Poverty eradication remains the overarching goal of global development efforts, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Permanent representative of Vietnam at the United Nations said at a session of the UN Economic and Social Council.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam could see a trade deficit in 2015 after three consecutive years of a surplus, as prices for crude oil, which Vietnam exports, have plummeted.

  Scientists have discovered two new species of beech, scientifically known as Castanopsis grandicicatricata and Castanopsis multiporcata, in Xuan Son National Park in the northern Phu Tho Province.

 About 10 panels carrying the images of the most important new Italian architecture will be displayed in an exhibition that opens tonight in downtown Ha Noi.

Rescuers on Friday morning recovered four more bodies from the Keelung River, raising the death toll from Wednesday's TransAsia Airways passenger plane crash to 35.

A conference was held in Hanoi on February 5 to officially release the Vietnam Coalition for Education for All, the fifth non-government organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training to implement educational goals.

 A set of stamps featuring Vietnam’s symbolic architectural heritage and landscapes was unveiled in Paris, France, on February 5.

A seminar reviewing the global prospect of biotech/genetically modified crops in 2014 took place on Tuesday in Hanoi to present the latest annual report on GM crop usage situation globally in 2014.

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Securities Commission (SSC) is revising Decree 58/2012 guiding the Securities Law to increase the foreign ownership limit at listed enterprises,

Several weeks ahead of the lunar New Year festival, the Poison Control Center in Hanoi received dozens of alcohol poisoning patients, up 30% compared to the same period last year. Some of the patients became blind from drinking fake alcohol.

 JW Marriott Hotel Hanoi has been recognized as one of the best hotels in Vietnam in a number of prestigious national and global travel awards.

 Representatives from the Hanoi Trade Corporation (HAPRO) recently paid a working visit to Angola where they met with governmental and industry leaders from import-export enterprises discussing potential investments in the South African country.

 Lotte Confectionery Co., Ltd. (Lotte) is now the main shareholder of Bibica Corporation (BBC) after its main counterweight SSI sold its entire holding.

VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang said that 97 percent of the total goods in the market are distributed by Vietnamese businesses, while foreign retailers hold only 3 percent.

 Gary Glitter has been found guilty of historical sex abuse against three young girls between 1975 and 1980.

Kien Giang to have more hotel rooms for tourists; Hala Abu Dhabi teams up with local travel firms; Jetstar launches four new routes before Tet; HCM City upgrades roads leading to Tan Son Nhat airport

 French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are due to hold talks in Moscow to try to end escalating fighting in east Ukraine.

 Kinh Do Confectionary Corporation plans to spend some VND530 billion (US$24.9 million) to buy a 27-per cent stake in the Viet Nam Vegetable Oil Industry Corporation (Vocarimex).

 Germany's Hubert Burda Media announced on Wednesday that it will invest in Vietnamese web browser and search engine Coc Coc.

 Vietnam will send a team of three students and their faculty advisor this February 12-15 to Boston to participate in the annual Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN) conference.

 Malaysia is looking to cooperate with Mekong Delta provinces and cities in clean agricultural development and green biotechnology to create environmental protection solutions.

 The 16th Vietnam Fun Cup or windsurfing competition, takes place the Phan Thiet beach’s Jibe Beach Club in Binh Thuan province on February 6-7.

 The list of nominees for the Golden Ball Award 2014, which is organised by the Saigon Giai Phong (Liberated Saigon) newspaper, was announced on February 4 in Ho Chi Minh City.

 The Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association has launched an Italian language publication themed “Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos: integral part of Vietnam’s territory” on the occasion of the 20 th publishing anniversary of its Mekong Magazine.

The Vietnamese film “Cha va con va…” is among nominations for the best film at the 65th Berlin International Film Festival, which is being held from February 5 to 15 in German capital of Berlin.