One person was killed early Monday after an oil refinery blast rocked a settlement in the Zabaikalsky Kray in southeastern Russia, news agencies reported.

Hanoi’s exports increase sharply in 2010; Investor group urges cap for forex deposit interest; German wholesaler opens new outlet in southern VN; ADB offers $100 mln loan for Vietnam business development 

Virgin sex ring busted in Ho Chi Minh City; State hospital officials can work for private clinics overtime; HCMC: road accidents drop, toll down, congestion up; Officials arrested for stealing VND4 billion from farmers

VietNamNet Bridge – At the age of 82, artisan Le Van Kinh from Hue has just finalized a set of poetic paintings of a poem by a senior Buddhist priest in 14 languages.

The real estate sector has been cited as one of the most attractive fields for foreign investors. However, a lot of super-projects have seen their licenses revoked recently because the investors were too slow in implementing their projects.

VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Hoang Hai Yen, an actress and singer from Hanoi, has become famous in the Korean showbiz for her charming face and confident acting.

Vietnam’s IT-telecom sector needs a breakthrough in the time to come to take off. The sector has been developing rapidly, but the development is unsustainable. Vietnam still does not have competitive products in both software and hardware.

VietNamNet Bridge – Reviewing the Internet world in Vietnam this year, online games and clips are highlights.

VietNamNet Bridge – The festival, the largest ever in Hanoi, opened at the West Lake park on December 24.

Vietnam’s national credit rating degraded. The positions of big banks also degraded in Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s ratings. The plans to issue international bonds of some corporations are affected because of Vinashin scandal.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has received 5 million foreign visitors this year, far surpassing a target of 4.2 million. However, experts say that in a year with a wide range of major events, the country is able to get 6-7 million tourists.

Laos grants Freedom Order to Vietnamese Party’s departments; Promoting Vietnam’s image to the world; Laos to preserve Ho Chi Minh Trail; 13 Vietnamese sailors rescued in East Sea; Party delegation visits Hue Archbishop Office

VietNamNet Bridge – Individuals and organizations contributed nearly VND1 trillion ($500 million) to Hanoi’s 1000th anniversary, announced the city authorities on December 25.

VietNamNet Bridge - Five anti-corruption activists are to be honoured for their contribution in the anti-corruption fight at the National Patriotic Emulation Congress held today.

Bond liquidity gets a boost; Shipping firm beats forecasts; Agricultural product exports top US$19.15 billion in 2010; FDI inflows lower than target, total $18.6 billion; VN-Index slightly restores

VietNamNet Bridge - Scores of local banks have found it hard to achieve 2010 profit targets despite modest ambitions.

VietNamNet Bridge – Many new policies that will have significant impacts on the domestic market will be applied as of January 1, 2011.

VietNamNet Bridge – Mister International 2010 Ryan Terry from Great Britain is now in Vietnam as a jury member of the first beauty pageant for men in Vietnam – Mister Vietnam 2010.

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City needs to call for investment from diverse sectors instead of relying exclusively on subsidies to improve its bus service and attract more passengers, industry insiders say.

Over VND33 billion raised for poor children; Vietnamese fishing ships take shelter in China’s island; Two Agribank employees arrested in alleged loan scams; Unity houses handed over to the poor in Kon Tum