Society

By April 15 this year it will take only five days, instead of the former seven for overseas Vietnamese to receive a visa waiver.

The Bank of Japan further eased monetary policy, increasing its asset purchase programme by 10 trillion yen ($130 billion) to about 65 trillion yen, as it looks to end deflation.

The Supreme People’s Court protested the verdict by Tien Lang District Court and Haiphong City People’s Court’s decision to suspend the appeal hearing of a farmer’s complaints against the forcible land reoccupation.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has stated that it had never announced to withdraw the Miss Vietnam title of Mai Phuong Thuy.

Three Vietnamese students competing at the second Asia Pacific Open Electronic Organ Competition held in Hong Kong all won top prizes, one official has said.

Vietnamese young chess star Le Quang Liem has failed to defend his champion title at the 2012 Open Aeroflot in Russia after his latest defeat on February 12.

Two more officials involved in the controversial forced relocation of residents from their land have been suspended.

Syrian troops pounded the protest hub of Homs, as an Arab League peacekeeping plan for the country went ignored.

China attaches great importance to developing relations with Vietnam, which benefit not only both peoples, but also peace, stability and development in the region and the world as a whole.

More extensive research should be conducted to determine whether poor quality petrol was responsible for the recent spate of vehicle fires, an expert said.

The PM has called for faster construction of the Hoa Lac high-tech park during his working session with its management board on Hanoi’s outlying district of Thach That.

The Ministries of Health, Finance, and Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs expect to raise the prices of nearly 400 of the current 3,000 plus medical technical services at hospitals.

The Ministry of Education and Training has requested universities to report the enrollment target for 2012 based on the schools’ training capability.

The Indonesian community and diplomats in Ho Chi Minh City launched a charity blood drive yesterday and collected 88.5 units of blood, or 22 liters of blood.

A project to expand Tuy Hoa Airport in the central province of Phu Yen was officially launched during a ceremony held by the Ministry of Transport.

Authorities in the central province of Thua Thien – Hue have started to build two conservation stations in forests inhabited by the Saola, one of the world's rarest mammals, in A Luoi District.

Ngoi Nha Trong Hem, a horror film about terrible secrets occurring in the house of a young couple whose marriage is heading for a break-up, will be screened at local cinemas on February 14.

Financial markets rose after Greek lawmakers approved radical budget cuts to secure fresh aid and avoid bankruptcy after a day of street battles left dozens injured and buildings ablaze.

The People’s Committee of Hai Phong City is planning to complete the Prime Minister’s directives on the Tien Lang land acquisition case by March 30.