Stone-carrying lorries stir up dust, loud noise Heavy lorries carrying stones have been driving around the clock and making a terrible and dusty environment in Phú Mãn Commune, in Hà Nội's Quốc Oai District. Over recent years hundreds of households in the commune, 30km from Hà Nội's centre, have suffered from serious pollution, but local authorities have not helped them. Stone exploitation at local mines was to blame according to local residents; some enterprises have been licensed to exploit stone since 2007. Before 2007, the environment of the six villages in Phú Mãn Commune was healthy, local residents said. Things started to get worse when stone mining began. Local people's daily activities were affected as were schools and health centres by the loud lorries. The 2.7 km main road linking the commune centre with the villages was seriously damaged, causing traffic jams. Early last year, Quốc Oai District authorities invested money from the local budget to upgrade the … [Read more...] about Social News 2/5
How to get my 7 month old to sleep
Social News 30/12
Dak Lak police seize rotten meat dantri.com.vn Police seized about 800kg of rotten meat that was being transported from Da Nang to the central highland Dak Lak Province yesterday morning. Seven Styrofoam boxes and two sacks containing foul-smelling meat were found on a passenger coach when it was stopped by the police in Dak Lak's Krong Buk District for inspection. The coach driver, 45-year-old Nguyen Ba Le, said he had received the meat cargo from a stranger in Tam Quan Town in Binh Dinh Province, who asked him to transport it to Cuor Dang Commune. The meat was discovered when he was transporting the cargo. In another case, Dak Lak police found more than one tonne of rotten meat on a coach running on the same route yesterday. Food safety has become one of the hottest issues with the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday coming in just one month from now. Two killed, three injured in fire Two people were killed and three were injured in a fire that broke out early today morning in the … [Read more...] about Social News 30/12
Social News 29/10
Vietnam bans animal slaughter at violent spring festivals With the spring festival season nearly upon us, Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has ordered an end to all performances that include either violent or offensive rituals, such as killing animals. Several festivals still feature violent rituals that involve slaughtering pigs and bull fighting, and that has to stop, the ministry said in a new statement. Most spring-time rituals in Vietnam were created centuries ago to commemorate ancient war heroes, show respect to the gods and to pray for good health, peace and prosperity -- all honorable causes. But how people celebrate and perform these rituals is another question. Sometimes that involves the brutal killing of animals in public, like the pig slaughtering festival in the northern province of Bac Ninh. Nem Thuong villagers celebrate the festival on the sixth day of the first lunar month, which is February 5 next year, to commemorate a general who took refuge in … [Read more...] about Social News 29/10
50 iOS 6 tips: Panorama, Apple Maps, reading list and more
After a year-long gestation, iOS 6 is upon us. The latest version of Apple's operating system for iPad, iPhone and the iPod touch is smarter than ever, with slicker graphics, better iCloud integration and easier sharing. It ships on the iPhone 5, and is compatible with the iPhone 3GS, 4 and 4S, fourth and fifth-generation iPod touch, and the second and third-generation iPad. Here's CNET UK's pick of the 50 best tips, changes and must-have features for iDevice users everywhere. Email The iPhone, iPad and iPod touch have long shared one of the best mobile email clients currently available. In iOS 6 it's been given a subtle dab of polish. Some emails are more important than others. Sometimes it's the subject that determines their importance, but more often than not it's the sender. Add really important senders to your VIP list and their messages will be sorted into a dedicated VIP inbox, so if you're pushed for time you can just read them and ignore everything in your … [Read more...] about 50 iOS 6 tips: Panorama, Apple Maps, reading list and more
SOCIETY IN BRIEF 30/3
Crazy truck hits local houses in HCMC A truck was running high speed when it suddenly staggered, hit a separator and crashed into a local grocer’s by the National Road 22 in Tan Phu Trung commune, Cu Chi District, Ho Chi Minh City at 2.45pm on Thursday. According to witnesses, the truck was running from An Suong to Tay Ninh on high speed. After colliding the street separator, it crashed into an electricity pole, dragged it for a few meters before hitting the Cat Tien grocer’s. According to Nguyen Thi Kim Mai, owner at the grocer’s, she was selling goods to many customers when the truck approached. Since people quickly noticed and ran away, there were no casualties. At the scene, the truck’s front was seriously damaged, the electric pole and the house’s eaves were collapsed. According to initial information, the truck is owned by Hoa Xuan transportation service trading Co. Ltd. Authorities showed up at the scene to handle the case. Rescue car towed … [Read more...] about SOCIETY IN BRIEF 30/3