VietNamNet Bridge - At an online conference of the central Government with authorities of all 63 provinces and cities today, Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang said the leak of state secrets was very serious.

 "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" showed few signs of flagging over Christmas weekend, barreling past the $1 billion mark globally at a faster clip than any film in history.

Veteran film director's drama troupe experiments on stage, TV show promotes ‘cai luong', Hanoi exhibition features US artist Mark Cooper, The Empty Pockets rock out for charity, New-Year art program presents Vietnamese ethnic minorities’ cultures

It is 80 percent possible that Big C will be taken over by investors from Thailand, as Metro Cash & Carry has also been sold to a Thai group, BJC, according to Vu Vinh Phu, chair of the Hanoi Supermarket Association. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Toshyia Miura is confident about Viet Nam's chances at the upcoming Asian U23 Football Championship.

 The country’s population is estimated at 91.7 million this year, an increase of 974,900 people, equivalent to a 1.07% increase, compared to 2014.

 Four Vietnamese scientists – Nguyen Son Binh, Nguyen Thuc Quyen, Vo Van Anh and Nguyen Xuan Hung - have been listed in the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds 2015 by Thomson Reuters.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many destinations in Vietnam including Hoi An ancient town, Hanoi, Mu Cang Chai and Ha Long Bay have been listed on foreign newspapers and magazines this year.

VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City government has signed up private firm Trungnam Group to carry out a massive anti-flood project in build-transfer mode.  

 Hundreds of households in the central coastal Khanh Hoa province's Van Ninh district have claimed compensation for their losses from the building of National Highway No 1.

 Vietnam Airlines’ 160 millionth passenger – a Republic of Korea citizen – landed at Noi Bai airport on December 27.

 The Vietnam – Malaysia – Thailand artist exhibition and exchange was opened at the Centre for Fine Arts and Photography in 29 Hang Bai Street, Hanoi on December 26.

 The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue announced the 2016 Golden Tourism Week promotional programmes on December 26.

 Vietnam’s economy has expanded at a speed of 6.68 percent in 2015, the fastest rate during the period 2011-2015, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

 Road accidents and fatalities have dropped this year, according to statistics from the National Committee of Traffic Safety.

More than 100 homes burned down in a leading Australian tourist area in bushfires on Christmas Day and the situation remained dangerous on Saturday, as officials predicted more blazes to come later in the hot southern summer.  

 The Vietnam News Agency has selected the 10 most outstanding events of Vietnam in 2015 as follows:

Party, State and Government leaders of Laos have hailed the effective work of the Inter-Governmental Committee of Laos and Vietnam in boosting the cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and Cambodia jointly held a ceremony on December 26 morning in Duc Co district of Gia Lai to inaugurate their border marker No.30 and the road connecting two checkpoints of the Le Thanh-O Za Dao international border gate.

Canadian gaming company Amaya Inc has been ordered by a Kentucky court to pay $870 million in penalties to cover alleged losses by the state's residents who played real-money poker on PokerStars' website between 2006 and 2011.