Optimistic signs have flared for the Vietnamese economy in the second half of 2011but many difficulties are still unsolved, especially problems that have existed for many years and harmed comprehensive development of the economy.

VietNamNet Bridge – A fashion show tomorrow night, Oct 21, will highlight Italian Culture Week. It will feature accessories and jewelry from Bulgari and the latest designs by veteran Vietnamese designer Minh Hanh.

NA Chairman receives Lao, Japanese ambassadors; Lao Peace Committee delegation visits Viet Nam; Theoretical Council to review renewal process

VietNamNet Bridge – Within nine years, most graduates from Viet Nam's colleges and universities will be expected to speak English or another foreign language. This is part of a master plan on language teaching up until 2020.

In an effort to regain coffee materials from foreign businessmen, Vietnamese enterprises have to spend money to develop the growing areas.

Greek labor unions launched a 48-hour general strike Wednesday ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote over fresh austerity measures.

VietNamNet Bridge – A programme to reduce the overload at major city hospitals by having their doctors visit provinces and other localities is proving effective, according to Deputy Health Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen.

French first lady Carla Bruni has given birth to a baby girl on Wednesday night, local media reported.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in Kabul on Wednesday night for an unannounced visit as helicopters hovered in the sky of the Afghan capital to beef up security.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam U23s thrashed Myanmar U23s 5-0 in the opening match of the Viet Nam Football Federation-Eximbank Cup yesterday, Oct 19, at Ha Noi's My Dinh National Stadium.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh said Wednesday he was ready to sign a power-transfer deal if the opposition provides guarantees from the United States, Europe and Gulf countries for implementing the proposal.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training should change the model of pre-college training for students from ethnic minority groups in the direction of increasing their time for study and improving the quality of the trainees,

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's footballers yesterday, Oct 19, avoided being drawn in the 'dead group' at the coming 26th Southeast Asian Games in Jarkata, Indonesia.

VietNamNet Bridge - The second session of the 13th National Assembly opened in Hanoi this morning, October 20, with a focus on approving five bills and a resolution.

The United States will hold talks with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) in Geneva next week over its nuclear program, following similar talks in New York in late July.

Travel firms believe that in the current big difficulties, when people tend to fasten their belt, Vietnam should have to slash the airfare to attract more travelers. However, Vietnamese air carriers are doing the opposite thing.

The Palestinian leadership will urge the international community to press Israel to implement an old pledge to free more Palestinian prisoners, a Palestinian official said Wednesday.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy Wednesday to discuss a solution to the eurozone debt crisis, but failed to reach any concrete agreement on the issue.

Vietnam may export 7.5 million tons of rice in 2011, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has forecast after considering the high export volume of 6 million tons in the first nine months of the year.

Small businesses in the United States still face tough economic conditions even though the recession officially ended more than two years ago, and legislators need to do more to help them,