Church near U.S. school shooting site evacuated following threat

 A church in U.S. state Connecticut was evacuated Sunday because of an unspecified threat. The church was near the site of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting which had left 28 people dead.

Japan to co-produce TV series on patriot's life

A dramatic series on the life of Vietnamese patriot Phan Boi Chau will be co-produced by Viet Nam Television (VTV) and the Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) to air next year

SPORTS IN BRIEF 17/12

  16 best national tennis players compete in Vietravel Cup 2012; Petanque stars seal silvers at Asian Championships; Viet Nam shine at ASEAN University Games in Laos

Vietnamese do not want same-sex marriage, survey

VietNamNet Bridge - Over 75 percent of respondents said that the homosexuals have the right to pursue happiness, the right to adoption, but only 36 percent supported same-sex marriage.

Deputy Minister of Health Cao Minh Quang not re-appointed

VietNamNet Bridge - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a decision to not re-appoint Deputy Minister of Health, Cao Minh Quang, who was appointed to this position for a term of 5 years from 2007.

Italy's recovery to start in late 2013: central bank

 Italy's economic recovery is likely to begin in the third or fourth quarter of 2013, the central bank governor said on Sunday, urging any new government to continue reforms and cut red tape for businesses.

Groundwater to be inspected

 VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has ordered provincial and municipal People's Committees to re-examine the granting of permits for groundwater use.

French biography honours Gen. Giap

 VietNamNet Bridge – A book on legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap written by French philosopher Georges Boudarel has been translated into Vietnamese and released nationwide.

Series of blasts kill 11, wound 50 in north Iraq

 A series of blasts rocked Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk on Sunday night, killing at least 11 people and wounding 50 others, a local police source told Xinhua.

Artist Dan takes it back to the streets

 VietNamNet Bridge – Artist Nguyen Ngoc Dan depicts the corners of Ha Noi with tangled electric wires in Pho (Streets), an exhibition that opened last Friday, Dec 14.

President announces laws on tax, corruption

 VietNamNet Bridge – President Truong Tan Sang announced nine laws, three resolutions and one ordinance last Friday, Dec 14.

Garment producers gear up to prepare for TPP

With the current export growth rate, the garment export turnover would be 13 billion dollars by 2020. However, with the Trans – Pacific Partnership agreement TPP, the figure would be as high as 22 billion dollars.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 17/12

  Visiting Haitian PM looks to boost ties; Filipino fisherman handed over; Phu Quoc urged to become a special administrative EZ; Thai Senate’s Vice President visits HCM City

Digging a foundation, discovering ancient tomb of a “princess”

VietNamNet Bridge - A family in the central province of Quang Binh while digging a foundation, discovered an ancient tomb with a stone stele engraved with five ancient Chinese characters, translated as "Princess Ly Kieu Oanh."

Tokyo stocks up 1.62% after conservative win in Japan polls

 Tokyo stocks soared 1.62 percent at the open on Monday after Japan's conservative opposition swept to victory in national polls, with promises from its leader to press for more central bank easing.

Two years, eight bosses give up football

VietNamNet Bridge - Massive retreat of football investors in a short time has made Vietnamese football fall into a severe crisis.

Vietnam attends international communist conference

 VietNamNet Bridge – A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has attended a conference on international communist movements in Moscow, Russia.

Hydropower 2012: Gray picture

The earthquakes in Song Tranh 2 hydropower area, the collapse of Dak Mek 3 dam or the dam of Dakrong 3 hydropower plant bursting after rains... have made the public extremely upset about the hydropower sector in 2012.

Baby elephant found dead in Yok Don National Park

VietNamNet Bridge – On the morning of December 14, rangers of the Yok Don National Park, in Ea Sup district, Dak Lak province, cooperated with the local authorities to examine the scene where a baby elephant was dead.

The story of the oldest epitaph in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The inscription carved on a cliff recording the victory of the King’s father Tran Minh Tong is one of the most special epitaphs of feudal historians. Seven centuries have passed but the rock inscription still looks fresh.

Billions of dong wasted on medical stations’ waste water treatment systems

Healthcare stations in HCM City, small and big, all have been told to build waste water treatment systems, which is a big waste of money.

Big guys combat for advantageous retail premises (Part 1)

The owners of well known brands have been flocking to the central area of HCM City, thus making the war for retail premises in the area scorching hot.

Online ads: the war between “familiarity” against “the colossal”

The competition between Vietnamese and foreign enterprises on the online ad market has been described as the fight of David against Goliath. In order to survive, Vietnamese need to apply their own tactical principle.

Congress to collect people’s comments on the revised Land Law

Organizations and individuals can submit comments on the revised Land Law to the National Assembly's Economic Committee and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

Doomsday tours give new perspective on modern life

Some people are worried about a Mayan prophecy that predicts the world is going to end before the year is out, possibly after being struck by a rogue asteroid.