Painting sells for millions

Worsening outdoor air pollution and toxic lead poisoning have kept global deaths from environmental contamination at an estimated 9 million per year since 2015 – countering modest progress made in tackling pollution elsewhere, a team of scientists reported Tuesday. Air pollution from industry processes along with urbanization drove a 7% increase in pollution-related deaths from 2015 to 2019, according to the scientists’ analysis of data on global mortality and pollution levels. "We're sitting in the stew pot and slowly burning," said Richard Fuller, a study co-author and head of the global nonprofit Pure Earth. But unlike climate change, malaria, or HIV, "we haven't given (environmental pollution) much focus." An earlier version of the work published in 2017 also estimated the death toll from pollution at roughly 9 million per year — or about one of every six deaths worldwide — and the cost to the global economy at up to $4.6 trillion per year. That puts pollution on par with … [Read more...] about Pollution killing 9 million people a year, Africa hardest hit: study

In 2000, the canal that flows two kilometers through Districts 5 and 6 was filled up following heavy pollution and serious encroachment. By then, the canal spread only two kilometers wide with blackish and stinky water. To continue its drainage function, a concrete box culvert was installed. Fifteen years later, the city decided to recover the canal with a three-phase project that cost VND2 trillion ($86.2 million) to build a drainage system and relocate affected households. The project was to complete in 2020 but got delayed. In 2020, a section 200 meters long and 14-16 meters wide in District 6 was revived, with the two banks turned into a park. At a section meeting Lo Gom Canal in District 6, work has been deployed to establish a water pumping station. To revive the canal, more than 24,000 cubic meters of soil and rock has been dug up. Around one kilometer away, a section 100 meters long between Chu … [Read more...] about HCMC revives polluted canal with $86.2-million project

"Even in the very tough environment we are seeing, our employees have maintained a high quality and reliable service for our customers and this is helping us deliver stellar performance year after year," said Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank. Last year, the bank continued to reduce costs while focusing on building deposits in its current accounts and savings accounts (CASA), which Lottner described as a "stable and cheap" source of funding. Techcombank’s CASA ratio, which reflects the percentage of the bank’s total deposits that are CASA, jumped from 46.1 percent in 2020 to 50.5 percent last year, on its way to the bank’s target of 55 percent by 2025. Techcombank’s net interest margin (NIM), a measure of the difference between the interest received by the bank and the amount paid out to lenders, also increased 69 basis points to 5.6 percent during the year. "Together, these improving metrics, along with our effective cost management, translated into an excellent profit before tax … [Read more...] about Techcombank eyes seat at top Southeast Asian banking table

Freeze-drying food preservation technology of Vietnam Green Industrial Joint Stock Company. (Photo: SGGP) The event aims to support putting products from research institutes, universities, technology enterprises, and start-up groups in HCMC to the market to serve the needs of technology applications in production and business activities. The exhibition attracted nearly 200 technology applications from 87 enterprises and institutions participating in advertising and promoting trade. The exhibition introduces new technology trends suitable to the production situation in Vietnam, especially in the field of preservation and processing of agricultural products and food, hybridization technologies of plants and livestock, including automation technology in the agricultural production process, food sterilization by high-pressure processing technology, controlled atmosphere technology, freeze-drying to prolong the preservation time of agricultural products or the reuse of wastewater from … [Read more...] about Technology applications in agricultural production introduced

Many delegates discuss solutions to reduce congestion at Cat Lai Port in HCMC. (Photo: SGGP) The workshop attracted more than 70 delegates from customs authorities, ministries, and the business community to discuss this action plan. At the workshop, the relevant units announced 21 recommendations to improve the operational efficiency of Cat Lai Port to meet the increasing demand. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the port was operating at full capacity. Meanwhile, the demand calculated by the number of containers is forecast to double by 2030. The above 21 recommendations are the results of a pre-feasibility study on congestion prevention and logistics facilitation at Cat Lai Port conducted by the Trade Facilitation Project funded by the USAID from May 2020 to March 2021. The study comprehensively reviewed port operations on an area of 160 hectares to assess operational efficiency, bottlenecks, and shortcomings in the process of enhancing the handling capacity of the port. On … [Read more...] about HCMC cooperates with USAID to ease container congestion at Cat Lai Port

Processing tra fish for export. (Photo: SGGP) It is expected to boost the export of Vietnamese pangasius to the US market in the near future. The six facilities are the Hop Nhat Seafood Corporation, Atlantic Seafood Freezing factory, Basa Mekong factory, High grade pangasius product exporting & Processing Factory, Co May 2 seafood processing export factory and CK Frozen Food Vietnam Co. Ltd. NAFIQAD also noted that factories should comply with the provisions of the program on controlling food safety for siluriformes fish and fish products exported to the US issued in Decision No. May 22, 2020 and instructions in Official Letter No. 803/QLCL-CL1 dated June 18, 2020, ensuring that the entire chain of production, processing and export of pangasius fully meets the regulations of both Vietnam and the US. The Centre for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Zone 4 and 6 will appraise and issue certificates for pangasius shipments of these factories to the US market in accordance with … [Read more...] about Six more pangasius processing factories eligible to export to US

The temple commemorates soldiers who laid down their lives in the Dien Bien Phu battlefield. It covers 50,000 sq.m. and costs 105 billion VND (about 4.5 million USD), including 90 billion VND funded by Lien Viet Post Commercial Joint Stock Bank and the remainder from the local budget. Speaking at the ceremony, President Phuc said he felt grateful for great President Ho Chi Minh, General Vo Nguyen Giap, officers and soldiers, young volunteers, and people’s sacrifices for the victory in Dien Bien Phu. The martyrs' temple is a work of profound political and social meaning, reflecting the deep affection and gratitude of the Party, State and people throughout the country for the heroic martyrs in Dien Bien Phu, and meeting the needs and aspirations of people, war veterans, those with meritorious services to the revolution, and martyrs' relatives. The President said it will educate younger generations about the country’s revolutionary traditions and connect with other cultural and … [Read more...] about Temple dedicated to martyrs inaugurated in Dien Bien province

During her stay in Vietnam, President Sakellaropoulou paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, laid a wreath at the Heroic Martyrs’ Monument, held talks with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, paid a courtesy visit on Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, met with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, witnessed the signing of important documents, and joined a tea party chaired by Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Welcoming the Greek President, Party General Secretary Trong affirmed that Vietnam attaches much importance to its traditional friendship with Greece and is delighted at the important progress in their bilateral ties. He gave a number of proposals to promote the partnership in all fields, and suggested Greece continue to support the Vietnamese community in the country. During talks between the two presidents, they shared delight that despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, trade between the two countries still increased to 447 million USD in 2021, … [Read more...] about Greek President wraps up official visit to Vietnam

Cuong was sentenced by the Hanoi’s People Court after being charged with "negligence that results in serious consequences". He is also forbidden from holding positions in the field of medicine for three years after finishing his sentence. Nguyen Minh Hung, former chairman of the management board of pharmaceutical firm Vietnam Pharma JSC, received 18 years in jail for "manufacturing and trading of counterfeit medicines for treatment or prevention of diseases". Hung had been sentenced to 17 years under the same charge at another trial over the case in 2019. His cumulative years to spend in prison will be 30 years, the maximum number of jail time for combined timed sentences in accordance with Vietnamese law. 12 others convicts related to the cases were also sentenced to between 2-20 years in jail. The sentences were the latest development in a counterfeit drug case involving Vietnam Pharma and the fake drug branded Health 2000 Canada. Cuong stands accused of violations that allowed … [Read more...] about Former deputy health minister jailed in fake cancer drug scandal

Lenders reinforcing presence with bond issuance, Photo Shinhan Bank Vietnam Shinhan Bank Vietnam last week successfully issued bonds totalling VND2.8 trillion ($121.7 million), with a tenor of two years. CEO Kang Gew Won explained to VIR, “This is the first time that Shinhan Bank Vietnam has issued bonds in the Vietnamese market. This offering reinforces Shinhan Bank’s long-standing relationship with Vietnam. Our bank will use these proceeds from the bond sale to expand the bank’s credit activities, diversify its capital sources, serve its business objectives, and also ensure the bank’s long-term development.” On April 20, Shinhan Bank Vietnam also formally announced the use of the liquidity reserve ratio and net stable capital ratio in liquidity risk management, in accordance with Basel III standards. In recent times, the bank has been continuously assigned a BB rating by Standard & Poor’s, with a “Positive” outlook. Prior to Shinhan Bank, HSBC Vietnam became the … [Read more...] about Lenders reinforcing presence with bond issuance