Author: malaysiang

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Ministry revokes licences of 30 postal enterprises


Hanoi: The Ministry of Information and Communications has decided to revoke licences of 30 postal enterprises in Hanoi.

The action was taken due to their violations which have caused significant difficulties and risks to the management of postal services in the region.

The recent inspections conducted by the ministry at 150 postal companies has revealed several violations within the postal enterprises. These violations primarily include the failure to provide postal services, misuse of postal licences, and non-compliance with the prescribed statistical reporting regime.

The violations mentioned above, committed by postal enterprises, pose risks to the safety and security of postal services. These violations include leaking mail secrets, losing parcels, transporting smuggled and prohibited goods through postal channels, unfair competition between enterprises, and adversely affecting the rights of postal service users.

The inspection found out that seven postal enterprises showed signs of non-cooperation wi
th competent State agencies. Additionally, 38 postal enterprises were discovered to be operating at addresses different from those stated on their issued business licences. Moreover, these enterprises could not be contacted through the phone numbers or email addresses provided in their application dossiers for a postal licence.

The ministry requested these above 38 postal enterprises to urgently contact the Postal Department via email address baocaobuuchinh@mic.gov.vn or phone number 02439438204.

The ministry urged the municipal Department of Information and Communications to coordinate to verify the operation status of these 38 enterprises and report by the end of March for handling following the established regulations.

Supervision will continue to be enhanced to ensure compliance and healthy and sustainable development of the postal market, the ministry said.

By the end of 2023, there are 720 businesses operating in the postal sector in Vietnam, with about 23,700 postal service points nationwide./.

S
ource: Vietnam News Agency

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Runners to take on biosphere reserve track


Gia Lai: Runners from nationwide will be competing in the Kon Chu Rang Half Marathon, held in a UNESCO-recognised world biosphere reserve, in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on May 12, calling for donations to support conservation activities and poor families in the region.

The race, co-organised by the VietRace365 company and GreenViet (a non-profit NGO on biodiversity research), expects to draw 1,000 runners racing in team and individual events on 21km, 10km and 5km routes.

It said children from the age of 7 are eligible for the one-day race starting at the park’s administration centre in Kbang district, and early bird tickets are offered at between 549,000 – 849,000 VND for booking time on March 7-31.

The race’s organisers have been negotiating with travel agencies and bus services offering the best price for runners from Ho Chi Minh City to Pleiku city and transit to Kbang district.

Competitors will run through primary forest on concrete tracks and stay at the camp site in the reserve.

In 2
021, UNESCO recognised the Kon Ha Nung Plateau Biosphere Reserve including two core areas, Kon Chu Rang Nature Reserve and Kon Ka Kinh National Park, on a total area of 413,511.67ha in the province.

Runners can visit website https://timve365.vn for further information./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Vietnamese runners shine at Da Nang International Marathon


Da Nang: The Danang International Marathon was held in the central coastal city of Da Nang on March 24, attracting over 9,000 athletes, including nearly 1,800 foreigners from 60 countries and territories.

In the men’s 42km marathon, the top spot belonged to athlete Kiptoo Edwin from Kenya, clocking in 2 hours 37 minutes and 6 seconds, followed by Vietnamese athletes Huynh Anh Khoi (2:37:13) and Nguyen Dac Hung (2:43:51) in second and third place, respectively.

In the women’s category, Pham Thi Binh, who previously won a gold medal at the 27th SEA Games, claimed victory with a time of 3 hours 10 minutes and 32 seconds. The second and third places went to other Vietnamese athletes Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc (3:17:00) and Nguyen Thi Ngot (3:26:46).

In the men’s 21km half marathon, Manimaran Sanjay from Malaysia took the top place with a time of 1 hour 13 minutes and 28 seconds, while in the women’s category, Thai Thi Kim Ngan of Vietnam finished first with a time of 1 hour 30 minutes and 47 seconds.

The men’s 10k
m race saw Hirrle Simon from Germany claiming the first position with a time of 36 minutes and 10 seconds, while Vietnamese runner Nguyen Khanh Ly took the top spot in the women’s category with a time of 41 minutes and 15 seconds.

In the 5km race, both the men’s and women’s first places were secured by Vietnamese athletes, with Hap Tien Canh finishing in 18 minutes and 38 seconds and Bui Thi Ngan in 19 minutes and 5 seconds.

The tournament was jointly organised by the municipal Department of Culture and Sports and Pulse Active Company from March 22 to 24./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Biden signs $1.2-T budget bill, averts government shutdown


NEW YORK: US President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the USD1.2-trillion budget bill approved by the US Senate.

Biden said in a written statement that the budget bill would prevent a government shutdown, while also stating that it invests in the American people, strengthens the economy, and enhances national security.

The agreement reached on the budget bill emerged as a result of compromise, therefore neither side obtained all they wanted, he added.

Biden noted that the agreement is ‘good news’ for the American people, while also pointing out the need for approval of additional budget for national security and the border security deal.

With Biden’s signature, the USD1.2 trillion budget bill has now become law.

The US Senate had previously passed the USD1.2 trillion budget bill, which would partially avert a government shutdown, albeit with a delay.

In the vote, the budget bill was approved with 74 votes in favor and 24 against.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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PBBM’s Holy Week message: Spread kindness, selflessness


MANILA: As Catholic devotees around the world mark the start of Holy Week this Palm Sunday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. enjoined Filipinos to reflect and not to lose sight of the true essence of the occasion by spreading kindness and selflessness.

‘In this solemn occasion, let us not only seek to unravel the mysteries of our faith but also to illuminate the path for others through acts of kindness and selflessness,’ Marcos said in his Holy Week message.

‘I pray that we may humbly accept our authentic selves as imperfect beings, for it is by becoming truly human that we can experience the divine. Let us always remember to seek the Lord in our desires and to desire Him in our seeking,’ he said.

The Philippines, a predominantly Catholic nation with the third largest Catholic population in the world after Brazil and Mexico, observes Holy Week, or Semana Santa, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

Marcos said the observance of Holy Week is a commemoration of the passion, death, and resurrection of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and an opportunity to reflect on the many transcendent encounters of the Catholic faithful.

‘This hallowed time of contemplative silence behooves us to ponder on the mysteries that elude our grasp, seek revelation in the face of the inexplicable, and acknowledge the interplay of joy and sorrow in life so that we may understand the path laid before us by Almighty God,’ he said.

‘May our inward reflections manifest in our outward actions as we strive to give hope in a world that is threatened by darkness. Let us be the light that shines through the shadows, the love that triumphs over despair, and the hope that radiates upon all humankind,’ he added.

The President expressed hope that the Catholic faithful will remember not for what they have reached, but for the light that they have kindled in the hearts of their fellow men.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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QC hall employee arrested for extortion


MANILA: An employee of the Quezon City government was arrested for extortion during an entrapment led by Criminal Investigation and Detection Group agents on Saturday night.

The male 56-year-old supervisor of the QC Engineering Office was caught receiving marked money amounting to PHP5,000 cash and a PHP700,000 check inside a food chain in Visayas Avenue, according to a news release of the National Capital Region Police Office.

The complainant, a 47-year-old Filipino-Chinese businessman, said the suspect promised to help him secure all necessary permits for the warehouse of his pet food business, including building and business permits, zoning, and certificate of exemption, in exchange for money.

Previous bank deposits of PHP1.5 million and PHP1.1 million were made to the suspect in 2022, supposedly to cover all documents.

Despite all the payments made, no document was released.

On March 15, the suspect contacted the complainant again and demanded PHP1.7 million.

They negotiated and agreed for PHP700,00
0, prompting the complainant to contact the police.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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P14-B copper mining project from PBBM’s Aussie trip secures permit


MANILA: For the first time in 15 years, the Philippine government granted permit to the copper mining project of Perth-based Celsius Resources with initial investments of USD253 million, or around PHP14 billion.

In a statement over the weekend, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said Celsius Resources’ local unit Makilala Mining Company, Inc. (MMCI) was granted a Mineral Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA) by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on March 15.

The 25-year MPSA, which could be extended for another 25 years, is for the company’s Maalinao-Caigutan-Biyog (MCB) Mining Project in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

The MPSA gives the company the exclusive rights to explore, develop, and commercially produce copper and associated minerals within the 2,500-hectare contract area.

DTI said the MCB mining project is part of the USD1.53-billion investment pledges that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. received during his visit to Melbourne, Australia early this month.

‘
During his visit to Melbourne, President Marcos Jr. addressed the Australian business community, highlighting the Philippines’ vision to become a regional hub for smart and sustainable manufacturing. He emphasized the country’s focus on attracting sustainable-driven strategic investments, particularly in critical mineral processing, while ensuring adherence to strict labor and environmental standards,’ DTI said.

According to Celsius Resources, the company has earmarked USD253 million as initial capital expenditure for the MCB project ‘with a payback period of approximately 2.7 years’.

It added that upon operation, the national government’s share of production includes excise tax on mineral products on top of a royalty of at least 4 percent of the gross output, as well as other taxes, duties, and fees levied by existing laws.

MMCI will also pay an annual occupation fee to the municipality where the project is located.

‘As at the date of this announcement, the annual occupation fee which would apply to the
Contract Area would be approximately A$5,000 (PHP183,000) per year,’ Celsius said.

Moreover, the Australian company said it will proceed with the process to obtain the Certificate of Pre-condition from the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) as part of the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Process.

On Nov. 15, 2022, MMCI already signed an agreement with the Balatoc Tribe community setting out the terms and conditions for utilizing their land for the purpose of mining.

The company is also allocating “an annual royalty payment of not less than 1 percent of the value of the gross output of minerals sold” to the Balotoc Tribe community and “a minimum of 1.5 percent of the operating costs necessary for the development of the host and neighboring communities”.

It added that it will hire qualified Filipino citizens during mining operations, wherein the company will provide training and recruitment programs.

‘Now is our chance to deliver on our firm commitment to work with the government and t
he local communities to develop the MCB Project in a sustainable manner that creates value not only for our shareholders but also for our communities,’ Celsius executive chairperson Julito Sarmiento said.

Source: Philippines News Agency