Philippines news headlines

Revenue to state budget increases over 10 percent The revenue to the state budget in the first 9 months of this year amounted to 1,084.7 trillion VND, representing 80.75 percent of the projection and an increase of 10.75 percent over the figure recorded in the same period last year, according to the Finance Ministry. Meanwhile, the expenditure from the state coffer was estimated at 116.3 trillion VND, with the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic being prioritised. By the end of September, 29.1 trillion VND from the state budget was spend on the fight and support to those adversely affected by the pandemic. Despite the serious impacts of the pandemic, the revenue still increased year on year thanks to the economic growth momentum in the last month of last year, the ministry said. For the rest of the year, the ministry will continue accelerating administrative procedure reforms on taxation, simplifying business conditions, and joining other forces in fighting …

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The provinces and cities that have recorded cases are as follows: HCM City (790), Dong Nai (397), Binh Duong (385), Soc Trang (142), An Giang (130), Tien Giang (121), Binh Thuan (116), Tay Ninh (101), Dong Nai Thap (97), Kien Giang (93), Ca Mau (93), Dak Lak (84), Quang Nam (71), Long An (70), Can Tho (42), Khanh Hoa (42), Tra Vinh ( 41), Thanh Hoa (39), Hau Giang (38), Gia Lai (34), Ha Giang (34), Bac Lieu (31), Kon Tum (30), Quang Ngai (29), Nghe An (25) , Hanoi (23), Vinh Long (15), Lam Dong (11), Ba Ria - Vung Tau (11), Dak Nong (10), Ha Nam (10), Quang Tri (9), Ninh Thuan (8), Binh Dinh (8), Thua Thien Hue (5), Nam Dinh (5), Bac Ninh (4), Son La (4), Ben Tre (4), Quang Binh (2), Hai Duong (1) , Hung Yen (1), Phu Tho (1), Thai Nguyen (1), Phu Yen (1), Dien Bien (1), Ha Tinh (1). …

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Doctors and nurses of HCM City’s Chợ Rẫy Hospital head to General Hospital of the Mekong Delta's Cà Mau Province on Friday and Saturday to assist COVID-19 treatment. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — A further 3,221 COVID-19 cases were reported in Việt Nam on Saturday, including 3,211 domestic infections and 10 imported ones. The new cases were recorded in 48 provinces and cities. Among those, there were 1,172 infections detected in the community. The number of domestic cases decreased by 578 compared to the previous day. HCM City reported the highest number with 790, followed by Đồng Nai (397 cases) and Bình Dương (385 cases). Twenty-three cases were found in Hà Nội. Others were reported in Sóc Trăng (142), An Giang (130), Tiền Giang (121), Bình Thuận (116), Tây Ninh (101), Đồng Tháp (97), Kiên Giang (93), Cà Mau (93), Đắk Lắk (84), Quảng Nam (71), Long An (70), Cần Thơ (42), Khánh Hòa (42), Trà Vinh (41), Thanh Hóa (39), Hậu Giang (38), Gia Lai (34), Hà Giang (34), Bạc Liêu (31), …

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Islamic State claimed responsibility for a suicide bomber attack at a Shi'ite mosque in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar which left dozens killed and injured, a statement posted by the group’s Amaq news agency said on Friday. Afghan men inspect the damages inside a Shiite mosque in Kandahar after a suicide bomb attack during Friday prayers. (Photo: AFP) The statement added that two Islamic state fighters shot the guards of the mosque dead, broke in and blew themselves up between two groups of worshippers, one of which consisted of around 300 people. It was the second week in a row that militants bombed Friday prayers and killed dozens of worshippers. HELD TO ACCOUNT The U.N. mission in Afghanistan said those responsible should be held to account. Taliban special forces arrived to secure the site and an appeal went out to residents to donate blood for the wounded. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said security forces had been ordered to …

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Draper Startup House Ventures in Singapore. It has launched its first global fund targeting early-stage companies in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Draper Startup House Ventures Draper Venture Network fund’s Singapore operation has launched a new micro fund targeting founders at the earliest stages of building tech start-ups in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam. Draper Startup House Ventures’ first investment was in Ferne Health, a Singapore healthcare start-up addressing sexual health. The fund management is headquartered in the US and Singapore, but aims to invest world-wide. General partners Giulianna Crivello and Vikram Bharati, founder of Draper Startup House International, will co-manage the fund along with long-time advisor Nick Martin. It will focus on the Asia-Pacific where it has already invested in 60 countries and 30 industries. — VNS …

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Greig Craft, president and founder of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and 32-year resident of Vietnam, has become president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile Asia-Pacific Region II. — Photo Courtesy of AIP Greig Craft, president and founder of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, which advocates road safety and helped bring about the national helmet wearing law in 2007, has been elected president of the FIA Asia-Pacific Region II, one of four global regions of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile. The FIA runs Formula One racing and other international sporting events, and focuses on road safety, environmental issues and air quality. Craft has also been appointed to the FIA World Council in Geneva. In his new Asia-Pacific role, he will seek to bring more FIA attention to air quality and environmental impacts as a result of transport pollution. “Poor air quality is a contributory factor in the deaths of at least 3.1 million people annually, …

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A SkyX Solar project in Dong Nai. With EDF Renewables as a strategic partner, SkyX Solar plans to invest $100 million in the next two to three years to develop 200MWp of rooftop solar power systems in Viet Nam. VinaCapital Group, one of Viet Nam’s leading investment management companies with over US$3.7 billion in assets under management, announced on October 14 that EDF Renewables, an international leader in renewable energy, has made a significant investment in its subsidiary SkyX Energy, the holding company of SkyX Solar, a rooftop solar power developer. SkyX Solar, which has around 30 MWp of solar projects in operation, plans to invest more than $100 million to further develop 200MWp of rooftop solar. Don Lam, co-founder and CEO of VinaCapital, said: “A few years ago we recognised the critical role that clean energy will play in powering Viet Nam’s continued growth and development. The launch of SkyX Solar in 2019 is just one of our initiatives in the sector, and in a very …

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A view of the Six Senses Con Dao Resort. — VNS Photo Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province resumes domestic flights this weekend, with a special flight for guests to the Six Senses Con Dao Resort. During the social distancing period, Con Dao Island has sheltered well with zero cases of COVID-19 recorded and has maintained its position as the safest and most peaceful Vietnamese island. Thanks to the Government’s efforts, Six Senses Con Dao is welcoming guests on a special charter flight for a seven-night pilot stay at South East Asia’s #1 Resort. Visiting Con Dao Island, guests can experience the beauty and nature of all the facilities available at Six Senses Con Dao during these times, with support from local authorities to maintain the impressive zero COVID-19 status. From dining under the stars to the healing sounds of meditation, turtle releasing programmes and organic gardens, guests are able to roam the resort and reconnect with themselves and world around them. Situated along …

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At the lauching ceremony of the route at the Dien Bien Phu airport. — VNA/VNS Photo The first Bamboo Airways flight from Ha Noi landed at Dien Bien Phu airport in the northern border province of Dien Bien on Thursday, marking the official launch of Bamboo Airways' Ha Noi-Dien Bien route. The airline operates three return flights a week on the route using Embraer 190 aircraft. The flight frequency will gradually increase depending on actual travel demand. Bamboo Airways General Director Dang Tat Thang said the new service will facilitate the travel of locals and tourists, helping attract investment to Dien Bien and increasing exchanges between Dien Bien and other socio-economic and cultural hubs of the nation. He unveiled that the carrier will launch a direct route linking the province and HCM City in December, serving surging travel demand during the holidays. — VNS …

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Vietnamese consortium will construct two offshore substations for the Hai Long 2 and Hai Long 3 wind projects. — Photo bnews.vn Yushan Energy, a subsidiary of low carbon energy developer Enterprize Energy, and Canadian independent power producer Northland Power, have selected a Vietnamese consortium led by Semco Maritime and PTSC M&C to construct two offshore substations for the Hai Long 2 and Hai Long 3 wind projects. Located off the Taiwanese coast (China), the sites will deliver more than 1 GW of green wind energy once commissioned in 2025-26. Yushan Energy, a consortium led by Enterprize Energy and Mitsui & Co, are co-developers of the Hai Long Offshore wind portfolio, owning 40 per cent, with Northland Power owning 60 per cent. It includes design, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of the two offshore substations. The substation jackets will be manufactured at PTSC M&C’s yard facilities in Vung Tau, a port city in south Viet Nam, …

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