Vietnamese, Russian legislatures agree to strengthen partnership

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Russia have agreed to enhance co-ordination to further develop their comprehensive strategic partnership.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 12/3

  NA Vice Chairwoman greets Czech guest; Vietnam, Thailand to boost military ties; Vietnam, Japan strengthen ties; PM’s visit to Laos fosters development links

Constitution: Just fixing “ripe” issues

VietNamNet Bridge - According to Deputy Minister of Justice - Hoang The Lien, the Constitution must have long-term viability so only ripe issues will be fixed, the rest will be adjusted by bills.

Mistakenly promoting Chinese landscapes, VNAT reviews responsibility

The stall of Vietnam at an international tourism fair in Germany mistakenly promoted the image of Leshan Giant Buddha of China – the world highest stone statue.

Japanese consultants hired to evaluate earthquakes in Song Tranh

The situation of quakes in Song Tranh 2 Hydropower Plant is being surveyed by two Vietnamese and Japanese consulting firms. After obtaining the results, the Government will decide whether this hydropower is allowed to store water or not.

Hanoi: Five-storey steel frame house collapses in fires

On March 11, a fire broke out from the first floor of a furniture store of hundreds of square meters on Au Co Road, Tay Ho district, Hanoi and spread quickly, making the five-story steel frame building collapse.

Nearly 720 Chinese vessels detected to have violated Vietnam’s sovereignty

In 2012, the Border Guard Command of Da Nang City discovered 717 Chinese fishing boats encroaching in Vietnam’s waters, according to a report of the Border Guard Command and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Da Nang.

What are young artists thinking about?

VietNamNet Bridge – The exhibition "What are young artists thinking about?" is the passion, the thirst for innovation and creativity.

The policies that take effect on March 15

Those who experienced cosmetic surgeries will not be allowed to participate in beauty pageants; specimens and products made from white rhino, black rhinos and African elephants will be banned from export, import, trading, etc.

Authors oppose Amazon control of .book websites

 Groups representing US authors and publishers have called on the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers to deny online retailer Amazon exclusive rights to websites ending with .book, .author, or .read.

After surgery in Taiwan, aging woman gets old again

After treatment of aging in Taiwan last year, the health of 29-year-old woman from Hoi An town - Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai – was better and she looked younger. But for the last one month, her health has declined and her skin has been itchy again.

N. Korean leader threatens strike on South island

 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has issued a detailed threat to "wipe out" a small South Korean island in a further escalation of already elevated military tensions on the Korean peninsula.

Hoi An: World’s favourite destination

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ancient Hoi An town wins the hearts of tourists with its laid-back lifestyle and the sincerity, plainness and enthusiasm of its residents.

MOIT lends a hand to EVN to raise electricity price

The retail electricity price may increase continuously, which would put a heavy burden on households and businesses, since MOET plans to give more power to the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) in defining the electricity price.

European firms have confidence in nation

VietNamNet Bridge – Business confidence and outlook among European businesses in Viet Nam is improving slightly, the quarterly EuroCham Business Climate Index Survey done last month shows.

Central Highlands faces fierce drought

Fields are cracked, flowers wither, coffee gardens are burned, people have to skim sips of water from the Ba River to use… This is the current situation of people in the Central Highlands in this year's drought.

Teak forests completely ruined by “vortex saws”

More and more precious teak wood forests in Bac Kan province have been devastated by illegal lumberjacks, with the support of modern engine petrol-run saws.

Schools spend billions of dong to scramble for students

Tens of billions of dong have been spent by schools, tens of groups of consultants have been sent to provinces and cities in an effort to attract more students.

Hi-tech GPS bugs flooding the market

It’s so easy to do wiretapping nowadays with the support of high technology. The next-generation bugs tend to be smaller and have more useful features, including the global positioning GPS.

Vietnam considers loosening foreign currency management policy

Under the draft of the new Ordinance on Foreign Exchange, individual residents can borrow money from foreign sources, pay debts and must be responsible for the borrowing in accordance with the regulations to be drawn up by the government.

Foreigners enter for race at Laguna

VietNamNet Bridge – Over 200 athletes from the US, France, England, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Japan are scheduled to race in the Laguna Lang Co Triathlon on April 14,

61 dead and injured in coach accident on March 8

 VietNamNet Bridge – Two buses collided in Cam Ranh City, central Khanh Hoa Province yesterday morning causing eleven passengers died and more than 50 others were critically injured

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/3

Samsung taxed by review plan; Bright forecast for textile industry; US$112 million ADB loan for agricultural development; Price adjustments feared to fuel inflation: survey

Growing CPI threatens share trade volumes

 VietNamNet Bridge – Securities trading last week declined. The VN-Index on the HCM City Stock Exchange lost 1.36 per cent over the previous week, reaching 470.68 points.

HCM City unable to tackle bogus companies

 VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are unable to manage bogus companies that have been registered a long time back, but now do not operate at all.