Tuoitrenews briefs you on some news to be published today.

Society:

-- 12,000 newborn babies in Vietnam die on the first day of their lives every year, according to charity Save The Children.

-- Several cracks have been found on main piles of Vinh Tuy bridge, which spans the Red River in Hanoi.

-- Tons of a type of precious and rare wood, which is scientifically called “Dalbergia tonkinensis”, were found at the bottom of a stream in Bo Trach district in the northern central province of Quang Binh on February 25.

-- A man has died after getting bitten by a poisonous snake that he put in a bag and brought to a guesthouse in Cai Rang district in the southern province of Can Tho on February 24.

Business:

-- Vietnam Dairy Product Joint-Stock Co. (Vinamilk) on February 25 imported 220 milk cows from Australia by air. The country’s biggest dairy company plans to import 5,000 milk cows from Australia in 2014.

Lifestyle:

-- In its effort to encourage the culture of reading, writing, publishing and easy access to books for all, Vietnam has selected April 21 as the National Book Day.

Sports:

-- Manchester United were shunted towards an unscheduled exit in the Champions League after crashing to a shock 2-0 defeat at Olympiakos in their last 16 first-leg match on Tuesday (AFP).

-- Borussia Dortmund are poised for the Champions League's quarter-finals after Robert Lewandowski scored twice in Tuesday's 4-2 win at Zenit St Petersburg in their last 16, first-leg clash (AFP).

Politics:

-- A high-ranking dialogue themed “The changing development landscape: What does it mean for the UN system?” was chaired by Vietnamese Ambassador Le Hoai Trung at the UN’s headquarters in New York on February 24 (VNA).

-- The setting up of a direct telephone hotline between the defense ministries of Vietnam and China is necessary to strengthen cooperation between the two peoples and armies and help share information on issues of mutual concern in a timely manner, said Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan while receiving Miao Hongbo, head of the Zhong Nanhai telegraph office, on Feb. 25 in Hanoi (VNA).