By JAN. 30, 2015
Representatives from the United States and 11 other Pacific Rim countries convened to decide the future of their trade relations in the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership (T.P.P.). Powerful companies appear to have been given influence over the proceedings, even as full access is withheld from many government officials from the partnership countries.
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| Farmers transport lychees from Bac Giang Province to different areas. This year, farmers in Hai Duong Province’s Thanh Thuy Commune are preparing to make their first lychee shipment to the US. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Hung |
HAI DUONG (VNS) — Farmers in Hai Duong Province’s Thanh Thuy Commune are preparing to export their first lychee crop to the US.
One of the busy lychee farmers, Nguyen Thi Lua, was among 87 households in the commune chosen for a lychee-export programme, under which agricultural officials would give her technical support, guidance and safe pesticides to use. Continue reading Hai Duong lychees win US order
A growing number of farmers are abandoning genetically modified seeds, but it’s not because they are ideologically opposed to the industry.
Simply put, they say non-GMO crops are more productive and profitable.
Modern Farmer magazine discovered that there is a movement among farmers abandoning genetically modified organisms (GMO) because of simple economics. Continue reading American Farmers Abandoning Genetically Modified Seeds: “Non-GMO Crops are more Productive and Profitable”
by cogitASIA Staff • March 16, 2015
By Phuong Nguyen
The revelation on March 11 that Washington expressed concern to Hanoi about Russia’s use of Cam Ranh Bay to assist its bomber flights in the Asia Pacific has again prompted a debate on the role of the port in quickly-warming U.S.-Vietnam defense ties. It became clear that Washington feels uncomfortable about the role Russia still occupies in Vietnam, an increasingly important U.S. partner in Southeast Asia, when Commander of the U.S. Army Pacific General Vincent Brooks confirmed that Russian planes circling Guam recently were refueled by tankers at Cam Ranh Bay. Continue reading What Should the United States Do about Cam Ranh Bay and Russia’s Place in Vietnam?
Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds
is the fifth installment in the US National Intelligence Council’s series aimed at providing a framework for thinking about the future. As with previous editions, we hope that this report will stimulate strategic thinking by identifying critical trends and potential discontinuities. We distinguish between megatrends, those factors that will likely occur under any scenario, and game-changers, critical variables whose trajectories are far less certain. Finally, as our appreciation of the diversity and complexity of various factors has grown, we have increased our attention to scenarios or alternative worlds we might face. Continue reading Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds
Vietnam Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s upcoming visit to Washington comes at a critical juncture for Vietnam and a time when a confluence of domestic, regional, and geopolitical factors are giving increasing salience to the importance of expanding and protecting civil and political liberties in the country. The most important step in making the case for human rights in Vietnam is to convince the country’s leadership that better rights will generate significant benefits for Vietnam both domestically and in the international arena. Continue reading Getting Rights Right at Vietnam’s Crossroads
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| Priority will be given for allocating forest areas to ethnic households, poor households without land and local communities to protect. — Photo binhthuan |
HCM CITY (VNS) — The Lam Dong Province People’s Committee on Sunday unveiled a plan for the “Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions through efforts to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, sustainable management of forest resources, conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks” to be implemented through 2020. Continue reading Lam Dong unveils its go green plan
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| The project covers eight communes in four districts and will eventually supply nearly 1,300 households and 78 offices. — Illustrative image File Photo |
QUANG BINH (VNS) — Authorities in central Quang Binh Province have conducted research on a solar-power project to make sure it is cost effective in all areas that it reaches.
If it is not effective in all villages, authorites said they would switch to normal network power to link them up. Continue reading Quang Binh villages to get solar power
I heard about Vienna for its charm and its world-renowned classical music and operas, but I’d never thought that Vienna could be in my EU travel list that soon. It was a completely unplanned trip, unlike what I usually did when traveling. Vienna meet-up was due to a situation that demanded me to travel. To be honest, I wanted to visit Vienna for some unexpected reasons. I actually convinced myself to spend a few days in Vienna as a little treat and a break during my hectic time at work. Continue reading 3-Euro gift from Vienna
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| Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida at a global conference in Japan earlier this month. — VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat |
HA NOI (VNS) — Director of the gender equality department under the labour, invalids and social affairs ministry Pham Ngoc Tien yesterday said women’s participation in the political sector was still low. Continue reading VN women need to participate more in politics
Data collection is a major and constant concern of the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM – Organics International). The comprehensive data provided in this publication serve as an important tool for stakeholders, policy makers, authorities, and the industry, as well as for researchers and extension professionals. The information provided here has proven useful in development programs and supporting strategies for organic agriculture and markets, and crucial for monitoring the impact of these activities. The data collection of FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International has become one of the most frequently quoted literature in scientific, technical and descriptive papers and reports on organic agriculture. With this edition, FiBL and IFOAM – Organics International are presenting “The World of Organic Agriculture” for the 16th time. The data and information compiled in this volume document the current statistics, recent developments, and trends in global organic farming. The statistical information and all chapters have been updated. As in previous editions, regional reports were also compiled.
Read and download full report here
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| Farmers in the southern province of Soc Trang harvest sugarcane. The fall in cane prices is attributed to large stocks of sugar produced from the previous crop. — VNA/VNS Photo Trung Hieu |
HCM CITY (VNS) — For sugarcane farmers in the central and southern regions it has been a double whammy as bad weather and diseases first hit their crop and then low prices reduced their incomes. Continue reading Sugarcane farmers bitter as yields, prices crash
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| Nui Chua, a high-end tourism complex covering 250 hectares (ha) in the Ninh Hai District, is one of the major projects as it will require a total capital of VND5 trillion (US$233.6 million). — File Photo |
HA NOI (VNS) — The central coast province of Ninh Thuan has called upon domestic and foreign investors to finance 72 projects in various sectors from now till 2020, according to the Ninh Thuan Economic Development Office (EDO). Continue reading Ninh Thuan seeks investors for 72 projects
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| Hoang Thi Nguyet (right) received a merit certificate and VND320,000 ($15) for exposing violations at the Hoai Duc Hospital in Ha Noi. — Photo dantri.com.vn |
HA NOI (VNS) — The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Inspectorate have issued a joint circular announcing that whistleblowers will be rewarded up to VND3.4 billion (US$160,000).
The joint circular said individuals who come forward to denounce corruption will be awarded in many ways. Specifically, those individuals, who detect and try to prevent corrupt acts worth between VND300 million ($15,000) and upwards will qualify for the reward. Continue reading Whistleblowers to be rewarded up to US$160,000
Đọt Chuối Non 