VIETNAM TODAY

The National Assembly of Vietnam is ready to set up relations with the Lithuanian legislative body to share experience, especially in legislation and supervision.

Tens of thousands of Vladimir Putin supporters marched through Moscow ahead of a gigantic rally seeking to prove his bid for the Kremlin enjoys popular support despite an outburst of protests.

The rumours that Petrol Vietnam would stop supplying E5 bio-petrol has been quashed by the company deputy director.

Child sex tourism is not mentioned specifically in Vietnamese legislation, but there are fears that it could be growing as the nation makes big advances in attracting holiday makers.

Australian researchers Thursday revealed they had filmed a pod of extremely rare Shepherd's beaked whales for the first time ever.

Vietnam Airlines has taken over the entire state-owned stake in the budget airline Jetstar Pacific.

Vietnam will start imposing European language requirements on PhD candidates beginning from April 2.

Indonesia said t would evacuate all 60 foreigners as well as female prisoners from a jail on Bali island currently under the control of rioting inmates.

Trai River, in Nghe An Province, has become seriously polluted by the wastewater from a mining and metallurgy company.

Vietnam requested consultations with the US, under the WTO dispute settlement system, after the US introduced anti-dumping measures on certain frozen warm water Vietnamese shrimps.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung instructed the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and trade unions to continue improving the living conditions for workers and protecting their legitimate interests.

The 2012 Golden Kite awards ceremony will be held at the Friendship Palace in Hanoi on March 13.

European governments have opened the way for a radical offer of "debt relief" for Arab north African and Middle Eastern neighbours, EU and governmental sources said.

The organising board has announced that the 2012 Earth Hour will be held in Vietnam from 8.30 pm - 9.30 pm on March 31.

A packed commuter train slammed into a retaining wall at a railway terminus in Buenos Aires during rush hour, leaving at least 49 dead, 600 injured.

The State Audit continues to uncover mismanagement in the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PVN).

The World Bank will continue its support by providing VND2.2 billion ($104,700) for the implementation of a HIV/AIDS prevention project in the central city of Da Nang.

The use of plastic bags hasn't changed much despite the Law on Environmental Protection has been in effect for two months.

Pre-schools in the Mekong Delta are in serious need of major investments to improve their poor facilities and deal with a severe teacher shortage.