Motorbike drivers to be fined if wearing fake helmets

VietNamNet Bridge – Motorbike drivers who wear uncertified helmets will be fined up to VND200,000 ($10), according to a draft regulation.

Russian presidential elections return Putin

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam congratulated Russia for holding a successful presidential election and to Vladimir Putin for his triumph, said Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi.

Greek withdrawal from eurozone would be disaster: Barroso

A withdrawal of Greece from the eurozone would be "a disaster" for the Greek people, said Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission on Monday during his visit to Vienna.

Art of Vietnam’s top photographer of nude pictures

VietNamNet Bridge – Below are some nude photos in Thai Phien’s “Spring Time” photo book, which stirred up the public for a time.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 6/3

German conductor to perform in Hanoi; Van Mai Huong wins Favourite Song; Duong Lam’s VND10 billion restoration underway; City fashion show captures new Vaio S features; Bookstores gradually attracting more young readers 

Deputy PM urges focus on scientific research

VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan has told university educators that continued socio-economic development would depend on improved scientific research at the tertiary level.

Polish painter captures Vietnamese vistas

VietNamNet Bridge – Polish painter Franciszek Ryszard Mazurek has been inspired by the peaceful landscapes of Viet Nam to create a series of paintings that will be presented in an exhibition opening in Ha Noi tomorrow, March 7.

Vietnam Forum opens in US

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Forum was officially established by the Vietnamese Embassy in the US on March 5.

Hue river shows ignore customers

VietNamNet Bridge – Traditional music performances on floating stages on the Huong (Perfume) River need revamping if local authorities want to attract more visitors to the former imperial city of Hue, insiders have said.

Iranian conservatives' sweep in 1st round of parliamentary polls to dim nuclear talks

With Monday's announcement of the conservative hard-liners' unchallengeable lead in the first round of Iranian parliamentary elections, the Islamic republic may have a new parliament with an absence of reformists,

100 hectares of national park burnt

VietNamNet Bridge – A four-day fire has burnt around 100 hectares of forest in the Hoang Lien National Park in the northern province of Lao Cai. The fire has not yet been controled because firemen could not use specialized equipment.

Cuban hurdler Robles won't defend title in Turkey

Cuba's hurdling champion Dayron Robles won't defend his title in the upcoming World Athletics Indoor Championships in the Turkish city of Istanbul later this month, a top sports official confirmed on Monday.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 6/3

450 businesses to attend Pharmed & Healthcare Vietnam 2012; Ring sending “bar girls” to Malaysia busted; France provides VND35 billion for Hanoi public transport; 7 million doses of bird flu vaccine imported

What do Quang Ninh’s leaders say about casino project?

The Quang Ninh provincial authorities have affirmed that if the casino project is licensed, it would attract a lot of investors.

Linh wins bronze in Germany

VietNamNet Bridge – Taekwondo fighter Chu Hoang Dieu Linh won a bronze medal at the German Open in Hamburg yesterday, March 5.

US$187 million for HCM City’s traffic center

VietNamNet Bridge – Investing up to $187 million to build a traffic center, HCM City authorities expect that the center would help them deal with traffic congestion.

ASEAN Television Golden Voice Festival opens

VietNamNet Bridge – In ao tu than, traditional dress, singer Thanh Ngoc performed “Thang Long-Hanoi’s Thousand-year History” in the opening night of the ASEAN Television Golden Voice Festival in HCM City on March 5.

Chess title up for grabs after seventh round

VietNamNet Bridge – A slew of stalemates yesterday, March 5, in the seventh round of the 2012 HD Bank International Open Chess Tournament means no player has been able to seize the upper hand and the title race is still wide open.

Obama says there is still window for diplomacy on Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday that there is still a "window" for a diplomatic resolution on Iran's nuclear issue, while the visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that Israel reserved the right to defend itself.

200 native fish released into wild

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 200 native rasbora (Rasbora paviana) and fighting fish (Betta splendens) were released last Sunday into Cau Do Canal in HCM City's Binh Thanh District, a tributary of the Sai Gon River.

French aid sought for traffic centre

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City has asked the Government to put a US$187 million project on building the most modern traffic control centre in the country on the lists of projects acquiring French official development assistance.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 6/3

State President visits Marine Police Department; Singapore PM eyes more trade with VN; PM sends condolences over head-on train crash in Poland; Senior leaders congratulate new Russian President

Coffee insurance fund makes it more difficult to export coffee?

Under the new regulations, from October 2012, every member of the Vietnam Cocoa and Coffee Association (Vicofa) would have to pay 2 dollars for every ton of coffee exported. The money would go to the coffee insurance fund.

NA Chairman talks with Danish lawmaker

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has praised multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark that have grown well in economics, trade, investment, cooperation, development, culture, education and training and scientific research.

Two Vietnamese sailors die in Korean ship fire

VietNamNet Bridge - Two Vietnamese sailors died and four others were injured when the Korean fishing boat Jung Woo 3 caught fire at Montevideo port in Uruguay on March 3.