Companies’ ‘zero deforestation’ pledges: everything you need to know

Corporations globally have made hundreds of commitments on deforestation. But what do these pledges really mean and why do scandals keep happening?

Dead trees stand in a recently deforested section of the Amazon rainforest
Dead trees stand in a recently deforested section of the Amazon rainforest in Rondonia state, Brazil. Photograph: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Whether it’s the destruction of rainforest shared by elephants and orangutans in Sumatra to produce palm oil; reports linking fast food giants to the burning of tropical forests in Brazil and Bolivia; or the hundreds of thousands of hectares of tree cover loss per year in West Africa – the world’s forests are being razed to sate global demand for produce such as palm oil, beef and cocoa. Tiếp tục đọc “Companies’ ‘zero deforestation’ pledges: everything you need to know”

Tens of thousands march to defend Hong Kong’s rule of law against China

channelnewsasia

Tens of thousands marched in China-ruled Hong Kong on Sunday in an “anti authoritarian rule” march that called for the resignation of the city’s top legal official over the recent jailing of young democracy activists.

Pro-democracy activists carry a banner reading “no fear”, during a protest on China’s National Day in Hong Kong, China October 1, 2017. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

HONG KONG: Tens of thousands marched in China-ruled Hong Kong on Sunday (Oct 1) in an “anti-authoritarian rule” march that called for the resignation of the city’s top legal official over the recent jailing of young democracy activists.

The march, an annual fixture over the past few years on China’s Oct 1 National Day, comes at a time of nascent disillusionment with Hong Kong’s once vaunted judiciary. Tiếp tục đọc “Tens of thousands march to defend Hong Kong’s rule of law against China”

Negotiating with North Korea a waste of time: Trump

ChannelnewsAsia
FILE PHOTO: A combination photo shows Trump in New York and North Korean leader Jong Un in Pyongyang,

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said on Sunday ( Oct 1) negotiating with North Korea over its nuclear programme would be a waste of time after it emerged that Washington had channels of contact with Pyongyang.

Only hours after his Secretary of State Rex Tillerson revealed that US officials were in touch with North Korean counterparts, Trump undercut his top diplomat by declaring on Twitter that any talks would be futile. Tiếp tục đọc “Negotiating with North Korea a waste of time: Trump”

Green tea island in Nghe An lures visitors

Last update 14:51 | 25/07/2017

A green tea island in Thanh Chuong District, central Nghe An province has recently become a destination attracting a large number of visitors.

“Green tea islets” are located alternately in Cau Cau dam in Thanh Thinh and Thanh An communes in the district. Visitors can get a sightseeing boat tour to have the best view of the attraction and take pictures.

Every tea islet covering an area of more than one hectare gives people a pure fresh atmosphere. When the boat arrive in the island, tourists can contemplate green tea gardens and enjoy tea in leaf huts.

Additionally, travelers can visit other beautiful landscapes, such as Coi Falls, Lua Falls, Dong Danh dam in neighboring areas.

Some photos of the green tea island:

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Ngỡ ngàng ốc đảo chè đầu tiên của Việt Nam ảnh 1
Tiếp tục đọc “Green tea island in Nghe An lures visitors”

Village preserves the trade of making traditional toys for Mid-autumn festival

vietnamnet

Last update 10:00 | 30/09/2017

Hao village in Lieu Xa commune, Yen My district, Hung Yen province has the time-honoured history of making traditional toys for Mid-autumn Festival.

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In the past, the village’s major product was the drum, but now the villagers also make star-shaped lantern, masks, and lion-headed masks to meet the increasing demand of customers Tiếp tục đọc “Village preserves the trade of making traditional toys for Mid-autumn festival”

Villagers risk lives crossing stream after bridges swept away

 vietnamnet

Last update 13:44 | 26/09/2017

The villagers in Yen Bai Province are risking their lives to cross the stream every day as the local bridges have been abandoned unfinished for years.

In order to go to Phong Du Thuong Commune’s centre, the local people have to use a raft to cross a large stream even when it rains or there are storms.

Temporary bridges built by the locals themselves in the commune were destroyed in a flash flood in August so the pupils had to stay home because of high tides. Various places in the commune become islands when there are heavy rains.

Lo Van Manh, chairman of Phong Du Thuong Commune People’s Committee, said, “I’m used to this bumpy road and know every pothole. But I really feel for the children, they walk in the mud to go to school and they are dirty all over.”

The old bridges in Village 3 and 6 were temporarily built by the locals so their quality left much to be desired and often swept away by the floods. The bridges were often swept away six times a year. Tiếp tục đọc “Villagers risk lives crossing stream after bridges swept away”

Vietnamese fast fashion market a gold mine

Last update 08:00 | 29/09/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – The opening of a number of foreign fast fashion brands in Vietnam have lowered the already small market share held by Vietnamese brands.


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Three foreign fashion brands opened shops in early September – Stradivarius and Massimo Dutti from Spain, and H&M from Sweden. Vietnamese queued up at H&M shop on the opening day.

What Zara and H&M accomplished with their first shops in Vietnam, according to analysts, showed the attractiveness of the fast fashion market. Uniqlo will also open in Vietnam soon. Tiếp tục đọc “Vietnamese fast fashion market a gold mine”

Vietnam feels impact of 4.0 industrial revolution

Last update 12:00 | 29/09/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – A large company in Hanoi has sacked 80 percent of workers, replacing them with robots. 

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Duc Giang Chemical & Detergent Powder JSC is a leading chemical manufacturer. A detergent factory of Duc Giang, it once employed 100 workers, but now runs with 10-15 workers. Tiếp tục đọc “Vietnam feels impact of 4.0 industrial revolution”

Hue pedestrianised street opens

The pedestrianised street in Hue City was opened on the evening of September 29, attracting a large number of visitors.

The street was launched after more than one month being approved by local authorities. It is located in Phu Hau Ward, stretching the three streets of Pham Ngu Lao-Chu Van An and Vo Thi Sau.

Nguyen Van Thanh, chairman of Hue City People’s Committee, the street is aimed to diversify the municipal tourism products. Tiếp tục đọc “Hue pedestrianised street opens”

Xúc động cảnh học sinh cúi chào bảo vệ mỗi sáng

Hàng trăm học sinh Trường THPT Chuyên Lê Hồng Phong (TP.HCM) mỗi sáng sớm đi học đều cúi đầu chào bác bảo vệ.

Hình này được một phụ huynh ghi lại khi đưa con đi học.

Người đăng video clip là chị Nguyễn Phước An Uyên, sống tại TP.HCM. Chị Uyên cho biết đã ghi lại cảnh này vào sáng thứ sáu (ngày 29/9) khi đưa con đi học.

Chị có một con gái đang học lớp 12 và con trai học lớp 10 tại Trường THPT Chuyên Lê Hồng Phong (TP.HCM) Tiếp tục đọc “Xúc động cảnh học sinh cúi chào bảo vệ mỗi sáng”

Suspicion mounts over Vietnam official who reported $17k missing from hotel room

The official is on a 45-day inspection trip to businesses in southern Long An Province

By Tuoi Tre NewsSeptember 28, 2017, 11:24 GMT+7

 
The T.V. hotel in Long An Province, where Nguyen Xuan Quang lost his money. Photo: Tuoi Tre

A senior environment official in Vietnam has reported that nearly US$17,000 in cash had been stolen from his hotel room while on an inspection trip in southern Long An Province.

Nguyen Xuan Quang, the deputy director of an environmental protection watchdog organization under the Vietnam Environment Administration, first reported the situation on Tuesday.

The hotel room burglary was confirmed by the police department in Long An’s Tan An City on Wednesday. Tiếp tục đọc “Suspicion mounts over Vietnam official who reported $17k missing from hotel room”

​Love in the air at gay pride parade in Ho Chi Minh City

The parade is part of a month-long series of nationwide events

By Tuoi Tre News September 25, 2017, 11:58 GMT+7

 
A giant six-band rainbow flag is seen at the pride parade on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, September 24, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Ho Chi Minh City’s LGBT community took to downtown Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street on Sunday for a pride parade to demonstrate love and campaign for equality.

The parade was part of the 2017 VietPride series of events, which include multiple parades throughout Vietnam to show support and campaign for equality for Vietnam’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

The annual VietPride was first organized in Hanoi in 2012, before growing to become a nationwide event joined by tens of thousands every year. Tiếp tục đọc “​Love in the air at gay pride parade in Ho Chi Minh City”

Seven new river tours launched in Saigon

A brand new fleet of high-speed canoes will ferry tourists through the city’s canals

By Tuoi Tre News

September 29, 2017, 13:46 GMT+7

​Seven new river tours launched in Saigon
People are seen on a high-speed canoe in this photo posted on Saigontourist Facebook.
Saigontourist inaugurated a fleet of five brand new high-speed canoes on Thursday as it launched seven new river tourism routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring areas.

Each canoe is capable of carrying 20 passengers at maximum speeds of 50kph, Saigontourist said at the launch ceremony at the city’s Tan Cang tourism area. Tiếp tục đọc “Seven new river tours launched in Saigon”