Vietnam’s top chessmen falls in FIDE rating list

VietNamNet Bridge – According to the latest FIDE ratings, Vietnam’s top chess player Le Quang Liem is not in the top 50, while Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son gets out of top 100.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/7

Investment needed in livestock breeding; Nation lags behind in theme parks; Outlook still gloomy for property market; Foreign acquisitions raise fears of hostile takeovers; VN Airlines has more summer flights

Vietnam Fatherland Front receives Cambodian Buddhist delegation

The General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Vu Trong Kim, has welcomed the Vietnam visit by a Cambodian Buddhist delegation as a practical contribution to promoting the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship

204 unlicensed Chinese workers forced to leave VN

VietNamNet Bridge – Binh Phuoc Province authorities have deported 204 Chinese laborers who were working without a work permit, while Binh Thuan province authorities reported that Chinese contractors are using 65 unlicensed employees.

Top State salaries put under review

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is drafting regulations covering salaries, allowance and bonuses for people in top positions in State-owned companies.

Tourist site names top attractions

VietNamNet Bridge – Globalgrasshopper, a popular site for international tourists, has listed the top 10 must-see destinations in Viet Nam.

Vietnamese woman cyclist wins An Giang Television Cup

VietNamNet Bridge – The women’s bicycle race for An Giang Television Cup closed in Long Xuyen City on July 13.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 13/7

Ministry considers designation of national treasures; Binh Dinh to host Int’l Traditional Martial Arts Festival 2012; Hue cultural museum moves to new location;  But why no bicycle?

Hanoi deputies accustom themselves to iPad

VietNamNet Bridge – From July 2012, 95 deputies of the Hanoi People’s Council have been equipped with iPad 2.

MOH’s conclusion about drug prices raises doubts

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health has shown evidences to prove that the drug prices in Vietnam are not high. However, people believe that the ministry’s argument is not convincing.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 13/7

Ha Noi strengthens pricing inspections; Young man loses testicles in odd traffic accident; Children's input sought on law;  Vinh Phuc repatriates martyrs’ remains from Laos

Mobile phone imports decline in H1

Mobile phone imports in the first half of the year declined 23 per cent compared to the corresponding period last year.

Da Nang encourages longer stays

VietNamNet Bridge – Da Nang is seeking to encourage travellers to stay longer and spend more while in the central city after surveys found that many people stay there for less time than in neighbouring Hoi An and Hue.

Moody's downgrades Italy debt rating two notches

Ratings agency Moody's Investors Service has downgraded Italy's government bond rating two notches over concerns that the country is more likely to experience a further sharp increase in its funding costs or the loss of market

Vietnamese muay team wins 3 golds in Asian champs

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese team grabbed three gold medals in the final round of the 2012 Asian Muay Thai Championships which started in HCM City on the evening of July 12.

HCM City fathers admit park faults

Capital authorities yesterday admitted responsibilities for improper management of the capital's lakes and parks, causing public outrage over public land encroachment at the question-and-answer session of Ha Noi People's Council meeting.

BP to pay another $13mil to settle violation charges over Texas refinery

British oil giant BP said Thursday it has agreed to pay another 13 million U.S. dollars to settle charges of its failing to fix safety violations at its Texas City oil refinery.

Ancient palace will be rebuilt

VietNamNet Bridge – Japan's Waseda University and the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre have completed work on a scaled down replica of Hue Citadel's Can Chanh Palace.

Northern travel firms join hands to stimulate demand, for the first time

VietNamNet Bridge – Travel firms in the north, for the first time, have reached a cooperation agreement under which they would join hands to stimulate the demand and develop services.

Top athletes fulfil their billing

VietNamNet Bridge – The 19th HCM City International Track and Field Championships – Viet Nam Open 2012 – ended yesterday, July 12, at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City with top athletes dominating as expected.

Gold companies disguise themselves to be able to exist

A lot of gold companies have received the proposal from big banks and goldsmith companies to cooperate with them as their agents.

All HCMC Chinese clinics broke law, 4 suspended

VietNamNet Bridge – All of the Chinese clinics in Ho Chi Minh City have been found violating relevant regulations, and four of them have had their operations suspended for up to 12 months.

Colombian artwork exhibited in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – A solo exhibition of work by contemporary Colombian artist Luz Angela Lizarazo is being held at the San Art gallery in Ho Chi Minh City.

VN, Thailand seek stronger economic ties

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has expressed his wish to deepen the Vietnamese – Thai multi-faceted cooperation in an effective manner, benefiting both countries.

Rocking Tom Cruise film premiers in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The film “Rock of Ages” starring Hollywood actor Tom Cruise will be shown in cinemas across Vietnam from July 13.