Delegates plant trees for the prevention of desertification. (Photo: VNA)According to Pham Van Dien, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Administration of Forests, this year's theme “Land has true value. Invest in it” aims to help 186 convention member countries mark the day. The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification states that “By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world”. Therefore, the target has become a driving force for realizing the convention, contributing to fulfilling other SDGs, including minimization and mitigation of climate change consequences, preservation of biological diversification, restoration of ecology, ensuring of food and water security, and reduction of natural disasters and poverty. Land and soil degradation leading to desertification threatens … [Read more...] about Vietnam joins World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
Quang Ngai province facilitates fishing activities
Photo for illustration (Source: VGP)Accordingly, the province has re-structured the agriculture so that it will develop in a comprehensive and modern way, with a focus on reducing agricultural production and increasing forestry, fisheries and services. The fisheries sector alone saw strong growth, from over 30% in 2008 to over 37% in 2017. With over 40,000 fishermen, the province has established seven offshore fishing service cooperatives, 12 fishing trade unions and 306 united teams of fishermen. In realization of the Government’s Decree 67/ND-CP on some policies on the development of fisheries, the province is assisting in building ships and upgrading fishing vessels, as well as giving preferential tax policies and logistics services and making favourable conditions for fishermen. Statistics indicate that the provincial People’s Committee has decided to give assistance to fishermen in 38 periods with a capital of over VND1.14 trillion. At present, it is considering the … [Read more...] about Quang Ngai province facilitates fishing activities
Ceremony held to mark 30th anniversary of arriving Ukraine’s Odessa
Delegates and overseas Vietnamese people at the ceremony (Photo: vov.vn) Speaking at the event, Truong Van Hung, Deputy Chairman of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Odessa, and Head of the organizing board, recounted unforgettable memories when just arriving in Odessa, difficulties when the Soviet Union disbanded and the solidarity of the Vietnamese community to overcome challenges to have such current life. Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Anh Tuan congratulated overseas Vietnamese in Odessa on their achievements over the past 30 years, including contributions of former Vietnamese workers of leather and shoe factories and former overseas Vietnamese students in the 1980s. As a former overseas Vietnamese student in the Soviet Union, he also shared unforgettable sentiment when just arriving in the country. The ambassador wished the Vietnamese community to be always healthy, successful and contributing more to build Vietnam, Ukraine and the … [Read more...] about Ceremony held to mark 30th anniversary of arriving Ukraine’s Odessa
Paris builds permanent anti-terror fence around Eiffel Tower
(Photo: Reuters)The thick bulletproof glass walls and metal fences around the Eiffel Tower are designed to protect France’s most famous monument from terrorist attacks. Two graphic grids have been erected on the two other sides of the site and bollards against vehicle ramming attacks will be set up all around.To prevent vehicle attacks, 450 blocks will be placed in front of the glass walls as an added protection. Set to be completed in mid-July, the fences cost nearly USD40 million. They will replace temporary barriers that were installed around the Eiffel Tower in 2016. More than 240 people have died in terror attacks in France since 2015. The Eiffel Tower is a wrought iron lattice tower on the Champ de Mars in Paris, France. It is named after the engineer Gustave Eiffel, whose company designed and built the tower. Constructed from 1887 -1889 as the entrance to the 1889 World's Fair, it was initially criticized by some of … [Read more...] about Paris builds permanent anti-terror fence around Eiffel Tower
New Facebook advertisement policy may have missed the mark
After data leak scandals in the year’s first months, Facebook is trying its best to earn back its customers’ trust. Its latest policy aims to halt false and fraudulent advertisements. However, Facebook may have taken the wrong tack with the initiative. Facebook's new policy to halt advertisement has come into effect since June 12. Photo: 24h.com.vn Facebook’s new policy On June 12, Facebook’s policy to halt false and fraudulent advertisements came into effect. Accordingly, people can now send complaints after buying goods on the social networks. If the number of complaints about a firm is large enough, Facebook will halt the firm’s advertisements on its platform. In addition, Facebook will also halt online shopping websites and individuals which sell items of lower-than-advertised quality. The social network’s move is supposed to earn back users’ trust after a series of data leaks affecting 87 million users in March only, while the … [Read more...] about New Facebook advertisement policy may have missed the mark
Selling pressure drives market down
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Shares declined on Monday as securities and banking lost momentum on investors selling pressure rising. The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange dropped sharply 2.87 per cent to close at 987.34 points, breaking the 1000-point threshold. It had inched up 0.08 per cent on Friday. The HNX Index on the Hà Nội Stock Exchange lost 2.46 per cent to end at 113.05 points, reversing from its gain of 0.86 per cent on Friday. More than 222.8 million shares were traded on the two local exchanges, worth VNĐ5.3 trillion (US$234 million). The market breadth was negative as declining stocks outnumbered gaining ones by 312 to 140 while 288 other stocks remained unchanged. Massive sell-offs drowned 16 of the 20 sectors on the stock market. Key industries that saw share prices drop included banking-financial, energy, construction material and retail, data on vietstock.vn showed. Large-cap stocks were hit strongly by profit-taking … [Read more...] about Selling pressure drives market down
VAR penalty gives Sweden a narrow win over South Korea
A VAR-awarded penalty gave Sweden a narrow but deserved victory in their opening Group F match against a poor South Korea side in Nizhny Novgorod on Monday. VAR penalty gives Sweden a narrow win over South Korea, photo Johannes EISELE / AFP Veteran Swedish skipper Andreas Granqvist scored the only goal of the game from the spot after Viktor Claesson was upended by South Korean substitute Kim Min-woo Kim in the 62nd minute. Despite furious appeals, El Salvadorean referee Joel Aguilar, who had ironically been whistle-happy up until that point, intially waved away Swedish penalty claims. But after consulting the video, he pointed to the spot. It was the third VAR penalty awarded at these championships after France and Peru also benefitted from video referrals. The win was reward for Sweden's more attacking approach, but it was unsurprising the winner came from the penalty spot in a game between two sides who had only managed two goals between them in seven games heading into … [Read more...] about VAR penalty gives Sweden a narrow win over South Korea
Local companies embracing environment and the community
Many Vietnamese companies now actively define their business strategies as being linked to environmental protection and community contributions. 2018 is an important year for leading Vietnamese pharmaceutical company Traphaco in materializing its sustainable development strategy in the 2017-2020 period. Its business growth needs to be attached to environmental protection and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities, both of which have been the foundation if its success since establishment in 1972. Its Green Plan project has been one of the company’s most notable practices, launched in 2009 with the goal of producing materials made from herbs as well as helping local farmers eradicate hunger and reduce poverty. After ten years of research and development (R&D) and implementation, Traphaco possesses nearly 36,000 ha of medicinal plants with ten precious herbs that meet GACP (Good Agricultural and Collection Practices) WHO standards. Its land holding covers 28 … [Read more...] about Local companies embracing environment and the community
French artist sees beauty in nature
A painting by French artist Karine Guillermin at her solo exhibition, Upopo A Hana Spirit (Hồn, Trong Thanh của những loài hoa), at Vin Gallery in HCM City. Photo courtesy of the organiser Viet Nam News HCM CITY— French artist Karine Guillermin’s impressions of nature are now on display in a solo exhibition at HCM City’s Vin Gallery in District 2. The exhibition Upopo A Hana Spirit (Hồn, Trong Thanh của những loài hoa) contains paintings, ceramic works and installations featuring the beauty of the natural world. Guillermin, who is from Villeurbanne, France, uses her art to show where hope and reality intersect. Her works depict the beauty and magic in nature’s imperfections. Some of the paintings portray the spirit of the sound of flowers, while ceramic works in white and yellow are made of different shapes. … [Read more...] about French artist sees beauty in nature
Japanese violists to perform in Danang next week
Japanese violists to perform in Danang next weekThe Saigon Times Daily Japanese violists Masakazu Saito, Shunichiro Sato, Kumiko Nakagawa and Tetsuya Osawa (left to right) will perform in Danang on June 26 and 27 - PHOTO: COURTESY OF THE ORGANIZER Japanese violists Masakazu Saito, Shunichiro Sato, Kumiko Nakagawa and Tetsuya Osawa will perform in the central city of Danang on June 26 and 27 as part of activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan, the Vietnam News Agency reports. Usuda Reiko, a member of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association in Kawasaki, said the quartet will perform at Nguyen Hien Dinh Theater from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on June 26, and at the Municipal Library from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on June 27. The Japanese artists will also organize a live show at the city’s oncology center from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on June 27, Reiko said. The not-for-profit concert has been endorsed by the Japanese Embassy, the Danang … [Read more...] about Japanese violists to perform in Danang next week