Three mega programmes covering agricultural restructuring, fisheries and forestry development and disaster prevention have been allocated VND640 trillion (US$29 billion) in a five-year investment boost approved by the cabinet yesterday.

 The city authority is expected to put 10 free-Wi-Fi hotspots in the first stage along the pedestrian plazas around Hoan Kiem Lake and adjacent areas on National Day, September 2.

 Telecom giant Vietel has installed 17 wifi hotspots at bus stations nationwide to help travelling citizens access the Internet for free.

 The Department of Industry and Trade in southern Binh Thuan Province has been asked to investigate whether Chinese entrepreneurs were manipulating the dragon fruit market in the province.

Vietnamese Muaythai boxers won two gold medals, two silver medals  and six bronze medals at the 2016 International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) Youth World Championship, which wrapped up in Thailand on September 1.

 Thousands of Hanoians in Hai Ba Trung and Hoang Mai districts still suffer from a lack of tap water.

 The cause of the foul odour plaguing some of the southern districts in HCM City will be made public before next Tuesday, the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment has promised.

 Vietnam is estimated to have 8.7 million people infected with hepatitis B while the number for hepatitis C are 1 million, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Department for Preventive Medicine.

 The General Department of Preventive Medicine sought measures to assure the early detection of the Zika infection in high risks areas through its online meeting in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Highlands and the central province of Khanh Hoa. 

Vietnam and the central city of Da Nang in particular are sparing no efforts to make the fifth Asian Beach Games successful and free from cigarette, said Vuong Bich Thang, Director of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training.

 Toni Claveria, Director of projects for Barcelona football school in Asia and Oceania (FCBEscola), has paid a working visit to SHB Da Nang to discuss constructing an academy in the central city. 

 Olympic Rio 2016 gold medalist Hoang Xuan Vinh is ranked first in the world men’s 10m air pistol event, according to the latest International Sport Shooting Federation ranking.

 Tran Thi Khanh Ly won a gold medal at the ongoing Asian Wushu Championships which began in Taoyuan City of Chinese Taipei on September 1.

 As of August 15,2016, 1,125 Vietnamese project were granted licenses to invest abroad with a total registered capital of 20.38 billion USD, according to the Foreign Investment Agency.

 Vietnam and Thailand have won a bid to supply 250,000 tonnes of rice for the Philippines at 424.85 USD per tonne, 0.15 USD lower than the set reference price of 425 USD. 

 Domestic and foreign investors are still keen on the Vietnamese market and have positive outlook about the country’s economy, according to a survey conducted by Grant Thornton Vietnam in the third quarter of 2016.

 The State capital divestment in the country’s two largest brewers Habeco and Sabeco will be completed by the end of 2017.

 Vietnam and Cuba made significant progress in their second negotiation round on a new trade deal after the four days of sitting in Hanoi, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said on September 1.

 Turkey has decided to levy an anti-dumping tax of $240 per cubic metre on Vietnamese plywood products. 

 Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of 2.45 billion USD in the first eight months of this year, a report from General Statistics Office (GSO) has revealed.