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☆ Vietnam to Extend Anti-Graft Drive as Police Reveal Real Estate Fraud Worth 3% of GDP
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-23 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Khanh Vu and Francesco GuarascioHANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's top leader vowed to extend "for the long-term" an anti-corruption campaign that has had a chilling effect on the economy, after police revealed financial scandals in the real estate sector worth more than 3% of gross domestic product. Trong's remarks came after the police announced the outcome of months-long investigations into two financial scandals, revealing for the first time the scale of the fraud, worth a combined $12.8 billion, or 3.2% of the economy. The case had been widely publicised when My Lan was arrested in October last year and led to a crisis in the real estate sector and the market for corporate bonds, which she has been accused of issuing illegally in large amounts. The huge scale of the fraud had not been known until this week and has raised concern among financial experts about the impact on the banking sector. In September, the Asian Development Bank warned of potential spillover into banking from the crisis in the real estate sector as the ratio of non-performing loans increased.

Persons: Khanh Vu, Francesco Guarascio HANOI, Nguyen Phu Trong, Trong's, Truong My Lan, Van Thinh, Lan, Morgan, Moody's, Tan, Francesco Guarascio, Robert Birsel Organizations: Communist Party's, Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, Stock Commercial Bank, Morgan Research, Asian Development Bank, Group Locations: Communist, Saigon, China

Vietnam’s opaque legal system has come under increased criticism from Western observers this year, even as the Southeast Asian country draws closer to the United States. In April during a visit to Hanoi, a delegation of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee of Human Rights expressed “great concern at the worsening human rights situation in the country” calling for the release of “political prisoners” including NGO leaders, journalists and environmental activists, according to Reuters. “Vietnam and the United States are critical partners at what I would argue is a very critical time,” Biden said at the time, referencing climate change. The importance of her cause has been underlined by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which lists Vietnam as one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to climate change. Ben Swanton, co director of The 88 Project, which advocates for human rights in Vietnam, called her trial “a total sham.”“This is yet another example of the law being weaponized for the purpose of political persecution,” he said.

Persons: Hoang, Hong, Nguyen Van Tu, Matthew Miller, “, ”, ” Miller, Joe Biden’s, ” Biden, “ I’m, Hong “, Ben Swanton Organizations: CNN, US State Department, State, European, Human, Reuters, Human Rights Watch, Obama, Columbia University, HRW, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, Amnesty Locations: Ho Chi Minh City, United States, Vietnam, Hanoi, “ Vietnam

☆ Fire at Vietnam apartment block kills 30 — state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Firefighters work to put out a fire and rescue people at an apartment block in Hanoi on September 13, 2023. At least 30 people have been killed in a fire at an apartment block in Vietnam's capital Hanoi, among them children, local media reported on Wednesday, citing the city's police. Contacted by Reuters, an officer with Hanoi police said the number of victims had yet to be finalised and declined to provide details. State-run Dan Tri and Saigon Giai Phong put the death toll at 30, citing Hanoi police. Several of the victims were admitted to local hospitals with multiple injuries after having jumped from their windows to escape the fire, state media said, citing Vu Hoang Phuong of Hanoi Medical University Hospital.

Persons: Dan, Phong, Hoang, Pham Minh Chinh Organizations: Vietnam News Agency, Reuters, Hanoi police, Police, Hanoi Medical University Hospital . Locations: Hanoi, Saigon

☆ Sun bear: World's smallest bear finally has its time in the sun. But is that a good thing?
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-05 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Hong Kong CNN —The world’s smallest bear is finally having its moment in the sun – thanks to a viral video that sparked a conspiracy theory on Chinese social media. “With all the media attention surrounding the (sun bear videos) we have a good opportunity to further educate ourselves to save this species.”Taronga Zoo is not alone. A sun bear inside at the Vietnam bear rescue centre, in Tam Dao national park, Vinh Phuc, Vietnam, 09 July 2019. Cubs are especially cute and docile and can be easily tamed compared to bigger and more aggressive bears, said bear expert Dave Garshelis, chair of the IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group. Will the viral videos actually help save these amazing bears?

Persons: Angela, ”, Wong Siew Te, Wong, Taronga zookeeper Logan Dudley, “, ” Afiqah Nasir, Bosco Chan, ” Chan, Minh Hoang, Dave Garshelis, Thomas Stamford, Garshelis, Shao Zhenzhen Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, CNN, Sun Bear Conservation Center, Taronga Zoo, Singapore Zoo, World Wildlife Fund, Cubs, IUCN SSC Bear Specialist Group, Thomas Stamford Raffles, Singapore Locations: Hong Kong, Hangzhou, China, Sabah, Malaysia, Southeast Asia, Sydney, Australia, Vietnam, Tam Dao, Vinh Phuc, British, Indonesia, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore

☆ Chau Van Kham: Australian retiree accused of terrorism freed from prison in Vietnam
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Acting Australian Prime Minister Richard Marles said Chau Van Kham was released on humanitarian grounds and “in the spirit of friendship” between Australia and Vietnam. The Vietnamese government declared the California-based Viet Tan, or Vietnam Reform Party, a terrorist organization in 2016, accusing it of recruiting and training armed operatives. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese traveled to Vietnam last month to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries. “We share the happy news that Mr Chau Van Kham is well and has returned to his family today,” the statement said, according to Amnesty. Pearson said Kham was one of more than 150 political prisoners detained in Vietnam for peaceful acts of free expression.

Persons: Australia CNN —, Richard Marles, ” Marles, Viet Tan, Tan, it’s, Anthony Albanese, Kham’s, Dan Nguyen, Chau, “, ” Elaine Pearson, Pearson, Kham, Pham Doan Trang, Mai Phan, Dang Dinh Bach, Hoang, Hong, ” Pearson Organizations: Australia CNN, Australian, Amnesty International, Amnesty, Vietnam Reform Party, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Human Rights Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, Vietnam, California, United States, Asia

☆ Scientists may have discovered the first antidote to the deadliest mushroom known to humans
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Rupendra Brahambhatt | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Death cap mushrooms kill up to 100 people per year and sicken thousands more but have no antidote. Scientists used CRISPR to help identify a chemical that could become the first death cap antidote. A recent study in Nature Communications finally found a possible death cap mushroom antidote. A death cap mushroom antidote is long-awaitedMushroom foragers can easily mistake death cap mushrooms for other edible fungi. When the researchers tested ICG in mice poisoned with the death cap mushroom toxin, the results were eye-opening.

SummarySummary Law Firms Naomi Moore joins from Akin Gump to head DLA Piper's APAC restructuring practiceMoore will split her time between the firm's Hong Kong and Sydney officesMay 2 (Reuters) - Law firm DLA Piper has hired a partner from U.S.-founded rival Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld in Hong Kong to serve as its new restructuring practice leader for the Asia Pacific region, the firm said Tuesday. Naomi Moore, who has been on sabbatical since she left Akin Gump in January, will divide her time between DLA Piper’s Sydney and Hong Kong offices, the firm said in a statement. In Hong Kong, Moore joins Trinh Hoang, DLA Piper’s only other restructuring-focused partner in the office, who joined the firm from Linklaters in October last year. Linklaters added a restructuring head in Hong Kong from Allen & Overy in October. An Akin Gump spokesperson wished Moore well on her new role.

☆ How to put your best travel foot forward for Earth Day 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-22 | by ( Forrest Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +20 min

But you don’t have to totally cut out travel or stay super close to home to be a good planetary citizen. You need a city that’s dedicated to getting it right to best enjoy an urban biking vacation. Here, we've curated 30 of our favorite corners, including the Thu Bon River, which flows through central Vietnam. A maze of rivers and caves, the UNESCO World Centre is defined by its craggy limestone facades and jade green water. Bruno De Hogues/Photodisc/Getty Images Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park: A UNESCO World Heritage, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park is heaven for spelunkers.

☆ Vietnam opposes China's unilateral South China Sea fishing ban
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

HANOI, April 20 (Reuters) - Vietnam took aim at China on Thursday for imposing an annual ban on fishing in a vast area of the South China Sea, calling it a violation of its sovereignty and urging Beijing not to complicate matters. China has imposed the ban each year since 1999 and Vietnam routinely opposes it. China says the ban, which will apply from May 1 to Aug. 16, is to promote sustainable fishing and improve marine ecology. "China's so-called fishing ban violates Vietnam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa and the sovereign rights and jurisdiction in Vietnamese waters and its exclusive economic zone," Doan Khac Viet, a Vietnam's foreign ministry spokesperson told a regular news briefing. Viet called on China to respect Vietnam's sovereignty and "not to complicate the situation".

As an immigrant from Vietnam, my mom doesn't have a credit score and has no intention of getting one. When I wanted to build credit, I looked toward community-oriented resources like public libraries and local churches. Owning land was considered a major asset, and homes built on that land served as collateral on borrowed money. My parents came from large families who supported themselves through agrarian means, so they rarely had any need for borrowed money. We have a greater understanding of how credit scores are calculated and more resources geared toward people who have been previously excluded from credit building.

☆ A Lunch You’ll Love: This Simple Grain Salad Is Healthy in All the Tastiest Ways
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Kitty Greenwald | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

PLAY BOWL Nutty farro anchors this satisfying grain salad, but you can creatively adapt the add-ins to suit the changing seasons. Photo: Emma Fishman for The Wall Street Journal, Food Styling by Tyna Hoang, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio

☆ U.S. FDA approves Acadia's Rett syndrome drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The approval comes months after the FDA declined to approve expanded use of Acadia's drug Nuplazid to treat psychosis related to Alzheimer's disease. Acadia said it plans to make the drug available to patients by the end of April. He forecast peak U.S. trofinetide sales of $487.2 million by 2035. After the FDA declined to approve the expanded use of Nuplazid, Acadia said it would not pursue that indication for Nuplazid further. Improvement of symptoms was measured according to the assessment scales Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement.

March 13 (Reuters) - France's Sanofi SA (SASY.PA) on Monday agreed to acquire Provention Bio Inc <PRVB.O> for $2.9 billion to bolster its work on a U.S.-approved type 1 diabetes therapy and strengthen its drug pipeline following development setbacks. The deal builds on an existing co-promotion agreement between the two companies, and would give the French drugmaker full ownership of the drug, Tzield, Sanofi said, adding it expects to complete the acquisition in the second quarter of 2023. While growth in asthma and eczema drug Dupixent is boosting Sanofi's sales, investors have criticised its drug development pipeline as weak. Sanofi, the maker of long acting insulin products Toujeo and Lantus for type 2 diabetes, in 2019 quit further type 2 diabetes drug development. Chief Executive Officer Paul Hudson said last month the company saw great promise in type 1 diabetes drug development and reaffirmed his commitment to steer clear of further work on type 2 diabetes and obesity.

☆ U.S. FDA approves Acadia's genetic Rett syndrome drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

March 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Acadia Pharmaceuticals Inc's (ACAD.O) drug for the treatment of Rett syndrome, a genetic brain disorder, the company said on Friday, making it the first approved drug for the condition. The approval comes months after the FDA declined to approve expanded use of Acadia's drug Nuplazid to treat psychosis related to Alzheimer's disease. Acadia said it plans to make the drug available to patients by the end of April. He forecast peak U.S. trofinetide sales of $487.2 million by 2035. Improvement of symptoms was measured according to the assessment scales Rett Syndrome Behaviour Questionnaire and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement.

☆ This Cozy Braised Pork Dish Delivers Serious Weeknight Comfort
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Kitty Greenwald | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

STEW YOU CAN USE A beloved Filipino dish that’s packed with layered flavors, pork afritada is homestyle comfort food at its best. Photo: Emma Fishman for The Wall Street Journal, Food Styling by Tyna Hoang, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio

GREEN LIGHT Go ahead and use those broccoli stalks. YOU’VE PROBABLY heard of the “nose-to-tail” approach that uses all the edible parts of an animal, not just the familiar steaks and chops. Not because I’m a vegetable rights campaigner, mind you, but because we’re trying to eliminate food waste. And fortunately, with many vegetables, the part you usually throw away (or hopefully compost) can be the most delicious. The Italians are broccoli champions, with regional varieties growing in every home garden.

Globally, IPOs across all sectors nosedived last year after a blockbuster 2021, as aggressive interest rate hikes by central banks to curb inflation put an end to the era of cheap money. In the biotech sector, there were only 47 IPOs last year that raised a total of about $4 billion, compared with 152 offerings in 2021 that had raised over $25 billion. While the XBI is still trading 50% below its February 2021 closing high, analysts believe the downturn in biotech has bottomed out. All we need is one or two biotech IPOs to get good interest and the floodgates will open." Reuters GraphicsThe second half of 2023 is more likely to see a significant step-up in biotech IPOs instead of the first half, as markets await further clarity on potential rate cuts, analysts said.

OVER THE LAST decade, backbars across the U.S. have filled up with colorful, ornately labeled bottles of amaro, an Italian liqueur infused with herbs, roots and/or spices. The bitter option pulls from the often more than 15 amari (including Italian and domestic options) in stock. In fall and winter, amari mingle with aged spirits, like whiskey, often on the rocks. In the spring, they find their way into spritzes or drinks made with clear spirits like gin or tequila. There’s only one rule, said general manager Brittany Tinelli, who selects the spirits at Roman’s: “The bitter needs to be the star.”

☆ Cozy Classic: A Fast Fish Recipe With a Ritz-Cracker Crust
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-12 | by ( Kitty Greenwald | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

AMERICAN CLASSIC The buttery crust on this flaky roasted haddock gets its distinctive crunch from Ritz crackers. Photo: Jenny Huang for The Wall Street Journal, Food Styling by Tyna Hoang, Prop Styling by Sophie Leng

☆ Rescuers in Vietnam try to save boy trapped in concrete pile
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-02 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

HANOI, Vietnam — Rescuers in Vietnam were desperately trying to free a 10-year-old boy on Monday, two days after he fell into the narrow open shaft of a concrete pile at a construction site on New Year’s Eve. The calamity occurred at a bridge construction site in the Mekong delta province, where the boy had been searching with friends for scrap iron. “I cannot understand how he fell into the hollow concrete pile,” which has a diameter of less than 10 inches and was driven 115 feet into the ground, Le Hoang Bao, director of Dong Thap province’s Department of Transport, told Tuoi Tre News, a local newspaper. Efforts to lift the pile with cranes and excavators had so far failed and rescuers were unable to determine the boy’s position, media reported. Rescuers have pumped oxygen into the pile and have softened the soil around it but the pile has tilted slightly, complicating extraction efforts.

A Texas A&M student who was last seen near the university's main campus has been missing for four days, according to officials. Hoang was seen possibly driving a silver 2009 Lexus, according to the poster. His family reported seeing video of his vehicle driving west on Highway 21, as if leaving the eastern Texas city of Caldwell. The College Station Police Department is investigating the student's disappearance with the help of the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to police spokesperson David Simmons. Texas A&M University did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

☆ Recovery in Asia M&A, stuck at 8-year-lows, rests on macro conditions
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Kane Wu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Deals are set to revive slowly as companies and funds watch out for easier macroeconomic conditions, they said. "This will provide a more stable backdrop for the return of a more robust M&A market," said Maliah. Deals in private equity, a major M&A driver, amounted to $139 billion as of Dec. 15, down 52% on all of 2021. "Banks' ability to write big-size checks is still much challenged," said Samson Lo, UBS's co-head of Asia-Pacific M&A. An improvement in Asian equity capital market volumes from three-year lows will also help M&A deals, dealmakers said.

☆ A Ukrainian School Grapples With the Legacy of Russian Occupation
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-16 | by ( Matthew Luxmoore | Photographs Virginie Nguyen Hoang Huma For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

KHERSON, Ukraine—When teacher Halyna Shapiro returned to her school four days after Russian forces abandoned this city in southern Ukraine last month, she found textbooks on Russian history and literature, published in Moscow, lying on teachers’ desks. The Russian alphabet was pinned to blackboards in classrooms where Russian wasn’t previously taught. Students’ notebooks were full of poems extolling Russia’s virtues.

That made Vietnam one of the top buyers of Russian arms, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), which tracks global military expenditures. Starting Thursday, the country will host its first large-scale international arms trade fair, for which more than 170 companies from 30 countries have registered, the defence ministry said. The Defence Ministry referred questions about the country's defence industry to the Foreign Ministry, which did not respond to requests for comment. A half-dozen Russian defence firms are registered for the Hanoi fair, including Rosoboronexport, the state agency that imports and exports weapons. That year, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced Vietnam's military imports to only $32 million, of which $9 million worth were Russian arms.

☆ Analysis: Vietnam's anti-graft crackdown chills supply chains, investment
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-28 | by ( Francesco Guarascio | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"If you don't do anything, you cannot do a mistake," Walde said of the current licensing paralysis caused by the bureaucratic anxiety. Germany is the second-largest exporter of drugs to Vietnam after France, according to 2020 data. SUPPLY SHOCKSThe negative economic consequences of the crackdown come on top of other challenges that Vietnam and other countries in Asia face, namely a weakening local currency, global supply constraints and declining world demand. "The crackdown won't be able to root out the widespread corruption if implemented without complete transparency and rule of law," said Hop. Reporting by Francesco Guarascio @fraguarascio; Additional reporting by Khanh Vu; Editing by Sam HolmesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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