At least five people, including two children, were killed and more than 100 others were injured on Thursday (Aug 22) during a sudden thunderstorm in Poland and Slovakia's Tatra mountains, according to rescuers and officials. More than 100 tourists are said to be injured after a lightning strike. (AFP/Piotr KORCZAK) Most of the victims were on the Polish side, where lightning struck a large metal cross on top of Mount Giewont and a metal chain near the summit, rescuers said. One person died in Slovakia. "There were a lot of incidents involving lightning strikes today in the Tatras," Polish mountain rescue service chief Jan Krzysztof told Poland's PAP news agency. "More than 100 people are injured," Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said after arriving in the nearby mountain resort town of Zakopane. Rescuers believe many hikers were nearby when lightning struck the cross on Giewont's summit. They had set out to climb Poland's highest mountains when the skies were clear … [Read more...] about Lightning strike kills five in Polish, Slovak mountains
Reference exchange rate up 11 VND on August 23
The daily reference exchange rate was set at 23,127 VND per USD on August 23, up 11 VND from the previous day (August 22) (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The daily reference exchange rate was set at 23,127 VND per USD on August 23, up 11 VND from the previous day (August 22). With the current trading band of +/- 3 percent, the ceiling rate applied to commercial banks during the day is 23,820 VND per USD and the floor rate at 22,443 VND/USD. The opening hour rates at commercial banks saw slight fluctuations. At 8:15 am, Vietcombank listed the buying rate at 23,145 VND/USD and the selling rate at 23,265 VND/USD, unchanged from August 22. Meanwhile, BIDV added 5 VND to both rates, listing the buying rate at 23,145 VND/USD and the selling rate at 23,265 VND/USD. On the contrary, Techcombank cut both rates by 2 VND, listing the buying rate at 23,129 VND/USD and the selling rate at 23,269 VND/USD. During the week from August 19 to 23, the daily reference exchange rate for USD/VND … [Read more...] about Reference exchange rate up 11 VND on August 23
Dam workers face criminal probe for civilian death
By Nguyen Hai  August 23, 2019 | 08:57 am GMT+7 A rescue team looks for Vi Van May, who was swept away by water released from Nam Non hydropower dam in Nghe An Province, May 23, 2019. Photo by VnExpress. Two Vietnamese dam workers accused of releasing water that killed a man will be investigated for involuntary manslaughter, police said Thursday. Nguyen Van Anh, 30, and Tran Quyet Tien, 26, employees of the Nam Non Hydropower Plant in Tuong Duong District in the central province of Nghe An, were set free on bail the same day. On May 23, when they were on duty, Anh and Tien released water from the dam but didn't press the warning siren that alerts residents downstream. Vi Van May, 34, and his younger brother Vi Van Than were fishing on a boat at the foot of the dam. The water release toppled their boat and washed May away. Locals nearby managed to rescue Than. May’s body was found two hours after the accident, 30 meters from where the boat capsized. The … [Read more...] about Dam workers face criminal probe for civilian death
Da Lat’s personality need be preserved through proper planning
Suffocated highland city The naturally clean and fresh air of a mountainous town has been taken up by countless urban buildings, making the atmosphere in downtown Da Lat stuffier than ever. Outskirts areas are no better with agricultural greenhouses replacing all the greeneries. Even valleys and hills could not escape the invasive urbanization. In Thai Phien and Van Thanh agricultural production areas in Ward 12 and 5, new greenhouses continue to spring up, nibbling away at pine trees in adjacent areas. Greenhouses in Da Lat now cover a total of 2,400ha, accounting for 50% of greenhouse coverage in all of Lam Dong province. There is a multitude of buildings, mostly touristic hotels, violating the rules on maximum height and number of floors set by the Government, which point out that buildings in the city center must not be more than 5-floor high (excluding landmarks). These rules were stated under Decision No. 704/QĐ-TTg on the general zoning plan for Da Lat and its vicinity … [Read more...] about Da Lat’s personality need be preserved through proper planning
VN posts positive trade balance with CPTPP
Exports to markets such as Japan, Canada and Mexico reported significant gains compared to the same period last year with Japan topping the chart at $1.01 billion, Canada at $546 million and Mexico at $290 million. At the same time, imports from Mexico decreased by $659 million, Singapore by $490 million and Malaysia by $219 million. It has helped the country turn a positive trade balance even posting a trade surplus with Japan for the very first time. The figures indicated Vietnamese businesses were taking advantage of lowered tariffs and trade opportunities that come with the trade deal. Stronger demand for Vietnamese agricultural products from CPTPP economies was expected to help Vietnamese exporters to offset some of the adverse effects caused by China’s recent policy to reduce imports in the future. On the other hand, measures must be taken to further boost the country’s exports as Viet Nam saw a decline in exports to markets such as Australia and Malaysia and growing … [Read more...] about VN posts positive trade balance with CPTPP