ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 1/8

 Exhibition features border, island sovereignty; Vietnamese photographer wins fashion contest prize; Efforts to modernize ethnic houses frowned on

"Rush Hour 4" in the works

 Word on the street is that actors Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker will soon be back on the screen as the mismatched cops in "Rush Hour 4".

ISPs moaning about electricity price increases

The five percent electricity price increase has pushed the input costs of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) up by 5-10 percent.

U.S. rover landing on Mars to be live broadcast

 U.S. space agency NASA on Tuesday confirmed its most advanced planetary rover, Curiosity will land on the Martian surface at 1:31 a.m. EDT (0531 GMT) on Aug. 6 and the landing process will be broadcast live from Times Square, New York City.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 1/8

 Finland funds climate change mitigation project in Quang Tri; Truck strikes bus stop, leaving one dead; Frenchman robs $150 camera in HCMC, sentenced; Cities told to crack down on medical advertising

Brokerages open to foreign ownership

 Foreign investors will be able to own up to 100 per cent of a domestic securities company under a new decree issued by the Government.

Vietnamese travelers no longer interested in outbound tours to China

The number of Vietnamese people traveling to China recently has dropped sharply because of the economic downturn and the tensions on the East Sea.

The wildest places in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – The nation parks of Phu Quoc, Tam Dao and Bach Ma are listed as the wildest places in Vietnam.

2.5 ton elephant tusk container unveiled at Saigon Port

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City customs officers seized a container of elephant tusks at ICD Phuoc Long Port in HCM City. The container contains 158 tusks, weighing nearly 2.5 tons, worth around VND100 billion ($5 million).

Hoang My shows off her beauty in swimwear

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese representative at the 2012 Miss World pageant is very hot in colorful swimsuits. My and other contestants took photos and were filmed in swimsuits on July 31.

Vietnamese tourists to China drop

 VietNamNet Bridge – The number of Vietnamese tourists to China has fallen by 20-30 percent in June-July because of economic recession and the tension in the East Sea, travel firms said.

Phelps makes history as Ye claims second gold

 South African Chad le Clos won the gold medal, but so did Michael Phelps, who also made Olympic history in the Aquatic Center at the London Olympic Games on Tuesday night.

HCMC to extend city center towards Saigon River

 The Department of Planning and Architecture in HCMC reported that city leaders were working on a detailed plan to extend the city center area towards the Saigon River, and incorporate more area from other districts.

Summer show at Galerie Quynh

 Collisions of Clamor and Calm, the gallery’s summer group exhibition of works by Do Hoang Tuong, Nguyen Manh Hung, Tran Van Thao, Lien Truong and The Propeller Group is opening at the Galerie Quynh with some amazing works on show.

Many reservoirs start to discharge water

 Some large irrigation and hydropower reservoirs across the country such as Dau Tieng, Son La, Hoa Binh and Tuyen Quang on Monday announced to discharge water to lower the water level and ensure the reservoir safety in the flooding season.

Well-known film director passes away

 VietNamNet Bridge – Director Le Hoang Hoa, who was very famous for “Van bai lat ngua”, “Con ma nha ho Hua” and “Tinh nho lam sao quen” died in HCM City on July 31, at the age of 79.

Youtube makeup sensation visits Vietnam

 Hundreds of young girls Tuesday flocked to Diamond and Parkson malls in downtown Saigon to see Michelle Phan, the Vietnamese-American girl who has become famous for her makeup tutorial videos on Youtube.

Old map proves China’s claims are worthless

 VietNamNet Bridge – An old Chinese map published during the Qing dynasty in 1904 indicates that the most southerly point of China is Hainan Island and it does not include the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelagoes.

Many Vietnamese websites named in Google’s blacklist

 VietNamNet Bridge – BKAV security company on July 31 warned that many Vietnamese websites have been added to Google’s blacklist.

Rowers disqualify for Olympic semi-finals

 VietNamNet Bridge – Two Vietnamese rowers Pham Thi Hai and Pham Thi Thao came fifth out of six pairs competing in the Repechage 1 of the women’s lightweight double sculls event at the London 2012 Olympics on July 31.

Administrative procedures turn businesses round and round

While reforming administrative procedures has always been highlighted by state management agencies as their biggest achievement in recent years, businesses say they still cannot see the reform.

Schools turning into markets, goods and services penetrate schools

A lot of services and goods have appeared at general schools. The areas reserved for schooling now serve the trade.

Dirty rau muong provided to Hanoians

Thousands of bunches of rau muong (water spinach), the most popular kind of vegetable for northern people, are provided to the capital city’s dwellers every day.

Breath-taking Ca Moutain Pass

 Deo Ca or Ca Mountain Pass in central Vietnam has amazed many passers-by thanks to its stunning beauty.

Greater focus on curbing inflation and stabilizing macroeconomy

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung chaired the cabinet meeting from July 30-31 with a focus on maintaining reasonable and sustainable growth, stabilizing the macroeconomy and preventing the recurrence of high inflation.