Over 1 million candidates enroll for university entrance exams

On July 3, nearly 700,000 candidates registered for university and college entrance exams for ‘subject groups’ A and V. This accounted for 70 percent of the total registrations filed for universities and colleges in these subject groups.

‘Group A’ included mathematics, physics, and chemistry, while ‘group V’ comprised mathematics, physics and drawing.

Around 633,800 candidates sat for the second phase of the 2011 university entrance exams on July 9-10.

The exams were for subject groups B, C and D. Group B included mathematics, biology, and chemistry, while group C comprised literature, history and geography. Group D consisted mathematics, literature and foreign languages.

On the morning of July 9, candidates in group B took the biology test (90 minutes), and those in group C and D sat the literature test (180 minutes). In the afternoon of the same day, group B and D candidates sat for math test, and students in group C took the history exam.

On July 10, candidates in group B took the chemistry exam and those in group C sat for geography and group D sat for the foreign languages exams.

According to initial reports released by the Ministry of Education and Training, the number of candidates sitting for the second phase exam was 90.49 percent of the total applicants.

The exams on July 9-10 for places at 110 universities across the country took place in 25,500 authorised testing sites.

After the exams finished on the morning of July 9, it was declared that 17 candidates had violated the rules, and 16 of them were not allowed to sit for other exams in the second phase.

11th Party Central Committee holds second conference

The second conference of the 11th Party Central Committee took place in Hanoi from July 4-10.

In his opening speech, Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said that the second meeting aimed to discuss and approve a working plan for the Party Central Committee 11th tenure and guidelines for amendments and supplements to the 1992 Constitution.

General Secretary Trong asked the meeting to discuss and decide upon the most important and urgent issues to include in the working plan of the Party Central Committee, ensuring closer and more synchronized links between economic and cultural development tasks and Party building in order to successfully achieve the targets for the next five years as defined by the 11th Party Congress.

The meeting prioritized urgent issues related to renovation, development and improving the efficiency of State-owned enterprises; basic comprehensive education and training reforms; land policies and laws, response to climate change, and protecting natural resources and the environment; policies on social welfare; Party-building tasks, strengthening the political system and State mechanism; fighting corruption and wastefulness; promoting democracy; and actively protecting national independence, sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and international integration.

In researching amendments and supplements to the 1992 Constitution, Party leader Trong said the 11th Party Congress adopted documents which defined goals and pathways to continue comprehensive and sustainable development, and decided to investigate amending and supplementing the 1992 Constitution in line with requirements for the new phase and revolutionary tasks.

He suggested the Party Central Committee discuss and comment on viewpoints, guidelines and research methods, and ensure the involvement of experts, scientists, managers and the public to avoid any sabotage and distortion from hostile forces.

Residents of Hanoi’s old streets to move to new urban areas
It is expected that Hanoi will move around 1,800 families currently living in the old streets in the first phase of a new relocation project. The estimated land area involved in the project is 40.6 hectares. The total investment capital for land clearance will be VND1,817 billion plus about VND2,475 billion to build new urban areas.

Smog covers central Hanoi
Smog filled the air in central Hanoi over the past three days, but experts cannot agree on its origin or cause.

Pham Van Khanh, deputy director of the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, agreed that the smog was caused by burning straw in certain suburbs of the city.
This phenomenon has occurred several times in the past 10 years, especially in hot weather, he said, and not only in Vietnam but also in Japan and Australia.

"The heat prevents smoke from drifting upwards, so instead it moves laterally, staying low to the ground," he said.
But other experts believe the smog is a product of environmental pollution, caused by photochemicals in the atmosphere.
Chairman of the Thanh Tri district People's Committee Nguyen Quang Hieu said that most of the farmers in his district used straw to make fertiliser and did not burn it.
If the smog was caused by burning straw, he said, it would produce soot that would cover tree leaves and household appliances with soot.
Hanoi's many tall buildings prevent air circulation, but harmful exhaust fumes from vehicles and industrial zones were behind the photochemical smog.
Nguyen Huu Hai of the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecastsing agreed with Hieu's reasoning.
Hot air enters the country from the west at a height of 3,000 metres and pollutants collect underneath, said Hai. This harmful smog could cause eye and cardiovascular diseases, he said.

"Families can turn on fans or air-conditioners to blow away the smog, but in the long term we should treat exhaust fumes to improve the air quality," said Hai.

Former general manager of PMU 18 gets seven years in jail

The Hanoi People's Court on July 6 announced the sentences for Bui Tien Dung, former general manager of Project Management Unit 18 (PMU18) and eight accomplices for embezzlement at the Bai Chay Bridge Construction Project.

Dung was sentenced to seven years in jail for "abusing positions and power while performing government duties" and seven other defendants were found guilty of the same crime including Nguyen Vu Nam (nine years); Nghiem Phu Son (seven years); Le Minh Giang (six years); Nguyen Cong Dung (six years); Nguyen Huu Minh (four years); Nguyen Huu Long (five years) and Tran Duc Hung (three years).

Do Kim Quy, who was charged with "using assets illegally acquired by others", was sentenced to two years' probation.

In 2007, PMU18, operating under the Ministry of Transport, became the epicentre of a major corruption scandal which has remained unresolved for the past three years. Top officials were accused of spending public funds for personal purposes, with the former general director Bui Tien Dung sentenced to 13 years in jail for gambling and offering bribes.

In 2009, Dung and his accomplices were also accused of "deliberately acting against the state's regulations on economic management, causing serious consequences" and "abusing positions and power while performing official duties."

Dung was then sentenced to three years in jail although the People's Procuracy recommended a sentence of four to six years.

Yingluck announces five-party coalition government

Yingluck Shinawatra, who is likely to become the first female prime minister of Thailand, on July 4 announced that her Puea Thai party would ally with other parties to form a five-party coalition government.

The new coalition government will be composed of the Puea Thai, Chart Thai Pattana, Chart Pattana Puea Pandin, Phalangchon and Mahachon parties.

According to the latest results of the country’s general election on July 3, the Puea Thai will possibly win 299 out of 500 seats in the House of Representatives.

Addressing a press conference, Yingluck pledged to strictly implement the Puea Thai’s electoral campaign commitments, stressing that the party would promote reconciliation and economic rebuilding to tackle the rising cost of living in Thailand.
She also made a commitment to tackle corruption and strengthen international relations.

World Cup 2022 football matches to have three rounds
According to the International Fédération Internationale de Football
Association, (FIFA), matches for the World Cup 2022 will have 30-minute three rounds. The information was released by the director of Arup Associates Group, Mr Michael Beavon at a recent seminar on infrastructure for the World Cup in Qatar recently.

FIFA spokesman said that this information has not been announced officially and there will be more specific rules on the change in the future.  

Djokovic crowned at Wimbledon
Serbian star Novak Djokovic became the newest tennis world No. 1 after defeating his rival Rafael Nadal in the Wimbledon final on July 3.