Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak (Photo: upi.com) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was charged on September 20 with money laundering and abuse of power in connection to the case of the state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). The charges include four counts of abuse of power, involving in 2.3 billion ringgit (556.3 million USD), and 21 counts of money laundering. Najib, 65, has denied all the charges. The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) arrested Najib on September 19 for new corruption charges related to 1MDB. Najib was arrested on July 3 for corruption-related charges over his involvement in the multi-billion-dollar 1MBD scandal. He was later released on bail. He was charged with three counts of criminal breach of trust in his former posts as a prime minister and minister of finance, in association with the transfer of 42 million ringgit, or 10 million USD, from SRC International Sdn Bhd to his … [Read more...] about Former Malaysian PM Najib Razak charged with money laundering, power abuse
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Removing “cheap tour” bottlenecks
Tourism Removing “cheap tour” bottlenecks By Nhan Tam Friday, Dec 13, 2019,19:16 (GMT+7) Removing “cheap tour” bottlenecksBy Nhan Tam Truong Thi Hong Hanh, director of the Danang Tourism Department - PHOTO: NHAN TAM DANANG - At the ongoing 12th session of the Danang City People's Council, Truong Thi Hong Hanh, director of the Danang Tourism Department, talked about how a budget or zero-dong tour is designed in the central coastal city and reports her solutions. The Saigon Times: How is a low-cost tour designed? - Truong Thi Hong Hanh: A cheap or zero-dong tour is a competitive pricing tactic used by tour operators to attract more clients. Tourists can buy the tour at no charge, or it may only include a return air ticket. These tours often include shopping excursions, low-cost meals and sightseeing that is free of charge or low-priced. Travel companies can find many ways to offset their losses … [Read more...] about Removing “cheap tour” bottlenecks
ACB, FWD form Viet Nam’s first e-bancassurance partnership
ACB and FWD Group sign a bancassurance agreement. — VNS Photo Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank and FWD Vietnam Life Insurance Company announced on Thursday they have entered into an e-bancassurance partnership, the first of its kind in Viet Nam. ACB will provide insurance products completely online, enabling customers to buy simple and easy-to-understand insurance products with just a few clicks. FWD Cancer Care, with annual premiums starting from VND99,000, will be the first product launched through the online platform. Tu Tien Phat, executive vice president of ACB, said: “Making a difference in customer service is ACB's mission. Besides traditional distribution networks such as transaction offices and branches, ACB is also constantly developing internet banking and mobile applications.” Huynh Huu Khang, CEO of FWD Vietnam, said: "We are absolutely thrilled to partner with ACB. The partnership between the two parties shares the same purpose of providing the right … [Read more...] about ACB, FWD form Viet Nam’s first e-bancassurance partnership
130-year-old building to serve as ‘tradition house’ for HCMC administration
After considering several solutions to expand its headquarters, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee has decided to take up a proposal by U.S. architecture firm Gensler, which will not demolish a 130-year-building in downtown Saigon, but build on it. The city's Department of Planning and Architecture will work with the American firm to come up with the most feasible plan, the administration recently announced. This 130-year-old French colonial structure adjacent to the iconic Ben Thanh Market is the second oldest building in Saigon. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. The department had proposed earlier that the city’s People's Committee invites international experts to make detailed plans on preserving the old building, which faced the threat of demolition as part of a proposed expansion plan for the city’s People’s Committee headquarters. In their petition, experts and other signatories had dismissed the argument that the building not being part of an official … [Read more...] about 130-year-old building to serve as ‘tradition house’ for HCMC administration
A 124-year-old Mekong Delta house bespeaks opulence and romance
The 258 square meter Huynh Thuy Le House was built in 1895 by Huynh Cam Thuan, a wealthy Chinese businessman, on the banks of the Sa Dec River, Dong Thap Province. The house, on 255A Nguyen Hue Street, combines Chinese architecture with some Western elements. When Thuan passed away, his youngest son, Huynh Thuy Le, inherited the house, and it was named after him. Besides its architectural features and artifacts that reflect the luxurious lifestyle of a very wealthy person many years ago, the house acquired added interest with Le’s love story. By chance, Le met Marguerite Duras, a writer, on a ferry in 1929. Le's father did not approve of their relationship and his will prevailed. After the writer returned to France, Le married a Vietnamese woman. Duras turned their relationship into an autobiographical novel, The Lover. The work was awarded the Goncourt prize, France's top literature award and translated into 43 languages. It was later adapted into an eponymous … [Read more...] about A 124-year-old Mekong Delta house bespeaks opulence and romance