HCMC committed to cutting red tape to aid foreign investors; Sugar inventories go down; State stake at Vinamotor turns attractive; Lotte keen on billion-dollar project in Thu Thiem;  Idle cash streams into banks after Tet

A report from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) showed that Japanese FDI in Vietnam has dropped by 65 percent to $2.02 billion.

 Thousands of locals joined the annual fish-worshipping festival yesterday, the 16th day of the first lunar month, in Thanh Khe Village.

 Japanese companies are keen to develop commercial facilities at the Ben Thanh underground station of Metro Line No. 1 under construction in HCMC.

Twelve projects in the Nhon Hoi Economic Zone have had their investment certificates revoked, while the Chan May – Lang Co Economic Zone Board of Management is planning to revoke certificates of nine projects.

 Russian authorities have detained two men in connection with the murder of the opposition leader Boris Nemtsov.

 Nigerian militant group Boko Haram has pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS), according to an audio statement.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Since most public infrastructure facilities are designed without the needs of people with disabilities in mind, their difficulties in traversing big city streets,

 Museum opens display honouring Da Nang Liberation Day; Youth Union launches history essay contest for Liberation Day; Hanoi hosts book festival this weekend

 Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has told the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to assess impact of hydropower damming in the mainstream Mekong River on residents in the downstream.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although a number of foreign companies have made a foray into the local electronics retail market, there are still room for domestic firms to open and operate their own supermarkets, according to industry insiders.

 The Trung Nam Group has recently restarted the construction of the Da Nang Information Technology Park in Hoa Vang District's Hoa Lien Commune in the central city of Da Nang.

 The National Volleyball Championships will be organised in April and draw participation of 23 teams.

  Electricity prices will go up 7.5 percent to an average of VND1,622.05 per kWh from March 16.

 Minh Phu Seafood Group Corporation (MPC), Viet Nam's largest shrimp exporter by revenue in 2014, will officially delist from the HCM City Stock Exchange (HoSE) from March 31 onwards.

 VietNamNet Bridge – An average of more than 50 workers died a month in labour accidents across the country last year,

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) acquired all the equity of the Viet Nam Construction Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VNCB) on Thursday.

 Flowers are in full bloom in Hanoi this March, creating a peaceful and fresh atmosphere.

 On the evening of March 5, Vietnamese-born French fashion designer Barbara Bui launched her latest Autumn/Winter 2015 collection, designed to accentuate the form and elegance of women, at Paris Fashion Week.

 It has just been announced that cruise ships will be delivering 7,180 passengers to Vietnam’s shores in the six day period leading up to March 12, providing a good start for the new tourism season.