Here are today’s leading news stores:

Politics

-- Vietnamese General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on Saturday sent a letter of greetings to Japanese Emperor Akihito on the occasion of his 85th birthday (December 23). Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc cabled a congratulatory message to his counterpart Shinzo Abe on the same day.

Society

-- A team of doctors led by Dr. Tran Thi Bich Huong from Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City have announced their research that opens up an opportunity for people with kidney failure to lengthen their lifespan.

-- Torrential rain is forecast to dampen localities from the north-central province of Quang Tri to south-central Binh Dinh Province in the next two to three days, starting from Sunday, creating a high risk of flash floods and landslides in mountainous areas.

-- The inauguration of the new Mien Dong (Eastern) Bus Station in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City is once again postponed to September 2019 in order for its operators to prepare sufficient services for travelers.

-- A man from the south-central province of Phu Yen has asked the police unit and People’s Procuracy in Dong Hoa District to launch an investigation into the death of his 34-year-old son, who is believed to be killed in an accident involving a pothole along National Highway 1 on December 10.

-- Police in the northern province of Thai Binh affirmed on Saturday they had apprehended two men for allegedly raping a 31-year-old disabled woman.

-- Dozens of merchants at the Sao Mai-Tan Hiep Market in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang have been infuriated after the developer of the marketplace shut down the facility to demand double space rental fees.

Business

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his economic advisory team discussed measures to tackle shortcomings and realize the seven-percent growth rate target set for 2019 during a session held in Hanoi on Saturday.

Education

-- A group of university students in the north-central province of Thua Thien-Hue have been spending their free time running a Santa Claus service this Christmas in order to raise funds for other charitable activities.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!