Motorbike labelling debated
Industry representatives think that it is unnecessary to put energy efficiency labels on motorbikesUnder the draft circular on energy labelling, the labelling scheme for motorcycles is voluntary until December 31, 2019 and will be compulsory after that. Two years ago, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) released Circular No.36/2016/TT-BCT on energy labelling for devices and equipment using energy, replacing Circular No.07/2012/TT-BCT in order to cut administrative procedures. Under Circular 07 enacted in April 2012, to certify energy labelling and minimum energy proficiency standards (MEPS), manufacturers and importers must have product samples tested at laboratories appointed by MoIT. Thus, MoIT revised its decision by Circular 36, allowing enterprises free rein to conduct their own energy labelling. Manufacturers are responsible for the accuracy of the labels on their products and are not limited to sourcing their labelling data from certified domestic testing centres.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 09:56 UTC
Experts call for corruption probe into cheap public land transaction
Experts call for corruption probe into cheap public land transactionSeveral economic experts have raised doubts over possible corruption in the selling of 32 hectares of public land in HCM City. The authorities have the right to stop the transaction to investigate corruption," he said. The state-owned Tan Thuan Investment and Construction Company could use the land to do business but it must follow the regulations. Pham Chi Lan, member of the Advisory Group of the Vietnam National Assembly’s Economic Commission, said that the transaction looked shady. I think the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment must also voice their opinions on this problem," she said.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 09:22 UTC
SMEs’ access to credit: Better, but not enough
SMEs’ access to credit: Better, but not enoughSmall- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been highly conducive to economic development in Vietnam as they significantly contribute to job creation, export promotion, growth generation and poverty reduction. Therefore, one of the most important measures to support SMEs is to improve their access to credit. In an economy like Vietnam whose financial system relies heavily on banks, access to credit is even more critical. In addition to this, credit ratings and guarantee frameworks are also significant for access to credit by SMEs. The above issues imply that a much broader approach is needed to make credit accessible to SMEs rather than relying only on World Bank’s Access to Credit Index, though that indicator is intrinsic and meaningful.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 09:11 UTC
Vietnamese documentary wins at Top Shorts film festival
Vietnamese documentary wins at Top Shorts film festivalA documentary about the ceramic art of Nguyen Thu Thuy won two prizes at the Top Shorts online film festival, the organiser announced recently on its website. Painter Nguyen Thu Thuy presents her mural to soldiers, a scene in the film directed by Nguyen Nghiem Nhan. Elliott said the film praised the power of community art and had many beautiful scenes with Thuy and her artwork.“Thuy is active and positive in creating art, bringing it closer to the community and making it useful for community life,” Elliot said.The jury included renowned filmmakers, such as six-time Emmy-nominated director Jeff Melman, director and founder of Top Shorts and Festigious International Film Festival Roy Zafrani, multiple Emmy-winning film and sound editor Dave Eichhorn, French actor Jean Vincentelli and award-winning actor Jon Campling.Top Shorts is the world’s leading online film festival for films under the 40-minute duration. It is divided into two parts: Monthly Competition and Annual Film Festival. Every month, the jury selects the winners through private screenings in Los Angeles.Nhan’s documentary will compete at the fifth Annual Top Shorts 2019.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 09:11 UTC
Risking one’s life to catch poisonous snakes
Risking one’s life to catch poisonous snakesVietNamNet Bridge - T.V.L. During two months of his apprenticeship, L learned how to use bait and medicinal herbs to treat snake bites and what to do in emergencies. While female snakes are hooked, the male snake waits for you to come and then can bite you,” he said. And you need to put the hook and bait in places the snakes can discover and go to eat. “But you cannot seek support from colleagues, because there’s a saying that if you help another treat snake bites, you will sustain misfortune instead of him,” he said.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 09:00 UTC
Hanoi to recover narrow and tiny houses for public use
Hanoi to recover narrow and tiny houses for public useHanoi authorities have ordered a review and possible seizure of super tiny and narrow houses for public use such as gardens. Houses that are less than 15 square metres must merge with other buildings nearby within 30 days or be converted into public land. Communal and district authorities must take full responsibility if more tiny and narrow houses appear in their areas. Many NA deputies in Hanoi have asked the authorities to deal with the tiny houses and the proposal to recover super tiny houses was put on the table for a long time but it wasn't implemented effectively. As more transport projects are carried out and roads are expanded, the number of super tiny houses has increased.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 08:37 UTC
Cai luong star offers online training for young fans
Cai luong star offers online training for young fansVietNamNet Bridge – People’s Artist Bach Tuyet will offer online training in cai luong (reformed opera), a genre of southern traditional theatre, for young people next month as part of the city’s Theatre Artists Association’s celebration of 100 years of the art form. People’s Artist Bach Tuyet, a guru of cai luong (reformed opera), a part of the southern region’s traditional music that began 100 years ago. Photo courtesy of Cho Lon TheatreTuyet, who is considered a cai luong guru, and has spent more than 60 years on the stage, said her courses would provide participants with performance skills in singing vong co (nostalgia tunes) and cai luong. Tuyet said her training would also help participants learn more about the country’s culture and lifestyle through vong co and cai luong. “I believe cai luong will attract younger audiences if it offers shows in a new and modern style," Tuyet said.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 07:30 UTC
It needs national policy for translation
It needs national policy for translationVietNamNet Bridge – Translator Nguyen Tung received the Phan Chau Trinh Awards 2018. Launched 10 years ago by Phan Chau Trinh Culture Foundation, it honours individuals and groups for their contributions to culture, translation, research and studies. I worked at the French National Centre for Scientific Research from 1972 to research Vietnamese comedy tales. Third is to have knowledge on the translation book theme. I think the Vietnamese government needs to have a national policy for translation.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 07:30 UTC
South Korea says US troops will stay despite possible peace treaty
South Korea says US troops will stay despite possible peace treatySouth Korea's government has said US troops will remain in the country, even if a deal is reached to formally end the Korean War. About 29,000 US soldiers are based in South Korea, under a security agreement reached after the war ended in 1953. North Korea has previously made giving up its nuclear weapons conditional on the troops leaving the peninsula. But a South Korean government spokesman said their presence was "nothing to do with signing peace treaties". "US troops stationed in South Korea are an issue regarding the alliance between South Korea and the United States," said Kim Eui-kyeom, speaking for President Moon Jae-in.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 06:33 UTC
Coach Thang signs contract with Thanh Hoa
Coach Thang signs contract with Thanh HoaVietNamNet Bridge – V.League 1 side Thanh Hoa have a new coach. Earlier, Thanh Hoa fired 59-year-old Mihail after poor results over four games. Thanh Hoa are at sixth place with eight points, six points behind Ha Noi FC who lead the way. Under the guidance of Thang, Thanh Hoa will aim to finish in top three of the league and enter the final match of the National Cup. Thanh Hoa will take on Sai Gon FC, who were trained by Thang last year, on May 4.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 05:26 UTC
Despite huge revenues, Facebook and Google pay tiny tax in Vietnam
Despite huge revenues, Facebook and Google pay tiny tax in VietnamDespite making billions of dollars in revenue, two giant technology brands Facebook and Google only paid miniscule taxes to the Vietnamese government. Google’s first quarter revenue increased by 26 per cent, equaling $31 billion, including $26.6 billion in revenue from advertisements. It seems that both Facebook and Google keep purposely forgetting their tax obligations in Vietnam. For instance, Google has employees in Vietnam, but maintains its representative office in Singapore, so they do not have to pay corporate income or personal income tax in Vietnam or social insurance for their employees in Vietnam. Facebook and Google commonly use international credit cards to pay tax, causing difficulties for Vietnamese tax authorities to control and identify tax payers.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 05:26 UTC
University accreditation: ‘a game of the rich’?
University accreditation: ‘a game of the rich’? VietNamNet Bridge - Educators agree that Vietnam’s universities need to be accredited, but they have not reached a consensus on how it should be done. The weak point of Vietnamese universities lies in the modest number of internationally published scientific articles. Vietnam’s universities have received many invitations recently to attend workshops on university accreditation and have to pay big money if they confirm attendance.One of the educators’ biggest concerns when having their schools accredited is the expenditure. RELATED NEWSAre university accreditation results credible?
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 05:15 UTC
Profit figures mark significant impact of digital transformation
Profit figures mark significant impact of digital transformationCompanies that embrace digital transformation are up to 26 per cent more profitable than their competitors and enjoy up to 12 per cent higher market valuation, according to a recent survey by ManpowerGroup—the leading global workforce solutions company. However, C-Suite is not enough to lead through businesses digital transformation. It requires the Digital Suite: a community of digital-ready, analytically-minded, and connected leaders dedicated to creating the necessary culture and capabilities within the organisation to unlock opportunities and drive successful digital transformation. The good news is digital leadership is not a total replacement of the fundamental attributes underlying leadership effectiveness. Some forces are driving the reconfiguration of labour markets, including technological revolution, customer/client sophistication, and the rise of individual choice.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 04:52 UTC
Gas trading violations affects businesses and consumers
Gas trading violations affects businesses and consumersVietNamNet Bridge – The trading of low quality gas, illegal extraction and failure to ensure the safety continue posing dangers to the health and rights of consumers. Head of MoPS’s Market Management Department Trinh Van Ngoc said that violations on gas trading have increased sharply. “Every year, gas trading enterprises lose over one million gas cylinder covers. It revealed that reputable gas trading businesses were losing a huge amount of money, he said. Handling of violations in gas trading is difficult because it is a specific business activity that is similar to the petroleum business but not yet managed by regulations in petroleum trading.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 03:56 UTC
Long An steps up vigil as property developers flout law
Long An steps up vigil as property developers flout lawVietNamNet Bridge – The southern province of Long An has begun to keep a close eye on property development in areas adjacent to HCM City. It has uncovered violations at two major developments, Thang Loi Riverside Market in Can Duoc District and Golden River Residence in Duc Hoa District. Though the former has yet to get a licence, the project’s developer has already installed drainage pipes at Thang Loi Riverside Market to prevent waterlogging. “The department will keep track on investors of their shortcomings and punish if they commit any violation in accordance with the law,” Hung added. Most of them, like the Hien Vinh residential area in Duc Hoa District’s Duc Hoa Dong Commune and Tran Anh Riverside in Ben Luc District, had begun marketing online even before completing the administrative requirements.
Source:VietNamNet News
May 02, 2018 03:56 UTC