Singapore's skies were clearer Friday and air quality improved as smog from Indonesian forest fires drifted away, easing fears that this weekend's Formula One race may be affected. Petronas Twin Towers are shrouded by haze in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, September 9, 2019. Picture taken on September 9, 2019. (Reuters/Lim Huey Teng) Raging blazes in Indonesia have been spewing toxic haze over neighbouring Singapore and Malaysia, with Jakarta deploying security forces and water-bombing aircraft to tackle them. The Indonesian fires are an annual problem during the dry season when farmers use illegal slash-and-burn techniques to clear land for agriculture, but this year's are the worst since 2015. Thick smog had been hanging over Singapore since last weekend, pushing air quality to unhealthy levels, obscuring the waterfront skyline and sparking fears that Sunday's showpiece F1 night race could be affected. But on Friday the skies were largely clear, with only a light haze over … [Read more...] about Forest fire haze clears over Singapore ahead of F1
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Chinese access land use rights near Da Nang military airbase
At a meeting with the city's National Assembly delegates on Thursday, Da Nang voters expressed concern over Chinese entities' acquisition of seaside land in the city and requested that authorities take actions to resolve this issue. To Van Hung, director of the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said the city has reviewed its project areas and identified 21 cases of Chinese nationals having land use rights near the Nuoc Man Airbase in Ngu Hanh Son District. "These 21 cases have happened because the land use rights certificates for these plots were previously granted to Vietnamese nationals. However, during the subsequent land exploitation and use process, Chinese nationals used several methods including buying shares and contributing capital to have land use rights transferred to them," Hung explained. The stretch of land along Nuoc Man Airbase has one side facing the sea on Vo Nguyen Giap Boulevard, which includes 246 plots. Hung asserted that the granting of … [Read more...] about Chinese access land use rights near Da Nang military airbase
Inclusive innovation – key to sustainable growth: UNDP
The Hanoitimes - Vietnam has a unique opportunity to design an innovation ecosystem that leaves no one behind. Promoting inclusive innovation is essential for Vietnam to pursue rapid, sustainable growth and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, according to Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen. Acting UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen. Photo: Baotainguyenmoitruong Vietnam is at a key turning point at which decisions made by government regarding the scale and speed of innovation, how it is generated and diffused, and who benefits, will be critical to the quality of growth and the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Wiesen said at the Vietnam Reform and Development Forum 2019 held in Hanoi on September 19. The UNDP official said in hailing Vietnam’s progress made in promoting innovation as evidenced by the proposals for the establishment of the National Innovation Center, the World Economic … [Read more...] about Inclusive innovation – key to sustainable growth: UNDP
VND140m to little girl with multiple diseases
Dantri readers have sent VND140m (USD6,000) to support a nine-month-old baby girl who has heart disease. 10-month-old Nguyen Khanh Linh 10-month-old Nguyen Khanh Linh weighs only 5kg and is suffering from complicated congenital heart disease, pulmonary atrophy and brain atrophy. Linh's two older siblings stay with their grandparents as her parents bring her to Hanoi for treatment. Linh's mother, Truong Thi Thu Hoa, stays at the hospital to look after her so she can't work. Linh's father works as a shipper for VND5m a month which is not enough to pay for Linh's treatment. They mostly depend on charity meals to get through the days. Linh with her parents Many readers have called and donated to Linh after knowing about her situation. They have donated directly VND30m to Linh's family. Via Dantri Newspaper, the readers continued donating VND111,950,000. Hoa said she was moved when she received the donation. "We are really in debt to you all. This is such a huge amount of … [Read more...] about VND140m to little girl with multiple diseases
JLL: Investors finding value in obsolete buildings
In an increasingly tight real estate market, more and more investors are finding value in adapting obsolete buildings, according to JLL Vietnam. Photo: JLL Vietnam The pace of technological and social change around the world means more and more buildings are becoming obsolescent as consumer needs and demands shift. In between the glossy new developments and protected historic buildings are many older, redundant buildings. Thoughtful reuse of these moribund assets offers a way for investors to enter the market and add value, according to Dr. Megan Walters, JLL’s Head of Asia Pacific Research. “Obsolescent buildings might be wrong for their current use, but might also be adaptable to something more suitable,” she said. Thanks to its past, Vietnam’s major cities are filled with historic buildings and tiny alleyways that lead to more tiny alleyways. While the older generation used to line up for an opportunity to secure street-front real estate for … [Read more...] about JLL: Investors finding value in obsolete buildings