A representative of the HCMC Greenery Parks company on Wednesday said around 100 trees up to 15 m high on numerous streets of districts 5, 7, 8 and Nha Be were uprooted amid thunderstorms on Tuesday. An uprooted tree lies across a street in HCMC's District 5 on September 19, 2023. Photo by VnExpress The felled trees damaged three motorbikes and a car in District 7, as well as several power and telecommunication lines, disrupting communication and traffic. The Binh Minh golf course in Nha Be District received especially severe damage when 11 metal poles were felled by the winds. Each of the pole costs around VND100 million ($4,115) to be installed. Several metal poles at a golf course in HCMC were felled by strong winds, September 20, 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Dinh Van There were no casualties, and the owner of the course has contacted authorities to help with cleaning it up, as well as shuting down the course as the damages incurred were too great. … [Read more...] about 100 trees felled, roofs blown off in Saigon thunderstorms
Natural outdoor adventure abounds at tien cave vnexpress international
Thailand’s ancient town of Si Thep added to world heritage list
The site in Phetchabun province - some 200 kilometers (120 miles) north of Bangkok - is Thailand's first cultural site to be recognized by UNESCO since 1992. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin thanked the UN cultural body for the decision but an expert warned the complex is not ready for an influx of tourists. Archaeologists date the statues and buildings of Si Thep, built by the Dvaravati civilisation, to between 1,500 and 1,700 years ago. At its peak the town was a thriving cultural and trading metropolis that celebrated Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. The decision was announced by UNESCO at a meeting in Riyadh, and in a prepared video message, Srettha thanked delegates for the listing. Si Thep was "a treasure not only for people all over the world, but for people of all generations," he said. "I look forward to welcoming you all to the site." Phatcharavat Wongsuwan, minister of natural resources and environment, said it was a "proud moment" for his country. Speaking at … [Read more...] about Thailand’s ancient town of Si Thep added to world heritage list
Huawei unit ships Chinese-made surveillance chips in fresh comeback sign
The shipments to surveillance camera manufacturers from the company's HiSilicon chip design unit started this year, according to one of the sources, and a third source familiar with the industry supply chain. One of the sources briefed on the unit said at least some of the customers were Chinese. Huawei also unveiled new smartphones in recent weeks that use advanced chips, which analysts say are domestically made. The developments indicate the Chinese tech giant is overcoming Washington's export controls, which since 2019 have barred it from obtaining components and technology from U.S. firms without approval. "These surveillance chips are relatively easy to manufacture compared to smartphone processors," said the source familiar with the surveillance camera industry's supply chain, adding that HiSilicon's return would shake up the market. A key factor is that the company appears to have worked around U.S. restrictions on chip design software. Huawei in March announced it had … [Read more...] about Huawei unit ships Chinese-made surveillance chips in fresh comeback sign
China braces for more harsh weather after tornado kills 10
A view shows a tornado in Suqian, Jiangsu Province, China, released on September 19, 2023, in this screen grab obtained from social media video. (Video obtained by Reuters/via REUTERS) BEIJING – Chinese weather officials stepped up warnings about heavy rain and strong winds in several regions, state media said on Wednesday, a day after a violent tornado wreaked havoc in the eastern province of Jiangsu, killing 10 people. The latest incident in weeks of destructive and deadly weather spurred authorities to call for vigilance against strong winds in coastal areas near the Yellow Sea off Jiangsu. Tuesday’s tornado was brief but fierce, with social media images showing overturned cars, downed power lines and flying debris, much of which littered the streets of Suqian, a city in the north of the province. “I was at the door and witnessed the wind, solar energy devices, and trees flying in the air,” wrote one user of popular social media platform Weibo. “For those two … [Read more...] about China braces for more harsh weather after tornado kills 10
Chip giant Synopsys to help Vietnam develop semiconductor industry
The signing took place on Sept. 18 (U.S. time) at the headquarters of Synopsys in San Francisco, California, under the witness of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his working trip. The memorandum states that Synopsys will support the Department of Information Technology and Communications Industry in creating a plan to establish a semiconductor research center. Synopsys’ technology is set to be used as samples and prototypes for semiconductor production. Nguyen Thien Nghia, deputy head of the department, said that the partnership with Synopsys allows Vietnamese engineers to be trained by one of the best chip designers in the world. Robert Li, head of sales and customer success group serving Taiwan, Southeast Asia, and India, said that his company is committed to helping Vietnam expand human resources in designing and manufacturing semiconductors. The company also signed a memorandum with the National Innovation Center under the Ministry of Planning and Investment to … [Read more...] about Chip giant Synopsys to help Vietnam develop semiconductor industry
VN-Index posts biggest gain in 6 sessions
It closed 14.6 points higher after losing 0.3 points Tuesday. Trading on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), on which the index is based, dropped 12.7% to VND20.37 trillion ($837.93 million). The VN30 basket, comprising the 30 largest capped stocks, saw 22 tickers rose. GVR of Vietnam Rubber Group led with a 3.6% increase, followed by VIC of private conglomerate Vingroup, up 3.5%. BCM of Becamex Investment and Industrial Development rose 2.9% and VHM of property giant Vinhomes closed 2.7% higher. Six blue chips fell. SSB of Southeast Asia Commercial Bank (SeABank) dropped 1.1% and GAS of state-owned Petrovietnam Gas lost 0.9%. Foreign investors were net sellers for the third straigt session to the tune of VND226 billion, mainly selling HPG of steelmaker Hoa Phat Group and MWG of electronics retail chain Mobile World. The HNX-Index for stocks on the Hanoi Stock Exchange, home to mid and small caps, rose 1.84% while the UPCoM-Index for the Unlisted Public Companies … [Read more...] about VN-Index posts biggest gain in 6 sessions
Dozens of nations to sign U.N. ocean treaty but implementation still awaits
A new U.N. treaty to protect the world's oceans is expected to be signed by dozens of countries on Wednesday, another step in the efforts to reverse the damage done to fragile marine environments by overfishing and other human activities. The global pact to conserve biodiversity on the high seas was finally agreed in March and formally adopted by the United Nations in June. It is seen as a crucial tool to meet a target agreed last year to protect 30% of the earth's land and sea by 2030, known as "30 by 30". At least 60 countries are expected to sign the agreement at the annual United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. However, it still needs to be ratified on a national level before it goes into effect. Mads Christensen, interim executive director of Greenpeace International, described the signings as a "powerful signal" and help maintain momentum to meet the "30 by 30" target. "But this signing is a purely symbolic moment," he said. "Now politicians must bring the treaty … [Read more...] about Dozens of nations to sign U.N. ocean treaty but implementation still awaits
Businesses’ intrinsic strength – key to socio-economic development
Jonathan Pincus, UNDP Senior International Economist, said Vietnam should give fresh impetus to national innovation and invest big in research and development (R&D) activities with a view to improving labor productivity in long term. He added that Vietnam’s spending on R&D activities, a measure to evaluate the ability to better labor productivity, has lagged behind that in China, Thailand and Malaysia. Besides, rational mechanisms should be put in place to lure leading Vietnamese scientists to domestic institutes and universities, he said, highlighting they will make practical contributions to the national development. Low worker productivity has hampered economic recovery post pandemic, other experts said, pointing a shortage of employees with substantial experience and skills, and a large number of micro and small businesses as major reasons. While government policies to renew the growth model and enhance innovation in science and technology have created favorable … [Read more...] about Businesses’ intrinsic strength – key to socio-economic development
Ecopark Group unveils eco-urban area ambitions
"Our ambition is to establish a green heartland, connecting crucial urban centres and promoting a sustainable future," said Ha. Spanning over 3,800 hectares, the development will be strategically situated to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City. Its location will offer vital connectivity to the southern metropolis along with Bien Hoa city and Binh Duong province, setting the foundation for future growth in the Nhon Trach region. Secretary Linh lauded Ecopark's innovative concepts, especially the proposed waterway system, saying, "Ecopark's ideas are precisely what we need. Their vision for an aquatic urban centre showcases the innovative thinking required for Nhon Trach's future." Linh posited that the Nhon Trach eco-urban area project could be a catalyst for expediting the urbanisation of Nhon Trach and urged the relevant departments to evaluate the project meticulously for potential integration into the master plan for the province. "Let us harness these plans to drive urban … [Read more...] about Ecopark Group unveils eco-urban area ambitions
Electricity prices must reflect production costs for green transition
Speaking at the 2023 Vietnam Economic Forum on September 19, Thanh said, “To achieve a green economic transition and boost renewable energy, electricity prices must fully reflect production costs.” According to Thanh, there has been an influx of new energy sources, many of which are costlier than the current average electricity price. As a rough estimate, if the cost of renewable energy stands between 5-7 US cents per kWh, with the addition of transmission costs, the retail price should rise to 10-12 US cents per kWh. Currently, the average retail price hovers around 8.1 US cents per kWh. This suggests the need for an upward revision, taking the new production costs into consideration. "Naturally, the idea of raising electricity prices will receive pushback. However, without a clear roadmap for such price hikes, transitioning to renewable energy becomes unfeasible," Thanh said, adding, "Energy pricing needs to be more reflective of economic and societal costs. Such measures could … [Read more...] about Electricity prices must reflect production costs for green transition