Liem fails to defend Spice Cup title

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese chess GM Le Quang Liem was placed second after a draw with Philippine rival Wesley So in his last match of the US Spice Cup Festival on October 22.

Three dead in U.S. mall mass shooting, suspect dead

Three people were dead and four others wounded in a mass shooting Sunday at a spa in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, police said. The gunman died of a self- inflicted gunshot wound. 

First overhead road in Vietnam opens for traffic

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam's first overhead route for cars opened for traffic on October 21. This highway is expected to shorten 50 percent of the travel time from the west to the south of Hanoi and to reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Troubles grow in Spanish banking rescue

 Spain seems condemned to pay for its own banking rescue after Germany flatly refused to let the eurozone's future bank supervisor do so, analysts say.

Former anti-smuggling official sought for assisting Duong Chi Dung’s escape

Dong Xuan Phong, former official of the Anti-Smuggling Team of the Hai Phong City Customs Bureau, has been identified to conceal and help Duong Chi Dung, former director of the Vietnam Maritime Administration, to escape.

Malaysia beat Viet Nam to win U21 football event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Malaysia triumph at Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper's International Under-21 Football Championships yesterday, Oct 21, at Pleiku Stadium in Gia Lai Province.

Small businesses flexibly change themselves to survive crisis

Analysts believe that the biggest advantage of small businesses is the small operation scale which allows them to change flexibly to get adapted to the new circumstances.

Wushu squad depart for China competition

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam wushu team yesterday, Oct 21, left for China to take part in the World Sanshou Cup.

Int’l scholars reject China’s East Sea demands

 VietNamNet Bridge – International scholars have presented evidence at a recent workshop in Paris, rejecting China’s sovereignty claim in the East Sea, especially its U-shaped line.

National Assembly convenes today

The National Assembly convenes in Hanoi today, October 22, for the fourth session of the 13th tenure, with many revised laws on the agenda, including those on anti-corruption, tax management and personal income tax.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 22/10

 PM meets voters at HCM City National University; PM meets voters at HCM City National University; Algeria, Vietnam mark diplomatic ties; Vietnam, Laos political academies boost cooperation

National parks and biosphere reserves in danger

Environmentalists have expressed their concern about the fates of natural reserves, saying that the reserves have not been preserved for the purpose of biodiversity conservation.

Hospitals complain about medical education quality

Seven out of 10 officials in the medical sector, when asked about the qualification of newly graduated physicians, said the education quality has been decreasing.

Vietnam stays outside South East Asian rice alliance

In early October 2012, the Philippines, Myanmar and Thailand signed a memorandum of understanding on the establishment a 3-member South East Asian rice alliance. Vietnam is not a member of the alliance.

Strange things after the death of elephants

According to statistics from the Dak Lak Elephant Conservation Center, since 2009, at least 14 wild elephants died, including four adult elephants which were killed for their tusks and tail hairs, and 10 died of unknown causes.

Part 1: Vietnamese market really lucrative for foreign pharmacists

The Vietnamese medicine market has always been attractive to foreign firms not because of its increasingly high demand, but also because of the weakness of domestic pharmacy firms.

Danger lurks in free via-Internet messaging software

Experts have warned that the users of the messaging software--which allow to send messages free of charge via Internet, are facing the danger of losing database when connecting through the public wifi network.

Public awaits results of probe into banks

 VietNamNet Bridge – Publicising information and transparency in the banking system have hit the headlines recently and drawn lots of interest from the public.

Da Nang to host regional Robocon 2013 competition

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Asia-Pacific Robot Contest 2013 (ABU Robocon 2013) will be held from August 14-18 in Viet Nam’s coastal city of Da Nang.

Government looks into excessive school fees

VietNamNet Bridge – Inspectors from the Ministry of Education and Training have found that many public primary schools in Hanoi have been ignoring the regulations on the collection of fees from students.  

Super Junior to enthral in HCM City audience

 VietNamNet Bridge – K-Pop superstars Super Junior will perform at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) on December 21.

Banking sector’s reputation shattered

 VietNamNet Bridge – The reputation of Vietnam’s banking system has been tarnished by the problems of rising bad debt, strained ties between banks and corporate borrowers and falling credit ratings, said Vietnam Report Joint Stock Co.

Site clearance delays blight HCM City school upgrade plans

 VietNamNet Bridge – Students and teachers at some schools in HCM City are struggling to complete their tasks amid substandard facilities.

Wife abuse damages the children as well

 VietNamNet Bridge – After 25 years of oppression, beatings and emotional abuse, Le Phuong Lam (not her real name) can at last return home to her house near Ha Noi's West Lake without living in fear.

Social insurance cheats face stringent checks

VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will continue to work closely with the city Social Insurance Agency to monitor companies to ensure they do not flout social insurance rules.