Low-cost Thai, Indonesian autos flood into VietnamVietnam imported 1,287 automobiles of different kinds worth 31.3 million USD from August 3-9, 81 percent of them were from Thailand and Indonesia, according to the General Department of Customs. As many as 1,024 have below 9 seats, each worth more than 420 million VND (18,200 USD). In addition, the country bought six vehicles with over 9 seats, 209 trucks and 48 other autos valued at over 12.6 million USD. Businesses imported spare parts and accessories worth 74.3 million USD, up 38 percent week-on-week, predominantly from the Republic of Korea, Japan, China and Thailand. It was also the first month in a year that auto imports, inclusive of spare parts and accessories, surpassed 100 million USD.

Great hope for organic food in VietnamThe shortage of organic foods in the country is both an opportunity and a challenge for growers, a forum on organic agricultural development was told on August 18. A consumer buys pork at a supermarket“Solving problems related to brand and distribution” forum in HCM City heard how Vietnam has optimal conditions to produce organic items such as vegetables, fruits, rice, tea and fish. The increasing demand for organic products means retailers are seeking partnerships and investment opportunities in the organic agricultural sector. Pham Phuong Thao, the founder of Organica, which grows and sells organic produce, said everyone can see the great demand for organic food, especially among high-income and health-conscious people. He cited an example of the “Phien cho Xanh - Tu te” (Green-Nice Market Day) organic produce market held every Saturday and Sunday, where consumers can buy directly from farmers.

VN Central Bank approves project on green bank developmentThe State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has recently issued Decision No.1604/QD-NHNN on approving a project on green bank development. The project aims to raise the banks’ awareness and social responsibility for environment protection and climate change prevention, gear capital flows into eco-friendly projects, and promote green production, services and consumption, towards boosting green growth and sustainable development. Accordingly, all banks will strive to issue regulations on environment and social risk control by 2025. At least 10 -12 banks will have specialised units on environment and social risk control while 60 percent of the banks will access loans used for green projects. The SBV will issue guidelines on developing green banks and credit, provide them with incentives such as preferential loans from international organisations and development partners.

Kerala floods: Relief teams rescue 22,000 as rains easeAbout 22,000 people were rescued from the flood-hit Indian state of Kerala on Sunday, officials say, after monsoon rains finally eased. Military teams as well as disaster response forces and local fishermen reached some of the worst hit areas. More than 350 people have been killed, most of them in landslides, since the monsoon started in June. Kerala's chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said the number of people taking refuge in the 5,645 relief camps now stood at 725,000. Initial estimates suggest the floods have caused £2.3bn of damage, AFP reports, but this is expected to rise.

HCMC asks for military land to be reviewedThe Ministry of Defence promised to hand over military-owned land to the south of HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport, if required by the Government. HCM City authorities recently asked for joint-ministerial collaboration to review all military-controlled land currently being used for commercial purposes. This land is primarily used for military purposes – camps and barracks, deployment of defence systems, training grounds and historical landmarks. HCM City authorities have asked the MoNRE and the MoD to direct units and agencies to review the commercialisation of military land within HCM City, and submit their findings to the Government. Any wrongful use of military land, illegal renting of military land, or infringement of military land due to lax oversight would be “strictly dealt with” and the leaders of those areas would be held accountable, he said.

New regulation adjusts limit on foreign investment in educationVietNamNet Bridge - Some limitations on foreign investment in education have been removed with the release of a new decree. As a result, Vietnamese students have to queue for their turn to enter some prestigious foreign-invested schools. Foreign investors complain about the complicated procedures they have to follow when setting up new education establishments, regardless of whether it is a branch of foreign language center or a large university. New regulationThe Decree 86 which took effect in early August lifted the limit on the number of Vietnamese students in foreign-invested education establishments from 10-20 percent to 50 percent. The establishments have to experience two-step procedures – obtaining investment registration licenses and education operation licenses, while other establishments, from nursery schools to universities still have to follow three-step procedures.

HCM City needs huge capital for flood-prevention programmesVietNamNet Bridge - As the local budget is limited, HCM City authorities have called for investment in 17 anti-flood projects under different investment modes. To date, only three canal dredging projects, three waste water treatment plants and 4,100 kilometers out of 6,000 kilometers of outlets have been built. “We are calling for investment in urban environment and waste water treatment projects under the mode of BLT (build, lease, transfer) and BTL (build, transfer, lease). Meanwhile, attendees at a conference held by the HCM City authorities in mid-August expressed their concern about the efficiency of anti-flood projects. HCM City Vice Mayor Tran Vinh Tuyen said it is necessary to find the exact causes of flooding.

Convenience store openings increase steadilyVietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese retail market, which had record-high revenue of $69.45 billion in the first half of the year, is witnessing a rush of convenience store openings. The retail market maintains the growth rate of 10 percent per annumThe retail market has maintained a stable growth rate of 10 percent in recent years, an attractive figure in the eyes of international retailers.The growth rate tends to increase steadily. GS25, a newcomer in Vietnam, plans to open 50 shops in Vietnam this year, mostly in HCMC, before it marches towards Hanoi by early 2020. GS25, a newcomer in Vietnam, plans to open 50 shops in Vietnam this year, mostly in HCMC, before it marches towards Hanoi by early 2020. Saigon Co-op, the largest Vietnamese owner retail chain, recently launched a 24 hour retail service under the brand ‘Cheers’.

Scientists invent icemaker that uses sea waterVietNamNet Bridge - Scientists at the Hi-tech Development Center, an arm of the Vietnam Academy of Science & Technology, in an effort to help fishing boats reduce post-harvesting losses due to the lack of preservation equipment, have invented a machine which can make ice from sea water. The icemaker that uses sea waterThis is the first product researched and built to suit the conditions of fishing boats in Vietnam. Meanwhile, making ice from sea water can help reduce production cost, because fishermen don’t have to carry ice from mainland. The input material water to make ice is 3 percent salt water, or sea water which is pumped into a periodic tank. The volume of water to be pumped depends on the density or temperature of the ice products required.

By Dr. Andres Sosa*Having flat feet means that your feet have low or no arches and press almost completely flat against the ground. Are flat feet a real problem? However, flat feet can sometimes be associated with stiffness or pain in the feet, ankles, legs, knees, hips or lower back. Most people simply inherit flat feet from their parents but occasionally, flat feet can be also the result of:- Feet bones not forming properly in the womb. It is important to understand that these actions won’t change the shape of the feet, but may help relieve some of the symptoms associated with flat feet.

SBV to divert more credits to eco-friendly projectsThe State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued Decision No.1604/QD-NHNN, approving a scheme on developing green banks in the country by using credit to back eco-friendly projects, with the aim of raising awareness of local banks on the social responsibility in fighting climate change, reported the local media. SBV to divert credit fund to eco-friendly projects. SBV will issue a list of green projects that use clean and renewable energy. In addition, all financial institutions should be able to evaluate the social and environmental risks and should apply environmental standards to green projects that obtain loans from banks. Commercial banks that lend a high proportion of green credit will be given priority when seeking preferential loans from international organizations or from SBV’s partners.

According to a new report released by the VGCL, the current minimum wage can meet only 93% of the minimum living standard. Meanwhile, as per Resolution 27-NQ-TW issued recently, only two years remain for the wage hike so that by 2020 the region-based minimum wage must meet the minimum living standard. In Vietnam, the minimum wage still cannot meet the minimum living standard of workers despite its fast hikes. In the 2010-2011 period, when inflation was high, the region-based minimum wage could meet only 47% of the minimum living standard of workers. The minimum wage reflects the humanity of the State and is an instrument for rectifying defects of the labor market and ensure the minimum living standard for workers.

Vietnamese students shine at int’l robotics competitionA group of four Vietnamese students brought home a bronze medal for their impressive robotic design at the “2018 FIRST Global Challenge” international robotics competition in Mexico from August 15-18. Four Vietnamese students brought home a bronze medal at the “2018 FIRST Global Challenge” international robotics competition.Besides the medal, the Vietnamese team attained remarkable achievement when it ranked 12th out of 165 teams joining in the event.Within three completion days, the FPT high-school students gained 6,350 points after eight games in the qualifying round with seven wins. The Vietnamese juniors, who were teamed up with students from Estonia and Eritrea in the playoff, lost to those from the UK, Georgia and Qatar.Head of the Vietnamese delegation Le Ngoc Tuan lauded the Vietnamese students’ efforts to improve their ranking, which was at 58th place out of 175 teams at the previous event organised in the US.FIRST Global Challenge is a non-profit organisation established in 2009 which aims to inspire science and technology leadership and innovation in young people from all nations in order to increase understanding.It invites each country to send a team to compete in the robotics Olympics, which takes place in a different nation each year. Themed around the 14 grand challenges of Engineering identified by National Academies of Engineering, each year a different Grand Challenge takes centre stage in an effort to foster understanding and cooperation among the youth of the world as they use their abilities to solve the world’s problem.The theme for 2018 is “Energy Impact”.-VNA

Blockchain ecosystem support centre launched in HCM CityAll In Station, the first blockchain ecosystem support centre in Vietnam, was officially put into operation on August 18 in Ho Chi Minh City. Linh said blockchains and startups have a lot of potential to grow in Vietnam but they need a proper recognition and connection. AIS aims to connect networks and give policy support the formation of blockchain and startup ecosystems, he noted, adding that AIS's activities were designed to create long-term benefits for its members. AIS is also expected to provide a Startup Portal platform where everyone can find information and evaluations on startup, thus providing objective information for management agencies to build legal frameworks of blockchain, he said. Blockchain is defined as the technology for storing and transmitting information and data by blocks linked together and expanded over time.

ASIAD 2018: Vietnam beats Japan, topping Group DVietnam’s football team secured the top place of Group D at the 2018 Asian Games (ASIAD) after beating Japan 1-0 in the third match in Indonesia on August 19. Vietnamese footballersThe last group stage match between Vietnam and Japan took place at the Wibawa Mukti Stadium in West Java, Indonesia. A lapse in Japan's defense was seized by midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai to put Vietnam ahead right in the third minute. Half an hour into the game, Vietnam has apparently launched more and stronger attacks. Before the match with Japan, Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai said: “We are ready for the game with Japan.