BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/9

GM stops making Daewoo cars in Vietnam; Association suggests restructuring banks; 14 European countries invest in Hanoi; Operations resume at Dung Quat Refinery; Ministry permits massive imports of high-grade salt  

Cambodian army delegation visits Vietnam

A delegation of the Cambodian Royal Army headed by General Meoung Samphan, State Secretary for the Defence Ministry, is on a working visit to Vietnam from Sept. 18-24.

Agribank to loan $240m to coffee sector

The Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development of Viet Nam (Agribank) plans to provide about VND5 trillion (US$240 million) in loans to the domestic coffee sector.

Earthquake in India affects Tibet, leaving 7 dead

At least seven people have died and 22 others were injured in a southern county of China's Tibet Autonomous Region after a strong earthquake centered in the state of Sikkim in northern India hit on Sunday evening.

Five killed in earthquake in Nepal

Five people were killed after a strong earthquake shook eastern parts of Nepal on Sunday evening, police said.

Russian space capsule carrying 3 astronauts lands in Kazakhstan

A Russian Soyuz space capsule carrying three astronauts returned to the Earth Friday, the Mission Control Center outside Moscow confirmed.

Death toll from Sikkim quake rises to 26 in India

The toll from the powerful earthquake in the northeast Indian state of Sikkim has risen to at least 26 while hundreds were reportedly injured, according to local media reports Monday.

Model unqualified for Miss Earth 2011

VietNamNet Bridge – Ngoc Thach’s Gold Prize at the Vietnam Super Model 2010 competition is not enough for her to representative Vietnam at the Miss Earth 2011 pageant.

Young painter and non-cubism style

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Quoc Dan, 27, who graduated from the HCM City Fine Art University two years ago, seems to be “eccentric” to state that he only pains artworks that nobody could imitate.

Deputy Health Minister uses fake doctoral degree

VietNamNet Bridge – Police have confirmed that Deputy Minister of Health, Cao Minh Quang, used a fake doctoral degree.

Rare lingzhi mushroom discovered in Lam Dong

VietNamNet Bridge – Some researchers of the Department of Science-Technology of Lam Dong province on September 15, discovered three red lingzhi mushrooms on an ancient pine tree at the gate of the Da Lat Palace hotel.

Foreign-related clinics play tricks on patients

VietNamNet Bridge – Exaggerated advertising, performing illegal services and using foreign doctors without work permits are popular violations of consulting rooms that use Chinese doctors in Hanoi and HCM City.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 19/9

 Flood threatens Nghe An Province; Dog thieves shoot man to death; Students access net in remote district; Prosecutors warned for breaching Party moral code

Buon Ma Thuot brand: Dak Lak still wavering between suing and negotiating

The Dak Lak provincial authorities still have not made a final decision on whether to take legal proceedings to reclaim the Buon Ma Thuot geographical indication, or demand the brand back through the diplomatic channel.

Climate change effort urged

VietNamNet Bridge – Individuals and organisations should act to protect the environment for mitigating climate change as well as the sustainable development of the country,

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 19/9

Thua Thien-Hue to build literary, art museum; Hue seeks funds to restore heritage; Vietnam Festival 2011 opens in Tokyo; Exhibition features 50 years of the ‘Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea’; Hanoi Fashion Week urges use of local products  

Interest rates down, deposits leaving banks

Commercial banks have no other choice than slashing the deposit interest rates to 14 percent per annum. However, banks are trembling with the fear that depositors may withdraw money from banks.

Paintings on silk testify to girl's familial devotion

VietNamNet Bridge – Artist Ngoc Mai's 28 paintings on silk featuring characters of the epic poem Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) are on display at HCM City's Exhibition House until next Monday.

Phase out of climate gases on target

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam may complete the phase-out of hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) - ozone-depleting substances and powerful greenhouse gases - by 2025, five years earlier than the deadline,

Strauss-Kahn admits "moral fault" with no plan for presidential election

Former Chief of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn admitted a "moral fault"in the U.S. sex scandal and said no plan for 2012 presidential election of France during an interview on Sunday night.

‘Rearing’ stone-made dogs to keep house

VietNamNet Bridge – Ancient Vietnamese used to place stone-made dogs at gates to drive away ghosts and devils, diseases and welcome luck. Today, some people collect stone-made dogs to decorate and keep house.

More than 100 sea turtles seized, and what’s next?

It’s still unclear about the fate of the 102 sea turtles which were seized in July in Binh Dinh province. Will the dead turtles be sold or ruined?

Vietnam not ready yet in labor force for developing sea-borne economy

Vietnam has decided that by 2020 it will become a powerful sea-borne economy with 53-55 percent of GDP coming from the sea. However, in order to reach that goal, it needs to have a well prepared labor force.

Vietnam branded mobile phones booming

The debut of a series of mobile phones with Vietnamese brand names from late 2010 has led to fierce competition in the market.

Football business in bad luck

Investing tens of millions of USD in football annually to get losses, while the number of audiences is going down, football business is now in the time of misfortune. Many investors have planed to dismiss their clubs though they still love football.