‘All for charity': Aussie on 10-nation trip

VietNamNet Bridge – On a grey afternoon last week, Morgan Parker arrived in Tam Dao National Park near Ha Noi on a huge, mud splattered motorbike. He was on the eighth day of a 100-day expedition to raise money and awareness

Demand for Tamiflu increases as H1N1 cases rise

VietNamNet Bridge – With swine flu having made a comeback and already begun to take its casualty toll in Vietnam, demand for Tamiflu has increased greatly.

Singaporean movie stars visit Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The famous couple from Singapore - Fann Woon Fong and Christopher Lee - appeared at an event in HCM City on March 12. The couple captured the attention of the local media and hundreds of young fans.

Lines short circuit electricity plans

VietNamNet Bridge - Transmission lines’ poor capacity is exacerbating Vietnam’s power crisis.

Rising salt water threat to HCM City supplies

VietNamNet Bridge – Clean water shortages could occur in HCM City if pumping stations on Sai Gon and Dong Nai rivers are closed.

More than 600ha needed to beat parking shortage

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City needs nearly 650ha of land to meet its public transportation parking needs by 2015, but how and when it is going to create this space remains an open question, experts say.

Female migrant workers need recognition of rights

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thi Hoa, 35, left her home town four years ago to work in Ha Noi hoping to earn enough money to improve her poor family's income.

Hungarian honour for VN translator

VietNamNet Bridge – Le Xuan Giang, a veteran translator of Hungarian literature into Vietnamese, has been awarded the Gold Cross Medal, one of Hungary's highest honours.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 15/3

Opinions sought on NA candidates; Viet Nam offers aid, sympathy to Japan; USCIS to close Vietnam field office

Ha Noi issues quake plan

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi People's Committee has issued a plan to protect the public with timely earth-quake warnings and safety measures.

2,414 deaths confirmed in Japan quake: police

The National Police Agency said Tuesday that Friday's catastrophic quake and ensuing tsunami have claimed 2,414 lives and left 3,118 others missing in Japan by 8:00 a.m. (2300 GMT Monday).

Germany temporarily halts nuclear extension plan

Germany would suspend the plan of extending the lifespan of its 17 nuclear power plants for three months, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced Monday, amid fears of meltdowns at several nuclear plants in quake-hit Japan.

New dads also at risk for postpartum depression

Just like many women who suffer from postpartum depression, new dads can also be depressed, according to a recent observational research.

Nikkei plummets 6.18% after catastrophic quake, tsunamis

Tokyo stocks received a much anticipated pummeling Monday, with the key Nikkei stock index plunging 6.18 percent to a four-month closing low as factories, production lines and ports ground to a halt over the weekend

VFA unexpectedly lowers floor price for exporting rice

The Vietnam Food Association VFA has decided to slash the floor price for rice exports by 10-20 dollar per ton, starting from March 12.

35 killed, 33 wounded in N Afghan blast

The death toll of the suicide against a army recruitment center Monday here has reached to 35, spokesman for provincial administration Mahboubullah Sayedi said.

Preserver of ancient lamps

VietNamNet Bridge – Catholic priest Nguyen Huu Triet of Tan Sa Chau Churd in HCM City has collected more than 1,300 old lamps in 17 years. Some of them were made 2,500 years ago.

Explosion heard at No.2 reactor of Fukushima No.1 nuke plant: agency

Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said Tuesday that an explosion was heard at the No. 2 reactor of Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant at 6:10 a.m. Tuesday (2110 GMT).

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 15/3

HTML clipboard Exhibition on glorious tradition of Vietnamese youth; Restoring Phong Le temple to cost more than $66,000; Vietnamese movies to mark Cinema Day in HCM City; Photographer opens gallery with black and white shots

Daniel Radcliffe to play "How to Succeed" after "Harry Potter"

The “Harry Potter” actor Daniel Radcliffe is leaving Hogwarts and starring in his first Broadway musical, a revival of the 50-year-old Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying”.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 15/3

Exhibition highlights Vietnam-Laos traditional relations; French-funded facility to unify city traffic lights; Last Vietnamese evacuated from Libya arrived home; 2 face death for killing Communist Party official 

Miss Teen to represent Vietnamese youth at international forum

VietNamNet Bridge – Miss Teen 2010 Diem Trang, a student from the National University, will attend the Asia-Pacific Youth Forum in HCM City from March 20-26.

License revoked for $11.4 bln Creative City

Authorities have officially revoked a license for a mammoth US$11.4 billion tourism project invested by US-based Galileo Investment Group Inc in the central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen, a top official confirmed.

British musical play to be performed in Hanoi

VietNamNet Bridge – A British musical entitled “My Fair Lady” will be introduced at the Hong Ha Theatre, 1 Duong Thanh, Hanoi as of April 1 by the Hanoi International Theatre Society – HIST.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/3

New Zealand, Vietnam trade at $500 mln; Farm sector pushes Japanese trade; 3 city drug firms seek approval for price hikes; Exports to EU to face several tough barriers; VEC invites bids for $48 mln in bonds