International news headlines

Bitexco Group’s Chairman Vu Quang Hoi and Representative of The Dwight Schools, Chancellor Stephen Spahn, signed an agreement to establish the international Dwight School Hanoi. Photo: Bitexco Group Bitexco, one of the leading multidisciplinary economic groups in Viet Nam, with a history of 37 years operating in the fields of real estate, hydropower, construction, financial investment, mining, oil and gas, has expanded its activities to education. On August 11, the Bitexco Group and The Dwight Schools, a leading global network of International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools, officially formed a partnership to establish the international Dwight School Hanoi, which the group says will realise its ambition to enhance the quality of education and educate the future generation of Viet Nam. The future school will combine the 150-year legacy of excellence from Dwight, a pioneer in the International Baccalaureate program, to deliver the most advanced co-educational program from … [Read more...] about Bitexco develops international school in Ha Noi

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam speaks at the conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The education sector has maintained its international rankings, and further overhauled the general education curriculum and textbooks in the 2021-2022 academic year despite serious COVID-19 -induced difficulties, said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam . Dam made the comment at a conference held by the Ministry of Education and Training in Hanoi on August 12 to review outcomes of the past academic year and deploy tasks for the coming one. The official requested that the sector continue with comprehensive reforms to enhance the quality of teaching and learning activities. He noted there is a need to review and proactively propose a mechanism on tuition fees, ensure an adequate number of teachers and school facilities, and promote digital learning materials and the online learning method. The spending on education must increase to ensure the quality of education, but the contribution of … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s education keeps international rankings despite COVID-19: Deputy PM

Delegates discuss issues related to sustainable development at the ‘Good for Business, Good for Planet’ seminar held in HCM City on Wednesday. — VNS Photo Shifting to green growth would help businesses increase their competitiveness and catch up with trends in the domestic and foreign markets, delegates told a seminar in HCM City on Wednesday. As one of the world's most vulnerable countries to climate change, Viet Nam has made multi-dimensional efforts to drive the whole nation towards its collective goal of reaching net zero greenhouse gasses emissions targets, achieving sustainable development, and contributing to tackle the global climate change crisis, they said. Speaking at the ‘Good for Business, Good for Planet’ seminar held by Nhip Cau Dau Tu magazine, Tim Evans, CEO of HSBC Vietnam, said, “The green journey that Viet Nam has embarked on is bringing both opportunities and challenges. Those businesses who get onboard early can capture major opportunities and build a … [Read more...] about Going green gives businesses a competitive advantage

Representative of Hanwha Life Vietnam received the “Best companies to work for in Asia 2022” Award at a ceremony on August 11. — Photo courtesy of the company Hanwha Life Vietnam was honoured as one of the “Best companies to work for in Asia 2022,” the most prestigious regional award in human resources by HR Asia Magazine at a ceremony on August 11. The international award recognised Hanwha Life’s persistent efforts over the past decade in Viet Nam to build the best working environment for employee engagement based on "self-motivation, civilisation and integration." Joining the prestigious award for the first time, Hanwha Life has surpassed many other players in the sector to secure impressive high scores. The survey results show that the company’s average scores in all three categories are higher than in the industry. Among them, Core (corporate culture and personnel structure) reached 4.41 compared to the industry average of 3.71; Self (emotions and thoughts of each … [Read more...] about Hanwha Life Vietnam wins ‘Best Companies to Work for in Asia 2022’ Award

The nation will play a more extensive role in future UN peacekeeping operations, including expanding the number of missions conducted by Vietnamese peacekeeping forces through forms of deployment. At the reception (Image source: qdnd.vn) Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien made the statement during a reception held on August 12 in Hanoi for Pauline Tamesis resident coordinator of the UN in Vietnam. Deputy Minister Chien emphasised that this year is of great significance as it will mark the 45th anniversary of the country’s participation in the UN. History shows that Vietnam has closely co-ordinated with international organisations, especially the UN, in order to carry out a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification, and being a responsible member of the wider international community. The Deputy Minister also acknowledged the goodwill and co-operation of the UN and their competent … [Read more...] about Vietnam participates more deeply in UN peacekeeping operations

An overview of the conference (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A project to develop a comprehensive model in building safe community against natural disasters in Vietnam , which is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), was launched during a conference in Hanoi on August 11. The conference, jointly held by the American Red Cross Society, the US Red Cross Society, and others, aims to provide the project information to relevant stakeholders, and introduce the role of participating organisations in the project. The project, implemented from October 2021 to September 2023 in 16 communes and wards in Ha Giang, Son La and Thua Thien-Hue provinces, aims to enhance the capacity of the communal authorities and community organisations in supporting the community in preventing and minimising impacts from natural disasters as well as responding to the disasters, while improving the capacity of provincial authorities to coordinate resources for disaster … [Read more...] about Project to develop natural disaster-resilient community

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on August 12 decided to reduce death penalties to life sentences for 21 prisoners, including two foreigners. The decision was made in line with the 2013 Constitution and following proposals by the Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court, Prosecutor General of the Supreme People's Procuracy and Chairman of the Presidential Office. Amnesty is a major policy of the Party and State, manifesting the fine tradition of the nation in strictly handling those who violate the law while offering clemency and humanitarian treatment to prisoners who reform and wish to return to society as useful citizens. The consideration of granting amnesty to foreigners on the basis of fairness and transparency has also helped the international community better understand the policies of the Vietnamese Party and State./. … [Read more...] about President reduces death penalties to life sentences for 21 prisoners

An unidentified highly toxic substance in the Oder river, which runs through Poland and Germany, appears to be the cause of a mass die-off of fish, the German state of Brandenburg's environment ministry said. An analysis of river water taken this week showed evidence of "synthetic chemical substances, very probably also with toxic effects for vertebrates," the ministry said on Thursday, adding that it remained unclear how the substance entered the water. According to local broadcaster rbb, the state laboratory found high levels of mercury in the water samples. The head of Poland's national water management authority told private broadcaster Polsat News that the presence of mercury in the water had yet to be confirmed, however. "At the moment, these are press reports. We have no confirmation regarding mercury in the Oder," Przemyslaw Daca, the head of Polish Waters, said. The ministry in Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin, said it had not yet been possible to assess … [Read more...] about Mass fish die-off in German-Polish river blamed on unknown toxic substance

Bien Van Truong, 35, was caught at around 8 p.m. on Wednesday by Ha Tinh border guards as he was trying to flee from a taxi passing through Vu Quang District. Officers found a black plastic bag inside the car containing 10 kilograms of meth, worth around VND500 million. Truong said the drugs were from Laos and that he was hired by a stranger to hide the bag in Cam Xuyen District before delivering it to Binh Duong Province that borders HCMC for VND150 million. Vietnam has been identified by security agencies as a key trafficking hub for narcotics despite having some of the world's toughest drug laws. Those convicted of possessing or smuggling more than 600 grams of heroin or more than 2.5 kilograms of meth face the death penalty. … [Read more...] about Man arrested for smuggling 10 kilos of meth for $6,400

The northern highlands province of Hoa Binh reported three deaths: Dinh Thi Nguyet, 35, Ha Tam Uyen, 4, and Nguyen Minh Hieu, 10, were swept away by floodwaters and their bodies found later. Of the eight people listed missing, also swept away by floods, two were from Hoa Binh, one from Phu Tho, two in Lao Cai and four in Nam Dinh Province. The four Nam Dinh victims are a 35-year-old woman, her 8-year-old daughter and her two nieces, aged 11 and 12. They went to a river at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday. When the three children entered the river to swim, they were swept away. The woman tried to jump in to save them, only to be swept away as well. Storm Mulan weakened into a tropical depression on Thursday morning. It then made landfall onto Quang Ninh and Hai Phong. It caused heavy rains in northern Vietnam regions, along with two central Vietnam provinces Thanh Hoa and Nghe An from Thursday to Friday. From 7 p.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday, several northern Vietnam localities … [Read more...] about Three dead, eight missing in northern Vietnam flooding