Part of the dyke along the Mã River in central Thanh Hóa Province has become seriously eroded. — Photo dantri.com.vnViet Nam News THANH HÓA — The People’s Committee of central Thanh Hóa Province has approved VNĐ34 billion (US$1.46 million) for repairs on the dyke system along the Mã River, which has sustained serious damage after storms and flooding over recent years. The committee said the repairs and rebuilding of the 188m eroded dyke in Hàm Rồng Ward, Thanh Hóa City was a priority in preparation for the upcoming rainy season. The total cost of the repair work will be allocated from the State budget and provincial funds. Nguyễn Đức Quyền, deputy chairman of the committee, said the committee has asked the investor of the project to strictly follow regulations on the dyke system when carrying out the repair work. The 1.4-kilometre-long dyke was built in 2011 with total … [Read more...] about Thanh Hóa approves $1.4m for dyke repairs
Billions season 1
Delta provinces take action to ensure safety during flood season
Viet Nam News MEKONG DELTA — Provinces in low-lying areas in the Mekong Delta are at risk of heavy flooding due to water from upstream coupled with quickly rising tides, especially in Kiên Giang, An Giang, Đồng Tháp and Long An. The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, which said that water levels in the Mekong Delta are rising at alarming levels, has issued a warning level of 2 and 3. On August 25 water levels rose to 3.86m at Tân Châu Station on the Tiền River and at 3.38m at Châu Đốc Station on the Hậu River, but did not exceed the warning level 2. However, by August 31, floods are expected to rise to 4.2m at Tân Châu Station and 3.7m at Châu Đốc Station, surpassing the warning level 2 by 0.2m. On September 5, water levels are forecast to peak at 4.15m at Tân Châu Station on the Tiền River and 3.65m at Châu Đốc Station, about 0.15m above … [Read more...] about Delta provinces take action to ensure safety during flood season
Nasdaq jumps 1.4% to close at new record ahead of big US earnings
Wall Street was back in buying mode on Thursday (Jul 12), pushing the Nasdaq to a fresh record as high hopes for earnings season overshadowed trade war fears. Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. (Source: AP Photo/Richard Drew) The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 224.44 points (0.91 per cent) to close at 24,924.89. The broad-based S&P 500 advanced 24.27 points (0.87 per cent) to 2,798.29, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index jumped 107.31 points (1.39 per cent) to finish at 7,823.92, its first record since Jun 20. Shares of large technology companies including Apple, Amazon and Microsoft won more than 1.5 per cent, along with industrial heavyweights Boeing and Caterpillar. Stocks had risen four straight sessions until new US tariff actions throttled stocks on Wednesday. But investors shook off those fears again on Thursday. "With President Trump in Europe this week, the trade wars issue is on hold and has taken a back seat," said Gorilla … [Read more...] about Nasdaq jumps 1.4% to close at new record ahead of big US earnings
Reservoir safety threatened during rainy season in Quảng Trị
Irrigation structures have been seriously damaged by recent heavy rainfall. — Photo vov.vnViet Nam News QUẢNG TRỊ — Two important irrigation structures in central Quảng Trị Province – the Nam Thạch Hãn flood spillway and Triệu Thượng 2 reservoir – have suffered serious damage, threatening the locality during the ongoing rainy season, vov.vn reported. A 1,000sq.m concrete structure at the Nam Thạch Hãn flood spillway has broken, and is now at a high risk of collapse. Meanwhile the roof of the dam at the Triệu Thượng 2 reservoir had been repaired several times but broke again and again. The two irrigation structures supply water for nearly 20,000ha of farming land in three districts in the south of the province. They are also a source of water for 200ha of saline aquaculture area and nearly 90,000 households in the lowlands area. The local authorities are seeking comprehensive … [Read more...] about Reservoir safety threatened during rainy season in Quảng Trị
Vietnam’s fruit, veggie exports exceed 2 billion USD in H1
Vietnam’s fruit, veggie exports exceed 2 billion USD in H1. Illustrative image. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam earned over 2 billion USD from exporting fruits and vegetables in the first half of 2018, a year-on-year rise of 19.7 percent. During the period, Vietnamese fruit and vegetable exports to the largest markets registered high growth, with China ranking first as the country imported 1.2 billion USD worth of products, an annual increase of 18.1 percent. The US came second with 50.9 million USD, up 14.6 percent. It was followed by Japan with 46.7 million USD, up 8 percent; the Republic of Korea with 46.5 million USD, up 15.4 percent; and Thailand with 26.1 million USD; up 26.3 percent. At present, China remains Vietnam's top export market, accounting for 74.6 percent of the latter's fruit and vegetable export turnover in the first five months. The result is attributed to the similarity in demand, habits and consumer taste and close geographical distance … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s fruit, veggie exports exceed 2 billion USD in H1
Shark Tank back for season 2
TV reality show Shark Tank will be back from July to nurture start-ups in the country and connect them with investors. In this the second season, each episode will last 45 minutes and be broadcast at 8.30pm on Wednesdays on VTV3. According to the organisers - TVHub and VTV24, the programme has attracted many start-ups from the industrial sector, indicating the impact of technology 4.0 on start-ups. In the show, start-up entrepreneurs will talk about their companies to a panel of business owners and executives, hoping to raise investment from them by selling stakes. The four “sharks” in the panel this year are Nguyen Xuan Phu, chairman of Sunhouse Group; Thai Van Linh, head of strategy & operations of VinaCapital; Pham Thanh Hung, deputy chairman of CEN Group; Nguyen Ngoc Thuy, chairman of EGroup. They will be joined occasionally by Dzung Nguyen, director of CyberAgent Viet Nam and Thailand; Louis Nguyen, general director of Saigon Asset Management; Nguyen Thanh Viet, … [Read more...] about Shark Tank back for season 2
EVNGENCO 1 seeks to ensure power supply in dry season
(VEN) - The Power Generation Corporation 1 (EVNGENCO 1) will focus on harnessing fuel sources for the operation of thermal power plants to ensure sufficient power supplies in the 2018 dry season. Electricity demand is growing at around 11 percent a year in Vietnam, which relies largely on coal-fired and hydro power plants. In the first quarter of the year, the corporation’s power output reached nearly 7.77 billion kWh, equal to 22.6 percent of the yearly plan, including nearly 1.97 billion kWh from hydropower and more than 5.8 billion kWh from thermal power. Total value of investment-construction volume in power projects owned by EVNGENCO 1 reached more than VND3.18 trillion in the first quarter of the year, while those invested by the parent company, Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), stood at around VND738 billion. The corporation is urgently completing projects and deploying capital for additional key projects. At the end of March 2018, the corporation submitted an equitization … [Read more...] about EVNGENCO 1 seeks to ensure power supply in dry season
Vinh Tan 1 thermal plant to reduce power thirst in southern provinces
The $1.75-billion Vinh Tan 1 thermal power project, the largest Chinese-invested project in Vietnam, will come into commercial operation ahead of schedule after concerns of potential power shortages in the southern provinces in the time to come. The Vinh Tan 1 thermal power project in Binh Thuan province According to the latest report of Vinh Tan 1 thermal power project, its first unit will come into commercial operation in July 2018, five months earlier than initially scheduled. Phan Ngoc Cam Thanh, deputy director of Vinh Tan 1 told the National Steering Committee for Power Development that after 1,025 consecutive days of construction, the project is now 93 per cent complete. “We target to push forward the date of commercial operations,” said Thanh. On April 18, 2018, the first unit of Vinh Tan 1 was successfully connected to the national grid and met all standard requirements during the testing as well as operation. Member of the National Steering Committee for … [Read more...] about Vinh Tan 1 thermal plant to reduce power thirst in southern provinces
Social News 29/1
Exhibition praises victory of 1968 Tet OffensiveCommando Ba Mu (whose real name is Do Van Can) disguised himself as a rubber latex collector to fool the enemy. He used a tricycle to transport weapons to serve the South Vietnam liberation forces during the 1968 Tet Offensive.The tricycle is on display at exhibition that has opened in Hanoi.Entitled The Epic of the 1968 Tet Offensive, the exhibition celebrates the 50th anniversary of the victory of the campaign.The exhibition displays more than 300 images, documents and objects. Ba Mu’s tricycle is one among many objects showcased to the public for the first time.The exhibition is divided into three parts: devotion for the battlefield, the historical turning point and echoes of the epic. They depict the determination of Vietnamese people and soldiers in fighting for peace and liberation.“The Military History Museum of Vietnam organised the exhibition with the aim of asserting the historical magnitude and significance of the … [Read more...] about Social News 29/1
Now is the season of deadly booze
HÀ NỘI — As Tết (Lunar New Year) draws near, several Hà Nội citizens have been hospitalised with alcohol poisoning, which is often caused by home-made spirits. Every day for the last two weeks, doctors at Bạch Mai Hospital’s Poisoning Control Centre treated patients suffering from alcoholic poisoning. Some required emergency treatment. They were from different age groups and were from all walks of life, including university students. After drinking at several year-end parties in four consecutive days, a 47-year-old Hà Nội resident was taken to the centre in a drowsy state and with poor vision. His blood pressure had dropped and then his heart stopped beating and had to be restarted. He was later found to be suffering from severe brain damage from methanol poisoning. Tests showed there was 300mg of methanol in 100ml of his blood, 15 times higher than the safety limit (20mg/100ml of blood). The hospital later … [Read more...] about Now is the season of deadly booze