But few referrals to the anti-slavery agency triggered investigations into labour abuse at sites such as car washes and farms, officials said on Wednesday. The hotline identified more than 7,100 potential victims and about 1,850 modern slavery cases last year - both up by almost half on 2017 - said Unseen, the charity that runs the service. Labour abuse was the main form of exploitation, accounting for 54 percent of cases and three-quarters of victims recorded by the hotline, which receives calls from the public, police, activists, healthcare professionals and modern slaves directly. Car washes, beauty and spa facilities, construction sites, hospitality and agriculture were the main hives of suspected modern slavery for callers to the helpline, according to Unseen. Yet only about 10 of 320 possible labour abuse cases across these five sectors referred by Unseen to Britain's anti-slavery agency led to investigations - with one resulting in arrest - found data given exclusively to the … [Read more...] about UK anti-slavery hotline uncovers more cases, but triggers few probes
Viet Nam, China trade ties continue to develop
Officers of Coc Nam Customs Department in Lang Son Province, which shares a border with China, perform a check on imported products. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hung Economic and trade relations between Viet Nam and China have been developing in a positive direction, as shown by the continuous increase of bilateral trade turnover between the two countries. Viet Nam is fast becoming an attractive investment destination for Chinese enterprises. According to the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, China invested about US$1.6 billion in Viet Nam in the first fourth months of this year, making it the country’s fourth largest source of foreign investment. Several large projects were funded by Chinese investors in the period including a tire manufacturing project with total registered capital of $280 million in the southern province of Tay Ninh and another tire project of Advance Tire (Vietnam) Co. Ltd with registered capital of $214.4 million in … [Read more...] about Viet Nam, China trade ties continue to develop
North Korea’s Kim in Russia for first talks with Putin
Kim is seeking support in Pyongyang's nuclear deadlock with the U.S. His armoured train rolled in to the Tsarist-era station in Russia's Pacific port city of Vladivostok, where the summit will take place on Thursday. Wearing a long black coat and fedora, Kim stepped out onto a red carpet on the station platform before making his way outside where he was received by an honour guard and military band. His limousine drove off after the ceremony, bodyguards in suits running alongside. The talks, only confirmed at the last minute, will be Kim's first face-to-face meeting with another head of state since returning from his Hanoi summit with U.S. President Donald Trump, which broke down in February without a deal on the North's nuclear arsenal. "I hope this visit will be successful and useful," Kim told Russian television in the border town of Khasan, where women in folk costumes welcomed him with bread and salt in a traditional greeting. "I hope that during the talks... I will be able to … [Read more...] about North Korea’s Kim in Russia for first talks with Putin
PM asks to prevent land price fever, property bubbles
In his direction No. 11/CT-TTg on measures for a “healthy real estate market”, the PM said the property market has potential risk as housing structure is irrational with more deluxe apartment blocks and shortage of social houses and low –priced houses for a majority of residents. Additionally, housing prices are higher than residents’ income and local administrators are unable to call for social contribution to build the latter houses for most residents. Subsequently, the PM ordered to have a comprehensive inspection of land planning and hiring land in giant industrial parks and groups of industrial parks, urban development projects, residential quarters and resorts to detect violations. Furthermore, relevant agencies should establish financial institutions to call for social contributions for the real estate market and property speculation prevention. Municipal and provincial people’s committees were asked to keep an eye on housing market and impose … [Read more...] about PM asks to prevent land price fever, property bubbles
Google’s free wi-fi comes to Vietnam
By Bao Lam  April 25, 2019 | 07:43 am GMT+7 Free fast wi-fi internet connection provided by Google seen at a railway station in India. Photo by Shutterstock/Indo French kanags Google's global free wi-fi initiative Google Station has come to Vietnam and is currently available at several universities in Hanoi, Da Nang and HCMC. Nguyen Van Tang, a student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education, said he has been using it since Tuesday. "The Internet quality is alright. I can watch YouTube, access websites and social media at normal speed." To use "FreeGoogleStation – Swifi" in Vietnam, users will have to watch an advertisement to get Internet access for one hour. A Google executive confirmed the tech giant is testing its Google Station in Vietnam but declined to comment further, saying the company would make an official announcement later. Vietnam is the fifth Asian country to get the free wi-fi after India, Indonesia, Thailand, and the … [Read more...] about Google’s free wi-fi comes to Vietnam
ASEAN, South Korea to enhance culture exchange
BTS is the first South Korean band to top the US Billboard charts. It is also the most popular artist in many ASEAN countries. — AFP Photo SEOUL — South Korea’s popularity is on the rise, not just in ASEAN countries, but around the globe. K-pop songs top the charts not only in Asia but also in America and the United Kingdom, making BTS the first Korean band to ever have a UK number one. But it’s not just music that’s helping improve South Korea. “The Korean Wave” refers to the global popularity of South Korea's cultural economy exporting pop culture, entertainment, music, TV dramas and movies. The phenomenon is consumed all over the world. ASEAN region, in particular, is one of the largest consumption markets South Korean dramas and K-pop (South Korean pop music). The export of South Korean music and broadcast content to ASEAN had totalled USS$86 million in 2016. ASEAN countries also are the second largest in … [Read more...] about ASEAN, South Korea to enhance culture exchange
PM: Vietnam confidently steps forward on path of int’l integration
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has stated that from the initial stage of international economic integration, Vietnam has achieved many achievements and confidently headed forward on the path of international integration, as concretized in the Politburo’s Resolution No. 22 (April 2013) with the connotation of proactive and comprehensive integration across three pillars: politics-defense-security, economy, and science-education-culture-society. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event Government leader made the statement while presiding over a national videoconference on international integration, themed “Strengthening international integration in a proactive, creative and effective manner for rapid and sustainable development”, in Hanoi on April 23. In his opening remarks, PM Phuc hailed the event as being of special importance in the context of fluctuations in both the domestic and international situations, emphasizing that international integration is a big and … [Read more...] about PM: Vietnam confidently steps forward on path of int’l integration
5.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Indonesia
At the scene (Photo: VNA) Jakarta (VNA) - A 5.8-magnitude earthquake hit an area, about 34km southwest of Daruba in Indonesia's North Maluku province, on April 24, according to the Manado City Geophysics Station Sandy. The quake occurred at a depth of 78 kilometres. There were no immediate reports of any loss of life or damage to property. Earlier the day, a quake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale shook the area, about 31km southwest of Daruba at a depth of 10km. Indonesia, one of the most disaster-prone nations on earth, straddles the Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and a large portion of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. In 2004, a big earthquake off the northern Indonesian island of Sumatra triggered a tsunami across the Indian Ocean, killing 220,000 people in 13 countries, including more than 168,000 in Indonesia.-VNA … [Read more...] about 5.8-magnitude earthquake shakes Indonesia
ABAC backs economic integration in Asia-Pacific
A corner of Jakarta, Indonesia (Photo: Bloomberg) Jakarta (VNA) – A session focusing on private enterprises and business spirit was held in Jakarta capital city of Indonesia on April 24, within the framework of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business Advisory Council (ABAC) II Meeting. The main agenda of the session was to encourage economic integration in the Asia-Pacific. It discussed cooperation amid complicated developments of the global economy, as well as recommendations of ABAC which will be submitted to leaders of the economies which are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum later this year. Speaking at the opening session, President of ABAC Indonesia Anindya N Bakrie stressed that the forum will benefit participating economies under various forms of cooperation, in both trade and investment. He added that Indonesia boasts a huge opportunity for the country’s development, by taking advantage of the role of digital economy … [Read more...] about ABAC backs economic integration in Asia-Pacific
Photos depict cultural heritages of Da Nang city
Visitors to the photo exhibition on cultural heritages of Da Nang (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) – Tangible and intangible cultural heritages of the central city of Da Nang are being introduced to the public at a photo exhibition opened on April 24. The exhibition showcases 100 photos selected from a contest in 2018. They capture the quintessence of historical, cultural and architectural relics of Da Nang; the city’s traditional festivals, customs and craft villages; as well as the daily life of local residents. The city’s efforts to conserve, restore and uphold the values of those heritages are also reflected through the photos. Bui Van Tieng, Chairman of the Da Nang Union of Literature and Arts Associations, said the display is an occasion for locals and visitors to understand more about local cultural heritages, thus encouraging the public to join hands in upholding traditional cultural values. Da Nang is currently home to two special national relics, 17 national … [Read more...] about Photos depict cultural heritages of Da Nang city