Below are some of the main stories published today, February 22, in the Vietnamese press. Politics -- At the sitting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee opened yesterday, many members of the committee have proposed delaying a vote of confidence slated for May for those holding positions of power elected or approved by the NA or People’s Councils. They said that before conducting such a vote, it is necessary to review and amend Resolution 35 issued in 2012 on conducting a vote of confidence. The pause in conducting a confidence vote will give lawmakers time to consider and suggest necessary amendments to the resolution, they said.Society -- The Animal Quarantine Station in Thu Duc District, Ho Chi Minh City in conjunction with a traffic police team seized 1.3 tons of quail meat carried in a truck without documents on Friday. The truck’s driver said he was transporting the meat from Dong Nai Proince to Ben Tre Province. This is the second time that the same truck has committed the same offense. -- Police from the Ministry of Public Security on Friday arrested Tran Quoc Tuan, 45, head of the Vung Tau city Department of Natural Resources and Environment for “intentionally violating State regulations on economic management regulations, causing serious consequences.” Tuan has submitted a wrong proposal to the city People’s Committee to change the purpose of use of land in relation to a large project, causing a loss of VND20 billion (US$960,000). Police also arrested three others who are leaders of two real estate companies in Vung Tau. -- The prevalence of obesity among children in Ho Chi Minh City has reached alarming rates, the city Nutrition Center reported. Of the total number of preschoolers in the city, 48 percent are overweight and 10.5 percent are obese. Meanwhile, the malnutrition rate among these preschoolers is 4.3 percent. -- Following Ho Chi Minh City, central Da Nang City is making preparations for building a new urban administration model, with a view to creati a better administrative apparatus that will help boost the city's socio-economic development. According to the new model, Da Nang will have two levels of administration: the municipal and grassroots governments, instead of three levels as present. That means the district administration level will be no longer applied. Also under the new model, the city will establish two new districts.Business -- The price of gasoline has increased by VND300 per liter since 8 pm on February 21, according to a decision of the Ministry of Finance. At the same time, the prices of diesel and kerosene and mazut oil have also increased by VND240, VND230 and VND 200 per liter respectively. Such hikes were made as the world’s prices of gasoline and oil have increased since February 10, the ministry explained. -- Many commercial banks have reduced their interest rates on deposit accounts as they have been facing a slowdown in lending activities. On Friday, Eximbank lowered the interest rates on one-month, two-month and three-month deposits to 6.5, 6.6 and 6.8 percent per year. This is the second interest cut that Eximbank had made within three days. Similarly, Techcombank also reduced the rate on one-month deposits to 6.55 percent per year. The same situation has been seen at many other banks including DongA Bank.Lifestyle -- The Embassy of India in Vietnam and the Ministry of Culture of India in coordination with Vuietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will conduct a “Festival of India” in Vietnam from March 5 to 15, 2014, to promote the friendship and cultural linkages between the two countries, the embassy said in a press conference in Hanoi Friday. The Festival will be held in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City.
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Woman rescued after over a day trapped in 25m-deep well in Vietnam’s Central Highlands
She suffered two broken legs and multiple injuries
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Vietnam PM suggests country’s richest man to build metro in Ho Chi Minh City
The prime minister said it is important to involve major enterprises with substantial resources in projects critical to Vietnam’s social and economic progress
1 day agoVietnam pledges to closely monitor HMPV outbreak in China
Last weekend, the Chinese foreign ministry said the surge in respiratory infections is a seasonal trend
14 hours agoVietnamese bank ACB denies rumor of senior leader’s gambling, transferring tens of millions of US dollars abroad
The lender said the rumor damaged its image and reputation
1 day agoHanoi declared world's most polluted city, authorities seek action
Levels of hazardous small particles, known as PM2.5, were measured at 266 micrograms per cubic metre in Hanoi early on Friday
1 day agoIt’s about to get slightly chilly in southern Vietnam
Temperatures are likely to dip to below 20 degree Celsius
1 day agoHighlights
Plane spotting, photoshoot location on Phu Quoc Island beguiles tourists
'My friends and I feel relaxed and comfortable to sit on the sand to enjoy the fresh air, photograph ourselves, and savor tasty dishes'
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Plane spotting, photoshoot location on Phu Quoc Island beguiles tourists
'My friends and I feel relaxed and comfortable to sit on the sand to enjoy the fresh air, photograph ourselves, and savor tasty dishes'
Indonesia launches ambitious free-meal programme to combat stunting
Indonesia launched an ambitious $4.3 billion free-meal programme on Monday to combat stunted growth due to malnutrition, a key election promise of President Prabowo Subianto
German Christmas market attack death toll rises to six
A 52-year-old woman has died in hospital from injuries sustained after a man drove his car into a German Christmas market last month, a spokesperson for the local public prosecutor's office said on Monday, bringing the death toll from the attack to six
China says HMPV normal disease as Vietnam keeps guard up
The WHO has yet to release official statements on the outbreak
Vietnam pledges to closely monitor HMPV outbreak in China
Last weekend, the Chinese foreign ministry said the surge in respiratory infections is a seasonal trend
Vietnam’s 3 telecom giants report hefty profits in 2024
Viettel recorded VND51 trillion ($2 billion) in pre-tax profits, reaching 111 percent of its target
BIDV auctions off Hanoi int’l elementary school to recover $20mn debt
A local company has pledged the school as one of the mortgages for a bank loan
Nguyen Xuan Son named MVP, Top Goal Scorer, as Vietnam claim 2024 ASEAN Championship
Son contributed seven goals and two assists from five appearances
Vietnamese men's football team to parade in Hanoi on 2 double-deckers following regional triumph
The team will parade from Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi to downtown
French marine park closes over law banning killer whale shows
A French marine park on Sunday closed down definitively over a 2021 law banning shows featuring marine mammals, leaving uncertain futures for the two last orcas in captivity in the country, hundreds of other animals as well as dozens of staff