Foreign bankers only want to team up with powerful domestic partners

While domestic banks want to buy back weak banks, which are now in big supply, thanks to the ongoing bank restructuring process, foreign banks tend to buy the stakes of powerful domestic banks.

Vietnam gets out of Olympic wild-card group

VietNamNet Bridge – The organizing board of the Olympic 2012 has left Vietnam out of the list of countries which receive wild cards because the country has had many athletes who win tickets in the qualifier round.

New iPad to go on sale Friday: Apple

Apple on Wednesday made an official announcement that the third-generation iPad will arrive at Apple's retail stores and its online store on Friday in the United States and nine additional countries and regions.

Afghan Taliban suspends talks with U.S.

The Afghan Taliban has suspended preliminary peace talks with the United States, according to a statement of the outfit released on Thursday.

SOEs need overhaul

VietNamNet Bridge – State-owned enterprises (SOEs), specifically corporations and economic groups, are like old coaches, which run slowly but consume a lot of gas. These coaches need to be overhauled.

Dietary cadmium may be linked with breast cancer risk: study

Dietary cadmium, a toxic metal widely dispersed in the environment and found in many farm fertilizers, may lead to an increased risk of breast cancer, according to a study published on Wednesday in Cancer Research,

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/3

Gov’t to buy real-estate projects to unclog capital flow; France remains a good market for apparel exporters; FDI projects help develop VN tourism; AusAID, World Bank confirm support; PM pushes World Bank-funded project

Minister advances plan for economic corridor

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang has approved a plan for the industrial development of the Lang Son-Ha Noi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh economic corridor in the north.

Over 79,000 companies dissolved in 2011

VietNamNet Bridge – According to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), 79,014 companies were dissolved last year; 7,611 of them were established in the same year.

Pure beauty of Vietnamese stars in ao dai

VietNamNet Bridge – Ao Dai Huong Sac Viet (Vietnam’s spirited ao dai) photo exhibition, initiated by fashion stylist Vo Thuong, is on display at the five-star Rex Hotel Saigon in District 1.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 15/3

Local circus artists awarded in Russia; Celebrated thespian dies at 69; S.Korean stars arrive in Hanoi for concert; Binh Thuan hosts balloon festival next month; Thai bands to rock the night away; Martial arts classes for the mind and body  

PM urges inspection of troubled Can Tho fisheries giant

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung requested that a report on the case must be submitted to him prior to March 25.

VFF to consider hiring foreign referees for V-League

Vietnam Football Federation Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy will meet with the referee department today to discuss whether or not foreign referees should be hired to work in the V-League.

International photo exhibition opens in HCM City

The sixth international artistic photo exhibition opened in HCM City on March 13. The event has drawn the attention of many foreign visitors.

Vietnam jumps into the world’s fragrance rice market

IR 50404, a normal rice variety, is grown in 70 percent of the area of the winter-spring crop. However, exporters only hunt for fragrant rice, because the fragrance rice price is double the normal price.

Vietnamese chess player ranks 12th in Europe

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese-origin chess player Hoang Thanh Trang has competed at the European Women’s Chess Championships 2012 in Turkey and finished at 12th.

G20 economic growth slows to 0.7 pct in 4Q: IMF

The combined gross domestic product (GDP) of the G20 economies edged up 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2011 compared with the previous quarter, slower than the 0.9 percent registered in the third quarter last year,

HCM City looks to raise funds for clearance, resettlement

VietNamNet Bridge – The Finance Department of HCM City has submitted a plan to create a land development fund that would provide money for land clearance and resettlement costs.

Foreign experts to make construction plan for Da Lat

VietNamNet Bridge – The government has given permission to the resort city of Da Lat to hire foreign consulters to develop its development planning to 2030 and the vision to 2050.

National Assembly to have its TV channel

VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly (NA) may have its own television channel in 2013, said Dr. Nguyen Si Dung, Vice chair of the NA Office.

HCM City buildings lack parking space

VietNamNet Bridge – Three-fourths of high-rise buildings in downtown HCM City lack adequate parking space, according to the city's Department of Transport.

WB approves 4.3-bln-dollar increase in lending to India

The World Bank announced Wednesday to increase financial support to India by 4.3 billion U. S. dollars through a new innovative and flexible financing arrangement.

Change in school hours help curb traffic jams

VietNamNet Bridge – The adjustment of work and school times, amongst a host of new measures to improve the traffic situation in the capital, have proved effective.

Ha Noi puts best face forward

VietNamNet Bridge – An art exhibition entitled Nha Mat Pho (Houses Facing the Street) by Nguyen The Son, focusing on the rapidly changing nature of the capital, is on display at the Goethe Institute.

Interest rates go down, but businesses’ worries not lifted yet

The ceiling deposit interest rate has decreased by one percent from 14 percent to 13 percent per annum since March 13. However, businesses keep emotionless when receiving the good news.