Libraries give hope to disadvantaged people

VietNamNet Bridge – The 38-year-old Do Thai Thinh, living with HIV/AIDS, is carefully turning a page of a book titled Stories about Uncle Ho. His thin fingers glide over every word as if he were afraid to miss some detail.

Vietnam remains indecisive in choosing sets of indicators to assess FDI

State management agencies and experts still have not agreed on the methods of assessing the efficiency of foreign direct investment (FDI).

Co Tu craftsman has musical touch

VietNamNet Bridge – Alang Vel's C on display in his house in the remote village of TaLang in Quang Nam Province show his love for the traditional music of the Co Tu ethnic group.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 24/4

Nam Dinh casts biggest SE Asian bronze Buddha; Vietnamese short film hopeful for Asia-Europe award; Vietnam to host fourth int'l documentary film fest; Chinese circus troupe to tour Vietnam; Exhibition highlights Dai Viet and Cham cultures 

Countries address lasting avian flu threat

VietNamNet Bridge – Experts from countries hit hardest with the H5N1 virus have arrived in HCM City to discuss ways to prevent and control avian influenza amid continuing outbreaks.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 24/4

Last missing body found; Two victims found dead after coal mine landslide; UK singer seeks missing relative in Vietnam; Tonnes of rotten buffalo and beef incinerated

Number of UN observers in Syria climbs to 11: official

The spokesman of the advance team of UN observers said the number of observers working on the ground in Syria rose to 11 on Monday.

New tours launched in Quang Binh

VietNamNet Bridge – People of different ages who love adventure and sightseeing can experience two new tours which were launched yesterday by the administration board of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

Mekong paddy picture takes prize

VietNamNet Bridge – Photographer Phan Thanh Cuong of Bac Lieu Province won the first prize for veteran artists at the "Southwest Region – 10 Years of Achievements and Development" competition launched in Can Tho City last week.

Photo exhibition in HCM City highlights landscapes

VietNamNet Bridge – Nature and I is the main theme of photographer Nguyen Thu Tinh's solo exhibition at the Institute for Cultural Exchange with France in HCM City.

Best IT products and services honoured

The Vietnam Software Association (VINASA) on April 22 conferred Sao Khue awards on 50 outstanding software products and 15 IT services.

Duan wins Cup's ninth stage

VietNamNet Bridge – Le Van Duan of the Sai Gon Plant Protection won the ninth stage of the HCM City Television Cycling Cup yesterday, April 23, increasing his points to 102 to win the green jersey.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 24/4

VN face Indonesia in regional futsal; Coach Francisco Vital to return to VN; Top seed Chen wins F3 Futures

Immunisation week raises awareness of vaccinations

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health initiated an immunisation week today, April 24, as part of its efforts to raise awareness about the importance of vaccinations in preventing contagious diseases.

Westwood defends title of Indonesian Masters golf tournament

Englishman Lee Westwood overcame fatigue to win his first title of the year and his 38th career victory with a successful title defense at the CIMB Niaga Indonesian Masters on Sunday.

Trade deficit totals US$200 million

The country is estimated to face a trade deficit of US$200 million in the first four months of the year, equal to 2.3 percent of the country’s total export value, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.    

VimpelCom announced to withdraw from GTel

VimpelCom announced today that it has signed an agreement to sell the company's entire indirect 49 per cent stake in GTEL Mobile Joint Stock Company in Vietnam and give up operational control of GTEL Mobile.

Euro 2012 ticket design unveiled in Ukraine

Ticket for the Euro 2012 Soccer Championship was officially presented on Monday by UEFA Events executive Martin Kallen in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

After restructuring debts, businesses would be able to access loans

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Vietnam, in an effort to disembroil both banks and businesses and to put the capital flow through, is considering issuing new requirements on borrowers.

PM assigns tasks to new ambassadors overseas

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on April 23 received 25 newly appointed Vietnamese ambassadors and consuls general, who will be sent to work abroad in the 2012-2015 term.

Minh to compete at Malaysia Open

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Tien Minh will have no time to think about his humiliating Asian Championships loss as he heads to Johor Bahru for the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold in early May.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 24/4

 Vietnam, Laos NAs promote cooperation; Vietnam, Ukraine exchange constitutional-making experience; VN, Cambodian provinces strengthen relationship

Eurozone's gov't debt level continues to rise in 2011: Eurostat

Eurozone's government debt level continued to rise in 2011 despite efforts by heavily-indebted member countries to curb the ballooning debt, the statistics office of the European Union (EU) said on Monday.

U.S. slaps new sanctions on individual, entities in Syria, Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama announced on Monday that his administration has slapped new sanctions on entities and one individual that are believed to be helping the Iranian and Syrian governments to disrupt or monitor the Internet

FA says Rooney will not play both Euro 2012 and Olympics

The English Football Association has reassured Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson that his striker Wayne Rooney will not play both Olympic Games and Euro 2012.