Vietnam has the 15th largest population of smokers in the world, and approximately 40,000 people die each year from diseases caused by smoking. National lawmakers have called on the Government to ban all e-cigarette products in Vietnam soon, citing health concerns. A no-smoking sign is labeled at a bookstore in Hanoi. Photo: Văn Sinh/The Hanoi Times The Government should amend the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention and related regulations to stop the trade, circulation and use of e-cigarettes in Vietnam, Hanoi deputy Nguyen Anh Tri said on June 1. All these actions should be dealt with under the Penal Code, he said. Tri said new generations of cigarette products, including e-cigarettes, may contain illegal drugs and cause severe damage to people's health. However, he said, hardly anything was done to prevent these products from adversely affecting society. He called on the government to reduce the smoking rate to 30% by 2030. "The Government needs … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Government urged to ban e-cigarettes
Social support in world happiness report
Myanmar extends COVID-19 restrictions until end of June
Illustrative photo (Photo: thestar.com.my) Hanoi (VNA) – Myanmar ’s Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 on May 30 announced that the country will extend COVID-19 preventive measures until June 30. According to the committee, the extension includes all COVID-19 restrictions that were set to expire on May 31, excepting some that will be gradually eased, China's Xinhua News Agency reported on May 31. The extension applies to all orders, announcements and directives issued by relevant government organisations and ministries in their efforts to curb the spread of the pandemic. Official data showed that as of May 30, Myanmar recorded 638,818 COVID-19 cases. The death toll from COVID-19 in the country reached 19,494 and 617,774 patients have recovered./. VNA … [Read more...] about Myanmar extends COVID-19 restrictions until end of June
Indonesia sees 32 billion USD investment in EV battery chain
Indonesia sees 32 billion USD investment in EV battery chain (Photo source:auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com) Jakarta - Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan on May 30 revealed that the country can receive an estimated 31.9 billion USD in investments for project tied to battery supply chain by 2026. According to the minister, with the country rich in nickel used in batteries for electric vehicles (EV), the government wants to see more investment in nickel downstream sectors to boost economic growth. He said the Kalimantan region can receive 12.35 billion USD in investment while North Maluku and Sulawesi can attract 9.78 billion USD and 9.84 billion USD in battery supply chain projects, respectively. To encourage investment from emissions-conscious investors, the Indonesian government has touted the North Kalimantan industrial park on Borneo island as "green”, with a plan to power activities there with hydropower. … [Read more...] about Indonesia sees 32 billion USD investment in EV battery chain
FPT IS and SAP introduce new ERP cloud solution
FPT IS teamed up with SAP to introduce the brand-new ERP cloud solution at a seminar last week centred around growing a business with cloud-based solutions. The seminar attracted more than 100 senior leaders from enterprises in various fields such as manufacturing, trade and services, retail, technology, finance and banking, among others, indicating great interest from the market towards the solution. The seminar "Business growth with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud" was jointly organised by FPT IS and SAP Speaking at the event, Phan Thanh Son, chief business development officer, FPT IS , noted that the uncertainty and constant fluctuations in the market require firms to equip a solid and flexible management system that can adapt to increasingly rapid and diverse systematic changes. In Son's words, “SAP's new ERP cloud solution delivers an open approach for enterprises of all sizes and from different industries to quickly adopt management processes compliant with … [Read more...] about FPT IS and SAP introduce new ERP cloud solution
Chinese teen starves herself to death after crush chooses thinner girl
The girl, identified by the pseudonym Xiaoling, had been diagnosed with severe anorexia nervosa and passed away after more than 20 days in a deep coma, South China Morning Post reported Wednesday. She was trying to gain the attention and affection of a boy she had a crush on, who had reportedly fallen for a girl thinner than her. A girl drinking water. Illustration photo by Unsplash After going for 50 days from January to mid-March consuming nothing but water, Xiaoling fell into unconsciousness and was hospitalized. "She is as light as a quilt. We are not sure if she can regain consciousness," an unnamed doctor said in the video documenting Xiaoling’s treatment, which went viral on social media. The situation lasted for 20 days before her parents came to the heartbreaking decision to stop the treatment and let her go. Chinese netizens were left questioning the country’s rigorous beauty standards. … [Read more...] about Chinese teen starves herself to death after crush chooses thinner girl
Symposium urges youths to quit smoking
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) - The Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU), the Health Ministry’s Fund for Prevention and Control of Tobacco Harms and the Global Public Health Organisation Vital Strategies held a symposium in Hanoi on May 31 to discuss the harmful effects of e-cigarettes in schools. The event attracted the participation of over 600 students from the Hanoi University of Industry. They had a chance to join a mini-game to learn about the detrimental effects of e-cigarettes. Nguyen Tuan Lam, an expert in non-communicable disease prevention at the World Health Organisation (WHO)'s office in Vietnam cited data from the WHO as saying that there are currently about 20,000 flavorings in e-cigarettes, many of which are yet to be fully evaluated for health hazards. Nguyen Thi Thu Huong from the fund also warned that e-cigarettes could contain drugs that cause addiction, especially among young people. She said the … [Read more...] about Symposium urges youths to quit smoking
Vietnam to consider downgrading COVID-19 to flu-like status
Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh would chair a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control this weekend to deliberate the downgrading of COVID-19 from its current placement in Class A infectious diseases down to Class B. Lan told the National Assembly that on May 29 that the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that COVID-19 no longer constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, the designation that was attached to the viral disease more than three years ago, but the pandemic is not over yet. In accordance with the guidance of the Government leader, the Ministry of Health was also coordinating with other ministries and agencies to review the legal regulations, consult the experience of other countries, and review practical measures for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in Vietnam, Lan noted. The Ministry … [Read more...] about Vietnam to consider downgrading COVID-19 to flu-like status
Nanny held for abusing one-month-old baby in Hanoi
Police in Hanoi have temporarily detained a home helper and baby caretaker for the investigation into her suspected abuse of a one-month-old girl in an apartment in Hoang Mai District. V.K.C., 21, was held on Wednesday afternoon, when the baby’s father escorted her to the police office of the district’s Hoang Liet Ward, police officers said. The dad, N.V.B., 31, a resident at the HH2C Linh Dam apartment building, told police that he had discovered C.’s abuse against his little girl after he watched the surveillance camera installed in the baby’s bedroom. As recorded in the footage, C. committed the child abuse at about 2:00 am on Wednesday, B. reported. The father said he had hired C., hailing from northern Nam Dinh Province, as a domestic helper and nanny since his wife suffered bad health conditions after childbearing. Before C.’s detention, a video clip was spread on social media showing a woman sitting on a bed, holding up a baby in her arms and shaking the baby … [Read more...] about Nanny held for abusing one-month-old baby in Hanoi
People struggle to find jobs amid tanking economy
The government's Private Economic Development Research Board did a survey along with VnExpress on the situation of employees this year at the end of April, polling 8,343 people. It found 31% unemployed, and of them, 53% had worked in real estate, 44% in construction and 43% in hospitality. The highest unemployment rates were reported in Ho Chi Minh City, its neighboring provinces of Dong Nai and Binh Duong and the central city of Da Nang (all over 30%). As for reasons for joblessness, 15% suffer because of lack of foreign language skills and 12% because they lack qualifications. But the main reason is the unfavorable economic situation, which has hit businesses hard. More than 32% said they are jobless because their employer closed down temporarily or for good or went bankrupt, and 27% said they were laid off because their company had no orders and had to downsize. The survey was done in late April 2023 on various aspects like employment, underemployment, housing status, … [Read more...] about People struggle to find jobs amid tanking economy
VIMC, Adani cooperate on seaport development
At the meeting, Karan Adani, CEO of APSEZ and Nguyen Canh Tinh, CEO of VIMC discussed the cooperation possibilities between the two sides. Tinh said that VIMC's fleet in India had received cooperation and support from Adani. As a government-run enterprise, VIMC will implement a strategy of strong breakthroughs in maritime service infrastructure, development of seaports, especially deep-water seaports in key economic regions of Vietnam. VIMC and APSEZ signed a MoU on May 24 “VIMC has always considered Indian enterprises like Adani Group as an important strategic partner in developing its shipping fleet, container fleet in inner Asia and the world, including the Indian market to develop a connection chain with key economic regions of Vietnam,” Tinh said. Adani said that VIMC and Adani were both leading enterprises in the maritime sector in each country, making important contributions to the countries’ economic development, and having similarities in providing … [Read more...] about VIMC, Adani cooperate on seaport development