VIETNAM TODAY

UNESCO initiative promotes gender equality

UNESCO joins international and regional partners to launch the annual Women Make the News initiative on the International Women’s Day (March 8) themed “Advancing Global Partnerships to Achieving Gender Equality in and through Media.”

Cuba agrees to negotiate with EU on normalising ties

Cuba has agreed to begin negotiations with the EU on normalising ties after a decade of differences and sanctions, Havana's foreign minister said.

Microsoft signs cooperative deals with Vietnam

The Ministry of Information and Communications has just signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft, with the aim of promoting information technology development across Vietnam.

Housing stimulus package criticised for slow disbursal

A NA deputy has put up questions about the slow disbursal of the VND30 trillion real estate stimulus package which was launched in June last year.

Vietnam denies rumours about poverty reduction

Vietnam did not annually spend US$3.5 billion on feeding the apparatus in charge of poverty reduction, confirmed Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam.

Admissions renewed for 62 university courses

The Ministry of Education and Training has allowed a number of universities to renew admissions for 62 courses after meeting requirements for teaching staff, one official said.

Hue Festival to feature 60 art troupes

More than 60 art troupes from home and abroad have registered to take part in the biennial Hue Festival 2014, which is slated to take place on April 12-20 in the imperial city.

Syria war may last 10 more years

The brutal war in Syria could grind on for a decade as Iran and Russia prop up President Bashar al-Assad's regime and jihadist groups flood the battlefield, experts have warned.

Thousands of businesses set up in two months

Approximately 10,869 companies registered to begin trading in the first two months of this year with combined capital of VND62.9 trillion, up 13.1% in number and 28.4% in value against the same period last year.

Businesses turn away from luxury neighbourhood

A number of luxury house spaces for rent in Trung Hoa-Nhan Chinh urban area are being abandoned because of fleeing businesses and high rental fees despite economic downturn.

Vietnam to receive more FDI projects

Another foreign investment wave has been forecast to come to Vietnam from multi-national companies during the 2015-2020 period.

Iran to get second tranche of payment under nuclear deal: IRNA

Iran will soon receive a second installment of previously frozen assets which are being returned to it under an interim nuclear agreement with world powers, the official IRNA news agency quoted its central bank chief as saying.

HSBC: Vietnam’s CPI to rise 6.5 percent

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has revised down its forecast for Vietnam ’s Consumer Price Index to 6.5 percent from 7.3 percent this year.

HCM City’s rich list to triple over next 10 years

Global real estate company Knight Frank reveals the number of ultra-high-net-worth individuals in Vietnam’s HCM City is expected to triple by 2023, from 90 to 246, the largest increase along more than 80 cities worldwide.

Vietnamese-French woman to raise money to preserve Long Bien Bridge

A Vietnamese-French woman who has participated in various PR activities for Long Bien Bridge, said she is able to secure EUR80 million to restore the bridge.

Vietnam websites vulnerable to attack: BKAV

Vietnam remains among the countries most vulnerable to internet attacks, with 40 percent of websites containing security loopholes, according to the country's top internet security firm, BKAV.

Doctors enjoy financial supports in Quang Nam province

Medical graduates from three biggest medical universities of Hanoi, HCM City and Hue will get lots of financial support if they choose to work in the central Quang Nam Province.

China's growth target flexible, finance minister says

China's finance minister suggested on Thursday that a growth rate of "7.2 percent or 7.3 percent" would be acceptable, a day after the country announced a 2014 target of "around 7.5 percent".