Russian academy opens branch

The Russian Academy of Sciences opened a branch on the southern Binh Duong University campus on Saturday.
The branch is expected to open up new opportunities for Binh Duong and other provinces in the region in training high-quality human resources in science technology.

Established in 1991 with 12 centres and 520 members, 30 of them foreign, the academy's principal aim is fundamental research in natural, social and human development principles that promote technological, economic, social and cultural development.

Bodies of drowned girls found

The bodies of three schoolgirls who drowned while swimming in Ky Lo River on Sunday were found yesterday, Oct 25, in the lower section of the river by local authorities and residents in Dong Xuan District, central Phu Yen Province.

The girls were pupils at Suoi Coi Primary School.

Local authorities sent 10 boats and 40 divers to look for the girls.

Trucks ban on five streets for summit

Trucks with a loading capacity of more than 1.25 tonnes are banned from travelling along five streets of Ring Road No 3 to the inner city from today, Oct 26, until Sunday under a decision by the Ha Noi Transportation Department.

The streets included in the decision are Pham Van Dong, Pham Hung, Khuat Duy Tien, Nguyen Xien, Nghiem Xuan Yem and a stretch of road from Nghiem Xuan Yem to the Phap Van intersection.

The trucks are only allowed to travel along these routes between 11:00pm and 5:00am each day.

The decision aims to ensure traffic flow during the upcoming 17th ASEAN Summit.

Zing.vn fined for violating licence

The chief inspector of HCM City's Information and Communications Department has fined Vina Corparation (VNG), owner of news portal Zing.vn, VND37.5 million (US$1,900) for posting information outside its licence.

Five columns on the portal, including Society, Love, Strange Stories, Sharing and Criminals, did not comply with the company's operational licence. It was also discovered posting news and reports without sources and including superstitious information.

The department may also temporarily revoke the portal's licence.

Japan's Mitsubishi to help VN reduce energy consumption

Mitsubishi Corp. will conduct a feasibility study to help Vietnam cut energy consumption through the use of energy-saving home appliances, a local report said.

In cooperation with five electric appliance makers, including Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp., Mitsubishi will verify how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced between now through the end of March 2011, the Yomiuri daily reported, adding that the project aims to suppress growth in the country's energy consumption by promoting the use of products from Japan, including energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and light bulbs.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which is supporting projects that help Japanese companies to count their reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in emerging economies, designated Mitsubishi's plan as one of the 15 greenhouse reduction projects last week.
Among other METI-designated projects include a Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) proposal, under which the company will examine how much greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced if it wins a contract associated with a nuclear power station in Vietnam.
According to the daily, electricity shortages have become a serious problem in Vietnam as rapid industrialisation has seen demand for power increase by about 16 percent per year.

Social science institute links Vietnam, India

A delegation from the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences has visited India for one week as part of a cooperation programme with the Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR).

During their working sessions, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation by exchanging research documents and scholars and organizing workshops and talks on how to boost Vietnam-India ties.
They also reached agreement on orientations for conducting research on socio-economic development, cultural preservation and solutions for sustainable development.
The Vietnamese delegation also had a working session with the Indian Policy Research Centre during which they agreed to work together to study urban management and also water resource use.

Resolution in line with farmers’ expectations

If a resolution on tax exemption and reduction of agricultural land use is adopted by the National Assembly at its eighth session, tens of millions of farming households will annually save at least VND550,000-600,000 each in tax payment for agricultural land use in the next ten years.  

Most NA deputies agreed on a draft resolution on tax exemption and reduction of agricultural land use, which will bring real benefits to farmers.

For middle and high income earners, VND600,000 is only a small sum but it is significant to most farmers, especially for more than 90 percent of poor households in rural areas across the country.

More importantly, farmers who account for more than 70 percent of population will be more confident in the Party and State’s guidelines and policies. This also means that the Party’s resolution on agriculture, rural development and farmers has been brought to life.

From a country with food shortages for years, Vietnam has now become a leading rice exporter in the world with an export turnover amounting to billions of US$. This is attributable to hard-working farmers, stable resources and efficient agriculture, which have helped Vietnam recover soon from the global economic downturn.

In some localities, however, the policy on tax exemption and reduction of agricultural land has not been implemented properly. So, it is essential to provide a mechanism for agricultural land use suitable for each area and region, and indentify those farmers who are exempt from paying tax.

The resolution is in line with farmers’ expectations and the country’s economic development, encouraging farmers to boost production and adding fresh impetus to the policy for agriculture, rural development and farmers.

VNN/VOV/VNS