Typhoon Mirinae hits central Vietnam

Typhoon Mirinae made landfall over central Vietnam on November 2, causing downpours and damaging houses, but there have been no reports of loss of human casualties.

A portion of a house in Phu Yen Province that was destroyed by Typhoon Mirinae which made landfall over central Vietnam on November 2 (Photo: SGGP)

Quang Ngai Province experienced strong winds at noon. On Ly Son Island, where the typhoon made landfall, winds were measured at level 10, or 89-102 kilometers per hour. But with residents fully prepared for the storm, there have been no reports of loss of life though 40 percent of the houses have been destroyed and 40 hectares of garlic crop were wiped out. 
Two fishing boats were sunk on the Gianh River in Quang Binh Province but all nine fishermen aboard are reported safe.

The typhoon struck Phu Yen Province at 2pm. Strong winds blew off the roofs of houses and other buildings along the coast, destroyed three houses completely, injured one person, and sank one fishing boat.

In Binh Dinh Province the typhoon destroyed 17 houses, 880 hectares of crops, and blew off the roofs of 169 houses, a medical station, and 26 classrooms. Two people were injured and one is reported missing.

By 4pm provinces between Quang Ngai and Ninh Thuan had evacuated 26,000 residents to safe areas. Provinces from Quang Nam and Binh Thuan had warned and guided 18,175 fishing boats with 103,962 fishermen on board to safety.

The season’s 11th typhoon brought heavy rain to most central and Central Highlands provinces since the night of November 1.

Rivers in the area between Thua Thien-Hue and Phu Yen Provinces are selling rapidly, rising to alarm levels one and two.

By early November 3 rivers in Thua Thien-Hue and the region between Quang Ngai and Khanh Hoa are predicted to rise to critical levels of three and above, and those in Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Ninh Thuan and Central Highlands provinces to level 2.

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VN-Index continues marching south

Vietnam’s benchmark was dragged down a further 3.93 percent Tuesday as the vigorous buying power last month has now weakened.

VN-Index, which tracks 180 companies and four mutual funds on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, dropped 22.06 points to 539.65. Around 69.6 million shares worth VND3.2 trillion (US$179.3 million) changed hands.

Fear dominates the market as 11 companies on the index advanced and 173 dropped.

According to some analysts, investors have also been discouraged by warnings that securities lending is going to be contained.

Mekong Fisheries Joint Stock Co. (AAM), based in the Mekong Delta’s Can Tho City, was the biggest loser on the southern market Tuesday, losing 32.10 percent.

The Hanoi-based Vietnam Mechanization Electrification & Construction Joint Stock Co. (MCG) and the HCM City-based industrial refrigeration company Searefico (SRF) both leapt by the maximum five percent allowed by the exchange.

Saigon Securities Inc., Vietnam’s biggest brokerage, returned to the spot of most active shares with 5.37 million traded on the city’s bourse. Saigon Commercial Bank, or Sacombank, (STB) came next with 4.5 million shares changing hands and Refrigeration Electrical Engineering Corp. (REE) in HCM City with nearly 3.5 million.

The northern market also saw another retreat as the Hanoi-based HNX-Index continued to lose ground, dropping 4.97 points, 2.64 percent, to close at 183.05. More than 33.65 million shares worth VND1.32 trillion were traded.

The UPCoM-Index also fell by 0.25 points, 0.36 percent, to 69.84. A total of VND1.34 billion was spent trading 111,020 shares.

On the global markets, US stocks have gained but investors were concerned about warnings that stocks are vulnerable to a steep pullback. Since mid-October, fresh doubts about the economy have hurt the US market and many foreign equity markets, Tribune said.

Source: SGGP Bookmark & Share

Vietnam, Denmark ink cultural cooperation deal

Vietnam and Denmark on November 2 signed a memorandum of understanding on cultural cooperation during the 2009-2014 period as part of activities within the official visit to Vietnam by Danish Queen Margrethe II.

The MoU will be a foundation for both countries to increase art and cultural cooperation in the period, including exchanges between concerned agencies and individuals.

Signatories to the MoU were Vietnam’s Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh, and his Danish counterpart, Carina Christensen.

Visiting Danish Queen Margrethe (L) and Danish Prince Consort Henrik tour the ancient quarter of Hanoi by cyclo on November 1, 2009 (AFP photo)

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh said in recent years, Vietnam has had an opportunity to learn from and hold exchanges with Denmark in the field of culture thanks to cultural support funds and projects financed by the Danish government.

At present, Denmark is funding seven projects in Vietnam which focus on facilitating dialogues between cultural managers and policy makers, promoting literature for children and improving management in the performing arts

Minister Hoang Tuan Anh requested that Denmark increase assistance to exchange activities aimed at promoting Vietnam’s image and culture in Denmark so as to promote mutual understanding with the Danish people.

He also called for Denmark to vote for Ha Long Bay as a world nature wonder and for Thang Long imperial citadel to become a world cultural heritage site.

The Danish embassy has worked with the Vietnam Fine Arts University, the Tuoi Tre theatre and concerned agencies under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize various cultural activities throughout the ten-day visit of the Danish Queen.

Prominent among the activities are a street art festival, a Vietnam-Denmark rock concert and an exhibition of a Danish-funded emergency room.

As part of the activities to welcome the Queen’s visit, the Hanoi Writers’ Society, the Kim Dong publishing house and the Danish Writers’ Society on November 2 held an awards ceremony for Vietnamese children’s authors in 2008-2009.

At the ceremony, the organizing committee launched a writing competition for children in 2009-2010 period with the theme of “Dialogue with the nature” and kicked off a picture exhibition by Vietnamese and Danish painters.

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1,147 fish species threatened with extinction: IUCN

 More than 1,000 freshwater fish species are threatened with extinction, reflecting the strain on global water resources, an updated global “Red List” of endangered species showed Tuesday.

The list by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the most respected inventory of biodiversity covering more than 47,000 of the world’s species.

A International Union for Conservation of Nature photo of a Kihansi Spray Toad (Nectophrynoides asperginis) which once numbered at least 17,000 at the Kihansi Falls in Tanzania, and has now joined the list of creatures which are extinct in the wild.

Scientists looked at 3,120 freshwater fish this year, 510 more than a year ago. They found that 1,147, or a third, are now threatened with extinction.

“Creatures living in freshwater have long been neglected,” said Jean-Christophe Vie, deputy head of species programme at the IUCN.

“This year we have again added a large number of them to the IUCN Red List and are confirming the high levels of threat to many freshwater animals and plants.

“This reflects the state of our previous water resources. There is now an urgency to pursue our effort but more importantly, to start using this information to move towards a wise use of water resources.”

The scientists also added 1,360 species of dragonflies and damselflies to the Red List, and found that out of 1,989 in all, 261 were at risk of disappearing.

Dragonflies provided a good gauge of the state of freshwater ecosystems as “many are very sensitive” to changes, said Vie.

“We found that they are highly threatened wherever we looked,” he said, noting that water resources were under strain due to pollution and intensive usage.

Meanwhile, the tiny Kihansi Spray Toad, which once numbered at least 17,000 at the Kihansi Falls in Tanzania, joined the list of creatures which are now extinct in the wild.

“Its decline is due to the construction of a dam upstream of the Kihansi Falls that removed 90 percent of the original water flow to the gorge,” said the IUCN in a statement.

Overall, this year’s survey found that over a third, or 17,291 species out of 47,677 assessed are now threatened with extinction.

Last year, the Red List examined 44,838 species and found that a similar proportion (16,298 species) were close to becoming extinct.

“What we haven’t got this year is good news,” said Vie.

The overall situation may be worse than reflected according to the IUCN, since data was lacking for 14 percent of the species surveyed.

In addition, the survey only covers a fraction of the world’s species.

“These results are just the tip of the iceberg. We have only managed to assess 47,663 species so far; there are many more millions out there which could be under serious threat,” said Craig Hilton-Taylor, manager of the IUCN Red List unit.

The environmental group WWF also urged action, saying the latest Red List update “should cause alarm over the continuing unprecedented loss of species and the failure so far of mechanisms to arrest biodiversity loss.”

“As crucial climate talks in Copenhagen draw near and with the International Year of Biodiversity around the corner, this is a wake-up call for world leaders,” said Amanda Nickson, Director of the WWF International Species Programme.

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Crunch time for Reds as Arsenal look for knockout win

PARIS, Nov 3, 2009 (AFP) – Five-times kings of Europe Liverpool could be facing an early Champions League exit if they fail to put massive injury woes behind them to beat Lyon in France on Wednesday.

While Lyon, Sevilla and Arsenal look to build on solid campaigns so far by qualifying early for the knockout phase, the writing is on the wall for Rafael Benitez’s stuttering Reds.

Liverpool’s domestic worries worsened at the weekend when both Jamie Carragher and Philipp Degen were sent off during a 2-1 defeat at Fulham.

It was Liverpool’s fifth defeat in 11 English Premier League games this season but if Benitez is worried at the lack of domestic bliss the Spaniard should be even more concerned about not being able to fall back on, and remain competitive in, the Champions League.

Making Wednesday’s task harder is the fact Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are both struggling for fitness, while reports claimed Monday that up to 12 players could miss the match through injury.

If Lyon win and Fiorentina beat Hungary’s Debrecen in Italy, Lyon will remain top of Group E, on 12 points, with Fiorentina on nine. Liverpool, on three points, would then have two games in which to make up what would be a massive deficit.

When Benitez was asked about his future after the Fulham game, Benitez simply replied: “My future is against Lyon.”

But the under-pressure Spaniard sounds increasingly like a desperate man.

“We have to think about what we have to do now. We have too many injuries and I have to analyse how many players I have available,” he said.

Despite currently playing second fiddle in the French league to champions Bordeaux, Lyon are, in contrast, in rude health as they bid for their fourth group win having beat Liverpool at Anfield last time out.

Lyon coach Claude Puel had Bafetimbi Gomis to thank for the goal which gave his side a 1-0 win over derby rivals Saint Etienne at the weekend.

Real Madrid’s captain Raul Gonzalez attends a training session at San Siro stadium in Milan, on November 2, 2009, on the eve of the UEFA Champions League group stage football match between AC Milan and Real Madrid. (AFP photo)

And except for one or two players Puel will have an entire squad at his disposal for a match they can start, theoretically, under no pressure. A draw would see Lyon safely through to the knockout phase.

“It’s good that we won the derby, for us and our supporters. It was our third straight match away from home,” said Puel.

Other than Lyon, Sevilla are the only other side playing on Wednesday to have won all three games so far.

Having beaten Stuttgart 3-1 in Germany a fortnight ago, Sevilla also have a formidable home record of being unbeaten at home since defeat to Real Madrid in April 2009.

That statistic does not bode well for Stuttgart, who sit below mid-table in Germany and were dumped out of the Cup by Greuther Fuerth last week.

With two wins and a draw Arsenal sit on seven points and they will qualify for the next round if they take three points from AZ Alkmaar at the Emirates.

After drawing with AZ last time out, Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas said the offence-minded Gunners need to also play tighter if they are to stamp out the kind of mistakes that cost goals.

“Of course we wish we could score four or five goals in every single game, but we must realise that sometimes that is not the way football is and sometimes to win the games, you just have to not make mistakes and work hard to keep the ball better,” said Fabregas.

Barcelona outclassed Manchester United in the 2009 final, but Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions lead Group F in spite of an inconsistent campaign so far.

After holding Inter to a scoreless draw in Milan, Barcelona followed their 2-0 win over Dynamo Kiev with defeat at home to Rubin Kazan.

The Russians have home advantage on Wednesday when Barca will have to contend with a highly motivated team that is used to playing in the sub-zero temperatures and strong winds that have been forecast.

Source: SGGP Bookmark & Share

Foreign companies provide relief for Vietnam typhoon victims

MasterCard Worldwide donated US$50,000 and medical company Fresenius Kabi Bidiphar gave essential medicines worth VND700 million (US$39,000) to Vietnamese victims of Typhoon Ketsana.

Typhoon Ketsana hit Vietnam’s central region at the end of September (Photo: SGGP)

Ajay Bhalla, executive vice president of MasterCard Worldwide for Southeast and South Asia, said the company deeply sympathized for the victims and wanted to contribute to relief efforts.

On behalf of the company, he also sent condolences to bereaved families and those that suffered losses.

The company made the donation through the Vietnam Red Cross Association.

The $50,000 is part of $200,000 it donated for victims in India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Germany-based Fresenius Kabi Bidiphar, a leader in infusion therapy and the manufacture of intravenous fluids, handed over the medicines to authorities in central provinces.

At the handover ceremony, Truong Xuan Huong, deputy chief of the Health Ministry Office and deputy head of the ministry’s committee for disaster prevention and search and rescue, appreciated FKB’s gesture.

Related articles:
Number of Vietnamese killed by Typhoon Ketsana rises to 162
Central region begins recovery after Typhoon Ketsana

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More 5-star hotel beds left vacant

More 5-star hotel beds left vacant

QĐND – Monday, November 02, 2009, 20:24 (GMT+7)

Luxury hotels nationwide are still struggling to shift their focus with a view to increasing their occupancy rates in the remaining months of the year. 

In the first nine months of the year, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Vietnam dropped by 16 percent from the same period last year, according to the National Administration of Tourism. 

According to market research by CB Richard Ellis company, in 2008 five-star hotels in the capital had an average occupancy rate of 63 percent, while in the same period this year the rate had dropped to 55 percent. 

In HCM City, the average occupancy rate of five-star hotels in Q3 of 2008 was 58.9 percent and it dropped to 49.1 percent in 2009. 

The current situation is a marked contrast to 2007, when occupancy rates were as much as 70-80 per cent. 

In HCM City, the Rex Hotel saw an average occupancy rate of only 46 percent in the first nine months of the year, the Thoi bao Kinh te Sai Gon (Sai Gon Economic Times) reports.

Large hotels in HCM City centre have attributed the drop to the world recession and swine flu which has dramatically reduced the number of foreigners visiting the country.

The marketing director of the New World Hotel in HCM City, Nelson Balilo, said the number of visitors from the EU, US and Japan had sharply decreased. 

Hotels are increasingly shifting their focus onto Asian and domestic tourists. Big name hotels are reporting more Vietnamese coming to the hotels for lunch or dinner, and greater attention is being paid to attracting MICE tours (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) by giving special incentives.

To survive in this context, hotels must have active policies, said Tao Van Nghe, general director of the Majestic Hotel.

Source: VNA/VOVNews

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228,000 foreign tourists visit Vietnam in October

228,000 foreign tourists visit Vietnam in October

QĐND – Monday, November 02, 2009, 20:24 (GMT+7)

228,000 foreign tourists visited Vietnam last month, down 25.1 percent against the previous month, according to the National Administration of Tourism. 

Tourists sharply decreased from the main markets, by 24.2% from the Republic of Korea, by 26.3% from China and by 18.8% from Thailand.

The country welcomed 3 million of foreign tourists in the first nine months of this year, a drop of 16 percent compared to the same period last year

With the 3^rd Asian Indoor Games taking place in Vietnam, the tourism industry is expecting to reach its set goal of attracting 3.7-3.8 million foreign tourists by the end of this year.

Source: VOV

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Adapting to Climate Change

Adapting to Climate Change

QĐND – Monday, November 02, 2009, 20:24 (GMT+7)

Vietnam is among the five countries in the world that will be most seriously affected by climate change especially rising sea levels. To respond to this situation, action needs to be taken right now.  

There is no denying scientists’ evidence that humankind’s development activities over the years have accelerated the process of climate change. Greenhouse gases have caused global warming, thawing glaciers at both poles and subsequent rising sea levels. Although listed among developing countries, Vietnam emits less greenhouse gases than others, but is still considered one of the five countries that will be most seriously affected by climate change and rising sea levels.

Being aware of the adverse impact of climate change, Vietnam signed the United Nations Convention on Climate Change in June 1992 and approved it on November 16, 2002. It also approved the Kyoto Protocol on September 25 2002.

However, at the International Scientific Conference on Climate Change in the Polish City of Brosman, although the participating countries were aware of the risk of global warming, they couldn’t reach an agreement to cut down greenhouse gases because they all put their own countries’ interests above all. What they could agree on was the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which allows nations with large greenhouse gas emissions to cut them down by investing in environmentally-friendly technologies for countries with lower greenhouse gas emissions. Vietnam, one of these countries, will now have the chance to access clean technologies.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) is conducting research on different scenarios of climate change and building a national strategy to deal with the situation. MONRE has also declared a national programme on climate change response. The total capital invested in the programme until 2015 is estimated to reach nearly VND2,000 billion.

Climate change is a long process and there is just enough time to find response measures. For example, it is impossible to build a solid concrete dyke system for the 3000-kilometre coastline, but it is feasible to build dykes and develop mangrove forests in important areas to protect them from being encroached upon by the sea. In the Mekong Delta, most of the rice-cultivated areas are at risk of being damaged, and we are reinforcing the dyke system to protect the residential areas and creating salt-resistant rice varieties while boosting aquaculture production in a sustainable way.

Time and tide wait for no man. There is not much time left for us if we remain passive in response to climate change. How to cope with water-logging in Ho Chi Minh City, rising flood waters in the Northern Delta, salinity in the Mekong Delta, and natural disasters remain a big worry. Every time storms make landfall and cause flooding, the entire society has to join efforts in the fight against natural disasters but unprofessionally in one way or another as it used to happen in localities.

Climate change is a long process which requires a great deal of response effort from every people, the role of communal management and the responsibility of policy makers.

Source: VOV

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New outbreak of H5N1 flu reported in Dien Bien

New outbreak of H5N1 flu reported in Dien Bien

QĐND – Monday, November 02, 2009, 20:25 (GMT+7)

A new outbreak of H5N1 flu has been detected in the northwestern province of Dien Bien.  

Many ducks and chickens were found sick without any apparent reason in nine households in the communes of Noong Luong and Thanh Yen in Dien Bien district on October 23.

The provincial veterinary department has taken 10 samples from the duck flock and worked with the local authorities to cull nearly 2,300 birds.

After the new outbreak was officially confirmed, the veterinary branch has asked the province to control the transportation of poultry. Over the past week, preventive measures have been taken to prevent the epidemic from spreading to nearby areas.

Tran Thi Dan, deputy head of the provincial veterinary department, said that health workers have disinfected the affected areas once a day, controlled the transportation of poultry in the province and investigated all sick livestock immediately.

Source: VOV

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