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Archive for May 13th, 2010|Daily archive page

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Community-based ecotourism management discussed

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:58 pm




Community-based ecotourism management discussed


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:46 (GMT+7)

Delegates from nations in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) are discussing community-based ecotourism planning and management at a workshop in the ancient city of Hue, Thua Thien-Hue province.


The workshop from May 12-18 is part of a sustainable development programme among GMS nations – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – to reach unanimous definitions in this field.


The workshop, sponsored by the Vietnamese Government and the Mekong Institute of Thailand, also includes field trips to community-based ecotourism sites in Vietnam , Laos and Thailand, helping map out an action programme on this kind of tourism among the GMS nations.


A series of reports dealing with the definition of community-based ecotourism management and planning, relations with poverty reduction and bio-diversity protection and an overview of eco-tourism in the sub-region were presented at the workshop.


Earlier, in last October, representatives from the Hue tourism vocational training school, Thailand’s Mekong Institute and tourist experts from GMS countries conducted field trips to ecotourism sites in Vietnam , Laos and Thailand.


Source: VNA


Source: QDND

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Vietnam Medi-Pharma 2010 opens

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:58 pm




Vietnam Medi-Pharma 2010 opens


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:46 (GMT+7)

PANO – The 17th Vietnam Medicine and Pharmacy International Exhibition opened on May 5th at the Friendship Cultural Palace in Hanoi.


On an area of 7,500 sq.m., medical products and equipment are on show at 350 booths from domestic and foreign businesses, including pharmaceutical firms from the US, Germany, France, Belgium, Republic of Korea and Singapore.


During the eleven-day event, there are other activities, such as seminars, exchanges and tours to hospitals.


Several firms also provide free healthcare to participants at the exhibition.


The annual exhibition is expected to offer an opportunity for pharmaceutical companies to promote their products, transfer technology and seek business partners.


Translated by Duy Minh


Source: QDND

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Capital gears up for storm season

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:57 pm




Capital gears up for storm season


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:43 (GMT+7)

Hanoi People’s Committee has urged relevant authorities to get ready for floods and storms during the upcoming rainy season from May to December.


The municipal Committee for Flood and Storm Prevention and Control reported that essential equipment and vehicles for flood prevention and control are ready in key areas.


The city has sped up the upgrade of dyke systems and steps to prevent landslides as well as developed search and rescue plans, according to head of the municipal Dyke Management Department Do Duc Thinh.


Hanoi has 20 key dykes stretching nearly 470km. They are under regular inspection patrols so that any damage can be quickly fixed.


An assessment of the quality of the dyke system and water reservoirs around the city is expected to be completed this month.


“The city will also map out plans to evacuate local residents in flood and landslide-prone areas if necessary, particularly children and the elderly, and encourage people to prepare flood and storm prevention and control measures,” he said.


Authorities have been told to increase inspections and strictly punish those caught violating rules covering dykes and irrigation works.


Inspectors have already discovered more than 4,700 violations of dyke rules, including encroachments on the dyke protective corridor such as makeshift shops and houses.


“Authorities will stamp out illegal makeshift dwellings to ensure the safety of the locals,” Thinh said.


To help promote drainage work, Hanoi Water Drainage Company has set up a hotline 043976 2245 for people to report information relating to floods.


The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has urged localities in the northern and Central Highland regions to complete inspection and upgrade of reservoirs and dams.


Source: VNA


Source: QDND

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HCM City drainage not yet ready for heavy rain

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:56 pm




HCM City drainage not yet ready for heavy rain


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:43 (GMT+7)

Flooding in HCM City in the coming rainy season is expected to be more severe because most drainage projects have not been completed, project managers say.


The city has four big ongoing drainage projects, the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Basin’s environment clean-up project, the East-West Highway and Water Environment project, the city’s urban enhancement project and Hang Bang Canal project.


Phan Hoang Dieu, director of the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Project’s management board, said new culverts have been installed under most streets, but would not be connected to the city’s common drainage system until 2011.


Installation work during the last phase of the East-West Highway and Water Environment project is expected to be completed next year.


“Even though many culverts have been installed upstream for these projects, there is still work to be done with the outlets, so the upstream culverts aren’t effective at this time,” Dang Ngoc Hoi, section head of the project’s management board, told Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper.


The Hang Bang Canal Project, which is expected to deal with flooding in districts 6, 11, Tan Binh, Tan Phu and Binh Tan, is still in its first phase. The city’s Steering Centre for Anti-flooding Programme said the city’s drainage system in more than 100 areas has been blocked by construction work of the Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Project and Water Environment project.


The projects have stopped water flow to complete work. If these areas are not unblocked the centre warned that many areas in the city’s inner district 1 would flood during the rainy season.


Source: VNA


Source: QDND

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President Nguyen Minh Triet begins Belarus visit

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:55 pm




President Nguyen Minh Triet begins Belarus visit


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:46 (GMT+7)

At 10 pm (Hanoi time) on May 12, State President Nguyen Minh Triet arrived in Minsk for his four-day official visit to the Republic of Belarus at the invitation of President Alexander Lukashenko.


Mr Triet and his entourage were welcomed at Minsk International Airport by Belarusian Sergey Martynov, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belarus Dang Huy Tran and staff from the Vietnamese Embassy.


Over the past years, Vietnam and Belarus have maintained their fine traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation through the exchange of high-level visits and the signing of agreements and contracts to promote bilateral cooperation.


The Belarusian administration has created the best possible condition for around 600 overseas Vietnamese to work, study and do business in the country.


In 2006, Belarusian President Lukashenko allowed Vietnamese citizens who began working in Belarus before 1992 to have a legal and long-term settlement in Belarus, contributing to the promotion of friendship between the two countries.


An official welcome ceremony was scheduled to be held on May 13 at the Presidential Palace in Minsk and the talks between the two state leaders will take place the same day.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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Gala celebrates first Congress for Ethnic Minority groups

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:55 pm




Gala celebrates first Congress for Ethnic Minority groups


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:46 (GMT+7)

A gala evening spotlighting the cultures of 54 ethnic minorities was held at the My Dinh National Convention Centre in Hanoi on May 12 to celebrate the first Congress of Ethnic Minority groups in the country.


Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Huynh Dam and leaders of the Party and State attended the event and enjoyed the performance alongside 1702 representatives from the ethnic minority peoples. 


The programme was broadcast live on Vietnam Television.


The event also attracted 1,400 students from universities across the country. During the gala, dances, drums and ethnic minority wine-drinking ceremonies took place.


455 artistes from 30 provinces and cities nationwide recreated scenes of the peoples from mountainous areas and their traditions.


The gala evening underlined the national unity of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups.


Source: VOV


Source: QDND

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Voters deserve fast replies: lawmakers

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 4:53 pm




Voters deserve fast replies: lawmakers


QĐND – Thursday, May 13, 2010, 22:47 (GMT+7)

National Assembly Standing Committee members yesterday discussed voter problems at their closing session yesterday, May 12.


Tran The Vuong, head of the National Assembly’s Ombudsman Committee, said that 46 voter petitions were sent to the NA, 1,171 to the Government and 17 to the Supreme People’s Court and the Supreme People’s Procuracy.


Relevant authorities had sent 1,170 replies by May, Vuong said, adding that despite the large number of petitions, most responses were promptly made.


However, he said there were still some delays and some replies had failed to properly address voter concerns.


One such example was the reply by the Ministry of Health to a query about health insurance for victims of traffic accidents, while the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Education and Training had been tardy with some of their responses.


The Ombudsman Committee’s report said that officials should better serve voters.


Truong Thi Mai, chairwoman of the NA’s Social Affairs Committee, said officials should be compelled to answer voter petitions.


Le Quang Binh, chairman of the Committee for National Defence and Security, agreed with Mai, saying that the document should ask functional agencies to explain why they had been tardy in responding to voter petitions to both the NA and the voters.


Nguyen Duc Kien, vice chairman of the National Assembly, said the Ombudsman’s report should have described in more detail how petitions were resolved. He added that the replies should also have been published to determine which agencies were acting responsibly and which were not.


Preparations


Members also discussed the agenda for the upcoming 7th session of the 12th National Assembly.


It has been decided that laws governing the sea, capital and public investment would not be debated as more preparation time was needed.


At the next session, which runs from May 20 to June 19, the Government would give a report on Dung Quat Oil Refinery Factory Number 1 in the central province of Quang Ngai, said Tran Dinh Dan, head of the NA’s Office.


Dan said they would also review national hydro-electricity plans, as well as forestry management.


Source: VietNamNet/Viet Nam News


 


Source: QDND

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VN-Index continues to move backwards

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 12:52 pm

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index, which tracks 227 companies and 4 mutual funds on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, continued plummet on May 13 as selling took the upper hand.

The index slid 0.13 percent, or 0.67 points, to finish at 518.93. Around 60.2 million shares, worth VND2.18 trillion, were traded.


Among the index members, 75 advanced, 120 fell, and 36 remained stagnant.


Most banking shares gained, except Vietnam Export Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank or Eximbank (EIB), which gave up 0.94 percent to VND21,100.


Saigon Commercial Bank or Sacombank (STB) topped the list of most active stock in volume with more than 2.97 million shares, trading up 0.46 percent. Saigon Securities Inc. (SSI) dropped to the second rank as more than 2.88 million shares changed hands. The brokerage lost 0.25 percent to trade at VND39,400. Ocean Group Joint Stock Company (OCG) came next with 2.08 million shares.


Big losers on the city bourse included the Hanoi-based mechanical manufacturer Son Ha International Corporation (SHI), Cadovimex Seafood Import-Export and Processing Joint Stock Company (CAD), and Phuong Nam Cultural Joint Stock Corporation (PNC).


Vo Thanh Tien, chairman of Cadovimex Co.’s Board of Directors, registered to sell all his holdings, 800,000 shares, between May 13 and July 13 to pay hospital fees for his child. The company will hold the second shareholders meeting on May 22 in Ca Mau Province.


Chuong Duong Beverages Joint Stock Company (SCD) utilized the daily maximum allowed limit of 5 percent to finish the day at VND31,500.


An Pha Petroleum Group Joint Stock Company (ASP) traded at VND15,000, up 4.9 percent over the previous day.


Dong A Plastic Group Joint – Stock Company (DAG) rose by 4.87 percent to VND23,700, heading for three straight gains.


The northern market also stayed in red as the Hanoi’s HNX-Index dropped 0.9 percent, or 1.58 points, to 173.16 points. Liquidity fell to around 41.2 million shares, worth VND1.42 trillion.

Source: SGGP

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Central bank denies rumor of devaluation

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 12:52 pm

State Bank of Vietnam Thursday persistently denied a rumor saying that it would devaluate Vietnam Dong by 4%, adding that the rumor caused worries among investors.

In an announcement the bank said that the foreign exchange market had been stable since the end of March, because of rich supplies and the satisfying of foreign currency demand among businesses.


Credit organizations have kept enough foreign reserves, and overbuy foreign currencies; even they sold foreign currencies to the State Bank. The bank has bought US$1 billion from the credit organizations since the middle of April, increasing its foreign reserves.


The bank also affirmed that macro-economic data was stable and had positive signals, hence foreign exchange rate would be unchanged 
 


 

Source: SGGP

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Iraq toll in Sadr City blast rises to 9

In Uncategorized on May 13, 2010 at 12:51 pm

Iraqi officials say the toll for an explosion in a Shiite area in Baghdad has risen to nine and they suspect it was a premature detonation.

A woman walks past a piece of a destroyed car at the site of Wednesday’s bomb attack in Baghdad May 13, 2010. Seven people were killed and 22 wounded after a car bomb planted outside a cafe exploded in Baghdad’s Sadr City

The blast ripped through a popular cafe near the entrance to Sadr City late Wednesday, killing young men drinking tea and playing backgammon.


Police initially said it was a car bomb. But a police officer in Sadr City said it appears to have been an accident because three suspected militants were inside the car when it exploded.


Police and hospital officials gave the death toll and details on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.


The neighborhood is a stronghold of anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and the scene of blasts in April that killed 72 people.

Source: SGGP