Donald Trump's long-time bodyguard and confidant Keith Schiller is to leave the White House, he said Friday, ending a decades-long run working at businessman-turned-president's side. Schiller -- who is officially the Director of Oval Office Operations -- told AFP that he plans to return to Florida in the coming weeks, saying he was grateful to have had a front row seat to history, but it was time to move on. "It will be great to look back on in 10-15 years" the imposing former New York police officer said, "it's historic," but, he admitted, government work was maybe "not for me." He did not travel with the president to Camp David on Friday. "Today is not my last day" he said, before adding that he plans to return to the Sunshine State after Hurricane Irma passes. The New York Times and CNN earlier reported that Schiller was leaving in part for financial reasons. According to White House financial disclosures, Schiller took a roughly $130,000 pay cut to follow Trump … [Read more...]

After being put on sale, if investors ignore Dung Quat Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., it will go bankrupt.   PetroVietnam is willing to let Dung Quat Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. fall without recovering its $221 million investment On July 25, PetroVietnam, the owner of Dung Quat Shipbuilding, submitted plans to deal with the ailing company to the government and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT). Notably, first, PetroVietnam will put the company on sale. In case the company proves unmarketable, the company will be permitted to go bankrupt and then the company’s assets will be sold through competitive bidding. PetroVietnam also asked MoIT to propose the prime minister to assign the State Audit of Vietnam to audit the dossiers of a 104,000 DWT tanker to determine its value in order to complete the handover … [Read more...]

Bloomberg.com on May 30 said that Vietnam and the US have found common ground over security matters in recent years. It wrote Vietnam wants to further integrate with global markets and enhance trade ties with the US. On his first year in office, US President Donald Trump will attend the Asia Pacific Economic cooperation summit in Vietnam, which shows the US’s will to promote ties with the country. The same day, Asia Sentinel posted an article by former American diplomat David Brown, saying that Washington and Hanoi had forged a strategic entente during the Obama years. Though President Trump has ripped up the Trans-Pacific Partnership, the two countries might agree to explore a bilateral trade pact that would entail many TPP-like reforms. Bilateral talks will be at the top of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s agenda during his visit toWashington, Brown said. Dr. Jonathan D. London, Lecturer of Global Political Economy – Asia at Leiden University in the … [Read more...]

During the trip, PM Phuc is scheduled to meet with President Trump, US cabinet secretaries, and Senators. He will attend a conference with local businessmen, deliver a speech at the Global Heritage Fund, and meet representatives of the Vietnamese community in the US. In New York, PM Phuc will meet UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and attend a ceremony marking Vietnam’s 40th year as a UN member. Vietnam joined the UN in 1977. He met on Monday with Robert H. McCooey Jr., Senior Vice President of NASDAQ's Listing Services unit. Phuc expressed his hope that the NASDAQ will continue expanding cooperation with and support for Vietnamese businesses that are listed on NASDAQ. Mr. McCooey said he hopes to have the Vietnamese government’s support. At meetings the same day with Vietnam’s permanent delegation to the UN and Vietnamese entrepreneurs and intellectuals, the government leader praised the expatriate community’s contributions to the US economy and to … [Read more...]

"Where do I begin? What should I do? " - maybe you have experienced those thoughts! Don't give up just yet, because GLOBAL PASSPORT SUMMER 2017 - AIESEC in the National Economics University (NEU) is back, just for YOU! ► About GLOBAL PASSPORT This exciting project - a part of the Social Wave Campaign will create a multi-cultural environment for young people to develop their skills and gain fresh experiences. At the same time, youngsters can also make an extraordinary impact on society, for under-privileged children as an example. ⏺HIT THIS LINK TO APPLY NOW: bit.ly/SocialWave_summer2017_af ⏺Information Booklet: bit.ly/GlobalPassport_summer2017_booklet ⏺ Even link: bit.ly/GlobalPassport_summer2017_event ► Why can't you miss exciting opportunity? Through the project, you will gain the opportunities to: ★ Enhance your English Skills ★ Fortify social skills - which are undoubtedly important ★ Explore your inner potential ★ Make friends with people from all walks of life ★ Create changes … [Read more...]

Vietnam attracted US$1.79 billion worth of acquisitions from foreign investors from January until May this year, up 116.2% on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA). This is a remarkable increase, reflecting the obvious trend of growing interest in entering Vietnam’s market through mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Last week, Bibo Mart JSC, the owner of the baby-and-mom chain of stores of the same name in Vietnam, announced that Japan’s ACA Investments, one of the best-performing fund managers in Asia, has acquired a 20% stake in the company. Bibo Mart was only one among the many M&A deals reported in this year’s first five months. Another is the South Korean firm Taekwang’s interest in acquiring a stake in Gemadept, the largest Vietnamese logistics firm. “Foreign direct investment (FDI) in a country is organized in two channels: Green-field investment and cross-border M&A. The majority … [Read more...]

However, the money market has unexpectedly reversed with liquidity considerably improved. The interest rate performance in the interbank market last week was different from the weeks before when it decreased sharply from 4.7%-4.9% to 3.9%-4.1% for overnight loans (O/N). In OMO (Open Market Operations), no commercial bank registered to borrow capital from the State Bank on May 19, which was the first time since the beginning of the year. The average balance in OMO, which was always over VND35 trillion, has dropped to VND4 trillion. A BVSC report shows that the banking system’s liquidity has returned to a surplus state. Where’s the cash flow coming from? In theory, the sudden reverse in the two markets would occurs only if the State Bank (SBV) pumps capital into the market, and the quickest way for SBV to support liquidity is pumping capital through OMO. However, the scenario did not occur as the outstanding balance of the banks on OMO is on the decrease and is nearing zero … [Read more...]

During the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN, reported the delegation’s performance since it was established in 1977 in conjunction with Vietnam starting its UN membership. The delegation has followed the UN agenda for sustainable development and completed Vietnam’s duties as an active member of the UN, Nga said. She added that the delegation also work to support Vietnamese expatriates in New York and boost trade and cultural exchange between Vietnam and the US. The PM said the work has contributed significantly to the implementation of Vietnam’s foreign policy of multilateraliation and diversification of foreign relations, and proactive and active integration into the world. He urged the delegation to sustain its positive operation and further promote Vietnam’s image to international friends. The same day, the PM received a number of Vietnamese entrepreneurs and intellectuals in the US, who expressed … [Read more...]

Pham Dinh Thi, Director of the Tax Policy Department under the Ministry of Finance, said that the move aims to raise organisations’ and individuals’ awareness and responsibility for the environment, hence reducing the use of those products. According to the international practice and Montreal Protocol, countries are requested to cut down the use of major ozone depleting substances, including HCFC and Vietnam must phase out consumption of the solution by 2030, Thi said. Meanwhile, plastic bags are taxed heavily or even banned in many countries in the world. At a recent press conference to introduce the bill on amendments and supplements to the Law on Environmental Protection Tax, Deputy Minister of Finance Vu Thi Mai said that the law is set up to realise the Party and State’s policies and guidlines on completing institutions, mechanisms and financial policies on environmental protection while restructuring state budget in the coming time. The amended law will make … [Read more...]

The ministry’s proposal said businesses should be fined VND5-10 million if they charge higher than their listed prices, according to a new report on the government website. Those who fail to list their prices or list them in a way that confuses customers or beyond the regulated limits should be fined VND3-5 million, it said. Advertising violations such as using speakers or leafleting in public areas would face the same fine, while advertising with flying objects such as balloons and kites would be subject to penalties of VND5-10 million, the proposal said. Non-aviation services at Vietnamese airports, mostly shops selling food, drinks and souvenirs, earned VND2.6 trillion in 2015 and accounted for nearly a fifth of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam's annual revenue, according to the group's financial report from last year. But these money-making services also draw regular complaints from passengers, both locals and foreigners, who say they usually cost much more than the same … [Read more...]