Tuoitrenews briefs some of the leading stories published today on Vietnamese media:
Politics:
-- The 2-day 17th General Assembly of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists held in, the Philippines’ capital city of Manila has discussed orientations in the next two years and emphasized the intensification of its operation to unite journalists in the region by issuing a statement stating their determination to reinforce the organization and its prestige.
-- Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has returned to Hanoi, wrapping up his four-day State visit to India in which he held talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and met with President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President and Chairman of the Senate Mohammad Hamid Ansari and other senior Indian officials.
Society:
-- As many as 665 free public internet access points, part of a $50 million project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) to install more than 4,600 sets of computers and internet access devices at local libraries and post offices, have become fully operational in 16 provinces nationwide, including three provinces in the northern mountainous region, four in the Central Highlands, four in the central region and five in the southern region.
Business:
-- The Vinh Long Import-Export Manufacturing Joint Stock Company, specializing in handicraft products that are made from natural fiber, has become the first Vietnamese private firm to officially open a production facility in Arkansas’ Morrilton City.
-- The Vietnamese telecommunication market is considered to be one of the most competitive in the region, as profits have not risen, despite higher industry turnover, and the quality of internet bandwidth and mobile phones remains limited, speakers said at a recent seminar in Ho Chi Minh City.
-- The Republic of Korea has transferred many kinds of technologies in many key sectors, including atomic energy and supporting industries, to Vietnamese organizations and firms during a the recent Korea-Vietnam Materials and Components Technology Transfer Seminar in Hanoi, a move having taken place in industry development and energy resources since May 2011.
-- The merger and acquisitions deal between HDBank and DaiABank is expected to be finished by year-end when the brand of latter will be removed at 65 locations nationwide. HDBank has also planned to set aside 30 percent stake of the newly merged bank to foreign strategic investors.
-- American doughnut company and coffeehouse chain Dunkin 'Donuts has officially been operational in Vietnam with the opening of its first store on Nguyen Duc Canh Street in District 7, Ho Chi Minh.
-- HCMC Statistics Office has announced the consumer price index in November with an increase of 0.17% compared to October. Gas price increase earlier this month and the hike in the price of vegetables due to shortage supply caused by unfavorable weather conditions, like flood and rainstorms, are the main reason for the increase.
Lifestyle:
-- As many as 50 youths from Daejeon City in the Republic of Korea have met with their Vietnamese friends at a recent cultural exchange program in the southern province of Binh Duong.