Steel used in HCMC metro beam support falls short of contracted quality: source

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By Gia Minh   January 23, 2021 | 02:00 pm GMT+7 VNExpress

The steel used in beam support pads in HCMC’s first metro line does not meet contracted standards and poses a safety threat, an urban railway source told VnExpress.

An engineer checks the beam supporting pad at an area on the elevated section of HCMCs first metro line, January 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Quynh
An engineer checks the beam supporting pad at an area on the elevated section of HCMC’s first metro line, January 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Quynh.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the agreement between the city Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) and the contractors, Civil Engineering Construction Corporation No. 6 (Cienco 6) and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation, requires them to use a certain quality of elastomeric laminated bearings pads, which are reinforced steel plates sandwiched between layers of rubber.

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HCMC among investors’ 10 most preferred markets in Asia-Pacific: report

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By Nguyen Quy   January 26, 2021 | 10:00 am GMT+7 VNExpressHCMC among investors’ 10 most preferred markets in Asia-Pacific: reportApartment buildings in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran.Ho Chi Minh City is the fifth most preferred destination in the Asia-Pacific for cross-border investment thanks to its diversification of supply chains, CBRE said.

In its Asia Pacific Investor Intentions report,the American property consultancy saidVietnam’s southern metropolis ranked after only Tokyo, Singapore, Seoul, and Shanghai in a poll of more than 490 Asia Pacific-based investors that asked a range of questions regarding their buying appetite and preferred strategies, sectors and markets for 2021.

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Vietnam’s Communists tout pandemic, economic successes at party congress

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The 13th national congress of the ruling communist party of Vietnam in Hanoi
CNA
General view of the opening ceremony of the 13th National Congress of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi, Vietnam, Jan 26, 2021. (Photo: VNA/Handout via REUTERS)

26 Jan 2021 01:46PM

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HANOI: Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong hailed booming economic development and containment of the COVID-19 pandemic as major achievements on Tuesday (Jan 26) as he presided over the opening of a key party congress in Hanoi.

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China authorises coast guard to fire on foreign vessels

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Al Jareeza
Legislation also allows demolition of other countries’ structures built on Chinese-claimed reefs.

A Philippine fisherman watches a China Coast Guard vessel patrolling the disputed Scarborough Shoal [File: Erik De Castro/Reuters]
A Philippine fisherman watches a China Coast Guard vessel patrolling the disputed Scarborough Shoal [File: Erik De Castro/Reuters]

23 Jan 2021

China has passed a law that for the first time explicitly allows its coast guard to fire on foreign vessels, a move that could make the contested South China Sea and nearby waters more choppy.

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Japan weighs in on South China Sea dispute, adding to pressure on Beijing

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Permanent mission to UN sends note saying China’s territorial baselines on some islands and reefs fail to satisfy conditions in United Nations conventionIt also accuses China of restricting freedom of navigation and overflight

Laura Zhou

Laura Zhou in Beijing

Published: 7:51pm, 21 Jan, 2021 SCMP

Japan’s diplomatic note made reference to China’s protests against the overflight of Japanese aircraft at Mischief Reef. Photo: AP
Japan’s diplomatic note made reference to China’s protests against the overflight of Japanese aircraft at Mischief Reef. Photo: AP

Japan’s diplomatic note made reference to China’s protests against the overflight of Japanese aircraft at Mischief Reef. Photo: AP

Japan has joined a battle of diplomatic notes over the South China Sea dispute, adding to pressure on Beijing over its expansive claims in the strategically important waterway.

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Scepticism about vaccines clouds outlook for defeating coronavirus

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 John CarterSenior Editor, Political Economy

23 January 2021

Hello again, 

Having overcome the challenges of developing coronavirus vaccines and begun the process of distributing them worldwide, a crucial question has cropped up: will people in high-risk areas voluntarily take the jab? In this issue of Global Impact, we explore the resistance to vaccinations amid concerns about quality, effectiveness and possible side effects. 

Bhavan Jaipragas, Senior Correspondent, Asia Desk

You can bring the vaccine to the people, but will they take the jab?
 
In the span of a year, Singapore has gone from being hailed as the gold standard in curbing the Covid-19 pandemic to suffering an embarrassing surge of cases among migrant workers to once again reasserting itself as a success story.What lies ahead for the wealthy Southeast Asian city state in its fight against the virus may well be a harbinger of what’s to come for the rest of Asia – and the world. One big problem on the horizon is “vaccine hesitancy” among sceptical Singaporeans who argue they don’t need to be inoculated since the country has done such a good job keeping the numbers down.
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How China Is Weaponizing the Belt and Road Initiative

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September 8, 2020 — Asia Society Policy Institute Vice President for International Diplomacy and Security Daniel Russel examines some of the findings of ASPI’s new report Weaponizing the Belt and Road Initiative. The report explores relevant Chinese doctrine, highlights the involvement of China’s People’s Liberation Army with the BRI, and assesses the potential military and geostrategic advantages China accrues from BRI ports and other projects. (9 min., 59 sec.)

To download the report visit: https://asiasociety.org/policy-institute/weaponizing-belt-and-road-initiative

Weaponizing the Belt and Road Initiative

ASPI Initiative

WBRI

Chinese navy frigate Yuncheng 571 departing from Colombo’s port Sri Lanka. The Type 054A (NATO codename Jiangkai II) frigate is a Chinese multi-role warship class, the first of which entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Navy (a.v.Photography/Getty Images)

September 8th, 2020

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by President Xi Jinping in 2013, is a massive international infrastructure program involving nearly 140 countries with over an estimated $1 trillion in projects related to energy, transportation, digital networks, and trade.

Chinese leaders frame the BRI as “win-win” cooperation focused solely on development and connectivity. Beijing has gone to great lengths to minimize BRI’s links to the People’s Liberation Army and to downplay the initiative’s geostrategic overtones. Nevertheless, many governments have become worried about ulterior motives behind BRI projects, many of which have dual-use commercial-military capabilities and are increasingly connected to Chinese digital technologies and networks and satellite systems.

FULL REPORT

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The Asia Society Policy Institute’s – Weaponizing the Belt and Road Initiative – examines key BRI projects in the Indo-Pacific and explores relevant Chinese doctrine, the involvement of the People’s Liberation Army with BRI, and assesses the potential military and geostrategic advantages to China from BRI ports and other projects.

This project is led by ASPI Vice President for International Security and Diplomacy Daniel Russel, with support from ASPI Senior Program Officer Blake Berger. The project and the report benefitted from advisement from experts and officials in Singapore, Australia, Japan, Vietnam, China, and the United States as well as to the expert advisory group whose distinguished members generously shared their time and wisdom to support this effort.

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The Future of the U.S. and China

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The Future of the U.S. and China Opening Session: The Global Chessboard

January 14, 2021 — Asia Society Northern California Executive Director Margaret Conley gives welcome remarks to the center’s signature one-day conference, The Future of the U.S. and. and China: Seeking Truth Through Facts, followed by opening remarks from Ambassador Eleni Kounalakis, lieutenant governor of California. Asia Society President and CEO Kevin Rudd then delivers a keynote address on the necessary frameworks for China and the United States to co-exist and continue collaboration, maintain competition, and prevent conflict. (31 min., 22 sec.)

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Nhiệt điện khí LNG không dễ bùng nổ ở Việt Nam như điện mặt trời

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Nhật Hạ – 12:01, 21/01/2021

TheLEADER Các dự án nhiệt điện khí LNG sẽ gặp nhiều khó khăn khi triển khai hơn so với các dự án nhiệt điện than – vốn đã phải đối mặt với tình trạng chậm tiến độ triền miên, theo Viện Kinh tế Năng lượng và phân tích tài chính (IEEFA).

Nhiệt điện khí LNG không dễ bùng nổ ở Việt Nam như điện mặt trời

Toàn cảnh một nhà máy Nhiệt điện sử dụng khí LNG.

Trong thời gian vừa qua, Việt Nam đã nhanh chóng nổi lên là một trong những thị trường nhập khẩu khí thiên nhiên hóa lỏng (LNG) cho phát điện tiềm năng nhất ở châu Á. 

Tuy nhiên, không dễ để điện khí LNG tạo ra bước nhảy vọt mạnh mẽ như đã từng diễn ra trong lĩnh vực điện mặt trời thời gian vừa qua, theo báo cáo mới đây của Viện Kinh tế Năng lượng và phân tích tài chính (IEEFA). Tiếp tục đọc “Nhiệt điện khí LNG không dễ bùng nổ ở Việt Nam như điện mặt trời” →

Small but mighty, Pacific states have led the charge for banning nuclear weapons

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Emily Defina, The Guardian

A global treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons becomes international law today. But the fight to rid the world of these dismal weapons continues.

Anti-nuclear protesters march in Pape’ete, the capital of Tahiti in French Polynesia, in 1995, denouncing French nuclear testing on Mururoa atoll.

Anti-nuclear protesters march in Pape’ete, the capital of Tahiti in French Polynesia, in 1995, denouncing French nuclear testing on Mururoa atoll. Photograph: Romeo Gacad/AFPSupported by

Thu 21 Jan 2021 19.00 GMT

In 1995, thousands of people marched peacefully hand-in-hand through the Tahitian capital of Pape’ete. The palm-lined streets were awash with songs of protest.

On a nearby shorefront, Cook Islanders had just arrived by traditional voyaging canoe: a vaka. They were there to deliver a message of solidarity with their island neighbours, en route to the nuclear test site of Moruroa.

Now that nuclear weapons are illegal, the Pacific demands truth on decades of testing Read more

These warriors, sailing at the forefront of the Pacific’s fight against nuclear weapons, delivered their message of peaceful resistance with prayers, songs and hakas.

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Ảnh phim hiếm về trung tâm Sài Gòn năm 1967

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nguoidothi –   11:49 | Thứ bảy, 10/03/2018

Trải qua hơn 50 năm, các công trình như quảng trường Quách Thị Trang, cầu Khánh Hội hay cầu Mống đã có nhiều thay đổi.

Phía trước chợ Bến Thành năm 1967 là công trường Quách Thị Trang và bức tượng Trần Nguyên Hãn. Khi đó, xe lam là một trong số phương tiện giao thông công cộng được sử dụng rộng rãi. Chợ có từ trước khi người Pháp xâm chiếm Gia Định, ban đầu nằm bên bờ sông Bến Nghé, cạnh một bến sông gần thành Gia Định (bấy giờ là thành Quy, còn gọi là thành Bát Quái). Bến này dùng để cho hành khách vãng lai và quân nhân vào thành, vì vậy mới có tên gọi là Bến Thành và khu chợ cũng có tên gọi là chợ Bến Thành. Tiếp tục đọc “Ảnh phim hiếm về trung tâm Sài Gòn năm 1967” →

Những hình ảnh hiếm hoi về cuộc sống Sài Gòn năm 1956

~ Phạm Thu Hương ~ Bình luận về bài viết này

 nguoidothi –  02:28 | Chủ nhật, 14/01/2018

Bộ sưu tập ảnh này sẽ khiến bạn yên Sài Gòn hơn dù đã trải qua nhiều thập kỷ.

Bộ sưu tập Sài Gòn xưa do Saigonneer đăng tải, được thực bởi các nhiếp ảnh gia “vô danh” ở nơi mà họ yêu thích, trên đường phố Sài Gòn hoặc vài tỉnh phía Nam và được sưu tập, chọn lọc bởi tác giả Mạnh Hải trên Flickr.

Những bức ảnh này sẽ mang đến cho bạn sự ngạc nhiên với nhiều chủ đề khá ngẫu nhiên, từ người dân tộc thiểu số đến những đứa bé đang chơi đùa trên phố, cuộc sống thường nhật của Sài Gòn xưa.

Sau đây là 36 hình ảnh hiếm hoi về cuộc sống Sài Gòn năm 1956:

Tiếp tục đọc “Những hình ảnh hiếm hoi về cuộc sống Sài Gòn năm 1956” →