Star Academy reality show comes to town

 VietNamNet Bridge – Star Academy, a highly successful television talent show based on a Spanish format produced by Endemol, will be produced in Viet Nam by BHD under the title Hoc Vien Ngoi Sao.

Vietnam to import nearly 80,000 doses of chickenpox vaccine

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Drug Administration of Vietnam on February 20 approved the Vaccine and Biological Production Company No.1's proposal to import 77,600 doses of Varicella Vaccine - GCC to tackle the rapidly spreading chickenpox epidemic.

Vietnam to tighten security control on flights to Russia

After Russia warned of the risk of terrorist by handmade explosive devices hidden in containers of liquid, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam says it will strengthen security control for flights from Vietnam to Russia.

Real Madrid plans to open football academy in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Spanish royal football team is considering opening a football academy in Vietnam in 2015, revealed Mr. Manuel Parreño Rodriguez, international cooperation and training manager.

Badminton player Cao Cuong reaches quarter finals of U19 Asia

 VietNamNet Bridge – On February 20, Pham Cao Cuong, who ranks 9th in the World Junior Ranking, won the third consecutive game to enter the quarterfinals of the U19 Asian Championships.

Vietnam national chess team has an Uzbekistan coach

 VietNamNet Bridge – The new coach of the national chess team, Mr. Dmitriy Kayumov arrived in Vietnam on February 18.

Over 1,600 Hoi An’s civil servants go to office by bike

 VietNamNet Bridge – From April 1, all officials and government employees of Hoi An ancient town will have to go to work by bicycles, said Hoi An Party Chief – Mr. Nguyen Su.

Da Nang threatens to sue Ministry of Natural Resources

 VietNamNet Bridge – Da Nang authorities have said to take the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment nd the Dak Mi 4 Hydropower Plant to the court if these agencies do not revise the draft regulations on operating hydropower reservoirs.

VN asks Cambodia to investigate the death of a Vietnamese in a free-for-all fight

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman said yesterday that Vietnam had asked the Cambodian authorities to investigate the death of a Vietnamese in a free-for-all fight in this country.

Vietnam designer shines on int'l stage

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese designer Nguyen Minh Giang Tu is Viet Nam's representative at the ongoing International Fashion Showcase (IFS) taking place in London.

Vietnam, China discuss sea borders

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese and Chinese experts discussed the sea area off the Tonkin Gulf during the fifth expert-level round of negotiations in Ha Noi on February 19 and 20.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 21/2

 Review of social welfare policies recommended; Australia aids restructuring effort; VN, US boost humanitarian ties

Outlets booming, luring shoppers

 VietNamNet Bridge – A lot of outlets quietly disappeared from the market in 2012-2013, which made people think that the business mode “died young” in Vietnam. However, it is now recovering.

Thousands of extra security agents for World Cup 2014

 Brazil has announced a security boost of around 70,000 officers to police this year's football World Cup.

Hanoi to host International Travel Mart in April

 VietNamNet Bridge – Almost 500 stalls by travel agencies from 25 countries and territories will be set up at the second Viet Nam International Travel Mart.

Having no residence book, student forced to stop going to school

 VietNamNet Bridge – An 11th grader in Hanoi has been expelled from a high school because he is not a permanent resident of the capital city.

Vinatex set to go public in H1

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam National Garment & Textile Group is set to go public in the first half of this year as part of its restructuring scheme,

Violent clashes continue in Ukraine, death toll rises

 Ukraine witnessed the deadliest day on Thursday in almost three months of anti-government demonstrations, as more people were killed after violent street clashes between protesters and riot police erupted anew

NA debates impact of waste imports

 VietNamNet Bridge – Lawmakers yesterday (Feb 20) debated the issue of waste imports while discussing the revised Environment Law at the 25th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Authorities reject upgrade plan for Long Bien Bridge

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport and authorities in Ha Noi have agreed not to adopt a plan to rebuild the historic Long Bien Bridge, which has caused controversy among the public in recent days.

RoK to train Vietnam’s nuclear power personnel

VietNamNet Bridge – From May 2014, the Hanyang University of the Republic of Korea will send its top experts to Vietnam to train Vietnamese nuclear power personnel, starting at Da Lat University in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

Eurozone business growth slowed in February, PMI study suggests

 Business growth in the eurozone eased this month but the bloc's economy continued to expand at a "robust pace", a closely watched survey suggests.

44 new rice varieties released in Asia and Africa last year

 VietNamNet Bridge - In 2013, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners released 44 new and improved rice varieties, continuing the decades-long mission of using rice science to reduce hunger.

Local authorities “cache” chemicals underground, people give up farming

 VietNamNet Bridge – Local people in Binh Hoa Commune of Giao Thuy district in Nam Dinh province have got panicked after realizing that the local authorities decided to bury pesticide in the rice fields.

Nielsen: Vietnamese are the most economical in Southeast Asia

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to a global survey report on consumer confidence by Nielsen, Vietnam is the most economical country in Southeast Asia.