Steel imports into Vietnam surged in the first quarter of 2016 to their highest level on record, in spite of government efforts to stem the tide of shipments from overseas, particularly those from China, the largest producer.

Canadian Besra Inc.’s Besra Vietnam, the operator of two gold mines in Quang Nam, has suffered a loss of over VND1 trillion ($44.7 million) with a short-term debt volume of VND2.5 trillion ($111.7 million).

 President Tran Dai Quang’s State visit to Cambodia from June 14-16 shows Vietnam’s special attention to fostering and promoting traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, the Rasmei Kampuchea said.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Yunnan, China, on June 13 on the sideline of the Special ASEAN-China Foreign Ministers' Meeting.

  Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh said she hopes the Inter-Parliamentary Union will increase activities for female parliamentarians, during her meeting with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong in Geneva on June 13.

VietNamNet Bridge - While customs agencies reported a sharp increase in coal imports, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) reported a high inventory level of 10 million tons.

 Some experts expressed concerns about business inequality after the Ministry of Finance asked the Government to exempt automobile import duties for a tourism investor in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

 Several illegal drug transport cases have been discovered at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City recently, according to the airport customs division.

VietNamNet Bridge - The pilot project on sorting domestic waste at source funded by JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has fallen into oblivion years after it kicked off.

When comparing Vietnam’s commitments within the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (EVFTA) and the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement, businesses see bigger benefits in EVFTA, especially in government procurement.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many Vietnamese scientists who live and work in the US have gained great scientific achievements and received international honors.

 The Vietnamese transport minister and the Cuban construction minister had talks in Hanoi on June 13 to review transport cooperation and map out collaboration directions for the time ahead.

 The 13th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee kicked off its 49th session in Hanoi on June 13, during which court-related issues and preparations for the 14th parliament are high on the agenda.

 Vietnam will spare no effort to ensure better fundamental human rights for people, Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh said at the 32nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva , Switzerland, on June 13.

 Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang was warmly welcomed by residents of the Lao province of Champasak on June 13 as they lined up along the roads from Pakse airport to the province’s centre to wave at him.

VietNamNet Bridge - The HCM City Party Committee has decided that private tutoring must stop at schools from the 2016-2017 academic year. Private tutoring will only be allowed at foreign language centers and non-school educational establishments. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Many of the richest businessmen in the stock market started at very low starting point. However, they have gained big achievements.

 The official real estate index, which should have been set up earlier this year, has been delayed while real estate enterprises and associations have continued to provide their own indexes.

 Vietnamese workers have substantially improved their productivity levels in the last 15 years, according to ICAEW's latest ‘Economic Insight: South East Asia' event launched in Ha Noi last Friday.

 The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) seized two fishing boats with 20 Vietnamese fishermen aboard at the borders of Terengganu and Pahang waters on June 10.