Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh (R) and Alexander H. Rogers, Executive Vice President of Qualcomm Incorporated. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh has called on the US-based Qualcomm Incorporated to continue assisting Vietnam in developing its technology eco-system. Binh, who is Secretary of the Party Central Committee, made the call while receiving Alexander H. Rogers, Executive Vice President of Qualcomm Incorporated, in Hanoi on December 12. The Party official spoke highly of the group’s contributions to Vietnam’s economic development over the past 15 years, especially in the field of science and technology. Qualcomm has coordinated with Vietnamese ministries, departments, electronic and telecom groups to establish a research and development centre in Hanoi, carry out the Qualcomm Vietnam … [Read more...] about Qualcomm asked to support Vietnam’s technology eco-system
Science technology ministry
Facebook says its ‘voter button’ is good for turnout. But should the tech giant be nudging us at all?
On the morning of 28 October last year, the day of Iceland’s parliamentary elections, Heiðdís Lilja Magnúsdóttir, a lawyer living in a small town in the north of the country, opened Facebook on her laptop. At the top of her newsfeed, where friends’ recent posts would usually appear, was a box highlighted in light blue. On the left of the box was a button, similar in style to the familiar thumb of the “like” button, but here it was a hand putting a ballot in a slot. “Today is Election Day!” was the accompanying exclamation, in English. And underneath: “Find out where to vote, and share that you voted.” Under that was smaller print saying that 61 people had already voted. Heiðdís took a screenshot and posted it on her own Facebook profile feed, asking: “I’m a little curious! Did everyone get this message in their newsfeed this morning?” In Reykjavik, 120 miles south, Elfa Ýr … [Read more...] about Facebook says its ‘voter button’ is good for turnout. But should the tech giant be nudging us at all?
Sarin gas in attack on Syrian civilians probably government’s, says UN
The Syrian opposition has seized on a UN finding that sarin used in a devastating chemical strike last August was likely to have come from the regime's supplies of the weapon as proof that loyalist forces carried out the attack. The claim was made in a report about human rights abuses released by the global body on Tuesday, which condemned a wide array of atrocities committed throughout the three-year war. Describing the attack on the Ghouta district near Damascus, the report said: "The perpetrators likely had access to the chemical weapons stockpile of the Syrian military, as well as the expertise and equipment necessary to manipulate safely large amount of chemical agents." The Syrian military has not reported having lost control of any of its 1,200 tonnes of chemicals, which it is in the process of surrrendering as part of a Russian-brokered deal to avoid US-led air strikes. The strong wording stops short of apportioning blame for the attack. However, the political wing of the … [Read more...] about Sarin gas in attack on Syrian civilians probably government’s, says UN
Is the vilification of NZ’s meat and dairy justified?
©NOTED/BAUER MEDIA Some facts about different food and diets. This story was originally published by North & South and is republished with permission. When organisations as illustrious as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recommend Westerners eat less meat, it's not only Kiwi farmers who worry. Food scientists argue plant-based diets can ignore the protein-packed power of red meat and milk, especially for the young and the elderly. And while agriculture has big environmental problems to solve, New Zealand's grass-fed sheep and cattle still underpin a high-quality food industry. Glenda Lewis reports. Our confidence in what we eat and grow is, if not broken, then seriously undermined. "Too much information, too little knowledge," says frustrated nutrition scientist and Distinguished Professor Paul Moughan. "We need to re-establish some simple dietary principles and patterns, based on the best science, which you don't have to overthink and that take into … [Read more...] about Is the vilification of NZ’s meat and dairy justified?
Laos to improve quality of labor data collection
Video PlayerClose VIENTIANE, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Laos hopes to increase the quality of data both of local and foreign laborers in the country, as well as Lao laborers working abroad. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for conducting a feasibility study on Tuesday in Lao capital Vientiane, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Thursday. The MoU was signed between Big Data technology, Department of Planning and Cooperation, Institute of Technology Computers and Electronics (TCEI) under Lao Ministry of Science and Technology and two companies from the South Korea, POSCO International Corporation and PentaGate Company Limited. The ceremony was attended by Lao Minister of Science and Technology Boviengkham Vongdara, Lao officials and representatives of the companies. "This MoU is a great opportunity for the ministries in Laos and South Korean companies for developing and studying labor management system," said Lao Director General of Planning and Cooperation Department … [Read more...] about Laos to improve quality of labor data collection
