ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 23/7

Art exchange honours war veterans; Phan Thuan An honored for protecting national sovereignty;  Danish gymnastics troupe to tour nation; Master painter Nguyen Phan Chanh 120th birthday honoured

Urgent measures needed to protect elephants

The Prime Minister has approved an urgent action plan through 2020 to save the elephant population, which are on the brink of extinction in Vietnam.

First Vietnam-made satellite launched into orbit

The unmanned Japanese spacecraft HTV-3 left the Tanegashima Space Centre on July 21, bringing five small satellites, including Vietnam’s F-1, into orbit.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 23/7

Driver arrested after running into restaurant; A restaurant for poor people in Hanoi; HCM City aims to improve land management; Cabby accused of fleecing foreigner 60 times

As easy as making money from websites for mobile phones

VietNamNet Bridge – No need to have deep informatics knowledge and no need to have big initial investment capital, one still can earn tens of millions of dong by providing content on the websites for mobile phones.

Flogging students with rattan switch - a new teaching method?

VietNamNet Bridge – A video clip showing a teacher in Thai Nguyen province torturing students has been forwarded among the Internet users’ community, which has stirred up the public.

Waste in Ha Long Bay

VietNamNet Bridge – Being recognized as a new world natural wonder in April 2012, the Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province is being harmed by daily and industrial waste.

“Echo” – Memoirs of war in lacquer exhibition

VietNamNet Bridge - 21 lacquer paintings depicting old cultural features, guns and bullets, and environmental issues by Vo Xuan Huy are on display in HCM City.

Famous singers suspended from stage

VietNamNet Bridge – Two lecturers of the National Music Institute, who are also famous singers,  have been temporarily banned from the stage after they quit a special show to celebrate Vietnam-Laos friendship on July 18 in Vientiane, Laos.

Hoang My fails Miss World’s Talent Audition

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese contestant Hoang My did not enter the top 23 of the Talent Audition competition of the Miss World 2012 pageant on July 21.

Miss Sports to compete at Miss Supranational pageant

VietNamNet Bridge - The winner of the Miss Sports 2012 pageant will represent Vietnam at the Miss Supranational 2012, which will take place in Poland this August.

Vinalines gets over VND1.4 trillion in six months

VietNamNet Bridge – The losses of the Vietnam Shipping Lines Group (Vinalines) in the first half of 2012 is more than VND1.4 trillion ($70 million), 3.5 times higher than the total losses in 2011

Skewed gender ratio creates demographic headache

VietNamNet Bridge – An increasingly skewed sex ratio, a decline in the use of contraceptives, and a sudden baby boom in the first five months all add up to a gloomy picture for family planning authorities.

Da nang beach is introduced as “China Beach”

VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors are surprised when Da nang beach is introduced on websites of some local travel companies as “China Beach.” The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) said that this is unacceptable mistake.

Water pollution, acid rain affect millions in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – Pollution was spreading in the Dong Nai River Basin, the main source of water for 16 million people living in the area, including HCM City,

“Giant drop of blood” at My Dinh Stadium

VietNamNet Bridge – On the afternoon of July 22, 4,000 young people arranged themselves into the shape of a drop of blood outside the national stadium in Hanoi, at a blood donation festival.

Mural to salute sister cities, 1973 Paris Peace Accords

VietNamNet Bridge – Images of the signing of the historic Paris Peace Accords in 1973 will be recreated on a large mosaic mural in the convention hall of the Paris suburb of Choisy le Roi, as a gift of the Ha Noi People's Committee

SPORTS IN BRIEF 23/7

Nghe An are national U17 champs; National team readies for friendlies; Japan win woman's event

Former U.S. president Clinton calls for support to Greek economy

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, who paid a short visit to Athens on Sunday to address an event organized by Greek- American entrepreneurs, called for support to the ailing Greek economy.

Germany helps restore Celestial Temple

VietNamNet Bridge – The Toi Linh Tu (the Highest Celestial) Temple in the Hue Citadel, built during the final days of the Nguyen Dynasty, has been restored with German assistance and is again open to visitors.

Typhoon Vicente to bring high waves to East Sea

VietNamNet Bridge – The fourth typhoon in the East Sea this season, Typhoon Vicente, is forecast to get closer to northern Viet Nam in the next few days, bringing strong wind gusts, rain and rough seas.

Industrial zone spews poison fumes, waste

VietNamNet Bridge – Serious chemical and sewage pollution has been reported at the Tang Loong Industrial Zone in the northern province of Lao Cai.

Ha Noi performer wins ‘Star Academy' title in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – Pham Quoc Huy of Ha Noi sang and danced his way to victory in Ngoi Nha Am Nhac, the Vietnamese version of reality TV show Star Academy, on Friday.

SHB Da Nang hold top spot in V-League

VietNamNet Bridge – SHB Da Nang keep their top position on the rankings after beating Becamex Binh Duong 1-0 in the 22nd round of V-League Eximbank at Chi Lang Stadium yesterday, July 22.

Another Mekong giant catfish caught in An Giang

VietNamNet Bridge – Fishermen in An Phu District of the southern province of An Giang on July 21 caught an 86kg giant catfish in the Hau River, a branch of the Mekong River in Vietnam.