Ba Ria-Vung Tau helps the needy
Loans totalling VND42.6 billion (US$2.02 million) were given to 3,505 poor households in Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province in the first six months of this year. The southern province's Social Policy Bank in the same period offered loans totalling VND12 billion to 2,239 college and university students to help them pay tuition and rent. The provincial administration also granted free health insurance cards worth VND52 bilion to more than 98,000 residents living below the poverty line.
Nhan Dan (The People)
Firms use digital signatures for customs
The Viet Nam General Department of Customs says that in the first half of this year, 55,000 businesses have applied digital signatures in more than two million e-custom declarations at 17 out of 33 customs offices nationwide.
The Customs Department of Hai Phong is the first Viet Nam to adopt digital signatures for customs declarations.
Lao Dong (Labour)
Youth establish ‘red connections'
Organisers of a blood donation festival on Monday collected 263 units of 350ml each donated by young volunteers from Chau Thanh District in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kien Giang. The festival, called Red Connection 2012, was organised by the Viet Nam Youth Union to mark the War Invalids and Martyrs Day, which falls on July 27.
Thanh Nien (Youth)
Quang Nam to close power plants
The People's Committee of Quang Nam has ordered its Department of Industry and Trade to make a survey of all medium and small hydroelectric power plants in the central province. It has been told to identify ineffective power plants, plants that have occupied large forest areas, severely damaged the environment or affected water supply in downstream areasit proposes corrective measures inlcuding closure.
Sai Gon Giai Phong (Liberated Sai Gon)