Tokyo's popular governor Yuriko Koike launched a bitter attack on Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Tuesday as the gloves came off for the official start of a snap election campaign in the world's third-largest economy. Conservative premier Abe, 63, is facing an unexpected and fierce challenge from the media-savvy Koike, who has upended the sleepy world of Japanese politics with her upstart "Party of Hope." Addressing hundreds of commuters at a busy Tokyo station via loudspeaker, Koike called on supporters to "end the politics of Abe," lashing out at the long-serving premier over recent scandals that have weighed on his popularity. "The political status quo has continued while politics itself has lost the public's confidence," charged the former TV anchorwoman, 65. Abe cut a contrasting figure by kicking off his offensive in the bucolic farming country of Fukushima, signalling his commitment to rebuilding the region hard hit by the 2011 nuclear power plant meltdown. He pledged a major … [Read more...] about Gloves off as Japan election campaign starts
Challenges faced by early childhood educators
APEC moves to enhance education co-operation
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI - With the vision by 2030, APEC will have a strong and cohesive education community characterised by inclusive and quality education that supports sustainable economic growth, social wellbeing and employability of people in APEC economies. Phạm Chí Cường, Deputy Director General of the International Co-operation Department under Việt Nam's Ministry of Education and Training, made the statement at a Workshop on Action Plan of APEC Education Strategy which opened in Hà Nội on Thursday. Cường expressed his hope that the workshop would provide a platform for APEC economies to discuss bilateral and multilateral co-operation in education and training, and that many new initiatives, projects and programmes would come out. The official also affirmed that this was a chance of Việt Nam to share experience in education and training with APEC economies. For APEC economies, education is an important driver in preparing a population with technical and soft skills to be … [Read more...] about APEC moves to enhance education co-operation
Social News In Brief 28/3
Oil spill response training held in Quang Ninh Some 200 people from oil exploiting and transporting companies and organisations in the northern province of Quang Ninh were provided with necessary knowledge and skills to respond to oil spills during a training course held in the locality on March 28. The course was jointly organised by the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam Maritime Construction Investment Consultancy Joint Stock Company. Participants were equipped with measures to control oil spills, laws and regulations related to the issue as well as technical measures to clean up oil-contaminated areas and ways to manage environmental pollution after the oil spill. They also practised collecting oil from the spill in conditions of strong flows and big waves. There has been no serious oil spill case in Quang Ninh province since the beginning of 2017. Enhancing skills to prevent and tackle oil spills is necessary for the province as it is a … [Read more...] about Social News In Brief 28/3