Technology turns cashew-nut shells into “gold”

Last update 13:22 | 17/08/2017

VietNamNet Bridge – Carnadol is much more valuable than raw cashew oil which can bring profits of at least VND2 million per ton.

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Cardanol is a natural phenol obtained from anacardic acid, the main element of cashew nut shell oil. The oil is highly effective against metal corrosion and is used in many industries.

Cashew nuts are one of Vietnam’s important industrial crops. According to the 2013 statistical yearbook, the total output of cashew in Vietnam reached 289,900 tons.

However, after harvesting and processing of cashew nuts, the shells have usually been thrown away. Scientists believe that if the shells can be properly treated, the waste will turn into ‘gold’ and bring high profits. Tiếp tục đọc “Technology turns cashew-nut shells into “gold””

More fish die as extirpative exploitation continues

Last update 08:27 | 21/08/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – Fishermen’s use of extirpative equipment, including explosive and small-mesh nets, is causing the disappearance of many aquatic species.

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At night, 10 trawlers gather in the Binh Chau coastal waters in Quang Ngai province to catch all kinds of aquatic creatures, including the smallest fish and shrimp the activity damages coral reefs.

“Our fishing nets and fish cages are also ‘swept away’ by trawlers. If you complain about that, you will be threatened with death,” said Nguyen Van Bay in An Hai commune of Ly Son district.

The Tam Giang – Cau Hai Lagoon, covering 22,000 hectares, which crosses five districts and communes of Thua Thien – Hue province, has plentiful aquatic resources. There are 15,000 people living on aquaculture and fishery.

Truong Viet Phuong, one of the local fishermen, said there were many fish and it was easy to fish to earn a living. However, fish resources are declining and he now catches several kilos every day.

Dang Viet Nuoc, deputy chair of the Quang An commune, said local men usually hover around lagoon areas, mostly in September and October, and use 500V electricity to catch fish.

Fishermen’s use of extirpative equipment, including explosive and small-mesh nets, is causing the disappearance of many aquatic species.

“The men just need 15 minutes to catch all aquatic creatures because they use extirpative equipment,” he explained.

The destructive fishing has seriously affected the aquatic resources in the localities and caused pollution. Tiếp tục đọc “More fish die as extirpative exploitation continues”

Foreign chains a launchpad for Vietnam goods to reach world market

Last update 08:00 | 23/08/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – More and more Vietnamese enterprises are exporting goods via foreign supermarket chains.  

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In late June, Luc Ngan litchis were on sale at Tops and Central Food Hall, the food retail chain owned by Central Group, in Bangkok.

Also in the month, Lotte Mart exported consignments of food products, washing liquid and kitchenware from the Choice L brand, worth VND1 billion, to Myanmar. Tiếp tục đọc “Foreign chains a launchpad for Vietnam goods to reach world market”

Shipping firms engulfed in difficulties, report losses

Last update 16:00 | 22/08/2017
VietNamNet Bridge – More shipping firms have reported losses for 2016 and the first months of 2017 as the freight rate and the demand for goods transport have dropped to a 10-year low.vietnam economy, business news, vn news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, vn news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, Vietnam breaking news, shipping firms, Vietfracht, Vinalines

Vinafco’s Q2 financial report showed that the company’s business performance continued to decline in the first six months of the year.

The revenue from sales and service in the second quarter was VND257 billion, a decrease of 2.4 percent compared with the same period last year.

The gross profit decrease was blamed on a higher freight rate and financial costs. The storehouse which has just been put into operation does not run at full capacity. Tiếp tục đọc “Shipping firms engulfed in difficulties, report losses”

In Vietnam, the Best Education Can Lead to Worse Job Prospects

 

August 20, 2017, 5:00 PM EDT
  • Unemployment among college graduates is highest in nation
  • Vietnam’s education system may slow future economic growth

Nguyen Van Duc graduated two years ago with a bachelor’s degree in economics from one of Vietnam’s best universities. Today, he earns about $250 a month as a motorbike taxi driver in Hanoi.

Duc, whose parents took second jobs so he could be the only one of three children to attend college, is among thousands of Vietnamese college graduates who can’t land jobs in their chosen field, even though the nation’s unemployment rate is just 2.3 percent. Tiếp tục đọc “In Vietnam, the Best Education Can Lead to Worse Job Prospects”

Company director sparks outrage after slapping female doctor in central Vietnam

The director has apologized for his actions, explaining that he lost control

By Tuoi Tre News

August 23,2017, 10:23 GMT+7

​Company director sparks outrage after slapping female doctor in central Vietnam
Nguyen Dinh Hoang Thang attacks Dr. Hoang Thi Minh at the general hospital in the north-central province of Nghe An in this screenshot take from the video.
The director of a company in the north-central Vietnamese province of Nghe An has expressed his regret and apologized after footage of him slapping a female doctor went viral on social media.

The clip showing his violent actions at the Nghe An 115 General Hospital has sparked outrage after being uploaded to the Internet on Monday.

Relevant authorities later identified the attacker as Nguyen Dinh Hoang Thang, chairman of the management board and director of Tan Thang Construction JSC based in Vinh City, Nghe An. Tiếp tục đọc “Company director sparks outrage after slapping female doctor in central Vietnam”

Saigon: ​Bui Vien Walking Street to officially debut tonight

Visitors can now have a much more enjoyable experience on the most popular street in Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘backpacker area’

By Tuoi Tre News

August 20,2017, 10:19 GMT+7

​Bui Vien Walking Street to officially debut tonight
People take a stroll on Bui Vien Street in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on the night of August 19, 2017. Photo: Tuoi Tre
Following over a month of delay, Bui Vien Walking Street in Ho Chi Minh City’s ‘backpacker area’ is set to have its grand opening tonight, August 20.

Located in Pham Ngu Lao Ward, District 1, the city’s newest pedestrian street is scheduled to debut on Sunday night, offering local residents and tourists a wide variety of entertainment activities.

The promenade stretches 850 meters long from the Bui Vien intersection with Tran Hung Dao-Nguyen Thai Hoc Streets to Cong Quynh Street. Tiếp tục đọc “Saigon: ​Bui Vien Walking Street to officially debut tonight”

Cambodia threatens purge of critical media and US charity

As general election looms, prime minister Hun Sen tells English-language newspaper Cambodia Daily to pay $6m tax bill or leave

Cambodian PM Hun Sen
Cambodian PM Hun Sen faces what many believe will be a close contest in next year’s general election. Photograph: Heng Sinith/AP

Cambodia has threatened to close three foreign media outlets and a US charity, accusing them of operating illegally or owing millions in back taxes, in what appears to be a coordinated purge of government critics.

The Cambodia Daily, one of three English-language daily newspapers in the country, was handed a $6.3m (£4.9m) tax bill and threatened with closure if it does not pay by 4 September. Tiếp tục đọc “Cambodia threatens purge of critical media and US charity”

World reacts to Trump’s new strategy on Afghan war

Al Jazeera, Aug. 22, 2017

India, UK and NATO express support for US president’s policy, but Pakistan, China and Russia offer little enthusiasm.

Donald Trump has committed the US to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan [Reuters]

Politicians from across the world have reacted to US President Donald Trump’s new strategy for the war in Afghanistan.

Trump on Monday committed the United States to an open-ended conflict in Afghanistan and signalled he would send more troops there.

He insisted that the Afghan government, Pakistan, India and NATO allies step up their commitment to resolving the 16-year conflict. Tiếp tục đọc “World reacts to Trump’s new strategy on Afghan war”

White Pape of the Republic of Vietnam on the Hoang sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands – (1975)

Original Vietnamese version download.

White Paper on the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands

Republic of Vietnam
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Saigon, 1975

CHAPTER I

Foreword

The Vietnamese archipelagoes of Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) are both situated in the South China Sea off the Republic of Vietnam’s shore. Their very modest size by no means lesser the importance given them by the Vietnamese: to Vietnamese hearts, these remote insular territories are as dear as could be any other part of the fatherland. The Hoang Sa Islands to the North were occupied by force of arms by the People’s Republic of China on January 20, 1974, following a brazen act of invasion which left the world extremely indignant. As for the Truong Sa Islands 500 km to the South, two other foreign powers are illegally stationing troops on four of the main islands in the archipelago. Tiếp tục đọc “White Pape of the Republic of Vietnam on the Hoang sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands – (1975)”

TQ hứa không chiếm thêm nơi nào ở Biển Đông?

Bộ trưởng Quốc phòng Phi Luật Tân vừa cho biết, “TQ đã bảo đảm với Phi Luật Tân sẽ không chiếm thêm nơi nào ở Biển Đông” cũng như sẽ không xây thêm gì ở Scarborough Reef (Bãi An Nhơn) của Phi bị TQ chiếm đóng từ năm 2012. Được hỏi về điều này, người phát ngôn của Bộ Ngoại giao TQ chỉ nói vòng vòng mà không trả lời. Vậy là sao?

Vậy là nói chuyện kiểu thả hỏa mù của TQ. Tiếp tục đọc “TQ hứa không chiếm thêm nơi nào ở Biển Đông?”

Chinese long-range drones, artillery on artificial islands

First posted on UNCLOSforum.wordpress.com on May 29, 2015

FP Situation Report
Friday, May 29, 2015

One of the biggest bits of news has been the first sighting of a massive new Chinese long-range drone that is thought to be able to pick up and track stealthy aircraft at long range. The drone, first reported Thursday by Popular MechanicsJeffrey Lin and P.W. Singer, had its maiden flight in February, and “could change the brewing arms race in the Asia Pacific.”

The double-bodied behemoth, with an estimated 40-meter wingspan, is packed with seven different radar systems and a variety of surveillance equipment to help it detect U.S. stealth aircraft like the F-35 fighter, B-2 bombers, and ships at long distances.

And to no one’s surprise, Beijing has been placing offensive weaponry on the artificial islands it’s been building in the South China Sea. We’ve already seen what look like air strips on some of the clumps of dirt hastily dumped on top of coral reefs, but the mobile artillery pieces that American intelligence have detected is something new.

While hardly a threat to any naval or air assets in the region, the guns are within range of nearby islands claimed by Vietnam, according to the Wall Street Journal’s Julian Barnes and Gordon Lubold, and their sheer symbolism carries some significant weight. With American surveillance planes flying nearby and U.S. Navy ships insisting on the right to transit close to the makeshift bits of land, the artillery pieces represent a small, but real, escalation of the game.

China’s Military Strategy White Paper

First posted on UNCLOSforum.wordpress.com on May 27, 2015

Document: China’s Military Strategy

May 26, 2015 6:54 AM

A naval honor guard at the in 2012 on board the Liaoning. Xinhua News Agency Photo

The following is the first public Chinese Military Strategy white paper outlining a new policy of “active defense,” released by the Chinese Ministry of National Defense on May 26, 2015.

________________

China’s Military Strategy
The State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China

May 2015, Beijing
Contents

Preface

I. National Security Situation

II. Missions and Strategic Tasks of China’s Armed Forces

III. Strategic Guideline of Active Defense

IV. Building and Development of China’s Armed Forces

V. Preparation for Military Struggle

VI. Military and Security Cooperation

Tiếp tục đọc “China’s Military Strategy White Paper”