Hand-foot-mouth rates take turn for worse
The number of cases of hand-foot-mouth disease has increased sharply in recent weeks, with 2,500-2,800 people contracting it each week compared to 2,000 early this year, according to the Department of Preventive Medicine.
More than 45,000 cases have been reported from 63 cities and provinces, including 22 fatalities.
Unlike last year the disease is widely prevalent in the north, accounting for almost half the total number.
Thanh Nien (Young People)
Logo design contest for advertising
The organisers of next year's 28th Asian Advertising Congress (AdAsia 2013) and www.designs.vn have launched a competition to design the official logo for the event.
Both amateurs and professionals from the country and abroad can send in entries before August 15 to www.designs.vn/logoadasia2013.
The organisers will select five logos for the final round, with the best chosen for the event and a cash award of VND30 million (US$1,437). The remaining four will get VND1 million each.
The AdAsia 2013 will be held in Ha Noi from November 5 to 8 next year.
Tin Tuc (News)
Export of certain kinds of coal dust banned
Export of certain kinds of coal dust will be banned from 2014, according to a draft circular on coal trading and export issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Only coal that meet two requirements – having legal origins and meeting certain quality standards – can be exported.
Coal dust number 4, which is between 0-15 mm and whose export was to be stopped by 2016 under a previous circular, will now be prohibited from 2014.
The draft circular defers the ban on coal dust number 5 to 2014 from the current 2013.
Thoi Bao Kinh Te Viet Nam (Viet Nam Economic Time)
City customs initiate use of digital signature
The HCM City Department of Customs on Wednesday organised a training course in the use of digital signatures in electronic customs procedures for more than 400 companies.
Business will need to register for using digital signatures with customs authorities, working with digital signature certification service providers to register them. They also need to upgrade their e-customs software to make it compatible with the use of digital signatures.
The department will use digital signatures in the case of 30 enterprises on a trial basis at its Tan Cang office starting from June 1.
Then, from July 1, it will be implemented at all its offices.
Nguoi Lao Dong (The Labourer)