Hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the event is one of the major celebrations for the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties. In his remarks at the opening ceremony, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs Yoshimasa Hayashi affirmed the effective cooperation between the two countries in recent years, reflected in regular exchanges at all levels. Of these, the most notable one was Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance at the expanded G7 summit in May this year. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said that as the largest-ever of its kind, the Vietnam Festival 2023 shows the wishes of governments, localities and people of the two countries to join hands towards the future, entering a new stage of development. Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said that the annual festival in Tokyo offers an opportunity for the Vietnamese community in Japan and Japanese friends to exchange and enjoy Vietnamese music, … [Read more...] about Vietnam Festival 2023 kicks off in Japan
Installing rafter ties
Australian PM tries Hanoi draft beer during visit to Vietnam
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spent time visiting a local beer spot in Hanoi to enjoy bia hoi (light Vietnamese draft beer) after he arrived in the Vietnamese capital city on Saturday afternoon. PM Albanese joined a crowd at a draft beer spot on Duong Thanh Street, Hoan Kiem District to drink ice-cold draft beer and have lunch there. The Australian leader sat at the same table as that of Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh and Director of the State Protocol Department Nguyen Viet Dung. Before visiting the draft beer spot, PM Albanese bought a loaf of banh mi, a Vietnamese baguette served with different fillings, for lunch. A staff member of a banh mi stall gives banh mi to PM Albanese. A representative of the Vietnam-based brewer Habeco briefs PM Albanese on the history and development of Hanoi draft beer. PM Albanese jointly says “Mot, hai, ba, do!” (one, two, three, Cheers!) and chats with … [Read more...] about Australian PM tries Hanoi draft beer during visit to Vietnam
Digital technologies prove effective in waste management
Illustrative photo (Photo: baotaiinguyenmoitruong.vn) HCM City (VNA) – As Ho Chi Minh City sees a huge volume of waste discharged daily, digital technologies are said to help solve the problem, and better connect households, authorities, and waste collectors. Many localities in the southern economic hub have applied digital technologies to better waste mangement. Districts 3, 4, Go Vap, Binh Thanh, Binh Chanh, and Tan Dinh ward in District 1 have used the app GRAC for waste management. The app, developed by GRAC Technology Joint Stock Company, with its web-based version, provides management tools for waste collection units and authorities such as waste collection contracts, employees, payment history, notices, and feedback from households. It also supports the management of garbage trucks to see if they travel the wrong routes or skip any stops. With the mobile phone-based version, the app GRAC has the main functions such as household/garbage truck management, monthly waste … [Read more...] about Digital technologies prove effective in waste management
Mastercard ramps up fraud protection for e-commerce merchants
The tie-up offers MPGS customers access to Vesta’s Payment Guarantee™ and Payment Protect solutions. — Photo courtesy of the company With merchants estimated to suffer more than US$48 billion in e-commerce fraud globally in 2023 – 22 per cent of that in Asia – Mastercard on June 2 announced the expansion of its partnership with Vesta, the global leader in payment fraud protection. Building on the two firms’ existing fraud detection collaboration, Mastercard will be integrating Vesta’s iron-clad Payment Guarantee™ and Payment Protect risk scoring solution into its Mastercard Payment Gateway Services (MGPS) platform. Starting in the second half of 2023, MPGS customers in the Asia Pacific region will be given optional access to both fraud-fighting solutions which would offer total protection for their eCommerce transactions and take their cost of fraud to zero. “To provide MPGS customers with the toughest, most impenetrable fraud protection available, Mastercard is committed to … [Read more...] about Mastercard ramps up fraud protection for e-commerce merchants