Enjoy your breakfast while reading these brief news items on Tuoi Tre News today, December 12

Politics

- According to the Vietnam News Agency,  Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Hai Binh on Thursday voiced Vietnam’s consistent stance in resolutely rejecting China’s claim over Hoang Sa (Paracel), Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes and contiguous waters, as well as its “historical rights” to the waters, seabed and subsoil within the “nine-dash line” it unilaterally introduced. The statement came as a response to reporters’ question on the country’s response to the Chinese government’s paper on matter of jurisdiction in the East Sea issued on December 7.

Society

- A large blaze broke out at Nhat Tan Market in Hanoi’s Tay Ho District around noon on Thursday, burning down the market and  causing damage worth several billion dong, with a billion dong equivalent to US$47,068.

- Senior Lieutenant Colonel Dang Van Hieu, Deputy Minister of Public Security announced at a Thursday press meeting that Vietnamese citizens’ identity cards can replace their passports in case Vietnam and other countries sign international pacts.

-  According to Vietnam Airport Traffic Management, Ho Chi Minh police on Thursday morning seized Le Tri Tinh, the shift leader who is directly accountable for the power outage on November 20, resulting in many airlines’ failure to land in or take off at Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

- On the tenth day of the appeal court against Nguyen Duc Kien- a powerful tycoon in the financial market and football industry, Kien and another of the defendants insisted on their innocence. The court is set to give its decision next Monday. Kien is serving his sentence for fraud, tax evasion, and illegal trade.

- Director of Dak Lak Province’s Police in the Central Highlands said at a Thursday meeting that the provincial police are investigating the text messages in which an anonymous writer threatened to kill several reporters after they covered a fraud involving some individuals of the province’s Cu Kuin District’s police.     

Business

- After a field survey of the Long Thanh International Airport project, Chief of the NA's Committee of Economic Affairs, Nguyen Van Giau, stressed on Thursday that different opinions on the project should be carefully heeded before the final decision is reached.

-  According to the financial director of the HCMC-based Nam Bay Bay Co., Japan’s Creed Group has inked an agreement to invest US$30 million in the City Gate Towers apartment project in the city’s District 8. 

Lifestyle

- Secretary of the Korean Consul, Hong Hyeon Joo, in Hanoi on Thursday said that the consul has talked to SBS, one of South Korea’s major television channels- to cease airing the Korean drama "Modern Farmer," in which a line in it is believed to defame Vietnamese brides. The Consul also requested the channel not to air other films with content or lines that may cause misunderstandings on Vietnamese women. 

Sports

- Chair of the Vietnam Football Foundation (VFF) said in an interview with Tuoi Tre regarding Vietnam's 2-4 loss to Malaysia in the Thursday return leg of the semifinal of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2014 that police will be summoned to investigate the loss, particularly the defense line, during last night's match.