Epidemic kills 100 buffalo, cattle in Lai Chau Province

VietNamNet Bridge – An epidemic has killed about 100 buffalo and other cattle in Phong Tho District in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau since September.

Nets blamed for river accidents

VietNamNet Bridge – Fishing nets and fish cages along rivers and canals in the Cuu Long (Mekong) delta have caused waterway accidents, said deputy director of the Southern Inland Waterway Administration Dong Huu Phong.

Miners struggle to clear landslide debris

VietNamNet Bridge – The owner of an iron ore mine in the highlands of northern Cao Bang Province is struggling to remove debris left after a tailings dam was destroyed in a landslide more than a month ago.

Highway lighting causes Delta rice to fail

VietNamNet Bridge – The lighting system installed on the HCM City – Trung Luong Highway is responsible for damaging rice crops of a special variety, and the project investor should compensate farmers for losses suffered, officials say.

Spotlight falls on ethnic minorities

VietNamNet Bridge – Concrete and appropriate policies are needed to ensure ethnic minorities participate fully in the nation's economy, said Be Truong Thanh, vice standing chairman of the Committee for Ethnic Minority Affairs . . .

HCM City's poverty rate exceeds Ha Noi, despite higher incomes

VietNamNet Bridge – There are far more poor people in HCM City than in Ha Noi when a multi-dimensional poverty approach is adopted, despite higher average incomes in the southern city.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 16/12

Strengthening Vietnam-Mongolia cooperation; Denmark helps upgrade flood-destroyed road; Vietnam attends Asia-Middle East dialogue forum; Indonesian assembly chairman to visit VN

First Environmental Tax, Securities laws enacted

VietNamNet Bridge – President Nguyen Minh Triet promulgated Viet Nam's first Environmental Tax Law as well as new Insurance Business an and Securities Laws yesterday, Dec 15.

Seminar discusses treatment of dioxin contamination in hot spots in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – A seminar to warm up a project for cleaning up hotspots of dioxin contamination in Vietnam was held in Hanoi on December 15.

APF meets in Hanoi for climate change

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam needs active support from the francophone community in sharing experiences in institutional mechanism, solutions and resources to cope with climate change and to establish a mechanism . . .

Year-end pop albums make their appearance

VietNamNet Bridge – Many top singers are scrambling to release their traditional year-end album to mark the festive season and are receiving a warm welcome from fans.

Finnish artist fashions playful works in metal

VietNamNet Bridge – A playful exhibition by Finnish artist Maritta Nurmi entitled After the End of Art Anything Goes, has opened at Art Viet Nam Gallery in Ha Noi.

Violence again erupts during general strike in Athens

Protesters fought with police across Athens on Wednesday during a general strike over the government's latest austerity measures.

At least 27 suspected asylum seekers reportedly die in boat crash

At least 27 suspected asylum seekers have died after their boat smashed against rocks on Christmas Island of Australia, according to the latest report from Australian authorities.

Suicide attack in southeastern Iran kills 38 people

A total of 38 people were killed and 50 others were wounded in a suicide attack in southeastern Iran on Wednesday, the local satellite Press TV reported.

Russia launches manned spacecraft

A Russian spaceship with three astronauts on board was launched from the Kazakh Baikonur space center on Wednesday night, local TV footage showed.

"The King's Speech" earns seven nominations for Golden Globe Awards

"The King's Speech," a historical drama about a British king with a stammer, beat other competitors on Tuesday to grab seven nominations for the 2011 Golden Globe Awards.

S. Korea stages nationwide civil defense drill amid tensions

South Korea staged a nationwide civil defense drill Wednesday amid heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula following the deadly shelling of Yeonpyeong Island by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) last month.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 16/12

Viet Nam dominate regional table tennis tourney; Disciplines named for 2014 SEA Games; New season of the V-League to kick off in January; Capital's fencers take golds at SEA Champs

Badminton player wins second Asian gold

VietNamNet Bridge – Badminton player Pham Hoang Thang beat China's Tian Shiwei 21-19, 21-9 in the men's singles final to win gold at the Asian Para Games in Guangzhou, China yesterday, Dec 15.

Malaysia beat Viet Nam 2-0 in AFF

VietNamNet Bridge – Striker Safee Sali's brace saw Malaysia beat Viet Nam 2-0 in the first leg of the ASEAN Football Championship AFF-Suzuki Cup semi-final yesterday, Dec 15.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/12

Japanese firm to open Mini-mart in Vietnam; Auto research centre to benefit local sector; Dung Quat Oil Refinery to be inaugurated on December 24; Consumers more confident in economic prospects; Japan firms invest in local gas shipping company

E-commerce or just ads?

In principle, e-commerce is a way of purchasing and selling goods via Internet. . But in Vietnam, they still have to meet face to face to wrap up transactions.

Tax agencies lack wherewithal to scrutinize refund applications

VietNamNet Bridge - Millions of US dollars in value-added tax have been refunded to firms though only 1 percent of their refund applications have been scrutinised, while tax evaders are let off scot-free.

Saigon welcomes Christmas

VietNamNet Bridge – The Christmas atmosphere has covered every corner of the city.