Researchers have found the wreckage of the U.S. warship Indianapolis, which was sunk by a Japanese torpedo in the final days of World War Two, more than 18,000 feet (5.5 kilometers) below the surface of the Pacific Ocean, the Navy said on Saturday. The cruiser was returning from its mission to deliver components for the atomic bomb that would soon be dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima when it was fired upon in the North Pacific Ocean by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945. It sunk in 12 minutes, according to the Naval History and Heritage Command in Washington. No distress signal was sent. About 800 of the 1,196 crew members aboard survived the sinking, but only 316 were rescued alive five days later, with the rest lost to exposure, dehydration, drowning and sharks. After a Navy historian unearthed new information in 2016 about the warship's last movements that pointed to a new search area, a team of civilian researchers led by Paul Allen, a Microsoft Corp … [Read more...]

Video by Nhat Tan Thoi Son Islet The small islet sits downstream on the Tien River, one of the two tributaries of the Mekong River in Vietnam, which the province is named after. Visitors can pay to take a boat ride under coconut canopies along canals that zigzag through the islet. Photo by Huan Phan Or you can take a horse and cart. The islet is known for its tropical orchards which fruit between July and October. Photo by Huan Phan Vinh Trang Pagoda This Buddhist pagoda is hidden in an orchard of nearly two hectares (4.9 acres) outside My Tho, the provincial capital. The scenic backdrop adds to the religious experience, and the pagoda combines Asian and European designs. Photo by Thanh Tuyet Flower village The flower village in Man Dinh Hong is four kilometers (2.5 miles) to the west of My Tho. It is the main supplier of flowers and ornamental trees during the Lunar New Year in … [Read more...]

CINCINNATI: Defending champion Karolina Pliskova solidified her world number one ranking on Friday (Aug 18) by defeating fifth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki and qualifier Camila Giorgi on Friday to reach the WTA and ATP Cincinnati Masters semi-finals. Karolina Pliskova, of the Czech Republic, returns to Caroline Wozniacki, of Denmark, at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament on Aug 18, 2017, in Mason, Ohio. (Photo: AP/John Minchillo) The 25-year-old Czech, fighting to hold off Romania's second-ranked Simona Halep atop the rankings, first ousted Italian qualifier Giorgi 6-3, 4-6, 6-0 in one of five matches postponed from Thursday due to rain. Pliskova returned two hours later and defeated Denmark's fifth-ranked Wozniacki 6-2, 6-4 to book a Saturday semi-final matchup against reigning Wimbledon champion Garbine … [Read more...]

It is only a matter of time until Mekong Capital divests its capital in Traphaco JSC (HOSE: TRA), however, the details of its divestment plan remain unclear. RELATED CONTENTS: Mekong Capital officially sells 75 per cent holding in Loc Troi Mekong Capital to divest Loc Troi Mekong Capital triples ownership in Traphaco Mekong Capital and Traphaco Vietnam Azalea Fund (VAF), managed by Mekong Capital Ltd., invested in Traphaco in 2007 and has continued to increase its ownership ratio ever since. At the moment, VAF is holding 25 per cent of the shares at Traphaco, second only to State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC). In 2008, Traphaco was listed on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) and soon became one of the blue-chips on the market. While TRA shares were sometimes sold below par value in its early days in 2008, it is currently one of the … [Read more...]

Carrying out the “Year of Business” and the “Year of Administrative Order and Discipline” in 2017, Thua Thien Hue province has adopted many solutions and activities to accelerate administrative procedure reform, raise the spirit and sense of responsibility of civil servants, invest in essential infrastructure and remove difficulties for enterprises, among other things, in a bid to better mobilise investment resources in infrastructure for production, economic development, environmental protection and social security guarantee. The Vietnam Business Forum Magazine has an interview with Nguyen Van Cao, Chairman of the Thua Thien Hue Provincial People’s Committee, on this issue. Ngo Khuyen reports. While speeding up the enforcement of Resolution 35/NQ-CP dated May 16, 2016, of the Government on business support and development to 2020, Thua Thien Hue province also defined … [Read more...]

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will arrange a new task for Ho Thi Kim Thoa after she was dismissed from the position of Deputy Minister. Sabeco officially dismisses Vu Quang Hai Ho Thi Kim Thoa, former Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade On August 16, 2017, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed the Decision No.1203/QD-TTg to dismiss Ho Thi Kim Thoa from her position of Deputy Minister of MoIT. She will be reassigned to another task, but no specifics have been released yet. On July 28, Ho Thi Kim Thoa submitted her resignation for personal reasons. On August 1, she handed in her leave of absence letter and since then she had not appeared at the ministry. During her off-work period, Deputy Minister Do Thang Hai has taken over her regular … [Read more...]

BARCELONA: A van driver ploughed into crowds of pedestrians on Barcelona's most popular street in broad daylight on Thursday (Aug 17), killing 13 people in an attack claimed by the Islamic State militant group. Medical staff members and policemen stand in a cordoned off area after a van ploughed into the crowd, injuring several persons on the Rambla in Barcelona on August 17, 2017. (AFP Photo/Josep Lago) Police announced the arrest of two suspects, identified as a Spaniard and a Moroccan, but said the driver was still on the run. Witnesses told of scenes of chaos and horror, with bodies strewn along the famous boulevard as other people fled for their lives, screaming in panic. The rampage in a city hugely popular with tourists from around the world is the latest in a wave of attacks in Europe where vehicles have … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the aviation industry to tighten security and safety as they are important issues currently. This requirement was one of six in a message from the Prime Minister sent to the aviation industry at the meeting between the Government working group led by Minister cum Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung and representatives of three aviation firms, including Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation and Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), in Hanoi on August 16. The meeting aimed to urge the industry to boost business and production, contributing to hitting the country’s GDP growth target this year as well as discovering and solving difficulties. The businesses will then have to report and explain the problems to the Government and the PM. In the message, PM Phuc said the industry has grown but has to ensure security and safety, seen as the most important issue. The PM mentioned … [Read more...]

On July 11, 2017, THACO officially handed over 12 double-decker tour buses for Empire Group. These buses are dedicated for travel and are quite popular and familiar to visitors in London, Berlin, Barcelona, Hong Kong or Singapore. After over a year of research, THACO Research and Development Centre (R&D) has launched the double-decker tour buses (54 seats-42 seats on the upper deck and 12 on the lower deck) of European standards, applying the most advanced technology, manufactured with components imported directly from Germany, Japan, and South Korea, meeting strict quality requirements, and making the ideal vehicle for sightseeing activities in tourism cities. The bus consists of two decks with a roof top, clear space and visibility, a suitable choice for sightseeing. The bus is equipped with a mini bar, a multi-language touch screen system … [Read more...]

NDO – A specialised agency at the general department level has been established to cover the work of natural disaster prevention and control for the first time. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) on August 16 organised a ceremony to introduce its General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. The department is the newest agency under the management of MARD, following the establishment of the Vietnam Administration of Forestry, Directorate of Fisheries and Water Recourse Directorate. Tran Quang Hoai, Deputy Head of Water Resources Directorate, was appointed Head of the General Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. It was established through a separation of the Water Resources Directorate’s agency responsible for natural disaster prevention and control, along with the merging of a number of agencies that have the same function, and will act as the first State-level general department for disaster … [Read more...]

NDO – A number of businesses are successfully experimenting with the industrial waste treatment model and recycling waste into electricity, to benefit the people and meet the needs of the country's development. However, the operation of waste-to-energy (WtE) technology is not simple, requiring strong incentives in order to develop this potential source of renewable energy. >>> Pioneering industrial waste power generation plant opens in Vietnam >>> HCM City considers building of waste-to-energy plant >>> HCM City backs building of waste-to-energy plant Potential from WtE Beginning operations at the end of last April, Go Cat WtE plant (Binh Tan district, Ho Chi Minh City) has processed approximately 500 tonnes of industrial waste, while generating 7MW of electricity into the national grid. The plant is operated by a system of pre-processed garbage equipment, such as primary and secondary cutting equipment, industrial garbage … [Read more...]

The development of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Company (VSIP) is a prime example of the success of Singaporean investors in Vietnam for many years. Most Singaporean investment projects in Vietnam are considered to be effective and greatly contribute to job creation, export growth and economic growth in Vietnam. VSIP, a joint venture between Becamex IDC Corporation and Sembcorp Group, has been active in Vietnam for more than 20 years, a typical example of successful Singaporean investors in Vietnam. Set up in 1996 from a landmark agreement between the two governments, VSIP has grown and rapidly expanded to become a leading industrial developer in Vietnam and is operating seven modern projects all over the country. VSIP is seen as one of the symbols of friendly relationship and good economic cooperation between the two countries. VSIP has to date attracted a total … [Read more...]

According to the National Financial Supervisory Commission, many supporting factors in both the domestic and international markets could help an interest rate cut until the year-end. According to the National Financial Supervisory Commission, many supporting factors in both the domestic and international markets could help an interest rate cut until the year-end.- Photo kinhtedothi.vn Firstly, the commission said, the pressure from the exchange rate is not too large, as the US dollar has devalued by more than 7 per cent since early this year, and the chance to raise interest rates this year from the US Federal Reserves is less than 50 per cent. Secondly, inflation is more likely to stay below the National Assembly’s target of 4 per cent. Thirdly, the country successfully issued 75 per cent of the Government … [Read more...]

At a recent press meeting held in Ho Chi Minh City, Dr. Tran Dac Phu, director of the general department, said that students in many provinces and cities nationwide will start the 2017-2018 academic year on September 5. Students washing their hands frequently in order to prevent diseases such as hand, foot and mouth disease, which is starting its peak season. Photo: pasteurhcm.gov.vn Phu required preventive health officials nationwide to guide school managers and teachers to manage waste and water containers away from a school’s campus to prevent from mosquitoes, which transmit dengue fever to humans. Kindergarten toys and other devices should be washed to avoid transmission of hand, foot and mouth disease among children, he added. “If one kid gets the disease, it is easy to transmit to others at school,” Phu said. Nguyen Tri Dung, Head of the HCM City Preventive Health Centre, said that … [Read more...]

Vietnam's prime minister has called for an increase in credit growth to 21 percent this year to help the country hit its economic growth target, state media reported on Monday, potentially adding to concerns over the pace of new lending. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stated the goal at a meeting of top officials at the weekend, where he emphasized the importance of hitting the 6.7 percent annual economic growth target, Vietnam News Agency and other state outlets said. In February, Vietnam's central bank set a 2017 credit growth target of 18 percent, and there has been no announcement that the official target has been increased. The central bank cut its refinancing rate by 25 basis points to 6.25 percent in July If the prime minister's goal becomes an official target, this could make further interest rate cuts more likely, said ANZ economist Eugenia Victorino. "But then the quality of credit growth and the quality of growth overall in the economy may be at risk," she … [Read more...]

Four people were arrested in the violence, including James Fields, a 20-year-old white man from Ohio being held in jail on suspicion of plowing a car into a crowd of counter-protesters on Saturday. U.S. authorities will investigate on Sunday the violence stemming from a white nationalist rally a day earlier that killed one person, injured more than 30, and challenged U.S. President Donald Trump's leadership. The unrest in the southern college town presented Trump with a domestic crisis, with many on both left and right criticizing him for waiting too long to address it and then, when he did so, failing to explicitly condemn the white-supremacist marchers who ignited the melee. "Absolutely we are going to have further demonstrations in Charlottesville, because our constitutional rights are being denied," said Jason Kessler, identified by civil rights groups as a white nationalist blogger. He did not specify when. Kessler organized the "Unite the Right" rally in … [Read more...]

NDO – The State budget collection total, in the first seven months of this year, was estimated at VND666.7 trillion (approx. US$29.3 billion), an increase of 11.6% over the same period last year. The amount is equivalent to 55% of the yearly estimates, announced the Ministry of Finance on August 11. In the reviewed period, domestic collection reached VND532.5 trillion (US$23.4 billion), up 9.4%, accounting for 53.8% of the year’s estimates. The budget’s revenues from crude oil and import-export activities stood at over VND27 trillion (US$1.2 billion) and VND165 trillion (US$7.3 billion), up 16.2% and 8.9%, respectively. According to the ministry, progress in budget collection across all localities was quite positive compared to the yearly plan and increased over the same period of last year, with 43 out of the 63 provinces and cities collecting 56% of their estimates. Meanwhile, total budget spending was … [Read more...]

ALEXANDRIA: At least 37 people were killed as two trains collided on Friday (Aug 11) outside the Mediterranean city of Alexandria, in one of the deadliest in a string of such accidents in Egypt, the health ministry said. Onlookers gather at the scene of a train collision just outside Egypt’s Mediterranean port city of Alexandria on Aug 11, 2017, where two trains collided killing dozens of people and injuring over 100 in the country’s deadliest rail accident in more than a decade. (Photo: AP/Ravy Shaker) The crash also injured 123 people, the ministry said in a statement. Footage on the state broadcaster showed one train had partly keeled over in the crash, and medics were seen moving the dead and injured to ambulances. Transport ministry officials, quoted on state television, said the crash was … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA – Construction of the Xa Ot bridge at the Lao Bao-Densavan international border gate, between Vietnam’s central province of Quang Tri and Savannakhet province of Laos, kicked off on August 11. The event forms part of the activities marking the 55th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties (September 5) and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18). The bridge has a total investment of VND32.9 billion (around US$1.45 million), which is funded by the Vietnamese government. Quang Tri and Savannakhet provinces share a borderline of 126 kilometres, with the Lao Bao-Densavan border gate connecting the East-West Economic Corridor. Once completed, the new bridge is expected to meet the growing trade and travel demands between the two provinces and Vietnam and Laos in general, thus completing the border gate traffic infrastructure and contributing to the local socio-economic development and … [Read more...]

Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) has officially announced its listing on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) under the ticker VPB. IFC offers $57-million convertible loan to VPBank Analysis: Basel II bank performances FE Credit raises $100 million in financing arranged by Credit Suisse VPB stocks were listed on HoSE on August 8, but will be officially available for trading from August 17 In particular, HoSE published Notice No.856/TB-SGDHCM on the receipt of the first listing registration of VPBank. Accordingly, more than 1.3 million VPB stocks will be listed at the price of VND39,000 ($1.7) per share. In total, VPBank is valued at nearly VND52 trillion ($2.3 … [Read more...]