Collecting 78s

Countless shelves line the walls of a basement at Denmark's University of Odense, holding what is thought to be the world's largest collection of brains. There are 9,479 of the organs, all removed from the corpses of mental health patients over the course of four decades until the 1980s. Preserved in formalin in large white buckets labelled with numbers, the collection was the life's work of prominent Danish psychiatrist Erik Stromgren. Begun in 1945, it was a "kind of experimental research," Jesper Vaczy Kragh, an expert in the history of psychiatry, explained to AFP . Stromgren and his colleagues believed "maybe they could find out something about where mental illnesses were localised, or they thought they might find the answers in those brains". The brains were collected after autopsies had been conducted on the bodies of people committed to psychiatric institutes across Denmark. Neither the deceased nor their families were ever asked permission. "These were state … [Read more...] about Grey area: chilling past of world’s biggest brain collection

PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a gathering in Hanoi on March 17 to honour collectives and individuals of working delegations from the ministries of Public Security and National Defence engaged in search and rescue in Turkey in wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Ministry of National Defence and 24 from the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), to join in search and rescue in a foreign territory. Ministry of Public Security ’s Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue, said the delegation coordinated to rescue one survivor and handed over 14 bodies of victims to medical units. VNA … [Read more...] about PM praises collectives, individuals for search, rescue in Turkey

The market share of Vietnamese coffee in Spain's total imports from the global market accounted for 30.16 per cent in 2022. — Photo laodong.vn Viet Nam was Spain's largest supplier of coffee (by volume) in 2022, with 113,550 tonnes worth 269 million euros (US$287 million), up 21.6 per cent in volume and 78.9 per cent in value against 2021. The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)'s Import-Export Department cited statistics from the Statistical Office of the European Communities (EUROSTAT) as saying that the market share of Vietnamese coffee in Spain's total imports from the global market accounted for 30.16 per cent in 2022. Statistics compiled by the department indicate that Viet Nam exported 342,300 tonnes of coffee in the first two months of the year, earning $745.28 million, down 7 per cent in volume and 9.5 per cent in value year-on-year. In February alone, the country shipped abroad over 200,000 tonnes of coffee worth $434.9 million to foreign markets, up 40.3 per cent … [Read more...] about Viet Nam posts 78.9 per cent growth in coffee export value to Spain

Designer Thuy Nguyen’s new collection comprises ao dai designs in vivid colours for women the coming Lunar New Year holiday. (Photo courtesy of Thuy Design House) HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Vivid colours are featured in a new collection of ao dai ( Vietnamese traditional long dress ) by well-known fashion designer Thuy Nguyen. ao dai designs for women in silk and satin in banana leaf green, light blue, red and lotus pink that the designer has created after her trips to beautiful remote areas across the country. fashion designer . She opened her first store in HCM City in 2011. Tet ,” said Nguyen Kim Chi, a 12th grader in District 3./. VNA … [Read more...] about Famous designer’s ao dai collection celebrates ‘Tet’

In the photographic works of the late 103-year-old photographer, Hanoi is poetic, ancient, and full of nostalgia. Professional photographer Le Vuong (1918-2021) is known for his wonderful Hanoi-themed photographs. As a resident of the city for more than a century, he was a witness to the ups and downs of the capital city and its people. The portrait of the late 103-year-old photographer Le Vuong. Photo: Hanoimoi The capital seems to be an endless source of inspiration for his work. Vuong's collection of thousands of images about Hanoi is invaluable material and also a meaningful gift he has given to the homeland and future generations of Hanoians. In 2016, the professional photographer was honored to receive the Grand Award of the Bui Xuan Phai-For the Love of Hanoi. The late talented photographer was also recognized as the city's 10 exemplary citizens in 2017. The late artist, who passed away aged 103, once said that he was like a worker bee, diligently … [Read more...] about Fascinating look at Hanoi in black and white photo collection

This year, Viettel honored ten individuals and ten collectives who had not only excellently completed production and business mission, but also inspired others to contribute, be creative, and overcome difficulties at work. These outstanding collectives and individuals were selected from 70,000 staff and employees from its affiliated units and ten international markets. They had been working in telecommunications; information technology solutions and digital services; research and production of high-tech industry; delivery, logistics and trade globally. In the context that the whole world is facing numerous difficulties, Viettel stills remains steadfast to the set goals, making impression for its business, creativity, pioneering role in new areas, and achievements in the post-pandemic period. Viettel has completed all targets in terms of revenue and profit, contributed to the state budget, pioneered to undertake major tasks of the country, and taken the lead in technology research. … [Read more...] about Viettel honors its outstanding individuals and collectives

FE Credit, Vietnam’s top consumer lending firm, is struggling to collect debts as many borrowers are deliberately defaulting on their loans, said Ho Thi Nhu Ha, deputy CEO. In recent months social media groups that advise people on how to borrow from financial companies without paying are mushrooming with up to hundreds of thousands of members. Many members show each other how to use a pre-registered SIM card, which does not contain the authentic personal information of the subscriber, to borrow loans from different companies, and then disappear without getting caught. Ha said that the current laws do not have high fines for this type of fraud, especially when the defaulted amount is of low value. This is why there is a growing number of cheaters who even charge others a monthly fee to assist them in cheating. Another consumer lender, PTF Vietnam, is also seeing a surge in unpaid loans, as many customers falsely believe that "not paying back a loan is the right of borrowers … [Read more...] about Debt evasion headache for financial firms

The US-China trade war and the pandemic have urged companies to relocate production to avoid tariffs and the need to rely on a single market. These dynamic factors have created an extraordinary opportunity for international investors to take advantage of the regional growth perspective and focus their attention on Vietnam, particularly in the manufacturing sector. This short Q&A with Minh Nguyen, director of Leasing and Facilities Management at BW Industrial, will cover the manufacturing environment and the opportunities available for international investors that are interested in expanding their operations in Vietnam. Minh Nguyen , BW director of Leasing and Facilities Management An overview of manufacturing in Vietnam in 2022 General director of the General Statistics Office Nguyen Thi Huong states that Vietnam’s GDP growth reached 8.02 per cent in 2022, the highest on record since 2011. The GDP per capita and labour productivity also grew to $4,110 … [Read more...] about Manufacturing in Vietnam – assumptions vs. reality

The approval of ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement on Tourism Professionals (ASEAN MRA on TP) for MICE Professionals and Event Professionals was made during the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministerial in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The professional standards of these two categories become effective in all member countries. President of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) Chiruit Isarangkun Na Ayuthaya stated that ASEAN member countries have always jointly prioritized professional development. Since 2012, the ASEAN MRA on TP has been developed as the collective operational plan for ASEAN countries, applicable in two fields - Hotel Services and Travel Services. Later in 2021, the ASEAN Tourism Ministers agreed upon the amendments of such arrangement by including two more categories - MICE Professionals and Event Professionals - as a means to upgrade and expand the cooperation in the facilitation for the mobility of ASEAN professionals in tourism and MICE industries. … [Read more...] about ASEAN tourism ministers approve MICE professional standards

Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The second Vietnam Book and Reading Culture Day 2023 is taking place from March 16 to April 30, with various activities to promote reading habit among the community, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Carrying major messages of “Book: Awareness - Innovation - Creation” and “Books for me, for you,” the event aims to affirm the position, role and significance of books in improving knowledge and skills, developing mindset, educating and shaping human personality, the ministry said. During the event, reading movements will be launched in families, schools, agencies, organisations and communities, while rganisations and individuals with outstanding contributions to the development of books and reading culture in the society will be honoured. Activities of book introduction, book narration and drawing following book contents, along with seminars on books and reading culture will be held. This year, … [Read more...] about Vietnam Book-Reading Culture Day begins