Forced to be “cultured families”

 VietNamNet Bridge - Starting from the idea of humanity, the movement called "All people unite to build cultural life in residential areas" has become formalistic.

Electronics workers face daily hazards

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of thousands of workers in the country's electronics industry were at risk from hazardous working conditions caused by the chemicals used in the manufacturing and assembly process,

Art & Entertainment Headlines January 16

 Spring Festival to open in Hanoi; Denmark funds Vietnam’s art projects; Vietnam’s folk paintings on show; Japan helps with Thang Long Citadel preservation; Binh Duong to host final round of cooking contest

Social Headlines January 16

 WB supports Vietnam's transport development network; Danish Ambassador honoured with insignia; American veteran returns war momento; Artist rewarded for sketches of kidnapper for police

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/1

 Vinacomin focuses investment on key projects; Shrimp exports to China increase sharply; Agricultural exports to rise sharply in 2014; Taxation sector asked to help remove obstacles for business

Endangered macaques transferred to national park

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh Province has received three stump-tailed macaques (Macaca arctoides) for further care and eventual rerelease into nature.

US unveils five-year development strategy for Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has introduced its 2014–2018 Country Development Cooperation Strategy (CDCS) for Vietnam, designed to help strengthen the US-Vietnam comprehensive partnership.

OPEC weekly crude basket price drops for second week

 The weekly Reference Basket Price of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries crude stood at 104.40 U.S. dollars per barrel last week, a sharp drop from 107.12 dollars the previous week,

EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 15-31 (daily updated)

Updated information about cultural events in big cities of Vietnam.

Authorities post decline in illegal logging

 VietNamNet Bridge – Forest protection efforts improved last year, with less violations reported than in 2012.

HCM City court sentences 14 in Agribank swindling case

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City People's Court yesterday handed down sentences to 14 defendants related to a case of fraud that occurred at the Agriculture and Rural Development Bank, Tan Binh Branch, five years ago.

Deputy FM: PM’s visit to Cambodia a success

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s just-concluded visit to Cambodia is a success, contributing to strengthening the fine neighbourliness, mutual trust and support between the two nations,

Sports Headlines January 15

 Tennis players summoned for Davis Cup; Eximbank to sponsor V-League 2014; Maybank Malaysia Open: New challenge for Tien Minh

Tax evasion in capital transfer deals remains a hot potato for MOF

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Taxation Sub-department has found that a lot of the capital transfer deals have been made recently, but the tax sums the agency has collected from the deals are modest.

Young teacher and thousands of artworks carved on pencils

 VietNamNet Bridge – Duong Van Kien, 32, a teacher of Hoang Hoa Tham high school in Da Nang city has created thousands of sculptures on pencils and entertains the idea of turning them into tourism products.

U.S. Congress rejects Obama's funding plan for IMF

 The U.S. Treasury Department said Tuesday it was disappointed by Congress' failure to include a plan that would help the International Monetary Fund (IMF) carry out its quota and governance reform package.

Rockefeller's company pours $2.5 billion into Vietnam resort

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to Bloomberg, Rose Rock – a company of tycoon Rockefeller will invest $2.5 billion into an apartment – resport project in Tuy Hoa city, the central province of Phu Yen.

ASEAN Para Games open in Myanmar

 VietNamNet Bridge – The seventh ASEAN Para Games officially opened yesterday (Jan 14) at the Wunna Theikdi Sports Complex in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar.

FCs lose billion dong due to VFF’s rules

 VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi T & T and Ninh Binh football clubs may have to pay huge compensations for foreign footballers owing to the change of rules by football management agencies.

Green tea 'can impede nadolol blood pressure medicine'

 While some of the many compounds in green tea confer health benefits, others may impede drug action

Political Headlines January 15

 Condolences collected for Sharon; Viet Nam, Spain enhance bilateral ties; Dominicans hope to deepen ties; Vietnam pursues self-reliant foreign policy

Vietnam boosts maritime security

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has closely co-operated with countries in the Gulf of Thailand in navigation security, the commander of Viet Nam Marine Police,

PM meets Cambodian king on anniversary of historic victory

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam always treasured and fostered sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term co-operation with Cambodia.

Life sentences proposed for cheating bank officials

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City prosecutors on January 13 demanded life imprisonment for Huynh Thi Huyen Nhu, former deputy chief of the Risk Management Department of the Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade,

Bitcoin has arrived in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – A notice appeared on a website, called the “forum for the parents,” last week: “Bitcoin accepted here,” with the symbol showing that bitcoin is the acceptable payment currency.