GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 19/9

Vietnam aims to promote cooperation with Egypt; President Sang greets Aussie painter Burchett; Defence ties with Australia get boost; Arms wide open to Indian investment

15 trillion dong needed to rescue Vietnamese coffee exporters

VietNamNet Bridge – It is estimated that in the 2011-2012 crop, Vietnamese enterprises need to purchase 400,000 tons of coffee material to be capable to regulate the market.

Awards given to top high school students

VietNamNet Bridge – The Hoa Trang Nguyen (Poinsettia Flower) award for outstanding academic achievement in 2010-11 was conferred on 800 high-school students from 33 central and southern cities and provinces yesterday, Sep 18.

Assembly Chairman meets King and Prime Minister of Cambodia

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung last Saturday met Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hun Sen as part of his official visit to Cambodia.

S Korean opera singers to perform in HCMC

VietNamNet Bridge – Korean opera singers Cho Hae ryong and Park Seong do will perform with the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) and conductor Tran Nhat Minh in a concert at HCM City's Opera House tonight.

Last elephant appears in residential district

VietNamNet Bridge – A mature elephant suddenly appeared in a residential area in southern Dong Nai Province's Dinh Quan District on Thursday, causing local residents to panic.

Hue culture festival key National Tourism event

Hue Festival 2012, titled Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development – A Rendezvous for Historical Cities will open on April 7 next year at the Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) Square in Hue City, organisers announced at a press briefing on Thursday.

Take a swim in Ninh Binh

Ninh Binh will focus on developing two main kinds of tourism – ecological and cultural-spiritual, a tourism official in the northern province has said.

New generation national model pageant enters semi-final stage

Twenty-one aspiring models have been short-listed to compete in the semi-final rounds of the Viet Nam's Next Top Model contest, organisers announced at a press conference on Thursday.

Vietinbank's bad debts hit international levels

Vietinbank's bad debt ratio reached international standards as its total assets rose to VND450 trillion (US21.6 billion), an increase of 25 per cent, said bank chairman Pham Huy Hung on Vietinbank's Analyst Day yesterday in Ha Noi.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 19/9

Logistics industry faces challenges to integration; Govt targets 2012’s CPI below 10pct; Cashew exports fall on rising prices; MoIT approves 50,000 tonnes of high-quality salt imports; Vietnam firms cut deals to invest huge sums in Laos

Over 300 killed, 6 million affected by floods in Pakistan

Recent floods triggered by heavy monsoon rains in southern Pakistan have killed nearly 300 people and affected 6 million more, according to the latest figures released by the country's National Disaster Management Authority on Saturday.

Domain registrations rise after big fee reductions

A significant increase in new ".vn" domain name registrations has been reported after a substantial reduction in registration fees was announced eight months ago.

Extension of maternity leave to six months to aid longer breastfeeding

Many people favour extending maternity leave from four to six months, a proposal that has been submitted by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Police warned they face dismissal for corruption

The Ministry of Public Security has told all city and provincial police chiefs to review the work of traffic police. The police recently came under fire in media reports.

Prime Minister greets Indian Foreign Minister

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received in Hanoi on Sept. 16 Indian Foreign Minister S.M Krishna, affirming Vietnam’s efforts to deepen the Vietnam-India strategic partnership.

5 killed in strong earthquake in northern India

At least five people were confirmed dead in a strong earthquake which hit the northern Indian state of Sikkim on Sunday evening, said local TV reports.

Gov’t encourages outward investments, but policies do not

Vietnamese businessmen complain that though the State encourages enterprises to make outward investment, the overly strict policies on outward investment management make investors hesitant in making investment decisions.

10 killed, 22 missing in NW China's rain-triggered landslide

At least 10 people were killed and 22 others are missing after Saturday's rain-triggered landslide buried mountain-side factories in northwest Shaanxi Province, local officials said Sunday.

6.8 magnitude quake hits northeastern India

An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale jolted many parts of northern and eastern India, including the Indian capital New Delhi, on Sunday evening, although no damage has been reported.

Barcelona win the highlight of Saturday night in BBVA Primera Liga

FC Barcelona produced a magnificent display on Saturday night to win 8-0 at home over Osasuna in the Spanish BBVA Primera Liga.

NA Chairman meets OVs in Cambodia

The Party and State always pay special attention to the Vietnamese community in Cambodia, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 18/9

Confab urges renewed focus on Japan market; Paper maker urged to report on delayed mill projects; Decree to set minimum capital requirements for auditors; Five foreign bank branches increase registered capital

Vietnamese exporters meet troubles in selling rubber to China

For the last two weeks, Vietnamese rubber exporters cannot sell any kilos of rubber latex to China through the cross-border market.

Plane crashes at U.S. air show

A World War II-era plane crashed on Saturday afternoon in an air show in the east of the United States, no details are available about the condition of the pilot.