iPhone update adds privacy 'transparency'Apple has updated its iOS, MacOS and tvOS operating systems to give people more information about how their personal data is collected and used. The change comes ahead of new EU data protection rules, which take effect on 23 May. The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) toughens the requirements on how organisations handle the public's data, and imposes harsher penalties for breaches. This is happening because companies are checking what they are doing before new data protection rules kick in," said Jim Killock. That's a victory for privacy and it shows that we can win improvements if governments listen to people's well-founded concerns about privacy."

US-Vietnam Energy Security Dialogue inauguratedThe US and Vietnam inaugurated the Energy Security Dialogue that the US only held in five countries over the world so far. Vietnam joins an exclusive clique to discuss energy security with the US (Illustration image)The US State Department and the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) participated in the inaugural energy security dialogue this morning in Hanoi. During the dialogue, the US and Vietnamese representatives exchanged views on securing critical infrastructure and resources, strategic energy supply diversification, energy tariffs and pricing, technical assistance, renewable energy technology, regional interconnectivity, and held a commercial session. In addition, the two sides discussed opportunities for US businesses in the Vietnamese energy sector. Meeting with energy technology experts on March 29 preceded this dialogue.

Grab will not monopolise Vietnamese market, true? Vertex Ventures, Grab’s first investor, told VIR in an exclusive interview that the startup will not monopolise the Vietnamese ride-hailing market after its controversial merger with Uber earlier this week. The merger has sparked concerns over the latter acquiring a monopoly over the domestic ride-hailing market. This week, Grab announced its merger with Uber’s ride-hailing and food delivery business in Southeast Asia. In interviews and news releases following the merger, Grab said that it will ensure that rates remain affordable and arrange new positions for Uber's staff members.

CPV leader Nguyen Phu Trong honoured with Doctor Honoris Causa titleGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong was granted the Doctor Honoris Causa title in political science by the University of Havana (UH) to recognise his important contributions to Vietnam’s nation-building cause and practical and theoretical views he shared with Cuba at a ceremony in Havana on March 29 morning (local time). A leader of the University of Havana presents the Doctor Honoris Causa title to CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (L)General Secretary Trong thanked the UH and considered this as a vivid demonstration of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Cuba State and people’s friendship towards Vietnam. Vietnam targets rapid and sustainable development as well as harmonious combination of economic growth and social progress and equality, which matches regional and global agenda, including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Vietnam’s economy has attained and kept a fast growth rate for a relatively long period. With right and effective policies, the country has curbed the increase of inequality that usually occurs during the shift to a market economy in the countries with the same development level, General Secretary Trong noted.

Will Thaibev's complaint about Sabeco be resolved in time of AGM? Yesterday, in response to Thaibev, Vietnam’s Government Office said that Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has ordered the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to immediately investigate the matter. “MoIT needs to consider the suggestions of Thai Beverage right away, following existing regulations. It is alleged that Thai Beverage will introduce three representatives, equal to half of the board, at the April 6 meeting. The Thai investor had been expressing interest in Sabeco since 2014, aiming for a slice of Vietnam’s booming beer market.

Papua New Guinea earthquake: Strong tremor off New Britain islandA strong magnitude 6.9 earthquake has struck off the coast of Papua New Guinea's New Britain island, the US Geological Survey (USGS) says. Hazardous tsunami waves were forecast for some coastlines but there were no immediate reports of damage. The quake struck some 162km (100 miles) from Rabaul, on New Britain island, at 07:25 on Friday (21:25 GMT Thursday). Dellie Minding, a receptionist at the Rabaul Hotel in the east of New Britain, told Reuters news agency the earthquake had been felt, with many guests running outside, but there had been no damage. "We felt the earthquake, everything was moving so we went out of the building," the receptionist told Reuters.

CPTPP likely to launch early 2019At least six member countries of the Transpacific Partnership’s new avatar, the CPTPP, including Viet Nam, are likely to ratify it this year, enabling it to come into force in early 2019, a seminar heard in HCM City on Thursday. Representatives of countries joining the signing ceremony of the CPTPP in Chile in March 2018. He said at the next meeting the CPTPP members would discuss guidelines for countries wishing to join the pact in future. According to estimates from the Peterson Institute for International Economics, the economies of the CPTPP members will add 1.7 percentage points because of the deal. Viet Nam and Peru will be the biggest winners with their GDPs benefiting by 2-3 per cent.

While highly evaluating HCM City’s smart city development strategy towards a sustainable and knowledge-based economy, she said this is very important as the city is an attractive destination for investors. Vietnam has responsibly participated in international organisations and multilateral cooperation mechanisms, such as the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation. On the occasion, the embassy of Vietnam introduced Vietnamese food and coffee to international friends in Cordoba province. In 2017, economic, trade, investment and tourism between Vietnam and the city reached about 2 billion USD, accounting for about 2 percent of total trade between Vietnam and China. For his part, Liu declared that Chongqing city pays attention to friendship and cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities.

It is inevitable that more and more Vietnamese businesses are now exploring new business opportunities via franchising. Nevertheless, there are a number of risks that a franchisor should investigate carefully before engaging or expanding in business in Vietnam. Meanwhile, 1,285 M&A deals were signed with a total investment capital of $1.89 billion. Instead of organising conferences or exhibitions, many localities have brought delegations directly to the fields to discuss business with farmers. Binh said management agencies should work out a new approach to deal with complex cross-border business models like Uber.

Major investor safety failures in fire death trap tower blockHo Chi Minh City's Department of Construction have highlighted various violations at the Carina Apartment, where 14 people were killed in a recent fire. According to the report, Carina Plaza was invested by Hung Thanh Company and gained a building permit in May 2009. In 2016, the investor hired Saigon Real Estate JSC to manage the building but the contracts lacked many terms such as maintaining the elevators and fire safety system, the report said. According to the fire department in District 8, they had already noticed that the fire safety system in the building hadn't worked on previous inspections. The city fire department was asked to check the building and the District 8 People's Committee will help set up the building's management board.

The collective, known as the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), are trying to forecast the most likely time and place for the laboratory's re-entry. And one hour still means almost one revolution around the Earth," said Holger Krag, the head of Esa's space debris office. Tiangong is certainly on the large size for uncontrolled re-entry objects but it is far from being the biggest, historically. The US space agency's Skylab was almost 80 tonnes in mass when it came back partially uncontrolled in 1979. Nasa's Columbia shuttle would also have to be classed as an uncontrolled re-entry.

Vietnam economy runs on loans: economistVietNamNet Bridge - Tran Du Lich, a respected economist, said at a recent annual workshop on the economy that there are two risks for Vietnam – the middle-income trap, and the risk of growing older (working-age population) before becoming rich. Mr Tran Du LichIn order to avoid the risks, the country will have to gain high and stable economic growth rates over the next several decades. He said that economic growth will depend on inner strength. In order to force the lending interest rates down and expand lending, it is necessary to increase the rediscount, intensify lending activities and control inflation. However, it would still be good if the interest rate stays at the 2017 level,” he said.

Alcohol concentration meter can call relatives in emergencyVietNamNet Bridge - The small and compact meter can be mounted on a motorbike. After that, they blow into a tube mounted on the motorcycle to measure the alcohol concentration. “I set the default at 0.2 mg/liter, because under the current laws, the drivers with alcohol concentration of more than 0.25 mg/liter will be fined. If the alcohol concentration is above 0.2 mg/liter, the device will turn off the motorbike IC power cable, while the LCD screen will display the alcohol concentration and the alert will show ‘not safe’. Sy had to spend six months and experience three failures inventing the alcohol meter.

Coastal economic zones strive for low-carbon economyVietNamNet Bridge - Renovating technology, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing a low-carbon economy are methods being used by coastal EZs in the new development period. Coastal EZs are striving for low-carbon economyThe Vietnam Marine Strategy, released by the Party Central Committee in 2007, says that coastal EZs will make up 53-55 percent of the country's total GDP. Coastal economic zones have been developing rapidly, forming important industry/agriculture/service centers. However, resources in coastal EZs are not being exploited in a sustainable way. Vietnam expects to have one more coastal EZ – Ninh Co in Nam Dinh province in the future.

Vietnamese fulfill their dream of working for FacebookVietNamNet Bridge - More young Vietnamese people have grabbed opportunities to work for huge companies like Facebook. In September 2012, Giang applied to work for Facebook. From Singapore, he sent an application to Facebook as per advice from a friend, who was an intern there. At Facebook’s headquarters, Huy works in the Growth team, which specializes in processing notices that Facebook sends to users. RELATED NEWSOverseas Vietnamese students earn big money by trading goodsVietnam pursues goal of ‘universities of international stature’Thanh Mai