Read what is in the news today, December 28:

Society

-- A 108-kilogram sea turtle that was caught in the fishing nets of some Vietnamese fishermen off the coast of southern Phu Quoc Island on Sunday was released into the ocean the same day, the fishing vessel’s captain said on Wednesday after a clip of the release had gone viral on social media.

-- The terrorist group responsible for plotting bomb attacks at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City was sentenced to up to 16 years behind bars and another five years on probation for their crime at a court on Wednesday.

-- Former leaders of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and its construction subsidiary PVC will stand trial on January 8 for their alleged economic mismanagement and embezzlement of public property at the respective bodies, with the court expected to be in session until January 21.

-- A Russian national of around 30 years of age was washed away by fierce waves and drowned off the beach of Nha Trang City in south-central Vietnam at noon on Wednesday, after the victim and a group of friends went swimming despite warnings of dangerous waters.

-- Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong are looking into a possible case of child abuse after a clip that recently went viral on social media showed a babysitter using a long wooden stick to violently rub at the genitals of a two-year-old boy she was hired to look after, and slapping the child for crying.

-- Sidewalks in Ho Chi Minh City are degrading more quickly than they can be re-paved as motorcyclists continue to use the footpaths as an alternative ‘lane’ during traffic congestion.

Business

-- The Ministry of Finance has requested state-run power giant Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) to pay VND1,935 billion (US$85.24 million) in arrears, including back taxes and after-tax profit in 2015 and 2016, as the behemoth was found to have incorrectly counted some of its costs during the period to avoid tax.

-- A Vietnamese man in southern Hau Giang Province has been arrested for allegedly duping multiple people into investing on a phantom hospital project he claimed to have a total capital investment of VND26 trillion ($1.15 billion).

-- The Vietnam business of Japanese automaker Toyota on Wednesday launched a massive recall of over 8,000 Corolla compact sedans manufactured in Vietnam between July 24, 2008 and December 31, 2009 to inspect and replace the vehicles’ passenger seat airbags for malfunctioning.

-- Over 7,000 cryptocurrency mining modules have been imported into Ho Chi Minh City this year as of mid-December, a record rate of over 5,000 modules imported in just under two months since October, according to the municipal customs department.

Education

-- The Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City has climbed five notches since last year in the QS Asia university rankings of 2018 to the 142^nd place out of 400 listed institutions in the region this year, three places behind the Vietnam National University-Hanoi (139^th).

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