Killer disease still baffles scientists Authorities remain baffled by the mysterious skin disease that has killed nearly 20 people and infected many others in Quang Ngai Province though the Ministry of Health has sent two delegations to investigate. Pham Hong Phuong, director of the Quang Ngai Province Department of Health, said the ministry has concluded it is palm dermatitis with liver problems. But he refused to provide further information about the ministry's conclusion or speculate about it. But Dr Tran Hau Khang, director of the Ha Noi-based Central Dermatology Hospital, who led both delegations, rejected the conclusion. He told the People's Army newspaper that it was based merely on symptoms and the cause remains unknown. Blood tests found the presence of the rickettsia bacterium in 14 out of 26 patients in Ba To District. It is known to cause typhus among other diseases. Viet Nam News called the office of the US's Center for Diseases Control in Ha Noi only to be told to seek … [Read more...] about SOCIAL NEWS IN BRIEF 6/5
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Art & Entertainment News
Heartthrob Mario Maurer in Ho Chi Minh City Mario landed at Tan Son Nhat International Airport the morning of November 7 to heaps and heaps of noisy fans. According to his publicist, later in the afternoon he will appear at the grand opening of a new shopping mall SC Vivo City in Ho Chi Minh City's District 7. In addition, Mario will meet with fans and hold a presser prior to jetting back to Thailand on November 8. In life after TV, Vietnam Idol runner-up holds first concert Hoang Quyen, runner-up of Vietnam Idol 2012, will have her first live show tonight, marking her "grown-up career", the 23-year-old singer said at a recent press conference. Entitled Ret Dau Mua (Early Chill), her debut show was named after a song written for her by composer Le Minh Son, which she has already sung at past performances. Quyen will open with this song at tonight's concert, which begins at 8pm at the Ha Noi Opera House. Quyen, a Tay ethnic native of the northern mountainous province of Thai … [Read more...] about Art & Entertainment News
China Xinhua News Agency shares experience with Vietnam
Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung received a delegation of China's Xinhua News Agency led by its permanent Deputy General Director Zhang Xiaohua in Hanoi on January 14. Deputy PM Hung welcomed the collaboration between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Xinhua in organising photo exhibitions to mark the 60 th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and China in Hanoi and Beijing and hoped the events will help boost the two countries' friendship. MR Hung took the occasion to highlight the two news agencies' important role in the press system of each country. Together with the fine development of the Vietnam-China relationship under the motto "friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, long-term stability and future oriented vision" and in the spirit of "good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners" reached between the two countries' senior leaders, the two news agencies would continue their solidarity, … [Read more...] about China Xinhua News Agency shares experience with Vietnam
Social News 9/10
VWS proposes taking less waste for treatment Vietnam Waste Solutions (VWS), facing strong public criticisms over a foul smell from its waste management facility in southern HCMC, has written to the HCMC government proposing taking less waste for treatment from next week. The company said in a document sent to the city government on Wednesday that from October 10, it would scale down the daily volume of garbage it receives from the current 5,000 tons to 3,000 tons, which was exactly the amount its Da Phuoc integrated waste management facility handled a day before the city government allowed it to manage an additional 2,000 tons in November 2014. This 2,000-ton volume was transferred from Phuoc Hiep waste treatment complex in the outlying district of Cu Chi. According to VWS, this is a necessary step to reduce the volume of waste it treats amid public criticisms over the spread of the odor from Da Phuoc. The recent heavy downpours, especially on September 26 and 27, have caused leachate … [Read more...] about Social News 9/10
POLITICAL NEWS IN BRIEF
NA leader hosts reception for NZ ambassador National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan received New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Heather Mhairi Riddell in Hanoi on Friday. Ngan expressed her wish that the Vietnamese and New Zealand parliaments will enhance cooperation in training and improving capacity of NA deputies, especially full-time deputies. The NA leader also affirmed that Vietnam always creates favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to promote trade and investment cooperation. For her part, Ambassador Heather Mhairi Riddell praised Vietnam's efforts to control inflation, ensure social security and stable growth. The NZ diplomat pledged to do her utmost to promote all-round cooperation between the two countries and create favorable conditions for NZ and Vietnamese businesses to cooperate. New Zealand has granted 30 scholarships to Vietnamese students and is implementing an initiative for young Vietnamese entrepreneurs to study and … [Read more...] about POLITICAL NEWS IN BRIEF