Briefs on some of leading news stories published on Tuesday (July 29) in Tuoi Tre newspaper:

Politics:

-- Peter Hain, a member of the UK parliament, has confirmed in an interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that requiring state officials to list their income and assets is an effective way to fight corruption.

Society:

-- Da Nang City in central Vietnam has proposed adjusting the borders of its districts to add two new districts in 2015.

-- Many industrial parks in Ho Chi Minh City have had their areas reduced in accordance with a decision approved by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

-- The Vietnamese government has asked the national civil aviation agency to cut down safety and security violations before and during flights. 145 violation cases occurred in the first half of this year, 96 percent rise compared to the same period last year.

-- Yesterday, a fire destroyed 20 houses on Y Jut Street in Buon Ma Thuot of the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak. No casualties have been reported.

-- Nha Trang University in central Khanh Hoa Province launched Monday its first composite fishing ship, VIJAS Research & Training Vessel. The 350 HP vessel will go to the open sea for tuna fishing in September.

Business:

-- Petrol prices in the retail market in Vietnam went down by 330 dong a liter on Monday.

-- The Vietnam Ocean Shipping Joint Stock Company has announced a loss of VND58.7 billion (US$2.8 million) in the second quarter of this year, which is twice as much as its loss in the first quarter.

-- PetroVietnam (PVN) posted a profit of VND23.6 trillion ($1.13 billion) in the first half of this year. However, the profit mainly comes from the exploitation of natural resources. PVN’s affiliate firms working in other fields such as construction and technology for energy endured losses in the same period.

Education:

-- Vietnam won two gold medals and two silvers at the 2014 International Chemistry Olympiad, an academic competition for high school students that wrapped up in Vietnam on Monday.

-- Public kindergartens in eight districts in Ho Chi Minh City will launch a pilot program to admit children from 6 to 18 months old for the 2014-15 academic year.