Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung presented draft amendments to the Law on Telecommunications before the National Assembly on Friday, arguing that the existence of OTT services in Vietnam means that there must be questions raised regarding their management in order to ensure service quality, safety and security. The draft therefore entails stipulations on the management of telecom services, including data centers, said Hung. The measures and forms of approval also aim to encourage new services to develop, according to the minister. Hung said the development of new satellite technologies has necessitated the completion of management policies regarding trans-national, satellite telecom services in Vietnam, "in order to ensure users’ interests in Vietnam." Le Quang Huy, head of the National Assembly’s Science, Technology and Environment Committee, said OTT services, in essence, use the Internet to provide applications like Zalo, Viber and Telegram. OTT … [Read more...] about Ministry must ‘manage’ Zalo, Telegram to protect users
Security digital transformation
National Power Development Plan VIII to ensure national energy security
The plan strives to increase the share of renewable energy in the country's power mix to between 67.5-71.5 % by 2050. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The National Power Development Plan VIII , which has been recently approved by the Prime Minister, aims to ensure national energy security, thus satisfying the country's socio-economic requirements in the time ahead. GDP growth rate of about 7.0% during the 2021-2030 period, and 6.5-7.5% in 2031-2050. ASEAN in terms of power reliability. Additionally, half of the office buildings and homes in the country would be powered by rooftop solar panels by 2030. Illustrative image (Source: EVN) Greenhouse gas emissions from energy production would be cut to around 27-31 million tonnes by 2050 from about 204-254 million tonnes in 2030. VNA … [Read more...] about National Power Development Plan VIII to ensure national energy security
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
Cliff camping in Vietnam: an adventure amid stunning landscapes
During the final days of April, Thuy Duong, a Hanoi resident, went on two cliff camping trips. Such tourism is not popular in Vietnam, and private tours for this activity are non-existent. Duong first discovered the concept of cliff camping around five to seven years ago through foreign travel websites, but it is only now that she has had the opportunity to pursue it. Duong's group embarks on a trekking trip through the Lan Ty Valley in the northern Lang Son Province in late April, 2023. Photo courtesy of Thuy Duong Her first adventure took place in Lan Ty Valley in Lang Son Province that borders China. Along with her friends, Duong engaged in various activities such as trekking through endemic forests and exploring caves. The highlight was camping on a cliff near the peak of Mat Than Mountain. The camp spot was in the middle of the valley, surrounded by mountains and forests. "It was difficult to reach the camp spot. There was heavy rain and thunder on our … [Read more...] about Cliff camping in Vietnam: an adventure amid stunning landscapes
Focusing on export, investment, consumption to boost growth: PM
PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 3 asked ministries, agencies and localities to push the three engines of export, investment and consumption in order to spur the country's economic growth in the time ahead. Speaking at an online regular meeting between the Government and localities, the leader stressed the need to remove obstacles to production and business, and help enterprises in administrative procedures , interest rates and market expansion. He also urged localities to accelerate the disbursement of public investment capital and the implementation of the socio-economic recovery and development programme as well as national target programmes, and focus on site clearance and material preparations for key projects. Apart from promoting domestic consumption, it is necessary to expand export markets, the PM said, highlighting other tasks such as effectively optimising free trade … [Read more...] about Focusing on export, investment, consumption to boost growth: PM
Australian PM savours Vietnamese foods, drinks locally brewed beer
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese talks about Vietnamese dishes at the lunch with young people. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had lunch at an eatery in Hanoi’s Old Quarter on June 3, where he tried the world-famous Vietnamese sandwich "banh mi", a favourite street food of many Vietnamese people and foreign tourists, and drank " bia hoi ", a locally brewed beer often used by Hanoians on hot summer days. "Banh mi" is ranked 7th among the best street foods in the world by TasteAtlas, a website dedicated to discovering fresh ingredients, traditional dishes, and authentic restaurants around the world. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is briefed on how to make a "banh mi". (Photo: VNA) CNN Travel has also included "banh mi" among its top 24 sandwiches in the world in 2023. According to the website, Banh mi can be easily found at street vendors and food carts everywhere. This is not only a popular … [Read more...] about Australian PM savours Vietnamese foods, drinks locally brewed beer
Indonesia promotes judicial reform
The Supreme Court in central Jakarta, Indonesia.(Courtesy of the Supreme Court) Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia ’s government has created a new team to formulate a plan to accelerate judicial reform efforts that the Supreme Court launched in the early 2000s, after the country’s top court was hit by a bribery case involving two of its justices, according to Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD. The team is tasked with reviewing the ongoing reforms and formulating new policies for speeding them up, without threatening the judiciary’s constitutionally guaranteed independence, he said in a statement released on May 27. The move follows President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo’s instruction on immediate judicial reform last September, when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) opened a bribery investigation into Supreme Court Justice Sudrajad Dimyati. Comprising four working groups, the new team will not only focus on reforming the judiciary … [Read more...] about Indonesia promotes judicial reform
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