Expert says Greece has to raise interest rates or risks leaving euro

Greece needs to sharply increase interest rates, force a brutal adjustment in its consumption and stop deposit flight, else there is a 50 percent possibility it will exit the eurozone, a senior economics expert has told Xinhua.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 15/3

Party Committee censures two high-ranking officials; Canoe carrying 4 times capacity sinks, 6 die; Gang cheats gold shops using their own gold; People's Teacher donates awards' money to AO victims

Japanese fund helps improve irrigation in northern provinces

The Asian Development Bank and the Government of Viet Nam signed a $800,000 grant agreement yesterday to improve irrigation and drainage in the northern provinces of Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Bac Giang and Bac Ninh.

28 Belgians killed in bus crash in Switzerland

Twenty-eight Belgians were killed in a serious bus accident that occurred in southwest Switzerland on Tuesday night, Swiss police confirmed early Wednesday.

Road maintenance fee to be collected from June

VietNamNet Bridge – Users of motorized vehicles will have to a pay road maintenance fee from June 1, 2012, according to Governmental Decree No. 18, which will come into that day,

Japanese supermarkets expanding in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Japanese have shown their intention to bring made-in-Japan goods to Vietnam, as the demand in Japan has become weaker.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 15/3

Viet Nam, Germany look to boost educational co-operation; Vietnam, Cambodia review border demarcation; National Women’s Congress wrapped up in Hanoi

Dextrin in baby food safe: authority

The China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment on Wednesday clarified that dextrin, an additive used in infant formula and other foods, within required limits will not cause malnutrition or other health problems.

Vietnam looks for continued FAO support

Vietnam hopes the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations will continue to assist and support the country in agriculture projects, prioritising food security, poverty reduction, climate change and environment protection.

Iranian president attends parliament's questioning session

Iran's Majlis (parliament) began questioning President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Wednesday over a number of irregularities in the political and economic spheres.

President reaffirms army’s key defence role

VietNamNet Bridge – The Army is always the key force to defend the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity on land, sea and in the air, affirmed President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi on Mar. 14.

VN gains great achievements in human rights

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam, with its achievements in human rights, wants to make more contributions to international efforts in this area.

“Language disorder” trouble warned for children learning many languages

Urban parents tend to force their children to learn many foreign languages at the same time, because they believe that the more languages the children are proficient, the more job opportunities they would have in their lives.

Where S-Fone gets money to change technology?

It is clear now that S-Fone has decided to switch to 3G technology in an effort to rescue its poor business performance. However, it is still unclear who will be behind the reform which is believed to cost hundreds of millions of dollars.

The “itching canal” and “breathless canal” in HCM City

The itching canal and breathless canal seem to be found only in Vietnam. The canals in HCM City are being poisoned by about 40 tons of garbage of all kinds and 70,000 m3 of industrial untreated waste water everyday.

Bangladesh wraps up rescue after sunken ferry salvaged, 112 confirmed dead

Death toll from early Tuesday's ferry collision in Bangladesh's central Munshiganj district has risen to 112 as authorities concnerend announded an end to the large-scale rescue operation on Wednesday although some remained missing.

Town kids practice farming

Around 800 students from a junior secondary school in Hanoi learned how to till the land, sow seeds, plant trees, water and harvest vegetable on a vegetable field in Hanoi’s suburban district of Gia Lam on the morning of March 13.

Distributors told to ensure petrol supply

Petrol supplies must be assured in both reserve and type regardless of circumstance or great difficulty, according to the Government's direction.

Tourism Ambassador rides elephant to advertise Central Highlands

VietNamNet Bridge – Actress and businesswoman Ly Nha Ky, Vietnam’s Tourism Ambassador, sits on a 10-year-old elephant to discover the natural beauty of the Central Highlands.

Walker rewarded for earning an Olympic ticket

VietNamNet Bridge – Walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc returned home on March 12 after striking a bronze medal at the Asian Walking Championships 2012, and won a ticket to the Olympic London.

Prolonged space travel causes brain, eye abnormalities in astronauts

Prolonged periods of time in space may cause brain and optical abnormalities similar to those that can occur in intracranial hypertension of unknown cause, a potentially serious condition in which pressure builds within the skull,

MOF: Vietnam has the right to tax Google and Facebook

Under the current Vietnamese laws, the companies like Google and Facebook have to pay tax for the income gained from the business activities in Vietnam.

Weather contrast between Hanoi and Saigon

VietNamNet Bridge – While Hanoi is cold, with the temperature being between 13-18 degrees Celsius, it is very hot in HCM City, where the highest temperature reached 39 degrees Celsius.

“Congratulation projects!”

VietNamNet Bridge – The so-called “congratulation-project” phenomenon has returned.

Russia drafts ambitious space strategy by 2030

Russia expects to remain one of the three leading space powers in the world by 2030, according to a new draft program submitted by the Federal Space Agency Roscosmos Tuesday.