Unquarantined poultry hits markets amid bird flu risk

VietNamNet Bridge – Illegal sales of unquarantined domestic fowl and poultry products continue to take place in many Ha Noi markets despite the high risk of a bird flu reoccurrence.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 7/3

 President meets with mobile police force; Vietnam–Denmark strengthen legislative ties; ASEAN leader hails cooperation with Germany

Greece gov't announces cabinet reshuffle

Greek interim Prime Minister Lucas Papademos on Tuesday announced a limited cabinet reshuffle, according to an official statement.

“Vietnamese English” keeps travelers guessing

Vietnamese people have been trying to better serve foreign travelers by giving English names to their cafés, restaurants and hotels.

Romney leads Santorum in GOP Super Tuesday contests

U.S. Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney was projected winner in three states in Super Tuesday contests of the Republican presidential nomination battle, leading Rick Santorum, who won two states, as polls across 10 states

Food service market heating up as foreign investors jump in

A lot of foreign investors are hunting for business premises on advantageous positions, preparing to pour their capital into the food service market – the market with great potentials.

What way for private high schools?

VietNamNet Bridge – While private primary and secondary schools have been flourishing, private high schools in Hanoi have been narrowed significantly in scale.

TB prevention effort lacks funds

VietNamNet Bridge – HIV co-infections and the growth of drug-resistant strains are the greatest challenges to tuberculosis prevention in Viet Nam, says the director of the National TB Prevention Programme, Dinh Ngoc Sy.

President receives Japanese business delegation

VietNamNet Bridge – President Truong Tan Sang on March 6 received a delegation of the Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) who visited Vietnam to boost cooperation in the fields of aviation, transportation, nuclear power and mining.

Gold falls to six-week low as U.S. stocks down

Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell Tuesday to their lowest level since Jan. 25, as substantial declines in the U.S. stock market and renewed concerns over problems in Europe dampened trading.

Overseas Vietnamese footballers still considered “foreigners”

VietNamNet Bridge – The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has not allowed football teams to use overseas Vietnamese players.

Stricter regulations on Internet agent management make turnover down

Internet service providers have complained that the new regulations on the minimum distance of Internet agents do not help minimize the ill effects of online games to students as expected.

Prof. Ngo Bao Chau writes “novel of maths”

VietNamNet Bridge – Prof. Ngo Bao Chau has joined a blogger to write a novel, which they call “the novel of maths.”

Korean stars to sing for free in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The famous Korean boy band Super Junior will perform free of charge at the South Korea – Vietnam Festival in Hanoi on March 15. This will be the third time the band coming to Vietnam.

Scientists warn Mekong Delta may have poor shrimp crop

Shrimp have been dieing in masses in many localities in the Mekong Delta, due to the seriously polluted environment.

Market management, ODA disbursement top cabinet meeting

VietNamNet Bridge – More efforts needed to reduce bank interest rates, manage market-driven petrol prices, and accelerate the disbursement of foreign invested and ODA capital.

Government tells banks to slash interest rates right away

VietNamNet Bridge – The ceiling and basic interest rates would reduce by one percent to stand at 13 percent and 8 percent per year in the next few days, announced the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam yesterday.

Britain's petrol prices hit new high

Petrol prices in Britain have hit a record high on Monday, according to official data released on Tuesday.

Land will not be revoked, government says

VietNamNet Bridge – When the deadline for using agricultural land comes, farmers will be allowed to continue using land, stated the Government Office’s Chair at a press conference yesterday.

Vietnam encourages FDI in hi-tech sectors, but still installs barriers

Vietnam is calling for foreign direct investment (FDI) into high technologies. However, it would be an impossible mission, if Vietnam does not change its current policies.

Yahoo plans major restructuring, layoffs: report

Yahoo's new Chief Executive Officer Scott Thompson is preparing a major restructuring of the company that could result in significant layoffs, local media reported on Monday.

Brazil runs risk of not hosting 2014 World Cup

A long line of poor communication within the Brazilian government and towards FIFA has caused the country to consider the possibility of losing the privilege to host the 2014 World Cup on Monday.

Nation goes global in trade push

Vietnam has been busy forging economic links with countries around the globe.

Local firm offers gold-inlaid apartments in Hanoi

VietNamNet Bridge – The price for a gold-inlaid apartment is between $600,000 - $1.2 million. This project has been introduced in Hanoi, at the time the real estate market is very cold.

Cuba opens biotechnological fair showcasing cancer vaccines

Cuba's biotechnology industry on Monday opened the 29th "Havana International Biotechnology Congress" where the island nation will showcase the latest advances in the anti-cancer vaccines that Cuban scientists have developed