Coveted FA Cup set to be showcased in Viet Nam

VietNamNet Bridge – The world famous FA Cup will go on display in Ha Noi and HCM City from March 25-31, following an agreement signed on January 29 by the Football Association of England and the Viet Nam Football Federation.

Trinh Cong Son honored in Hue road renaming

VietNamNet Bridge – The central province of Thua Thien-Hue named 68 new roads in Hue city on March 17. A street along the Huong (Perfume) River is named after the late songwriter Trinh Cong Son.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 18/3

Boat Racing Festival underway in Mui Ne; FA Cup to be displayed in Viet Nam; T&T beat Maldives champs Victory SC; VN to play Hong Kong at Olympic qualifiers

Psychology fails to entice new students

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 1,000 new psychology graduates are required in HCM City each year, mostly as counsellors, but the number of students opting for the stream is very low.

Veteran cai luong actress returns to perform in Can Tho

VietNamNet Bridge – Mong Tuyen, a veteran cai luong (reformed theatre) actress and an overseas Vietnamese living in France, will perform in Can Tho city next Friday to mark her 40 years on stage.

Voices soar for first International Choir Festival

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands have braved the rain and came to the historic town of Hoi An to enjoy the opening of the first Viet Nam International Choir Festival.

Gala night to hail work of young volunteers

VietNamNet Bridge – Popular pop stars and music bands will perform at the HCM City Television Theatre next week to mark the 35th anniversary of the HCM City Young Volunteer Brigade.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 18/3

HTML clipboard Assembly deputies to meet for final session; Viet Nam, Cambodia boost legislative ties; Vietnam continues to aid Japanese quake victims; ASEAN Chair experience helps int’l integration

Oil bounces back above 101 dollars

U.S. crude oil price rebounded sharply on Thursday as supply concerns and higher demand expectation lifted the market.

Japan tests 10,000 people for radiation exposure in Fukushima Prefecture

Around 10,000 people who have visited health facilities and evacuation stations in Fukushima prefecture were tested for radiation exposure, local media reported Thursday, citing prefectural officials.

News Analysis: Global recovery to stay intact as Japan reels

While Japan reels from the double whammy of a major tsunami and an earthquake that set off a nuclear reactor crisis, it is unlikely to derail the global economic recovery.

UN Security Council okays no-fly zone over Libya

The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya and called for "all necessary measures," excluding troops on the ground, to protect civilians under threat of attack in the North African country.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 18/3

Eight men sentenced for disturbing public order; Offering incense in commemoration of Son My massacre; Italian NGO helps people with disabilities

Nuclear power project in Vietnam still on the way

“The National Assembly has approved the construction of nuclear power plants in the Ninh Thuan province, and the plan has not been changed until now”, said NA Office Chair Tran Dinh Dan, on March 17.

Japanese share with victims of My Lai massacre

“Japan experienced great losses in the war. We have recently been hit by terrible earthquakes and tsunamis. Commemorating the My Lai Massacre, we deeply understand the grief,” said Japanese Prof. Hiroshi Fujimoto.

Australia to grant medals to Vietnamese agronomists

VietNamNet Bridge – Seven leading agronomists of Vietnam will receive medals granted by Australia’s Crawford Fund for their great contribution to develop agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Vietnam.

1000-year-old ironwood trees

VietNamNet Bridge – The Association for Protection of Nature and Environment of Vietnam has recognized 54 ironwood trees, each nearly 1,000 years old, in the northern province of Hai Duong as “Vietnam’s heritage trees”.

VN coffee needs stronger link to farmers

Vietnamese coffee needs to carve a brand identity for itself based on a system that guarantees a fair price for farmers as well as an environmentally-friendly production process, says Peter Timmer, Harvard University.

Vietnamese students honored in Australia

VietNamNet Bridge – With marks of 99.9, Truong Manh Tue has become the top laureate of Homebush High School in New South Wales, Australia, for the 2010 graduation exams. This is the highest point earner to enter a university in Australia.

Jermaine Jackson writes memoir on brother Michael

U.S. singer Jermaine Jackson is writing a memoir about his brother, the late pop icon Michael Jackson, according to media reports Thursday.

Ca tru artisans release album

Ca tru artisan Pham Thi Hue and her teacher – dan day player Nguyen Phu De, 88, have released ca tru album, entitled “Ca tru – Singing house”.

EU scraps anti-dumping tariffs on Vietnam shoes

VietNamNet Bridge - The European Union's anti-dumping tariffs on leather shoes exported from Vietnam will expire at the end of March, following decision to do away with the four-year duties.

Ancient statue unveiled in cemetery

VietNamNet Bridge – A family unearthed a strange ancient statue while digging a grave to bury their relative in a cemetery at the foot of a mountain named Xuong Rong in Pho Thuan commune, Duc Pho District, in the central province of Quang Ngai.

Air pollution alert

“Air pollution in Vietnam is getting serious in comparison with Southeast Asia and other Asian countries,” said Dang Van Loi, Deputy Director of the Agency for Pollution Control, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Bankers fear new policies will make profits low in 2011

Bank management boards have been told by shareholders to strive to obtain high profits in 2011. But, bankers say this is an impossible mission.