The House voted 234-193 for the bill. No Democrats were opposed, while 14 Republicans backed the measure. It was supported by major law enforcement groups and its passage was a rare defeat for U.S. gun manufacturers and the National Rifle Association. House action followed a late Thursday Senate vote of 65-33 to pass the bill, with 15 Republicans, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, in favor. Biden will sign the bill on Saturday morning, the White House said. Gun control has long been a divisive issue in the United States with multiple attempts to place new controls on gun sales failing time after time until Friday. The bill does not go as far as Democrats, including Biden, had sought. It includes provisions that would help states keep guns out of the hands of those deemed to be a danger to themselves or others and close the so-called boyfriend loophole by blocking gun sales to those convicted of abusing unmarried intimate partners. However, it did not ban sales … [Read more...] about U.S. House passes gun-safety legislation as court expands gun rights
Idaho falls court records
Việt Nam records 653 new COVID cases, no deaths on Friday
COVID Việt Nam has administered over 228 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in total. Photo baochinhphu.vn HÀ NỘI — The health ministry announced 653 new COVID-19 infections on Friday. The latest update brings the total national caseload to 10,742,234 so far. The capital city of Hà Nội led the daily increases, with 162 cases reported. The remaining transmissions were detected in Đà Nẵng (47), Yên Bái (42), Phú Thọ (39), Quảng Ninh (31), Nghệ An (31), Lào Cai (27), Hồ Chí Minh City (24), Quảng Trị (16), Tuyên Quang (15), Thái Bình (14), Thái Nguyên (14), Cao Bằng (13), Sơn La (13), Bắc Kạn (12), Vĩnh Phúc (12), Nam Định (12), Hà Tĩnh (11), Hà Nam (10), Hòa Bình (10), Lạng Sơn (9), Lai Châu (8 ), Hải Dương (8 ), Hưng Yên (8 ), Hà Giang (8 ), Ninh Bình (8 ), Lâm Đồng (7), Quảng Bình (7), Thanh Hóa (6), Quảng Ngãi (5), Bến Tre (5), Phú Yên (4), Điện Biên (4), Bình Định (3), Gia Lai (3), Khánh Hòa (2), Đồng Tháp (2) and Bắc Giang (1). An Giang Province registered an … [Read more...] about Việt Nam records 653 new COVID cases, no deaths on Friday
Construction contractors hit hard by surging costs
The owner of a construction company said: "The rising costs have caused severe impacts on my company. We have put two projects on hold and are waiting for prices to go down." Huynh’s company in the neighboring province of Binh Duong is likely to report losses on the construction of a road project it began earlier this year. It cannot back away from the project as the work is 75 percent completed. "We use a lot of diesel each day, and so the rising fuel costs have eaten away all of our profits," Huynh said. The rising costs of raw materials amid surging global inflation is posing problems for construction companies who struggle to renegotiate their contracts as losses loom. Cement prices in Vietnam have gone up three times this year by around 28 percent to VND1.2 million ($51.62) a ton. In the latest increase, 15 major cement producers all hiked prices by up to VND80,000 per ton. Steel prices have been falling due to declining demand in China, but others such as sand, … [Read more...] about Construction contractors hit hard by surging costs
Sanofi’s leader sees Vietnam as a promising market for healthcare
Vietnam is facing heavy burdens of morbidity and mortality caused by non-communicable diseases. Therefore, being able to control risk factors, improve disease prevention, make early diagnoses, and manage treatments of such illnesses are the common targets of the health system and society. Besides being the leading unit in treating some chronic diseases, Sanofi is at the forefront of the investment trend in digital healthcare transformation. One of the outstanding projects is the "Ask For Better" Q&A with experts series, a cooperative programme between Sanofi with the University Medical Center of Ho Chi Minh City, the Hanoi Medical University Hospital, and Jio Health. This programme has been broadcasted periodically to answer questions from the audiences and improve the knowledge of society on common non-communicable diseases. It attracted over 570.800 views in 2021. This show has been presented on diverse digital platforms with the purpose of increasing the interaction … [Read more...] about Sanofi’s leader sees Vietnam as a promising market for healthcare
VinShop set to become Vietnam’s next unicorn
Tokopedia is a combination of Toko (shop) and encyclopedia. It adopts a similar business model as e-commerce giant Alibaba. Tokopedia is a shopping platform where every business can easily arrange and sell its products. As of June 2020, Tokopedia recorded a valuation of up to $7 billion and became the third-largest unicorn in Southeast Asia, trailing behind Grab (Singapore) and GoJek (Indonesia), according to CB Insights. Tokopedia is successful in bringing technologies into grocery stores in Indonesia In 2018, Tokopedia unveiled its ambitious plan to penetrate Indonesia’s economy worth $1 trillion, which is the largest economy in Southeast Asia. It launched Mitra Tokopedia for the owners of warung (a small family-owned business) or outdoor grocery stalls serving their neighbourhoods. Mitra Tokopedia has recorded one million downloads with 2 million warung in the island nation. Mitra Tokopedia not only connects grocery owners with suppliers but also removes … [Read more...] about VinShop set to become Vietnam’s next unicorn
The grass isn’t always greener
Sadio Mane has left Liverpool for German giants Bayern Munich. Photo courtesy of Bayern Munich FC Paul Kennedy It was with somewhat of a heavy heart this week that I watched Sadio Mane leave Liverpool and sign for Bayern Munich. The Senegalese striker has been brilliant for Jurgen Klopp’s team, arguable his best player over the past 12 months, and although I really didn’t want him to go, I wish him nothing but the best in the Bundesliga. It also marked the end of Liverpool’s famed three-pronged attack that has served them so well in the past. Mohammed Salah and Roberto Firmino remain at the Reds, for now at least, as Mane plies his trade elsewhere. He’s not the first big name to leave Liverpool, and he sure as hell won’t be the last, but maybe he should have given a little thought to those that have left before him, heading off to pastures new. We can start with Philippe Coutinho who in the January of 2018 swapped Anfield for the Camp Nou fulfilling his dream of playing … [Read more...] about The grass isn’t always greener
Ho Chi Minh City reports sharp rise in dengue fever cases
Dengue fever is entering its peak in Ho Chi Minh City this year, with the number of cases amounting to 2,181 just last week, up 38.5 percent from the prior four-week average, the city’s Center for Disease Control (HCDC) reported. The total includes 1,182 hospitalized cases and 999 outpatients, an increase of 25.9 percent and 57.1 percent, respectively, the HCDC said. The City Children’s Hospital received 74 child patients, including eight critical cases last week, while the corresponding figures at Children’s Hospitals 1 and 2 were 74 and 8, and 89 and 21, according to the Department of Health. The Ho Chi Minh City Hospital for Tropical Diseases treated 373 dengue fever cases in the same period, including 264 adults and 109 children, of which 45 were severe. From early this year until last week, the city documented 16,057 dengue cases, up 117.3 percent year on year. There have been nine deaths from the disease this year, a rise of seven compared to last year, Thanh Nien … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City reports sharp rise in dengue fever cases
Hanoi’s former chairman earns 3-year commutation after fulfilling $1mn compensation
A Vietnam appellate court has cut the prison term of former Hanoi administration chairman Nguyen Duc Chung by three years following his fulfillment of a US$1 million compensation requirement issued during his hearing last year for an offense related to the purchase of Redoxy-3C to treat polluted lakes in Hanoi. After a three-day appellate trial, the High People’s Court in Hanoi on Wednesday issued commutations to Chung and his two accomplices for sentences handed down by the Hanoi People’s Court in December for “abusing positions and powers while performing duties.” Accordingly, Chung received a three-year commutation after the court considered his past achievements and his fulfillment of the VND25 billion ($1.07 million) he owed in compensation for his crimes, as required by the first-instance court. The total amount included VND10 billion ($429,700) previously paid during the first instance hearing and the remainder recently settled at the appellate trial. Along with a … [Read more...] about Hanoi’s former chairman earns 3-year commutation after fulfilling $1mn compensation
Vietnam refutes rumor that prize-winning environmentalist was jailed for climate-related activities
Vietnamese influential climate activist Nguy Thi Khanh was jailed for tax evasion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday, refuting the rumor that she was criminally charged for her climate-related activities. Khanh was sentenced to 24 months in prison for tax evasion during her trial at the Hanoi People’s Court on June 17. The investigation and hearing were carried out in line with the law, and the trial was held publicly, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang answered the questions from foreign media during a regular press meeting on Thursday. The defendant had all her rights guaranteed in accordance with the law, Hang added. Vietnam is determined to fight and strictly deal with violations of the law in accordance with regulations, the diplomat stressed, adding that all citizens are equal before the law. Khanh was investigated and indicted for her economic offense, particularly breaking the rules on tax management, and she pleaded … [Read more...] about Vietnam refutes rumor that prize-winning environmentalist was jailed for climate-related activities
Hanoi GRDP growth hits 7.79% in first half
A series of measures for flexible and safe adaptation to the Covid-19 pandemic helped ensure Hanoi’s speedy socio-economic recovery. Hanoi’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) in the first six months of 2022 is estimated to expand by 7.79%, representing a 1.29-fold increase against the same period of last year, according to the municipal People’s Committee. Production at Dong Anh C&F Company. Photo: Duy Khanh “A series of measures for flexible and safe adaptation to the Covid-19 pandemic helped ensure Hanoi’s speedy socio-economic recovery,” stated the authorities’ report. To date, 99.9% of locals above 18 years of age and children aged 12-17 have been vaccinated with the second dose, while in those aged 5 to 12, the rate is 70%. According to the municipal authorities, the high vaccination rate has been one of the key factors for Hanoi to reopen its economic activities and lay the foundation for growth. During the six months, the city’s state … [Read more...] about Hanoi GRDP growth hits 7.79% in first half