ASEAN NOW News

 

Rain will persist on Wednesday, July 21, due to the southwest monsoon enhanced by Typhoon Fabian (In-fa) and Severe Tropical Storm Cempaka.

 

Fabian is the Philippines' sixth tropical cyclone for 2021 and the second for July.

 

Typhoon Fabian slightly intensified before dawn on Wednesday, July 21, while the enhanced southwest monsoon continued to affect the Philippines.

 

Fabian now has maximum sustained winds of 130 kilometers per hour from the previous 120 km/h and gustiness of up to 160 km/h from the previous 150 km/h, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in its 5 am bulletin on Wednesday.

 

The typhoon was last spotted 740 kilometers east northeast of Itbayat, Batanes, moving west southwest at only 10 km/h, slightly slower than its previous speed of 15 km/h.

 

Fabian will not make landfall in the Philippines, but PAGASA is not ruling out the possibility of raising Signal No. 1 in Batanes and Babuyan Islands.

 

The state weather bureau said strong winds or higher extend outwards up to 650 kilometers from the center of the typhoon.

 

Fabian and Cempaka – which had weakened from a typhoon into a severe tropical storm on Tuesday evening, July 20 – are still enhancing the southwest monsoon as well.

 

Cempaka is outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR), at 1,030 kilometers west of extreme Northern Luzon or in the vicinity of Yangjiang, Guangdong, China.

 

PAGASA warned of monsoon rain in the areas below on Wednesday.

·         Metro Manila

·         Ilocos Region

·         Cordillera Administrative Region

·         Batanes

·         Babuyan Islands

·         Zambales

·         Bataan

·         Tarlac

·         Pampanga

·         Bulacan

·         Cavite

·         Batangas

·         Occidental Mindoro

·         northern part of Palawan (including Calamian and Kalayaan Islands)

·          

The rest of Luzon as well as Western Visayas are also expected to have scattered rain and thunderstorms on Wednesday, while the rest of the country may see rain showers or thunderstorms.

 

Due to the enhanced southwest monsoon and Fabian, coastal waters in some areas will be risky for small vessels, with rough to very rough seas (waves 2.5 to 4.5 meters high).

 

PROJECTED PATH. Forecast track of Typhoon Fabian (In-fa) as of July 21, 2021, 5 am.

PAGASA

 

PAGASA expects Fabian to move west southwest until Thursday morning, July 22; west for the rest of Thursday until Friday morning, July 23; then northwest for the rest of Friday until the end of the forecast period.

 

On Thursday evening, Fabian is seen to reach its peak intensity of 155 km/h.

 

The typhoon could pass close to or make landfall in Japan's Yaeyama, Miyako, and Senkaku Islands on Friday before leaving PAR on Saturday morning, July 24.

 

 

 

 

On July 15, the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens welcomed an addition to its 1,000-member fauna family: a new baby giraffe.

 

Meet Baby Giraffe, the latest member of the Saigon Zoo crew. Photo via Người Lao Động

 

The young calf, a girl, was delivered healthy and safely on Thursday 15th July after 15 months of gestation.

 

Freshly out of her mother’s womb, the calf already weighed about 50 kilograms and stood at an impressive height of 1.6 meters.

 

The birth of this little giraffe came under special circumstances, as almost all of Ho Chi Minh City has been shut down to combat the spread of COVID-19.

 

Zoo Shut since June

 

The Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens has also stopped accepting guests since the beginning of June to comply with social distancing rules.

 

 

The arrival of a new life during this pessimistic time thus entails great significance and offers a beacon of hope for the zoo and the community at large.

 

According to the Saigoneer, to celebrate the occasion, the zoo has invited young members of the public to name the giant youngling.

 

“Our baby giraffe was born when the city was undergoing special circumstances, so we hope that she will have an equally unique and meaningful name,” said Trương Ngọc Đăng, head of the technical department of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens.

 

Many want to name this baby

 

The announcement of the naming event has attracted the attention of many Vietnamese netizens, who, with all their wit and genius, contributed a torrent of everything from touching wishes to randomized syllables.

 

Among the 400 submissions under the announcement, many are unsurprisingly related to COVID-19 due to the timing of the giraffe’s birth.

 

Meanwhile, some went the extra mile to suggest profound names with even detailed semantic explanations.

 

Pandemic has created many challenges

 

A representative of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens also said that the pandemic has brought an onslaught of challenges to animal preservation efforts at the center.

 

In accordance with the government's latest directive, that stated all operating businesses and organizations must provide on-site accommodation for staff, staff veterinarians and technicians are now restricted in number, and are not allowed to leave as long as lockdown measures are in place.

 

However, the team of zookeepers are determined to withstand these difficulties and "take good care of the species that are being looked after and kept safe here," said one board member.

 

Zoo’s and attractions all over the world have been struggling to cope with lack of funds, as they are forced to close.

 

One enterprising family in Thailand are even asking the public to donate US$25 to pay for a truck load of food to feed their elephants for just one day.

 

With the zoo team’s wholehearted resoluteness along with the community’s support, both the young giraffe and Saigon will grow healthy, and eventually everyone will be able hurry back to the Zoo after the pandemic to see this new arrival.

 

 

 

 

The Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) said on July 20 that it will organize the first container train transporting goods from the nation to Belgium, with the journey set to depart from Yen Vien station and arriving at Liege in Belgium.

 

Vietnam Railways launches the first freight train service from Vietnam to Belgium. (Photo: VNA)

 

According to a report by Vietnam Times, following their arrival in Belgium, the containers will subsequently be transported by road to their final destination of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

 

VNR said the train carried 23 containers with such goods as textile, leather, and footwear.

 

During its journey, the train will stop at Zhenzhou city of China’s Henan province and connect to the Asia-Europe train to reach its destination, according to VNA.

 

This marks the first container train operated by Railway Transport and Trading Joint Stock Company (Ratraco) in coordination with shipping and forwarding businesses based in other countries.

 

The successful organization of the container train from the nation to Belgium will serve to open rail transport links that go deeper into Europe, in addition to the existing routes to Germany and Poland, VOV said.

 

Currently, VNR is providing freight train services between Vietnam and China and transiting to Russia, Europe, ASEAN, and Central Asian countries. The firm provides full logistics services to customers.

 

Nguyen Hoang Thanh, deputy director-general of Ratraco, said that the successful organization of the train from Vietnam to Belgium will open rail transport routes going deeper into Europe, in addition to the existing ones to Germany and Poland.

 

25 Days to final destination

 

“Currently, Ratraco and its European partner plan to organize eight trips per month departing from Vietnam,” Thanh said, adding that the total estimated time for the entire journey is 25 to 27 days.

 

The first container train runs directly from Vietnam to Belgium. (Photo: Ratraco)

 

It is expected that the second train will depart from Yen Vien station on July 27 carrying electronic products and the third one on August 3, he said.

 

In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, international maritime transport is facing difficulties, rail service is being sought by many customers to transport goods from Vietnam to China and from there on to Europe.

 

With the advantage of an efficient international rail connection system and trains arriving at destination stations on time with reasonable costs, intermodal rail transport is thriving.

 

Vietnam first started to have diplomatic relations with Belgium back in 1973.

 

 

Users of 3G, 4G networks are among those expected to be affected by the Asia America Gateway's problem. File Photo.

 

Vietnam's internet connection via the Asia America Gateway (AAG) undersea cable broke down again, only two days after being fixed.

 

A representative of a network service provider in Vietnam said a fault had been detected Monday at the SH1 branch of the Asia America Gateway (AAG).

 

The fault was at an undersea optical fiber cable that lies around 107 kilometers off beach town Vung Tau in southern Vietnam.

 

The problem may affect about 15 percent of the total connection capacity from Vietnam to international destinations, especially Singapore and Hong Kong.

 

Services with large traffic like Facebook and Gmail are most affected.

 

According to Vietnam Internet Association, many domestic providers still rely on the AAG cable for their international Internet connection traffic, while the issue would affect users of 3G, 4G networks along with international social network users.

 

On June 22, the AAG encountered a problem on the S1H branch, which took until July 2 to be fixed.

 

Yet during reparations, new errors had been discovered and therefore the process had lasted longer than expected and was not completed by July 17.

 

Six submarine cables

 

Vietnam has six submarine cable systems and a 120-gigabit channel that runs overland through China.

 

 

Connected in November 2009, the $560 million AAG handles more than 60 percent of the country’s international Internet traffic.

 

The cable runs more than 20,000 kilometers (12,420 miles), connecting Southeast Asia with the U.S., passing through Brunei, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

 

But it has experienced frequent ruptures and repairs, affecting services in Vietnam, where more than 64 percent of the population is online.

 

 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C., June 17, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein.

The US Pentagon have announced that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines starting this Friday July 23rd, 2021.

 

The will be the first visit to Southeast Asia by a top member of the Biden administration, and demonstrates the importance it places on the region and on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an essential part of the Indo-Pacific architecture, Pentagon press secretary John F. Kirby said.

 

"This trip will underscore the enduring U.S. commitment to the region, and our interest in upholding the rules-based international order in the region and promoting ASEAN centrality."

 

There is no specific timeline yet for his visit to Vietnam but he "will meet with key leaders to reaffirm defense relationships and conduct bilateral meetings with senior officials."

 

He will speak at Singapore Event

 

 

In Singapore, he will speak at an event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

At the Special ASEAN - U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting held virtually on July 14 and chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the two sides emphasized the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea.

 

The two sides also expect to soon have an effective Code of Conduct in the sea in accordance with international laws and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that respects the legitimate rights and interests of all related parties.

 

With all the international media attention on how China seems to be muscling in on the South China Sea, this visit could not be taking place at a more opportune time.

 

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C., June 17, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein.

 

The US Pentagon have announced that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Singapore, Vietnam and the Philippines starting this Friday July 23rd, 2021.

 

The will be the first visit to Southeast Asia by a top member of the Biden administration, and demonstrates the importance it places on the region and on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an essential part of the Indo-Pacific architecture, Pentagon press secretary John F. Kirby said.

 

"This trip will underscore the enduring U.S. commitment to the region, and our interest in upholding the rules-based international order in the region and promoting ASEAN centrality."

 

There is no specific timeline yet for his visit to Vietnam but he "will meet with key leaders to reaffirm defense relationships and conduct bilateral meetings with senior officials."

 

In Singapore, he will speak at an event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

 

At the Special ASEAN - U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting held virtually on July 14 and chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the two sides emphasized the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea.

 

The two sides also expect to soon have an effective Code of Conduct in the sea in accordance with international laws and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that respects the legitimate rights and interests of all related parties.

 

With all the international media attention on how China seems to be muscling in on this region especially in the South China Sea, this visit could not be taking place at a more opportune time.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Washington, D.C., June 17, 2021. Photo by Reuters/Evelyn Hockstein.

 

The US Pentagon have announced that U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will visit Philippines Singapore and Vietnam starting this Friday July 23rd, 2021.

 

The will be the first visit to Southeast Asia by a top member of the Biden administration, and demonstrates the importance it places on the region and on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as an essential part of the Indo-Pacific architecture, Pentagon press secretary John F. Kirby said.

 

"This trip will underscore the enduring U.S. commitment to the region, and our interest in upholding the rules-based international order in the region and promoting ASEAN centrality."

 

There is no specific timeline yet for his visit to the Philippines but he "will meet with key leaders to reaffirm defense relationships and conduct bilateral meetings with senior officials."

 

In Singapore, he will speak at an event hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

 

At the Special ASEAN - U.S. Foreign Ministerial Meeting held virtually on July 14 and chaired by Lao Foreign Minister Saleumsay Kommasith and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the two sides emphasized the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, known in Vietnam as the East Sea.

 

The two sides also expect to soon have an effective Code of Conduct in the sea in accordance with international laws and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea that respects the legitimate rights and interests of all related parties.

 

With all the international media attention on how China seems to be muscling in on the South China Sea, especially along the Philippines coast lines, this visit could not be taking place at a more opportune time.

The 75-meter bridge connecting two areas in Barangay Nauhang, Sipalay City, Negros Occidental. It now allows tourists to reach Sugar Beach Resort and Langub Beach Resort in the village without riding a boat. (Photo courtesy of DPWH Negros Occidental 3rd District Engineer's Office)

 

BACOLOD CITY – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has recently completed a 75-meter bridge that allows tourists to reach two popular beach areas in Sipalay City, Negros Occidental without riding a boat.

With the structure in place, the public now has easier access to the pristine beaches of Sugar and Langub beach resorts in Barangay Nauhang.

 

DPWH-Western Visayas regional director Lea Delfinado said in a statement on Tuesday that the bridge links two zones of the village separated by a natural waterway leading to the ocean, that had required tourists to rent a motorboat to reach the shoreline.

 

“It was a bit uncomfortable travel. With the completion of the project, they can simply drive their own cars to their desired destination. Convenience in the transportation of the locals also greatly improved,” she added.

 

The bridge construction was undertaken by the DPWH Negros Occidental Third District Engineering Office headed by District Engineer Rodney Gustilo.

 

Gustilo said the bridge is part of the PHP50-million access road development leading to Sugar Beach Resort and Langub Beach Resort, a convergence project of the DPWH and the Department of Tourism.

 

It involves the construction of 225-lineal meter concrete road and slope protection, with gabions and grouted riprap, reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings as well as chevron road signs and guardrails to ensure the safety of motorists and travelers.

 

“The tourism industry in the city is enhanced with the completion of this bridge, which leads to the opening of small businesses catering to the increasing number of tourists visiting these pristine beaches and commune with Mother Nature,” Gustilo said.

 

Nauhang resident Rowena Montalvo said the bridge project also provides easy access in transporting their agricultural and marine products to a larger market, and in cases of medical emergency, they need not wait for a motorboat to transfer patients to the city proper.

 

 

Sipalay, located about 175 kilometers south of Bacolod, is the top tourist destination in Negros Occidental.

It is dubbed “The Jewel of Sugar Island” for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters, attracting both foreign and domestic tourists. (PNA)

 

A man has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment for illegal entry into Vietnam from Laos and spreading Covid-19.

 

Dao Duy Tung stand trials in northern Hai Duong Province for spreading Covid-19 to other people, July 16, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Manh Hung.

 

A Vietnamese national, identified as Dao Duy Tung, 32, was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment by Vietnamese authorities on Friday for illegal entry and spreading dangerous infectious diseases.

 

VN Express reports that the man had illegally crossed into Laos on 5 April, but upon failing to find employment, decided to return to Vietnam a month later.

 

He hid in a truck and crossed illegally back home to Vietnam.

 

The man reportedly stayed with his girlfriend in Hai Phong City and traveled across five localities before beginning to exhibit symptoms of Covid-19.

 

He refused to test for the virus until 4 May when he returned to his hometown in Hai Duong and tested positive.

By this time, the Dao had already infected several people.

 

The court ruled that his behavior had been dangerous to society and affected the life and health of others and violated human disease prevention and control laws, according to Vietnamese media.

 

Dao was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment, but fines were waived because he is unemployed and had previously been a distinguished police officer, winning the Glorious Fighter Medal.

 

The news was reported across the Laos media as well.

 

It just goes to show that people will go to desperate measures to find work, especially during the current pandemic.

 

 

 

Laos has extended lockdown measures until 3 August after confirming a further 114 cases of Covid-19 today.

 

Dr. Sanong Thongsana, Deputy Minister of Health, led the announcement by the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control today.

 

Dr. Phonepaseuth Xayamoungkhoun announced that the country had confirmed a total of 3,540 after 114 new cases were confirmed today.

 

The new cases, all imported, were revealed following 1,296 tests conducted over the past 24 hours as 1,296 people entered the country.

 

Vientiane Capital recorded three cases, Champasack saw 43 cases, Savannakhet recorded 65 cases, Khammouane saw two cases, while Bolikhamxay recorded one case. However, no community spread was recorded in Laos today.

 

The country now has 1,224 active cases, while the death toll remains at five, with 6,030 people in quarantine.

 

Lockdown Continues

 

Government Spokesperson and Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Madame Thippakone Chanthavongsa, spoke during the announcement today regarding the extension of lockdown measures.

 

She said that despite controlling the community spread of the virus well within Laos, the situation in neighboring countries remains unstable, with large numbers of migrant workers returning home to Laos each day.

 

Therefore, the lockdown order, Prime Ministerial Order 15/PM, will be extended until midnight, 3 August.

 

Measures to Remain in Place

 

Under the extended lockdown measures, contact tracing and coordination between local authorities and health officials, as well as testing and vaccinations will continue.

 

Pubs and bars, karaoke bars, entertainment venues, cinemas, snooker halls, and internet cafes are to remain closed.

Contact sports such as football and martial arts remain prohibited in any province with an outbreak.

 

All factories and handicraft operations in red zones are to close, except for those wherein employees have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, and have dormitories on site, or those producing essential materials.

 

Entry into red zones will remain prohibited, except for persons authorized by the Taskforce or local authorities.

Gatherings or parties of any kind may not be held at any location.

 

Covid-19 prevention measures such as temperature checks, social distancing of at least one meter, wearing facemasks, and using hand gel will remain in place.

 

Newly Eased Measures

 

Indoor and outdoor fitness centers and stadiums in Vientiane Capital and provinces without community spread are now authorized to reopen, however, these must be legally registered businesses. Such businesses may not serve alcohol at their premises and must comply with all Covid-19 prevention measures.

 

Massage parlors and spas may reopen in Vientiane Capital and provinces without community spread, however, patrons and service providers must be fully vaccinated with two doses Covid-19 vaccine. All massage parlors must close at 8 pm.

 

Vocational education, teacher training, and the final year of study for all educational institutions in Vientiane Capital may resume, however Covid-19 prevention measures must be strictly followed.

 

Shopping malls, retail shops, supermarkets, minimarts, night markets, and fresh markets that comply with Covid-19 prevention measures may remain open.

 

Hairdressers and barbershops that are not in a red zone may open for business, however, they must ensure social distancing can be maintained and must comply with all Covid-19 prevention measures.

 

Restaurants, cafes, tourist sites, and food gardens may continue to provide dine-in services in provinces without community spread, however, tables must be organized at least one meter apart, while service of alcohol is prohibited. Restaurants must strictly comply with all Covid-19 prevention measures.

 

Conferences or meetings may be held in areas that are not red zones, but social distancing and other Covid-19 prevention measures must be strictly enforced.

 

Boats may be used for fishing activities in rivers that act as borders with neighboring countries between 8 am and 6 pm only, while local authorities are tasked with strictly monitoring and reporting all boat activities.

 

Travel within localities that have not experienced an outbreak may continue as usual.

 

Land, water, and air transportation may resume between provinces that do not have community spread of Covid-19 without a quarantine requirement.

 

Foreign citizens who travel to the Lao PDR and intend to travel to another province must submit a travel itinerary, evidence of 14-day quarantine, and authorization from the National Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to relevant officials without having to undertake quarantine at the destination province.

 

Foreigners who reside in Laos or have been in Laos for some time will be allowed to travel under the same conditions as Lao citizens.

 

Passengers entering or exiting Vientiane Capital or a province with community spread must ensure they have received two doses of Covid-19 vaccine and will not be required to request travel authorization from their destination province, and will not be required to quarantine. However, airline or transportation employees and passengers must ensure to check their temperatures, wear a facemask, wash hands regularly or use hand gel.

 

Provincial authorities in central and southern provinces with community spread and large volumes of returning migrant workers must determine strict measures regarding travel within the province and regarding travel in and out of the province.

 

Drivers of interprovincial freight transportation vehicles may deliver their cargo to their destination without unloading their cargo during the trip. Drivers will no longer be required to undertake Covid-19 tests or quarantine at their destination province but must comply with Covid-19 measures outlined by the Taskforce.

 

International freight and cargo transportation will be required to comply with previous Covid-19 prevention measures as determined by the Taskforce and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

 

Government offices and businesses in Vientiane Capital may consider allowing their personnel and employees to return to work as normal but must comply with Covid-19 prevention measures such as providing hand gel, wearing facemasks, and ensuring social distancing.

 

Classes may resume at educational institutions including pre-school, general education (primary schools and secondary schools), universities, and vocational colleges in provinces with no community spread of Covid-19.

 

Deputy Head of the Prime Minister’s Office, Thipphakone Chanthavongsa, told a press conference here on Monday that the situation in neighbouring countries remained risky and a large number of migrant workers return home to Laos every day, therefore, the lockdown order will be extended to control the spread of Covid-19.

EXPANSION SITE. Photo shows the aerial view of the Cebu Business Park where multinational companies are holding offices and regional headquarters.

 

CEBU CITY – The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) marked an impressive growth of up to 25 percent of its membership since its first regional office in Cebu opened in 1990.

 

Data showed that Cebu is now among the preferred destinations for many European companies looking to expand their business operations in the Philippines.

 

Lars Wittig, newly elected ECCP president, said Cebu has taken measures to adapt to the new normal to bring back business and commerce here amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

 

“New normal arrived early in Cebu and it shows in the sheer number of companies organizing behind ECCP,” he said in a statement Monday.

 

Lars Wittig, newly elected ECCP president

 

Wittig said Cebu, as the commercial capital of Visayas, is rich in business and investment potentials and ECCP started strongly in the region with most members coming from the creative industries such as furniture, fashion, and accessories.

 

These industries, he said, have contributed significantly to export and international trade by means of representation and participation.

 

ECCP-Cebu members currently come from more diverse sectors including tourism, real estate, information communications technology-business process management-knowledge and process management (ICT-BPM-KPM), food and beverage, manufacturing, and creative industries, among others, Wittig said.

 

“With a very supportive local government and vast profile of office spaces designed to accommodate operational requirements, Cebu has indeed emerged as one of the key cities for European companies to do business in,” the ECCP statement said.

 

 

Wittig said he met with the ECCP Cebu Business Council last month to discuss industry updates, current status, and action plan to address current challenges, best practices, and possible synergies.

 

ECCP Cebu has created a name for itself other than a regional office through its advocacy initiatives, working towards actionable solutions for a better business environment for both European and Filipino companies alike in the region.

 

In 2019, ECCP encouraged the government to continue expanding its infrastructure development and work closely with the private sector to expedite the rollout of flagship projects.

 

The ECCP Cebu Tourism Committee was also launched in the same year to cater to the growing travel, hospitality, and tourism sectors in the region.

 

With Covid-19 adversely affecting the tourism sector, the committee stood at the forefront of finding solutions for the sector to recuperate through webinars and roundtable discussions with the Department of Tourism (DOT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and local government units (LGU).

 

“Amid the global pandemic, the Chamber remained focused on providing support to its partners and members by keeping them up to date on the hospitality trend not only in the Philippines but in different parts of the world,” ECCP tourism committee chair Dottie Wurgler-Cronin said.

 

ECCP executive director Florian Gottein said there are more in store for Cebu as ECCP remains committed to representing the Philippine-European business community in the region.

 

“We recently partnered with a company who will open a 50-room lagoon resort in one of the LGUs in the province. Our heartfelt gratitude goes to the local government, public and private sector that warmly welcomed our presence in 1990 and have continued to support us all the way through,” Gottein added.

 

ECCP Cebu will be hosting several events in the coming months such as the Tourism Reboot Forum II: Reshaping the Tourism Industry, Dialogue with LGU Forum series; training programs on Understanding the Psychology of Persuasion and Survival Guide on Branding and Marketing; Pakighimamat ug Pakiglanggikit: ECCP Cebu 30 Years of Connecting Businesses, among many others. (PNA)

 

 

MANILA – President Rodrigo Duterte is considering implementing stricter health measures in preparation for the possible local transmission of the “more aggressive and fatal” Covid-19 Delta variant in the country.

 

"The reported local cases in the country is a cause for serious alarm and concern. Again, it is redundant, but it is good as any warning that can be given to people. We may need to impose stricter restrictions to avoid mass gathering and prevent super spreader event," the President explained during his pre-recorded Talk to the People aired last night July 19th, 2021.

 

Duterte said the Department of Health (DOH) has reported 16 new cases of Delta variant in the country, as of July 16. "We have seen and heard in recent news about the spike of Covid-19 cases in other countries, including our neighbor Indonesia, due to the more contagious Delta variant of the coronavirus," he said.

 

He cited the Covid-19 situation in Indonesia which, according to media reports, has averaged 49,435 new cases, and more than 1,000 deaths a day for the past week.

 

They have many vaccines in the stockpile. They were one of the few countries that declared that they were almost Covid-free.  The problem in Indonesia and other countries, is variant called Delta.

 

Actually, it's just a mutation of the Covid-19, but it is more vicious it's more aggressive and fatal," he said as he warned the public against the entry of the Delta variant into the country.

 

"That should give us – put us in grave concern because they say it is aggressive, vicious, and more virulent and can cause death faster than the Covid-19," he said.

 

Based on the DOH report, the Delta variant is "60 percent more transmissible than the usual Alpha variant (B 117 UK lineage)."

 

Stricter Measures Needed

 

Once more dreaded new variants will be detected in the Philippines, Duterte said "we will have to go with stricter measures."

 

"I hope that our existing infrastructure in dealing with the problem of Covid-19 can cope up depending on whether the Covid-19 vaccines can be as effective in dealing with the virus Delta," he said.

 

Duterte urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Philippine National Police to implement the existing health protocols with greater urgency and necessity.

 

"Is only by imposing stricter restrictions that we can fight the Delta variant," he said. "Remember the reason why the security forces of the government are very strict, is not that they want to be strict and they want to make it hard for the people to move, rather they are strict because they want to protect the country from a very contagious disease and may cause more deaths more than the lives that we lost in the past."

 

Meanwhile, DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said the 16 additional cases of Delta variant have been detected since last week – three cases in the National Capital Region, 10 cases in Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), and two cases in Region 6 (Western Visayas).

 

The government, he said, is closely monitoring the country's cases and health system indicators as well as intensifying the four response strategies to mitigate the spread of the Delta variant within communities. (PNA)

 

Phnom Penh vaccinations (FILE PHOTO)

Nguyen Tien, a telecommunications worker in Phnom Penh, is just one of many Vietnamese Expats living and working in Cambodia, who have completed the Covid-19 vaccination program.

 

"I had two shots of Sinovac a month ago," Tien said. "The vaccination campaign in Phnom Penh is very good. They deploy quickly, continuously and actively support foreigners."

 

Tien said that his vaccination in Cambodia is registered by the agency supporting the Covid vaccination program and is completely free.

 

"Once you've had two shots, you'll get a vaccination certificate," he said.

 

The vaccination program in Cambodia, which started on Feb. 10, initially focused on vulnerable groups such as frontline medical workers and military officers.

 

Next, people over 60 will receive the vaccine, and the program will deal with other groups.

 

Cambodia, a country of more than 16 million people, has injected nearly 8.3 million doses of the vaccine and nearly 22% of the population has received the full dose.

 

The capital Phnom Penh alone completed the vaccination campaign on July 8, according to Cambodia's National Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination.

 

"Cambodia focused on deploying vaccines in the capital Phnom Penh first, increasing vaccination for some industrial parks with a large concentration of workers. Then, they expanded the campaign to red, yellow, and orange areas," said Sim Chy, chairman of the Khmer Vietnam Association in Cambodia.

 

Chy said that after the capital Phnom Penh completed the vaccination campaign, Cambodia moved to other provinces with industrial zones and high infection rates.

 

"Phnom Penh's vaccination campaign is very well organized. They use all the medical centers in the districts and wards as places to vaccinate people. In addition, they also organize vaccination points at schools. The army was also mobilized to support the vaccination campaign for all people in the capital,"

 

Chy said of the strategy to help Phnom Penh quickly complete vaccination.

 

The Vietnamese Expat community in Cambodia currently is nearly 30,000 strong.

 

They are mainly concentrated in the districts of Chbar Ampov, Russey Keo and Prek Pnov in the capital Phnom Penh.

 

Chy said that at first, it was difficult to vaccinate Vietnamese people here, when the authorities required a Cambodian passport and identification card.

 

However, the Khmer Vietnam Association in Cambodia has sent petitions to 25 provinces and cities to consider allowing Vietnamese people living legally in Cambodia to be vaccinated.

 

"Currently, about 70% of Vietnamese in Cambodia are vaccinated," he said.

 

Cambodia has one of the top vaccination rates in Southeast Asia.

 

From the beginning, the country has worked to ensure vaccine supply, as the government welcomes help from all countries, exempting vaccines that meet safety standards as prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Cambodia receives major vaccine support from China and Australia.

 

"I find their vaccination speed is quite fast, maybe because of the large supply from China, there is enough vaccine for all people, not just for health workers or frontline workers," Huynh Trinh, a Vietnamese living in Phnom Penh, said about Cambodia's vaccination campaign.

 

Registering for vaccinations in Cambodia is now quite easy, as people only need to bring their identification documents to register at a health facility, according to Trinh.

 

She said before that, people had to register through the app and then wait for a message confirming the injection schedule. However, registration through the application takes a long time to wait, so now people often choose to register directly at the medical facility.

 

Trinh said she also had two doses of Sinopharm vaccine two months ago. "I felt reassured when I got vaccinated, because the doctor said that even if I was unfortunately infected, the risk of serious illness and death would be lower," she said.

 

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) recently expelled a Chinese navy ship near Marie Louise Bank, which is about 309 km off El Nido town in Palawan province, according to Inquirer.net.

 

 

“Chinese warship 189 vicinity waters Marie Louise Bank, this is Philippine Coast Guard MRRV 4409….You are within Philippines’ exclusive economic zone,” Cmdr. Erwin Tolentino, of PCG vessel BRP Cabra could be heard saying in a video footage of the PCG’s radio challenge yesterday (July 19).

 

“Your actions will affect Philippine-Chinese relations and will be reported to concerned authorities. You are advised to leave this vicinity, over,” Tolentino was heard saying in the radio challenge.

 

PCG shared the footage.

 

The incident between BRP Cabra and Chinese navy tugboat 189 first happened last July 13, 2020.

 

On that occasion, the PCG used its long-range acoustic device to issue a verbal challenge against the Chinese ship.

 

The PCG ship sailed closer and followed the Chinese ship to make sure that it would leave the Philippines’ EEZ. When they were 500 to 600 yards away from each other, the Chinese ship sent a radio message:

 

“Philippine Coast Guard 4409, this is Chinese Navy Warship 189. Please keep two nautical miles distance from me,” the Chinese ship was quoted as saying.

 

The same PCG ship drove off Chinese and Vietnamese fishing vessels in the same area early this month.

 

The Philippine government stepped up its maritime patrols after the large-scale incursion of Chinese militia vessels in Julian Felipe (Whitsun) Reef early this year.

 

What is that?

 

Authorities have clarified a rumor circulating in social media that a group of Lao laborers swam across the Mekong River from Thailand to Savannakhet Province illegally.

 

A video released on Social media last week depicted Lao laborers swimming across the Mekong River from Thailand to Kaysone Phomvihane District of Savannakhet last week.

 

Head of the Provincial Taskforce for Covid-19 Prevention and Control of Savannakhet Province, Brigadier General Sy Thavixay, says authorities were called to the scene, according to Lao National Radio.

 

 

“When we went to investigate, we found empty 20-liter water bottles that fishermen had been using to counterbalance their fishing nets in the Mekong River. There were no people swimming as mentioned in the video,” said Brigadier General Sy Thavixay.

 

Fake News

 

Head of Savannakhet Public Security, Colonel Sommay Phommachan, says authorities are now actively looking for the person who released the video.

 

Authorities in Laos recently established a special taskforce to monitor and respond to illegal online media and fake news.

 

The newly formed taskforce seeks to tackle the use of social media for illegal means by both domestic and international groups, as well as clamping down on what the Party and government consider fake news.

 

Meanwhile, border patrols on the Mekong River are being tightened up in Champasack and Savannakhet provinces to prevent people from illegally entering Laos from Thailand, following a surge in Covid-19 infections in these provinces, according to Vientiane Times.

 

Authorities have been keeping an eye on boats crossing the Mekong River near the Thai border to prevent people from illegally entering Laos and avoiding Covid-19 screening.

 

The country has been working with foreign bodies, including the World Bank and the United Nations Development Programme to create sustainable cities. 

 

According to a recent article by PropertyGuru, the government’s decision to build green cities is crucial to ease up human activities that cause harm to the environment.

 

Photo by OlegD/Shutterstock

 

Rapid urbanisation, growing population, and booming economy of Vietnam are just some of the factors that have caused a strain on its natural resources. With the looming threat of climate change, the country’s immense coastline makes it susceptible to the effects and the rising sea levels. 

 

Fortunately, Vietnam’s government has become aware of the repercussions and understands the importance of transforming its urban cities to be smarter and more sustainable. 

 

Buildings contribute to climate change 

 

Buildings, from planning to construction to user-stage, utilise vast amounts of resources. In Vietnam, buildings consume half of the country’s raw materials, 30 to 40 percent of its energy production, a quarter of its wood harvest, and 17 percent of its freshwater.  

 

The government’s decision to build green cities is crucial to ease up human activities that cause harm to the environment. 

 

Based on the October 2019 data published by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the country has 130 projects certified by the leading green building certification systems, such as EDGE by the IFC, LEED by the US Green Building Council, and LOTUS by the Vietnam Green Building Council. 

 

Prioritising green cities 

 

Thus far, Da Nang, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, and 27 other cities have taken strides to become green. To support them, the government has introduced a smart city strategy, an urban green growth development plan, the urban green growth indicators, and the following five pillars: 

1.     Sustainable quality.   

2.     Reducing energy consumption  

3.     Saving resources.  

4.     Health and safety; and  

5.     Reducing environmental impact. 

 

Investment opportunities in green infrastructure 

 

Going green does not only benefit the environment, but it can also serve as a great investment for businesses. In fact, a report by the Green Infrastructure Investment Opportunities uncovered that green buildings exhibit huge investment potentials, adding approximately USD100 trillion globally between 2019 to 2030. 

 

Alexander Feldman, the president and chief executive officer of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said: “As ASEAN grows and steadily fulfils its economic potential, opportunities exist across a wide range of industries. For example, ASEAN has over USD2 trillion worth of infrastructure investment opportunities – not just traditional ports, roads, and bridges, but support in ICT, education, agriculture, and healthcare.” 

 

Moreover, the consumers’ demand to go green has become the primary driver of green infrastructure in the country, which bodes well for investors. 

 

 

The past decade has seen a rise in the popularity of buildings embracing the green concept. Leading property developers in the country have started to launch several eco-themed residential developments. 

 

Among the aforementioned climate heroes include the PropertyGuru Vietnam Property Awards winners: Viet Nam Singapore Industrial Park & Township Development Joint Stock Company (VSIP JSC), VSIP-Sembcorp Gateway Development Co., Ltd., KN Cam Ranh Company Limited, Phuc Khang Corporation, Gamuda Land, Cat Tuong Real Estate Group Joint Stock Company, and Ecopark Corporation Joint Stock Company. 

 

Another mainstay at the Awards stage is Singapore’s Capitaland Group who developed Feliz En Vista, a 35-storey skyscraper designed to reduce the HVAC systems’ energy usage by half and the lighting usage by 70 percent. 

 

This means that the development can conserve electricity roughly 4800 megawatts per hour, reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 3,900 tonnes, and save from energy costs of around USD600,000 per year.

 

The sustainable solutions implemented raised the building cost by two percent with an approximate payback period of 1.5 years. 

 

Suffice to say, green buildings are a profitable venture for investors, seeing as this type of infrastructure is globally encouraged to become a norm in the future. Yet to effectively house Vietnam’s growing urban population, affordable, green buildings should be at the core of construction. 

 

Know of any award-worthy homes, condos, flats, or other real estate projects in Vietnam? Nominate them for the 2021 Vietnam Property Awards on or before 27 August 2021.

 

Simply visit 

https://www.asiapropertyawards.com/en/award/vietnam-property-awards/ for more details.

 

 

According to property consultancy firm Colliers, the Philippine real estate market is starting to show signs of recovery as developers switch up their marketing tactics and as opportunities for property buyers rise across different sectors. 

 

 

Some property developers and owners are apparently encouraged to monitor the market’s changing demands. 

 

Therefore, in Mandaluyong, Manila, and Pasig, market discounts range from three to 16 percent.

 

In Q4 2020, the pre-sale market take-up reached 6,000 units, a 53 percent decline from the 12,900 units in Q4 2019. This descent prompted developers to introduce an array of promotions to entice buyers. 

 

Developers in Mandaluyong, Manila, and Pasig offer market discounts ranging from three to 16 percent. Others provide lower reservation fees, split or zero down payments, and free items, like gadgets, furniture, or appliances. 

 

OFWs lead as major homebuyers in the Metro  

 

Affordable to mid-income condominium transactions (USD34,000 to USD119,800) surged in Metro Manila during the first quarter of the year, primarily driven by remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW).

 

Colliers believes that developers — including Wee Community Developers, Inc., Metroworx Properties, Inc., Robinsons Land Corporation, and other PropertyGuru Philippines Property Award-winning developers will continue to cater to this market. 

 

The firm also advised developers to keep an eye on the pandemic situation from major sources of remittances, namely the United States, Saudi Arabi, and Singapore that accounted for 50% of total remittances from January to February 2021. 

 

Manilastandard.net added that home loans reached a new high during this time, with the Home Development Mutual Fund or the Pag-IBIG Fund recording a total of USD 1.38 billion worth of loans released from January to April 2021.  

 

Opportunities in JVs and luxury developments 

 

In the report, Colliers stated that luxury projects often receive the least impact during an economic downturn, while joint venture projects between a local and a foreign company are normally the most expensive in the market for these come with cutting-edge amenities and facilities. 

 

Yet even though these types of developments are sold in a higher price range, the median take-up hit 85 percent in the end of 2020. 

 

“Philippine developers should seize opportunities in the market by further exploring partnerships with foreign firms,” urged Colliers. “We expect more luxury projects to be launched in the market, and these are likely to include joint venture developments.” 

 

 

Fringe Areas

 

In the past few years, developers have begun to consider constructing in fringe areas to accommodate their need to develop additional projects. A survey conducted by the consultancy firm in February 2021 discovered that over 70 percent of respondents intend to develop a property in the Mandaluyong and Alabang-Las Piñas areas in the next 12 months. 

 

In 2020, the said areas made up for 21 percent of the overall take-up for mid-income to luxury projects.

 

The peripheral areas were also a hotbed for new developments with the continued launch of new projects by PropertyGuru Philippines Property Award-winning developer’s SM Development Corporation and DMCI. 

 

With residential developers examining the feasibility of new project launches in major areas across the country’s capital, the firm expects a recovery in new residential supply in 2021. 

 

Know of any award-worthy homes, condos, flats, or other real estate projects in the Philippines? Nominate them for the 9th Philippines Property Awards on or before 20 August 2021.

 

 

 

The Cambodian government has formally requested with China for a loan to construct a road and bridge that crosses the Tonle Sap River, and to connect Kampong Chhnang to Kampong Thom provinces.

 

Prime Minister Hun Sen announced delays to the project in 2019.

 

Heng Rathpiseth, head of the General Department of Public Work at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport. MPWT

 

Heng Rathpiseth, head of the General Department of Public Work at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, told The Post on July 13 that the request had not yet been finally granted by the Chinese side.

 

“We have yet to sign this loan. The request was made formally again for building a bridge across the Tonle Sap River in Kampong Chhnang province,” he said.

 

Under the project, the 3,900m bridge connecting Kampong Chhnang to Kampong Thom would be built across three tributaries. The Phsar Krom, Chul Mok and Kampong Hav rivers.

 

The 57.3km road would be built from Kampong Chhnang province’s Kampong Leng district to Kampong Thom province’s Stung Sen district.

 

The project is estimated to cost around $200 million.

 

Kampong Chhnang province governor Sun Sovannarith said the project was good news for everybody, whether in the province or not.

 

He said this bridge will contribute significantly to national economic growth, especially tourism in Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Thom provinces.

 

“This project belongs to the public works ministry. So, provincial authorities do not have a master plan yet. But if it is like before, the province is ready to cooperate and address any impact,” Sovannarith said.

 

Kong Sovann, a public health specialist and director of International Safety Fund Programme, said that usually the provision of a loan was different from a grant relating to socio-economic issues and international relations between two countries.

 

However, he believed that the request will be approved by the Chinese government soon because relations between the governments have been strong.

 

“I think this request will be approved because we have seen that the Chinese government has helped Cambodia a lot in terms of infrastructure. But what is more important, as a technician, I think of the safety and quality of the bridge and road engineering,” he said.

 

Sovann expected that when the project begins, the government will think carefully about quality and safety, especially providing knowledge for people about any impacts that arise under the project.

 

 

 

LEGAZPI CITY – The Bicol Regional Task Force Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) and the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) are on high alert status as they wait for the arrival of a tugboat and barge from Butuan City.

 

 

It is reportedly carrying crew members infected with the virus, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said yesterday Sunday July 18th, 2021.

 

In an interview, Gremil Naz, OCD spokesperson, said the agency raised the alert on Saturday after receiving a report that M/V Tug Clyde and Barge Claudia would arrive at a private port in Sto. Domingo, Albay around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with 20 crew members, 12 of whom are Covid-19 positive.

 

“The 258 gross tons tugboat and barge whose last port of call was Indonesia is reportedly owned and operated by Nathaniel Uy of Barangay San Vicente, Milaor town in Camarines Sur province,” he said.

 

The vessel from Indonesia arrived at the port of Butuan at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 14.

 

Naz said there was no information yet about the purpose of the vessel's port of call in Indonesia and why it docked at Butuan port.

 

OCD Bicol has informed the OCD National Emergency Center (EOC) and alerted the city government of Legazpi and the concerned agencies including the Department of Transportation, Philippine National Police, Naval Forces of Southern Luzon, and Philippine Coast Guard, to closely monitor the movement of the vessel including the status of the people on board.

 

The OCD denied an earlier report that the vessel sailed for Albay without seeking clearance from maritime authorities in Butuan.

 

Naz said the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) in the Caraga Region had cleared and allowed the vessel to sail.

 

“The OCD has already gotten in touch with the owner of the vessel and assured the agency that the vessel and its crew would comply with all health protocols set by the task force upon arrival on Tuesday,” he added.

 

Meanwhile, Claudio Yucot, OCD Bicol regional director, in a letter sent to the Philippine News Agency said the Bicol Task Force Covid-19 will hold a coordination and response meeting on Monday that will focus on the actions to be taken concerning the tugboat's arrival.

 

“The Bureau of Quarantine is requested to present the protocol on the handling of passengers of M/V Tug Clyde and Barge Claudia upon its expected arrival,” the letter read.

 

 

The local task forces on Covid-19 of both Legazpi City and Sto. Domingo town are tasked to discuss their respective plan of action while the Bicol Regional Teaching and Training Hospital was also urged to send a representative to talk about their course of treatment for the infected vessel crewmembers. (PNA)

 

 

 

Over 1 Million Covid-19 Vaccines Donated by United States through COVAX Facility Arrive in Laos (Photo: Aero Laos)

 

Laos has received a new shipment of Covid-19 vaccines donated by the United States through the COVAX Facility.

 

The COVAX Facility is a partnership co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Health Organization (WHO), with UNICEF as a key delivery partner.

 

This shipment had been delayed by problems with the aircraft taking the vaccines having engine problems.

Today’s shipment consisted of 1,008,000 doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) Covid-19 vaccine.

 

This is part of the United States’ contribution to the ongoing global efforts to end the pandemic and support for Laos’ goal to vaccinate 50 percent of its population by the end of 2021.

 

With this donation of 1,008,000 doses, which is a direct contribution from the American people to Laos, the Lao Government will be able to provide protection against the virus to more than one million people, or 14 percent of the total population.

 

Only one Dose

 

The J&J/Janssen Covid-19 vaccine differs from other types of Covid-19 vaccines currently available in Laos, as it only requires a single dose.

 

In addition, the Janssen vaccine can be stored at regular refrigeration temperatures, which makes it ideally suited for immunizing populations in rural or hard-to-reach areas.

 

The Government of Laos will use these Johnson & Johnson Janssen doses to first vaccinate priority groups, including people above 60 years of age, people with underlying health conditions, and health workers across the country.

 

This is in line with the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan and further plan for its use to other target population, including those in remote and hard to reach areas.

 

As several Vietnamese institutions decided to close plants due to the spread of COVID-19, some Korean companies operating in Vietnam have also decided to follow and have ceased production.

 

The Board of Management of Saigon High Tech Park (SHTP), a national strategic industrial complex located in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, recently ordered companies in SHTP to close their factories.

 

This is a measure to prevent employees from commuting to prevent the spread of COVID-19. In this complex, where many global electronics companies such as Samsung Electronics, the US company Intel and Japanese company Nidec are located.

 

 

The Samsung Electronics plant in Ho Chi Minh City has 280,000 square feet site and about 7,000 employees. Main products are TVs, washing machines, refrigerators, and monitors.

 

Until now, there are reportedly no production delays at Samsung Electronics' plant.

 

It is because Samsung Electronics is planning to continue productions by providing room and board to employees in plant. It is reported that Samsung Electronics will submit this plan to the board of management of SHTP.

 

Samsung Electronics is currently operating a smartphone plant in Bac Ninh Province and a home appliance plant in Ho Chi Minh City. Bac Ninh plant is the largest plant among Samsung Electronics' plants in Vietnam. In Bac Ninh Province, there are plants of Samsung Electronics' partners such as Samsung Display are also located.

 

LG Electronics is currently operating a production plant in Hai Phong, Vietnam. The main product is home appliances. Until now, it is reported that LG Electronics' plant has no impact from the spread of COVID-19. LG Electronics, LG Innotek, and LG Display are also located in Hai Phong. (ANI/Global Economic)

 

Robert Downey Jr made his last appearance as Iron Man in "Avengers: Endgame." (Marvel)

 

Robert Downey Jr. has teamed up with HBO and A24 to produce and star in a new series adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's Pulitzer-winning Vietnam-era spy novel "The Sympathizer."

 

Nguyen won the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction with the 2015 novel, as well as an Edgar Award for Best First Novel from the Mystery Writers of America, making it one of the rare espionage or crime novels to earn recognition in both mainstream literary circles and within its own genre. The author recently followed up with a 2021 sequel called "The Committed."

 

Part of the novel's strength is its dreamlike quality as it follows its anonymous French Vietnamese narrator as he works as a mole for North Vietnam intelligence as a soldier in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam.

 

The story covers the final days of the war and the narrator's life as an immigrant to Southern California immediately following the final U.S. evacuation from Saigon.

 

Looking for Vietnamese Actors

 

The producers are looking for an actor to play the lead role of the Vietnamese spy and have announced that they are open to casting an unknown, since Hollywood hasn't given Vietnamese actors many opportunities for work before now.

 

Downey will play multiple roles in the series, including a California politician, a CIA agent, and a movie director. Readers of the novel might wonder whether the actor will be portraying different people or if perhaps all his characters exist in the narrator's mind.

 

As mentioned above, it is a trippy novel but one that brings a strong Vietnamese perspective to an English-language tale of the Vietnam War. Korean director Park Chan-wook, who made the original "Oldboy" movie, will oversee the series, and Nguyen announced via Twitter that he's delighted with the choice.

 

Nguyen was born in Ban Mê Thuột, Vietnam, in 1971 and fled South Vietnam with his family in 1975. They first lived in the refugee camp at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, before settling in San Jose, California.

 

"The Sympathizer," already one of the most talked-about novels of the 21st century so far, will bring a new perspective on the era to a far wider audience when it comes to television late next year or in 2023. Stand by for more news as it develops.

 

The Euro 2020 has been an incredibly successful and emotional football event, and it enabled people all over the world to forget the Covid pandemic for once and to enjoy some great live football.

 

Even some Vietnamese fans also left a mark in their own way, by waving their own flags in the stadiums.

In the end the Vietnam flag popped up at a few of the matches played at Euro 21 stadiums.

 

Several flags of Vietnam appeared on TV during the match between Spain and Sweden at Euro 2020 semi-finals, which surprised the football players and THE European fans.

 

Gazprom Arena Stadium actually had a capacity of 68134 people, however, to follow Covid-19 distancing rules, the stadium only allowed 50% full.

 

 Among the fans that cheered for the two football teams, there were a few from Vietnam.

 

Many European football fans were amazed why so many Vietnam’s national flags spreading around the stadium, and these special images went viral on Twitter and other social media sites.

 

One supporter commented online “I have no idea why there are so many Vietnam’s flags in the crowd of Euro 2020.

This shows that Vietnamese are big football fans. I’m not talking about a few fans who got their tickets and went to show off themselves to the world.”

 

Tai Nguyen (1990, Nghe An) attended Puskás Aréna stadium to watch the Euro’s match of Czech Republic vs Netherlands.

 

He and other 5 friends took their train from Czech Republic to Budapest (Hungary) in the early morning. Tai had brought the tickets for all of them a few days before the match.

 

According to Zing News, Tai, who is currently working and living at Budapest, said he did not intend to bring the Vietnam’s flag to the stadium, but borrowed one from a Vietnamese fan.

 

 

“During the match between Portugal and Hungary, I wore a number 9 shirt of former player Le Cong Vinh. What matters is that us Vietnamese football fans just wanted to share our joy and love for sports to the world,” Tai said.

Tai affirmed there were many Vietnamese football fans crowded the stadium at that day, but “only got a little screen time”.

 

Therefore, he was also surprised to see his image holding the national flag of his hometown at the Puskás Aréna stadium had received a lot of attention from football fans back home.

 

“I always loved football when I was young. Now my house is less than 1km from the stadium, and the tickets are also cheap. So, why not going and joining with other’s joy?”, he said with a laugh.

 

Vietnamese fans living in Russia “hunted” for Euro tickets

 

Despite Covid-19 vaccines, the EURO 2020 still brought a sense of excitement and happiness for those who were able to witness the games at the massive stadiums, wearing the brightest colours and cheering for the winners.

 

However, getting hold of tickets were very important if they wanted to participate in these activities.

 

 

Dang Thanh Nhan (1990), a PhD student at The The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia and Dam Quynh Anh, who graduated at Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University, with two other friends formed a group and bought tickets for Vietnamese football fans living in Russia to help them go see Euro 2020.

 

In order to be able to buy tickets at a fair price, and in case Euro’s official website ran out of tickets, the young group of friends had to search other social media sites such as Vkontakte, Telegram, or even Avito sales website to find tickets.

 

The Russians were impressed by the love of these Vietnamese fans for Euro and football, with them even waving their national flags at the St. Petersburg stadium, cheering for Russian team.

 

Vietnamese people celebrated Euro 2020 in Netherlands

 

In the early morning of 14 June, Netherlands met Ukraine at Amsterdam stadium, a few days before the match, Vietnamese families living in Netherlands had prepared for celebrating Euro 2020, creating a “Storm of orange colours” in every corner of the streets and hanging up “Hup Holland Hup” slogan at the front doors.

 

Pennants and banners were hung everywhere, on the roof down to make enormous orange nets.

 

 

“Football has been a passion of our family’, Mai Ngoc Tram, living in The Hague City, about 70km from Amsterdam) said every house were decorated in a bright orange shade of banners and flags, waiting for the game and cheering for Netherlands to win.

 

Not sure if any Vietnamese fans managed to buy those precious final tickets at Webley Stadium but if so, they must have been incredibly lucky.

 

At the end of the day it shows that football is truly a sport loved by people across the globe.

Roll on the World Cup in Qatar in 2022…...and that is a lot closer to HCMC than Europe.

 

 

HCM CITY — With the rising number of Covid cases, and many regions in the Delta region adopting strict social distancing, people have been rushing to buy goods.

 

According to Vietnam News, business activity has shrunk dramatically but consumers have been panic buying and stockpiling food, resulting in a shortage of certain products, and pushing up their prices.

 

After the An Giang Province People's Committee announced social distancing under Directive 16 in nine districts and city for 10 days from July 15, supermarkets experienced a rush to buy goods.

 

Vegetable Prices Rise

 

The day before at Long Xuyên Market the prices of many vegetables shot up. For example, the price of a kilogram of bottle gourd quadrupled to VNĐ44,000.

 

Nguyễn Minh Hùng, director of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, explained that this happened because people in some places were concerned.

 

"We have plans in place to ensure steady supply of goods. Currently goods are being transported to traditional markets."

 

In Cần Thơ City, which announced Directive 16 in Ninh Kiều, Cái Răng and Bình Thủy districts and Directive 15 in other places from July 12, 64 out of 105 traditional markets are now closed.

 

The difficulty in transporting goods from outside has also affected supply of goods in recent days.

 

A resident of An Khánh Ward in Ninh Kiều said since July 12th he has had to get up early every day to buy food, but has to go to three or four places before finding all necessary items such as meat, vegetables and eggs.

 

Most places do not have enough poultry eggs to meet demand, he added.

 

A resident of An Bình Ward said she bought 20 duck eggs from a seller on Facebook for VNĐ80,000, while it was only VNĐ60,000 earlier.

 

The Satra convenience store in Ninh Kiều District, said pork and vegetables used to be available at the store until evening, however for the last week they sell out before 08.00hrs.

 

The situation is similar in Hậu Giang Province, where Directive 16 is in place in Long Mỹ town’s Long Phú Commune since July 13.

 

 

Traditional markets and supermarkets have been crowded with shoppers coming to buy mainly items such as rice, instant noodles, milk, packaged foods, vegetables, fruits, and meat.

 

At traditional markets, many sellers said they sell out much earlier than before.

 

Prices are Higher

 

This high demand means the prices for agricultural goods at traditional markets have shot up, especially those transported from other provinces, according to traders.

 

Nguyễn Văn Thậm, deputy director of the Hậu Giang Department of Industry and Trade, said the pandemic has had a significant impact on production, business, markets, and commodity prices.

 

The province has plans to stockpile goods to ensure adequate supply for different COVID scenarios, he said.

“So, people should not panic and buy goods to hoard."

 

According to the Cần Thơ Market Management Department, prices are up mainly at traditional markets and small shops, and it would co-ordinate with other relevant agencies to strengthen oversight.

 

Hà Vũ Sơn, director of the city Department of Industry and Trade, said a number of sales outlets would be set up for people to buy goods at regular prices.

 

Supermarkets and convenience stores in many places have seen the number of shoppers increase by 100-200 per cent besides a surge in online orders.

 

But they have promised to keep prices steady.

 

La Ngọc Trương, director of Co.opmart Cần Thơ, said the number of online orders has increased by 500 - 600 per cent and the store has increased stocks by more than 50 per cent to meet demand.

 

 

The Philippines Secretary of Finance and Brunei Darrusalam Minister of Finance have recently signed an agreement aimed at eliminating double taxation and preventing fiscal evasion on taxes on income arising from cross-border transactions between the two Southeast Asian nations.

 

Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah and Secretary of Finance of the Republic of the Philippines Carlos Garcia Dominguez lll. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI

 

The agreement was signed by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III and Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II of Brunei on Friday, July 16.

 

Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew said that both countries signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during His Majesty’s state visit to the Philippines in 2017, to explore opportunities in the emerging global market for Halal products and services, while facilitating Halal export development and promotion programmes between both sides.

 

He added, “I am also encouraged that our trade figures showed an upward trend over the years, whereby in 2020, despite the COVID-19 outbreak, recorded an increase of 18 per cent from the previous year. There are, of course, more opportunities that we should explore to further enhance our trade and investment engagements."

 

Brunei Darussalam has accelerated efforts to develop its non- oil and gas sector by encouraging participations from more foreign direct investment (FDI) and local entrepreneurs. For FDI, we are looking at five clusters – food, information, and communication technology (ICT), tourism, services, and downstream industries, and I certainly welcome investors from the Philippines to explore these business prospects.

 

“Over the past year and a half, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions to people’s lives and businesses globally, including Brunei and the Philippines. The international community has come together to carry out collective actions to fight against this common enemy.

 

“To date, although the global economy is starting to recover, we still need to maintain collaboration efforts because of the emergence of new variants and other uncertainties that may derail these positive prospects. I trust that the strengthening of our bilateral cooperation will similarly contribute to our countries’ recovery efforts.

 

“The double taxation agreement (DTA) sends a clear signal to our private sectors that we are committed to creating a conducive and attractive environment to do businesses in each other’s country by providing greater tax certainty, clarifying taxing rights, and eliminating double taxation.”

 

The Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) said in a statement that the signing will facilitate the Government of Brunei Darussalam and Government of Republic of the Philippines in exchanging information, while ensuring greater transparency on tax matters to be in line with developed global standards.

 

“In all, this agreement is indeed a significant step forward in our bilateral ties. This agreement is a significant step forward in enhancing the economic, trade and investment cooperation especially through the private sectors of both countries as they will benefit from the reduction of the tax liability from each jurisdiction,” the MoFE stated.

 

“Furthermore, these agreements will facilitate the Government of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines to exchange information with regards to taxation matters, according to the internationally agreed tax information exchange standards in which Brunei is committed to implement.”

 

To date, Brunei has signed 20 Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (ADTAs)