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
Nation will rise by steve crown
PVN plans to build US$19-billion oil refinery-storage complex
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
Ho Chi Minh City’s foreign enclaves settle into ‘new normal’
Since Vietnam officially declared the COVID-19 pandemic under control earlier this year, foreign enclaves in Ho Chi Minh City have, once again, begun to bustle, with old stores resuming their operations and new shops opening every day in commercial spaces that sat unoccupied for months on end. Once Vietnam dropped its on-arrival COVID-19 testing requirement for foreign travelers and reopened its international air routes in mid-May, the number of foreigners entering the country began to increase, paving the way for foreign enclaves in Ho Chi Minh City to return to their pre-pandemic life. In Tan Phong Ward, District 7, home to a significant portion of the South Korean community in Ho Chi Minh City, many stores that shut down between late 2020 and early 2022 are once again open for business, and new shops are moving into commercial spaces that have sat empty for months. Kim Yong Min, a South Korean national living in District 7, shared that his eyeglasses stores, which mainly … [Read more...] about Ho Chi Minh City’s foreign enclaves settle into ‘new normal’
Central, Central Highlands localities strengthen industry-trade cooperation
Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA) Ninh Thuan (VNA) – Industry and trade officials of 15 provinces and centrally-run cities in the central and Central Highlands region met in Phan Rang-Thap Chap city in Ninh Thuan province on August 19 to discuss measures to enhance cooperation to complete their tasks in the rest of the year. Participants highlighted a number of difficulties they are facing, and made a number of requests to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, including those related to industrial clusters, supporting industries, industrial explosives, industrial promotion, minerals, chemical environment, food safety, trade, and energy. Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai affirmed that the ministry will give maximum support to localities in dealing with their difficulties. He asked the localities to promptly roll out measures to facilitate industry and trade production. He advised … [Read more...] about Central, Central Highlands localities strengthen industry-trade cooperation
Vietnam’s COVID-19 daily count hits 3-month high
Vietnam recorded nearly 3,300 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, the highest daily count in more than three months, with the Ministry of Health attributing the resurgence to the new fast-spreading Omicron sub-variants. The health ministry documented 3,295 COVID-19 patients on Thursday, raising the national tally to 11,376,571, with 10,049,215 recoveries and 43,103 deaths. The country has so far detected four Omicron sub-variants including BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.12.1, and BA.2.74, which are more transmissible than the original strain, according to the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the health ministry. At Hanoi’s COVID-19 treatment hospital, the number of patients has bounced back in the past week. The facility is providing treatment for about 35-37 patients, most of whom have underlying conditions. Nguyen Minh Tien, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Children’s Hospital, stated that COVID-19 pediatric patients at the infirmary have increased in recent days. … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s COVID-19 daily count hits 3-month high