Son La arrests three exam-cheating suspectsPolice in the northern province of Son La on July 31 arrested three people suspected of involvement in the recent high school exam cheating scandal. Son La police also launched criminal proceedings against two other suspects. Earlier, on July 26, the police department began criminal proceedings against the high school exam fraud. In Son La, the average scores for math and physics were 3.43 and 4.03, lower than the national average of 4.88 and 4.96, respectively. The results of the national high school examination have been used for the last four years to determine whether a student graduates from high school and gets into their chosen university or not.

Vietnam records US$3.1 billion trade surplus in seven monthsVietnam gained a trade surplus of 3.1 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO). Vietnam recorded a high trade surplus in the first half of this year. (Photo vneconomy.vn)This is because the country’s total export value during the first seven months rose 15.3 percent year-on-year to 133.7 billion USD. The import value rose 12.7 percent to 54.2 billion USD for the domestic economic sector and 8.5 percent to 76.5 billion USD for the foreign-invested enterprises. Dong Nai’s trade surplusThe southern province of Dong Nai’s trade surplus in the first seven months of the year was 1.6 billion USD, which made up half of the country’s total.

Apple boosted by selling more expensive iPhonesApple sold fewer iPhones than expected in its most recent quarter but higher selling prices meant the tech giant still beat Wall Street forecasts. The firm said it sold 41.3 million iPhones in the three months to the end of June, up just 1% from last year. But the average iPhone selling price hit $724, well above the expected $694. Strong revenue growth of 31% from Apple's services business, which includes the App store, Apple Music and Apple Pay, also boosted its performance. The gains brought Apple, already the world's most valuable company, one step closer to a market value of $1 trillion.

Student with highest score at IBO fascinated with nature, biologyVietNamNet Bridge - Gaining the highest score at the 2018 International Biology Olympiad (IBO) where there were 261 participants, Nguyen Phuong Thao has become the first Vietnamese female student to receive the world’s highest score at an Olympiad. Asked when she decided to study biology, Thao said as a ninth grader, she watched the Discovery TV channel and Animal World TV show, and found that “nature is wonderful and mysterious”. Asked when she decided to study biology, Thao said as a ninth grader, she watched the Discovery TV channel and Animal World TV show, and found that “nature is wonderful and mysterious”. However, with the support and encouragement from the teacher and friends, Thao won the silver medal at the 2017 IBO and gold medal at 2018 IBO. RELATED NEWSVietnam for first time wins highest score at Int'l Biology OlympiadBrothers win medals at international OlympiadsNguyen Thao

Vietnam’s startup invents solution for computer usersVietNamNet Bridge - ELINKGATE’s new technology is a comprehensive solution that serves as a platform for IT support services for both personal and institutional computer users. Nguyen Van Hung, Vice Rector of College of Radio and Television II, praised ELINKGATE’s technology solution, which allows control of computers from a distance. Most individual users don’t have deep knowledge about IT, therefore, IT supporters find it difficult to help them fix computer problems from a distance. However, as the software all run on operating systems, they cannot fix the errors of the operating systems or other systems. ELINKGATE’s new technology is a comprehensive solution that serves as a platform for IT support services for both personal and institutional computer users.

Communication project raises awareness on sea, island sovereigntybrowser not support iframe. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently approved a project to raise public awareness of safeguarding sovereignty and sustainable development of Vietnam’s seas and islands. It aims to update Party guidelines and State laws on Vietnamese seas and islands via the mass media. Besides domestic policies and laws, major contents include international laws, bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements with countries and international organisations regarding seas and islands, historical and legal evidence affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagoes. The project also hopes to popularise economic development in seas and islands, especially construction of coastal economic, industrial and processing zones, among others.-VNA

Green seaports needed in Vietnam to reduce pollution from shipping operationsVietNamNet Bridge - To mitigate pollution caused by shipping operations and waste from seaports, experts say it is necessary to promote the development of environmentally friendly seaports. Vietnam needs green portsIn many seaports, the content of oil on surface sea water is high. These are ‘green seaports’ which use solutions to use energy in the most effective way and reduce consumption of energy. To mitigate pollution caused by shipping operations and waste from seaports, experts say it is necessary to promote the development of environmentally friendly seaports. Le Cong Minh, chair of the Vietnam Seaports Association, said there are existing regulations protecting the environment when building and operating seaports.

Uber halts development of self-driving trucksUber has said it will stop developing self-driving trucks to focus its autonomous technology solely on cars. Uber's self-driving truck programme started in 2016 with a team based in San Francisco. The ride-hailing firm marked the world's first commercial shipment delivered by a self-driving truck later that year. Uber's self-driving car development has not been without problems. A handful of Uber's self-driving vehicles have just been put back on the roads in Pittsburgh following the March suspension.

Ha Giang proposal on new office buildings rejectedVietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has rejected a proposal by northern Ha Giang Province People’s Committee on a new office building worth about VND700 billion (US$30 million). Earlier, the committee sent the Government a proposal on two new office buildings, each with 12 floors and a total area of nearly 30,000 sq.m. However, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ha Giang must reconsider the need for new office buildings as it was still a disadvantaged province with poor financial capacity and a high rate of public debt. By the end of last year, there were nearly 60,500 families, or over 34 per cent of total households in Ha Giang Province living under the poverty line. Ha Giang Province aims to become a key tourist attraction by 2020.

Garment and textile exports likely to exceed set plan by US$1bVietnam’s exports of garments and textiles are predicted to reach US$18.5 billion in the second half of the year, bringing the country’s total export turnover to US$35 billion, exceeding the set plan by US$1 billion. The information was released by Cao Huu Hieu, Managing Director of the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) at a press conference in Hanoi on July 30. Such a strong performance is attributable to the fact that many businesses have received a slew of bulk orders stretching to the end of the year. The total garment and textile export turnover in the first half of the year surged 16.49% to US$16.5 billion against the same period last year. Some businesses reported strong export performance including Tinh Loi (Regent Garment) Co, Ltd, Viet Tien Garment Joint Stock Corporation, Regina Miracle Co, Ltd, and Worldon Vietnam Co, Ltd.VOV

VN producer competes at Venice Film FestVietNamNet Bridge – A movie by French director Olivier Assayas and French producer Charles Gillibert as well as Vietnamese producer Ly Nha Ky will compete at the upcoming Venice Film Festival in the Best Film category. Ly Nha Ky (middle) with producer Charles Gillibert (left) and director Olivier Assayas. Photo vov.vnThe film has been nominated for the Golden Lion prize for Best Film. This year, Ly Nha Ky has been involved in on other film, namely ‘Angel Face’. The Venice Film Festival will take place in Venice, Italy between August 29 and September 8.

Heavy fines fail to stop litteringVietNamNet Bridge – Regulations imposing heavy fines of up to VND7 million (US$301) on those who litter in public areas have been in effect for a year-and-a-half, but the number of violators who have been discovered and fined remains modest, so most city dwellers are indifferent to the fines. Heavy fines for those who litter in public areas have been put into effect for more than a year. The Hoan Kiem District People’s Committee estimates that in the first six months of this year, the committee has fined 171 people for littering with total fines of VND780 million ($33,540). A representative of Thanh Xuan District People’s Committee said the committee faced the same difficulties in imposing fines. Dang Hong Thai, vice chairman of Thanh Xuan District’s People’s Committee, said that the committee has worked with the youth union and women’s union to strengthen inspections and crack down on littering.

Thousands of teachers laid off ahead of school yearVietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of kindergarten, primary and secondary school teachers in Hanoi’s Thanh Oai District were shocked to find out that their work contracts will end this September as a result of a streamlining policy being implemented by the municipal People’s Committee. Teachers and students in an English class at Nguyen Van Troi Primary School in southern Ca Mau Province. Le Thi B, a 50-year-old English teacher at Kim Bai Primary School, told Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper that she had dedicated herself to teaching for more than 20 years. A teacher, who had been working at Cao Duong Secondary School for eight years, was worried about his family’s future. “In many localities, good teachers are laid off while underperforming teachers remain in their jobs,” he said.

Three big players vie for status in Vietnam’s automobile marketVietNamNet Bridge - In the first six months of 2018, three big players – Hyundai, Toyota and Truong Hai – held three-quarters of the fewer-than-9-seat car market share. On July 10, Hyundai Thanh Cong for the first time released a report on monthly sales. Toyota sold 25,829 products of both Toyota and Lexus brands, while Truong Hai sold 32,308 cars of Mazda, Kia and Peugeot brands. With a strategy on focusing on assembling cars, Hyundai Thanh Cong and Truong Hai are not meeting difficulties in supplies. As for medium-size MPVs, Toyota Innova led the market segment with 7,597 cars sold.

Singapore supports Vietnam to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure. Vietnam and Singapore have also enhanced their capacity to cope with emerging challenges and make active contributions to regional security and development. Along with sound political ties, the bilateral economic, trade, and investment partnership has been made stronger over the past few years. The bilateral economic partnership could witness new movements in the time to come. During a reception in Ho Chi Minh City on July 30, Phong said achievements in joint work remain modest compared to their potential.