The pace of the loss is staggering -- the equivalent of 30 football fields disappearing every minute of every day in 2018, or a total of 120,000 square kilometres (46,000 square miles). Almost a third of that area, some 36,000 km2, was pristine primary rainforest, according to the annual assessment from scientists at Global Forest Watch, based at the University of Maryland. "For the first time, we can distinguish tree cover loss within undisturbed natural rainforests, which contain trees that can be hundreds, even thousands, of years old," team manager Mikaela Weisse told AFP. Rainforests are the planet's richest repository of wildlife and a critical sponge for soaking up planet-heating CO2. Despite a slew of counter-measures at both the national and international level, deforestation has continued largely unabated since the beginning of the century. Global forest loss peaked in 2016, fuelled in part by El Nino weather conditions and uncontrolled fires in Brazil and Indonesia. The main … [Read more...] about Tropical forest the size of England destroyed in 2018: report
President of ghana
President of Vietnam receives newly- appointed ambassadors
The Vietnamese leader had a warmly meeting with the ambassadors. President Nguyen Phu Trong asked the ambassadors to give his regards and best wishes to leaders of Bulgaria, Italy, Brazil, Tunisia, Iceland, Lesotho, Arab Syria, Benin, Malta and Ghana. Besides that, he also wished the newly-appointed ambassadors to well complete their task as well as promote mutual cooperation relations. Vietnam is willing to create favorable conditions for the ambassadors in their working term, added Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong. BY TRAN BINH- Translated by Huyen Huong Tags: newly- appointed ambassadors … [Read more...] about President of Vietnam receives newly- appointed ambassadors
Former Ghana FA president Nyantakyi banned for life by FIFA
Former Ghana FA president Nyantakyi banned for life by FIFA The Saigon Times Daily The logo of FIFA is seen in front of its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland September 26, 2017 – PHOTO: REUTERS ZURICH (REUTERS) - Former Ghana Football Association president Kwesi Nyantakyi was handed a life ban from all football-related activities by FIFA on Tuesday following various violations of the governing body’s ethics code, including bribery and corruption. Nyantakyi, a former member of FIFA’s General Council, was found guilty after being filmed by an investigative journalist in a hotel room appearing to take a US$65,000 bribe from a supposed businessman seeking to sponsor the Ghanaian football league. He was also fined 500,000 Swiss Francs (391,495 pounds). “The adjudicatory chamber found Mr Nyantakyi guilty of having violated art. 19 (Conflicts of interest), art. 21 (Bribery and corruption) and art. 22 (Commission) of the FIFA Code of Ethics,” FIFA … [Read more...] about Former Ghana FA president Nyantakyi banned for life by FIFA
Former Party chief Do Muoi remembered around the world
The Cuban Ambassador to Chile writes in the condolence book at the Vietnamese Embassy in Chile. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi, (VNA) – Large numbers of foreign officials, diplomats, friends and overseas Vietnamese around the world paid tribute to former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi at Vietnamese Embassies around the world. Do Muoi, who passed away in Hanoi on October 1 at the age of 101, served as General Secretary of the CPV Central Committee from June 1991 to December 1997. Vietnam holds a State funeral and two days of national mourning for him on October 6 and 7. In Chile, after the Vietnamese Embassy opened a condolence book on October 5 (local time), a representative from the Chilean foreign minister Juan Carlos Barrientos and President of the Chile-Vietnam Cultural Institute Ángela Margarita Jeria Gómez were among the guests who came to pay last respects to the deceased Vietnamese party leader. Ambassadors and diplomats from the … [Read more...] about Former Party chief Do Muoi remembered around the world
Angela Merkel visits West Africa
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Senegalese Macky Sall (Source: fajarintos)Merkel met with the Presidents of Senegal, Ghana and then Nigeria as she pressed for further investment in a region that is a source of many of the migrants who make their perilous way toward Europe. In Senegal’s capital Dakar, Chancellor Merkel and President of Senegal Macky Sall discussed economic developments in the country and regional cooperation. German Angela Merkel visited Ghana on August 30th and had bilateral discussions with President Akufo Addo. The two leaders met at the Jubilee House and held a discussion focusing on Efforts at Ghana’s Economic Resurgence and Migration. Merkel has arrived with several chief executive officers, including experts on electrification, digitalization, infrastructure and energy management, aiming to encourage investment in the region. On August 31st, Merkel headed to Nigeria to meet Jean-Claude Brou, the President of the Economic Community of West African … [Read more...] about Angela Merkel visits West Africa
President’s visit to help promote trade ties with Ethiopia, Egypt
President Tran Dai Quang (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Ethiopia and Egypt from August 23-29 is expected to open new prospects for trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the two nations, as well as with the African region in general. Trade experts have said that Ethiopia, emerging from its prolonged drought period and high poverty rate, has become an “African tiger” with an annual economic growth of over 10 percent during the last decade. Ethiopia is one of the oldest kingdoms in Africa, with agriculture dominating the national economy. Notably, since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1976, trade between Vietnam and Ethiopia has grown continuously, hitting 11.3 million USD in 2017. Vietnam exported 2.2 million USD worth of goods to Ethiopia, mainly in textiles, leather and footwear, and chemical products. A representative of the Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and … [Read more...] about President’s visit to help promote trade ties with Ethiopia, Egypt
UN to hold events to commemorate Kofi Annan
Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (Source: Graphic Online)The current UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, will lay a wreath in honour of Annan and deliver a speech at a ceremony on August 22nd at UN headquarters in New York, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for Guterres. A book of condolences will be in place at UN headquarters till the end of the week, said Dujarric, who also served as Annan's spokesman. Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo on August 19th announced a week of mourning to pay homage to former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. President Nana Akufo-Addo in a statement said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of Annan's death. "The Government and people of Ghana, First Lady Rebecca and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death, in Berne, Switzerland, of one of our greatest compatriots, Mr. Kofi Annan," the statement said. "...I have directed that, in his honour, Ghana’s national flag will fly at half-mast … [Read more...] about UN to hold events to commemorate Kofi Annan
Ghana’s President declares week of Kofi Annan’s funeral
Former U.N Secretary-General Kofi Annan (Photo: VNA)President Nana Akufo-Addo in a statement said he was "deeply saddened" by the news of Annan's death. "The Government and people of Ghana, First Lady Rebecca and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death, in Berne, Switzerland, of one of our greatest compatriots, Mr. Kofi Annan," the statement said. "...I have directed that, in his honour, Ghana’s national flag will fly at half-mast across the country and in all of Ghana’s diplomatic missions across the world, from Monday, 20th August, 2018, for one week," the further noted. Former UN chief and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan, who had served for 10 years, passed away on August 18th at the age of 80. The Ghanaian diplomat passed away at a hospital in the Swiss capital, Bern after a “short illness”. He was considered a bright star in international relations. Kofi Annan had brought new vitality to the UN after two terms of leadership. Born in Kumasi, the … [Read more...] about Ghana’s President declares week of Kofi Annan’s funeral
Former UN chief and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan dies
Viet Nam News GENEVA — Former UN chief and Nobel peace laureate Kofi Annan died Saturday at the age of 80, prompting a barrage of tributes and condolences from around the world for the "diplomatic rock star". The Ghanaian national, who lived in Switzerland, was a career diplomat who projected quiet charisma and was widely credited for raising the world body’s profile in global politics during his two terms as UN chief from 1997 to 2006. The first secretary general from sub-Saharan Africa, Annan led the UN through the divisive years of the Iraq war and was later accused of corruption in the oil-for-food scandal, one of the most trying times of his tenure. "It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness," the foundation said in a statement. "His wife Nane and their children … [Read more...] about Former UN chief and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan dies
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/5
HCM City to get high-quality farm products from Long An Agricultural businesses in the Mekong Delta province of Long An are looking at ways to increase supplies of their products to Ho Chi Minh City, the largest economic centre in the southern region. Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Deputy Director of HCM City’s Department of Industry and Trade, said that buying and selling was being done through modern distribution channels as well as traditional markets. Safe food, traceability of product origin, and post-harvest preservation are all important parts of today’s agricultural production process. However, there are only a few enterprises and cooperatives from Long An province that can satisfy these conditions. If enterprises and cooperatives from Long An met these conditions, they could become key suppliers to HCM City over the long term, according to Hoa. At the meeting between officials from HCM City and Long An province last week, representatives of Long An province’s enterprises … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/5