A memorandum of understanding was inked between t he University of Economics and Business under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi and Germany’s Applied Language Institute at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 5.

 A meeting of the National Salary Council in Hanoi on August 5 failed to reach agreement on increasing the regional minimum wage in 2016 and the council is scheduled to meet again in the next two weeks.

 Vietnam will support Laos to successfully perform the role as ASEAN chair in 2016, affirmed State President Truong Tan Sang during a reception for Lao Minister to the President’s Office Phongsavath Boupha in Hanoi on August 5.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 4 on the margins of the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 48) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

 Chief Justice of the Vietnam Supreme People’s Court Truong Hoa Binh conferred the insignia “For the Cause of the Court of Vietnam” on Deputy Chief Judge of the Lao Supreme People’s Court Khampha Sengdara on August 5.

Tran Dinh Hieu, the silver medal winner at the 2015 International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO), had to walk 10 kilometers every day from his house to school. He had a monthly allowance of only VND400,000 ($20) a month. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has asked the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to lend VND30 trillion to the state budget. Both MOF and SBV said the borrowing was not prohibited by current laws.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade that while allocating sugar import quotas, priority should be accorded to factories which imported raw sugar for refining.

VietNamNet Bridge – Besides denying dumping chicken in Vietnam, the head of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council implied that it will be hard for Vietnam to win if it pursues an anti-dumping lawsuit against US exporters.

VietNamNet Bridge - As pesticides are easily available and can be bought by anyone, local authorities have found it difficult to control pollution.

VietNamNet Bridge - Both software business and state agencies are facing difficulties in providing and receiving IT outsourcing services because of unclear regulations.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Following the conclusion of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement negotiations in July and expectations that it will be signed later this year, ...

VietNamNet Bridge – Government officials entitled to use more than one government car can use only one car on a regular basis. 

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's women's football team drew Chinese Taipei in a goalless friendly match on August 4 in Ha Nam Province. 

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has proposed initiatives to deepen ASEAN ties with 10 of its partners including China, the Republic of Korea, India, Russia, the US, the EU, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

 Drastic measures are needed to streamline administrative procedures and better use information technology to bring Viet Nam's business climate indexes up to, or surpass, ASEAN averages, said Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received New Zealand's Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce yesterday.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has called for US support for water, energy and food issues in the Mekong Delta, while seeking effective measures to cope with climate change.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Adventurers and those interested in discovering wild landscapes should head for Mo So Mountain in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.

 The National Financial Supervisory Commission (NFSC) has released a report on Vietnam’s economic situation in the first seven months of 2015, which also includes information on first-half results.

 Government considering plan before submission to NA and Politburo.

 Australia’s Anti-Dumping Commission last week announced to stop its dumping investigation into galvanized steel products imported from Vietnam.

 A cut back in funding for HIV programmes has led to a spread of the disease in all cities and provinces in Vietnam.

 Pepper exports record burgeoning growth, Ho Chi Minh City, Japan increasingly important partners, Vietnamese poultry sector seeks export, Producers, supermarkets eye improved supply chain, Footwear exports make big gains

Many state-owned economic groups that made huge investments in non-core business fields are facing trouble as some of the business tycoons have been jailed because of wrongdoings that caused serious consequences.