The bank’s recent report looks specifically at seven areas – super apps, mobile payment, social commerce, short-form videos, eSports, webtoons, and digital health – that are currently essential elements in the Asia marketplace. According to the report, while infrastructure has historically been underdeveloped relative to the West, Asia’s high internet connectivity, young and increasingly affluent and urban demographics, and entrepreneurial spirit have driven the region to adopt many technologies at a faster pace. In doing so, Asia provides a glimpse of what the future could look like in more developed, Western economies. Asia is also the first region to introduce several social commerce formats such as livestreaming e-commerce, helping it to become the undisputed 'time machine' for social commerce globally. “We hope the report provides fresh insights on current differences in technological adoption between Asia and the West, as well as a potential path for how these … [Read more...] about Citi: Asia is a time machine to the future
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PM Anthony Albanese’s visit hoped to lift up Vietnam-Australia partnership
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ’s visit from June 3-4 is expected to further promote the sound relations between the two countries in all fields, including peacekeeping, education and training. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by Anthony Albanese since taking office and only two months after the state visit by Australian Governor-General, showing Australia's great attention to the Southeast Asian nation. Highlighting the Vietnam-Australia partnership in peacekeeping operations, Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that Australia was one of the first countries to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Vietnam in UN peacekeeping activities in 2015. The MoU laid a foundation for the two countries to … [Read more...] about PM Anthony Albanese’s visit hoped to lift up Vietnam-Australia partnership
Vietnam to host inaugural NASA Space Week next week
The Vietnam Space Week will be organized in three Vietnamese localities next week, making Vietnam the first Southeast Asian country to hold such a NASA event. The collaboration for the event involves the People’s Committees of Hau Giang Province, Thu Duc City under Ho Chi Minh City, and Binh Dinh Province, alongside the Ho Chi Minh City Computer Association and the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The Hau Giang Convention Center in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang will kick off the first two days of the multi-day event on June 5 and 6. The Student Culture House in Ho Chi Minh City, located at the Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City in Thu Duc City, will host the third day’s activities on June 7. The final two days of the event, June 8 and 9, will take place at the Binh Dinh Convention Center in the south-central namesake province. The objective is to motivate the young generation through captivating stories of astronauts and to … [Read more...] about Vietnam to host inaugural NASA Space Week next week
Prime Minister extends greetings on Lord Buddha’s birthday
The Government leader highlighted Buddhism’s companionship with Vietnam over the past nearly 2,000 years, saying the religion has played an important part in the spiritual and cultural life of Vietnamese people. Buddhism has significantly contributed to national construction and defense, he said, adding that Buddhist activities have been reformed over the past years, receiving the warm response of followers and people. The Prime Minister also lauded Buddhism’s material and spiritual contribution to the COVID-19 combat, as well as post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development. Through the organization of U.N. Day of Vesak for three times, the VBS has importantly contributed to the development of Buddhism globally, improving the position and role of Vietnam Buddhism, and promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to international friends. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh used the occasion to thank the VBS, monks, nuns and followers both at home and aboard for their … [Read more...] about Prime Minister extends greetings on Lord Buddha’s birthday
Parents battle children’s video game addictions
Still, they couldn’t prevent him from wasting away his life playing video games. Anh, a 38-year-old resident of Nam Tu Liem District in Hanoi, said he’s tried everything to stop his son from compulsively playing video games. A gamer is playing games in the middle of the night. Illustration photo by Pexels He promised to give the 12-year-old boy VND 50,000 (around $2.13) a day for each day he didn’t touch video games. His son agreed with the deal, but was then caught by his mother in the middle of the night: headphones on, swearing, and pounding the keyboard with his eyes glued to the computer screen. That night, Anh and his wife Truc beat their son. The following day, they secretly installed a surveillance camera in their son’s bedroom. With the help of it, they saw their son lying in bed with a blanket over his head playing video games on his mobile phone. They decided to take his phone away and change their computer’s password. Still, somehow, their son … [Read more...] about Parents battle children’s video game addictions
Vietnam needs to modify policies to foster offshore wind power
According to Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) deputy general director Nguyen Tai Anh, "It will be crucial to implement a swift legal framework on investment, building, and operating offshore wind power projects while simultaneously drawing in investment and enhancing the existing transportation system." "The urgent need is to alter the policy framework as well as regulations to effectively accomplish the defined goals," added Tai Anh, speaking at a conference hosted by EVN on June 1. According to international practice, bringing an offshore wind power project into action requires about 8–9 years of planning and execution. Some analysts predict that Vietnam will require a vigorous preparatory process with suitable regulations to expedite the implementation time to meet the target of 7GW of power from offshore wind by 2030. The German Development Agency's Energy Support Programme and Vietnam Energy Partnership Group (VEPG) gathered specialists to share their international knowledge … [Read more...] about Vietnam needs to modify policies to foster offshore wind power
Nine Vietnamese universities listed in THE Impact Rankings 2023
Nine Vietnamese universities listed in THE Impact Rankings 2023 (Photo source: nhandan.vn) Hanoi - Nine Vietnamese universities have been listed in the THE Impact Rankings 2023 released by the Times Higher Education (THE) on June 1. Accordingly, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi) has improved its ranking compared to last year, entering the group of 401-600 in the world. In particular, its Quality Education goal ranking saw a strong breakthrough, ranking 70th in the world (5th in Southeast Asia and first in Vietnam). Besides VNU-Hanoi, Duy Tan University is also in the 401-600 group while Ton Duc Thang University, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST), National Economics University and FPT University are in the group of 601-800, and Phenikaa University is in the 801-1,000 category. The two new institutions that join this year’s list are University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (301-400) and Ho Chi Minh City Open University (1001 ). In 2022, seven … [Read more...] about Nine Vietnamese universities listed in THE Impact Rankings 2023
Taiwan’s Foxconn predicts huge growth in AI server business
Taiwan's Foxconn predicts huge growth in AI server business/ illustration photo/ Source: freepik.com Foxconn -- known officially as Hon Hai Precision Industry -- is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and assembles devices for many international brands, most notably Apple's iPhone products. It has also moved to diversify beyond electronics assembly, expanding into areas ranging from electric vehicles to semiconductors and servers. "In 2022 alone, Hon Hai's revenue for servers reached 1.1 trillion Taiwan dollars ($36 billion) to obtain a 40 percent global market share," Chairman Young Liu told an annual shareholders' meeting in Taipei. Liu said Foxconn ranks first in global market share for mobile phones, personal computers and servers, with the AI server market now "rising faster than everyone has expected". He attributed the jump in demand to ChatGPT, the AI programme that burst into the spotlight late last year with the ability to generate essays, … [Read more...] about Taiwan’s Foxconn predicts huge growth in AI server business
Farmers work nights to escape scorching heat
Local farmers in the northern central province of Nghe An have switched to working through the night to avoid soaring temperatures. Farmers in Nghe An have switched to working through the night to avoid soaring temperatures. As temperatures soar in many parts of the central region, farmers work hard in a field in Nghi Van Commune, Nghi Loc District. Nguyen Van Hai, 28, said as the summer - autumn crop begins, he has to work almost all day to keep pace with progress. “Farmers started sowing the seeds at the same time, so I had to make the most of time to plow the fields. I rest for three to four hours a day and most of the time I work on rice fields under scorching heat," Hai said. Nguyen Van Manh in Nam Giang Commune, Nam Dan District said that due to hot weather and the risk of water shortages, it is necessary to speed up the process of soil preparation and sowing. At 10 pm the faint light from battery lamps sheds light on rice fields … [Read more...] about Farmers work nights to escape scorching heat
Ninh Thuan province develops grape eco-system
Tourists visiting a grape orchard in Ninh Hai district’s Vinh Hai commune in Ninh Thuan province. (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNS/VNA) - The south-central province of Ninh Thuan has introduced new grape varieties and advanced farming techniques to improve farmers’ incomes. The country’s largest grape producing province has more than 1,000ha under the fruit and an annual output of 26,000-28,000 tonnes, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. It grows mostly two table varieties, Red Cardinal and NH 01-48, and the wine grape Syrah. To add value, the province has developed models of growing high quality grape to Vietnamese and global good agricultural practices ( VietGAP and GlobalGAP), and organic standards, and used advanced farming techniques in recent years. Some 31 per cent of the grape growing area sees the use of advanced techniques such as automatic irrigation and polygreen houses, and quality standards like VietGAP and GlobalGAP, … [Read more...] about Ninh Thuan province develops grape eco-system