Politics
-- Cambodia wants to continue fostering traditional ties with Vietnam , for the benefit of the two peoples, for national peace in each country, the region and the world. President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, who is on a visit to Vietnam from July 20-25, made the statement at a meeting in HCM City with Le Thanh Hai, Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee on July 20. Hai expressed his delight at the achievements made by the Cambodian people under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party over the recent past.
-- Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang will pay an official visit to Russia from July 26-30, 2012. The visit will be made at the invitation of the Russian President, Vladimir V. Putin.
Society
-- A tropical depression off the Philippines’ Luzon Island is moving towards the East Sea with winds of 39-61 kph. This evening the depression will move west-northwest at 15-20 kph and may upgrade into a storm and move to the sea area between the Hainan island and Leizhou Peninsula of China.
-- Two electronic newspapers at dvt.vn of the Business Association of Overseas Vietnamese and tamnhin.net of the Kinh Te – Doanh Nhan Thoi Dai newspaper halted their operation yesterday, July 20, 2012. The suspension will last for 6 months. The dvt.vn. says it has faced financial and personnel difficulties while tamnhin.net says it it will resume working when it meets requirements for operation.
-- The HCMC People’s Court yesterday sentenced 31-year-old Nguyen Vu Thong, a driver at the Dai Nam Viet Joint Stock Company to 11 years in prison for “violating road traffic safety regulations”. On December 10, 2011, a 7-seat car driven by Phong hit a 4-seat car carrying 4 people in District 1. The accident killed all the four victims.
-- More than 50 percent livestock slaughters nationwide do not meet regulations on food safety and hygiene, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reported at a meeting yesterday.
-- Ho Chi Minh City Transport Department’s Inspectorate yesterday issued its decisions to inspect eight taxi companies, including 27-7 Tourist Taxi Cooperative, 27-7 Tourist Transport Cooperative, 27-7 Transport Service Company, Thien Phuc, Ben Thanh, Rang Dong, and Cuu Long. Inspectors will examine the posting and collecting of transport charge and traffic safety conditions.
-- Despite being suspended, Chinese-owned Hue Ha Traditional Medicine Clinic in District 5, HCMC, continued giving treatment to patients and caused complications to a woman, Nguyen Thi Lan, 28, on July 19, who suffer hemorrhoids, health authorities reported.
-- Police in HCMC have identified 9 people who belonged to a group that has colluded with each other to steal motorbike spare parts and accessories from customers who parked at a parking lot at the Pediatrics Hospital I in HCMC’s District 10.
Business
-- The prices of both A95 and A92 gasoline have increased by VND400 per liter to VND21,500 and 21,000 per liter respectively since yesterday evening. This is the first time that the gasoline price has been raised again after it had been cut down five consecutive times.
-- Most banks have lowered the lending interest rate to 15 percent per year and this rate will be maintained for one year if the inflation rate can be kept at 7 percent, said Nguyen Van Binh, governor of the State Bank of Vietnam at yesterday’s dialogue with banks and businesses.
Lifestyle
-- Male singer Trong Tan and his female colleague Anh Tho are likely to be suspended for 6 months for not taking part in a music show held on July 18 in Vientiane, Laos, although they had been assigned to perform in the event, said the International Cooperation Department.
Sports
-- Song Lam Nghe An football team has won the championship of the 2012 National U-17 Football Tournament after defeating the Dong Tam Long An team 7-2 in their final match in Hue City yesterday.