New York City emerged on Sunday from a massive blizzard that paralyzed much of the U.S. East Coast, while snowy gridlock gripped the nation's capital and surrounding areas, where federal, state and local offices and schools planned to remain closed on Monday. Midtown Manhattan sprang back to life on a bright and sunny Sunday as residents and tourists rejoiced in the warming sunlight, digging out buried cars, heading to Broadway shows and cavorting in massive drifts left by New York City's second-biggest snowstorm in history. In Washington, where a traffic ban was still in effect, the recovery got off to a slower start, with the entire transit system closed through Sunday. The Office of Personnel Management said federal government offices in the Washington area will be closed on Monday, along with state and local government offices and schools. Even so, many people were out in the street. Some skied and snowboarded down the steps of the Lincoln Memorial until security officials moved … [Read more...] about New York rebounds after blizzard, Washington shuts down government
New york tunnel run
Social News 10/8
Young people prefer Facebook chat to going out with friends A recent report from Epinion, a Denmark-based market research company, and OMD, a communication agency, showed that Vietnamese young people prefer to stay home and chat with friends on Facebook than meeting outside. The survey was conducted with 710 people aged from 13 to 21, a new generation born in a digital world with full access to information technology -- 50 percent said their most comfortable method of contact with friends is via chat apps and texting, while 30 percent preferred face-to-face meetings, 52 percent said they often watch news and entertainment programmes on YouTube rather than television. The relative youth of the population in Vietnam helped to place it among the top 20 countries in terms of connectivity, with 33 percent of the population connected to broadband. Young people tend to be the ones who decide Internet or cable packages for their households. The survey shows young people deeply care about … [Read more...] about Social News 10/8
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/5
First Vietnamese business receives GTB Innovation Award FPT Information System Corporation (FPT IS) was honoured at the 2014 Global Telecoms Business (GTB) Innovation Awards during the annual ceremony on May 16. The GTB Innovation Awards, which celebrate innovative projects involving global telecommunications operators and their suppliers and vendors, were held in London and this is the first time Vietnamese company has been named a winner at the awards. In the Business Service Innovation category, FPT IS won a 2014 Innovation Award for creativity and innovativeness in the development of a customer management and marketing computer software package designed specifically for a project in Laos. FPT IS Global General Director Le Anh Tuan said the award is a tremendous honour affirming the creative capacity and IT qualifications of the company’s engineers and employees. It also affirms the company’s commitment to producing high-quality Made-In-Vietnam products and services, … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/5
North Korea says submarine ballistic missile test ‘great success’
SEOUL, April 24 -- North Korea said on Sunday a submarine-launched ballistic missile test it conducted under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un had been a "great success" that provided "one more means for powerful nuclear attack". SEOUL, April 24 -- North Korea said on Sunday a submarine-launched ballistic missile test it conducted under the supervision of leader Kim Jong Un had been a "great success" that provided "one more means for powerful nuclear attack". The launch is the latest in a recent string of North Korean demonstrations of military might that began in January with its fourth nuclear test and included the launch of a long-range rocket the next month. The tests have increased tension on the Korean peninsula, angered ally China and triggered new U.N. sanctions. Analysts say the tests could be part of a bid by Kim to bolster his position in the run-up to a rare ruling party congress in May. Concern has been growing that North Korea could soon conduct another nuclear … [Read more...] about North Korea says submarine ballistic missile test ‘great success’
Social News 24/2
26 land projects planned for Hanoi’s downtown district The People's Committee of Hanoi has promulgated a decision on the land-use plan in 2016 in the city's downtown Hoan Kiem District. Accordingly, the district will have 26 land projects, including 19 unfinished plans of 2015, and seven new ones. About 15.76ha will be allocated for agriculture, while 521.99 ha will be used for non-agricultural purposes. The city has been asked to review and evaluate the feasibility of the projects, as well as collect ideas from the people to report to the committee before the end of May. Deputy PM asks for measures to brace for Zika virus Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has requested ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and localities to intensify the implementation of measures to proactively prevent Zika virus from entering Vietnam. According to the Health Ministry, Zika virus, first detected in Uganda’s Zika forest in 1947, is transmitted to humans through the Aedes mosquito … [Read more...] about Social News 24/2