Two packages detonated on Thursday at two government buildings in the U.S. state of Maryland, but caused no serious injuries, state authorities said.

There are 28.5 million debit and credit cards in Vietnam’s market. While people have to queue in front of ATMs  nearly 50,000 POS are left idle.

VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoian couple Bich Thuy and Thanh Trung chose the Vuong Mansion – an old two-storey wooden house in the Dong Van karst plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, as the background for their wedding photos.

More chartered flights for Tet; Windsurfing race in Mui Ne; Turkish Airlines flies to HCM City; Cyclists promote marine protection; Hotel offers special group package; Four Viet Nam hotels in top 500

VietNamNet Bridge – One-third of 63 popular online games have been restricted in HCM City as part of an effort to reduce the negative effects of games with violent content on children's behaviour.

More than 7,000 poor women nationwide receive houses; Hanoi sets up fund for AO/Dioxin victims; Traditional Tet specialties go abroad; Presenting Tet gifts to poor Vietnamese residents in Cambodia

VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi is facing a shortage of parking spaces in the lead up to the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, a problem that traditionally leads to overcharging and traffic chaos.

Stamps issued to mark 11th Party Congress; Museum exhibits 1,000 years of handicrafts; HCM City choir prepares special New Year treat; 17th century Truong Luy rampart to be recognised

VietNamNet Bridge – For the first time, cai luong (reformed theatre) and plays are on a par with TV series at the Mai Vang awards competition.

VietNamNet Bridge – Several new comic book series for children written and designed by Vietnamese authors and artists from HCM City-based TVC Culture Company will hit bookstore shelves nation-wide this month.

Junior Thien to compete in Australian Open in Melbourne; Amateur tennis players to contest SMiC Cup; VTV-Binh Dien Volleyball Cup begins in Dong Nai; Referee Dung chosen to train in English Premier League

Hungary officially took over the presidency of the European Union (EU) at a ceremony in the parliament building on Thursday evening, attended by EU and Hungarian dignitaries.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday named William Daley, an executive banker and former Commerce Secretary under Clinton administration, as his new Chief of Staff.

The year 2011 will be economically challenging and painful, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso warned here Wednesday.

When vaccinating children against varicella (chicken pox), researchers at Yale School of Medicine have found, two doses are better than one. The study will appear in the February 1 issue of Journal of Infectious Diseases.

An explosion occurred at the French embassy in Mali Wednesday night, Mali's security and civil protection ministry confirmed through a statement broadcast on national television.

The 112th Congress of the United States was called to order on Wednesday, and John Boehner was elected Speaker in the House of Representatives.

Thai Nguyen deputies told to serve people's interests; Conference spotlights sustainable development; Fatherland Front urged to work on national unity; President Triet praises efforts of veteran

VietNamNet Bridge – Since its establishment, the Communist Party of Viet Nam has held 10 Congresses. Each Congress is considered an important historical milestone in recognising the Vietnamese revolution's victories, achievements and lessons.

A large shipment of illicit ivory which was smuggled from Mozambique was seized by the Thai customs in pallets labeled as personal use property, director of the Customs Department unveiled Thursday.

VietNamNet Bridge – In the third day of the International HDBank Chess Cup in HCM City, the top seed Le Quang Liem had the first losing game while international grand master Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son gained an important victory to rank third.

VietNamNet Bridge – They can’t use their expertise or their positions to earn extra money, many state employees have to lean on their families or do extra jobs to sustain their livelihood.

Local enterprises will face challenges in rice export this year 2011, even though Vietnam will have many opportunities, as the country has opened up its rice markets to foreign-owned traders under its commitments to the WTO.

Education forums these days have been heating up with a new topic - should parents should allow their children to use high-tech products, especially mobile phones?

Commercial banks are set to cope with challenges and opportunities in 2011 as monetary policies will be more flexible, Dr. Le Xuan Nghia, vice chairman of the National Financial Supervisory Committee, said.