Check out what is in the news today:

Politics

-- The National Assembly on Tuesday ratified the revised Civil Code, which will take effect in January 2017. The revised code features new rules on individual privacy and recognizes gender reassignment and transsexuals’ legal rights.

Society

-- A speedboat carrying nine tourists and crew members crashed into a bridge pillar in Ngoc Hien District, located in the southernmost province of Ca Mau, on Tuesday. The accident killed one and has left another missing.

-- Experts said at an international seminar held on Tuesday that exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin in wartime still takes a devastating toll on later generations, evidenced by increasing percentages of miscarriages and innate defects among pregnant woman and newborns in several Vietnamese provinces.

-- The Government Inspectorate of Vietnam on Tuesday presented awards to reporters from Tuoi Tre (Youth) Newspaper and other news agencies for their outstanding features on the inspectorate’s activities.Business

-- Ho Quang Buu, chair of the People’s Committee of Nam Tra My District, located in the central province of Quang Nam, whose project on conserving and developing the country’s specialty ginseng of Ngoc Linh until 2030 has been recently approved, has affirmed that with proper investment and promotion, the tonic roots can generate an annual export revenue of US$1.5-2 billion.

-- Vietnam’s consumer price index in November 2015 inched up by 0.07 percent from October, according to a report issued on Tuesday by the General Statistics Office.

-- Several local and international culinary experts said during an online exchange jointly held on Tuesday by Tuoi Tre that Vietnam needs a group of elite chefs who will be integral to the country’s cultural and tourism promotion activities abroad.

Sports

-- Vietnam’s Hoang Anh Gia Lai U21s beat their Myanmar rivals 4-3 during a football (soccer) match on Tuesday night and gained entry into the semifinals of the 9th International Thanh Nien Newspaper U-21 Football Tournament.

Lifestyle

-- The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the municipal Department of Tourism on Tuesday held a press meeting announcing the launch of an international cuisine festival which will highlight dishes by leading chefs from more than 20 countries. The event is slated to run from December 3 to 6 at 23-9 Park in downtown Ho Chi Minh City.