Ko, now 39, launched himself into a career in the renewables industry about 15 years ago, working on green projects in a dozen countries before returning home to the capital Kuala Lumpur. There he teamed up with two school-friends in 2012 to co-found Plus Xnergy, a company that helps homes, businesses and buildings to develop their own solar power systems or source clean energy supplies from elsewhere. The entrepreneur - who has worked with the likes of furniture retailer IKEA, logistics giant DHL and entertainment conglomerate Sony and has developed six solar farms across Malaysia - said awareness about renewable energy among his country folk is the highest he has known. Nonetheless, Ko and other energy experts warned that Malaysia is trailing its Southeast Asian neighbors on clean energy expansion, as a lack of financial incentives and investment, coupled with red-tape, hold back the big projects needed for the country to meet its ambitious climate goals. "Malaysia is … [Read more...] about Malaysia faces ‘inconvenient truth’ on clean energy goals
International renewable energy agency
HEINEKEN Vietnam renews traffic safety partnership
HEINEKEN Vietnam and the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC) renewed their partnership in December with the initiative ‘When You Drink, Never Drive’ (WYDND) which advocates a positive shift away from unhealthy drink-driving behaviours. The scheme has been in place, in one shape or another, since 2008, and will take an alternative approach to the issue over the next two years. The partnership aims to pilot activities that reinforce road safety culture, promoting responsible drinking and clean driving habits for state agency and local enterprise employees. The NTSC and HEINEKEN Vietnam have worked together to create a set of traffic safety regulations within the WYDND framework, and the initiative will present comprehensive and practical solutions with the purpose of safeguarding Vietnamese consumers against dangerous consumption and behaviour. Tran Huu Minh, head of the NTSC Office, complimented HEINEKEN Vietnam’s efforts. “The company has proactively organised … [Read more...] about HEINEKEN Vietnam renews traffic safety partnership
UK joining CPTPP a fundamental change to the bloc: minister
UK Minister of International Trade Greg Hands visited Vietnam on Wednesday to explore trade cooperation opportunities between the two countries. His visit came amidst the UK’s pursuit of full membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2023. Vietnam is the first stop on the minister’s three-day trip to three Southeast Asian countries, all of which are founding members of the partnership. During an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News , Hands emphasized what the UK can offer the CPTPP, as well as discussed the UK’s strong strategic partnership with Vietnam. In a speech at Lancaster House on January 23, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch outlined five priorities for trade. What are your priorities as the Minister of State for Trade Policy? My personal priorities are, first, to get the UK into the CPTPP. Vietnam will play a crucial role in that progress. My second priority is to do a free trade agreement with India this … [Read more...] about UK joining CPTPP a fundamental change to the bloc: minister
MoIT proposes adjusting fuel prices every Thursday
A petrol station in HCM City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to take measures to ensure the supply of all key commodities, especially fuel, and to stabilise the country's distribution channels for the economy after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) was told to speed up the construction and implementation of major power projects, including renewable energy, to ensure enough power for the country's crucial industries. In addition, priority should be given to connecting isolated and remote communes to the national power and telecommunication networks. MoIT, the ministry in charge of Vietnam's power sector, was told to quickly finish and submit the country's Power Planning VIII to the central government for review. The PM said the country's top priority in the short term is to focus on boosting exports, especially agriculture products to China and neighbouring … [Read more...] about MoIT proposes adjusting fuel prices every Thursday
Don’t make electricity too expensive, PM says
"The price of electricity in Vietnam cannot be the same as that of developed countries. If the price is too high, people, businesses and the economy will not be able to bear it," Chinh told a forum Friday. "The Ministry of Industry and Trade must regulate prices without sudden changes to keep inflation under control and ensure that manufacturing growth speeds up." The national utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN) has asked to increase retail prices after posting losses of VND31 trillion ($1.3 billion) last year. The Ministry of Industry and Trade is reviewing the proposal. Vietnam’s retail electricity price currently stands at VND1,864.44 ($0.08) per kilowatt-hour. The price has been unchanged since March 2019. Vietnam’s price is 50% lower than that of the Philippines, where electricity is more expensive than anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Vietnamese prices are also lower than those in Indonesia and Thailand, according to energy data platform GlobalPetroPrices. On the other … [Read more...] about Don’t make electricity too expensive, PM says
☕ Afternoon briefing on February 3
Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency. -The Presidential Office on February 3 announced the Acting President’s order to promulgate the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment that was adopted by the 15th National Assembly at its second extraordinary session. The revised law aims to deal with shortcomings and emerging problems in medical examination and treatment activities in a bid to develop and improve the quality of medical services towards fairness, high efficiency, development and international integration, while strengthening State management over these activities. Read full text -A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the Presidency, the National Assembly, the Government and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee on February 3 paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of the 93rd founding anniversary of the CPV … [Read more...] about ☕ Afternoon briefing on February 3
Vietnamese companies seeking opportunities in India’s plastic market
The five-day event is expected to provide an excellent opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their innovations in the entire plastics value chain. New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese companies together with about 1,800 ones from 79 countries around the world are participating in the 11th edition of the world’s largest International Plastics Exhibition, Conference, and Convention - PLASTINDIA 2023 that is taking place at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from February 1-5. Dinh Duc Thang, a representative of Stavian Chemical, briefed Vietnam Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai and Trade Counselor Bui Trung Thuong on his company’s market development strategy in India . Ambassador Hai highly appreciated the company's strategy and affirmed to support its business in India. VNA … [Read more...] about Vietnamese companies seeking opportunities in India’s plastic market
Thirteen dead as fires blaze through south-central Chile
A firefighter works, as a wildfire burns parts of rural areas in Quillon, Chile, February 2, 2023 REUTERS/Juan Gonzalez SANTIAGO — Dozens of raging wildfires in Chile claimed at least thirteen lives and torched some 14,000 hectares (35,000 acres), authorities reported on Friday, as a summer heatwave sweeps across the southern hemisphere country. Eleven people, including a firefighter, had died in the town of Santa Juana in Biobio, a region some 310 miles (500 km) south of capital Santiago, local authorities said. The Minister of Agriculture also reported an emergency-support helicopter in the southern region of La Araucania had crashed, killing the pilot and a mechanic. States of catastrophe have been declared in the farming and forest areas of Biobio and neighboring Nuble, prompting the deployment of soldiers and additional resources. Hundreds of homes have been damaged while 39 fires rage across the country, Interior Minister Carolina Toha said. “The conditions in the … [Read more...] about Thirteen dead as fires blaze through south-central Chile
U.S. FDA says India-made eye drop linked to some infections, blindness and one death
NEW DELHI -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned against using an eye drop made in India that has been linked to the outbreak of a drug-resistant bacteria leading to adverse events in at least 55 patients in the United States including infections, blindness and one death. The agency said on Thursday that Artificial Tears eye drop manufactured by India's Global Pharma Healthcare Pvt Ltd has a potential bacterial contamination and the company has violated current good manufacturing practices. Global Pharma Healthcare, based in the southern city of Chennai, said on Wednesday it had issued a voluntary recall at the consumer level of unexpired lots of the eye drop, which was distributed in the United States by EzriCare LLC and Delsam Pharma. Global Pharma Healthcare did not immediately respond to a Reuters request seeking comment on the FDA statement. EzriCare said in a statement on Wednesday that it had stopped further distribution and sale of the eye drop, … [Read more...] about U.S. FDA says India-made eye drop linked to some infections, blindness and one death
Pair of gang members arrested in California massacre of 6, including baby
The two suspects - Angel Joseph Uriate, 35, and Noah David Beard, 25 - were taken into custody by sheriff's deputies and federal agents after being under around-the-clock surveillance since Jan. 23, Tulare County Sheriff Mike Bordreaux said. Uriate was injured in a gun battle with agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) after he opened fire on officers as they approached him in Goshen, California, the town where the killings took place on Jan. 16, Bordreaux said. He underwent surgery at a local hospital and was expected to survive, the sheriff said in a news conference announcing the arrests. Beard was captured in nearby Visalia without incident, Bordreaux said. Last month's carnage raised the profile of rising gang violence and drug trafficking in some of California's more rural, isolated areas, as a state known for some of the strictest gun laws in the country faced a spate of deadly mass shootings. The Goshen murders came one week before … [Read more...] about Pair of gang members arrested in California massacre of 6, including baby