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”

Bán nhà “nuôi” tàu vỏ thép nằm bờ

 | 16/08/2017 | 09:46

“Đáy tàu nhọn hoắt, không lắc mới lạ” - ông Dương Văn Thắng nói. Ảnh: P.V
“Đáy tàu nhọn hoắt, không lắc mới lạ” – ông Dương Văn Thắng nói. Ảnh: P.V

“Tôi sợ tàu lật tôi không đi. Ai dám đi con tàu này không? Tôi sẵn sàng chuyển giao, để xem họ có đi biển được không? Cơ quan chức năng nói tàu không lắc, hãy tự tay điều khiển con tàu ra biển thử 2 ngày” – ông Dương Văn Thắng (phường Mỹ Đông, TP.Phan Rang – Tháp Chàm) nói về con tàu vỏ thép dịch vụ hậu cần (số hiệu NT-91234) duy nhất đóng theo NĐ 67 do ông làm chủ ở Ninh Thuận nằm bờ đã 2 năm qua.

Tiếp tục đọc “Bán nhà “nuôi” tàu vỏ thép nằm bờ”

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)”

Locals protest against titanium mining in Binh Dinh

Vietnamnet_Residents in two communes of the southern province of Binh Dinh have raised a heated protest against titanium mining activities, citing pollution concerns.

Binh Dinh, protest, titanium mining, Vietnam economy, Vietnamnet bridge, English news about Vietnam, Vietnam news, news about Vietnam, English news, Vietnamnet news, latest news on Vietnam, Vietnam
Residents in My An and My Tho communes of Phu My District took to the streets to protest the polluting titanium mining company in Binh Dinh Province. — Photo tuoitre.vn

For many days now, people living in My An and My Tho communes of Phu My District have been preventing Hoang Dat Co from exploiting the titanium in the region fearing water pollution.

Dang Ngoc Thai, head of Xuan Phuong village of My An Commune, said previously, a vast casuarina forest covered the region.

“However, since 2006, when the company was allowed to exploit titanium in the region, they have chopped down hectares of the forest. The trucks carrying titanium ores are a constant source of pollution,” he said.

Thai also added that the wells in the village had run dry, forcing residents to spend a hefty sum of money to dig new wells.

In the neighbouring village of Xuan Binh (My An Communme), the foul smell and muddy water are also suspected to be caused by the company’s mining activities.

“Now, if the authorities once again let them resume their mining, then we will suffer further; the environment is heavily polluted already. We demanded a halt on all the titanium mining activities here,” a resident said, expressing his anger. Tiếp tục đọc “Locals protest against titanium mining in Binh Dinh”

Merchants in the Temple

By Thought Matters –  11/16/2015 03:47 pm ET Updated Nov 13, 2016

2015-11-13-1447453743-8790583-merchantsinthetemple.jpg
By Gianluigi Nuzzi

Pope Francis Issues a Shocking Accusation

On July 28, 2013, a few hours after his customary religious obligations, Pope Francis prepared to go to the Apostolic Palace. As always, he checked his datebook first. “This is what I’ve always done. I carry it in a black briefcase. Inside is a razor, a breviary, an appointment book, and a book to read.” The Pope carefully reviewed his notes. That morning he had a meeting with Archbishop Jean Louis Bruguès, the librarian and archivist of the Holy See. But his most important appointment of the day was a noon meeting scheduled to take place in one of the most inaccessible and mysterious spaces in the Palace: the Sala Bologna, on the third floor, between the papal apartment recently vacated by Benedict XVI and the quarters of the Secretariat of State. Tiếp tục đọc “Merchants in the Temple”

Vietnam solar Power Purchase Agreement is ‘non-bankable’

Vietnam Business Forum said actual development and investment in solar power projects may be limited under current PPA model. Credit: Intel Free PressVietnam Business Forum said actual development and investment in solar power projects may be limited under current PPA model. Credit: Intel Free Press

pv-tech.org_A consortium of international chambers of commerce has advised the Vietnamese government that its draft solar PPA template is “non-bankable” and cannot attract financing for PV in Vietnam, particularly for medium and utility-scale projects, according to documents seen by PV Tech. Tiếp tục đọc “Vietnam solar Power Purchase Agreement is ‘non-bankable’”

Vietnam’s solar energy push draws investors

asia.nikkei_Policy changes spur shift to renewables, with far to go

Vietnam is finally looking at renewable energy options for future generations. © Reuters

HO CHI MINH CITY — Vietnam’s TTC Group is planning to sink about $1 billion into solar energy projects in a country still dependent on coal-fired thermal and hydro power for its power needs, with national electricity demand growing faster than 10% annually.

TTC Group, a sugar, energy and real estate conglomerate, said it plans to build as many as 20 solar parks with a total capacity of 1,000 megawatts by next year. The group executed a number of clean energy projects using sugarcane waste before moving into the solar sector Tiếp tục đọc “Vietnam’s solar energy push draws investors”

Witch Hunts in Europe: Timeline

A History of Pursuit of Accused Witches

Saul and the Witch of Endor, 1526. Artist: Cornelisz van Oostsanen, Jacob (ca. 1470-1533)
Saul and the Witch of Endor, 1526. Artist: Cornelisz van Oostsanen, Jacob (ca. 1470-1533). Heritage Images/Getty Images / Getty Images

TC – Updated August 11, 2017

The history of witchcraft in Europe begins with both folk beliefs and with religious and classical texts. The texts have roots in Hebrew, Greek and Roman history. The development of beliefs about what witchcraft meant — and especially the history of its gradual identification as a kind of heresy — takes effect over hundreds of years. I have also included a few American and global events for perspective on the history of witchcraft trials and executions. Tiếp tục đọc “Witch Hunts in Europe: Timeline”

Nạn buôn bán người ở Việt Nam – Báo cáo của Bộ Ngoại Giao Hoa Kỳ 2017

English: Trafficking in Persons Report 2017 

Chính phủ Việt Nam chưa đạt đầy đủ các tiêu chuẩn tối thiểu về xóa bỏ nạn buôn người; tuy nhiên, đã có những nỗ lực đáng kể. So sánh với kỳ báo cáo trước, chính phủ VN đã thể hiện nỗ lực ngày càng tăng; vì vậy, Việt Nam vẫn được duy trì ở nhóm 2.

Chính phủ thể hiện sự tăng thêm nỗ lực thông qua việc xác định các nạn nhân; mở rộng các chương trình đào tạo về chống buôn người và chiến dịch nhận thức cho các cán bộ thực thi pháp luật, cán bộ địa phương, thành viên của các nhóm có nguy cơ bị buôn bán; và ban hành hướng dẫn tới các bộ liên quan, lãnh đạo các tỉnh về kế hoạch hành động quốc gia chống nạn buôn người. Tuy nhiên, chính phủ đã không đạt được những tiêu chuẩn tối thiểu ở một số lĩnh vực chính. Nỗ lực chống nạn buôn người bị cản trở do thiếu sự hợp tác giữa các ngành, các cán bộ tỉnh chưa nắm rõ luật chống buôn bán người, thủ tục xác định nạn nhân, và thu thập dữ liệu chưa đầy đủ.
Tiếp tục đọc “Nạn buôn bán người ở Việt Nam – Báo cáo của Bộ Ngoại Giao Hoa Kỳ 2017”