Pham Ngoc Minh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, launched a Gepard 3.9 class frigate in Russia on April 27.

Red tide and poisonous chemicals in wastewater have been identified as the two main factors behind the massive fish deaths along the north-central and central coastline, Deputy Minister of National Resources and Environment Vo Tuan Nhan said.

The Hereditary Prince Alois of the Principality of Liechtenstein wishes to bolster bilateral relations with Vietnam and urges the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Economic Area.

Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich stressed the need to boost links among countries worldwide and promote the role of security mechanisms within Asia Pacific to deal with security challenges. 

 Vietnam hopes to receive more support from the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank (WB) group for projects in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said.

  The Hanoi Telecom JSC received the Prime Minister's decision approving its transformation from a Business Corporation Contract (BCC) to become Vietnamobile Telecommunication JSC in Ha Noi on Tuesday. 

 Reports of mercury pollution in the air in Hanoi, which could pose serious health risks, were inaccurate and caused public panic, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment announced on Tuesday, April 2016.

The business community expects the first meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Ho Chi Minh City tomorrow is going to lead to positive changes that make Vietnam more business friendly.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though the Vietnamese motorbike market is becoming saturated, manufacturers still make big profits with 3 million products bought every year.

 The Viet Nam Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) will continually look for merger and acquisition (M&A) opportunities with other banks to expand its reach and market share. 

 Cambodia does not have any new agreements regarding the East Sea issue with China, the country’s Secretary of State and Spokesman for the Council of Ministers, Phay Siphan, has said.

 Nguyen Tien Minh will face badminton legend Lin Dan in the second round of the Dong Feng Citroen Badminton Asia Championships in Wuhan, China.

 Free public wifi will be provided in a number of locations during the 2016 Hue Festival, which will take place from April 29- May 4 in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue.

  Vietnam and Laos signed a contract to survey and tap coal in Xam Neua, in the Lao province of Houaphan on April 27.

 The National Traffic Safety Committee has recently issued hotlines for people to lodge complaints about transport issues during the four-day holidays, which start from April 30.

UNDP Vietnam launched its Asia Pacific Human Development Report entitled “Shaping the Future: How Changing Demographics can power human development,” in Hanoi on April 27.

 The settlement of serious and complicated corruption cases of public concern should focus on quality more than quantity, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China encourage the import of agro-forestry-fishery products from Vietnam, particularly rice, for a more balanced trade between the two countries.

VietNamNet Bridge - Despite being backed by powerful financial resources, many food chains cannot achieve satisfactory business in Vietnam. 

Experts have repeatedly warned about the overabundance of hydropower plants in the central region and Central Highlands which have devastated forests and badly affected people’s lives. However, more hydropower projects are still queuing for licenses.