SOCIETY IN BRIEF 16/2

Vehicle weights to be regulated; Rescued fishermen ready to go home; Overseas Vietnamese arrested with guns; Green rice cultivation to be tested; Nation plans massive road, bridge upgrade to reduce accident toll

Airlines battle for market share

VietNamNet Bridge - Domestic air carriers are working hard to retain market share in the face of higher expenses, a fixed ticket-price system, lower prices, and more competitors.

Vietnam’s biodiversity has deep roots in earth’s past

On account of the very high number of animal and plant species which are mostly only found there, Southeast Asia is a global biodiversity hotspot.

What to do to boost exports in 2011?

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam takes pride as a country with a rapid export growth rate and the main exporter of many key products. However, experts have pointed out that despite the high export growth rate, the effects remain relatively low.

More dope cases reported for weigh-lifting

For the first time the organizing board of the National Sports Games 2010, which took place in late December 2010, conducted a random dope test. With only 30 samples out of over 3000 athletes, one sample tested positive for dope.

Travel firms say weaker dong poses uncertainties

VietNamNet Bridge - Several travel firms in the country say a central bank decision last week to weaken Vietnam dong by up to 9.3% against the greenback will stir up uncertainties although the inbound will stand to benefit in the short term.

Daily diet soda raises stroke risk by 61%: Study

A new study suggested that people drinking soda regularly may raise the risk of stroke by 61 percent.

Concerns arise over proposed condo leasehold policy

The information that the Ministry of Construction is considering a proposal to set a time-limit ownership for apartment buildings has sparked widespread concerns, as covered on the local media couples of days ago.

Spanish magazine spotlights ‘Great Wall of Vietnam’

Spanish writer Mark Jenkin has extolled the wonderful beauty of Son Doong (Mountain River Cave) in Quang Binh central province.

Indonesia to remove women’s football from SEA Games 2011

The host of the Southeast Asian Games 2011 wants to exclude women’s football from the upcoming SEA Games. Vietnam strongly protests the move. The Southeast Asian Sports Council will announce its decision after February 22.

Import cars will dominate the Vietnamese market?

With unsatisfactory sales result in 2010, a big worry about the increases of the imports on the domestic market in 2011 has appeared vividly to the members of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association VAMA.

Mausoleum for whale and Whale Festival

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of fishermen from southwestern provinces flocked to Cai Cung in Bac Lieu province to participate in the Whale Festival on February 11.

Rumors about Apple's new mini iPhone continue: media

What would new Apple's iPhone look like? It might be smaller and cheaper! Apple is now working on a mini edition of iPhone, according to foreign media reports Monday.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 16/2

New stipulation on shelf life of imported medicine; Youth give advice to migrants; Foot-and-mouth disease recurs in 14 provinces and cities nationwide; Ha Noi earmarks $28.4m for key projects

Sky-high interest rates hit businesses hard

VietNamNet Bridge - Interest rates that have soared to 18-20 per cent per annum are forcing businesses to cut back on production and shelve expansion plans.

New programme offers children greater input

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will create more opportunities for children to access information, voice their opinions, join social activities and be part of decision making processes.

Released boat allows Vietnamese fishers to return

VietNamNet Bridge – The Taiwan-flagged fishing vessal Tai Yuan 227, released by Somali pirates two weeks ago, is now on its way home with three Vietnamese among the 28 crew.

Feature: 3D craze sparks glimmer of hope at Berlin Film Festival

At this year's European Film Market (EFM), 3D sales and new trends in cinema seem to be lightening the otherwise gloomy skies over Berlin.

Vietnam appoints new ambassadors to US, UN

VietNamNet Bridge - President Nguyen Minh Triet has appointed 22 new ambassadors and 11 new consul generals to serve overseas.

Gold climbs to six-week high

The price of gold in Vietnam jumped by VND250,000 a tael (1.2 ounces) over the previous day, approaching VND36.4 million a tael on February 15 as global price slightly rose.

Love like a chocolate box for sweethearts

China has its own day for lovers, Qi Qiao Jie (sometimes called the Double Seven Festival because it falls on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese lunar calendar), which is on Aug 6 this year.

Eurozone finance ministers agree on size of future rescue fund

Eurozone finance ministers on Monday agreed on the size of the permanent rescue fund, promising to provide 500 billion euros to eurozone countries that fall prey to the debt crisis after the current rescue fund expires in 2013.

Security Council urges Cambodia, Thailand to establish permanent cease-fire

The UN Security Council urged Cambodia and Thailand to display maximum restraint and to establish a permanent cease-fire, the Council President of the month, Brazilian Ambassador to the UN Maria Ribeiro Viotti,

China's Jan CPI up 4.9%, less than market expectations

China's consumer inflation rose in January on surging food prices, but increased less than market expectations.

Ronaldo's tears

In a tearful announcement, Corinthians star striker Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima, or simply Ronaldo, revealed his decision on Monday to retire as a professional soccer player.