S. Korea's virus infections near 1,600, new cases center on hardest-hit Daegu, church followers South Korea reported another daily spike in the number of new infections of the new coronavirus on Thursday, and more additional cases are expected to be identified in the hardest-hit city of Daegu and its neighboring regions as virus tests started on more than 210,000 members of a religious sect at the center of the rapid spread.

Special loan helps pottery firm save energy, cut waste The Bat Trang Design Company, operating from a ceramic village in Ha Noi's Gia Lam District, has seen a considerable decrease in pottery production waste while, at the same time, enhancing both the quality and quantity of its products.

Deputy PM appraises socialisation decree A proposal inviting investments in education, health care and other sectors in HCM City is not tantamount to privatisation, but merely seeks to encourage public participation, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has said.

Incombank lends over 15 per cent of capital The State Bank of Viet Nam has approved the Viet Nam Industrial Commercial Bank (Incombank) to offer Bim Son Cement Joint Stock Co a loan of VND1.1 trillion (US$69 million).