Reform government

Inflation in Singapore expected to peak in Q4. (Photo: AFP/VNA) Singapore (VNA) - Inflation in Singapore is expected to peak in the next two to four months and will start to ease thereafter, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong has said. In an interview granted to Bloomberg, Wong said inflation rates here may very well settle at a higher rate given the geopolitical environment, supply chain issues and how economies are transitioning towards becoming more sustainable. He added that the extent of this easing towards the year end and where the new inflation rates will stabilise at are big uncertainties. Wong noted that they are not likely to return to the rates Singapore had been used to over the last decade or so, as zero to 1% inflation was a historical anomaly and never used to be so low. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has already tightened monetary policy four times in the last nine months to dampen inflation, Wong said, adding … [Read more...] about Inflation in Singapore expected to peak in Q4: official

Illustrative image (Photo: Geonoise Asia) Bangkok (VNA) – The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) may procure 3,200 electric buses to phase out fossil-fueled buses from its fleet in three years, said Deputy Permanent Secretary for Transport Sorapong Paitoonphong. The plan is part of BMTA’s revised business rehabilitation plan, which will be sent to the Thai Government for approval in about two months, he added. The development of electric vehicle industry is an important part of the Thai Government’s efforts to restructure the economy with focus on hi-tech industry, biological-circular-green economic model, health care and tourism. Last month, the Thai Government approved two tax incentives to promote the use of electric vehicles and help Thailand become a major manufacturer of electric vehicles in the world./. VNA … [Read more...] about Thailand plans to use entirely electric buses in Bangkok in three years

At the meeting. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Hanoi is seeking experience from Singapore in urban governance , social housing development and enhancing capacity for cadres, Chairman of municipal People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh has said. Referring to the municipal resolution on the city’s master planning for 2030, with a vision to 2045, the Hanoi official asked Singapore to provide support in terms of experts in this regard. For his part, the ambassador said Singapore always attaches great importance to developing the partnership with Vietnam, affirming that he will try his best to strengthen the relationship between Hanoi and Singapore. VNA … [Read more...] about Hanoi seeks cooperation with Singapore in urban management, social housing development

Forest fires supercharged by climate change are burning twice as much global tree cover as 20 years ago, according to a data Wednesday showing the equivalent of 16 football pitches are now lost every minute. The research showed in unprecedented detail how wildfires have progressed over the past two decades, with the blazes claiming an estimated three more million hectares each year -- an area the size of Belgium -- compared with 2001. The study showed that the majority of tree cover loss is occurring in the boreal forests that blanket much of Russia, Canada and Alaska, which are among the largest storers of carbon on Earth. Researchers from the University of Maryland used satellite imagery to map areas of tree cover lost, including that burned by what are known as stand-replacing forest fires. These are fires that kill all or most of the forest's canopy and which cause long-term changes to forest structure and soil chemistry. The data showed 2021 to be one of the worst years … [Read more...] about Climate change driving unprecedented forest fire loss

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Deputy Defense Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, presented a Government proposal saying the bill is set to create a framework for the prevention and response to disasters and incidents, while protecting people’s assets and health. It also aims to deal with loopholes in the legal system, ensuring civil defense, he added. With seven chapters and 75 articles, the document focuses on six policies regarding the evaluation of disaster and incident risks in civil defense, assignment in State management and decentralization in the organization of prevention and response activities, civilian protection measures, the organizational revamp of National Civil Defense Steering Committee, big data application, and emergencies in civil defense. The Government is seeking the N.A.'s opinions on whether to stipulate emergencies in civil defense. The N.A. Standing Committee basically agreed on the need for a law on … [Read more...] about N.A. Standing Committee scrutinizes draft Law on Civil Defense

The approval of Vietnam’s circular economy development plan, announced in June, aims to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 15 per cent of GDP by 2030 (as compared to 2014). The commitment at COP26 by Vietnam to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is considered the main call for investment into green technologies and friendly-environmental projects, as well as approval of plans such as the aforementioned circular economy one. These messages have sent a strong signal regarding the country’s direction towards low-carbon, green development, and a circular economy, and could be a new driving force for Vietnam’s sustainable socioeconomic development, helping to improve its competitiveness and foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country. While governments have committed to lowering CO2, companies are also following suit for the good of the planet, Photo: Shutterstock As a result, numerous groups have made decisions in terms of investment and other operations … [Read more...] about Green standards top policies for fresh foreign ventures