text:
Name of the blog | Shadow Minister for Police

Name of the blog

Description of the blog

CLP are failing our police and our community
CLP are failing our police and our community

16 March 2016 - Territory Labor Leader and Shadow Police Minister, Michael Gunner, said today that the CLP have not only failed to keep their promise of 120 extra police within three years, but the numbers are actually going backwards.

“This government’s three and a half years of chaos, infighting and broken promises has seen them to fail Territorians on tackling anti-social behaviour,” Mr Gunner said.

The Police Association President and CEO, Paul McCue, said today on local radio that the police numbers are less than they were three years ago.

"Obviously we look at last year’s annual report which was out quite late in the year I might add. You look at the numbers in there and in black and white; the numbers are less than they were three years ago so for us that’s a significant concern. I think we’ve had since October last year some 35 resignations and retirements and I would think we’re not even keeping up with that attrition and that’s a significant concern for us because it not only impacts immediately it impacts in the long term to address things like anti-social behaviour." -Paul McCue – NT Police Association President and CEO, Mix 104.9 16 March 2016

“Not only have the CLP already failed to deliver on their election promise of 120 extra police within three years, but they’ve failed to do any real work to attract more police.”

“As a result, police resources are stretched and the CLP have no plans to fix it.

“The CLP also promised to open the Nightcliff Police Station and make it operational 24/7 but once again, the CLP have failed to deliver on this key election promise to Territorians.

“Only Labor has a plan to tackle anti-social behaviour by properly resourcing our Police force and reintroducing the Banned Drinker’s Register which provided a point of sale intervention of alcohol for problem drinkers across the entire Territory.

“Police said that the Banned Drinker’s Register was the best tool they had at fighting alcohol related violence and crime.”

Media Contact: Gino Luglietti 0401 119 794

Veteran Firefighter Denied Justice
Veteran Firefighter Denied Justice

9 December 2015 - Territory Labor Leader, Michael Gunner, today called on the Territory Insurance Office (TIO) to urgently reconsider its decision to not compensate veteran fireman John (Jock) McLeod.

“I am deeply concerned that veteran firefighter, Jock McLeod, has had his bid for his workers compensation for work related illness rejected by TIO,” Mr Gunner said.

“Jock McLeod, like many other front line Territory emergency workers, has put his life on the line saving Territorians. Jock deserves to be looked after for his work related illness.

“Today’s decision is unjust and would not be supported by the majority of the Territory.

“Like anyone injured at work, Jock deserve to be adequately compensated,” Mr Gunner said.

Media Contact: Gino Luglietti 0401 119 794

Shadow Minister for Police, Lynne Walker, today said the NT crime statistics released today show there have been alarming increases in property crime in the Territory.

The NT crime statistics show a massive increase in break-ins across the Territory. There has been a 23.7 percent increase in domestic break-ins Territory wide; with an increase of 67.9 percent in Darwin,73.2 percent in Palmerston. Along with a rise in commercial break-ins of 103.7 percent in Palmerston, and 20.7 percent in Alice Springs.

Vehicle thefts have also increased by 27.9 percent; with a 38.4 percent increase in Darwin, a 55.8 percent increase in Palmerston.

Ms Walker said recent events have also highlighted the worrying levels of property crime and youth antisocial behaviour.

“Sadly many Territorians know from their own experiences that more needs to be done to tackle property crime in the Territory,” Ms Walker said.

“The Easter break saw increases in criminal activity, especially in Alice Springs, which has led to the formation of a taskforce to identify the root causes of this activity.

“The CLP Governments cuts to youth services, cuts to school holiday programs, are clear areas that need to be addressed by this taskforce to prevent future criminal activity.”

“While alcohol related crime has reduced statistically on the whole for the Territory, it is still a major issue for Darwin - which saw a 5.8 percent increase - and Palmerston, where access to alcohol by problem drinkers remains unfettered,” Ms Walker said.

“Territorians can see with their own eyes the scourge of alcohol fuelled violence and domestic violence in the Territory.

“The CLP Government’s limited alcohol management policy, of posting Territory Police at the front of bottle shops, while making small statistical gains, it cannot be ignored that it is draining on police resources, and is not sustainable.

“The Member for Katherine, Willem Westra van Holthe, revealed the Katherine Alcohol Rehabilitation facility will not be going ahead further narrowing the CLP’s armory to tackle problem drinking to unsustainable Temporary Beat Locations.

“The CLP Government needs to find a solution that is broad and holistic and acknowledge the constant recommendations by experts and calls to reinstate the Banned Drinkers Register – such as that by outgoing Police Association President, Vince Kelly.

“Territorians want the CLP Government to move away from their kneejerk reactions to tackling crime and adopt well thought, multifaceted long term strategies.”

Media contact: Cathryn Tilmouth 0427 500 667

NT Shadow Minister for Police, Lynne Walker, today called on the Chief Minister, Adam Giles, to remove himself from any role in creating the Terms of Reference for an Independent Judicial Inquiry as there are serious unanswered questions as to what he knew, and when, surrounding the allegations of the former Police Commissioner’s interference in a criminal investigation.

“Adam Giles has said he will make available his emails, phone records and text messages when he announced the Judicial Inquiry would be established. If even he has identified he’s the subject of rumours then he has a clear conflict of interest and should stand aside from any involvement in establishing the Inquiry,” Ms Walker said.

‘Last week Adam Giles said:

“The allegations that have been coming out about senior members of the police force actively running a coup or a campaign in cahoots with some alleged politicians, is a significant problem. That is spreading to the point of the Police Commissioner being removed albeit under a cloud of allegations and also this challenge today.” (Media conference Tuesday 3 February.)

 “I have good evidence that this has involved an orchestrated political coup to get rid of the police commissioner, the former one, and there have been the involvement of members of parliament. The judicial inquiry will have a look at it. If I find that there is evidence they'll go, and I'll take them to court. (Alice Springs branch meeting secret recordings Wednesday 4 February.)

“The circumstances around the undermining process, spreading rumours about myself by one parliamentary member in particular and the upper echelons of police, I think is very bad and signifies a significant problem within police, hence the judicial inquiry that I've just announced.” (Alice Springs branch meeting secret recordings Wednesday 4 February.)

“I will be making available to the judicial investigator in regards to this process, access to all emails, phone records, text messages and to find out who knew what, when. There have been a series of allegations and rumours made today, particularly in relation to some senior police and members of the political fraternity on the Country Liberals party side.” (Alice Springs branch meeting secret recordings Wednesday 4 February).

 “What evidence does Adam Giles have? Has he provided that evidence to the Public Interest Disclosure Commissioner or the Ombudsman who are currently investigating the allegations into the former Police Commissioner John McRoberts?" Ms Walker said.

 “Will Adam Giles come clean on who in the Country Liberals party he is accusing of being involved in a political coup?”

 Ms Walker said that the outrageous attack Adam Giles made against Police, that he now says ‘went too far’ has made his position untenable.

 “We have a Government embroiled in political infighting and a Chief Minister who shoots from the hip with unsubstantiated outrageous allegations. That is no way to run the Territory,” Ms Walker said.

 “If they can’t run themselves, they certainly can’t run the Territory.”

Media contact: Cathryn Tilmouth 0427 500 667

The NT Police Crime Statistics ending October 2014 reveal that it has taken no less than 797 days for the CLP Government to get violent crime down to around the same levels they inherited them in 2012, a far cry from their promise to reduce crime by 10 percent each year.

“Since taking office in 2012, we saw an explosion of crime when the CLP Government irresponsibly scrapped the Banned Drinker Register; cut the police budget; closed police beats and failed to deliver the promised 120 extra police,” Shadow Minister for Police, Lynne Walker said.

“Crime went out of control; and 2013 was the most violent year in Territory history.

“For over two years the Territory suffered while the CLP Government lurched from crisis to crisis with no direction on how to tackle the crime scourge.

“The CLP broke their promise of 120 extra police, and tried to claim the 94 police given to the former Labor Government by the former Federal Labor Government was part of that commitment, despite there now being 61 less police than there were at the same time last year.

“Darwin and Palmerston are bearing the brunt with record levels of violent crime – with 2220 crimes against the person occurring in Darwin alone in the past 12 months.

“The CLP have also abandoned the Alcohol Policy and Mandatory Alcohol Treatment portfolios to avoid accountability on the biggest social issue in the Territory, alcohol misuse.

“Where crime still rages, with an increase in house break-ins of 37.7 percent in Darwin, and Alcohol related assaults up 7.3 percent in Palmerston, 10 police officers have been removed and sent to Katherine to man bottle shops – which is stretching police resources even further.”

Media contact: Cathryn Tilmouth 0427 500 667

Giles 2016 Election candidates Adam Giles Alcohol Alcohol Mandatory Treatment Alcohol Policy Alice Springs Allianz AMT Cash for Access Casuarina Casuarina by-election Chief Minister CLP CLP broken promises CLP chaos CLP cuts CLP failure CLP Government CLP privatisation agenda COGSO Cost of Living Crime Darwin Port Darwin Ports Dave Tollner Delia Lawrie Donations Education Education cuts environment Foundation 51 fuel prices Fyles Gerry McCarthy Giles Global School Budget Global school budgets Government Accountability Gunner health ICAC Indigenous Affairs Infrastructure Ken Vowles Labor Candidate for Casuarina Land rights Lands and planning Lauren Moss Lawrie Leader of the Opposition Leadership Lynne Walker McCarthy Member for Casuarina Member for Nhulunbuy Michael Gunner Moss Natasha Fyles Nhulunbuy Nicole Manison No Mandate No Sale NT crime statistics On Track Opposition Whip Palmerston Hospital Peter Chandler petrol prices Police Police Commissioner power prices PowerWater PowerWater Corporation Privatisation remote housing Richardson Park Robyn Lambley Scullion Senate Inquiry Shadow Attorney-General Shadow Minister for Child Protection Shadow Minister for Corrections Shadow Minister for Education Shadow Minister for Essential Services Shadow Minister for Government Accountability Shadow Minister for Health Shadow Minister for Indigenous Policy Shadow Minister for Police Territory Assets Territory Labor Leader TIO TIO Sale Tollner unacceptable behaviour Walker workers compensation Youth justice


Content-Type: application/http; msgtype=response

WARC-Type: response

text:
Tag: tesler trading co

Is Tesler Investment A Scam Trading System?

Is Tesler Investment A Scam Trading System? How To Join in Tesler Investments APP? What is Tesler Investments Software All About? here’s My Best Tesler Investments Review Before Login To Tesler Trading System

Is Tesler Investment A Scam

Is Tesler Investment A Scam Trading System? Several phenomenon January effect experts interpreted as a result of the sale traders and investors to stocks that do not return their operations, it and closed financial positions losers, so they can deduct those losses from 100K Factory Revolution Bonus profits earned in the year to take advantage of the tax break, which is usually paid at the end of each year, and waiting the end of the year to the beginning of the new Tesler investments.

Tesler Investment

Tesler Investment

Is the theory of market efficiency, a more economic theories that spark debate between supporters and opponents that this theory published by the world economy, “Is Tesler Investment A Scam?” in the late sixties of the last century, gave its owner the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2013 for multiple research-related capital markets are still received many of the criticisms, only this theory can not predict the future direction of prices and that the price always reflects most of the information found in most market participants.

That which can be refuted by many experts and traders, some of the patterns and phenomena and courses used by traders to increase the likelihood of success of their trading, among the phenomena that are known to be good traders with experience in the market phenomena associated with the dates of the year, there is no doubt that you are a trader or up to date News financial markets will have heard the phrase, such as “sell in may and go”, one of the most well-known among traders and financial phenomena, and other famous one, which we will talk about in the article phenomena is a phenomenon known as “January effect“.

What are displayed in January effect?
Phenomenon January effect is a seasonal phenomena defined by the stock markets, which are related to the calendar schedule, Like the phenomenon of “Sell in May and go” which means among traders should sell what they own the shares at the beginning of May, so that, according to some studies, the markets be performed best month between November and April from the rest of the other months. Which applies to the phenomenon of January effect, which means that the stock market’s performance in January is historically better than his performance in the other months.

According to historical data on this phenomenon, the stock markets know relatively decrease in the month of December before rising in January, so it is a lot of investors to enter into buying the stock to take advantage of this phenomenon and to sell their shares after the prices rise. And it has been observed this phenomenon for the first time in 1942 by “Sydney and Astill” and who was working as an expert money markets, one of the investment banks in the United States. Sydney have observed that markets since 1925 is its performance in January, larger than the other months of the year, and this effect appears greater with small market capitalization companies. The impact of this phenomenon is greater during the third year of a presidential term of each president in the United States.

The causes of the phenomenon of the impact
Several phenomenon January effect experts interpreted as a result of the sale traders and investors to stocks that do not return their operations, it and closed financial positions losers, so they can deduct those losses from profits earned in the year to take advantage of the tax break, which is usually paid at the end of each year, and waiting the end of the year to the beginning of the new investment.

Is Tesler Investment A Scam?

Another reason why some are of this phenomenon is that portfolio managers always start own investment plans with the beginning of the year, so that they enter the stock markets at the beginning of January, creating an imbalance between supply and demand, so the demand is higher than supply results in higher stock prices especially low self-liquidity companies.

In addition, can the psychological factor inclusion as one of the reasons that could explain the phenomenon of January effect, especially on small market capitalization companies (minimum of $ 2 billion), which are listed in the “Russell 2000” index so that you know these companies big rises in prices because of the enthusiasm of investors young people in order to achieve the greatest return, taking advantage of the large price differences between supply and demand and low prices that do not exceed often to $ 5.

Tesler Investments January effect
Although many of Tesler Investments Statistics which indicates that the stock tends to rise in January, it can not be a trader to making any United Trading Network Scam investment decision based on this phenomenon, just because some of the studies and statistics showed that the probability of occurrence of this phenomenon is too big.

Although it also to the limits of writing these lines, the phenomenon of January effect seems to be going in by checking through this year as well, since the month of December was known decline in the stock markets during the last week (Standard Index Poor’s declined 2%) to be followed by a direct rise with the opening of markets following the Christmas holiday, where the Standard & Poor’s index rose by 2.3% during the first week only. Thus Tesler Investments The best thing you can do is to adapt your strategy and plan your trade with this phenomenon.

Tesler Investments Review Is Tesler Trading APP SCAM?

Tesler Investments Review Is Tesler Trading APP SCAM? Is Steven Abrahams Tesler Investments Legit Binary Trading Software? Is Tesler Software Real APP? How To Join in Tesler Investment System? Tesler Investments Reviews 2017

Tesler Investments

Tesler Investments Studies assessing the importance of great growing investment projects has become at the present time due to the increase in economic activities rely on different types on the heads Alamua, where he became a capital spending as the use of funds in the present to achieve profits and future benefits, and the consequent period of time to take wise decisions on the feasibility of projects investment of different kinds.

Tesler Investments

Tesler Investments Results

It depends on the subject of investment planning and long-term investment decisions. These decisions are important in business and for the purpose of balancing the cost of obtaining funds and revenue expected to be achieved from the investment, taking into account the role of risk in this Tesler investment process. Tesler APP adult role when a long period of time to be expected and this is what Stodha scientific bases used to decide on the size and proportion of the amount of risk in investments available for facility

The Tesler Trader or students, who wish to delve deeper into topics of investment, including the Masters wish especially new releases that reflect and constantly learning goals, especially if they include these versions.

1. integration of theoretical and practical concepts.

2. emphasis on economic benefits and intuitive concepts Almanmhz investment

3. give a clear idea of the nature of the Tesler APP business and financial markets.

The goal of the book is college students and graduate who wish to learn more in the field of finance. The most important is to help workers in the field of investment to make better decisions and who have informed in the field like that. The aim of this book is to improve the educational experience for those involved. And especially the book deals with the problems faced by retail investors.

The book dealing with the topics and special mission in the field of investment is simple sporty style with the expansion in private investment axiom and economic concepts. The Tesler APP Platform can be understood even in the absence of a basis in mathematics or the principles of economics. This book consists of seven chapters.

The important part of the environment in which managers work is the financial system in the economy. Where the financial system that includes the financial markets, financial institutions and financial instruments. The first chapter discusses the three aspects of the financial system and to provide a general review of historical models for interest rate movements in the financial markets.

Tesler Investments Review

The second chapter: it is a comprehensive Tesler Trading review of the three basic resolutions and that all Tesler Software investors should be taken into consideration and review. Where it was to clarify the need for these decisions to help the reader to understand what has been referred to in the coming quarters. Also noted this Tesler Investments Review chapter to the importance of asset allocation.

The Tesler investment markets, the subject of Chapter III, and the markets for the investment represents a place where we are active by trading in securities of different kinds.

The fourth chapter the capital asset pricing model, where it was noted in this chapter to the property market capitalization in the market.

The fifth chapter Securities fixed-income evaluated, this chapter has dealt give a general idea of the determinants of bond market values through the study of the important principles in the evaluation of Sindh

The Chapter VI dealt with mixed Rubix Project Scam investment portfolios.

The seventh and last chapter dealt with the subject of Steven Abrahams Tesler Investments options, which is one of the topics important investment.

warcinfo:
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-145-167-34.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2017-17
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web for April 2017
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf


text:
Saturday, October 30, 2010

Movie Night - October 30th, 2010

Movies and pumpkin carving, and much fun on Halloween Eve.

Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster
   Pretty cute live action Scooby-Doo movie with lots of nice call backs to the old cartoon, and funny moments. Also, when did Velma become such a cutie? Kind of makes sense though, as now nerdy girls are cute and appreciated, so it does make sense.

The Boy Who Cried Werewolf
   First off, wow to Brooke Shields, she was funny, kind of sexy in a creepy way, and a total shout out to Young Frankenstein. Like the last one, not Citizen Kane by any stretch of the imagination, but good fun, and lots of hidden references to classic horror.

   I still love this movie so much, but it's been so long since i've seen it whole, that i forgot how many parts it had to it. I remembered three stories, but wow, so not three. Also probably the origin of my love for Trick r Treat, my favorite Halloween movie now. Side note, why aren't there more Halloween movies tied to the holiday like Trick r Treat is? Besides being a good anthology halloween movie, it actually takes place on halloween. Ah well. Creepshow is still awesome, can be funny, but also chilling if you let it be. Nice to see it's on bluray, but why no extras?

No comments:


text:
There seems to be something about that British "It Girl" look that we cannot help but seek to emulate. That sheer effortlessly cool that appears to be a combination of high-end garments, toussled hair, and a certain je ne sai quoi — a permanent air as if they just had gotten out of bed, had a  couple glasses of rosé and just casually strolling down the street. While our local society belles have undoubtedly been slaying the sartorial game, we cannot help but look across the pond to these style-savvy English roses for an even more complete fashion guide in preparation for the coming summer.

Poppy Jamie

Who: The former television presenter recently started her own accessories brand, Pop & Suki, with best friend and Bradley Cooper's ex-flame Suki Waterhouse.
What We Love: Expect to see Jamie donning lots of vibrant colours with her girly, yet flirtatious looks.

Edie Campbell

Who: She's currently one of the hottest models in the UK with Chanel, Hermes, and Burberry under her resume. While not busy gracing the covers of top fashion magazines, Campbell is also an award-winning jockey and regularly documents her equestrian skills on Instagram.
What We Love: She is known to the break the British "It Girl" mold with her daring looks that perfectly combines high fashion with a street edge.

Adwoah Aboah

Who: Not just another pretty face, Aboah is an avid advocate for social issues and a known feminist activist who founded GURLS TALK, a movement that strive to provide a safe platform for girls to share their experiences.  Born into fashion royalty, her mother Camilla Lowther is the founder of CLM, a fashion management agency giant, while her father Charles Aboah runs a location scouting company.
What We Love: From high-end to vintage, Aboah is not afraid to throw in a few curveballs like bright prints and androgynous tailoring with her eclectic looks.

Mary Chateris

Who: She's a Lady, literally, with the full title Lady Mary Chateris, daughter of Catherine Guinness and James Charteris, the 13th Earl of Wemyss and 9th Earl of March. She is also married to rocker and guitarist of The Kills, Robbie Furze. She counts Cara and Poppy Delevigne and Georgia May Jagger among her A-List friends.
What We Love: Her glamourous rock n' roll style. Expect lots of sequins, fur, and skinny jeans.

Kata Hicks

Who: While not a Brit by blood, the New York fashionista is married to Prince Charles' second cousin and Prince Philip's godson Ashley Hicks. Their whirlwind romance that started when the couple met on Instagram has been the talk of the town when they tied the knot in 2015.
What We Love: Stunning fashion editorial quality Instagram posts documenting a wild and wide range of looks from Hicks' wardrobe.

Imogen Waterhouse

Who: The younger sister of model Suki Waterhouse, the 22 year-old has followed her sister's footsteps into the modelling world but said she is setting her sights on the acting industry after training at the Oxford School of Drama.

What We Love: Her effortlessly chic looks featuring laidback bohemian style and the occasional street mix.

Emily Steel

Who: Steel has previously been rumoured to be dating Kate Middleton's younger brother James Middleton.  The model is now based in New York and can be seen walking the runways on the regular.
What We Love: Classic British beauty with a style that flaunts vintage glam.

Olympia Campbell

Who: The sister of the aforementioned Edie Campbell, the younger Campbell is claiming her own fashion rights. Another descendant of industry royalty, she is the daughter of former fashion editor Sophie Hicks and granddaughter of model Joan Hicks.
What We Love: Her style collection captures the spirit of dreamy rebellious youth. Campbell opts for basics with a bit a grunge and 60s mod thrown in the mix.

Gabriela Wilde

Who: The actor and model comes from a family of Barons and Baronesses. She was spotted by Naomi Campbell at the mere age of 14 and since graduated from modelling to focus on acting with appearances in The Three Muskeeters and Carrie—to name a few.
What We Love: Her minimal style that focuses on neutral and earthy tones. No frills, just a good old refined taste.

Anaïs Gallagher

Who: The 17-year-old daughter of former Oasis frontman and British rock royalty Noel Gallagher. She claims Kate Moss as her second mum and is best friends with Brooklyn Beckham.
What We Love: The apple does not fall far from the tree. Blending 90s aesthetics with retro glam, Gallagher's style is the epitome of the modern day rock n' roll princess.

Tags: Style Guide, British Socialites, Posh Girls


text:
Thứ Sáu, 18 tháng 7, 2014

Vinalines takes losses for 5th consecutive year

Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) is forecast to lose around VND1 trillion (USD47 million) in 2014, the fifth consecutive year of losses for the shipping giant.

Leaders of Vinalines have admitted that the competitiveness of their fleet is weaker than that of private shipping companies.

The biggest difficulty in restructuring of for the company has been the high investment required for upgrading its fleet, which experienced its best business between 2007 and 2008. In the ensuing years, business faltered and the company ran at a continuous loss. However, if the company waits for the market to recover, the fleet will have aged considerably, driving up the cost of maintenance. As a result, Vinalines has had to sell some of its ships to cut losses.

Without improved port operations and logistics, Vinalines may fail to reach total revenue of VND9.78 trillion in the first half of 2014.

Amid this difficult situation, leaders of Vinalines consider restructuring as a way to save the firm from the looming risk bankruptcy in two to three years.

To date, seven affiliates of Vinalines have completed equitisation as scheduled.

Of their current outstanding debt of VND54.78 trillion (USD2.61 billion), Vinalines has restructured USD196.3 million of it through foreign credit organisations and VND43 trillion (USD2.06 billion) through domestic commercial banks.

Vietnam becomes ideal market for beer producers

Vietnam has become a promising market for beer production as the country tops Southeast Asia in beer consumption, totaling 3 billion litres of beer per year.

The high demand places Vietnam 25th worldwide and the third in Asia in beer consumption, which is expected to climb to 4.2 to 4.5 billion litres in 2015.

Vietnam is home to more than 400 beer companies, with around 30 international brands. The country has become a very attractive market to foreign investors.

In the end of 2013, Slovakia’s BTG Holdings started building a beer plant in Hoa Binh Province using Czech technology. The project is scheduled to be in operation late this year.

Sapporo Vietnam in Long An Province has plans to raise their annual capacity to 100 million litres of beer from the current 40 million litres for export to more than 10 countries.

The Vietnamese market has seen the presence of several imported brands such as Corona (Mexico), Bochka (Russia), DAD (Germany) and Duvel (Belgium)…

In 2013, the Vietnamese person drank 32 litres of beer, leading Southeast Asia, meanwhile, per capita income of Vietnam is only 8th among ASEAN countries.

Vu Thi Minh Hanh, Deputy Director of Health Strategy and Policy Institute, said that average global average beer consumption has remained almost unchanged over the past decade at 6.13 litres per person per year. Vietnam, however, has seen a sharp rise.

Per capita beer consumption in Vietnam is forecast to reach 7 litres by 2025, she added.

Up to 90% of Vietnamese men drink alcohol and the rate of local young people who use alcohol is also increasing rapidly.

Mrs. Hanh cited a survey which said that up to 60% of traffic accidents and 68% of domestic violence cases as well as 38% incidents of social disorder can be attributed to the abuse of alcohol.

Every year, around 2.5 million fatalities are related to the use of alcohol, accounting for 2.8% of the total number of deaths worldwide.

Nguyen Trong Thai, Office Manager of the National Committee for Traffic Safety, said that out of every 500 traffic fatalities, 34% show high blood alcohol levels.

New State-owned enterprises must focus on critical areas

New State-owned enterprises (SOE) can only be formed if they provide products and services critically important to ensuring national economic security, according to a new decree approved by Prime Minister, Nguyen Tan Dung.

Under the decree, the parent company in a State economic group must have the minimum charter capital of VND10 trillion (US$470 million) and have at least 50% of their subsidiaries operating in key stages of their main businesses.

The decree stipulated that subsidiaries are not allowed to buy shares of other subsidiaries within a parent company, as well as the company having control over the State-run economic groups and corporations to which they belong.

State economic groups and corporations are also required to disclose key information related to their operations on a website for enterprises run by the Ministry of Planning Investment.

The issuance of the decree is part of the Government’s effort to restructure State-run companies which, along with bad debt, have slowing down Vietnam’s economic growth in recent years.

In 2013, the Government equitised 74 SOEs but most of them were small companies and only a small share of equitised assets has been transferred to non-State shareholders, according to a World Bank report.

Vietnam has set a target to equitise more than 400 State firms over the next two years.

Walmart riding on TPP advantages

The US’ Walmart, one of the world’s biggest retail groups, is seeking more profits from Vietnam if the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement is agreed upon.

Kevin Gardner, senior director of Walmart Global’s International Corporate Affairs, told Vietnam Investment Review (VIR) last week in an interview that Walmart was a strong advocate of the TPP negotiations from which it could greatly benefit.

“This comprehensive trade agreement provides market access and will bring a wide range of Vietnamese goods and agricultural products to consumers in our key retail markets in the US, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Chile,” he said.

The delayed TPP negotiations, which will hopefully be signed next year, are a multilateral free trade pact between Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, the US, and Vietnam. Once signed, the pact is expected to cover almost 40% of global gross domestic product.

“By gaining tariff-free access to large markets such as the US and Japan and by reducing non-tariff barrier, Vietnam could see faster export growth and large gains in gross national product than any other TPP members,” said Professor Robert Lawrence from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

“Walmart does not have retail operations in Vietnam now, and we don’t have plans to open stores there,” Gardner said when questioned about expansion plans.

However, Walmart opened a sourcing office in Ho Chi Minh City in late 2013, and its current presence in Vietnam is through this office, which employs approximately 20 people and has relationships with numerous suppliers in Vietnam.

Walmart is sourcing apparel, footwear, homewares, toys and seasonal items from Vietnam.

Establishing “strategic relations with growers and economic groups” is important for Walmart and its customers, and having an office in Vietnam enable it to “more broadly and effectively” operate and better facilitate the identification and selection of suppliers while monitoring the manufacturing process to ensure compliance, safety and quality, Gardner said.

In January 2014, Walmart’s Global Sourcing vice president Bill Foudy came to Vietnam in search of more market opportunities and met with Minister of Planning and and Investment Bui Quang Vinh.

“Our presence in Vietnam will prompt other investors to come to Vietnam to do business,” Foudy said. “We will also provide local partner with technical assistance.”

A good example of Walmart’s sourcing relationships in Vietnam with Thuan Phuong Embroidery, which Walmart has been working with for more than four years.

“The owner of this business has been successfully exporting her products to the US, and we are hoping her to expand further with our direct business,” Gardner said.

Walmart currently operates retail outlet chains in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Japan, India and China.

Instant noodle firms eager to tap into Mexican market

Vietnamese noodle manufacturers have a chance to tap the Mexican market which annually imports an estimated 1.6 billion packs worth US$500 million annually, according to the Mexico-based Vietnam Embassy’s Trade Office.

A trade office survey showed that instant noodles are primarily sold through 12 major supermarkets, such as Wal-Mart, Aurrera, Superama, Soriana, and Comercial Mexicana.

When exporting to Mexico, domestic manufacturers should be aware that Mexico levies a 10% tariff on all normal products and a 20% tariff on products containing egg as part of efforts to protect the chicken industry, one of the country’s key exportss.

Hoang Tuan Viet, Trade Counsellor to Mexico, affirmed Vietnamese instant noodles can be exported to Mexico. Businesses should choose brand names associated with low prices such as Vifon, Masan, Milliket, Micoem, and Asia Food, he suggested.

To best approach the market, businesses should develop a detailed advertising strategy to market the products to the Mexican people. For example tasting at supermarkets is an effective and proven method of marketing, he said.

Vietnam currently has 50 instant noodle manufacturers which produce nearly 50 billion packs a year. It is also one of the largest consumers of instant noodles in Asia with average consumption of 1-3 packs per person a week.

Currently, Japan-invested VinaAcecook leads the market with 51.5% of market shares, followed by Masan Consumer (16.5%), Asia Food (12.1%) and the remaining 20% are owned by smaller brand names like Miliket and Vifon.

Japanese businesses want to invest in Vietnam

Around 30% of Japanese businesses that are intent on investing overseas consider Vietnam as their prime choice, according to a recent survey by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

JETRO reported that it will conduct a fact-finding tour in the near future of key industrial zones in northern Vietnam, such as Hanoi, Hung Yen, Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, Haiphong and Quang Ninh for 26 Japanese businesses.

JETRO chief representative in Hanoi Atsusuke Kawada said his agency anticipates that the visit will facilitate Japanese businesses gain a better understanding about the northern region’s investment environment, encouraging them to invest in the country.

HCM City:Exponential retail growth on the horizon

The retail market in HCM City is getting set for major realignments as many of the world’s leading retailers in the food, beverage, and fashion industries formulate expansion plans to set up shop.

In early July, Singapore’s Mapletree Group announced it is expanding its presence in the city with a Vietsin Commercial Complex Development JSC joint venture development of a one-stop ‘family-lifestyle-destination’ mall for both the local and expatriate communities in Ho Chi Minh City.

The five-storey mall will offer the latest fashion, a hypermarket, a cineplex as well as lifestyle, entertainment, education, dining outlets, and other entertainment on an area spanning 21,270 square metres, located at SC Vivo City’s South Palace Complex .

Mapletree Group will be introducing international brands including CGV-one from the Republic of Korea, the largest multiplex cinema chain in the RoK which has branches throughout China and the US. Saigon Co.op and NTUC FairPrice have also signed deals to set up mega supermarkets in the SC VivoCity shopping centre.

Other international giants in including Starbucks, MOF, BreadTalk, ThaiExpress, Pepper Lunch and Shabu Ya are also lining up putting the final touches on negotiations to begin operation in the shopping centre in the near future.

Robins Department Store-a member of Thailand’s leading retailer Central Group recently unveiled its plan to enter Vietnam’s southern market this November. Following a successful opening of its first store in Hanoi, Robins Department Store announced it has rented four floors covering 10,000 square metres at Ho Chi Minh City-based Crescent Mall to launch its southern campaign.

Japanese retail tycoon AEON Mall will also officially making its debut appearance in the Vietnamese market in the remaining months of the year. The group inaugurated its first commercial centre in Tan Phu district, HCMC on January 1, 2014 and is continuing to expand its market share. The company is hurriedly preparing to expand into Binh Duong province which borders HCMC in the fourth quarter (Q4) of the year.

McDonalds’s, the world’s largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants opened its first franchise in eastern Saigon earlier this year just after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday. Then in Q2/2014, its second franchise opened in District 1. At the opening a representative of McDonald’s announced plans for a third and fourth franchise.

It appears McDonald’s is following the lead of its predecessor to HCM City, Starbucks, which has accelerated rapidly in the market and is on track to celebrate the grand opening of its 8th coffee shop in HCM City in Q3/2014.

Baskin-Robbins the international home of delicious cones, shakes, treats, cakes, and pies recently opened the doors for business of its 20th store in Q2/2014.

Dairy Queen, a US based franchise owned by billionaire Warren Buffett, opened its first ice cream outlet in January, 2014 with its first in District 1 and a second shortly thereafter within only a few months. As planned, over the next five years, Dairy Queen chain will massively expand to over 60 stores.

Caffe Bene, famous Korea coffee brand which currently operates in 12 countries has chosen Q3/2014 as the time to set foot in the Vietnam market. Recently, in Seoul, CaffeBene Vina Company signed an exclusive franchise contract with Caffe Bene.

In the HCMC Q3/2014 real estate report, CBRE Executive Director Vietnam Marc Townsend predicted the landing of international retail brands in HCM City would be strong in the future.

The leading indicator of the growth he says came in a Nielsen survey, in Q1/2014. The confidence index of Vietnamese consumers was higher than the global average. This is one of the key factors that increased the confidence of international retailers and helped sway their decisions to invest in Vietnam.

Global Director of Leasing Services and Retail Consultants Cushman and Wakefield Mark Burlton recently commented that the global economic crisis created many changes in the retail market over the past five years.

Retailers no longer need to maintain a large number of stores like before in their country, he said, adding that instead, they are actively searching for opportunities to open stores in international markets, and they are particularly fond of Asia.

Currently, many international brands have their eye on the Asian market, and most particularly Vietnam.

Mark Burlton stressed that most of the products of brands making their appearance in Vietnam are readily available in other countries and have been for years.  This gives them a competitive advantage as it is relatively easy to develop distribution channels and tie into their pre-existing networks.

However, prior to a retailer pouring direct investment into any project, they must always carefully weigh the pros and cons of the long-term venture.

One of the more prominent obstacles that foreign retailers coming to Vietnam face is the vast difference among differing parts of the country and the weather. When a foreign retailer enters Vietnam, it often chooses to open a chain instead of just one or two small stores and the varying factors complicate matters.

The process of finding good location is arduous work. Overall project quality in Vietnam is not equal in general. Vietnam does not have an abundance of good projects for retailers to choose from.

These are highly complex and significantly important issues that retailers coming to Vietnam must cope with, Burlton said.

Cushman and Wakefield leaders say that although many international brands are cropping up throughout the country, the number of brands has not matured as of yet.

In 2015, Vietnam is poised to fully open the retail market in line with World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments. The country should brace itself for exponential growth of the presence of foreign retailer giants in HCM City and throughout the nation in the coming time, they say.

Thai Nguyen actively betters investment climate

The northern province of Thai Nguyen has directed its departments, agencies and authorities at grassroots levels to step up implementing an array of measures to improve its investment climate.

Duong Ngoc Long, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said his province always creates the most favourable conditions possible for investors in terms of investment permits and ground clearance.

Having welcomed a high-tech complex project invested by Samsung Group from the Republic of Korea, Thai Nguyen continues to call on affiliates of the business to promote their support industry projects.

The province has also hastened ground clearance in Yen Binh, Diem Thuy, Song Cong and Nam Pho Yen industrial parks, enabling investors to kick-start the construction there at an early date.

Regarding administrative reform, it has promulgated 20 mechanisms and policies to facilitate investment, notably the application of the “one-stop-shop” mechanism in dealing with administrative formalities.

Regular dialogues between businesspersons, provincial officials and bankers to ease difficulties for local businesses have also been maintained.

As a result, many investors have accessed preferential loans from commercial banks and benefited from some tax policies.

In the first half of this year, Thai Nguyen attracted 19 foreign-invested projects valued at US$134 million, bringing the total to 66 with a combined investment of around US$3.8 billion.

Local firms seek investment opportunities in Turkey

A Vietnamese business delegation is visiting Turkey from July 9-12 to seek investment opportunities, especially in the electronics and home appliance industries.

A Vietnamese business delegation is visiting Turkey from July 9-12 to seek investment opportunities, especially in the electronics and home appliance industries.

The delegation, led by Dien Quang Company Director General Ho Quynh Hung, are making the visit at the invitation of Levent Çakıroğlu, CEO of Arçelik, one of Turkey’s leading industrial groups.

The two sides are expected to establish an official cooperation channel, bolstering bilateral trade ties.

Dien Quang CEO said he wants to study the Turkish markets and secure a foothold in the Middle Eastern country, which he described as the largest export market of Vietnam in southern Europe.

During their stay in Istanbul, the Vietnamese businesses worked with representatives from the Union of Chambers and the Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK)’s Turkey-Vietnam Business Council, and a number of Turkey businesses.

Vietnam Ambassador to Turkey Pham The Cuong expressed his strong desire to strengthen economic links between the two countries. Turkey’s large groups are more than welcome to invest in Vietnam, he said, adding that the Vietnam Embassy in Turkey has implemented many activities to promote Vietnam-Turkey business connectivity and facilitate Vietnamese firms’ operations overseas.

Bac Ninh provides VND300 bln for Samsung Display

The People’s Council of northern Bac Ninh province on July 10 approved a VND300 billion incentive package to recruit a new Samsung Display project to the Yen Phong Industrial Park.

The package provides VND287 billion to fund 50% of the cost of infrastructure facilities on an area spanning 46 hectares and another VND12 billion for employee training.

The maximum allotted for training each employee is capped at VND1.5 million, which is further limited by an overall cap of 8.000 employees.

As part of the deal, the Bac Ninh provincial People’s Committee granted an investment license for a US$1 billion Samsung Display at Yen Phong Industrial Park.

The Samsung project is projected to produce 48 million electronic products per annum, create 8,000 jobs and generate revenue of nearly VND6 billion annually.

Viettel in Africa presented with Mobile Innovations Awards

Movitel, a joint venture between Vietnam’s military-run telecommunication Viettel Group and Mozambique’s SPI, has won the Mobile Innovations Awards for enterprises in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

This is the third consecutive year in a row that Movitel has been selected for the coveted award for its achievements and innovation in mobile technology.

Since its inception in May 15, 2012, the company subscribers have climbed to 5 million (making up 32% of market share) and it is poised to take the lead in the market in the coming time.

Last year, the company’s total revenue was US$154.5 million with profits of over US$8.8 million.

AEC could be a bitter pill for sugar industry

The sugar and sugarcane industry should look for ways to enhance its competitiveness, especially with the ASEAN Economic Community set to come into existence next year.

Vo Tong Xuan, chairman of the Tay Ninh Sugar and Sugarcane Research Centre and senior adviser on sugar to the Thanh Thanh Cong Group, said sugarcane and sugar production costs remain high in Viet Nam compared to other countries in the region.

The industry is thus at risk of losing on home turf once the AEC comes into being, he told a conference organised by the Thanh Thanh Cong Group.

More than 200 scientists, farmers, and local and foreign executives from the sugar industry attended the conference that analysed successful models from Viet Nam and other countries like Thailand and Australia to help farmers improve their yields.

Nguyen Huu Loc, chairman of Thanh Thanh Cong’s sugarcane committee, said the area under sugarcane increased slightly in recent years to 289,018ha to yield a sugar output of 1.58 million tonnes in the 2013-14 crop.

“The average sugar yield in Viet Nam is 5.47 tonnes per hectare, much lower than 7.62 in China, 8.05 in Thailand, and 11.8 in Australia, “he said.

Ho Thai Binh of Nuoc Trong Sugar Joint Stock Company, which grows 2,150ha of sugarcane in Tay Ninh Province, said irrigation during the dry season and timely use of fertilisers among other things helped his company improve the quality of sugarcane and yield to 85 tonnes per hectare.

Profits have increased to VND27.25 million (US$1,285) per hectare compared to VND17.89 million without irrigation during the dry season, he added.

Nguyen Trong Thua, director of the Department of Processing and Trade for Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Products and Salt Production, said the small scale and scattered production made it hard to mechanise sugarcane production, resulting in high costs and low productivity.

Besides, a lack of irrigation and use of unsuitable sugarcane varieties also affected productivity, he said.

Post-harvest loss of sucrose in the cane was high, especially in areas where transport from the fields to the mills was limited, he said.

Factors that cause a reduction in sugarcane yields include growing unsuitable varieties, poor techniques, and inappropriate choice of planting time, fertilisers, and irrigation, and failure to mechanise, according to Loc.

The planting time decides sugarcane yields, good preparation of land help roots grow well, and mechanised planting helps reduce costs.

Meanwhile, disease-free and high-purity saplings plays a decisive role in increasing yields, and farmers should be careful in translocating strains since they are not suitable for all regions.

Le Ngoc Tinh, a cane grower in Tay Ninh, said controlling dangerous sugarcane diseases was also very important.

He said authorities should invest more to produce harvesters suitable for each region. While sugar companies should co-operate with farmers associations to set up co-operative teams to make it easy to use machines in sugarcane cultivation, he added.

Loc said the country had10 different areas suitable for cane cultivation, each with different climatic and soil conditions, and so it was important to find a suitable model for each region.

Besides studying the latest global models to identify new technologies, successful domestic models should also be expanded, he said.

Thua urged the sugar industry to boost research to make use of sugarcane by-products, saying this would help reduce sugar production costs and improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese sugar.

Vinacomin posts 18% increase in H1 turnover, profit declines

The Viet Nam National Coal and Minerals Industries Group’s (Vinacomin) turnover in the first half of the year was VND55.3 trillion ($2.6 billion), representing 18 per cent year-on-year increase.

Vinacomin is expected to show VND600 billion (US$28.5 million) profits, meeting 30 per cent of this year’s target.

Vinacomin’s Deputy General Director Nguyen Van Bien told a press conference in Ha Noi on Thursday that the low profit was due to increasing taxes and fees imposed on the group.

Bien said that from the beginning of February, tax on natural resources rose two per cent, making the group pay VND1 trillion more in a year.

In addition, it also had to pay more than VND1 trillion a year to get the rights for exploration.

“The increasing taxes and fees, together with unchanged coal prices in the domestic market for the past three years have caused difficulties for Vinacomin,” he said.

He added that the high taxes and fees would make the coal sector run out of capital for investment.

He asked the Government to lower taxes and duties, to help the group accumulate capital to develop its coal mines while allowing it to export coal to Japan till 2015.

Vinacomin’s General Director Le Minh Chuan said coal exports to China have been halted because of high prices.

Chuan said in the process of restructuring, the group has absorbed nine single member companies into its branches. It has also completed privatisation of two out of six companies.

It withdrew VND1.6 trillion from non-core businesses in the finance and banking sectors.

Vinacomin has ensured jobs for more than 126,000 labourers with an average income of VND7.7 million ($360) each a month, increasing 3 per cent over the same period last year.

He said the group was committed to making the Nhan Co Aluminium project operational by 2015.

Vinacomin is looking to have a turnover of VND105 trillion this year, and produce 37.7 million tonnes of coal with consumption of 35 million tonnes. Of this, coal exports would be 8 million tonnes and 27 million tonnes would be for domestic consumption.

It would improve capacity, lower product prices and complete its construction projects to ensure energy security.

It planned to increase the salaries of workers from 5 to 10 per cent.

Minister of Industry and Trade, Vu Huy Hoang placed high value on the coal sector’s achievements in the first half of the year despite the difficulties.

Hoang urged Vinacomin to make greater efforts as coal and electricity industries could affect other sectors such as building materials and fertilisers it was facing.

He asked the group to accelerate its restructuring and focus on its core businesses.

Rubber glut to last another two years

Despite a fall in rubber export prices, many farmers in Viet Nam are earning good profits from exports, a seminar heard yesterday in HCM City.

With an oversupply of rubber in the market, the price plummeted to US$1,979 a tonne in the first half of the year compared to its peak of US$3,000 a tonne in 2011, said Pham Dong Quang, deputy head of the Crop Production Department.

Global oversupply is expected to last for two more years, but will gradually shrink because of a decline in production in rubber-exporting countries in Asia caused by impact of the El Nino weather phenomenon.

In addition, the recovery of the world economy is expected to increase demand for rubber, he said.

Tran Ngoc Thuan, president of the Viet Nam Rubber Group and chairman of the Viet Nam Rubber Association, said the current rubber price was “really not that low, just low compared to its peak.”

Do Duc Oanh, owner of Doan Ket farm in Binh Phuoc Province, who has more than 60ha under rubber cultivation, said that despite the price fall, he was still making a good profit.

However, many farmers are not using proper harvest techniques, which affects their rubber productivity and quality, Oanh said, adding that the Government should pay more attention to helping farmers use better methods.

He also petitioned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to have better management of seedling production organisations as many unreliable seedling providers operated in the market.

Many delegates at the seminar said that reports that many farmers were cutting down rubber trees to plant other crops were untrue.

Quang said according to reports from departments of agriculture and rural development of many provinces, about 3,856ha of rubber was cut in the first half of the year.

“However, of that amount, 3,123ha was from old rubber gardens or from trees that could not recover after being hit by storms last year that need to be replanted,” he said.

Only about 733ha, mostly planted on unsuitable cultivation land that was economically inefficient, was cut down for other higher profit crops, he said.

The area of rubber tree plantations increased rapidly from 454,100 ha in 2004 to 995,600 ha last year, about 115,600ha higher than the Government’s plan for rubber development, he said.

VN-EU FTA will benefit Vietnamese firms: experts

The Vietnam and EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would benefit Vietnamese enterprises, according to economic experts.

They said the FTA with the EU would improve Viet Nam’s business climate thanks to a transparent legal framework after the negotiations.

The FTA with the EU would conform to World Trade Organisation (WTO) standards.

Viet Nam had made strong commitments to improve many domestic policies and regulations, said former minister of Industry and Trade Truong Dinh Tuyen in the Vietnam Economic Times.

The country’s export turnover to the EU market wass predicted to increase by four per cent annually after the FTA is finalised.

The import-export tariff on most Vietnamese products exported to the EU would gradually drop to zero, creating an opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises.

However, to be able to enjoy the advantages of the FTA, domestic businesses needed to be fully aware of technical barriers to trade imposed by the EU relating to quality and points of origin for products.

Le Trieu Dung , Deputy Director General of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said local producers needed to increase investment to improve product quality. The improvement of production would also have a positive effect in the long term.

According to Tran Ngoc Quan Deputy Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s European Market Department, Vietnamese businesses should make every effort to raise product quality to meet technical standards required by the EU market to raise their competitiveness and boost export turnover.

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), in the first six months, the EU has taken the lead in Viet Nam’s export markets with a total import turnover of $13.1 billion, an increase of 12.8 per cent over the same period last year.

Viet Nam mainly exports apparel, footwear, coffee and furniture and seafood to the EU, while the EU exports machinery, drugs, equipment, vehicles and raw materials for apparel, fertiliser and steel.

Le Ky Anh , an expert with the EU delegation to Viet Nam, said exporters would have more chances to export seafood, coffee and rice products after the FTA was signed.

Ngo Van Sinh, a senior official from the Agro-Forestry Fisheries Quality (NAFIQAD), said the EU was an important market for Viet Nam’s fisheries sector. Since 2006, EU has surpassed the US and Japan to become Viet Nam’s largest seafood export market.

The eighth round of FTA negotiation concluded on June 28, and both sides are now planning to finish the negotiations this October.

The FTA will enable the country to make annual gains of about $1.5 billion by 2020 when export tariffs are cut. The estimated increase in gross domestic product is about 2-2.5 per cent, and wages are estimated to improve by around 5 per cent.

Likewise, imports from the EU will increase by 25-35 per cent, reflecting the greater reduction in tariffs.

Policy needed on wind investment

The Government needed to develop a policy that encouraged investment in wind power projects in order for the sector to progress, according to Germany’s GIZ Macroeconomic Reform Programme.

In 2011, the Government issued Decision 37/2011/QD-TTg to support wind power projects with a target of reaching 1,000 megawatts (MW) by 2020 and 6,200MW by 2030, Le Tuan Phong, deputy head of General Department of Energy, said at a seminar held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the GIZ in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Phong said that since the decision, Viet Nam had attracted 48 wind power projects with a total capacity of 4,876MW. However, only three projects were operating at a total capacity of 52MW. The rest were still conducting feasibility reports, he was quoted as saying in the Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times).

The MoIT and GIZ have conducted a survey to examine the issues investors have faced during the development of these projects, and asked the Government to support investors interested in developing the local wind power market.

According to GIZ experts, difficulties included the support policies for the development of wind power and its potential gains.

The survey also found that many local enterprises that lacked expertise in the field invested in projects believing they could get rich quickly.

Foreign investors who were informed of sector’s potential also discovered that the wind capacity was less than required and cancelled their investments.

At the three operating wind power projects, experts said that with the average construction cost stood at US$2 million per MW of wind power with annual operation costs of $35,000 per MW, investors had suffered losses.

The GIZ also said that Viet Nam’s wind power strategy should not have focused on investing in wind turbines at sea because construction costs were too high. The correct step would have been to prioritise building turbines on the coast that cost less.

The GIZ also said the Vietnamese Government should make land rent exempt for investors on the coast instead of building turbines at sea.

The government should help enterprises to access loans and offer credit guarantees, the GIZ survey said.

The Ministry of Finance should exempt them from the 10 per cent import tax for wind turbines, which pushes costs up.

Regarding the price of wind power sold to EVN, the GIZ suggested that the price should be increased to 10.4 US cents per kWh instead of the 7.8 cents investors are currently receiving.

Larger lenders on track to hit annual targets

Several banks have posted satisfactory profits, achieving around half of the annual targets, during the first half of this year, the Sai Gon Dau Tu (Sai Gon Investment) online reported.

They have achieved the results although the margins between deposits and lending interest rates were narrowing, and the business conditions remained tough.

TPBank announced that it had earned VND263 billion, or US$12.52 million, representing 60 per cent of the annual target. Its deposits and outstanding loans grew 4.5 per cent and 8.8 per cent, respectively, while bad debts declined 0.3 per cent at 1.66 per cent in the period.

Eximbank Chairman Le Hung Dung said the bank has already reached over half of the year’s profit target of VND1.8 trillion, or $85.71 million, adding that this figure is achievable if the economy doesn’t see fluctuations between now and the end of the year.

He noted that the current context requires greater efforts by the banks as lending activities remain a challenge with the risks of increasing bad debts.

For the first five months, BIDV reported a profit of approximately VND2.5 trillion, or $119.05 million, and Sacombank posted about VND1.3 trillion, or $61.90 million. Both figures were close to half of the banks’ quotas for 2014.

Industry insiders said it won’t be easy for banks to complete their annual goals because the current margins between deposits and lending rates are only 1 to 2 per cent. Meanwhile, in credit activities, the margins should be 3 per cent or more so that banks can establish provisional funds and obtain profits.

Due to this, it will be hard for banks to avoid adjusting the profit targets in the fourth quarter, like they had done last year, a senior banker said.

Tran Du Lich, a member of the National Advisory Council for Financial and Monetary Policies, said it is unlikely that the general credit situation will see significant improvement in the coming months, and this will challenge banks expecting high profits this year.

New cotton plant to boost garments sector

The Phu Hung cotton plant will officially begin operations in August in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue’s Phu Bai Industrial Park. With a total investment of VND258 billion (US$12.2 million), the plant invested by the Viet Nam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) is expected to export products to Turkey and Taiwan.

The plant has an annual capacity of 21,600 spools and once completed, will generate jobs for 200 workers and produce 100 per cent cotton yarn with an average output of 240 tonnes per month.

A development strategy for the garment industry was approved by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Industry and Trade for the Central Region.

FLC to issue shares to pay dividends, increase charter capital

The FLC Group will issue shares to pay dividend and increase the charter capital.

It got the nod from the State Securities Commission on Wednesday to offer shares to the public to pay dividends at ratio of 4 per cent and to existing stakeholders to increase its charter capital.

After the issue of shares, FLC’s charter capital would be increased to approximately VND3.15 trillion or $148 million from VND1.54 trillion or $72.3 million.

In the first half of this year, the group met 50 per cent of the full year’s profit target which was set at VND350 billion or $16.5 million.

SSC approves merger of two securities companies

The State Securities Commission on Thursday approved the merger of Viet Nam International Securities (VISE) and the Dai Tay Duong Securities Joint Stock Company (OSC).

The merger is part of the efforts to restructure securities companies and will be implemented with the swap ratio of 4:1 for VISE and 13.5:1 for OSC, and must ensure that trading is implemented without any interruption.

If the deal goes through, it would be the second merger of securities companies in Viet Nam, after the deal between MB Securities and VIT Securities at the end of last year.

VISE reported an aggregated loss of nearly VND75 billion or US$3.5 million in the first six months of this year. As of the end of March, 55 of the 90 existing securities firms reported aggregated losses, statistics of the finance ministry showed.

Restructuring securities companies was a core issue during the restructuring of the stock market which aimed at developing a more stable and healthy market.

Vietnam aims for sustainable electronics industry

An international seminar was held in Hanoi on July 14 to discuss environmentally friendly smart steps to sustainability for the electronics industry  in Vietnam.

In a keynote address, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen stressed that in recent years, Vietnam’s  information technology (IT) industry has seen tremendous growth.

The total revenue in the industry exploded by 86.3% to US$25.5 billion in 2012, he said, adding that the trend is continuing.

The IT industry’s gross exports hit a record high of US$20 billion in 2012, up 82% from a year earlier, and accounted for 17.5% of the country’s total exports for the year.

However, Minister Tuyen cautioned that environmental pollution caused by production activities in the industry is posing great challenges to the environment and the nation’s health.

Other participants at the seminar in turn shared their experiences in electronic waste collection, management and treatment, as well as global environment protection.

There was general consensus that electronic waste treatment in Vietnam is a national concern and that installing state-of-the-art recycling technologies needs to be stepped up.

Da Nang Airport Service to list on Ha Noi Exchange

The Da Nang Airport Service Joint Stock Company (Masco) will list more than 3 million of its shares under the code MAS at the Ha Noi Stock Exchange this year.

This was reported by the Investment Newspaper. In the first quarter of this year, Masco earned VND58 billion, or US$2.76 million, in revenue and after-tax profit of VND7.8 billion, or $371,000, which was thrice the value of the after-tax profit of the same period last year.

The service supply, including the supply of flight meals at the Da Nang, Cam Ranh and Phu Bai airports, taxi services at Da Nang Airport, and training car and motorbike drivers in Da Nang City and Thua Thien Hue Province, accounted for more than 90 per cent of the company’s annual revenue.

Hoa Phat wants to issue shares to employees

Steel maker Hoa Phat Group (HPG) will seek the opinion of its stakeholders about issuing shares under the employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) as bonuses for its internal staff.

HPG plans to issue more than 9.6 million ESOP shares. With HPG currently being traded at around VND55,000 or $2.6 per share, the ESOP shares, which are expected to be issued in the next two years, are estimated to be worth VND530 billion or $24.9 million.

HPG expects to earn VND23 trillion or $1.08 billion in turnover and VND2.2 trillion or $130 million this year, up 25 per cent and 80 per cent respectively over last year.

BIDV offers $93m in separate bonds to investors

The Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam is offering VND2 trillion or $93.8 million in separate bonds to a group of investors.

Sources quoted by Dau Tu Chung Khoan (Securities Investment) newspaper said the bond issue, which would reportedly end by the end of this month, aims to increase capital. Last year, the bank issued VND3 trillion or $140.8 million worth of bonds, which helped it raise its capital adequacy ratio.

As of the end of last year, BIDV’s capital adequacy ratio was 10.23 per cent.

Major cities aim to boost co-operation

Trade and investment promotion campaigns and economic forums have yet to play a significant role in the development of five major cities in the country.

Director of Da Nang City’s trade and industry department, Phan Van Kha, said during a meeting in Da Nang yesterday that production, retail and service values of five cities – Ha Noi, Hai Phong, HCM City, Can Tho and Da Nang – grew to over VND623 trillion (US$30 billion) during the first six months of this year, a 12.5 per cent increase in comparison with the same period last year.

The figure also contributed 43.3 per cent to the country’s production, retail and service values in the last six months.

“However, even though the production value of five cities contributes 45 per cent annually, the link in trade and investment has not been satisfactory in the past few years,” Kha said.

“Economic co-operation has just seen information exchanges, discussions of investment opportunity, trade fair and potential, but there has been no effective action,” he said.

“The joint action of co-hosting conferences and forums on investments and trade were rarely seen, while the policy on investment promotions and hi-tech developments or supportive industries has yet to see an agreement signed among the five cities.”

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang city’s People ‘s Committee, Phung Tan Viet, said the meeting aims to find out solutions to tackle difficulties during the economic downturn.

“There are various challenges for us ahead when Viet Nam joins the ASEAN community in 2015 and prepares to participate in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

“It calls for further co-operation and close links among the five cites in creating power to sustain the economic growth and contribution to the country,” Viet said.

“It is also a chance for us to set out a long-term strategy of industry development in joining world trade.”

Despite an economic crisis hitting the world in late 2008, the five cities have seen medium growth in industrial production and exports in the first half of this year.

Hai Phong was the biggest with an industrial production growth of 11.8 per cent, ahead of Da Nang with 10.5 per cent, while Can Tho and HCM City earned 6.37 and 5.6 per cent, respectively.

Over 1,976 projects have been put into operation in 6,400 industrial parks and complexes in the five cities over the first half of this year, an equal value of VND4 trillion ($190 million).

Export turnover in the first half of this year has earned $22 billion, an 8.2 per cent growth in the same period last year, accounting for 31.3 per cent of the country’s total export turnover.

However, only Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang have developed hi-tech parks, Information Technology (IT) parks and centralised information centres as well as electronic transaction centres.

Two cities, Da Nang and Can Tho agreed last year to promote co-operation in tourism, and a direct flight between the two cities will start from July 22.

Direct air routes are available between five cities.

Không có nhận xét nào:

Đăng nhận xét


text:
4,620,066 traffic visualizations have been made!

Updated 2073 days ago | Update Now
If Thankiem.com was a country, it would be larger than Pitcairn Islands with its 219 daily visitors!
Nr. Country Population World Percent
219 Falkland Islands 3,000 N/A
220 Niue 1,500 N/A
221 Tokelau 1,200 N/A
222 Vatican City 800 N/A
223 Thankiem.com 219 -
224 Pitcairn Islands 50 N/A
So these 219 daily visitors,
lets put them in perspective!
1 in every 7,610,365 internet users visit Thankiem.com daily. Thankiem.com gets 219 internet visitors per day, now imagine that they would all come together.

This means you would need at least 3 of these fields to seat the visitors.
Field With People - Showing: 105 People
This field contains a group of 100 people who attended a workshop.
If these 219 daily visitors stand hand in hand and form one long straight line, it would be 0 kilometers long.
Thankiem.com Demographics
Showing the top: 1
Nr. Country Percentage
1 Viet Nam 100.0%
Server & Power Consumption Information
The average Thankiem.com visitor visits about 1 pages before leaving again, this means that their servers handle about 219 page views per day and in term a total of 0 page views per second.

We estimate that this website uses 1 server(s), and with the average internet server using about 2,400 kWh of electricity per year, Thankiem.com will use more or less 2,400 kWh of power in that time span. Looking at the average cost of 0,17c per kWh, this website uses an estimated total of $408 USD on electricity per year.


text:
Thursday, June 10, 2010

New Bayou Liberty Bridge open soon

Ending a 30-year saga that included a public outcry, a court injunction and "Save Our Bridge" bumper

The bridge will also have a nine-foot clearance, so that smaller boats can pass underneath, said John Housey, project manager for Coastal Bridge Co. of Baton Rouge.

"We hope to have it open before school starts," he said.
That's welcome news to Bayou Liberty residents, whose wait for a new bridge has spanned decades.

The drama began in the early 1980s, when the state declared the wooden, hand-cranked bridge built in 1941 a marine hazard and sought to replace it with a vertical lift span that would have towered 80 feet high above the serene bayou community.

"It wouldn't have looked good, also people with sail boats going up the bayou wouldn't have been able to pass under it because it wasn't tall enough," said Armand L. "Junior" Pichon, an area resident and member of the Save Our Bridge movement that formed in response to the state's plan.

Residents eventually won a court fight over the matter and obtained an injunction against the vertical bridge, and the state put in a metal-decked pontoon bridge as a "temporary" solution. That bridge, which often had to be closed due to problems with water levels and broken cables, was a constant headache for both residents and state officials.

"A lot of people didn't like the pontoon bridge because they were scared of it," Pichon said.

Approving plans for the new $6.3 million bridge in 2007, the state Department of Transportation and Development began construction about a year later. Workers last month demolished the pontoon bridge, which now lies in a pile of rusted metal and wood nearby. It will be returned to DOTD later this summer, Housey said.

The new bridge has been open as a single-lane crossing since last year, but officials closed the bridge to traffic for three days this week to install the final hydraulic piping and test the operational sequence--the mechanical gates, steel barriers, and locking mechanisms--which is used to open and close the hydraulic system.

Housey said workers will close the bridge for another few days later this summer to conduct another round of tests before completing construction, and finish work connecting the approach to the existing roadway.

Pichon, who lives on Dave Pichon Road, still has fond memories of the old bridge, an "engineering marvel" which could be opened by inserting a pin and hand-cranking the bridge open for traffic.

Nonetheless, he says he's moved on.

"It'll be good when they get it finished. I'm glad to hear that it'll be done soon," he said

No comments:


text:
Thursday, May 2, 2013

"There came news of a word.
Crow saw it killing men. He ate well.
He saw it bulldozing
Whole cities to rubble. Again he ate well.
He saw its excreta poisoning seas.
He became watchful.
He saw its breath burning whole lands
To dusty char.
He flew clear and peered."

from A Disaster
Ted Hughes
book Crow

Yes more BC vacation photos. One of the first creatures that
welcomed us on our initial somewhat damp walk on the
seawall were the crows. They were everywhere in the surf, on
the beach, in the park, in the sky. After watching them mob
the Bald Eagles, quarrel with the gulls  and raid the trash cans.
I decided this will be my "totem" animal, go figure I have always
felt a certain affinity for crows whether they were acting as the
noisy heralds of spring or moving through our neighbourhood
in great silent flocks in the fall, they have exerted a strong pull on
my imagination.  Possibly if I lived by a winter roost I would
feel differentely but I don't so I won't.

A great book about Crows is Crow Planet by Lynda Lynn Haupt.
Her book about Darwin, Pilgrim on the Great Bird Continent is
also very good.

And  like a good poem or painting the more closely
you look at a crow the more beauty you find.

And as with all good totems he can be scary looking,

and he also points the way.

"But Crow . . Crow
Crow nailed them together,
Nailing Heaven and earth together -

So man cried, but with God's voice.
And God bled, but with man's blood.

Then heaven and earth creaked at the joint
Which became gangrenous and stank -
A horror beyond redemption.

The agony did not diminish.

Man could not be man nor God God.

The agony

Crying: 'This is my Creation,'

Flying the black flag of himself. "

from Crow Blacker than ever
Ted Hughes
book Crow

Kathie Brown said...

Guy, what an amazing collection of images and words! That last poem is so dramatic! I like crows as well. I admire their intelligence. I don't blame you for taking it as your totem bird. I still don't know what bird I would choose.

Guy said...

Hi Kathie

I really do find crows are a perfect example of the adage the more you look the more you see.

WildBill said...

I've written about crows and ravens several times. Both are my native spirit guides. It's a long story that I shall someday write, but once as a child I was led out of the woods by a crow.

The last poem is simply beautiful.


text:
Thursday, 22 March 2012

Knockomie Plough to Palate Tour

Great to see some creative thinking going on up in the Speyside area as part of the wonderful Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. The Festival is themed on Whisky, Food, Music and the Heritage & Culture of Speyside, the 2012 Festival will offer a wide array of quality events between the 2nd and the 9th of May.

Our old friends Penny and Gavin Ellis at the wonderful Knockomie Hotel are producing a Speyside ‘Plough to Palate’ Tour on Sunday 6th May 2012 bringing together Moray's beautifully natural landscape with generation-spanning family tradition.

The tour begins at Newlands Farm, Rafford, where father and son work over 400 hectares of prime Moray countryside, pushing the boundaries in developing excellent new beef production techniques.

Guest will then travel in luxury to Benromach Distillery, Forres. Operated by Gordon & Macphail, the whisky from this small distillery incorporates the crystal clear water that runs from the Romach Hills into Sanquhar Loch.

Next to Knockomie Hotel, Forres, with local produce on the menu at this highly reputable venue. Lunch inclues a welcoming whisky cocktail & wine.

And what tour would be complete without sampling the alternative 'Spirit of Speyside' in the tranquil atmosphere of Pluscarden Abbey?

This ‘Plough to Palate' prestige tour runs from 10am - 5pm, Sunday 6th May.

Throughout the tour your expert guide will skilfully illustrate how his family history is interwoven with Speyside's food and drink heritage. For you, this tour will be a worthwhile investment; ensuring that your memories of Moray and Speyside are treasured forever.

This tour is priced @ £90.00 per person inclusive of all travel, tours and lunch and it is bookable through the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Website.

And of course if you're looking to tie in some accommodation you can stay over at the Knockomie Hotel and book direct for best available rates.

No comments:


WARC-Truncated: length

text:
2 Responses to What Have We Got Into With ObamaCare

  • I can feel the division. It is well known at work that I am a practicing Catholic and a conservative Republican. I’m starting to get dirty looks and be shunned because my party decided that the country could not afford this and that they could not abide public funding of abortion.

    I’m praying along with you Tito.

  • daledog, Gaudete! Our Lord promised us the scorn of the world. Rejoice!

    This country hasn’t been this divided since the War for Southern Independence. Satan’s only goal is to divide men from God and the best way to do that is to divide us against each other. We must seek and pray for unity, solidarity and brotherhood, yet we must hold fast to Our Lord first. Remember, he told us to hate our lives and our families and the world – that simply means we must be detached from temporal things and seek His Kingdom first – always and everywhere.

    Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos. Jn 13:34


text:
Eero Aarnio | the artist

The artist Eero Aarnio
Born 1932, Helsinki, Finland.

Style and technique of the artist: Design,

Eero Aarnio artworks on eBay
Original artworks, prints, exhibition posters, monographs, books, collectibles.

Biography and art, auction, artworks, interview, statement, website:

Artist’s website

Another site about the artist

The finnish designer Eero Aarnio, born in 1932, studied from 1954 to 1957 at the Institute of Industrial Arts in Helsinki and started in 1962 with his own office as an interior and industrial designer.

Ball Chair

Copacabana guitar…Aarnio was born in Helsinki and studied at the Institute of Industrial Arts there, graduating in 1957. In the late fifties he worked with the Finnish designer Ilmari Tapiovaara, and in 1960 he started working for the Asko Company. He established his own design office in 1962 as an industrial and interior designer…

Known for creating the era-defining Ball Chair of the sixties, Eero Aarnio, along with Stepan Sarpaneva (a talented Finnish watchmaker), created this one-of-a-kind 2001 “Proto,” based upon Eero’s original designs…


text:
Mike Parr | the artist

The artist Mike Parr
Born 1945, Sydney, Australia.
Lives and works in Sydney, .

Style and technique of the artist: Performance Art, Sydney Biennale,

Mike Parr artworks on eBay
Original artworks, prints, exhibition posters, monographs, books, collectibles.

Biography and art, auction, artworks, interview, statement, website:

Solar winds 1 - 6

Mike Parr may have been a lumberjack, but he’s OK now! He used to love sausages, but a recent BBC television programme made him change his eating habits…

Zastruga Self Portrait

Mike Parr is widely regarded as one of the most gifted living Australian artists and as the most outstanding Australian artist of his generation…

Mike Parr is well known for his work across diverse media including performance, photography, sculpture, video, drawing and printmaking. Active as an artist in Australia since the late 1960s, with an extensive exhibitions history both locally and internationally, he has examined a range of philosophical and political concerns that embrace both the self and the wider world over time…

Mike Parr’s work has recently been exhibited in companion exhibitions at the Sydney Biennale and at Anna Schwartz Gallery, Sydney, with The Tilted Stage continuing Parrs process of intervention with aged and often dilapidated spaces.


text:
Sunday, October 12, 2014

Motors and engines

I've always thought it was interesting that they call it motorsports, and there are so many "Motor Speedways" (Indianapolis, Charlotte, Atlanta, Bristol, Las Vegas, Hickory and more).

Why? If it runs on a internal combustion engine (and uses gas or some other fuel), it's an engine; if it's electrical, it's a motor. An electric car runs with a motor. The thing that moves your windshield wipers is a motor.

So, generally, they have lots of engines and few (if any) motors under the hoods at most racetracks.

Maybe someone will someday open Electrical Motor Speedway; they could run electric cars. That would work. And I think EMS would be fun.

They'd just need a lot of electrical outlets and batteries.

Contact: I can be reached at or Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.


text:
Sunday, February 15, 2015

Nobody big

One year in the late 1990s, my friend Cleve and I were trying to remember who won the pole for the 1996 Daytona 500. We couldn't remember off the tops of our heads, but we finally decided it was nobody big.

It turned out to be Dale Earnhardt Sr., someone very big (and later very important to me; Dale was pictured on three of my books, and his No. 2 car was on the other cover).

It was one of only 22 poles that Dale posted during his legendary career.  I realize that 22 poles doesn't mean much to you, but Earnhardt had 76 Cup victories before his death in 2001.

Contact: I can be reached at or Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Chase Pollard feature from 2014

Double duty was tough on Pollard

By Tom Gillispie
Chase Pollard and his dad Larry hadn’t planned to make it harder on themselves this season, but they sure did.
Pollard won the 4-Cylinder title at Hickory Motor Speedway in 2013 while he was a junior at Alexander Central High. Then the duo decided to race 4-Cylinders again this season; no big deal.
But in midseason Tony Poole invited Pollard to race his Street Stock car.
“Racing two cars is so difficult,” he said. “The cars are SO different. There was a whole bunch more work. I often had double duty with both cars, and it was hectic going to the track every weekend.
 “But it was rewarding to run among the top cars in two classes. “
Pollard says he ran about half of the Street Stock races, and he won one of them.
“That was just awesome; it’s one thing I can be proud of,” he said.
He says that Street Stock car was one that the late Donnie Harmon used to drive. He wishes he could have just run that division.
 “You cannot bring two cars (in two divisions) to the track and be 100 percent on both of them,” he said. “It took something off both of them.”
He says he’s “still trying to figure (the Street Stocks) out. It’s an awesome class.”
Pollard points out that Taylor Stricklin used to race Street Stocks before moving up to Limited Late Models and winning this year’s title.
“There’s great competition (in Street Stocks),” he said, “and Street Stocks makes you a better driver. There are a lot of good racers in that division, too.”
One of the highlights of racing Street Stocks, Pollard said, was the stories he heard on pit road. He’d listen to 62-year-old Marshall Sutton and others regale everyone with memories.
Pollard added: “Marshall Sutton really knows how to drive a car. It’s an honor to race with him.”
The highlight, if you can call it that, of the season came when Pollard decided to go to his senior prom rather than racing the 4-Cylinder class. Larry drove the car and finished second in his only race of the year.
Pollard wound up third in the 4-Cylinder standings, 32 points behind division champion Matt Elledge. If he’d passed up his senior prom, he’d have had a great shot at the division title.
But he says he doesn’t regret the choice; not at all.
Pollard says he likes both divisions, but he doesn’t know what they will do next year. He almost certainly won’t race two classes. He might wind up back in 4-Cylinders.
As for racing Street Stocks regularly, “We’ll still have to see about that,” Pollard said. “We’ll have to get up with Tony (Poole) and see. But Street Stocks has been good for us; it’s actually taught us a lot.”
Pollard says he’s been working for his dad at LP Gear and Pollard Raceway Park, a go-kart track, and he’s been pondering school. He’d have started in the fall, but he wanted to save some money first.
He says he might attend a community college, perhaps at Wilkes Community College, in the spring. After studying there, he could transfer and work on an engineering degree.
“My life has always revolved around cars or motorcycles,” he pointed out.
So he wants to do something in racing, as a racer, crewman, crew chief or engineer. He’s just not sure what yet.
(NOTE: This story appeared in the Hickory Daily Record in 2014.)
Contact: I can be reached at or Also, my Twitter handle is EDITORatWORK.


text:
Sunday, November 13, 2016

Germany plans to stop migrant boats from crossing Mediterranean

(Reuters) Germany is proposing a plan to stop migrants from crossing the Mediterranean in order to stop large number of migrants from dying.

The German government is pushing for maritime patrols to pick up migrants and refugees, and send them back to apply for asylum in African countries.

"We want to do this together with France and Great Britain - we're not going to wait for all 28 EU member states - we want to act with the states who have already recognized the problem. We decided on Mali and Niger. A concept is on the table, in cooperation with Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Morocco," Gerd Muller German Minister for International Development said on Friday.

Turkey and the EU agreed to a similar deal months ago. It has almost completely stopped the boats, but some have questioned its legality.


text:
I think of it as The Fool's Journey. I've been asked who the "fool" is. It's me, but in the classical sense of the court jester. Only the fool was allowed to tell the king of his follies. All cartoons are available as prints or originals, framed or unframed, through my website or e-mail. For mugs, t-shirts, and other products visit my gift shop at* (be sure to include the *).

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Play Date

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Just wait, next, Coach's two puppies will be demonstrating new, exciting strategies on the field!

3:43 PM

Post a Comment

<< Home