Four flight attendants of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines who were taken into custody last week for transporting 11.4 kilograms of ecstasy and meth from France to Vietnam were released on Wednesday afternoon. According to Ho Chi Minh City investigators, there is no ground to file criminal charges against them. However, the case is still under investigation. Police said the flight attendants -- Vo Tu Quynh, Tran Thi Thu Ngan, Nguyen Thanh Thuy, and Dang Phuong Van -- did not know that they were carrying drugs. Last Thursday, customs officials at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City detected 8.4 kilograms of grey tablets and 3.080 kilograms of white powder, which are ecstasy and methamphetamine, in the four flight attendants’ carry-on luggage. The drugs were found in toothpaste tubes. Lieutenant General To An Xo, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that based on investigation results, relevant agencies … [Read more...] about 4 Vietnam Airlines flight attendants released after being caught transporting drugs
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U.S. Fed delivers small rate hike amid global banking turmoil
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point, but indicated it was on the verge of pausing further increases in borrowing costs after the recent collapse of two U.S. banks. Fed Chair Jerome Powell sought to reassure investors about the soundness of the banking system, saying that the management of Silicon Valley Bank "failed badly," but that the bank's collapse did not indicate wider weaknesses in the banking system. "These are not weaknesses that are running broadly through the banking system," he said, adding that the takeover of Credit Suisse seemed to have been a positive outcome. The Federal Open Market Committee policy statement also said the U.S. banking system is "sound and resilient." Even so, Wall Street ended sharply lower after Powell told a news conference that officials were still intent on fighting inflation while also eying the extent to which recent bank failures had cooled demand and slowed lending. The … [Read more...] about U.S. Fed delivers small rate hike amid global banking turmoil
Flight attendants could face dismissal in drug probe
A representative of the Authority said the attendants had abused their positions to smuggle goods and thus would not be able to work in any other aviation businesses in Vietnam. The Authority also ordered the airline to perform more comprehensive internal inspections within itself, and make sure that all crew luggage is inspected before and after flights. A representative of Vietnam Airlines said the national carrier would discipline the attendants in line with the results of the official investigation released by police. On March 16, a security inspection at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City found hundreds of toothpaste tubes containing a total of 11.4 kg of drugs hidden within the carry-on luggage of the four flight attendants. The attendants were promptly arrested after their shift aboard flight VN10 from France to Vietnam. The suspects told police they had agreed to transport the 60 kilograms of toothpaste tubes on the request of a person in France who indirectly … [Read more...] about Flight attendants could face dismissal in drug probe
Vietnam’s Agribank wins many local prestigious prizes
Over the past 35 years of development, the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development, better known as Agribank, always proves its position and role as a leading commercial bank in Vietnam. It has pioneered monetary policies, contributing to stabilizing the macro-economy, curbing inflation and supporting the country’s economic growth. The bank has cemented its key role in developing the agriculture sector and rural areas and offering credit and services to serve the country’s socio-economic development. Agribank was proud to receive the Vietnam National Brand award for the third consecutive year in 2022 and was among the top 10 Vietnamese strong banking and financial brands the same year. The lender has obtained impressive achievements in digital and green transformation and made substantial contributions to community development. Despite the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Agribank, with its initiative and flexibility, has employed multiple … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s Agribank wins many local prestigious prizes
Indonesia targets to become world’s Muslim fashion centre by 2020
At the 2019 Muslim Fashion Festival (Photo: xinhuanet.com) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia , the second largest Muslim fashion producers in the world after the United Arab Emirates, is targeting to emerge as the world’s leading Muslim fashion mecca by 2020. Indonesian Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto said at the opening of the 2019 Muslim Fashion Festival that the market for Muslim wear is big, both outside and inside the country, and it needs to be dominated by the Indonesian Muslim fashion industry. He said that the increasing number of Muslims in the world has become one of the main triggers that have driven the growth of the Muslim fashion industry. Last year, the total population of Muslims reached 24 percent of the total global population. The sale of Muslim clothing in Indonesia is at 20 billion USD with a growth rate of 18.2 percent per year. Meanwhile, the State of Global Islamic Economy Report 2018/2019 shows that the fashion consumption among Muslims … [Read more...] about Indonesia targets to become world’s Muslim fashion centre by 2020
Chickenpox outbreak spreads in Hanoi
Hanoi has logged 548 new cases of chickenpox so far this year, with the most recent 70 infections recorded just this week, according to statistics from the Hanoi Center for Disease Control (CDC). There have been no deaths linked to the ongoing outbreak. Chickenpox is on the rise compared to last year, and many of the patients are preschool and elementary school students, which respectively account for 36.5 percent and 38 percent of the total infections. So far, 18 out of Hanoi’s 30 districts have been affected by the outbreak, with Chuong My, Me Linh, Ba Vi, and Nam Tu Liem Districts having each detected over 30 cases. In the outlying district of Chuong My, the local medical center had reported five clusters of 237 chickenpox cases as of March 21. In Ho Chi Minh City, children's hospitals citywide said that they have recorded normal rates of hospital admissions and treatment linked to chickenpox. However, as chickenpox cases tend to surge between February and June, parents … [Read more...] about Chickenpox outbreak spreads in Hanoi
US companies upbeat on investment opportunities in Viet Nam
A Coca Cola factory in Viet Nam. The beverage giant was among companies joining the mission. — Photo nld.com.vn Senior executives from 52 US companies in the 'biggest-ever' US business mission to Viet Nam are discussing investment and sales opportunities in the country. Chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) Ted Osius said the council was never as busy as it is now. Its services are in high demand because many US companies show great interest in the country. He also said USABC representatives from other countries told him that they must act quickly because they were competing with Viet Nam. That was a way of saying Viet Nam has become a destination for growth and opportunities. Rafael Frankel, Director of Public Policy at Meta, said the trip was the second time he had been to Viet Nam since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. He appreciates the diligence of the Vietnamese workforce and sees a bright prospect for growth in the country. As such, he revealed the … [Read more...] about US companies upbeat on investment opportunities in Viet Nam