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As much of Europe bakes in a third heatwave since June, fears are growing that extreme drought driven by climate change in the continent's breadbasket nations will dent stable crop yields and deepen the cost-of-living crisis. The European Commission on Wednesday urged EU member states to re-use treated urban wastewater as irrigation on the continent's parched farms, after France and parts of England saw their driest July on record. In France, where an intense drought has hammered farmers and prompted widespread limits on freshwater use, there was just 9.7 millimetres (0.38 inches) of rain last month, Meteo-France said. That was 84 percent down on the average levels seen for July between 1991 and 2022, making it the driest month since March 1961, the agency added. The southwestern region of Gironde, already devastated by last month's wildfires, saw a maximum temperature of 39.6 degrees Celsius (103 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, with Meteo-France predicting a peak on … [Read more...] about Driest July in memory imperils Europe’s crops

Truong Hai Auto Corporation (THACO), a typical successful firm in Vietnam's automobile sector, has been investing heavily in mechanics and the manufacturing of accessories. THACO leaders shared the firm’s journey to resolve the issue: increasing the localization rate or surrendering to auto imports flooding the local market. They also shared the one-stop model to help other Vietnamese enterprises cooperate to develop, thereby improving the internal power of Vietnam’s industry. THACO chairman Tran Ba Duong said at a meeting with mechanical enterprises that “you have technology and machinery. We will build factories and lease them at low prices.” “If we fail to demonstrate our commitment, you can take your machinery away. “We will not go back on our words. Only actual acts and thoughts will create values." Refreshing itself by enhancing investment Returning to Chu Lai Industrial Park in central Quang Nam Province nearly three years after Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper held … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s THACO and philosophy of no surrender

NEW DELHI -- India's government on Wednesday withdrew a data protection and privacy bill which was first proposed in 2019 and had alarmed big technology companies such as Facebook and Google, announcing it was working on a new comprehensive law. The 2019 law had proposed stringent regulations on cross-border data flows and proposed giving the Indian government powers to seek user data from companies, seen as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stricter regulation of tech giants. A government notice said the decision came as a parliamentary panel's review of the 2019 bill suggested many amendments, leading to the need for a new "comprehensive legal framework". The government will now "present a new bill", the notice added. IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Reuters the government has started drafting the new bill, "which is in good advanced stages", with a public release "very close". The government aims to get the new bill approved and made into law by early 2023 in the … [Read more...] about India nixes privacy bill that alarmed big tech companies, works on new law

A volcano erupted in Iceland on Wednesday near the capital Reykjavik, spewing red hot lava and plumes of smoke out of a fissure in an uninhabited valley after several days of intense seismic activity. The eruption was around 40 kilometres (25 miles) from Reykjavik, near the site of the Mount Fagradalsfjall volcano in southwestern Iceland that erupted for six months in March-September 2021, mesmerising tourists and spectators who flocked to the scene. On Wednesday, a strip of glowing red lava could be seen gushing from the ground, spouting 20-30 metres (65-100 feet) into the air before spreading into a blanket of smouldering black rock. As it cooled, blueish smoke rose up from the hilly landscape on the Reykjanes peninsula. About 100 curious onlookers quickly made their way to the scene, bewitched by the sight of the bubbling lava and the intense roar that could be heard rising up from the ground as the lava erupted, an AFP reporter at the scene said. The Icelandic … [Read more...] about Deja vu as volcano erupts again near Iceland capital

International health experts said that education and accurate messaging are critical to avoid stigma in dealing with Monkeypox outbreaks. Communication plays a crucial role in controlling Monkeypox, a viral zoonosis with symptoms similar to those seen in the past in smallpox patients, said Eric Dziuban, Country Director for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vietnam. Eric Dziuban, Country Director for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vietnam, speaks at the media briefing held in Hanoi on July 29. Photo: US Embassy in Hanoi “Clear communication to the public is so important during outbreaks, especially during the early days when people are most likely to get confused or get their facts from places that might not be as reliable,” Dziuban said in a press briefing held at the US Embassy in Hanoi last week to share US support in Vietnam in Monkeypox readiness. It means that communication education is one of the key … [Read more...] about Communication matters immensely in combating Monkeypox: CDC

The land lot of Pham Thanh Huong is eroded, but is not allowed to reinforce due to complicated administrative procedure One day at the end of this June, inhabitants of Hamlet 3 in Binh My Commune of Cu Chi District suddenly heard a bang. Rushing out of their house, they frightenedly saw a 20-meter-long and 3-meter-wide section of the current embankment being eroded by the river. For fear of this incident could threaten their life, these people worked with the local authorities to temporarily reinforce this embankment with coconut piles and sand. The section next to it is also subsided by nearly 20cm compared to the road surface, almost separating itself from the whole embankment. Facing a similar downgraded state is the embankment section passing Nhi Binh Commune of Hoc Mon District, now having a lot of potholes. More troublesome is that the dike along Ba Hong Channel to prevent high tides at present is too low to perform its function. Nguyen Trong Hoang from Nhi Binh Commune … [Read more...] about Saigon riverbank erosion arousing deep anxiety in local residents

Pre-tax earnings sank 15 percent to US$9.2 billion after it took a $1.1-billion hit on possible credit losses "to reflect heightened economic uncertainty and inflation", HSBC said. The result "reflected a more normalised level of expected credit losses compared with the Covid-19 releases made last year, as well as the macroeconomic impact of the Russia-Ukraine war", added Chief Executive Noel Quinn. HSBC H1 pre-tax profit falls, dismisses calls for split - illustration photo / ISAAC LAWRENCE / AFP However, net profit rose 14 percent to US$8.3 billion in the reporting period partly on a large one-off tax credit. - Quarterly dividends - The annual revenue outlook was positive, Quinn noted, with net interest income expected to reach at least US$31 billion this year and US$37 billion next year as interest rates rise. The group was confident of achieving its best returns in a decade in 2023. "We also intend to revert to quarterly dividends in 2023," he added. … [Read more...] about HSBC H1 pre-tax profit falls, dismisses calls for split

Hanoi said Vietnam adheres firmly to the “One-China Principle.” Vietnam maintains a “One-China Principle” and urges all parties to refrain from raising the level of tension in the Taiwan Strait, according to the foreign ministry’s statement on Wednesday. Le Thi Thu Hang, Spokeswoman for Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo: Baoquocte “Vietnam wishes for all relevant parties to exercise restraint, not to exacerbate tensions in the Taiwan Strait, contributing to maintaining peace and stability, and strengthening cooperation and development in the region and the world,” said Le Thi Thu Hang, Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). She asserted that Vietnam steadfastly upholds the “One-China Principle.” Hang made the statement following the visit paid to Taiwan by Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking American official to visit Taiwan in 25 years. Tensions around the Taiwan Strait were heightened … [Read more...] about Vietnam calls for restraint on Taiwan Strait

Muoi Sau (Sixteen) Dessert Soup Stall in Hanoi’s downtown is a well-known place for those who love the sweetness of Hanoi desserts. Che or sweet soup is a Vietnamese dessert that originated in northern Vietnam a nearly century ago. This has long been a familiar nosh of Hanoians to cool off on hot summer afternoons. From the simple sweet porridge cooked from lotus, black or green mung beans, over time, it has become more diverse with different variants. A specialty of Hanoi The mixture of lotus and young rice sweet soup. Photo: Moc Van Interestingly, you can enjoy che in both Summer and Winter. There is no better way to refresh your body in the middle of a hot summer day than having a cool fresh glass of che , and warm your body up with a hot bowl of Vietnamese sweet soup on a freezing winter night. che may be served hot or cold, in bowls, glasses, or over ice. Unlike che from other provinces, Hanoians are very careful in the selection of … [Read more...] about [Quintessence of Hanoi’s cuisine] Muoi Sau sweet soups – quintessence of Hanoi’s nosh

Canada, New Zealand, and the UK are three out of 11 Dialogue Partners of ASEAN. Vietnam’s Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held a series of meetings with his counterparts of ASEAN Partners on the sidelines of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-55) and Related Meetings held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on August 3. The meetings aimed at intensifying cooperation and mutual support at international forums through the talks with Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta, and UK Minister for Asia and the Middle East at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Amanda Milling. Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Canada’s Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade Mary Ng in Cambodia on August 3. Photos: Baoquocte Canada In talks with Mary Ng, Son suggested Canada should enhance cooperation in regional mechanisms, … [Read more...] about Vietnam expands relations with ASEAN Partners