Citing stronger growth figures, US President Barack Obama says 2014 will be a 'breakthrough year' for the US economy.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The presence of foreigners in the coffee coordination committee, who now work for international coffee groups, has raised the worry that the Vietnamese coffee industry would be swayed by foreigners.

 Anti-government demonstrators in Thailand have surrounded the stadium where candidates were due to register to stand in February's elections.

 Russian former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has said he will do all he can to free other political prisoners.

 Cambodia Prime Minister to visit Viet Nam; Visits to salute upcoming Christmas; British destroyer ends Da Nang visit; People’s Army Day marked in India

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Voice of Russia reported Russia’s Zelenodolsk Shipyard has completed the first phase of building a Gepard 3.9 class frigate for the Vietnam People’s Navy.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese national football squad’s 167.13 points has pushed it 14 positions higher in the latest FIFA rankings, placed third in Southeast Asia.

 A Belgian national, who has been intentionally wanted by the Interpol since 2006 for sexual abuse, has been arrested in the central province of Khanh Hoa.

 VietNamNet Bridge – As the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar has two days to go, Vietnamese athletes have surpassed their 70-gold medal target, bagging a total of 72 golds as of 04.30pm pm on December 21.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The question remains unanswered, because this has not been mentioned in any legal documents.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has got 30 more stock millionaires, who are the shareholders of the companies which begin listing their shares on the bourse in 2013, and the members of the rich families.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has denied the rumor that Intel, a big US invested enterprise in Vietnam dodged the laws to evade the tax it should have paid for the $100 million capital transfer deal.

More and more child abuse cases have been brought out into the open recently. Watchdog agencies, educators, parents and psychologists have been analyzing the cases and discussing the solutions for years, but no improvement has been made.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Asia-America Gateway cable linear reportedly broke on December 20, affecting 40 percent of Vietnam’s international traffic. Involved parties have said the problem would be fixed only after one month.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Economists and journalists are skeptical about the numbers on Vietnam’s social and economic indicators. Few people pay attention to a number that is also very important – the average height of Vietnamese people.

 The scarcity of Russian- and Korean-speaking tour guides is getting more severe in the near future as the number of visitors from these two markets is rising sharply, with Anh Duong Tourist Company alone saying it needs . . .

 Transport contractors courted; Marlboro case could be stubbed out; SCIC to retain key stakes in some prominent firms; IMF: Deferred economic reform erodes confidence; Vietnam’s auto industry opportunities may slip away: Toyota

 VietNamNet Bridge – She has experienced very difficult times, but 28-year-old Truong Thi Kim Loan considers herself lucky.

 VietNamNet Bridge – For vintage scooter enthusiasts in HCM City, the Piaggio-made ride has become a valued collectors item. Many devote themselves to restoring the vehicles, which can cost millions of dong.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Mekong Delta has about 600 temples of the Khmer ethnicity; the Bat Pagoda in Soc Trang emerges as the most beautiful and exclusive architectural ensemble.