Single use plastic

Illustrative image (Photo: Geonoise Asia) Bangkok (VNA) – The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) may procure 3,200 electric buses to phase out fossil-fueled buses from its fleet in three years, said Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Sorapong Paitoonphong. The plan is part of BMTA’s revised business rehabilitation plan, which will be sent to the Thai Government for approval in about two months, he added. The development of electric vehicle industry is an important part of the Thai Government’s efforts to restructure the economy with focus on hi-tech industry, biological-circular-green economic model, health care and tourism. Last month, the Thai Government approved two tax incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles and help Thailand become a major manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world./. VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand plans to use entirely electric buses in Bangkok in three years

The approval of Vietnam’s circular economy development plan, announced in June, aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 (as compared to 2014). The commitment at COP26 by Vietnam to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is considered the main call for investment into green technologies and friendly-environmental projects, as well as approval of plans such as the aforementioned circular economy one. These messages have sent a strong signal regarding the country’s direction towards low-carbon, green development, and a circular economy, and could be a new driving force for Vietnam’s sustainable socioeconomic development, helping to improve its competitiveness and foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. While governments have committed to lowering CO2, companies are also following suit for the good of the planet, Photo: Shutterstock As a result, numerous groups have made decisions in terms of investment and other operations … [Read more...] about Green standards top policies for fresh foreign ventures

The firefighters try to extinguish the flame. Thua Thien - Hue Province History Museum used the place to display artifacts featuring revolutionary movements during the resistance war against the French colonialists. In a short time, an intense flame broke out in the entire house. The museum staff screamed for help and quickly brought the exhibits outside. Fire trucks, dozens of firefighters and police forces were sent to the scene to control the fire and prevent it from spreading. The fire was finally extinguished after an hour later. A portion of the roof of the house collapsed after the incident. The fire's cause is under investigation. Imperial Academy - Quoc Tu Giam is a historical and cultural relic and the only university of the Nguyen Dynasty that is currently preserved. Quoc Tu Giam relic along with the complex of monuments under the Nguyen Dynasty was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. By Van Thang- Translated by Huyen Huong … [Read more...] about Fire engulfs ancient house inside Quoc Tu Giam relic site in Hue City

The image of Ao Tien high-class tourism urban area has been shared widely on social networks in recent days. (Photo nld.com.vn) Quang Ninh (VNS/VNA ) - The People's Committee of northern coastal Quang Ninh province has refuted information that it has allowed a project to conduct sea encroachment and subdivide land plots for sale, which seriously undermined the conservation of the UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay . The committee said the information circulating online about a development project encroaching into the bay in recent days was "not true." The image circulated was taken at in Ao Tien high-class tourism urban area project in Van Don district. The area was in Van Don economic zone, not in the Ha Long Bay, the province stressed. In recent days, the image of an urban area with divided land plots and an island in the middle of the area locating right close to Ha Long Bay has been shared widely on Facebook, stirring strong opposition about greed-driven … [Read more...] about Quang Ninh refutes allegations of sea encroachment in Ha Long Bay

Inflation in Singapore expected to peak in Q4. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Singapore (VNA) - Inflation in Singapore is expected to peak in the next two to four months and will start to ease thereafter, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong has said. In an interview granted to Bloomberg, Wong said inflation rates here may very well settle at a higher rate given the geopolitical environment, supply chain issues and how economies are transitioning towards becoming more sustainable. He added that the extent of this easing towards the year end and where the new inflation rates will stabilise at are big uncertainties. Wong noted that they are not likely to return to the rates Singapore had been used to over the last decade or so, as zero to 1% inflation was a historical anomaly and never used to be so low. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has already tightened monetary policy four times in the last nine months to dampen inflation, Wong said, adding … [Read more...] about Inflation in Singapore expected to peak in Q4: official

Staff of Sai Gon Bank interview candidates at a job fair held by the HCM City University of Economics in May. — Photo diendandoanhnghiep.vn Banks are focusing on digital transformation and automation, which has led to increasing demand for IT and data personnel, according to a report recently released by the recruitment service provider Navigos Group. Banks need high-quality human resources, yet it can be difficult and costly to find qualified staff due to market competition. Digital transformation has been undertaken by large banks in the past three to five years. Due to competition and the pandemic, numerous banks have expanded their digital transformation over the past two years. Searches by banks for mid- and high-level positions related to digital banking and digital transformation occupied half of bank jobs from the second half of 2021 to mid-2022. Some positions that are always in high demand for digital transformation include product owner, project manager, business … [Read more...] about Banks struggle to recruit personnel for digital transformation

Piles of VND100.000 bank notes. — EastAsia forum/VNA Photo Banks must tighten their assessment controls of corporate bond investments to avoid excessive risk and the misuse of funds raised by firms, experts said. In early April, the Banking Supervision Agency, under the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) conducted an inspection of corporate bond investment activities at seven banks, while the Ministry of Finance inspected one bank. According to the SBV, by the end of 2021, there are 41 credit institutions holding VND274 trillion (US$11.7 billion) of corporate bonds, of which more than 75 per cent of them are held by ten major banks - Techcombank, MBBank, VPBank, TPBank, BIDV, Vietcombank, VietinBank, HDBank, ABBank and SeABank. At some banks, the value of corporate bonds exceeds 10 per cent of total assets. Although the inspection results were not published, a SBV senior leader said in an interview with Vietnam Investment Review that a number of credit institutions failed to … [Read more...] about Banks should tighten assessment controls of their corporate bonds investments – experts

Chairing the 22nd meeting of the central steering committee for corruption and behavior prevention and control in Hanoi on August 17, Trong also requested the submission of regulations regarding power control to the Politburo for approval towards fighting corruption in inspection, supervision, Party discipline enforcement, audit, investigation, prosecution, trial and enforcement of judgments, law-building, use and management of public finances and assets, and press and media activities. He also ordered the investigation, prosecution and trial of cases under the watch of the committee, striving to finish investigations of 14 cases, prosecuting 20 others, holding first-instance trials for 25 cases and appeal trials for five others later this year. Twenty-one other cases, including Viet A Technologies JSC, FLC Group, Tan Hoang Minh Group, the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department, and AIC Group, must also be clarified, he said. The leader called for attention to promptly completing … [Read more...] about Party chiefs call for improved institutions to fight corruption

At the signing ceremony (Photo: ADB) Hanoi (VNA) - The People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue province and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Vietnam on August 17 signed a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU ) on promoting a strategic partnership for inclusive and sustainable economic development. This is a framework cooperation oriented-agreement, aiming to assist Thua Thien-Hue to achieve socio-economic development goals for the 2021-2025 period, thus addressing challenges facing of the local economy by digital technology, and speeding up digital economy and digital society. The MoU covers contents related to cooperation orientation principles; goals and areas of cooperation; establishment of foundation for strategic dialogue; development of joint action plans for projects; sharing knowledge, ideas and experience and engaging in dialogues with stakeholders. Under the MoU, the ADB will give periodic consultations to the local authorities within the framework of the … [Read more...] about Thua Thien – Hue, ADB sign MoU for inclusive, sustainable economic development

Well you got caught with a flat? Well, how 'bout that Well babies, don't you panic By the light of the night, it'll all seem alright I'll get you a Satanic mechanic (Lyrics from the Rocky Horror Show) You hear that chunk and feel the dump and know you’re in trouble. Yes, it’s that wonderful time when you get a flat tire and need to find the repair shop pronto. Murphy’s Law (anything that can go wrong will go wrong!) applies here: 1) it nearly always happens when you are the furthest away from a repair shop; 2) it will happen when you are in a hurry to get somewhere; or 3) just when you’ve achieved that perfect mood to get through the day… (A note for English learners – ‘tire’ is used in America and Canada, however most of the rest of the world spells it ‘tyre’ – the rubber outside part of a wheel.) A mechanic repairs a motorbike for free during a rainstorm in Da Nang in December 2018. Photo: Doan Nhan / Tuoi Tre Your magic words will be ‘sửa chữa’ … [Read more...] about The art of motorbike repairs in Vietnam