Here are some Vietnam’s important news stories in brief for October 20, 2014.

Politics

-- Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived Sunday in Hanoi after a successful Europe trip during which he attended the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Italy and visited Belgium and Germany.

-- The National Assembly convened its eighth session in Hanoi this morning, with its top agenda covering the country's public debt and the corruption fight.

Society

-- An hours-long heavy downpour on Sunday afternoon continued flooding many areas in Ho Chi Minh City.

-- Although two people remain unaccounted for after the fatal explosion in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 12 on Friday, rescuers on Sunday found many body parts at the accident scene. A preliminary report released the same day by the district administration confirmed that the two were dead.

-- A 23-year-old mom tied her 3-year-old son with string into her body and jumped into the Chu River in the northern province of Thanh Hoa on Sunday in an apparent suicide. Their corpses were found late the same day.

-- Pham Thi Nga, 43, hailing from the northern province of Lang Son, was caught by police in the central city of Da Nang on Sunday morning as she was trafficking 4,340 ecstasy pills in the city. Police later found 4.34kg of methamphetamine Nga hid from a hotel and a kindergarten.

Business

-- The Vietnam Association of Women Entrepreneurs made its debut in Hanoi on Sunday, with Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa elected as its first president.

-- The administration of southern Binh Phuoc Province has agreed in principle to a project to set up a world-class horse racing track at the province’s entertaining complex.

-- Imported meat products are dominating not only shelves in supermarkets but also retail stores across Ho Chi Minh City.

-- Co.op Mart, the leading retail chain in Vietnam, inaugurated its 72^nd store in Ha Long City of northern Quang Ninh Province on Sunday.

Lifestyle

-- Giang Hong Ngoc won Vietnam’s version of the British talent show The X Factor after the finale on Sunday night.

-- Indian Hard rock/Heavy Metal band Girish and The Chronicles will have a free performance in Hanoi at 8:00 pm today, October 20, the Embassy of India in Hanoi has announced.

Education

-- The 2014 TOEFL Junior Challenge kicked off Sunday, attracting participations from 22,300 middle school students who will challenge their English skills through tests provided by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).

Sports

-- Swimmer Trinh Thi Bich Nhu has become the first Vietnamese medalist at the ongoing 2014 Asian Para Games in Incheon, South Korea, after snatching a silver in the women’s 100m breaststroke event on Sunday.

-- Vietnam U21s easily beat Singapore U21s 3-0 during their opener match at the International U-21 Football Tournament - Thanh Nien Cup in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on Sunday.

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