Inspections of exhaust emission yet to be conductedThe Transport Ministry’s scheme approved by the Prime Minister in 2010 to impose checks on motorcycles’ exhaust emission has yet to be implemented by competent agencies to date, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reports. Since emission from such a large number of vehicles is a main source of air pollution, the exhaust emission inspection has been considered one of the urgent measures to handle environmental pollution in the city. A representative of the HCMC Department of Transport attributed unsuitable criteria for checks on motorcycles’ emission to the delayed implementation. Circular 70 on technical inspections and traffic environment protection regulates a low emission standard which is applicable to autos circulating on the street while a more stringent exhaust emission standard regulation, according to Decision 49/2011, was set to apply to new vehicles, the representative explained. To tackle the problem, the Ministry of Transport earlier set up a road map and three solutions to impose compulsory checks on motorcycles’ exhaust emission.

FVH to host city walksThe Friends of Vietnam Heritage will organise two English-speaking city walks during the weekend. A walking tour by the FVH on June 10 will discover the Hoan Kiem Lake area. — Photo muonmau.vnThe first walking tour on Saturday, June 9, will visit the Thang Long Imperial Citadel. The second tour on Sunday, June 10 will discover the Hoan Kiem Lake area – the heart of Hanoi, starting at 9am until 11am. The group will walk around the streets bordering Hoan Kiem Lake, discussing points of interest, stories, history, legends and traditions.

Over 100 singers to perform at Hanoi concert tonightVietNamNet Bridge – Some 150 Japanese and Vietnamese artistes will perform at a concert tonight (June 6) at the Ha Noi Opera House, featuring Beethoven masterpieces and contemporary dance. — Photo of VNOBSummer Symphony will open with the music of The Creatures of Prometheus ballet and Symphony No. According to Kimura, all the musicians are the same, irrespective of whether they are Japanese or Vietnamese. “This is the first time VNOB’s concert will feature a large number of singers from international and Vietnamese choirs,” said VNOB director Tran Ly Ly. Conductor Kimura is skilful and has the experience to lead VNOB.”Conductor KotaThe second part of the concert will feature a contemporary dance called Moment.

Steel producer in Ba Ria-Vung Tau fined for importing substandard scrapVietNamNet Bridge – The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s People’s Committee has fined Pomina Steel VND4.8 billion (US$210,500) over 17 environmental violations committed by two subsidiaries over the last two years. The Pomina 3 Steel Billet Refining Plant imported over 24 tonnes of scrap steel with impurity rates above the allowed limit in the last three years. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoang HaiPhu My Industrial Park-based Pomina 2 Steel Joint Stock Company was found to have imported scrap steel with impurity rates exceeding the amount allowed under national environmental technical standards. The Pomina 3 Steel Billet refining plant was found to have imported over 24 tonnes of scrap steel with impurity rates above the allowed limit and was fined VND1.4 billion. In addition to the fines, local authorities have also withdrawn the two Pomina subsidiaries’ environmental protection certifications, which facilitate the import of scrap steel for production.

Cameras to be installed at level crossingsVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Railways (VNR) has asked railway companies to install cameras at level-crossing barriers to improve the safety of pedestrians. Installing cameras at level-crossing is expected to improve safety. — VNA/VNS PhotoAccordingly, railway companies across the country will install two cameras before and after level-crossing barriers. The Railway Department then asked Vietnam Railways to strengthen inspections and punish violators to improve railway traffic safety, Khoi said. After the accidents, Vietnam Railways suspended ten officers who were directly involved as well as disciplined 12 of their managers disciplined too.

HCM City opens hotlines for child abuse victims, familiesVietNamNet Bridge – HCM City’s Department of Home Affairs has outlined a new policy on the prevention and handling of child abuse cases which includes new hotlines for victims and their families. HCM City issues new policy on child abuse, with new hotline numbers for victims and their families. Victims and families can also directly contact the People’s Committee of districts and wards, as well as the police. After that, the chairman of the People’s Committee will petition for prosecution, with documents and evidence sent to the police. Child abuse is defined as an act that has physical and psychological damage in the form of violence, maltreatment, or sexual assault.

Hoa Sen Group crumbles? Hoa Sen Group's rates of return in 2018's first quarter dropped by 80 per cent on-year. Furthermore, its main products’ market shares are threatened by other competitors, making Hoa Sen raising debts to maintain the market shares. To clarify this issue, VIR contacted with Hoa Sen Group and received an answer: “I do not know about the issue,” from a representative of the firm’s Investment Department. After the transaction, the firm retained 7.9 million HSG shares, equaling 2.25 per cent of Hoa Sen Group’s charter capital, officially leaving the group of the firm’s largest shareholders.

Forbes announces top 50 firms of VNForbes Vietnam has announced Vietnam’s 50 top listed companies for 2018, which account for 70.8 percent of total market capitalisation on the HCM and Hanoi stock exchanges. Property developer Vingroup is the largest company by market capitalisation, according to Forbes Vietnam, with its market value reaching 15 billion USD on May 15. In the past 12 months, the Vietnamese stock market has made some significant achievements despite recent volatile weeks. By mid-May, the total market value of the Vietnamese stock market reached 168 billion USD, equal to 80 percent of Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP). Forbes Vietnam applies company ranking methods of Forbes (an American Business Magazine), taking into consideration the characteristics of the businesses listed in Vietnam.

Cabinet members hoped to translate words into actionLegislators and voters expressed hope that ministers will put their words at the question-and-answer (Q&A) session of the 14th National Assembly’s fifth session into action. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc DamMinistries should produce periodical reports about measures to address issues of public concerns, Nguyen Thi Mai Hoa, a deputy from the Mekong Delta of Dong Thap said. Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh HueDinh Duy Vuot, a deputy from the Central Highland province of Gia Lai, said the queries for Deputy Prime Ministers Vuong Dinh Hue and Vu Duc Dam are quite difficult. He said he was impressed by the answers of Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue about various issues of public concern from economy to culture and society. Agreeing, deputy Nguyen Van Son from the central province of Ha Tinh praised the answers by the Deputy Prime Ministers as short, clear and intelligible.

According to him, education cooperation is one of the highlights in Vietnam – Canada ties. Canada’s exports to Vietnam doubled annually to over 1 billion CAD last year, especially farm produce and aquatic products. The Q&A sessions were broadcast live on Vietnam Television (VTV), the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and National Assembly Television Channel. He emphasised that education is also a priority in bilateral cooperation, adding that the UK will increase scholarship for Vietnamese students. Lever said that the UK Embassy in Vietnam has planned various cultural and educational activities to mark the special occasion.

Vietnam's GDP to grow by 6.6 percent in 2018: ICAEWVietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to grow 6.6 percent in 2018, down slightly from 6.8 percent last year. In Vietnam, economic growth eased back in the first quarter, to 7.4 percent year-on-year, following a stellar end to last year. In July last year, the central bank lowered its rediscount and refinancing rate to 4.25 percent and 6.25 percent respectively. In this event policy makers will either need to accept lower growth rates or take a chance on inflation. ICAEW forecast moderate easing in Southeast Asia’s GDP growth to 4.9 percent in 2018.

NA 5th session: Question time said to be productiveThe National Assembly completed the three-day question period in the afternoon of June 6, which many NA deputies and voters assessed as productive thanks to changes in the rules for question-&-answer. The National Assembly completed the three-day question period in the afternoon of June 6. The Q&A sessions focused on four main groups of issues of great concern of voters and people nationwide. The Minister of Education and Training answered questions mainly on how to improve quality of general and higher education, the management of preschool education, especially private kindergartens. They said the change facilitated dialogue and face-to-face debate, allowed more deputies to raise their opinions while preventing overlapping questions.

Why we're still into Sex and the City - 20 years onFile photoIt's been exactly 20 years since Sex and the City, with its infuriatingly catchy theme tune and THAT tutu in the opening credits, burst onto TV screens. Those outfitsThe Sex and the City outfits are so iconic they're practically another character in their own right. Today's TVWithout Sex and the City, we might never have had several other shows which were inspired by the hit series. The concept came from Lauren Garroni and Chelsea Fairless, the creators of Every Outfit on Sex and the City, mentioned above. When the first spin-off film premiered back in 2008, hundreds queued from the early hours to greet the Sex and the City stars in London's Leicester Square.

Foreign investment in real estate sector in HCMC spikes after years of dormancyVietNamNet Bridge - New World, Diamond Plaza and other imposing construction works are considered symbols of a dynamic HCMC. According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), in the first four months of 2018 alone, Vietnam licensed 883 foreign invested projects with total investment capital of $3.55 billion. Of this, $807.5 million worth of capital was registered to develop real estate projects. According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), in the first four months of 2018 alone, Vietnam licensed 883 foreign invested projects with total investment capital of $3.55 billion. Analysts say that Vietnam’s and HCMC’s real estate markets have been developing in a stable way in recent years, especially after the real estate crash in 2007.

Of all the cases, two children were diagnosed with the deadly Japanese Encephalitis, a contagious disease carried by mosquitoes. Even while receiving respiratory help and being treated with anti-edema drugs for ten days, the child’s condition remained unstable. The second best prevention is to ensure a clean environment whereby parents frequently sanitise to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Of the money, Thanh arrogated 14 billion VND, while Thang pocketed 5 billion VND; Phong, 8 billion VND; and Sinh, 2 billion VND. He asked authorities, religious organisations and local residents to continue working to protect the environment and respond to climate change.