VIETNAM TODAY

Central city Danang’s secretary Nguyen Ba Thanh announced a zero tolerance policy against traffic policemen taking bribes, in a bid to ratchet up social security.

The Greek parliament formally ratified a second eurozone bailout scheme worth up to 130 billion euros ($170 billion) to save it from defaulting on its national debts.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck southwest Mexico, sending panicked people onto the streets.

The Ministry of Information and Communications has yet to make any official decision on the merger of VinaPhone and MobiFone, one official said.

Vietnamese martial artists secured second place at a Muay Thai World Championship, which concluded in Bangkok.

The capital city faced a trade deficit of up to US$2.91 million while HCM City gained a trade surplus of US$58 million in the first quarter this year, according to statistics office estimates.

The death toll in Syrian protests rose as Damascus ally Russia said President Bashar al-Assad had made "a lot of mistakes" in clamping down on the year-old demonstrations.

Myanmar ’s President Thein Sein arrived in Hanoi for a two-day official visit. He was given a grand welcome ceremony by his Vietnamese counterpart, Truong Tan Sang.

A Vietnamese company’s acquisition of the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel marks a bold move in the context of Vietnam’s current real estate sector.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck southwest Mexico, damaging hundreds of houses and sending people into the streets of the capital.

Ten is the highest level in the Vietnamese grade scale, which is given to excellent pieces of school works; but students now have become tired of receiving 10 grades from teachers.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to add Dong Ho folk woodcut painting to the list of cultural heritages of Vietnam that seek UNESCO’s recognition as world cultural heritage in 2012-2016.

Operation Smile will organise a charity art auction and gala dinner in HCM City on May 26 to raise funds for 500 surgeries for Vietnamese children.

The Australian Consulate-General in HCM City announced a special performance featuring one of Australia’s leading indigenous dance groups “Descendance” at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House.

Many Vietnamese guest workers are stranded in Malaysia after their employer failed to extend their visas, confirmed an agency of the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The density of traffic in urban areas is the main cause of severe air pollution in Vietnam, experts said.

Near-simultaneous attacks in several Iraqi cities killed at least 30 people on the anniversary of the US-led invasion of the country, just days before Baghdad hosts a landmark Arab summit.

Thousands of people have gathered at the Mong ethnic minority cultural festival on top of Ta Leng Mountain, Tam Duong district in northern Lai Chau province.

An increase in container shipping fees has caused more financial difficulties for exporters, according to a recent report.