Grand Sport provides ball to national league

 VietNamNet Bridge – Grand Sport of Thailand will be the official ball provider to the national V. League competition this year.

Vietnamese gymnast enters world gymnastics history

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese gymnast Pham Phuoc Hung has gone down in the history books of world gymnastics after a technique that he created and performed successfully was recently added to the Men's Gymnastics Code of Points

Mobile phone can find stolen motorbikes

VietNamNet Bridge - An old mobile phone installed with remote-control supervision and anti-theft system can easily find the location of a vehicle.

Dak Lak Yew forest revives

More than 10 years ago, scientists warned about the endangered yew (Glyptostrobus pensilis) forests in the central province of Dak Lak. Since then, activities have helped to preserve the species.

Prime Group likely to turn all Thai-owned

 Thailand’s SCG, the owner of an 85% stake in Prime Group, plans to acquire the remaining 15% to make the major ceramic tile maker in Vietnam a 100% Thai-owned concern.

Travel firms unprepared for regional integration

VietNamNet Bridge – The ASEAN Economic Community has been in place for more than one month, but many domestic travel agencies have not prepared products to attract more visitors from other ASEAN countries.

 

Pig slaughter rite held in private to avoid public controversy

VietNamNet Bridge – The northern province of Bac Ninh continued holding its traditional pig slaughter festival in private this year despite the public outcry. 

HCM City sets up hotline for public

VietNamNet Bridge – Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Dinh La Thang on February 15 instructed to set up a hotline so that residents can directly contact him, in an effort to listen to genuine opinions and confidential suggestions

Vietnamese groups earn big profit from overseas projects

 VietNamNet Bridge - Investing billions of US dollars abroad, many Vietnamese corporations have gradually harvested "sweet fruit" in recent years.

New lending rules to help VN banks: Moody's

 VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV)'s recent proposals on tightening lending rules would benefit local banks, the rating agency Moody's said on Monday.

Dao Xa Village craftsman helps preserve folk music

VietNamNet Bridge – To make a musical instrument is no less art than chiselling away at rock to make a sculpture. And an artisan from Dao Xa Village in the outskirts of Hanoi has spent a lot of time on the tough job.

HCM City drainage channels disappearing

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City’s canals, drains and waterways are being filled up or clogged, making the city increasingly susceptible to flooding during rains. A lack of public awareness and poor city management

Regulations on foreign traders’ representative offices, branches

  VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign traders may establish representative offices and branches in Vietnam according to the country’s international commitments.

Vietnam seeks Japanese prefecture’s aid in support industry

 President Truong Tan Sang has expressed his hope that Japan’s Gunma prefecture will assist Vietnam in areas of the locality’s strength such as industry, especially the support industry.

Ly Hoang Nam enters China F1 Futures quarter-final

 Ly Hoang Nam entered the men's singles quarter-finals of the China F1 Futures tennis tournament in Anning City on February 18.

MoH to provide free testing for Zika virus

 The Ministry of Health plans to administer free medical tests to people suspected of having contracted the Zika virus to allow for early detection, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said.

Foreign employees to pay social insurance premiums from 2018

 Foreign employees in Vietnam with work permits or practice certificates or practice licences granted by competent Vietnamese agencies will be covered by compulsory social insurance as from January 1, 2018.

Comic series wins International Manga award

 The first volume of a historical comic series by Vietnamese Phong Duong Comic has won the silver award at the ninth International Manga Awards hosted by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Party chief’s special envoy reiterates stronger ties with Laos

The Party General Secretary’s special envoy has described the continual reinforcement and development of traditional friendship between Vietnam and Laos as a strategic and vital issue to the respective cause of national building and defence.

Chinese goods illegally labelled as Vietnamese origin

VietNamNet Bridge - Experts have warned that Chinese have labelled their products as Vietnamese goods to cheat on the origin when exporting products to third countries.

Science minister presses for business start-up spirit

 VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan has called for a strong business start-up spirit this year to turn Vietnam into a start-up haven in the next decade.

Vietnam active at ASEAN-US Summit

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam was an active attendee at the recently concluded ASEAN-US Summit in California, significantly contributing to the success of the event,

Art & Entertainment News in Brief

CAMA ATK to host West African music night, Chocolat film to be screened, Art exhibit covers themes of migration, identity, Music, art festival to be held at Cargo Bar, Garage sale raises funds for charity restaurant

Asia shares gain as crude oil bounce boosts risk assets

 Asian stocks rose across the board on Thursday as crude oil extended gains on hopes that big producers will cap production, improving investor sentiment for riskier assets.

WHO seeks $56 million for Zika; Brazil microcephaly cases rise

 The World Health Organization (WHO) called on Wednesday for $56 million to combat the Zika virus, a disease that has been linked to severe birth defects in Brazil and has spread to nearly 30 countries and territories.