Tunisia announces curfew following unrest

Tunisian Interior Ministry announced curfew in Grand Tunis region starting from 8:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) Wednesday to 5:30 a.m. (0430 GMT) Thursday following unrest spread to the capital on Wednesday.

Ship carrying acid capsizes on Rhine in Germany

A ship carrying 2,400 tons of sulfuric acid capsized on the Rhine River in Germany early Thursday, causing two crews missing and a halt on vessel traffic, authorities said.

Brazil storm death toll tops 500

The death toll in the storms that hit Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state this week has reached 444 as rescue workers continued to search for survivors in debris Thursday.

Congratulations to Party Congress

VietNamNet Bridge - The Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) has described the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) as an important political event to Vietnam’s Party, State and people.

Bulk of foreign currency supply to stabilize forex in 2011

VietNamNet Bridge - Financial experts are confident that the foreign exchange rate will be stable in 2011 thanks to the huge foreign currency supply and the central bank’s more flexible monetary policies.

Travel firms say regret late Tet holiday announcement

VietNamNet Bridge - Tour operators in HCMC have said they have missed a great business chance for launching more tours for the Lunar New Year (Tet) as the long holiday schedule was announced a little bit so late.

Vietnam’s economic freedom jumps 5 notches to 139th

VietNamNet Bridge -  Vietnam is rated the world's 139th freest economy in a 2011ranking released Wednesday by the U.S.-based Heritage Foundation, up from 144th last year.

Young football star penalized for breaking contract

Unilaterally breaking his contract with Nam Dinh club, Hoang Danh Ngoc, a member of the national football team for the less than 23 years old (U23), was suspended for 18 months and has to pay VND2.4 billion ($120,000) to Nam Dinh.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/1

Garment sector looks to boost world export standing; Tariff rules stir auto industry optimism; Aluminium project to begin production; Labor strikes increase before Tet; Footwear industry needs leg-up

Newly-emerging and fading-out stars in 2010

Female stars of the Vietnamese showbiz reaped both sweet and bitter fruits in 2010.

Animal husbandry in northern Vietnam hit by chill

VietNamNet Bridge – In several days, the number of dead cattle in northern Vietnam has rocketed. By January 12, nearly 4400 buffaloes and cows were dead, up by nearly 2000 heads over January 11.

Scores of companies need a reality check

VietNamNet Bridge - Many private-owned enterprises are seeing the country’s economic picture this year through rose-coloured spectacles.

Congress delegates discuss wide range of issues

VietNamNet Bridge - Delegates to the ongoing 11th National Party Congress in Hanoi held a plenary session on the afternoon of January 13, during which they heard a number of presentations.

Ten finalists of Hot VTeen 2010

The best ten contestants of the Hot VTeen 2010 competition have been chosen. They will show their talents in the final night in HCM City tonight, January 14. The winners will be honored at the Gala Hot VTeen, also in HCM City, on January 22.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 14/1

Vietnam hosts eighth Asia Media Summit; Orphanage worker cleared of child abuse; Man gets two years for motorbike scam; Data warehouse opens; Unlicensed boat tragedy kills two

Fire burns down a dozen of old houses in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – A fierce fire broke out in the old quarter, built under the French rule period, in HCM City in the morning of January 13.

Steel, cement consumption to grow 10% this year

VietNamNet Bridge - The consumption of steel and cement is expected to grow 10% this year as economic recovery will drive up the construction sector, said the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

HCM City may have agency to control “dead holes”

A center with geological database and data of underground works is considered the optimal solution to detect and prevent dead holes in HCM City.

Businessmen jostle to register businesses in Hanoi

Many businessmen complain that at a time when the temperature has fallen to 10 degrees Celsius, they have to queue in front of the business registration agency in the chilling weather to register their business.

Vietnam’s football in good position

The Vietnam Football Federation’s (AFF) Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan has been elected to the Asian Football Federation (AFC) Executive Board. On this occasion, Tuan talked with a local newspaper about the position of Vietnam’s football in Asia.

Vietnam fails to meet 10-year tourism goals

Vietnam failed to meet its 10-year target to turn the country's tourism industry into a key sector, although it met two of its goals, achieving 25 million in domestic tourists by 2009 and reaching an annual of US$4 – 4.5 billion in revenue by 2010.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 13.1

Bullet train gets a second look; Illegal coal barges seized by customs; Exports to Japan increase by 23% to $7.7 billion; Long An exports total $1.4 billion; Military bank opens new branch in Laos  

VTV, VTC to air V-League 2011

The national television broadcaster VTV and state-owned digital broadcaster VTC have reached agreement with private group AVG on the copyright of the upcoming V-League.

Politburo member reports on PCC leadership

Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee (PCC)’s Secretariat presented a report on the Party Central Committee’s leadership.  

Alain Vu: one of world’s seven male sopranists

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese French Alain Vu is a rare singer in the world who is both a bass and a sopranist.