Lam and Thanh secure silver in xiangqi; Sharpshooter Merlo trains for comeback; Team VN braced for Winter Games inauguration in S Korea

 Solo rock stars are twice as likely to die prematurely as counterparts who perform in groups, a study published in the journal BMJ Open said.

VietNamNet Bridge – Poor people can get free meals in many places in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. This form of charity has recently attracted the attention of the public.

VietNamNet Bridge – Twins born joined at the abdomen and chest were successfully separated by doctors at Ho Chi Minh City Paediatric Hospital No.2 in co-operation with the City Heart Institute on December 19.  

  Annual short film festival announces winners; Restoration breathes life into old bamboo house; Young Vietnamese artists celebrate Xmas; Music show features African vibes

The Deputy Head of the Hanoi Party Committee’s Information and Education Department said that the information on paying VND100 million ($5,000) to become a public servant is grounded and the city would inspect it.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Indonesian media has reported that Vietnamese top striker Le Cong Vinh may join Indonesia’s Sriwijaya FC.

 Google announced it is selling the Motorola Mobility Home unit to global communications technology company ARRIS in a cash and stock deal valued at $2.35 billion.

The real estate price in 2012 dropped by 30 percent if compared with 2011.

As students continue to flock to business and finance despite the grim job market, Vietnamese Education and Training Minister Pham Vu Luan is calling on colleges and universities to stop enrolling students in these degree programmes

 The deadly US shooting rampage last week has revived debate about access to mental health care -- a tough issue as state funds dry up and laws make it difficult to treat people against their will.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mai Nguyen Hung retained the yellow jersey after the third stage of the ADC Tour of Viet Nam yesterday, Dec 19.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Christmas is now less than a week away, and festive fever is taking over Ha Noi.

VietNamNet Bridge – The number-one position on the FIFA rankings in December does not change, regardless of the results of the AFF Cup.

VietNamNet Bridge - On the way to a construction site in Laos, a bus carrying 15 Vietnamese people crashed into a bridge under construction and fell into an abyss. Nine people died on the spot and four others were seriously injured.

VietNamNet Bridge – Hearing of a whale stranded on the beach, members of the Thang Loi Cooperative in Bac Lieu Province mobilized hundreds of fishermen to rescue the fish because they believed that this species is very sacred.

VietNamNet Bridge – Do Minh Quan, Vietnam’s top tennis player, has decided to hang up the racquet after the Masters Vietnam tournament to study for becoming a coach.

An agreement on amendment to the Vietnam – US Bilateral Air Transport Agreement has been signed. However, the Vietnamese national flag air carrier has not made any statements about the opening of the direct air routes.

All the rivers in Vietnam, both small and big, have and would have hydropower plants on them.

 Park Geun-hye of South Korea's ruling Saenuri Party won the tightly contested presidential election held Wednesday, becoming the first woman to lead the country and extending the conservative rule for another five years.