Strong case

A series of strong earthquakes rocked southern Iran on Saturday, killing at least five people and causing damage to dozens of buildings, state media reported. A couple sits in the rubble after earthquakes struck the village of Sayeh Khosh in Iran's southern Hormozgan province Amir HOSSEIN TALEBI ISNA/AFP The quakes, including two of magnitude 6.0, struck west of the major port city of Bandar Abbas in Hormozgan province, the US Geological Survey said. The first rattled an area north of the town of Dezhgan shortly after 2:00 am (2130 GMT), before a 5.7 tremor hit two hours later followed quickly by the second 6.0 magnitude quake, said the USGS. Hormozgan governor Mehdi Dousti said five people were killed, as cited by the official news agency IRNA. Dousti said most of the damage occurred in the village of Sayeh Khosh, close to the epicentre. State television said 49 people were injured and showed video footage of residential buildings reduced to rubble … [Read more...] about Strong quakes kill five in southern Iran

Roads, airports, and seaports are being looked at by overseas companies in terms of investment feasibility, Photo: Shutterstock On June 16, Hoang Gia Khanh, deputy general director of state-owned railway giant Vietnam Railways (VNR), received a delegation of Austrian businesses at its headquarters who introduced new products and technology solutions aiming to seek opportunities in the local industry. The commercial counsellor of the Austrian Embassy in Hanoi said that businesses expect to intensify cooperation with VNR, specifically those in funding and upgrading projects, as well as machinery upgrading and maintenance. He added that besides official development assistance, the Austrian government also has other financial tools that can help VNR access financial resources and technologies. According to Khanh, investment demand for the industry’s infrastructure development is huge and he highly appreciates the products and technology of groups like Plasser & Theurer and … [Read more...] about Reopening increases foreign interest in transport upgrade

In any case, public debt will not hit the limit of 65 per cent of GDP, said the Ministry of Finance Vietnam’s real GDP grew 5.03 per cent on-year in the first quarter of 2022, extending the 5.22 per cent pace in the last quarter of 2021 as the services sector rebounded after more parts of its economy were reopened with the relaxation of mobility and distance restrictions. The manufacturing sector continued to take the lead, and most significantly, the overall services sector expanded 4.58 per cent on-year, from 1.22 per cent in the previous quarter and 3.62 per cent in the first quarter of last year. It was clear that service activities were able to benefit from the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions imposed during the second half of last year. Recent data suggests that Vietnam’s underlying growth momentum remained intact in the second quarter of this year. The manufacturing sector continued to power on, registering a 9.24 per cent on-year gain in the first five months, from … [Read more...] about Vietnam steady but external risks weigh

Mumbai civic chief IS Chahal (L) receives Vice Chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Committee Phan Thi Thang (R). (Photo: SGGP) The visit was attended by Vice Chairman of the People’s Council of HCMC Nguyen Van Dung, representatives of the city’s department and Consul General of Vietnam to Mumbai Hoang Tung. Speaking at the meeting, Mumbai civic chief IS Chahal said that the Covid-19 pandemic has basically been controlled in the city where coronavirus fatality accounted for 0.8 percent of the total number of confirmed cases thanks to the effectiveness of epidemic prevention and control measures, creating a strong socio-economic recovery. At the working session between leaders of HCMC and India's Mumbai Vice Chairwoman of the HCMC People’s Committee Phan Thi Thang emphasized the traditional good relationships between Vietnam and India that were founded by two outstanding leaders of the two nations, President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister J. Nehru, beginning in the 1950s. … [Read more...] about HCMC, Mumbai enhance cooperation, open new direct flights

Ngụy Thị Khanh, former head of NGO GreenID and known for advocating the reduction of coal-fired power in Vietnam, was handed a prison sentence for economic crimes, not her environmental activism, spokesperson for the foreign ministry Lê Thị Thu Hằng said on Thursday. Ngụy Thị Khanh, director of Vietnam’s Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID), has been arrested for tax fraud. — Photo courtesy of Hanoi Police During the regular press briefing held in Hanoi, Hằng said that on June 17, the People's Court of Hanoi opened a first-instance trial and had subsequently sentenced the 46-year-old Ngụy Thị Khanh to 24 months in prison for tax evasion under Article 200 of the Penal Code. She was arrested earlier in February by the Hanoi's police. The investigation and trial process were conducted in accordance with the provisions of law, Hằng said, adding that the trial was held in public and the defendant’s rights were fully guaranteed as prescribed by … [Read more...] about Environmentalist prosecuted for tax evasion, not her activism: Foreign ministry

Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Spokeswoman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang provided more information about a woman recently found guilty of tax evasion, and rejected rumours she was penalised for climate change activities. Speaking at the ministry’s regular press conference, Hang said the Hanoi People’s Court on June 17 held the first-instance trial and sentenced Nguy Thi Khanh to 24 months in prison for tax evasion under Article 200 of the Penal Code. The investigation and hearing was carried out in line with law, the trial was held publicly, and the defendant had all her rights guaranteed in accordance with law, the spokeswoman noted. “Vietnam adamantly fights against and strictly deals with law violations in accordance with legal regulations. All citizens are equal before the law,” she stressed, adding that Vietnam has carried out communications and education measures to gradually … [Read more...] about Climate activist prosecuted for tax evasion pleads guilty: spokeswoman