CULTURE AND SPORT

Several major airlines safely flew test flights without passengers over Europe on Sunday despite official warnings about the dangers of a volcanic ash plume.

KLM, the Dutch subsidiary of Air France, says it has flown a plane through the cloud of volcanic ash covering Europe without suffering any damage.

A lingering volcanic ash plume forced extended no-fly restrictions over much of Europe on Saturday, as thousands were stranded in Asia for a second day.

A ceremony kicked off the American leg of Southwest Chamber Music's "Ascending Dragon Music Festival" - the largest-ever cultural exchange between Vietnam and the U.S.

A huge cloud of volcanic ash from Iceland spread further across Europe, grounding thousands more flights.

The Australian Embassy has released details of its special cultural programme designed to get into the 2010 party spirit with Hanoi.

Rescuers probed the rubble for sounds or movement Friday in a rush to find anyone buried alive more than 48 hours after an earthquake hit western China, killing at least 791 people.

Air travellers around the world braced for a fresh wave of cancelled and delayed flights after a volcanic ash cloud from Iceland prompted authorities to close airspace across northern Europe.

Investigators blamed pilot error Thursday for a crash that killed Poland's president.

Thailand's government urged "Red Shirt" protesters Thursday to return to the negotiating table as the army cleared abandoned armoured vehicles from Bangkok's streets.

Rescue workers dug through piles of rubble Thursday searching for survivors of a devastating quake in China which killed over 600 people and left thousands homeless.

After 3 consecutive tough losses, Le Thuy Hai expressed his hope to resign from his position as Ninh Binh football team's head coach.

About 110 martial artists, including 53 from other countries, will compete in the 2010 International Judo Tournament to be held in Hanoi.

A violent tropical storm killed at least 84 people and devastated more than 67,000 homes as it swept across eastern India and Bangladesh overnight.

Filmed entirely on location, the show follows restaurateur Nguyen on a culinary journey through the southern regions of Vietnam.

A strong earthquake hit a remote mountainous area of China Wednesday, killing 400 people and injuring 10,000.

Vietnam always places top priority to safety and security as it employs nuclear energy, PM Nguyen Tan Dung remarked at the Nuclear Security Summit.

The first live show of the dancing reality show "Buoc Nhay Hoan Vu" took place on the dance floor in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam shares the international community’s concern over the threat of nuclear terrorism, said PM Dung at the Nuclear Security Summit.