Tác giả: Trần Đình Hoành

I am an attorney in the Washington DC area, with a Doctor of Law in the US, attended the master program at the National School of Administration of Việt Nam, and graduated from Sài Gòn University Law School. I aso studied philosophy at the School of Letters in Sài Gòn. I have worked as an anti-trust attorney for Federal Trade Commission and a litigator for a fortune-100 telecom company in Washington DC. I have taught law courses for legal professionals in Việt Nam and still counsel VN government agencies on legal matters. I have founded and managed businesses for me and my family, both law and non-law. I have published many articles on national newspapers and radio stations in Việt Nam. In 1989 I was one of the founding members of US-VN Trade Council, working to re-establish US-VN relationship. Since the early 90's, I have established and managed VNFORUM and VNBIZ forum on VN-related matters; these forums are the subject of a PhD thesis by Dr. Caroline Valverde at UC-Berkeley and her book Transnationalizing Viet Nam. I translate poetry and my translation of "A Request at Đồng Lộc Cemetery" is now engraved on a stone memorial at Đồng Lộc National Shrine in VN. I study and teach the Bible and Buddhism. In 2009 I founded and still manage dotchuoinon.com on positive thinking and two other blogs on Buddhism. In 2015 a group of friends and I founded website CVD - Conversations on Vietnam Development (cvdvn.net). I study the art of leadership with many friends who are religious, business and government leaders from many countries. In October 2011 Phu Nu Publishing House in Hanoi published my book "Positive Thinking to Change Your Life", in Vietnamese (TƯ DUY TÍCH CỰC Thay Đổi Cuộc Sống). In December 2013 Phu Nu Publishing House published my book "10 Core Values for Success". I practice Jiu Jitsu and Tai Chi for health, and play guitar as a hobby, usually accompanying my wife Trần Lê Túy Phượng, aka singer Linh Phượng.

Berkeley’s $220M Mistake Exposed in Massive Deal With China

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OOPS!

U.C. Berkeley repeatedly neglected to disclose its deal with China to the U.S. government.

Yuichiro Kakutani

Updated May. 22, 2023 7:18AM ET / Published May. 22, 2023 4:59AM ET 

U.C. Berkeley has failed to disclose to the U.S. government massive Chinese state funding for a highly sensitive $240 million joint tech venture in China that has been running for the last eight years.

The Californian university has not registered with the U.S. government that it received huge financial support from the city of Shenzhen for a tech project inside China, which also included partnerships with Chinese companies that have since been sanctioned by the U.S. or accused of complicity in human rights abuses.

The university has failed to declare a $220 million investment from the municipal government of Shenzhen to build a research campus in China. A Berkeley spokesperson told The Daily Beast that the university had yet to declare the investment—announced in 2018—because the campus is still under construction. However, a former Department of Education official who used to help manage the department’s foreign gifts and contracts disclosure program said that investment agreements must be disclosed within six months of signing, not when they are fully executed.

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Vietnam: Assessing Freedom ofthe Press

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May 9, 2023
Thayer Consultancy
ABN # 65 648 097 123

We request your assessment about the state of freedom of the press in Vietnam.

Q1. Have you ever witnessed some extent of freedom of the press in Vietnam?

ANSWER: I first visited reunified Vietnam in August 1981 and have returned regularly since then. I have given numerous interviews to the Vietnamese print and online media, radio and television. As a result, I have come to know certain journalists quite well. I also appreciate the practical constraints they work under. For example, on sensitive matters like relations with China and disputes in the South China Sea, I am aware that they can quote me as a foreigner when they are not permitted to comment on the same issue. Tiếp tục đọc “Vietnam: Assessing Freedom ofthe Press” →

Quad Leaders’ Joint Statement

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MAY 20, 2023 Source: The White House

20 May 2023, Hiroshima

Today, we — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States — met for the third in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit, hosted by Prime Minister Albanese.

Together, we reaffirm our steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. The global strategic and economic environment is changing rapidly – with direct impacts on countries in the region. We believe we should navigate this time of uncertainty and opportunity together, working closely with our Indo-Pacific partners. We believe all countries have a role in contributing to regional peace, stability, and prosperity, as well as upholding international law, including the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the rules-based international order. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated – one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures. Our four countries are united by this shared vision.
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Taiwan President on Taiwan

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蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen @iingwen

Today I begin my eighth year as president of the Republic of China (Taiwan). Seven years ago, we embraced our cause of transforming our country, and one step after the other, embarked on reform. From then to now, we have walked a long path. We have markedly changed the face of Taiwan from that of seven years ago. Going forward, we must demonstrate our determination to create an economy and industries that are even more resilient, so that we can cement Taiwan’s key position in global supply chains.

G7 Hiroshima Leaders’ Communiqué

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MAY 20, 2023

Source: The White House

Preamble

  1. We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), met in Hiroshima for our annual Summit on May 19-21, 2023, more united than ever in our determination to meet the global challenges of this moment and set the course for a better future. Our work is rooted in respect for the Charter of the United Nations (UN) and international partnership.

We are taking concrete steps to:

  • support Ukraine for as long as it takes in the face of Russia’s illegal war of aggression;
  • strengthen disarmament and non-proliferation efforts, towards the ultimate goal of a world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all;
  • coordinate our approach to economic resilience and economic security that is based on diversifying and deepening partnerships and de-risking, not de-coupling;
  • drive the transition to clean energy economies of the future through cooperation within and beyond the G7;
  • launch the Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security with partner countries to address needs today and into the future; and
  • deliver our goal of mobilizing $600 billion in financing for quality infrastructure through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure Investment (PGII)

as outlined in the reference documents of this Communique.

We are determined to work together and with others to:

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Biden Hopes for Vietnam Breakthrough

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COMMENTARY

(Foreign Policy) RAND Corporation U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 15, 2023, photo by Andrew Harnik/Pool via Reuters

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken meets with Vietnam’s Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi, Vietnam, April 15, 2023

Photo by Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

by Derek Grossman

May 12, 2023

During a ceremony held in Washington to commemorate the Lunar New Year in 2011, then–Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Le Cong Phung surprised the audience by announcing that the two countries would raise their ties to the level of “strategic partnership.” Phrases describing partnerships can be nebulous, of course. But from what we know about Vietnamese diplomacy, Hanoi’s definition of strategic partnership is not just boilerplate, but signifies concrete, mutual, long-term strategic interests.

Vietnamese officials, however, never followed up on Phung’s newsworthy announcement. Instead, Washington and Hanoi announced a comprehensive partnership in 2013—a relationship that implies a less-serious geopolitical alignment for Vietnam. The United States has been left wondering why.

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Is this sport? Chaos descends as Thailand, Indonesia brawl at SEA Games football final

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By Lam Thoa, Hieu Luong   May 17, 2023 | 12:05 am GMT+7 vnexpress

Brawls break out in the SEA Games 32 final between Indonesia and Thailand at the Olympic Stadium, Cambodia, May 16, 2023.

Coaches and players from Thailand and Indonesia tore into each other as disputes during the SEA Games men’s football final erupted into at least two full-scale brawls on Tuesday.

Chaos descends as Thailand, Indonesia brawl at SEA Games football final

Indonesia was leading Thailand 2-1 in the second half of the match when the referee blew the whistle to allow a direct penalty for Thailand.

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Global warming to bring record hot year by 2028 – probably our first above 1.5°C limit

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Academic rigour, journalistic flair, The Conversation

Lindsey Wasson/AP/AAP

Published: May 17, 2023 11.01am BST

Author

  1. Andrew KingSenior Lecturer in Climate Science, The University of Melbourne

Disclosure statement

Andrew King receives funding from the National Environmental Science Program.

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One year in the next five will almost certainly be the hottest on record and there’s a two-in-three chance a single year will cross the crucial 1.5℃ global warming threshold, an alarming new report by the World Meteorological Organization predicts.

The report, known as the Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update, warns if humanity fails to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero, increasingly worse heat records will tumble beyond this decade.

So what is driving the bleak outlook for the next five years? An expected El Niño, on top of the overall global warming trend, will likely push the global temperature to record levels.

Has the Paris Agreement already failed if the global average temperature exceeds the 1.5℃ threshold in one of the next five years? No, but it will be a stark warning of what’s in store if we don’t quickly reduce emissions to net zero.

boy plays in fountain during heatwave
One year in the next five will almost certainly be the hottest on record, bringing more heatwaves like this boy experienced in Britain around the time the last record was set. Andy Rain/EPA

Read more: Two trillion tonnes of greenhouse gases, 25 billion nukes of heat: are we pushing Earth out of the Goldilocks zone?

Warming makes record heat inevitable

The World Meteorological Organization update says there is a 98% chance at least one of the next five years will be the hottest on record. And there’s a 66% chance of at least one year over the 1.5℃ threshold.

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G-7 Hiroshima summit: Who’s attending, what will be discussed?

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By MARI YAMAGUCHI today AP

FILE - Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during an interview with foreign media members at the Prime Minister's official residence Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Tokyo. Leaders of seven of the world’s most powerful democracies will gather this weekend for the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, the location of the world’s first atomic attack at the end of World War II. The leaders are expected to strongly condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine while pledging their continuing support for Ukraine. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

FILE – Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during an interview with foreign media members at the Prime Minister’s official residence Thursday, April 20, 2023, in Tokyo. Leaders of seven of the world’s most powerful democracies will gather this weekend for the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, the location of the world’s first atomic attack at the end of World War II. The leaders are expected to strongly condemn Russia’s war on Ukraine while pledging their continuing support for Ukraine. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

TOKYO (AP) — Leaders of seven of the world’s most powerful democracies will gather this weekend for the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima, the location of the world’s first atomic attack at the end of World War II.

From the emergence of crucial developing countries to security worries, including growing aggression from China, North Korea and Russia, here’s a look at the G-7, who will attend and some of the key issues:

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North Korea has stolen $721m worth of cryptocurrency from Japan in the past five years

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Vietnam was the next largest victim, having lost $540m, the US following with $497m and finally Hong Kong, which suffered losses to the Diplomatic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) of $281m.

Hackers linked to the government in Pyongyang regularly target foreign adversaries looking to steal funds.

By Claudia Glover, techmonitor

North Korean hackers have stolen cryptocurrencies worth $721m from Japan in the past five years, a report revealed this week. The long history of animosity between the countries, and the close association between Japan and the US, is likely to be behind the trend, researchers say.

Japan has been the main target of North Korean hackers since 2017. (Photo by Astrelok/Shutterstock)

This figure is equal to 30% of the total of such losses worldwide, states the report. The research was carried out by UK cryptocurrency research company Elliptic on behalf of Asia Nikkei.

North Korea has stolen $721m from Japan since 2017

According to Elliptic’s findings, Japan is the worst hit by North Korea’s worldwide cryptocurrency raids, suffering $721m in thefts out of a global $2.3bn between 2017 and the end of 2022. 

Vietnam was the next largest victim, having lost $540m, the US following with $497m and finally Hong Kong, which suffered losses to the Diplomatic Republic of North Korea (DPRK) of $281m.

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Universal Declaration of Human Rights

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Universal Declartion of Human Rights (1948) >>

The Core International Human Rights Instruments and their monitoring bodies

There are 9 core international human rights instruments. Each of these instruments has established a committee of experts to monitor implementation of the treaty provisions by its States parties. Some of the treaties are supplemented by optional protocols dealing with specific concerns whereas the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture establishes a committee of experts.

DateMonitoring Body
ICERDInternational Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination21 Dec 1965CERD
ICCPRInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights16 Dec 1966CCPR
ICESCRInternational Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights16 Dec 1966CESCR
CEDAWConvention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women18 Dec 1979CEDAW
CATConvention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment10 Dec 1984CAT
CRCConvention on the Rights of the Child20 Nov 1989CRC
ICMWInternational Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families18 Dec 1990CMW
CPEDInternational Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance20 Dec 2006CED
CRPDConvention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities13 Dec 2006CRPD
ICESCR – OPOptional Protocol to the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights10 Dec 2008CESCR
ICCPR-OP1Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights16 Dec 1966CCPR
ICCPR-OP2Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty15 Dec 1989CCPR
OP-CEDAWOptional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women10 Dec 1999CEDAW
OP-CRC-ACOptional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the involvement of children in armed conflict25 May 2000CRC
OP-CRC-SCOptional protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography25 May 2000CRC
OP-CRC-ICOptional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure19 Dec 2011CRC
OP-CATOptional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment18 Dec 2002SPT
OP-CRPDOptional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities12 Dec 2006CRPD
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) >>

International Covenent on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1967) >>

A law that cancels cancel culture? This country is considering it

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By Heather Chen, CNN

Published 9:57 PM EDT, Fri May 12, 2023

‘Cancel culture’ or corporate cowardice?

07:49 – Source: CNN — 

Cancel culture, the online trend of calling out people, celebrities, brands and organizations – rightly or wrongly – for perceived social indiscretions or offensive behaviors, has become a polarizing topic of debate.

To some, it’s an important means of social justice and holding powerful figures to account. But to others, it’s often “misused and misdirected” and has become a form of mob rule.

But one country wants to put an end to the deeply contested online phenomena by introducing what legal experts and observers say would be the world’s first law against cancel culture – raising alarm among rights activists who fear that such legal powers could be used to stifle free speech.

Over the past year, Singapore’s government has been “looking at ways to deal with cancel culture,” a spokesperson told CNN – amid what some say is a brewing culture war between gay rights supporters and the religious right following the recent decriminalization of homosexuality in the largely conservative city-state.

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Eight things the world must do to avoid the worst of climate change

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Latest IPCC report highlights key measures countries must take to avoid climate catastrophe

Fiona Harvey, Environment editor, The Guardian Tue 21 Mar 2023 19.10 GMT

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change published the “synthesis report” of its sixth assessment report (AR6) on Monday. Eight years in preparation, this mammoth report encompasses the entire range of human knowledge of the climate system, compiled by hundreds of scientists from thousands of academic papers, and published in four parts, in August 2021, February and April 2022, and March 2023.

The report drew together the most important findings – but also highlighted some key measures that governments and countries must take immediately if we are to avoid climate catastrophe:

Reduce methane

A flare to burn methane from oil production in North Dakota, US.
A flare to burn methane from oil production in North Dakota, US. Photograph: Matthew Brown/AP

Sharp cuts to short-lived climate pollutants, methane chief among them, could cut more than half a degree from global heating. Produced from oil and gas operations and coalmines, and from animal husbandry and natural sources – such as decaying vegetation – methane is a greenhouse gas about 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. But it lasts only for about 20 years before degrading into CO2.

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Long popular in Asia, floating solar catches on in US

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Search

The sun rises over floating solar panels on May 3, 2023, in Selangor, Malaysia. Floating solar panel farms are beginning to boom in the United States after rapid growth in Asia. They're attractive not just for their clean power and lack of a land footprint, but because they also conserve water by preventing evaporation. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

By ISABELLA O’MALLEY

May 10, 2023 AP

When Joe Seaman-Graves, the city planner for the working class town of Cohoes, New York, Googled the term “floating solar,” he didn’t even know it was a thing.

What he did know is that his tiny town needed an affordable way to get electricity and had no extra land. But looking at a map, one feature stood out.

“We have this 14-acre water reservoir,” he said.

Seaman-Graves soon found the reservoir could hold enough solar panels to power all the municipal buildings and streetlights, saving the city more than $500,000 each year. He had stumbled upon a form of clean energy that is steeply ramping up.

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