HCM City gears up for second phase of hi-tech park project

VietNamNet Bridge – The documents about the second-phase development of the HCM City hi-tech park project (SHTP), expected to cover an area of 613 hectares has been put on the table of the HCM City's leaders.

In hard times, rich people throw their money into resort real estate

VietNamNet Bridge – The prices of the land plots in the environs of Hanoi, suitable for resorts and villas, have bounced back quickly thanks to the low prices and the rapid development of the domestic tourism market.

Probiotics may prevent diarrhea in antibiotic-takers: study

Probiotics, live microbes that can lead to more balanced stomach bacteria levels, may help reduce diarrhea associated with antibiotic use, says a study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/5

Firms urged to be honest when applying for credit; Banks to select borrowers for new lending rate cap; Farm produce prices fall due to heat wave, animal diseases; Rubber strategy gets approval; Ministry mulls using toll to expand national highway

Hung Yen police to investigate assault on two reporters

Senior officials at the ‘Voice of Vietnam’ radio network on May 9 confirmed that so far the network had not received any further reports from the northern province of Hung Yen about two of their reporters being beaten

Blind fish discovered in Phong Nha – Ke Bang

VietNamNet Bridge – Experts on May 10 announced to discover many strange fauna and flora species in the Thien Duong (Heaven) cave in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a world natural heritage site in central Vietnam.

PPP mechanism implementation goes slowly, weakly

There have been too many barriers that prevent PPP (public private partnership) from getting more popular in Vietnam. No considerable progress has been made since the day the first project under the PPP mode kicked off in Vietnam.

Province calls for study into mountain landslide threat

VietNamNet Bridge – The An Giang People's Committee has required the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment to implement a comprehensive study on the Cam Mountains to avoid possible landslides and falling rocks.

Vietnamese-origin professor wins Cine del Deuca Award

VietNamNet Bridge - UVa Astronomy Professor Trinh Xuan Thuan has been awarded the Cino Del Duca World Prize for 2012 from the Simone and Cino Del Duca Foundation.

Vietnam looks for ‘powdered fetus pills’ from China

After the local media reported of over 17,000 pills filled with powdered made of dead human fetuses seized by customs officers in South Korea, the Vietnam Drug Administration has asked local health departments to inspect the market.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 10/5

Manga artists compete for award; Exhibition explores river landscapes; HCM City to celebrate National Day of Brittany; Fund-raising flash mob dances for poor children

Missing jet with over 50 people on board found in mountainous area

Rescuers have seen the body of missing Sukhoi super-jet 100 with over 50 people on board at the slope of a mountain of Gunung Salak in Bogor regency of West Java on Thursday morning, rescuer said.

Russian artist hails heroes in debut show

VietNamNet Bridge – Russian artist Boris Simionovich Iliukhin is holding his debut exhibition at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum.

Picture shows wreckage of Sukhoi plane broken into many small pieces

The Search and Rescue Agency on Thursday displayed the picture of wreckage of the Sukhoi super jet- 100 plane that was broken into many small pieces at the slope of a mountain in Bogor regency near Jakarta,

Fannie Mae back in black for first time since 2008

U.S. mortgage giant Fannie Mae said Wednesday it had returned to profitability and would not need Treasury aid for the first time since the financial crisis.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 10/5

Dong Nai authorities inspect petrol stations; More remains of Vietnamese martyrs repatriated from Laos; Two Chinese held for allegedly robbing taxi; Foreigners seek stem cell treatments

Road maintenance fee proposal draws fire

VietNamNet Bridge – The Government should put off collecting the road-maintenance fee until the economy recovers, transport operators told a conference in HCM City yesterday, May 9.

Vietnam’s position unchanged on FIFA rankings

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam still ranks 97th on the FIFA rankings for April, taking the lead in Southeast Asia. In the top 100, Argentina moves on grade to replace Denmark at 9th position.

Banks would not slash interest rates unless they are forced to do so

Businesses, economists and bankers all have raised doubts about the application of the fixed interest rate margin set up by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Merger of Hanoi’s theaters cancelled

VietNamNet Bridge – Being protested by many artists, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to not merge the Vietnam Drama Theatre and the Youth Theatre into the Vietnam National Drama Theatre.

Da Nang Airport’s belt forest in fire

VietNamNet Bridge – After two explosions, the forest to the west of the Da nang International Airport flared up. The Air force Division 372, which is garrisoned near the airport, sent troops to extinguish the fire.

Truck crashes into coach, 12 sent to hospital

VietNamNet Bridge – On the afternoon of May 9, a coach carrying over 20 passengers from Tien Giang province to HCM City was crashed by a 15-ton truck on Nguyen Van Linh Road, HCM City.

Vietnam ousted from Asian Football Cup

VietNamNet Bridge – In the last match of group H, Navibank Saigon was trounced 2-6 by Indonesian FC – Arema. This was the last Vietnamese FC that was rejected from the Asian Football Cup (AFC Cup).

Giving more space to cars, Saigon’s gateway in congestion

VietNamNet Bridge – In the last few days, serious traffic jams occurred during rush hour on the Northwestern gateway of HCM City. Thousands of motorbikes moved inch by inch while there were several vehicles on the lane for cars.

Vietnam to clear dioxin contamination by advanced technology

Experts from Vietnam and the US met at a seminar in Hanoi on May 8 to discuss the use of ‘In-Pile Thermal Desorption’ (IPTD) technology to clean up Agent Orange or Dioxin contamination from the Da Nang Airport area.