The Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Washington DC on December 16.

 Although the US withdrew from the TPP, ministers of 11 TPP members reached a consensus on a new deal and called it the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 

 Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co Ltd, the operator of Dung Quat Refinery, will conduct Vietnam’s biggest-ever initial public offering (IPO) on January 17 next year, hoping to garner US$157.4 million for State coffers.

 The first ever hockey match to take place in Vietnam was held in District 2, Ho Chi Minh City on December 14, attracting many spectators.

 Vietnam brought home three golds, five silvers and two bronzes from the Asian Youth Para Games 2017, which took place in Dubai from December 7 to 14.

 In 1998 Ireland’s Doctor Colman Patrick Ross came to Vietnam to work, he never thought he would stay for 20 years. During this period he has lived and worked with ethnic minority people in 12 provinces across Vietnam.

 Vietnam is facing numerous challenges caused by rapid urbanization, leaving burdens on its technical and social infrastructure and leading to many severe consequences. 

 Anyone who meets Pham Thi Huong Giang, initiator and key operator of the "Nha Chong Lu" (Flood Resistant Houses) – a social project which supports residents living in areas affected by natural disasters.

 Ly Son Island, 30km off the coast of central Quang Ngai Province, has had a face-lift since connecting to the national power grid in 2014. But while islanders have benefited from the rapid changes, serious environmental challenges are also arising.

 All six Vietnamese students competing at the 14th International Science Olympiads in the Netherlands won medals, three silvers and three bronzes, according to the Hanoi Department of Education and Training.

 Ho Chi Minh City’s real estate sector attracted US$984.4 million in foreign direct investment (FDI) during January-November, triple the figure from the same time in 2016.

 Vietnam’s logistics costs remain high, equivalent to over 20% of GDP while these costs account for between 9% and 14% of GDP in developed countries, according to the Vietnam Logistics Association.

 2017 saw the government’s drastic engagement in removing obstacles faced by enterprises with the adoption of a series of incentive policies and the Prime Minister’s resolute commitments. 

 Fishing boats must have black boxes turned on and provincial chairman will be held responsible for the immediate solutions proposed in an attempt to improve EU's yellow card over illegal fishing activities.

 Uber currently owes nearly VND70 billion (USD3.1 million) to the state budget. If Uber fails to ensure the payment deadline, HCM City Department of Taxation has said it will consider further legal measures.

 The central city of Danang is calling for an investment of VND1.5 trillion (USD68 million) into the development of high-tech agriculture. 

 Vietnam Railways started putting into operation automatic ticket gates at stations in Hanoi, Danang and HCM City from December 16. Many passengers have been left puzzled when they first used this checking way.

 “It is necessary to make more effort and measures to improve competitiveness of Vietnamese logistics firms.”, said Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh at the Vietnam Logistics Forum 2017 in Hanoi on December 15.

 The 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) will be organised in Hanoi from January 18-21, 2018 under the theme of “Parliamentary partnership: Peace, Innovation and Sustainable Development”.

 The Directorate of Fisheries (DoF) held a national conference in the central coastal city of Da Nang on December 15 to push urgent measures to counter the European Commission (EC)’s “yellow card” on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.