European Film Festival 2014 in Hanoi, Danang and HCMC

 Cinema lovers from all walks of life in Vietnam are again offered a unique chance to embark on a cinematic journey around Europe through a rich line-up of films introduced at the European Film Festival 2014 (EFF2014).

Truong Sa submarine runs aground

 VietNamNet Bridge – Having found the Truong Sa submarine’s path to the open sea to be too bumpy, it’s inventor has officially decided to postpone his testing plan.

Vietnam suffers sharp drop in Mothers’ Index

 Vietnam is in 93rd position on the Save the Children’s 2014 Mothers’ Index – an annual ranking of the best and worst places in the world to be a mother.

Registrations down for university entrance exams

 VietNamNet Bridge – Local education and training departments have all reported significant declines in the numbers of students registering to sit the university entrance exams.

NASA's Curiosity drills sandstone rock on Mars

 U.S. space agency NASA said Tuesday its Curiosity rover has completed its third drilling into a Martian rock and is now preparing to use its internal instruments to study the collected powdered sample.

The rise of budget fashion brands

VietNamNet Bridge – Over the years people, especially the rich, have had great preferences for expensive foreign design fashion items. But it seems this market trend has been superseded by local budget fashion brands

Tri Viet Publishing House loses copyright infringement case

 VietNamNet Bridge – The famous HCM City-based Tri Viet (First News) Publishing House has failed to sue the private printing centre, Huy Thi, in Hanoi suburban district of Thanh Tri, for copyright infringement.

Retired officials must return homes

 VietNamNet Bridge – The construction ministry is planning to reclaim State-owned houses from retired civil servants and revoke them from those found misusing the facility.

Social News Headlines 8/5

 Sappers recover war-era bomb in Ha Tinh; Hanoi court considers resuming trial of ACB ex-leaders; Nationwide measles death toll hits 135; No Vietnamese victims of Ukraine violence

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/5

Toyota to recall 43,000 cars in Vietnam; Heightened costs cut into Vinamilk profits; Banks target growth in consumer lending; Firms plan to issue convertible bonds; Number of new firms up by more than 8%

Vietnamese tennis sensation wins upset at Madrid Open

Vietnamese-Austrian player Dominic Thiem continued to demonstrate his athleticism and versatility with an impressive 1-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over No.3 Stanislas Wawrinka in the second round of the Madrid Open on May 6.

French artist Patricia Kaas to perform in HCMC

 Renowned French singer Patricia Kaas will give a solo performance for charity at Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh Theatre on May 19.

Vietnam pledges all efforts to protect territorial waters

Viet Nam yesterday reaffirmed that it would take all necessary measures, preferably diplomatic, to protect its waters. This follows increased attacks on Vietnamese vessels near a Chinese oil rig on Viet Nam's continental shelf.

Death penalty upheld for Vinalines ex-chairman Duong Chi Dung

 The Supreme People’s Court has upheld the death sentence given to Duong Chi Duong, a former chairman of shipping company Vinalines.

Indian Guinness memory record holder to teach Vietnamese how

 Dr Biswaroop Roy Chowdhury, the Guinness record holder for memory feats, will host two workshops on enhancing the mind and body in HCM City and Ha Noi on May 7 and 12.

China's moving of oil rig into East Sea provocative: US

 The State Department of the US on May 6 warned against China 's moving of its oil rig into the East Sea , describing it as a provocative act that can cause instability in the region.

Dien Bien Phu victory celebrations grab global headlines

Global mass media today provided wide coverage of Vietnamese people’s heroic struggle against French colonialists in Dien Bien Phu 60 years ago.

Grand ceremony salutes Dien Bien Phu victory

 A grand ceremony saluting the 60th anniversary of Vietnam’s victory at Dien Bien Phu, which ended French colonial rule in the country, was held in Dien Bien Phu city in the northwestern province of Dien Bien in the morning of May 7.

Russia, Laos greet Vietnam on Dien Bien Phu anniversary

 Leaders of Russia and Laos have sent greetings to Vietnamese leaders on the 60th anniversary of the victory of Dien Bien Phu (May 7).

Fish rain down on Sri Lanka village

 Villagers in west Sri Lanka have said they have been surprised and delighted by an unusual rainfall of small fish.

Vietnam replacing China to become counterfeit goods hot spot

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has been warned that Chinese counterfeit goods manufacturers are eyeing the country as a potential alternative production site, due to the lower labor costs and more lax examination by importers.

US experts join hunt for abducted Nigerian schoolgirls

 A team of US experts has been sent to Nigeria to help find more than 200 schoolgirls abducted last month by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

13 movies to be released in May

 VietNamNet Bridge - "X-Men: Days of Future Past," "Godzilla" and "Maleficent" are three of the blockbusters that will be screened at Vietnamese cinemas this month.

Spy plane causes air traffic chaos, says FAA

 A spy plane was responsible for a computer glitch that caused air-traffic chaos in western US states last week, the Federal Aviation Administration has revealed.

Northwestern region hopes to develop tourism industry

 VietNamNet Bridge – Most participants at a conference held in downtown Dien Bien Phu City yesterday agreed that stepping up co-operation was the best way to develop regional tourism in Dien Bien and other northwestern provinces.