“I don’t do anything to polish myself,” says new Party Chief

In a half hour, the newly-elected Party Secretary General of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong answered over ten questions from six local and foreign journalists at the international press conference

Vietnamese farmers now sell online

Vietnamese farmers are now accustomed with the Internet and begin selling their farm produce online.

Puffer export: the high hope dashed

The project on processing and exporting puffer, in which Vietnamese farmers and enterprises once put high hopes, may fail completely since the foreign partner suddenly stopped importing.  

Vietnam tries to ease dollar influences

VietNamNet Bridge – Policy makers and experts are applying measures to reduce the influence of the dollar on the national economy.

Mobile virtual network operators breaking promises

Both the mobile virtual network operators Dong Duong Telecom and VTC still cannot officially provide services, even though they received operation licenses more than one year ago.

Non-state universities call for equal treatment

Existing for the last 20 years, non-state universities don’t look much different than they did when they first opened in Vietnam.

Minh wins first Malaysia Open match

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Tien Minh opened his new year with a victory in the first round of the Proton Malaysia Open Super Series in Kuala Lumpur yesterday, Jan 19.

Red tape slows progress on public housing

VietNamNet Bridge – Administrative hassles have hampered the progress of a social housing programme to provide accommodation to low-income earners in HCM City, industry insiders say.

Businesses seek ways to improve media relations

VietNamNet Bridge – The relations between businesses and the media must be improved through frequent dialogues, delegates said at a media relations conference in HCM City yesterday, Jan 19.

Los Angeles school police wounded by gunshot

A school police officer on Wednesday was shot and wounded on the campus of El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, about 25 miles (40 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles, local media reported.

One week after Rio storms, death toll hits 742

A week after storms devastated part of Rio de Janeiro state, southeastern Brazil, the death count reached 742, local authorities said Wednesday.

China's GDP grows 10.3 pct in 2010

China's economy resumed annual double-digit growth by expanding 10.3 percent last year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced Thursday.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/1

No fancy cars for executives at state firms; SAM invests $5 million in property firm; Retail sector developing well; Businesses optimistic about 2011 capital sources; M&A activity likely to increase in 2011

Asian nuclear power conference opens in Hanoi

VietNamNet Bridge – The second annual Nuclear Power Asia 2011 conference opened in Hanoi on January 18, drawing the participation of over 120 delegates from Asian countries.

Countries promote regional tourism initiative

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar will jointly produce a documentary titled, “Four countries -- one destination” with the aim of promoting the countries’ tourism industry and strengthening their cooperation in the field. 

24-hour watch kept on smuggling hotspots

VietNamNet Bridge – A 24-hour watch is being kept on smuggling hot spots along borders with neighbouring countries to limit the arrival of smuggled and fake goods during the lead-up to Lunar New Year.

Singers reflect on roles

VietNamNet Bridge – The respect of singers for the public and for composer's copyrights were central topics at a recent conference held within the framework of the fifth annual Singers Day this week in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 20/1

Saint Giong Festival to receive UNESCO certificate; Tuan Ngoc to belt out pop classics; Best of Ha Noi show goes south; Vietnam’s treasure displayed in RoK; Hanoi hosts Asian Children's Festa awards ceremony

Ahmadinejad: Iran not to withdraw from its nuclear objectives

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday that Iran will not withdraw from its nuclear objectives despite the West's pressure, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

U.S. says half under 65 have health problems

A U.S. government report released Tuesday said 1 in 2 non-elderly Americans have at least one pre-existing condition that could deny them healthcare coverage without new health reform law.

Ten houses damaged as severe quake jolts Pakistan

At least ten houses were damaged following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that hit southwestern Pakistan early Wednesday morning, sources told Xinhua, adding no loss of life has been reported so far.

Chinese president vows to advance positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship with U.S.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said here Wednesday that his state visit to the United States is aimed at increasing mutual trust, enhancing friendship, deepening cooperation and pushing forward the positive, cooperative . . .

Vietnam can build international airport within 36 months: IATA

According to IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) forecasts, Vietnam’s aviation industry will see a high growth rate of 9.5 percent in 2011.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 20/1

VND32 billion music copyright fee collected; City lacks literary cultural spaces; Sculptor “desculpts” to protest land mines; Deaf artists hold art show; Documentaries screened to mark Party Congress

“Bank of Hell” at the year-end

VietNamNet Bridge – Since the middle of 11th lunar  month, people have flocked to Ba Chua Kho Temple in Bac Ninh province to pay their debt to Ba Chua Kho (Queen of the Stock), which they borrowed earlier in the year.