a man ties a 200-pound chunk of lapis lazuli to his back and hauls it down a mountain that is too steep…
Afghanistan: India Out to Damage Pakistan’s Water Interests on Kabul River
Jun 5, 2016
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Khalid Mustafa, The News
Afghanistan’s authorities with the help of Indian experts have completed the feasibilities and detailed engineering of 12 hydro-power projects with capacity to generate 1,177MW of…
Afghanistan: Greed, Corruption and Danger: A Tarnished Afghan Gem Trade
Jun 5, 2016
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Mujib Masal, New York Times
The local people called the militia’s takeover of the giant lapis mine in northeastern Badakhshan Province a white coup — easy and bloodless. Perhaps, but…
Afghanistan’s First-Ever Environmental Short Films Contest Held for World Environment Day
Jun 5, 2016
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UNDP
Filmmakers, actors and writers from across Afghanistan today received awards in the country’s first-ever Environmental Short Films Contest, organized by the United Nations Development Programme…
Iraq: As Iraq Repays Debt, Lukoil Pledges to Unlock Investment
Jun 3, 2016
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Dmitry Zhdannikov, Reuters
Iraq has positively surprised oil majors by starting quickly to repay accumulated debts, the head of Russia's Lukoil said, pledging more investment to allow OPEC's…
South Sudan: IMF Warns of Further Deteriorating Economy in South Sudan
Jun 3, 2016
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Sudan Tribute
The world’s economic centre house - the International Monetary Fund (IMF) based in New York - has warned of further deteriorating economic situation in South…
Japan: Japan Protests Chinese Gas Rig Construction in East China Sea
Jun 3, 2016
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Ryutaro Abe, The Asahi Simbun
Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida lodged a protest with the Chinese Embassy on June 2 after the ministry confirmed that China is constructing drilling towers in…
Myanmar: Minister Promises to Ban Timber Trade
Jun 3, 2016
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Eleven Myanmar
Ohn Win, minister for natural resources and environmental conservation, says he is working to stop timber extraction completely this financial year.
Myanmar: Chinese Delegation Visits Myanmar Locals Displaced by Controversial Dam Project
Jun 3, 2016
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Kyaw Myo Min, Radio Free Asia
China’s ambassador to Myanmar met on Friday with residents forced to relocate for the construction of the controversial China-backed Myitsone Dam project in Kachin state…
Myanmar: USDP to Sue Newspapers over Gems Corruption Story
Jun 3, 2016
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Sam Yamin Aung, The Irrawaddy
The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), has said it will sue two Burmese weekly newspapers... for defaming former President Thein Sein and the USDP…
Colombia: Two Die, Dozens Hurt in Colombia Protests
Jun 3, 2016
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Emirates 24/7
Two people were killed and dozens injured Thursday in Colombia as more than 30,000 farmers joined a growing anti-government protest, blocking roads and clashing with…
Afghanistan: Afghan Government Money Reaching Taliban through Marble Trade
Jun 3, 2016
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Sune Engel, The Guardian
Intent on maintaining a marble industry, government buys stone from firms who in turn pay fees and taxes to Taliban.
Ogoniland/Nigeria: A Future for Ogoniland
Jun 2, 2016
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UNEP
Speech by UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner at the Launch of the Ogoniland Clean-up and Restoration Programme
Climate Change: At Security Council, Climate Change Cited among Factors Impacting Stability in Sahel
Jun 2, 2016
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Climate Diplomacy
At a meeting today in the United Nations Security Council on the situation in the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, senior UN officials stressed that…
India: PM Modi To Inaugurate Afghan-India Friendship Dam On June 4
Jun 2, 2016
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NDTV
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Afghanistan on Saturday where he will hold talks with President Ashraf Ghani and inaugurate the Afghan-India Friendship Dam, earlier…
Myanmar: Gems Traders Accuse Ex-President of Misusing More Than US$1 Million
Jun 2, 2016
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Kyaw Hsu Mon, The Irrawaddy
At one time, the Myanmar Gems Traders Association had €93 million (US$103.9 million) in its bank account. But, now, all that money is gone, and…
South Sudan: South Sudan’s Oil Fields are Becoming a Wildlife Trafficking Hotspot
Jun 2, 2016
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Jason Patinkin, Quartz Africa
South Sudan’s oil industry, plagued by violence, corruption allegations, and environmental ruin, faces another crisis: the smuggling of illegal wildlife products.
Myanmar: Tribunal to Investigate Gem Association Embezzlement Claims
Jun 2, 2016
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Chan Mya Htwe, Myanmar Times
A Tribunal has been established to investigate almost US$100 million that reportedly went missing from a gems and jade industry body during U Thein Sein’s…
Nigeria/Ogoniland: Nigeria Launches $1 Billion Ogoniland Clean-up and Restoration Programme
Jun 2, 2016
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UNEP
Nigerian Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, today set in motion a $1 billion clean-up and restoration programme of the Ogoniland region…
Conflict Minerals: More U.S. Companies Expected to Show Improved Conflict Minerals Disclosure Reports Based on Increased Use of Source Intelligence Platform
Jun 1, 2016
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Source Intelligence
More U.S. companies should show greater supply chain diligence in their latest conflict mineral disclosure reports with the SEC, based on an upswing in the…
Myanmar: Yangon Region Should Turn to Dams for Electricity: Chief Minister
Jun 1, 2016
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Eleven Myanmar
Dams can provide an affordable means for electricity production and water storage, said Yangon Region Chief Minister Phyo Min Thein at an event to inform…