Vietnam works hard to respond to EC’s warning of IUU fishing
Vietnam works hard to respond to EC’s warning of IUU fishingVietnam has been active in implementing nine recommendations related to the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing of the European Commission (EC) to ensure responsible and sustainable fisheries, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Nguyen Xuan Cuong. On October 23, 2017, the EC issued a "yellow card" warning to Vietnam, after the country failed to demonstrate sufficient progress in the fight against IUU fishing worldwide. The EC also wanted Vietnam to issue sanctions and increase the level of sanctions against IUU fishing, which should be written in the revised Law on Fisheries, and give concrete evidence proving Vietnam’s efforts in the fight against IUU fishing. On April 20, Vietnam submitted a report on its efforts to address IUU fishing to the EC. The delegation’s upcoming inspection is to assess local IUU fishing prevention.-VNA
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 10:07 UTC
Viettel fined for replacing foreign TV channels
Viettel fined for replacing foreign TV channelsAfter VTVcab, General Military Telecommunications Company (Viettel) will be fined for replacing a number of foreign television channels with new ones without announcing it to customers. Viettel has replaced 22 foreign TV channels without annoucenment to its customersAccording to Vnexpress, the Ministry of Industry and Trade's (MoIT) Competition and Consumer Rights Protection Agency will impose a fine on Viettel due to suddenly replacing 22 international television channels without making an announcement for its customers. Besides, Viettel will also have to refund customers if they are not satisfied with the new television channels. However, as each foreign television channel nominates only one exclusive distribution agent in Vietnam, pay-TV enterprises have no choice in negotiating the prices of international broadcasting rights. Before April 1, 2018, Qnet distributed TV channels for 10 pay-TV units, including VTVcab, NextTV (Viettel), SCTV, K+, HTVC, MyTV, FPT Television, MobiTV, VTC, and HanoiCab.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 08:59 UTC
Draft regulations on foreign language centres proposed
Draft regulations on foreign language centres proposedThe Ministry of Education and Training has proposed draft regulations on foreign-language and information and technology training centres which require foreign teachers to have university degrees. The draft stipulates that centre directors must have a bachelor's degree in foreign languages or technology, or have any bachelor's degree with a certificate of foreign language or information and technology training. If they do not take any pedagogical training in higher education, they must have both level-4 foreign language ability and pedagogical certificates. Foreign teachers must have a bachelor's degree and a certificate in a foreign language or information and technology training. The ministry will gather opinions for the draft regulations until June 27.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 08:49 UTC
Polluted lakes threaten Ha Long Bay
Polluted lakes threaten Ha Long BayLarge amounts of wastewater from nearby polluted lakes are discharged into Ha Long Bay every day, threatening the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dead fish on the lakes near Ha Long BayAccording to local residents who live near these lakes at Bai Chay and Hung Thang wards in Ha Long City, mass fish deaths have appeared there for many years, mainly around midmorning. Meanwhile, the lake water is directly discharged into Ha Long Bay. Among the four lakes, the one next to Ha Long Bay is the most polluted due to the fish deaths along with the waste discharged by two high-rise apartment buildings. According to the Ha Long City Management Board of Public Service, around two tonnes of litter is collected by bay cleaners on a daily basis.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 08:44 UTC
Pham Anh Khoa removed from UNFPA publicity following sex abuse accusations
Pham Anh Khoa removed from UNFPA publicity following sex abuse accusationsThe United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has removed all the images and information relating to its former ambassador Pham Anh Khoa from its Facebook and Website amid the rocker's sex abuse scandal. In April, dancer Pham Lich posted a long status on her Facebook account accusing Pham Anh Khoa of soliciting sex during his training time for her in a TV game show. Pham Anh Khoa first threatened to sue Pham Lich right after she brought the story to light but then made a public apology after the third woman voiced his problems. Pham Anh Khoa is a well-known Vietnamese rock singer, guitarist, composer and actor, known for his energetic performing style. Anh Khoa has also played an active role in social and charity activities.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 08:37 UTC
Overseas investment: Vietnam exploring new markets
Overseas investment: Vietnam exploring new marketsBesides traditional markets like Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar, Vietnamese companies have begun searching for new markets for overseas investment. There has been noteworthy news from the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment about Vietnamese companies’ overseas investments since the beginning of the year. Overseas investment yielding fruitsAfter a period of active overseas investment, Vietnamese companies have recently started reaping the benefits of their work. Most recently, Viettel announced that as of the end of 2017, it transferred $1.3 billion back to Vietnam from its overseas markets. To prepare for this flow of investment, numerous Vietnamese banks, from BIDV and VietinBank to Sacombank, MB, and SHB, have followed Vietnamese companies overseas.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 07:07 UTC
Vietnam ranks fourth at AFC futsal event
Vietnam ranks fourth at AFC futsal eventVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam lost to Thailand 2-3 in the penalty shootout, following a goalless draw in the official time to rank fourth in the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 on May 12. Vietnam vs Thailand in the third-placed match of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 on Saturday. “During the event, the gap between Thailand and Vietnam has narrowed. We only lost to them in the penalty shootout. We will start a women’s futsal league in July, so hopefully that will help us develop and find more talent.”Source: VNS
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 06:56 UTC
Excavations begin on ancient sites
A section of foundations 14.2m long and 4.2m wide was also found next to the citadel wall on the west side. Relic: The north gate of Hai Van sits on the top of Hai Van Pass. The Hai Van Gate, situated on the top of Hai Van Pass, is a complex of brick-built gates dating from the Tran Dynasty (1470), and octagonal bunkers from the French colonial period. Looking deeper: An excavation begins on the Hai Van Gate of the Hai Van Pass between Da Nang and Thua Thien-Hue. In 1470, King Tran Nhan Tong proclaimed that the Hai Van Gate was ‘the most marvellous wonder’ in Vietnam.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 06:56 UTC
Interest rate caps not needed: experts
Interest rate caps not needed: expertsThe State Bank of Viet Nam should consider developing a roadmap to remove regulations on credit growth limits and interest rate caps as it isn’t suitable due to the country’s achievements in stabilising the nation’s economy, according to experts. As for the management of interest rates, instead of setting a cap for short-term deposits, as currently done, the central bank could regulate by using open-market-operation (OMO), he suggested. At present, Viet Nam still applies an interest rate cap of 5.5 per cent for short-term deposits of 1-6 months. The cap regulation has been imposed since 2010 when commercial banks, especially ailing ones with poor liquidity, took part in a race to increase deposit interest rates to lure depositors, causing a sharp rise in lending interest rates. SBV divides commercial banks into four groups, depending upon their performance in the previous years, to allocate the credit growth quotas.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 06:45 UTC
5 killed in hit-and-run accidents in Lam Dong
5 killed in hit-and-run accidents in Lam DongAt least five persons died, and two others were injured in a series of crashes on Monday morning. The accidents took place on Highway No 20 running through Duc Trong District in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. The truck driver continued to drive and crashed into a smaller truck and four motorbikes, crushing them. According to Lam Dong Province’s police, the driver of the smaller truck and four persons died in the crash. The two injured persons are being treated at the provincial general hospital.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 05:48 UTC
Company chains: hidden pitfalls can deter progress
Company chains: hidden pitfalls can deter progressVietNamNet Bridge - The rapid expansion of food & beverage, restaurant and pharmacy chains in the last few years has led to the general opinion that they are easily profitable. An analyst said that, in developing business chains, investors will have to make hefty investments and accept failure. He said that while many business chains have prospered, many others have had to shut down after years of operation. And Saigon Café shut nearly all of its cafes in its chain within one year. RELATED NEWSThe rise of convenience stores, minimart chainsForeign café chains facing competition from local outletsMai Chi
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 05:26 UTC
Experts’ reactions to MoF tax plan mixed
Experts’ reactions to MoF tax plan mixedExperts’ reactions to the Ministry of Finance’s (MoF) tax adjustment draft have been mixed, while the business community struggles to keep up with the variety of proposed tax hikes. Taxpayers wait for completion of tax procedures at the Hanoi Tax Department. Since 2017, the MoF had repeatedly proposed amendments to current tax law towards increasing the number of tax rates. He said the amendments of VAT, special consumption tax, corporate income tax, personal income tax, natural resource tax and export-import tax, would involve 30 different kinds of minor taxes, and they were all rising. Therefore, the MOF will and must amend a number of tax laws, though they had proved to put great pressure on the public, said Phung.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 04:41 UTC
Northern provinces on landslide alert
Northern provinces on landslide alertVietNamNet Bridge – The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting yesterday warned northern mountainous provinces that there would be a high risk of landslides for the next couple of days. The landslides are forecast to occur after torrential rains hit northern regions since Saturday night. The highest rainfall was measured to be 174mm per hour in Hanoi that night, flooding a number of local streets and making many roads impassable. This marked the heaviest rain to hit Hanoi since early last summer. Vehicles on an inundated section of Hanoi’s Phung Khoang Street on Saturday night.—VNA/VNS PhotoA woman under torrential rain in Hanoi’s Cau Giay District on Saturday.—VNA/VNS PhotoSource: VNS
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 04:07 UTC
Health Ministry mulls alcohol sales ban
Health Ministry mulls alcohol sales banThe Ministry of Health has drafted a law on alcohol abuse, in which it proposes creating a ban on the sale of alcohol during certain hours. The Ministry of Health has drafted a law on alcohol abuse, in which it proposes creating a ban on the sale of alcohol during certain hours. In the second scenario, alcohol sales are legal only between 6:00 and 22:00 except on special streets. According to the Viet Nam Beverage Association, the amount of beer consumption in Viet Nam last year reached about four billion litres. “Supermarkets or big shops are all equipped with machines recording sales, through which we can check what time it is when an alcohol sale is made.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 03:56 UTC
Rio Noguchi wins VN F2 tennis event
Rio Noguchi wins VN F2 tennis eventVietNamNet Bridge – Japanese tennis player Rio Noguchi won the men’s singles category of the Viet Nam F2 tennis tournament held in Hue yesterday. The winners of men’s singles of Viet Nam F2 tennis tournament. — Photo VTFThe 19-year-old player defeated Nam Ji Sung of South Korea 7-6(5), 6-3 after only 40 minutes in the final. Rio showed his talent in this event after beating many strong rivals to reach the final including No 1 seed Ly Hoang Nam of Viet Nam in the second round and defending champion of Viet Nam F1 tennis tournament, Chun Hsin Tseng in the semi-final. Ly Hoang Nam and Nguyen Van Phuong celebrate winning the men’s doubles of Viet Nam F2 tennis tournament.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 14, 2018 03:45 UTC