Gardening to save money

The move is aimed at ensuring the country's long-term self-sufficiency in oil and oil products. Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PVN) is planning to build an oil refinery complex worth up to US$19 billion in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau. The Nghi Son Oil Refinery plant in Thanh Hoa Province, North Central Coast of Vietnam. File photo In a proposal submitted to the Government, the PVN expected the investment would be conducted in phases, of which around 70% of the capital would be allocated for the first phase. According to the PVN, Vietnam's domestic market is set to face a shortage of 19.5 million tons of petroleum products every year by 2030, and the figure could rise to 49 million tons by 2045. At present, the domestic consumption of petrol products is estimated at 18 million tons per year. PVN forecasts the demand to continue rising to 25 million tons by 2025, and 33 million tons by 2030. However, the combined production capacity of … [Read more...] about PVN plans to build US$19-billion oil refinery-storage complex

Addressing the function, Hue stressed that over four days, the committee has completed the agenda for the session, making comments on eight bills and one resolution project containing legal regulations. The bills included five draft laws to be submitted to the N.A. for approval at the upcoming 4th session, slated for October. They are the Law on Petroleum (amended), the Law on Domestic Violence Prevention and Control (revised), the Law on Inspection (amended), the Law on Implementation of Democracy at Grassroots Level, and the law amending and supplementing articles of the Law on Radio Frequencies. Meanwhile, the three other draft laws will be submitted to the N.A. for the first time during the fourth meeting are the Law on Protection of Consumer Rights (amended), the Law on Civil Defense, and the Law on Anti-Money Laundering (revised). The top legislator said the success of the August session is an important step in preparation for the N.A.’s fourth sitting. He also requested … [Read more...] about N.A. Standing Committee wraps up law-making session

Someone has been calling Huy repeatedly over the past month, saying he owed money with high interest that will balloon to tens of millions of dong (VND10 million= $427.26) if it is not paid back quickly. When he denied ever using the service, the caller brought out a screenshot of an apparent contract with accurate personal information like ID card numbers, phone numbers and email addresses, even relevant information on Huy’s family members. "This is information I’ve shared with multiple services online when I signed up for various accounts, but I have never submitted them to any credit service," Huy said. He suspects that his information might have been stored by some companies and then stolen by someone else, who used them for credit services. Do Huong of Vinh Phuc province said she has onlybeen acquainted with the Internet and smartphones over the past five years. She rarely uses online services that require personal info, but does sign up for discount programs. "Whenever a … [Read more...] about Vietnam has major data leak problem, citizens suffer

Earlier this year, renowned Vietnamese animation studio Sconnect was the target of a lawsuit by US-based Entertainment One (EO), in which Sconnect’s Wolfoo franchise was sued for allegedly breaching EO’s Peppa Pig character set. Prior to the lawsuit, Wolfoo, a popular multi-language YouTube series based on a family of wolves, gained Sconnect international recognition along with a burgeoning merchandise business. Copyright cases rise in face of integration, illustration photo/ freepik.com The Court of Moscow in Russia on August 3 officially terminated the civil proceedings of the lawsuit, affirming that no breach of intellectual property rights has been linked to Sconnect’s Wolfoo character set against EO’s Peppa Pig character. However, the quickly-resolved lawsuit has nevertheless caused negative impacts on Sconnect’s reputation and business activities in the content creation industry. Talking with VIR, Sconnect’s head of Legal Pham Van Anh shared that the company had … [Read more...] about Copyright cases rise in face of integration

While 2020 was one of the warmest years on record globally, Vietnam has just gone through another historical year of climate extremes. Last November was also decisive for the future of the planet as countries officially submitted their climate pledges at the COP26 climate summit. Dao Xuan Lai, head of Climate Change and the Environment at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam We see a skyrocketing demand for natural resources while witnessing the collapse of functioning ecosystems. You only need to drive a couple of hours outside of Hanoi towards Ninh Binh province with its iconic limestone clasts, synonymous with the beauty of northern Vietnam, to see these emblematic features being devoured by machinery to be used for stone mining and cement production. By 2050, global demand for materials such as plastics, steel, or cement is projected to increase by a factor of 2-4. More than 50 per cent of the world’s emissions can be traced back to our … [Read more...] about Partnerships key to green transition

The group of Vietnamese who escaped Cambodia . (Photo courtesy of An Giang Border Guard) An Giang (VNA) - Forty Vietnamese nationals were arrested by An Giang Border Guards on August 18 morning after illegally entering Vietnam from Cambodia. According to their testimony, a total of 42 people tried to escape from a casino in Sampeou Poun commune, Kaoh Thom district, Kandal province in Cambodia and swam across Binh Ghi River to return to Vietnam. They said they had previously fled to Cambodia to work at a casino. Their job was to make online games and go to social media websites at the instruction of the people at the casino but they were constantly forced to work overtime without any payment. According to Major Le Ngoc Tuan from Long Binh Border Guard Station, the group comprised 35 men and five women, whose identities have not been verified. Some have sustained minor injuries. One person is missing and another 16-year-old male from Kon Tum province was caught by … [Read more...] about 40 Vietnamese arrested at border after fleeing forced labour in Cambodia