U.S., S. Korea, Japan to have joint naval exercise

The U.S. Department of Defense on Wednesday announced the United States, South Korea and Japan will conduct a two-day, trilateral naval exercise on June 21-22 in the waters south of the Korean peninsula.

Syria starts military showdown to end crisis

At a time when the international community is still unable to reach a consensus to bring about a favorable solution to the stand-off in Syria, the Syrian government seems to have shelved all outside suggestions and chosen its own way:

Merchandise trading floors flutter

The fledgling merchandise trading floors in Vietnam, which have been operating for two or three years, have been very gloomy with sporadic investors who join the floors just to listen to the news.

Vietnam struggles to overcome the “natural resource curse”

Vietnam, the country which has been proud of the great economic achievements it gained in the last 26 years, has been warned about the rising social and environmental challenges, called the “natural resource curse.”

Snakes on bus

VietNamNet Bridge – Passengers on a coach running from Da nang to Quy Nhon got panicked when tens of snakes crawled through their feet.

Nation gets first global domain name registrar

Website developer Mat Bao has been accredited by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) to be Viet Nam's first international domain name registrar.

VN, DPRK ties co-operative relations

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's Party, State and people always attached importance to maintaining and developing traditional friendly relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Rescuing accountancy software now possible mission

VietNamNet Bridge – Saving accountancy software was considered an impossible mission. However, things have become quite different.

ASEAN officials focus on rural development

VietNamNet Bridge – Senior ASEAN officials began their 9th meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication in the central city of Da Nang on June 13.

Land and ODA management discussed during NA question time

VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Nguyen Minh Quang, was the first cabinet member to respond to National Assembly (NA) deputies' questions about land management and the environment on June 13.

Society voices its defense to the student who filmed at Doi Ngo School

Teachers, students and legal officers have called on the Ministry of Education and Training to reward the student who filmed the wrongdoings at Doi Ngo School instead of imposing punishment.

Upcoming EU summit to focus on economic, monetary union

The upcoming European Council summit meeting would focus on building blocks for the future of economic and monetary union, said Jose Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission on Wednesday.

Chinese tour operators push down prices

A number of China-based travel firms that bring Chinese tourists to Vietnam via the Huu Nghi border gate in Lang Son are forcing local partners to pull down prices.

Thousands of intellectual property violations detected

More than 4,500 violations of intellectual property rights worth tens of billions of Vietnamese dong were discovered in the past five years and nearly VND20 billion in fines has been collected.

Banks sneeze, the national economy catches a chill

Vietnam’s IDR (issuer default rating) still has not been significantly improved over the last five years.

U.S. regulators propose to increase capital cushion for banks

The banks in the Unites States would be required to improve capital cushion against unexpected losses as the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, along with other two agencies, approved on Tuesday to seek comment on new capital rules.

Prostitution should be legalized, police officer

VietNamNet Bridge – Colonel Ho Sy Tien, acting head of the Investigative Police Agency on Social Order, Ministry of Public Security, said that it will be easier to control prostitution if it is recognized as a job, ruled by special regulations.

Hue’s famous lotus species revived

VietNamNet Bridge – After five years, lotus in Tinh Tam Lake in the Hue royal citadel, the famous lotus special of the ancient capital city, has revived.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/6

China’s halt to buying cause of coconut cutting wave; Canadian firm to build hospital in Hai Duong; Auto sales drop in May; Seafood exporters drop by almost half; Steel price starts to drop; VND strengthens against dollar

Cooling production burns state coffers

Sinking production is biting into state budget revenue.

Theme park could become tourist mecca

Investment in an entertainment park would lead to development in the real estate and tourism sectors, international experts have said.

At least 55 killed, 126 wounded in spate of attacks in Iraq

At least 55 people were killed and 126 wounded in a series of bomb and gunfire attacks in several Iraqi cities on Wednesday, the police said.

71 confirmed dead on Monday's quake in northern Afghan town

A total of 71 people including women and children were killed in the earthquake that hit Burka town in northern Afghanistan on Monday, said Burka district police chief Habib Rahman on Wednesday, citing the latest counting.

Pitcher plant re-discovered in Vietnam after 100 years

VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists have discovered pitcher-plants (Nepenthes thorelii Lecomte) at the Lo Xo-Xa Mat national part in the southern province of Tay Ninh, after over 100 years of disappearance in Vietnam.

Prehistoric relics brought to light

VietNamNet Bridge – Experts from Quang Ngai Museum have discovered several prehistoric artefacts dating back 4,000 years in the Tang River valley in Tay Tra District, according to Deputy Director Doan Ngoc Khoi.