File photo of White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. (Olivier Douliery/AFP) Outgoing White House chief John Kelly said in an interview published on Sunday (Dec 30) that he had "nothing but compassion" for undocumented migrants crossing into the US, and undercut President Donald Trump's claims to be building a "wall" at the Mexico border. As a partial government shutdown entered a ninth day due to an impasse over Trump's demands for funding the US-Mexico border barrier, the president's chief of staff told the Los Angeles Times: "To be honest, it's not a wall." "The president still says 'wall.' Oftentimes frankly he'll say 'barrier' or 'fencing,' now he's tended toward steel slats," Kelly said. "But we left a solid concrete wall early on in the administration, when we asked people what they needed and where they needed it," he added. Building a solid "wall" along the 3,200-kilometre US-Mexico frontier was a central plank of Trump's 2016 election campaign, and he has tweeted about it … [Read more...] about Trump not building a “wall”: White House chief
Managers talking bad about employees
Smart communities could be the smartest way forward
Trinh Thanh Thuy, Editor in Chief of Viet Nam News Viet Nam News While talks about The Fourth Industrial Revolution, smart cities and digital connection become trendy, Trinh Thanh Thuy suggests that we should make our existing communities smart first to ensure no one is left behind. People are talking industry 4.0 and 5.0, and of high flying, but in these efforts to build a smart digital environment a serious lack of attention is being paid to those on the ground, or more accurately, lack of orientation and measures for improving the life of those classified as poor and destitute. Even last week with the adoption of the ASEAN Smart Cities Framework by ASEAN leaders in Singapore, although it is quite comprehensive with beautiful concepts and promised “that no one is left behind”, the focus is mainly on the “urban centres”. Meanwhile at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in Papua New Guinea with the theme … [Read more...] about Smart communities could be the smartest way forward
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 16/10
Vietnam’s Macroeconomic Policies-Third Quarter 2018 under scrutiny HCM City Securities Corp tops derivatives market share HCM City Securities Corporation (HSC) had the biggest market share on the derivatives market in the third quarter of 2018, according to the Ha Noi Stock Exchange. Of the 11 securities companies that are allowed to operate in the derivatives market, HSC held a 25.35 per cent market share. HSC was followed by VNDirect Securities JSC (23.98 per cent), MB Securities JSC (15.88 per cent) and Saigon Securities Inc (15.40 per cent). Other securities firms with less than 10 per cent market share included VPBank Securities JSC (9.87 per cent), BIDV Securities JSC (4.65 per cent) and Viet Capital Securities Co (2.84 per cent). The three new securities companies whose operation on the derivatives market had been accepted earlier by the HNX were Viet Dragon Securities JSC, KIS Vietnam Securities Co and Vietcombank Securities Co Ltd. Those three … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 16/10
Speaker inspires and motivates Vietnamese women worldwide
Viet Nam News Đặng Kim Phượng has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in training and coaching teams, helping employees to improve their learning, working and soft skills. She is also a popular guest speaker and trainer at career orientation workshops, love-relationship counselling seminars and law-of-attraction trainings. Currently, she focuses on her work as the founder and director of Master Phuong Company, which trades fengshui stones and healing crystals. Phượng is a well-known public speaker, trainer and life coach who inspires and motivates Vietnamese women worldwide. Inner Sanctum: How did you become an inspirational speaker worldwide? I think it is destiny. Everything happens in life because of predestined affinity. I graduated from York St John University (the UK) and the Glion Institute of Higher Education (Switzerland). I have 10 years’ experience working in the field of hospitality at companies at home and abroad. … [Read more...] about Speaker inspires and motivates Vietnamese women worldwide
Social News 15/8
Medical programme provides free digestion checkup and surgery in Đức Giang Hospital Prof. Leroy (centre) trains doctors of Đức Giang General Hospital on minimally invasive surgery. Đức Giang General Hospital launched a medical programme to provide free checkups, consultation and endoscopy surgery to patients with digestion diseases on Monday in Hà Nội. Prof. Joel Leroy, a leading French expert in digestion endoscopy, is participating in the programme. He was the first surgeon to perform colorectal surgery without scarring the patient’s abdominal wall. Prof. Leroy will examine and perform surgeries on patients with dangerous digestion cancers, with all medical service expenses supported by the Hà Nội People’s Committee and Đức Giang Hospital with technical support of medical firm Olympus Company. The Frenchman also taught the latest techniques in digestion endoscopy, especially minimally invasive … [Read more...] about Social News 15/8
Government News 27/7
NA Vice Chairman wraps up US visit NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty (R) meets US friends who have supported Vietnam in its past struggle for national liberation and current nation building cause The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) will continue providing support for Vietnam’s overseas representative offices, affirmed NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty while talking to Vietnamese officials who are working in New York. Ty asked Vietnamese representative offices to update and study the host country’s commercial policies to submit appropriate response to the legislature. He met officials of the Vietnamese permanent mission to the United Nations and Vietnam’s representative offices, as well as correspondents of Vietnam News Agency and Vietnam Television in New York during his working visit to the city from July 26-27. Meeting several US friends, Ty recalled important milestones in the relations between Vietnam and the US. US friends, in turn, made proposals helping Vietnam carry … [Read more...] about Government News 27/7
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 27/7
PV Gas posts higher-than-expected H1 results PV Gas reported better-than-expected business results for the first six months of the year.Total revenue reached over VND37 trillion (US$1.6 billion) while net profit was VND5.32 trillion ($231.4 million), up 12 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively, against the same period last year.With these results, the company has completed 66 per cent of its revenue target and 83 per cent of its profit target set for the whole year.The operating profit margin, which measures how efficiently a company is at generating profits from its revenue, reached 14 per cent.The company paid VND2.53 trillion to the State budget, equivalent to 87 per cent of its yearly plan and up 21 per cent year-on-year.Up until June, total assets hit nearly VND66.2 trillion and owner’s equity reached VND45.8 trillion.In the latter half of this year, GAS expected global oil prices to remain high compared to its plan, which will support the company’s … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 27/7
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 21/4
Centres aim to promote innovative startupsAt the opening ceremonyThe Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) inaugurated an innovative start-up centre in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 17. Vietnamese businesses to explore opportunities in MalaysiaLogistics firms asked to strengthen connectivityBusinesses run by disabled people seek ways to growSamsung helps Vietnam train experts in support industryHDBank to pay 35 per cent dividend Sacombank ATMs offer free overseas remittance to customers SAM Holdings to focus on financial investment Motorcycle sales in first quarter grow slightlyEcopark shines at national property awards 2018Vietbank targets $13.1m in gross profit The Viet Nam Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Vietbank) targets pre-tax profits of VND300 billion (US$13.1 million) this year and plans to increase its charter capital by over VND1 trillion ($43.8 million). According … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 21/4
Social News
Green trees neglected in Ho Chi Minh CityWhile some of the city’s trees have become common dumping grounds for local garbage, others are suffocating from cement poured over their roots.According to the observation of Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters, trees along D2 Street in Binh Thanh District have had their roots buried under a layer of cement, making it difficult for the plants to be taken care of or watered.“They are still growing just fine. I protect these trees from being chopped down,” a resident explained.Several trees on the promenades of Hoa Hao Streets in District 11 have also been subjected to such neglectful treatment.“The concrete surrounding their roots has been damaged, causing soil to be washed into our houses,” a local said.“Since authorities have been unable to deal with the problem, we decided to fix it ourselves,” he continued.Meanwhile, green trees on a section of Dien Bien Phu Street in Binh Thanh District have become … [Read more...] about Social News
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/1
Vingroup, T&T to develop urban railway projects in HanoiThe government of Hanoi City has proposed the Prime Minister allow Vingroup and T&T Group to develop three urban railway projects which the city plans to complete by 2025, Tuoi Tre newspaper reports.The two domestic investors will use their capital to make pre-feasibility studies for these projects.When the projects were announced, many investors expressed interest in Hanoi. However, only Vingroup and T&T Group have registered to take part.Both of them proposed implementing the projects in the build-transfer (BT) format. Particularly, Vingroup registered to build the 38.4-kilometer metro line No. 5 which connects Van Cao and Hoa Lac and metro line No. 2 from Tran Hung Dao to Thuong Dinh with a length of 5.9 kilometers. Meanwhile, T&T Group is keen on metro line No. 4 connecting Me Linh, Sai Dong and Lien Ha, and measuring 54 kilometers in length.The two investors said they would use their own finances to study the … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/1