Lives of Tay Nguyen minorities improve

Mon, 10/25/2004 - 11:21

DAC LAC — Many ethnic minorities in the Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) Region are sleeping better, seeing better and just generally living better thanks to a multi-pronged effort by the government to raise living standards in the area.

This is largely because of Programme 168, which was launched in 2001 to provide health care, housing and arable land to ethnic minorities living in the region.

Government targets 8-8.5% GDP growth in 2005

Mon, 10/25/2004 - 10:33

 The Government, in its report to the on-going sixth session of the 11th Legislature, set the target to achieve a GDP growth rate of 8-8.5% in 2005. The report pointed to other specific objectives for 2005 as follows:

On the economy:

Sixth session of 11th National Assembly opens

Mon, 10/25/2004 - 10:31

The 11th National Assembly opened its sixth session in Hanoi on Monday under the chairmanship of Chairman Nguyen Van An.

In his opening speech, Chairman An affirmed Vietnam's socio-economic achievements in the past nine months. He said, in spite of difficulties and challenges, the country registered a GDP growth rate of 7.4% as compared to an estimated 7.6% for the whole year. Poverty reduction has seen remarkable progress and stability has been maintained in the political system, national defence and social security, he added.

Made-in-Vietnam smart cane for the blind

Wed, 10/20/2004 - 17:30

Blind people in Vietnam now can walk safely with made-in-Vietnam mobile aid walkers called folding smart canes, reported Thanh Nien reporter To Tam.

Equipped with a receiver that detects infrared rays radiating from physical objects, the smart cane can help a blind person locate obstacles while he walks, said designer Mr. Dau Hoa Vang of Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam’s eye doctor ratio surpasses WHO recommendation

Wed, 10/20/2004 - 17:28

Vietnam’s ratio of ophthalmologist over the population has surpassed that recommended by the World Health Organization, reported a seminar in Hue city on 12 Oct.
Figures released by the Vietnamese Optometrists Association (VOA) claimed that there are 1,030 ophthalmologists across the nation.

“With the ratio of one ophthalmologist for every 77,670 people, Vietnam has surpassed the ratio of 1: 250,000 recommended by the World Health Organization,” stated the association’s report.

Agent Orange second pre-trial hearing delayed again

Wed, 10/20/2004 - 17:07

The second pre-trial hearing of the Agent Orange case, which was set to take place yesterday Oct. 12, was once again postponed until Nov. 3, a source told Thanh Nien on Oct. 13.
The main reason this time was that the defendants – 37 U.S. manufacturers of the toxic defoliant Agent Orange – were “very concerned and confused” about the new evidence raised by the plaintiffs in their second additional appeal in September, said the source.

Agent Orange letter urges chemical company to compensate victims

Wed, 10/20/2004 - 17:05

Secretary of the Britain-Vietnam Friendship Society on Oct. 19 publicized a letter he had earlier sent to the CEO of U.S-based Monsanto chemical company, urging him to compensate Agent Orange/Dioxin victims.

Outlook of local property market is good

Wed, 10/20/2004 - 16:53

A report from the US based CB Richard Ellis (CBRE), which manages a dozen high-rise building projects across Vietnam, says that Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were experiencing “unusually” high occupancy rates compared with the rest of Asia and this trend should continue over the next three to four years.

The outlook of the local property market is good if you look at the number of projects and the very unusual high occupancy rates in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, the managing director of CBRE, Marc Townsend, said.

WTO: Full commitment leads to intrnational support

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 16:25

As much as the Vietnamese have shown their desire for independence throughout their history, they understand the benefits of economic integration. World Trade Organization (WTO) membership has become one of Hanoi's key goals for 2005 and would be the crowning achievement of a year that also celebrates 30 years of unification and 10 years of normalized relations with the United States.

Grandchildren of war ask for Agent Orange help

Fri, 10/15/2004 - 16:18

About 100 Vietnamese citizens exposed to Agent Orange during the war are seeking compensation from chemical companies in a historic class-action lawsuit. Thanks to a federal law that allows foreigners to sue in U.S. courts for alleged violations of international law, thirty years after the war, this is the first time Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange have taken legal action against American corporations that produced the highly toxic herbicide.

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