Miss Earth 2010 final night in photos

The panorama of Miss Earth 2010 final night

DPRK warns S. Korea against "rash acts"

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Sunday urged South Korea to "stop acting rashly and ponder over the catastrophic consequences."

India contestant crowned Miss Earth 2010

VietNamNet Bridge - Nicole Faria from India beat 84 contestants across the world to win Miss Earth 2010 title in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, Vietnam on Saturday night, December 4. 

Vietnam’s import-export turnover increases 22% in 11 months

The total import-export turnover of Vietnam has reached US$139.22 billion in the first eleven months of the year, an increase of 21.9 percent over the same period last year, said General Directorate of Customs.

Norwegian Wood to hit local cinemas

VietNamNet Bridge – Norwegian Wood directed by Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung, who resides in France, based on the best-selling novel by Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, will reach Asian audiences later this month.

Tourist arrivals set to hit five million

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam is set to welcome a record 5 million international tourists this year after the arrival of 428,300 visitors last month.

Sale of stockpiled medicine to help ensure supply, low prices

VietNamNet Bridge – The health ministry plans to sell stockpiled medicine reserves as one of the measures to manage drug prices and ensure sufficient supplies for health treatment, according to deputy minister Cao Minh Quang.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 4/12

Media contribute to success of Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship; Would-be thief flees smashed ATM; Donation to help fund surgery for poor kids; Blue ear disease recurs in Ha Tinh; HCM City to celebrate volunteers on Sunday

Hackers pose growing threat to internet banking system

VietNamNet Bridge – Hackers attacked more than 1,000 websites last year, double the 2008 figure and three times more than that in 2007, said Pham Viet The, head of the Computing Department at the Ministry of Public Security.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 4/12

President Triet visits southern army unit; Chinese Navy ship visits Da Nang; New rule requires specific plans for int'l conferences; Vietnam underscores sustainable development at ICAPP; ASEAN-EU relations conference to take place in Hanoi

Electronic cigarettes pose health risks: study

Electronic cigarettes, which are increasingly used worldwide, are unsafe and pose health risks, a new study suggests.

Bike prices rev up on high demand

VietNamNet Bridge – The prices of motorbikes are rising nationwide with retailers ramping up their profit margins to take advantage of end-of-the-year.

SCI-TECH IN BRIEF 4/12

Ministry readies check on pre-paid subscribers; Mobifone offers raft of new promotions; Inmarsat to showcase new hand-held phone; X-Conference helps boost staff management; Vinaphone offers dedicated data plans for iPad

Farmers abandon costly tra fish

VietNamNet Bridge – The export prices of tra fish will continue to increase next year due to a severe shortage of the supply, the seafood industry association has said.

Scientists meet on environment protection

VietNamNet Bridge – Climate change will make environmental protection in urban areas and industrial zones a more complicated task, especially in vulnerable coastal areas like HCM City and the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/12

Tet price controls take hold in south; New invoice law keeps printing houses busy; Property firm sells share to FPT Capital investment firm; Dutch firm builds food plant in Binh Duong; Fifth Vinamac Expo to open next week

Booming IT sector is ‘engine for growth'

VietNamNet Bridge – The information technology (IT) industry had become an important economic sector that contributes significantly to gross domestic product (GDP).

Call to punish speculators who unsettle domestic stock markets

VietNamNet Bridge – Strict punishment was necessary to stop speculation, illegal price rises and to prevent deliberate rumours having a negative impact on domestic markets.

Exhibition spotlights nation's fine arts

VietNamNet Bridge – The best examples of Vietnamese fine arts produced during the past five-year period are on show at an exhibition of 836 artworks in Ha Noi.

Q&A sessions impress voters, says National Assembly chief

VietNamNet Bridge – Question- and- answer sessions at the National Assembly had been declared closest to the interests of voters by Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong who said these included questions involving public discontent.

U.S. puts off launch of Discovery till February

The launch of space shuttle Discovery will be belayed until February, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced Friday.

WMO says 2010 among three hottest years

The year 2010 is "almost certain" to be among the three hottest years since temperature records began in 1850, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.

EU imposes ban on mephedrone drug

Ecstasy-like drug mephedrone has been totally banned in the European Union (EU) 27 member states, European Commission announced Friday.

Polluting firms told to treat waste water

VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Chairman of Ha Noi People's Committee Nguyen Huy Tuong has asked manufacturers in Me Linh District's Quang Minh 1 Industrial Zone to connect to the zone's wastewater treatment facility by the end of the year.

UK rock band primed for tour

VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi rock fans will have the opportunity to catch one of the United Kingdom's best underground rock bands as they stop in the capital for one night only tonight, Dec 4.