US, Vietnam technological firms set up joint venture

The US-based Sigma Designs Inc and Vietnam Multimedia Corp (VTC) have reached an agreement to establish a joint venture to develop and market set-top boxes for digital television, smart energy products and home connectivity solutions.

New laws, resolution promulgated

VietNamNet Bridge – President Nguyen Minh Triet has signed into law the Law on Civil Procedures (revised), the Law on Anti-Human Trafficking, the Law on Independent Auditing and the National Assembly's Resolution

Experts criticise new higher education bill

VietNamNet Bridge – Educational experts have criticised the draft Tertiary Education Law for being virtually indistinguishable from existing regulations.

Producers call for movie export strategy

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese films need a dedicated export strategy and strong support from the Government to make inroads into the global film market.

Vietnam makes a big leap towards a power competitive market

The government has decided that from June 1, 2011, the electricity pricing mechanism will go in accordance with the market rules. However, analysts have raised their doubts about the operation of an electricity competitive market.

NATO asks Libyan civilians to stay away from Gaddafi forces

NATO advised on Wednesday Libyan civilians to keep themselves away from Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's forces to help NATO airstrike achieve "greater success."

Fishermen hamper efforts to reduce beach shark attacks

VietNamNet Bridge – Local authorities in the central province of Binh Dinh's Quy Nhon City are facing difficulties in clearing its coastline of unplanned aquaculture to prevent shark attacks due to strong opposition from local fishermen.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 21/4

Vietnam Television VTV has new boss; Japan helps overseas students return to study; WB provides Da Nang with urban energy solution; HCMC toll to increase from July 1; Allowance support for low-income teachers 

3.5 million households register for power rebate

VietNamNet Bridge – Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) said 3.5 million poor and low-income households had so far registered for power rebates.

VN Airlines to open direct flight to London

Vietnam Airlines plans to launch direct flights to the United Kingdom by the end of this year, president and CEO Pham Ngoc Minh said.

Shemales offer sex to steal from HCMC foreigners

A phenomenon in which trans-sexual ‘girls’ lured foreigners to hotel rooms to have sex and then stole their assets has recently been reported in Ho Chi Minh City, especially in District 1 – the backpacker’s area.

14.5 tons of oil spills into the Tra Khuc river

VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of people are struggling to collect the fuel oil (FO) that spilled into the Tra Khuc River in the central province of Quang Ngai Province, from a sugar factory that is being dismantled for relocation.

More backpacking tours on offer as prices up

Due to the escalating prices of domestic holidays and with the public and summer holidays coming up, local tour operators are offering cheap deals in a bid to keep some customers at home.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 21/4

Congratulations to Cuba's Raul Castro on election; Party leader welcomes Czech communist party delegation; PM to visit neighbour; Officials study Resolution; HCM City woman honoured

Local girls give burlesque a whirl

VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoian girls are flocking to learn chair dancing – an art form made famous by Ali (Christina Aguilera) and Tess (Cher) in the movie Burlesque.

Fund to boost lives on Spratly

VietNamNet Bridge – A fund will be established to improve life for people in the Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago and to appreciate the district's importance for national construction and defence.

Riders saddle up for HTV Cup

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's most prestigious cycling tournament, the 23rd HCM City Television (HTV) Cup 2011, opens today, April 21, in HCM City.

Gay teen suicide risk lower in "supportive" areas

Lesbian, gay and bisexual teens living in a supportive school or community are less likely to commit suicide, a new study suggests.

Vietnamese tra fish faces nasty trick, once again

 The false information released at “Pangasius Lie” by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the program broadcasted on German television one month ago, has made the demand for tra fish in the north of the Europe decrease dramatically.

Minh storms through in Chengdu

VietNamNet Bridge – National badminton ace Nguyen Tien Minh brushed aside Khadum Jabar Ali of Iraq 21-4, 21-8 in just 21 minutes to enter the third round of the Badminton Asia Championships in Chengdu, China yesterday, April 20.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 21/4

Nha Trang to host Asian U-16 event; Viet Nam face hard job in Olympics qualifiers; New faces to feature at Asian Grand Prix

Sugarcane can cool climate, study finds

Sugarcane has the effect of cooling temperatures, thus playing role in stemming global warming, a new study has found.

Power investor gets a shock

VietNamNet Bridge - Korean Teakwang Vina Industrial is getting a grilling over high costs, fuel supply and waste treatment for its $2.48 billion Nam Dinh 1 coal-fired power project.

74-year-old woman enters finale of singing contest

VietNamNet Bridge – Mrs. Le Thi Nhung, 74, moved the audience of the semi-final round in the “Evergreen Singing” contest for amateur singers aged 35 and up, by her emotive voice to win a ticket to the finale.

Garment products selling slowly - companies scaling down production

VietNamNet Bridge – The low demand for garment products in the context of the high inflation has forced garment producers and suppliers to narrow their production scale.