By Sen  August 24, 2019 | 10:13 pm GMT+7 Le Van Tam Park in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, where an underground parking project has been terminated. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran. A long-delayed parking project in downtown Saigon has been cancelled, citing investor incompetency and contract violations. The HCMC Department of Transport on Friday officially informed the project investor, the Underground Space Investment Development Corporation, the termination of the BOT contract for the project in Le Van Tam Park, District 1. The decision was taken because the investor violated the contract’s terms and showed a lack of competency to carry out the project, the department said on the Ministry of Transport's news portal. The parking lot was meant to accommodate 2,000 motorbikes, 1,250 cars, and 28 buses and trucks in an area of 100,000 square meters. The project broke ground in 2010, but stalled soon after. Last month, the Department of Transport said the … [Read more...] about HCMC terminates $110 mln downtown parking project
PAN and MIC hold blood donation drive
The blood donation drive entitled “Drop of Red Blood – Gift of Love” attracted 150 voluntary blood donators from the three participating units with the majority of them being young military officers and defense workers. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the Military Insurance Corporation Nguyen Duc Tuan highlighted the significance of blood donation, saying that blood donation shows Vietnamese people’s love for their compatriots in need and the responsibility for their community. He also called on young military officers and defense workers to actively participate in blood donation drives to save patients. According to Captain Tran Duy Van, Secretary of the Youth Union chapter of the People’s Army Newspaper, the newspaper’s youth organization regularly launches blood donation drives, saying that all young reporters at the newspaper understand the significance of blood donation and want to contribute to promoting the great values … [Read more...] about PAN and MIC hold blood donation drive
PAN and MIC holds blood donation drive
The blood donation drive entitled “Drop of Red Blood – Gift of Love” attracted 150 voluntary blood donators from the three participating units with the majority of them being young military officers and defense workers. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the Military Insurance Corporation Nguyen Duc Tuan highlighted the significance of blood donation, saying that blood donation shows Vietnamese people’s love for their compatriots in need and the responsibility for their community. He also called on young military officers and defense workers to actively participate in blood donation drives to save patients. According to Captain Tran Duy Van, Secretary of the Youth Union chapter of the People’s Army Newspaper, the newspaper’s youth organization regularly launches blood donation drives, saying that all young reporters at the newspaper understand the significance of blood donation and want to contribute to promoting the great values … [Read more...] about PAN and MIC holds blood donation drive
Vietnamese, Australian PMs visit L2FH Rotation 2
During the visit, the two prime ministers expressed their admiration for the professional competence of the personnel of the second L2FH after visiting their field tents and witnessing the Vietnamese medical staff practicing real-life scenarios. Vietnamese Prime Minister and his Australian counterpart review the guards-of-honor. Both Vietnamese and Australian leaders also visited a pavilion showcasing the hospital’s environmentally-friendly products, including medical equipment and necessities which are in the hospital’s strategy to build the first “unit without plastic waste” model at the UN Mission in South Sudan. According to Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Vietnamese personnel of the second L2FH will use medical equipment and necessities made from bamboo, coconut shells and environmentally-friendly products instead of plastic products after being deployed to the UN … [Read more...] about Vietnamese, Australian PMs visit L2FH Rotation 2
People’s Army Newspaper holds blood donation drive
The blood donation drive entitled “Drop of Red Blood – Gift of Love” attracted 150 voluntary blood donators from the three participating units with the majority of them being young military officers and defense workers. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Director of the Military Insurance Corporation Nguyen Duc Tuan highlighted the significance of blood donation, saying that blood donation shows Vietnamese people’s love for their compatriots in need and the responsibility for their community. He also called on young military officers and defense workers to actively participate in blood donation drives to save patients. According to Captain Tran Duy Van, Secretary of the Youth Union chapter of the People’s Army Newspaper, the newspaper’s youth organization regularly launches blood donation drives, saying that all young reporters at the newspaper understand the significance of blood donation and want to contribute to promoting the great values … [Read more...] about People’s Army Newspaper holds blood donation drive
Singapore’s inflation falls to three-year low
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Singapore (VNA) - Singapore's core inflation fell to more than a three-year low in July and below economists' forecasts. According to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), core inflation, which strips out private road transport and accommodation costs, dropped to 0.8 percent in July, equivalent to that in April 2014. The easing in core inflation was due to a fall in prices of retail and other goods, a larger decline in electricity and gas costs and lower service inflation. The inflation figures were below what analysts polled by Bloomberg had forecast. They had tipped overall inflation to come in at 0.5 percent and core inflation to ease to 1.0 percent. Economists previously said that they expect Singapore's central bank to ease monetary policy at its semi-annual meeting in October, a move that seems increasingly likely, given the latest inflation figures and the darker economic … [Read more...] about Singapore’s inflation falls to three-year low
Seminar looks to promote use of environmentally friendly energy
Vientam is investing heavily in wind power projects.(Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Live and Learn Environmental Education in collaboration with the Vietnam Initiative for Energy Transition (VIETSE) organised a seminar to promote sustainable use of energy in Hanoi on August 24. A wide range of issues were on the table at the event, including Vietnam’s current energy structure, power prices and electricity development in the future. Experts also discussed solutions to developing a sustainable energy system, which is accessible to all. According to Deputy General Director of Vietnam Electricity (EVN) Vo Quang Lam, as demand for electricity in Vietnam increases over 10 percent each year, the country should have a rational plan to branch out its resources of energy like hydroelectricity, coal-fired thermoelectricity, and many other types of renewable energy. Besides, the Government is working to boost effective use of primary energy such as wind and solar in a bid to … [Read more...] about Seminar looks to promote use of environmentally friendly energy
World famous bubble artist Fan Yang returns to Vietnam
World-renowned bubble maestro Fan Yang will return to Vietnam on the occasion of the upcoming National Day (September 2) holiday. (Photo: fayfay.com) Hanoi (VNA) - World-renowned bubble maestro Fan Yang will return to Vietnam with unique performances to dazzle spectators on the occasion of the upcoming National Day (September 2) holiday. The Vietnamese-Canadian bubble maker has performed in Vietnam 19 times, delighting Vietnamese audiences with his colourful and entertaining shows. This year, he will give performances at a large-scale entertainment centre for children named ‘Bubble World’ that was built by himself and Dong Do Show Company at Times City Trade Centre in Hanoi. The shows are held at 10am, 3pm and 7:30pm every Friday, Sunday and Saturday, starting from August 23. The programme will be divided into two parts: the lively scenes for children and Fan Yang’s bubble world. - VNA … [Read more...] about World famous bubble artist Fan Yang returns to Vietnam
Thailand to roll out plastic bag-gobbling robots
A school in Bangkok has students swim among plastic bottles to create awareness of plastic waste in oceans (Photo: bangkokpost.com) Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is developing an AI robot to trap debris before it reaches the sea so as to prevent loss of marine life to plastic bags. The robots are expected to be launched by the end of this year. The prototype robot was unveiled on August 22 at a meeting of hundreds of local partners who are collaborating to protect marine resources in 22 coastal provinces. According to Cholanat Yanaranop, president of SCG Chemicals, the robot was the brainchild of last year’s “SCG-DMCR Litter Trap” project aimed at preventing discarded plastic bags entering the sea. Dubbed the SCG Smart Litter Trap 4.0, the prototype robot is 1.5 metres long and 1.2 metres high, and has the capacity to collect about five kilogrammes of plastic per trip. Powered by a solar panel, the internet … [Read more...] about Thailand to roll out plastic bag-gobbling robots
ASEAN Smart Cities Network 2019 conference held in Bangkok
At the event (Photo: nhandan) Bangkok (VNA) – The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) convened its 2019 conference in Bangkok, Thailand from August 22 – 24 with the aim of developing smart cities and setting standards for building smart urban areas in Southeast Asia. According to the National News Bureau of Thailand, Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai attended the opening ceremony on August 23 and delivered a special speech on becoming a network partner for sustainability. He said ASEAN is now guiding 26 cities under the ASCN into becoming smart cities, which will create sustainability, economic and social opportunities and investment. Thailand has three smart cities, namely Phuket, Sriracha and Bangkok, and is in the process of developing other areas into smart cities. This year, ASEAN received cooperation from the G20 countries in sharing information, transferring technology to solve smart city problems and disseminating various case studies on becoming a … [Read more...] about ASEAN Smart Cities Network 2019 conference held in Bangkok