Tuoitrenews briefs some of the leading stories published today on Vietnamese media:

Politics:

-- National Assembly deputies have voiced their support for a NA resolution on conducting a vote of confidence on officials holding positions elected or approved by the NA or People’s Councils in a recent live televised debate in Hanoi.

-- Vietnam attaches importance and makes every effort to promote the traditional friendship and cooperation with Iran on the ground of the time-honored traditional relations between the two countries, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung at a recent reception for visiting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Hanoi.

-- Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism and Sports, Chumpol Silapa-Archa, have signed the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Arrangement (MRA) on Tourism Professionals in Bangkok under the witness of ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan and Ambassadors of ASEAN member countries.

Society:

-- Ho Chi Minh City has planned to ask Saigon Transportation Mechanical Corporation (SAMCO) to produce 300 compressed natural gas-fueled buses so that they will be in use in 2012-2015 period.

-- The National Assembly has approved the plan to increase the minimum wage for state workers by VND100,000 per month from July 1, 2013 in accordance with 2013 state budget estimate resolution passed by the National Assembly. The minimum wage for those who receive salaries from the state budget will increase from the current VND1.05 million a month to VND1.15 million. Pensions and social assistances are also increased proportionately.

-- An electrical short circuit in the room No. 1602 on the 16th floor was the main cause for a fire at the 22-storey building of Lancaster in Ho Chi Minh City downtown area on Saturday afternoon.

-- UNESCO has reported that in 2000-2007, Vietnamese scientists registered 19 patents in the United States, or about two patents registered each year. Meanwhile, in the 2006-2011 period, Vietnam had only five patents registered in the United States, in which it did not have any registered patents period, according to Prof. Nguyen Van Tuan in the University of New South Wales, Australia.

-- Vietnam needs a better integrated complex higher education system to improve training quality by establishing a single coordinating body such as a Ministry of Higher Education and Research for its higher education system, said Martin Hayden, deputy rector of Australia’s Southern Cross University at a recent workshop in Ho Chi Minh City.

Business:

-- Vietnam had exported $450 million worth of tuna as of mid-October, marking a year-on-year increase of 55 percent, according to the Vietnam Association for Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

-- Now, visiting the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam for any purposes, even visit the town for a cup of coffee or buying souvenirs, travelers are forced to buy tickets. From November 1, ticket prices are not only increase but also bear different price tags distinguishing between international and domestic tourists.

-- Changi Airport Group (Singapore) is looking to invest in VN airport network. The group is expecting launch a survey in Noi Bai International Airport (Hanoi) and Tan Son Nhat airport (Ho Chi Minh City) after its representatives have met with leaders of the Ministry of Transport for the proposal on the establishment of a joint venture with Vietnam’s airport operators, according to Dinh Viet Thang, Deputy Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.

-- Vietnam Trade Commission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said mobile phone exports from Vietnam to this market are on a rise. Specifically, the exports of mobile phones were worth some $ 728 million the first seven months of 2012, accounting for 67 percent of Vietnam's exports to the market.