Five car bombs and a roadside bomb explosions in and near Baghdad on Sunday killed a total of eight people and wounded 24 others, as part of the latest wave of violence ahead of major Shiite ritual.

Incumbent Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva is interviewed after casting his vote at a polling station in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, Jan. 23, 2011. Portugal's presidential election began here on Sunday morning. (Xinhua/Wang Qingqin)

Government Office urged to keep up the good work; State President affirms Catholics' contributions to nation; Deputy PM visits Germany; Vietnam attends North East Business Summit in Mumbai

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to abolish the use of specialised zones which slow down and dissipate the energy of flood flows to the capital city and the Hong (Red) River Delta region.

It’s necessary to adjust the structure of imports from China in order to ease the trade deficit and march towards balancing trade with Vietnam’s largest trading partner

VietNamNet Bridge – A 10-metre section of the Ong Dung canal's embankment in Thanh Xuan Commune, District 12, collapsed last Friday due to an unexpected tidal surge.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Government has allocated VND300 billion (US$15.4 million) for the national programme on kindergarten education in 2011, according to the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET).

VietNamNet Bridge – Pirated CDs have been an expanding business in Viet Nam for many years now, but they have run into a redoubtable opponent – the Internet.

VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City People's Committee is giving priority to building 10 amusement parks and three cultural centres for children this year.

VietNamNet Bridge – The new season of the national football championship, V-League, begins this weekend. It is the first time all clubs are now operating as official businesses.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Tien Minh was ranked seventh in the world in January according to the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

VietNamNet Bridge – Argentinean striker Gonzalo Marronkle scored a goal in the third minute of injury time to help Ha Noi T&T to their 2-1 local derby defeat of Hoa Phat Ha Noi 2-1 in the national football championship, V-League opener on Saturday.

The remains of St. Don Bosco, including the right arm and hand bones, were brought to Vietnam last week.

First 4 Japanese projects of the year licenced in Da Nang; Vietnam to import 100,000 tones of meat in 2011; Labour exports look up for 2011; Easing up customs procedures; FPT tots up 2010 profits

Consumers complain that they “have to spend money on a quack doctor and only get worse” because they fell for dishonest advertisements.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Government has announced that macroeconomic stability will be the top priority for 2011. Therefore, securities investors have one more reason to hope that the stock market will gain momentum in 2011.

Anh Tuan's doping ban confirmed; Da Nang aim for top spot finish; Thien knocked out of Australian Open; Minh out after losing to world No 1; Int'l yacht festival to be held in VN

Wealthy people seek special and expensive things to display for Tet. Ancient peach trees, unique ceramic products and special ornamental trees are no longer special.

VietNamNet Bridge - Viettel has surpassed VNPT on pre-tax profit in 2010 for the first time. Viettel reportedly earned pre-tax profits of VND15.5 trillion ($775 million) last year, while VNPT Group mustered VND11.2 trillion ($560 million).

Vietnamese businesses seek opportunities in US; Drugmaker told to cancel public offering; Vietnam invests in Cambodia power plant; Businesses stuck in red tape over unused invoice; Japan, Vietnam sign nuclear cooperation agreement