WASHINGTON: Donald Trump parted ways with his controversial chief strategist Steve Bannon on Friday (Aug 18) as the White House reels from the fallout over the president's response to a violent white supremacist rally. White House strategist Steve Bannon. (Photo: AFP/Mandel Ngan) But the 63-year-old Bannon - a hero of the so-called "alt right" but bete noire of centrists whose departure caps one of the most disastrous weeks of the young presidency - vowed to keep fighting for Trump's agenda from outside the White House. In an interview with Bloomberg News, Bannon made clear he remained fully committed to the nationalist-populist policies that carried Trump to power. "If there's any confusion out there, let me clear it up: I'm leaving the White House and going to war for Trump against his opponents - on … [Read more...]

New adventurous tours in the northern province of Hà Giang will open soon, giving tourists all the more reason to visit. Breathtaking: A tourist looking down Tu Sản Canyon in Hà Giang Province. - Photo bp.blogspot.com This was unveiled at a conference to promote provincial tourism attended by local authorities and travel agents yesterday in Hà Nội. Lùng Khúy Cave, Chiêu Lầu Thi Peak and Tu Sản Canyon are three attractive destinations to be presented to travellers, according to Đặng Quốc Sử, director of the Hà Giang Tourist Information and Promotion Centre. Chiêu Lầu Thi is the second highest mountain in the province at 2,142m above sea level, Lùng Khúy is a newly-discovered cave with impressive stalactites, while … [Read more...]

TURKU: Police shot and wounded a suspect after a stabbing spree in which a man killed two people and wounded six others in the Finnish city of Turku on Friday (Aug 18). Finnish police patrol in front of the Cenral Railway Station in Helsinki on Aug 18, 2017. (Photo: AFP/Linda Manner) Within hours the force had announced increased police patrols across the country. "There are eight victims in the stabbing. Two dead and six injured," Turku police tweeted after the assault in a market square. A hospital official told journalists all the victims were adults. Police shot a suspect in the thigh minutes after the attack at another square nearby, arresting him and confiscating his knife. His identity has not yet been established, police said late on Friday, nor was the motive for the attack … [Read more...]

The location of the Cai Lậy Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll station on National Highway No 1 was appropriate, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyễn Ngọc Đông. The location of the Cai Lậy Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll station on National Highway No 1 was appropriate, according to Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyễn Ngọc Đông.- Photo zing.vn The official made the declaration at a feisty meeting on Thursday, which featured pointed questions from local media on the toll station in Tiền Giang Province. The toll station was temporarily suspended from operation on Tuesday due to strong opposition from drivers on August 13 and 14, only two weeks after it opened on August 1 with fees set at VNĐ35,000 ($1.5) to VNĐ180,000 ($7.8), depending on the … [Read more...]

NDO – Seventy-two years ago, on August 19, 1945, under the leadership of the Party, the entire nation, with great determination, rose up in a revolt that overthrew feudalism and broke the chains of colonialist slavery, marking the dawn of a new era of national independence and socialism. With that resounding victory, the Vietnamese working class and people and the working classes and oppressed nations around the world could be proud. It was the first time in the revolutionary history of the colonial and semi-colonial nations that a 15-year-old party with over 5,000 members successfully led a revolution to seize power, giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) – the first ever people's democratic State in Southeast Asia. This great event was a glorious milestone in the history of national construction and defence. The great victory of the August Revolution was a victory of strength of national … [Read more...]

NDO - The National Assembly Standing Committee (NASC) wrapped up its 13th session in Hanoi, on August 18, under the chair of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Earlier the same day, the NASC discussed the draft of the Public Policy Law. The draft includes seven chapters, with 54 articles, regulating the general principles of public policy, administrative procedures and public policy services and e-government in public policy, in addition to the relations and responsibilities of stakeholders in public policy. NA Chairman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasised the need to construct a proper concept of public policy and advised the compiling committee to adjust several articles in the draft. Speaking at the closing session, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan urged the Government, as well as the NA’s committees of law, the NA’s Secretary General and the relevant agencies and organisations, to adhere to the NASC’s opinions when finalising the … [Read more...]

The People’s Committee of Đồng Nai Province has suspended the licensing of construction projects in residential areas around the planned Long Thành International Airport in an effort to prevent speculation and higher land prices. A model of the planned Long Thành International Airport in Đồng Nai Province’s Long Thành District. VNS File Photo. At a meeting on site clearance on Thursday, the deputy chairman of Đồng Nai People’s Committee, Trần Văn Vĩnh, asked Long Thành and Nhơn Trạch district authorities who grant licences to construction projects to first wait for the planning of areas around the projects to be completed. To receive public feedback on the plan, the committee and Long Thành District will work together to … [Read more...]

The installation of exercising equipment in parks and other public areas has been an unqualified success in the capital city. Residents do morning exercises with outdoor sports equipment at the Thống Nhất Park in Hà Nội. - Photo hanoimoi.com.vn The free outdoor gyms that began springing up three years ago have proved very popular with residents, prompting more people to exercise regularly. Đinh Văn Luyến, Head of Public Sports Division under the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, said that between 2014 and 2016, exercise equipment was installed in the seven districts of Long Biên, Ba Đình, Tây Hồ, Hà Đông, Thanh Xuân, Hai Bà Trưng and Cầu Giấy. “The free outdoor gyms have been welcomed and … [Read more...]

The northern province of Quảng Ninh plans to turn Vân Đồn special administrative-economic zone into a smart and green island urban area, Nguyễn Văn Đọc, secretary of the provincial Party Committee, said. Quảng Ninh Province aims to develop Vân Đồn into a dynamic economic centre with a focus on services, high-end tourism and high-tech industries.-Photo bnews.vn The zone, located in Vân Đồn District, has a total land area of 581.13sqkm, a sea area of 1,620sqkm and a population of around 46,000. The district lies in a politically and economically important region, on the strategic transit route from East Asia to Southeast Asia and from ASEAN to China, in the Việt Nam-China “two corridors, one belt” co-operation area, in the … [Read more...]

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc expressed his hope that Thai businesses would make the most of co-operation and investment opportunities in Việt Nam, especially in the context of Việt Nam promoting mergers and acquisitions along with the equitisation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs). Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc addresses the “Việt Nam – Thailand Economic Cooperation Forum” held in Bangkok on Friday. - VNA Photo He made the remarks while addressing the “Việt Nam – Thailand Economic Co-operation Forum” held in Bangkok on Friday. PM Phúc was attending the event as part of his three-day visit to Thailand from August 17-19 at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The forum, hosted by the Thai Business Association … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Vietnam always treasures and wants to consolidate and further enhance traditional their relations with Mongolia, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Uong Chu Luu said. Luu made the statement during his reception in Hanoi, on August 18, for Secretary General of the Mongolian Parliament Office Tsend Tsolmon, who has been on a five-day working visit to Vietnam. He highlighted that the achievements in bilateral relations over the past six decades will lay a foundation for the two sides to promote cooperation in a more practical and effective manner. The leader hoped that the two countries will maintain high-level meetings and visits in order to enhance the friendship and mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Mongolian people, increase political trust and expand cooperation. Vietnam and Mongolia should coordinate closely in issues of common concern and support each other at regional and international forums, … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Vietnam always treasures and wants to consolidate and further enhance traditional their relations with Mongolia, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Uong Chu Luu said. Luu made the statement during his reception in Hanoi, on August 18, for Secretary General of the Mongolian Parliament Office Tsend Tsolmon, who has been on a five-day working visit to Vietnam. He highlighted that the achievements in bilateral relations over the past six decades will lay a foundation for the two sides to promote cooperation in a more practical and effective manner. The leader hoped that the two countries will maintain high-level meetings and visits in order to enhance the friendship and mutual understanding between the Vietnamese and Mongolian people, increase political trust and expand cooperation. Vietnam and Mongolia should coordinate closely in issues of common concern and support each other at regional and international forums, … [Read more...]

Capella Quang Nam Joint Stock Company, a subsidiary of Capella Land JSC, will construct Tam Thang 2 Industiral Zone (Tam Thang 2) located in the central province of Quang Nam, aiming to meet the increasing demand for land leasing in the province’s industrial zones. The project will be extremely well connected through the province's arterial roads and other infrastructure facilities The construction will be implemented only a short time after receiving approval from by the prime minister under Document No.425/TTg-CN dated March 24, 2017. The construction of the project, which has a total investment capital sum of VND350 billion ($15.35 million), is expected to be completed within two years. Representatives of the investor said that the company is committed to accelerating investment in the infrastructure construction of … [Read more...]

Water governance in APEC economies, climate change, food security and best practices in agriculture are among the topics to be discussed at the first APEC Water Resources Authorities Meeting for Food Security that opens today in Cần Thơ. Delegates talk at the 2017 APEC Climate Symposium on building resilient agro-food systems from production to consumption for food security using climate information opened in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Cần Thơ on August 18 within the framework of APEC Food Security Week. - VNA/VNS Photo by Thanh Vũ The two-day event is part of a project titled “Challenges for Water and Food Security in the context of climate change in the APEC region,” which seeks to increase awareness of the pressing challenges in and solutions to water governance and management to … [Read more...]

Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) will complete the divestment from several subsidiaries by 2020, according to newswire Petrotimes. PetroVietnam will wholly or partially divest all but three subsidiaries Accordingly, PetroVietnam is permitted to retain its entire holdings in only three subsidiaries, namely the parent company PetroVietnam, National Southern Spill Response Centre (Nasos), and PetroVietnam Manpower Training College. PetroVietnam will have to divest part of or entire holdings in its remaining subsidiaries. Notably, from now to 2019, PetroVietnam will entirely divest PVI Holdings, Phuoc An Port Investment and Exploitation Oil and Gas JSC, Green Indochina Development JSC, SSG Real Estate JSC, PetroVietnam Trade Union Finance JSC, PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock … [Read more...]

The kangaroo emblem of 100 per cent Australian-owned SSESteel Limited (THEP UC) celebrates its 20th anniversary this month, marking the presence in the Vietnamese market of more than three million tonnes of Vietnamese and international-standard construction steel products. Leaving marks across Vietnam Australian group Vietnam Industrial Investments (VII) was listed on the Australian stock market in 1995, and has thus far ventured into several business fields in Vietnam. The firm produces construction steel products, welded wire mesh, metal roofing sheets and structure steel under various brands, including THEP UC, Thep Viet Uc, Austnam, TBS, and VRC. THEP UC “Thep Chuot tui” was founded in 1997. Its headquarters is situated in Hong Bang district in the northern port city of Haiphong, and it has five branch offices in … [Read more...]

Vietnam’s Government Inspectorate has blamed the country's Ministry of Transport for "operational problems" at seven major projects at a time when controversy over a toll station in the Mekong Delta has caused a widespread uproar. Inspectors looked into six build-operate-transfer projects and one build-transfer project commissioned by the transport ministry in Hanoi and nearby provinces. They are just seven of the 78 projects sanctioned by the ministry since September 2015, with a combined investment of nearly VND219 trillion ($9.6 billion). A report released on Friday said the transport ministry had not put the projects out to to tender, and had instead handpicked the investors. In response, the ministry claimed it had been forced to fast-track the process and select the only interested investors. Their cost estimates proved to be well short; at least VND316 billion ($13.9 million) short in total. Toll stations have been set up so close together that … [Read more...]

NDO - The North South Highway and Tan Son Nhat airport expansion have been added to the list of major projects in the transport sector. The supplement to the list was made following a request from Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung at a working session with the National Steering Committee on Major Transport Projects, held on August 17. Deputy PM Dung, who is also head of the National Steering Committee on Major Transport Projects, asked the Ministry of Transport to accelerate the progress of major projects through reviewing project records and accelerating land clearance. He also directed the Transport Ministry to quickly define the investment costs of each km of the North South Highway and complete the investment plan on the highway in order to submit it to the National Assembly at the upcoming meeting. The Ministry of Transport reported that Vietnam currently has 37 major transport projects with a total investment of over VND1,000 … [Read more...]

The United States and Japan will step up their defense cooperation to deal with the threat from nuclear-armed North Korea as tensions in East Asia remain high, officials from the two allies said on Thursday. "For this threat of North Korea, at this meeting we agreed to increase the pressure and to strengthen the alliance capability," Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said after talks with senior U.S. officials in Washington. U.S. fears about North Korea's missile and nuclear bomb programs have grown in recent weeks. Pyongyang has said it was considering plans to fire missiles toward the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam, although North Korean leader Kim Jong Un appears to have delayed the decision. U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and their Japanese counterparts agreed at a meeting in Washington on Thursday to work more closely on North Korea. "In light of the threat of North Korea, the four of us confirmed the importance of the … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-ocha expressed their satisfaction at the strong development of Vietnam-Thailand cooperation over the past 41 years since they established diplomatic ties in August 1976, during their talks in Bangkok on August 17. >>> Deepening Vietnam-Thailand strategic partnership The two PMs recognised that the bilateral relations have been stable and developed in all fields from politics and security to economy and socio-culture, especially after Vietnam and Thailand established a strategic partnership in 2013. To further the relationship in the coming time, they agreed to enhance all-level delegation exchanges and effectively implement cooperation mechanisms in addition to soon organising the third meeting of the joint committee on bilateral cooperation, the third foreign minister-level meeting, the third meeting of the joint committee on trade, and particularly the … [Read more...]