VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Israel once again reaffirmed their determination to develop a strong relationship as National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Ha Noi yesterday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez started his three-day visit to Viet Nam yesterday, Nov 24, by signing a political co-operation agreement with his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh, in Ha Noi.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam hailed the consensus of ASEAN and China in continuing the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards the building of a Code of Conduct (COC).

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has announced that Russia and Vietnam are likely to sign an agreement on the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) next year.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has decided to exclude four groups of subjects out of the non-production sectors, which is considered as a move to loosen the lending regulations.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 28 to December 1.

Several footballers of the national U-23 team have been suspected of match-fixing their game with Laos in group B at the 26th SEA Games. Vietnam defeated Laos 3-1 in the game and topped the group.

VietNamNet Bridge – A national festival celebrating cheo (traditional opera) will open tomorrow night in the northern province of Thai Binh, which is considered to be the birthplace of the art form.

From his spartan farm house, Nguyen Huu Dua explains in Vietnamese of the time when received a midnight visit from the organisers of a concert at Hanoi's famous opera house.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received visiting Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto in Hanoi on Nov. 24.

Vietnam and France agreed to boost cooperation in national defense on the basis of the friendship relations between the two countries.

Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue said that the production cost of power may rise 4.6% in 2012. However, the selling price will not include the entire losses of the Electricity of Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Ngo Van Du, Chair of the Central Inspection Committee said on November 24, that Deputy Minister Cao Minh Quang’s case would be considered publically and in a transparent and objective manner.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 500 hectares of the West Lake’s surface water has been filled with dirty water and garbage. The water and air environment pollution of the West Lake has become alarming.

A lot of travel firms have offered super-cheap tours in order to encourage the demand, despite the input cost increases.

VietNamNet Bridge – Two companies in the southeastern province of Dong Nai, AB Mauri Ltd. Co and Kim Phong Commercial Production Investment JSC, have been suspended from operations for polluting the environment,

VietNamNet Bridge – Answering National Assembly deputies’ questions on restructuring banks, Governor Nguyen Van Binh of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) compared this task with “throwing rats but not breaking the vase”.

VietNamNet Bridge – A 45kg turtle owned by Mr. Dang Thanh Hai, 42, in Song Ma town, Son La province, is rated as the largest turtle in Vietnam at present.

VietNamNet Bridge - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on November 24 voted to put Vietnam’s hat xoan (Xoan singing) into the list of the world intangible heritages needing urgent protection.

VietNamNet Bridge – Some athletes shine at 12-day Southeast Asia Games 26 in Indonesia. They are Vietnam’s hopes at the Olympic 2012.