Slovenia develops new breast reconstruction treatment

Slovenian surgeons have successfully developed a new method of breast reconstruction for cancer patients, the Slovenian Press Agency (STA) reported on Tuesday.

UNESCO to inspect Thang Long Royal Citadel in June

VietNamNet Bridge – The UNESCO has always kept an eye on the Thang Long Royal Citadel, a world cultural heritage. The organization will inspect the site this June, said Director of the Institute of Archaeology Tong Trung Tin.

Localities slash capital spending

VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities have pulled the plug on VND3.4 trillion (US$161 million) worth of projects. Minister of Planning and Investment Vo Hong Phuc spoke with Tin Tuc (News) about cutting the State budget.

Ancestor worship flourishes in Viet Nam

VietNamNet Bridge – Ancestor worship is a longstanding belief and fine tradition of the Vietnamese people, researchers concluded at an international workshop held yesterday, April 13, in the northern province of Phu Tho.

Education link with China to get a boost

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and China will develop detailed programmes to boost educational co-operation in the near future, especially with Hunan Province.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 14/4

German journalist and writer visits Vietnam; Vietnamese fashion week in HCMC; Hanoi to host charity music festival; German thrillers at Idecaf this month  

Upcoming events in Hanoi, HCM City

Drum ‘n’ bass at Hanoi Rock City; Choral music and tango in HCM City; 15th Hennessy concert in Hanoi; Future shorts at Hanoi Sound Stuff 

Morning Star singing contest returns

The Viet Nam Television singing contest, Morning Star, began on Sunday. Organised bi-annually, the first round will run until June 30 to select the best contestants to go forward to the north, centre and south regional rounds in July.

Many workers labour under FIE employment conditions

VietNamNet Bridge - A low-salary, high-pressure environment is driving many workers at scores of Vietnam-based foreign-invested enterprises to strike or change jobs.

TEPCO Chief apologizes again following nuke emergency's upgrading

The President of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), owner of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Japan, apologized for a nuclear emergency at the facility which is leaking radioactive substances,

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/4

Gide Loyrette Nouel advises IFC on its $307 million investment in VietinBank; Enterprises told to ‘manage costs like you manage quality’;  Vietnam has potential to grow rapidly: British official; Hiep Phuoc wants to hand over power grid to EVN

VNPT won’t be allowed to possess two mobile networks

The Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT), the owner of the two most powerful mobile networks, VinaPhone and MobiFone, will have to equitize one of the two networks, or merge the two networks into one, due to the new regulations.

U.S. Congress unveils spending bill

The U.S. Congress on Tuesday revealed the 2011 spending bill, specifying where lawmakers will cut billions of dollars from the federal budget.

Oil markets to continue to tighten over next two years: EIA

Oil markets will continue to tighten over the next two years given expected robust growth in world oil demand and slow growth in supply from non-OPEC countries, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said Tuesday.

Putin says he may run for president in 2012

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that he and President Dmitry Medvedev may both run in the 2012 presidential election.

Asked to tighten credit, banks try to expand business through subsidiaries

VietNamNet Bridge – How to make profits once the credit growth rate is curbed at 20 percent has become a headache for all banks. Expanding the scale of business through subsidiaries is one of the solutions.

New York's Carnegie Hall marks 120 years with James Taylor concert

Carnegie Hall in New York City threw a gala concert Tuesday night featuring James Taylor and other renowned musicians to mark its 120th anniversary.

Spain leads FIFA rankings while Brazil remains third

Brazil replaced Germany in the third place in the latest FIFA world ranking released on Wednesday, while World Cup winner Spain continues to lead the rankings ahead of the Netherlands.

Three million people attend Hung Kings festival

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Nghia Linh Mountain in the midland province of Phu Tho to light incense sticks and pay homage to Vietnamese ancestors during the Hung Kings’ death anniversary on April 12.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 13/4

Vietnamese experts train Lao Vovinam team; Vietnam takes part in World and Asian Billiard Champs 2011; Vietnam’s national volleyball teams get foreign coaches; Hai Duong wins rowing clubs national championship

Hoan Kiem turtle moved to “sanatorium”

VietNamNet Bridge – The council for treatment of Hoan Kiem turtle has decided to move the legendary turtle from the treatment tank to the “sanatorium”.

Popular French pianist to perform in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge - One of the leading French pianists, Roger Muraro, will perform in Hanoi and HCM City on April 23 and 26 2011.

HCM City needs 87,000 workers in Q2

VietNamNet Bridge – The need for labor of HCM City’s enterprises in the second quarter of 2011 grew  by 7-10 percent over the first quarter, totaling 87,000, including around 10,000 at industrial zones.

Competition heating up Vietnam’s aviation market

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has officially become a competitive aviation market after more licensed airlines have taken off and declared competition with the national flag air carrier Vietnam Airlines.

In hard times, domestic investment funds lying still

VietNamNet Bridge – While all trade moves by foreign securities investors have been regularly updated, the transactions of domestic investment funds have just been reported sporadically.