Visiting Thai defence chief promises closer co-operation

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Thailand have agreed to boost co-operation in search and rescue manoeuvres, joint sea patrols, exchange of delegations and experience in logistics.

Duyen wins silver at junior world wrestling event

VietNamNet Bridge – Pham Thi Duyen took home the silver medal at the 2011 Junior Wrestling World Championship, which concluded at the Polivalenta Sports Venue in Bucharest, Romania, over the weekend.

Phone providers offer gimmicks with cheap phones

VietNamNet Bridge - Domestic mobile phone providers and importers are taking full advantage of the surge in demand for low-priced mobile phones with advanced applications, luring customers with cheap products that provide no guarantees. 

Iraqi PM to sign agreement for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq

The Iraqi political leaders agreed to give green light to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to hold talks with the United States about staying some of its troops in Iraq beyond the end of 2011 deadline as trainers to the Iraqi security forces,

Puny fines fail to deter environmental crimes

VietNamNet Bridge –Viet Nam should immediately look for ways to avoid becoming an industrial garbage dump, a senior official said on Monday.

Four teams vie for title at women's U-19 football champs

VietNamNet Bridge –Four teams are set to participate in the National Women's U-19 Football Championship held in northern Ha Nam Province on Saturday.

Floating houses to be removed from unregulated anchorage

VietNamNet Bridge –All floating houses parked in unregulated places on Ha Long Bay must be removed before August 15, according to the city People's Committee.

Appeal court upholds sentence on Cu Huy Ha Vu

VietNamNet Bridge – The Supreme People’s Court maintained the original prison sentence from the first trial of Cu Huy Ha Vu for “conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”,

Polluter uses legal loophole to delay paying heavy fine

VietNamNet Bridge –Industrial firms found committing grave violations in disposing of their toxic solid waste are exploiting a legal loophole to avoid or defer paying fines, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reports.

Government directory to be published

VietNamNet Bridge – A directory containing information about lawmakers and administrators who have assumed office for the 2011-16 term will be published later this year.

The wicked tricks by Chinese businessmen (part 2)

Not only trying to collect “strange” items to ravage the Vietnamese national economy, Chinese businessmen also like using a trick to push Vietnamese farmers against the wall.

2 killed, 8 wounded in S Philippines motorcycle bomb blast

The death toll from the powerful motorcycle bomb blast Tuesday afternoon in the restive southern Philippines has risen to two, while eight others were wounded, officials said.

Films at HCM City’s Idecaf in August

German, French and Vietnamese films will be screened at Idecaf, 28 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1 this month.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 3/8

 Leader offers sympathy to Koreas over floods; Thai Defence Forces Chief visits Vietnam; Vietnam, Thailand mark 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties

It’s not easy to succeed with management software

VietNamNet Bridge – The success of a software project not only depends on the enterprises’ capability to apply software pieces and choose suitable solutions, but also on the partners, consultants and many other factors.

Low purchase prices, wind power unable to develop

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam really wants to develop wind power, but it has not done necessary things to encourage the development of the industry.

DiCaprio, Depp top list of best-paid actors

Forbes listed Hollywood's highest-earning actors on Monday with Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp on top, according to media reports.

Environmental crime goes with corruption

Environmental crime tends to “mix” with corruption and smuggling while acts that cause environmental pollution are popular, complicated and serious, noted a senior police officer.

Banks’ business ethics eroding

A lot of banks reported fat profits for the first six months of the year, while enterprises have to struggle hard to survive the current difficulties

Hydropower plants’ dams will turn Mekong Delta into desert

Mekong River Delta may turn into a desert sea if 12 dams for hydropower plants are built on the river upstream, according to Nguyen Huu Thien, MA, an independent researcher about the possible impacts on the ecosystem of Mekong Delta.

Tricks of telepaths

Despite the pain of families that have lost tombs, some ‘telepaths’ used tricks to treat these families for money.

Little exercise is better than none for heart health

Little exercise is better than none, and this may be especially true for women, a study published in the latest issue of Circulation suggested.

When farmers desert their villages

Confronting disadvantages in every way, young farmers in the Mekong Delta have flocked to big cities to change their lives.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 3/8

Acute shortage of shrimps for export; Canada warns Vietnam about antibiotic in catfish; Vietnam-Cambodia railroad to be built; FDI rises again in July, reaching $1b; One-fifth Vietnamese population uses banking services   

V-League fans enjoy season of twists, turns

VietNamNet Bridge – Battles at both ends of the table are increasingly fierce as the V-League 2011 season still has one or two more plot twists to keep fans on the edge of their seats until the final day.