Mobile service providers running “niche market strategies”

Experts warn that there are not many potential clients any more for mobile service providers to attract in 2011.

Vietnam, Japan cooperate in core technology development

The Vietnam National Institute of Software and Digital Content Industry and the Core Technology Development Centre of Japan’s Panasonic System Networks Co. Ltd. will cooperate in the development of core technology.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT 23/2

Orchestra holds auditions for choir; Ancient graves found; Top English Idol clips selected; Photo exhibition builds culture; Artists paints family on paper

27 firms authorized to serve Lao, Thai tourists

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism has announced a list of 27 travel operators in the country’s central region who are authorized to offer services to visitors from Thailand and Laos.

FPT appoints new General Director

VietNamNet Bridge - The managing board of FPT - Vietnam’s leading IT corporation - Wednesday officially appointed deputy general director Truong Dinh Anh as the new general director.

Nuclear power requires public support

Interest in public opinion is a key and essential part to the success of any nuclear power programme in Viet Nam, specialists from the International Atomic Energy Agency stressed on the sidelines of the Open Seminar on Public Information yesterday.

Artist portrays childhood dream

 VietNamNet Bridge – A solo exhibition titled Ky uc, La va Hoa (Memories, Leaves and Flowers) displaying 30 oil on canvas paintings by Vietnamese artist Ton That Bang has opened in HCM City.

ADB to lend Vietnam $1 bln to fix water system

VietNamNet Bridge - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved US$1 billion in loans to Vietnam to help improve clean water access for 3 million people and address a pressing infrastructure headache.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 23/2

Vietnam Farmers’ Union holds 6th congress; Conference on convention for women’s rights; Teacher attains top IELTS score; Police say negligence caused boat tragedy

UN Security Council goes into closed-door consultations on Libya

The UN Security Council on Tuesday afternoon began closed-door consultations on the latest development in Libya, following a private meeting to hear briefings respectively from a senior UN official and a Libyan diplomat.

Chinese president stresses education development

Chinese President Hu Jintao has urged education institutions across the country to attach great importance to the all-round growth of students in a bid to cultivate more talents for the country's development.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 23/2

Viet Nam, Russia to increase strategic partnership; Concern voiced over Libya unrest; Vietnam hails neighbours’ agreement on ceasefire

Christchurch hit by largest quake in historic time: experts

Due to the shallow distance of the epicenter from populated areas, Tuesday's event is so far the largest earthquake to have occurred in New Zealand's Christchurch region in historic time, Australian experts said.

Nearly a fifth of Ha Noi children show mental distress

VietNamNet Bridge – Up to 20 per cent of 10-16 year olds in Ha Noi showed signs of mental distress, a recent survey shows.

At least 14 injured in grenade attack in NW Pakistan

At least 14 people were injured Tuesday in a grenade attack in Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar, police sources said.

Japan's sovereign debt rating outlook cut to "negative" by Moody's

Moody's Investors Service Inc. on Tuesday lowered its outlook on Japan's sovereign debt to "negative " from "stable."

Cultural diplomacy comes into its own

VietNamNet Bridge – Cultural diplomacy is expected be taught as a subject in several major universities by the end of this year as part of a Government promotion strategy.

Youth leave their homes en masse after Tet holiday

After the New Year holiday, villages in central Vietnam have become quiet because young people have left home to the north, the south and even overseas to work. In many villages, there are only the elderly and younger kids.

Easing interest rates – impossible mission for now?

Easing interest rates set by the government proves to be an impossible mission in the current context.

Vietnamese enjoying that spending feeling

VietNamNet Bridge - “This trend will continue of course, as when the rich Vietnamese get richer and after they have all the luxury goods that they want”

Health insurance fund faces higher costs

VietNamNet Bridge – The country's Health Insurance Fund ran a surplus in 2010 after years of being in deficit, but deputy general director of Viet Nam Social Insurance Nguyen Minh Thao told Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam . . .

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 23/2

RoK imports Vietnamese puffer fish;  ILO project to generate jobs in Quang Nam; ABVietFrance keen to invest more in VN; New accord to boost trade with China; Retail sales of goods, services rise 22 percent in January

Car prices escalating on more expensive dollar, car sales slow down

Sharply increasing car prices following the dong/dollar exchange rate adjustment are taking the car market by storm. However, the price increases are not making traders happy.

Domain name: the war without end

The domain name war has become stiffer and more and more Vietnamese enterprises are experiencing troubles due to bad management of their domain name.

NA Standing Committee worries over inflation

Vietnam achieved its most of its yearly targets for GDP growth, budget turnover and reducing budget overspending in 2010 but it failed to reach its goal on inflation (8 percent)