A powerful storm caused flooding, landslides and blackouts in New Zealand on Sunday, leaving thousands of homes without power, emergency services officials said.

As many as 305 badminton players from 16 countries are expected to compete in the Ciputra Hanoi-Yonex Sunrise Vietnam International Challenge 2017, the organisers said on March 10.

 A lacquer painting exhibition featuring the Vietnamese practices related to belief in Mother Goddesses is taking place in Hanoi’s Fine Arts Museum.

 Mobile operator Vodafone will create 2,100 new customer service jobs across Britain in the next two years as part of an investment drive to improve operations in its home market.

  The 20th Francophone Day of the Mekong Delta came back to Can Tho city on March 11-12 in celebration of the International Francophonie Day (March 20).

 American blockbuster “Kong: Skull Island” has set a new record in box office revenues in Vietnam after snagging 18.2 billion VND (798,200 USD) from the opening day on March 10 and early screenings on March 9 night.

 Disgraced South Korean leader Park Geun-hye left the presidential Blue House on Sunday, two days after a court dismissed her over a corruption scandal, facing life as a private citizen and the possibility of jail.

Despite facing challenges, Vietnam has great opportunities to sustain its high economic growth rate, a seminar heard in HCM City on March 9.

 Weak supply chains and the impacts of climate change are hindering efforts by the Central Highlands to grow into a thriving agricultural hub.

 Seven goods items earn billions of USD from export in first 2 months

The construction of the Tonkin Gulf fishery logistics center in Co To island district, northern Quang Ninh province, is expected to be put into operation in March, said Secretary of the district Party’s Committee Hoang Ba Nam. 

 As many as 32 Vietnamese tourism businesses are participating in the International Tourism Exchange Berlin (ITB) 2017 in Germany, which runs from March 8 – 12.

 Some 34,214 State-owned cars cost the State budget more than 486 million USD per year, according to Tran Duc Thang, Director of the Department of Public Asset Management under the Ministry of Finance (MoF).

 As many as 2,000 Vietnamese students are studying in New Zealand, the New Zealand Education revealed at a seminar recently held in Ho Chi Minh City to introduce opportunities in the country. 

 Over 60 Vietnamese entrepreneurs have convened in HCM City to hear about the benefits of corporate social responsibility (CSR) policies that integrate zero-tolerance towards threatened wildlife consumption.

 The ten winners of the Vietnam Outstanding Youth Faces Award 2016 were named on March 10 following a meeting of the organizers, the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union’s Centre Committee and the Fund for Vietnam’s Young Talents.

 Physical education is considered as important as academic education, but the role of physical education is limited in many schools, showing the need for more investment in infrastructure and manpower in the field.

 Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung has made a working visit to the EU from March 4-10, aiming to boost Vietnam – EU ties via lobbying for the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

 Vietnam’s relations with the US and Israel were the focus of a recent diplomatic reception held by the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the Asia Pacific Institute of the American Jewish Committee (AJC).

VietNamNet Bridge - A Google representative said that in the near future, Vietnam’s e-commerce performance will be ‘mobile only’.