HANOI, July 1 (Reuters) - These are some of the leading stories in the official Vietnamese press on Wednesday. Reuters has not verified these stories. ECONOMIC AND GENERAL NEWS: QUAN DOI NHAN DAN -- Bird flu killed more than 200 ducks at a farm in the northern province of Quang Ninh, the second outbreak among poultry in the province since June. SAIGON GIAI PHONG -- The combined value of Vietnam's retail sales and services rose an estimated 8.8 percent in the first half of this year from the same period last year, after accounting for price increases, the government-run domestic market regulatory group said. TUOI TRE -- The average life expectancy of Vietnamese people is expected to rise to 75 by 2020 from 73 last year, Deputy Director of the Population Council Duong Quoc Trong said. Vietnam's population is forecast to rise by 1 million people a year in the next 10 years, Trong said. THANH NIEN -- The number of H1N1 flu cases has risen to 131, the Health Ministry said. THOI BAO KINH TE VIETNAM -- Non-performing debt in Vietnam's banking system now stood at around 3 percent of total loans, higher than last year, Vice Chairman of the National Financial Supervisory Committee Le Xuan Nghia said. (Reporting by Hanoi Newsroom)
A man wears a mask as part of preventive measures against the H1N1 flu in Buenos Aires June 30, 2009. The South American country has confirmed 1,587 cases from the new ...
