Tourism projects in Binh Dinh Province at a standstill

Nine tourism projects under construction at the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone in Binh Dinh Province have now been shelved, as local authorities and residents have become impatient with their slow progress. 

Vietnam tasting another bitter lesson in cement industry development

Four out of the 16 cement plant projects, which were guaranteed by the government when borrowing capital from foreign sources, have entreated help of the Ministry of Finance to pay due debts.

Mubarak trial resumes, false testimony appears

The trial of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resumed Wednesday in a police academy in a suburb of Cairo amid intensive security measures.

New playground for Vietnamese rockers

VietNamNet Bridge – Being held on a monthly basis since summer 2011, “Keep Your Passion” has lured many rock fans and music lovers in general.

Buffaloes fight for championship

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 10,000 people flocked to Do Son stadium in the northern port city of Hai Phong to watch 15 fights of 16 buffaloes. Buffalo number 30 won the championship, with a $2,000 bonus.

Death toll of terror attack in Indian capital rises to 11

The death toll of the terrorist attack outside the Delhi High Court in the Indian capital Wednesday has risen to 11 while 76 people were injured, a senior Home Ministry official said.

Brazil's 12-month inflation rate reaches six-year high

Brazil's benchmark IPCA inflation rate rose to 7.23 percent year-on-year during the past 12 months, the highest since 2005, the country's official statistics agency IBGE reported Tuesday.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/9

Inflation slows growth of retail sales; Vietnam’s export growth expected to slow down; Air Mekong begins Hanoi-Con Dao service; Inflation rate in 2011 swings around 18pct; Cement industry loses loan guarantees  

9 killed, 45 injured in blast outside Delhi High Court

At least nine people were killed and more than 45 others injured in a blast outside the Delhi High Court in the Indian capital Wednesday, a senior Home Ministry official said.

21 killed as twin blasts hit Quetta of Pakistan

At least 21 people were killed and over 40 others injured when a twin bomb attack hit Pakistan's southwestern city of Quetta on Wednesday morning, reported local Urdu TV channel Geo.

Development budget jumps

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has passed 16 out of 21 national target programmes proposed and submitted to the Prime Minister for approval as part of a five-year socio-economic development plan for 2011-15.

HCM City gears up for national theatre fest on Friday

VietNamNet Bridge – Several music and dance performances will be held in HCM City on Friday to celebrate the National Theatre Day.

Tragedy at public hospitals

VietNamNet Bridge – Originating from downgraded infrastructure and overworked doctors and nurses, Vietnamese patients do not enjoy their minimum rights: being examined and taken care considerately.

Banks weeping over the loans to steel manufacturers

Steel manufacturers in Hai Phong City had still owed trillions of dong to commercial banks by the end of August 2011. The majority of the debts are the third, fourth and fifth group debts, i.e subprime and irrecoverable debts.

Clean-up for polluted canal

VietNamNet Bridge – The nine-year-long cleanup of the polluted Nhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal in HCM City is set to be completed in the next four months, with wastewater no longer flowing into it and its banks turning green.

Yahoo fires CEO Carol Bartz

Yahoo on Tuesday fired Chief Executive Officer Carol Bartz and replaced her temporarily with the company's chief financial officer.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 7/9

Vietnam to attend UNESCO General Assembly; Vietnam Film Festival to open in mid-December; Vietnam participates in Moscow int’l floral trade show; Hanoi exhibition showcases finger artist’s works

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 7/9

 Chinese clinics probed over price, quality; Neon sign sets off blaze in Ho Chi Minh City; France experts design waterway facelift; Saigon River ferry service to shut down

Silk paintings flaunt beauty of women

VietNamNet Bridge – Silk paintings by Vietnamese artist Bui Tien Tuan featuring the beauty of the female form, will be on display at HCM City's Craig Thomas Gallery tomorrow, Sep 8.

Vietnamese wooden furniture exporters now focus on high end products

Vietnamese low-class and medium-class wooden furniture products have become less competitive. Therefore, making high class products has become the new strategy for them.

HCM City needs 26,000 workers

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City-based businesses need 26,000 additional workers this month, 10 per cent more than in August, according to the HCM City Centre for Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information.

Eddie Murphy to host 84th edition of Oscar Awards

Eddie Murphy has been named to host the 84th Academy Awards ceremony to be held on Feb. 26, 2012, turning a widely-publicised gossip into reality.

China ready to remove obstacles to VN ties

VietNamNet Bridge – China is ready to remove obstacles and join efforts with Vietnam to step up friendly exchanges and deepen bilateral cooperation to keep bilateral relations on track.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 7/9

 Prime Minister to visit Laos; President urges safety for fishermen; Argentina, Vietnam to hold third intergovernmental committee session; Dien Bien urged to focus on poverty reduction

Travel firms, airlines, local authorities seeking to attract Japanese travelers

Vietnamese travel firms now move ahead with the plans to attract more Japanese travelers to Vietnam, after they can see the signs of recovery from the market which was once seriously affected by the catastrophes.