The draft laws include the Law on Petroleum (amended), the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control (revised), the Law on Inspection (amended), the Law on Implementation of Democracy at Grassroots Level, and the law amending and supplementing some articles of the Law on Radio Frequencies. They were scrutinized at the third sitting of the legislature which took place last May and June, and are expected to be adopted in the next meeting, slated for October, said N.A. Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in his opening remarks. All of the five bills gained high consensus of legislators at the previous meetings of the N.A. Standing Committee as well as the third sitting of the legislature, he said, asking the participants to look into the remaining contentious contents to perfect the documents. The full-time legislators will also give opine over the other draft laws to be submitted to the N.A. for the first time during the fourth meeting, namely the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights … [Read more...] about N.A. Standing Committee convenes law-making session
How football club make money
Seniors’ struggle to cope without pension or savings
Thu, 61, is a housewife and completely dependent on her husband. He is 66 and works as a construction worker. They struggle to make ends meet and their healthcare expenses take up much of their income. Thu says: "My daughter has no problem giving us money, but her husband does not seem too pleased to support us. So I don’t feel happy taking it. Sometimes my son-in-law asks my daughter behind our back why we keep borrowing money from them." In order not to bother their daughter and her family, the old couple ask other people in their circle. But who can lend them money constantly? Growing up during the war, Thu used to be a farmer and then ran a small business. Neither she nor her husband has pensions, and their savings are not enough for retirement. "When I was in my 30s, I saved hundreds of millions of dong. But suddenly I became sick and my situation became serious. I spent most of my savings at that time. Now I have less than 20 million left. Our life is so unstable now." … [Read more...] about Seniors’ struggle to cope without pension or savings
Hanoi helps firms implement trade deals
Double digit export growth According to the Hanoi People’s Committee, the export turnover of goods in June 2022 reached about US$1.517 billion, up 6.8 percent from May 2022 and 17.5 percent from June 2021. In the first half of this year, the commodity exports turnover reached US$8.3 billion, up 17.1 percent over the first half of 2021. Some key items with increased export turnover in this period included textile and garment, reaching US$1.22 billion, up 29.6 percent; computer components and peripherals, US$1.072 billion, up 20.2 percent. The total import turnover of goods hit US$3.675 billion in June and US$20.5 billion in the first six months of 2022, the latter of which is 24.5 percent higher than the same period in 2021. Among the items of highest value were machinery, equipment and spare parts reaching US$2.996 billion, down 5.6 percent; petroleum US$2.934 billion, 2.8 times higher than the same period in 2021; computers, electronic goods and components at US$1.535 … [Read more...] about Hanoi helps firms implement trade deals
Hanoi – Vientiane bolster economic ties
Cooperation between Hanoi and Vientiane remains an example of the long-standing and special relations Vietnam-Laos. Hanoi and Vientiane have been taking steps to bolster economic ties during the Vietnam-Laos 2022 Solidarity and Friendship Year. Overview of the “Hanoi-Vientiane Cooperation for Development” investment, trade, and tourism conference. Photo: The Hanoi Times At the investment, trade, and tourism conference titled “Hanoi-Vientiane Cooperation for Development” on August 10, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen noted the cooperation between Hanoi and Laos’ provinces in general, and with Vientiane in particular, have been progressing in all spheres, including priority fields of economy, healthcare, education, agriculture, military, and people-to-people exchange. Echoing Quyen’s view, Vice Director of the Hanoi’s Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Ngoc Tu added since 2004, Hanoi has been funding several projects to … [Read more...] about Hanoi – Vientiane bolster economic ties
Vietnam welcomes two-state solution for Israel-Palestine conflict
Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN said, Vietnam backed continued efforts of the League of Arab States to re-launch serious peace negotiations based on a two-state solution. Addressing the UN Security Council Open Debate on July 25, themed “The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question”, the diplomat said together with the international community, Vietnam is deeply concerned about the serious developments in the region, especially the recent escalating tensions and violent clashes in and around the Old City of Jerusalem. She stressed that Vietnam strongly condemns all acts of violence that have caused the vast loss of lives, disruption of culture and livelihoods of civilians, and posed a serious threat to regional and international peace and security. “It is essential for all parties to exercise self-restraint, strictly comply with the UN Charter and international law, including the international humanitarian and … [Read more...] about Vietnam welcomes two-state solution for Israel-Palestine conflict
Saigon traffic descends into chaos after year’s heaviest downpour
It began to rain around 3 p.m., and roads in several districts were inundated soon after. The heavy rain knocked open a manhole cover at the intersection of Tran Hung Dao and Huynh Minh Dat streets in District 5, causing floodwaters to form a whirlpool . A motorcyclist who inadvertently drove through the flooded manhole was knocked over but people in the area rushed to help. Thu Phuong, a 56-year-old woman selling refreshments near the intersection, said it wasn’t the first time that the manhole had been lifted up by heavy rain. "Many people from the drainage company have come to fix it. However, it still gets pushed open by the force of water pressure and becomes extremely dangerous for people driving by," she said. Pedestrians cross a flooded section of Bui Vien Street in District 1. Cars turned on their headlights after it became dark and visibility became poor. … [Read more...] about Saigon traffic descends into chaos after year’s heaviest downpour
Germany issues visas for Vietnamese passports with added birthplace info
The Vietnamese Embassy in Germany said that the German Federal Foreign Office sent it a note on Monday saying it will issue visa for the new Vietnamese blue passports with added information of the holders' place of birth. Vietnam's new passport that has been in use since July 1, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Du The Germany's foreign office applauded Vietnam's timely solution to the matter, the embassy said. The new Vietnamese passport, issued since July 1, 2022, has earlier been rejected by Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and Finland due to its lack of birthplace information. However, the Spanish embassy later said it would accept the new passport , but those who wish to apply for a visa need to furnish their identity cards to verify their place of birth. Two other European countries, France and the U.K., have announced that they will c ontinue to recognize Vietnam's new passports . The U.S. embassy in Hanoi has instructed holders of the new Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Germany issues visas for Vietnamese passports with added birthplace info
Crushed: family mourns husband, son killed in UK fire
Tran Thi Huy, 28, of Dien Chau District in the north central Nghe An Province, is the wife of 31-year-old Nguyen Van Uoc, who has been confirmed dead in a mill fire in Oldham, Manchester back in May. On Saturday, Huy received a phone call from the U.K. The person on the other side was a representative of the Manchester police, informing her fingerprint analyses of a body found in the aftermath of the fire showed that it belonged to Uoc, one of four Vietnamese nationals reported missing last month. They said a DNA analysis would be done next to confirm the fingerprint analysis. A month ago, hair and nail samples of Uoc’s family members were sent to the U.K. police by a Vietnamese citizen living in the U.K. who came back home to collect them. "We have been praying hard at the altar, hoping a miracle would happen for Uoc. But that hope is gone," Huy said. At the end of 2016, just months after the couple had welcomed their second child, Uoc left his wife and family and went to … [Read more...] about Crushed: family mourns husband, son killed in UK fire
Roma squeeze past Salernitana, Immobile fires Lazio to Bologna win
Paulo Dybala and Georginio Wijnaldum both made their league debuts for Jose Mourinho's Roma but it was an older hand in Bryan Cristante who decided the match in the 33rd minute. Roma squeeze past Salernitana, Immobile fires Lazio to Bologna win (source: youtube) Italy international Cristante claimed the points with a drive from the edge of the area which took at least one deflection before nestling in the bottom corner. Roma's margin of victory would have been larger had they capitalised on a series of chances, in particular in the first half. "I would have been happy if we'd won 3-0 or 4-0 but what I liked was that even though we didn't score as many as we should have we had enough maturity to control the game" Mourinho told reporters. Dybala was unlucky not to be on target on an impressive Roma debut in which he immediately struck up an understanding with Nicolo Zaniolo and Tammy Abraham. The Argentina forward struck the post in the dying seconds of the opening … [Read more...] about Roma squeeze past Salernitana, Immobile fires Lazio to Bologna win
SHB to increase its charter capital
SHB targets to be among the three largest private commercial banks in Vietnam This confirms that SHB has completely fulfilled its commitment to shareholders and investors on improving financial capacity in accordance with the plan to increase charter capital in 2021 – as approved by the annual general shareholders' meeting (AGM) – and lays the groundwork for the implementation of the next capital increase plan. In addition, SHB also aims to further enhance its charter capital to $1.59 billion by the end of 2022 under a decision made at its AGM. The hike will likely place it among the three largest private joint stock banks by charter capital. The bank’s reputation among domestic and foreign investors and international credit rating agencies has been solidified and improved in large due to the firm's consistent efforts to strengthen its operations over the last several years. SHB continues to grow its operating size and business development, accelerate financial … [Read more...] about SHB to increase its charter capital