VN affirms indisputable sovereignty over archipelagoes

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam affirms its indisputable sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on April 9.

Japan says interceptors deployed for DPRK satellite launch

Japan completed deployment of interceptor missiles Monday ahead of the planned satellite launch by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Defence Ministry said.

“Star” schools no more the dream of parents

VietNamNet Bridge – The race among parents to scramble for the seats at star schools for their children this year proves to be less scorching than expected.

GSO says number of Internet users down, businesses say up

VietNamNet Bridge – According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), the number of Internet users in March decreased by 500,000 from the previous month. However, Internet service providers have denied this.

Life ban sought for food safety crime in Beijing

People convicted of crimes related to food safety in the capital will be banned from the food industry for life, under a draft amendment to the Beijing Food Safety Regulation.

Pesticides may reduce pregnancy length, birth weight: study

Exposure of pregnant women to organophosphate (OP) pesticides, a widely used class of pesticides in North American agriculture, may be associated with decreased gestational age and lower birth weight,

Central region's traditional markets pose high fire risk

VietNamNet Bridge – Many traditional markets in cities in the central region do not meet several fire prevention and control requirements and are thus at high risk of fires, officials warn.

Problems latent behind the dong/dollar exchange rate stabilization

The dong/dollar exchange rate stabilization for a long period has been hailed as the result of the great exertion by the State Bank to stabilize the foreign currency market. However, experts say they still can see latent problems.

Well-known DJs to perform at Hanoi Sound Stuff Festival

VietNamNet Bridge – The fifth Hanoi Sound Stuff Festival will take place in Hanoi on April 13-14, with the participation of over ten Vietnamese and foreign DJs.

Malaysia to sign bird's nest agreement with China

Malaysia will sign a draft protocol with China to resume bird's nest export to China which was halted last year over a safety concern.

“Lotus” fashion

VietNamNet Bridge – Top models of Vietnam performed in evening gowns of the “Lotus” collection by designer Quynh Paris, and the “National Flower” ao dai collection by Sy Hoang, at Hoa Binh Theatre in HCM City on April 7.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 10/4

Financial shares stave off market losses; Real estate slump hits construction industry; Mysterious Vietnamese buyer of US town identified; Major banks told to mean business in cutting rates; Banks even do not deny the trick.

Model planes perform on Huong River

VietNamNet Bridge - A display of model planes and ships was held on the Huong River in the imperial city of Hue on April 7, opening this year’s weeklong Hue festival.

Carbon credits to benefit farmers

VietNamNet Bridge – Improved farming practices, especially in rice cultivation, would reduce greenhouse-gas emissions and provide economic benefits for rural farmers in Viet Nam through participation in a carbon-credit programme,

HCM City to host recycling event

VietNamNet Bridge – The fifth annual Waste Recycling Day will be held on April 15 at the Labour Cultural House in District 1 to raise awareness of the three Rs – reducing, reusing and recycling waste.

Online procurement process hits roadblocks

A three-year pilot project to streamline public procurement processes by making online tender offers continued to face obstacles related to inadequate regulations and technologies.

20,000 attends Hue Festival opening ceremony

VietNamNet Bridge – The National Tourism Year in Coastal Central Region and the Hue Festival 2012 opened at the Ngo Mon Square in the ancient capital city of Hue, on the evening of April 7.

Gold management decree weeds out private shops, brings chances to banks

VietNamNet Bridge – Under the new decree on gold management released on April 3, 2012, the State has the exclusive right to produce bullion gold, export gold materials and import gold materials for making bullion gold.

Satellite-based navigation system installed for Ha Long cruises

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 230 tourist vessels in northern Quang Ninh Province's Ha Long Bay have been equipped with global positioning systems, or GPS.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 9/4

Fire hits city cinema, no casualties; Two drug traffickers receive death penalty; Agencies urged to act on traffic safety; HCM City-Incheon air route opens

Famous Vietnamese-born designer in Sweden

VietNamNet Bridge – Nhu Duong, a phenomenon of the Swedish fashion industry, has returned to Vietnam to join the Elle Fashion Show 2012.

Ta Ngoc Hai and leaf-made paintings

VietNamNet Bridge – Paintings created from corn silk, leaves, sawdust and silkworm cocoon, are products by untrained artist Ta Ngoc Hai, Hanoi.

HCM City police bust seller of banned meat additives

VietNamNet Bridge – The environment crime police branch of the Ministry of Public Security on Thursday discovered a wholesale seller of banned lean-meat additives imported from China.

Jazz stars headline Luala concert series

A jazz performance featuring leading Vietnamese jazz saxophonist Quyen Thien Dac and his Phu Sa bandmates kicked off the spring-summer season of Luala concerts on Saturday, a series of free shows in downtown Ha Noi.

U.S. police arrest two suspects in Oklahoma shootings

U.S. police on Sunday arrested two suspects for Friday's shootings that left three people dead and two seriously wounded, all black, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.