A total of seven people were killed and 80 others were wounded in bomb attacks across the country on Wednesday, including three car bombings in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) on Wednesday released former councilor Marcos Baquero, one of the five hostages it had promised to free.

First snow fell in Beijing Wednesday night and continued into Thursday morning. It was the latest first snow for the city in 60 years.

A/H1N1 flu in Viet Nam not serious; Illegal firecrackers kill 54, injure 11,440 over holidays; Foot-and-mouth, rabies cases fall; Five-year-old child brought back to life; Cold spell expected to return to North

VietNamNet Bridge – Dao Xuan Tan has been a barber for 30 years and he has had the honor of serving Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung for 13 years.

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VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has successfully sent flower seeds into space for scientific research.

VietNamNet Bridge - Business Monitor International (BMI) forecasts that the Vietnamese information technology (IT) market is to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12 percent over the 2011-2015 period.

UNESCO-recognized Saint Giong festival kicks off;  Coming to Phu Yen to listen to Bai Choi music; Fighting fest opens in northern province; Ho Chi Minh City bookworms rummage festival

VietNamNet Bridge - Half the Government's budget and income from bonds – about VND98.5 trillion (US$4.9 billion) – is expected to be invested in the agriculture sector this year to ensure food security.

Eating chocolate may boost the body's production of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol -- the "good" form of cholesterol that protects against heart disease, according to a new study released by the American Chemical Society (ACS) on Monday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Many teens are not afraid to pay several dozens of USD a day to hire luxurious items to brag to the world that they are rich and connoisseurs.

U.S. researchers have found that feeding babies with solid foods too early was associated with increased odds of obesity later.

Vietnam’s January seafood exports reach US$320 million;  World Bank funds housing for 10,000; Garment exports total US$900 mil; Viettel jumps into Peru telecom; HCM City extends programme to stabilise prices

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese grandmaster Le Quang Liem will join foreign teams, namely Bremen, Evry Grand Roque and Qingdao Yucai, to compete at international tournaments in March, April and June.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Government is aiming to modernise the traditional medicine sectors, according to representatives at a conference.

Bank loans in Vietnam will double by the end of 2013 on the back of subsidized interest rate schemes and large consumer credit demand, according to a recent survey by an India-based market research and information analysis company.

VietNamNet Bridge – Since the fourth day of the lunar New Year (February 6), farmers in central Vietnam have been taking their buffaloes to the field, taking advantage of the warm weather.

Unconventional ideas can produce roaring success, as illustrated by the following stories of three daring entrepreneurs who defied and turned conventional wisdom on its head.

More A/H1N1 infections reported;  20,000 people visit Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum; 2,000 peace doves for Da Nang; Criminal ringleader stabbed to death in Can Tho; Student shoots dead man for blocking view 

January FDI plunges to $187.6 mln; Fund plans to sell government stake in 170 firms; Turkish Airlines begins HCMC-Bangkok flights; Flower exporters eye greater share of Asian market; Petro Vietnam to stabilize fertilizer market 

Vietnam expresses concern over Egypt’s situation;  Vietnam to create best conditions for RoK businesses; Vietnam calls for peace negotiation over temple dispute; Military Zone No 7 High Command meets

Newly-elected General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, on behalf of the Politburo, signed Decision No. 01-QDNS/TW on assigning six Politburo members to their respective posts in the Secretariat of the 11th Party Central Committee as follows:

Vietnamese tennis player Nguyen Hoang Thien, 16, made encouraging performances at the 2011 Tennis Central 18 & U ITF Summer Championships in New Zealand after he defeated two rivals to clinch a spot to the 1/16 round.

VietNamNet Bridge - The work of around 1,000 Vietnamese engineers at Nissan Techno Vietnam Co (NTV), the Hanoi-based subsidiary of the Japanese carmaker Nissan, bore sweet fruits to the company, US$23 million in earnings in 2009.