The latest reports released by securities companies do not give a clear answer about if the national economy is better off in 2012, but say there are many positive signs, and the stock market is showing big opportunities when it nearly bottoms out.

Over 80 people have died from hypothermia and frostbite in Poland and Ukraine, as a cold snap affected a large part of Europe, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Thursday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 100 workers and engineers on February 2, began conducting marine and mainland geological drilling at the site where the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant is to be built.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Friday that the United States will suffer from any war threat or potential war against the Islamic republic.

In an interview with RIA Novosti on January 31, the director of the Tactical Missiles Corporation (KTRV), Boris Obonosov revealed that the company had fully handed over the tactical anti-ship missile Kh-35E to Vietnam in 2009-2010.

The outlook of the U.S. economic recovery remained uncertain, as the recovery was confronted with a set of domestic and external headwinds, U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.

VietNamNet reviews remarkable cultural events, reported by the local media in 2011.

VietNamNet Bridge – The General Department of Sports and Physical Training has asked the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to address organizational tasks and resume the old name V-League.

Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that China was ready to push forward its long-term, healthy and in-depth development of strategic partnership with Germany over the decades to come.

Vinalines reports shock 2011 profits after huge first-half losses; Infrastructure projects to be finished in 2012; Insurance market set for restructuring; Ocean tuna price remains high in central region; Viet Jet Air offers New Year discounts  

The Lim Festival opens today, February 3, in Bac Ninh province. This year the festival will make a record with the participation of 2,012 quan ho singers. But whether this famous festival needs sensational tricks attract attention?

VietNamNet Bridge – Annually, from the 4th to 16th day of the lunar year, families in Hue city--Vietnam’s ancient capital, often hold a ritual called “cung bon mang.”

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese Chess Grandmaster Le Quang Liem completed the Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival in the UK ranking 7th with 7 points after a draw in the final game with Indian rival Negi Parimarjanon on February 2.

NYSE Euronext announced Thursday the termination of its mega-merger deal with German stock exchange Deutsche Boerse after European regulators vetoed the deal.

VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang has proposed to dismiss chairs of provinces and cities where the number of traffic accidents rises in three consecutive years. Thang’s opinion has again stirred up controversy.

Experts have pointed out that a breakthrough policy is needed to help develop the non-cash payment in Vietnam.

Sailor to leave NZ hospital; Hanoi’s 21-story apartment building on fire, no casualties; Da Nang helps fishing vessels buy insurance; Man held for faking central agency card

Vietnam folk music genre set to seek UNESCO status; Quan ho folk song contest launched; Music star paid fine after helmetless pictures leaked; S. Korean actors to attend cinema opening; Hue’s 98 ancient houses wiped out 

VietNamNet Bridge – Many universities are offering new subjects for study in the next academic year to meet human resources demand in different sectors.

Clashes between Egyptian riot police and protestors in Cairo have left 388 people injured on Thursday night, one day after a riot killed 74 people in a stadium in Port Said, state TV reported.

Families of several Palestinian prisoners threw shoes at the convoy of UN Secretary General Ban Ki- moon as they entered the Gaza Strip from Israel Thursday morning, witnesses said.

Commercial banks have been hurriedly restructuring themselves by changing the brand identification system, improving the service quality and seeking new way of development.

The biggest exhibition on Vietnamese ceramic products entitled “Dragon and lotus” is taking place at the Birmingham Museum of Art in Alabama, USA, from January 22 to April 8.

A decree to assign a chief of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) fleet was found in Tam Thanh commune, Tam Ky city, the central province of Quang Nam.

Italian cruise ship brings thousands; Ha Long Bay offers free admission; Passes enough for Chinese visitors; More locals travel abroad; Tour operators profit during Tet