Council investigates deaths of children from anaesthesia

 VietNamNet Bridge – A special medical council yesterday (Aug 28) started investigating the deaths of three children who died under anaesthetic while awaiting free cleft-lip surgery in Khanh Hoa Province last Saturday.

Viet Nam Open to attract int'l athletes

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Yonex Sunrise Viet Nam Open badminton tournament will be organised from September 1 to 9 in HCM City.

China visit proves fruitful for envoy

 VietNamNet Bridge – Spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, Le Hai Binh, said the China visit by Politburo member Le Hong Anh as Special Envoy of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, was fruitful in several ways.

Vietnam Airlines to hold IPO in November

According to information released by Vietnam Airlines’ CEO in the Wall Street Journal, the national air carrier will issue shares to the public for the first time (IPO) in November, and will sell 5% of shares to investors to raise $70.6 million.

EU widens aid to dairy exporters hit by Russia food ban

 The EU has announced emergency help for dairy producers hit by the Russian ban on food imports from the EU.

Craft villages an untapped goldmine for tourism

 VietNamNet Bridge – Forty-nine of the country’s 52 traditional craft villages are located in the Hanoi vicinity and share vast potential for tourism development, highly dependent on niche marketing and improved infrastructure.

Should Metro pay an assignment duty on ownership-transfer deal?

The HCM City Planning and Investment Department, the governing body that has oversight over wholesale chain Metro Cash & Carry, has said that it has not received any official notice from Metro about its ownership transfer to the Thai BJC Group.

Researcher receives coveted award

 VietNamNet Bridge – Veteran researcher Vu Tuan San was awarded the Bui Xuan Phai Grand Prize yesterday, Aug 28, for his comprehensive work on the capital city.

Vietnam Airlines chief steward smuggles cigarettes from South Korea

 VietNamNet Bridge –  The Northern Airport Authority on Thursday destroyed 345 cigarette packages that were smuggled into Vietnam by three flight attendants of Vietnam Airlines from Incheon, South Korea to Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Viettel asked to stop “Internet for education” program

The Ministry of Information and Communication has requested the Military Telecom Corporation - Viettel - to stop the “Internet for education” program for violating regulations on telecom charge management and promotion.

Vietnam’s casino draft will not satisfy international investors

VietNamNet Bridge – With the Ministry of Finance (MoF) having completed the draft decree on casinos in Vietnam, Professor Augustine Ha Ton Vinh expresses his view on the draft and gives some suggestions to ensure that once issued,

Nigeria launches national electronic ID cards

 Nigeria's president has formally launched a national electronic identity card, which all Nigerians will have to have by 2019 if they want to vote.

McDonald's hits one millionth customer after six months

 VietNamNet Bridge - Before opening its third restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, McDonald's announced that it had received its one-millionth customer after six months of operation in Vietnam.

Ha Tinh: District chairman urges companies to use locally made beer, mineral water

The website of Ky Anh district in Ha Tinh province recently posted a dispatch signed by the District Chairman, Nguyen Van Bong, encouraging people, restaurants, and hotels in the district to use Saigon beer and Kim Son mineral water.

N. Korean functional-food item taken off market

The Bureau of Food Safety on Wednesday decided to take Angunguhwanghwan, a functional food produced by North Korea, off the market. It will also destroy all of the products, which contained high concentrations of mercury, arsenic and lead.

Malaysia Airlines warns of further losses

 Malaysia Airlines has warned of further losses in the second half of the year because of the two tragedies to hit the airline in recent months.

HCM City plans National Day festivities

 Streets and parks in HCM City will be alive with festivities in celebration of National Day which falls on September 2.

Vietnam adjusts VNREDSat-1 satellite to avoid cosmic object

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam successfully adjusted its VNREDSat-1 satellite in an emergency case in order to avoid a possible collision with a cosmic object.

Big manufacturers, distributors jump into online retail market

 VietNamNet Bridge – The online retail market, which is expected to have the value of $4 billion by 2015, has become large enough to attract some of the bigger fish in recent months.

Secondary, high school students under increasing stress

 VietNamNet Bridge – Recent research shows that Vietnamese students suffering from anxiety and depression has increased in recent years.

True paradise on small Co To Island

 VietNamNet Bridge - As an uninhabited island, Co To Con (small Co To) Island is the most attractive site of the Co To Archipelago, with beautiful and unspoiled beaches.

Dong Nai cracks down on pollution

 VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the southern province of Dong Nai have decided to stop licensing new business projects in five sectors to prevent pollution, according to the head of the local Department of Planning and Investment.

Vietnamese artist shortlisted for prestigious regional art prize

 Vietnamese artist Nguyen Trinh Thi's artwork is among the works of 15 artists shortlisted for the SG$60,000 (US$48,000) APB Foundation Signature Art Prize 2014.

Car import tax to drop to zero by 2018

 Vietnam will apply a zero tariff policy to all automobiles imported from ASEAN countries by 2018, making it easier for consumers to buy cars.

Political News 29/8

 State budget collections sees year-on-year increase; Danang hosts Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum; Politburo member inspects Hanoi’s key infrastructure projects; Gov’t approves VAT exemption for animal feed