VIETNAM TODAY

The online forum, called "Speak English like natives", was held on Dantri and DTiNews, and provided guidance to English learners who were interested in perfecting their speaking and listening skills.

Changes in religious life have contributed to introducing Vietnam to international communities as a country of renovation, peace, stability and development, said delegates at a seminar.

Local banks have been competing to attract customers by raising deposit interest rates for terms of 12-months and more.

Trade turnover between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) was US$18.5 billion in 2011, and is likely to reach over US$20 billion by the end of this year.

A double by Fernando Torres inspired defending champions Spain to a 4-0 thrashing of Ireland in their Euro 2012 Group C match and ended Irish hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

To assist troubled enterprises, the Hanoi Tax Department said it will cut USD245 million of taxes for small and medium enterprises.

The Minister of Industry and Trade answered NA deputies' questions on the monopolies of electricity and petroleum.

A government report has confirmed that Vietnam National Shipping Lines’ (Vinalines) debts are much greater than its charter capital.

At least 48 people were killed in clashes in Yemen's southern province of Abyan where Al-Qaeda and the army are battling for control, state media said.

Luu Hong Ngoc, an 18-year-old Vietnamese student, has been granted a scholarship to study medicine in Japan.

Spain's borrowing costs shattered euro-era records Thursday after Moody's downgraded its debt close to junk-bond status and warned of a growing risk of a full-blown bailout.

An exhibition named “Paris at a glance” opened at the institute of Cultural exchange with France in Ho Chi Minh City on June 14.

Vietnam has been warned about the rising social and environmental challenges, called the “natural resource curse.”

Vietnam's Nguyen Thi Anh Vien proved her talent at the ongoing Southeast Asian Swimming Championships, moving closer to the coming Olympic Games.

Finland's Nokia announced that it planned to cut up to 10,000 jobs by the end of next year due to massive additional cost-savings measures.

The Love Institute, based in Hanoi, has been drawing in singles with courses like “The art of flirting” and “Secrets about women that you don’t know.”

Vietnam has been ranked 34th among 158 countries in the Global Peace Index (GPI) 2012, four places up against 2011.

A large international kindergarten with two branches in HCM City has been been operating without license for nearly a year.

More than 120 Vietnamese children with genital deformities will receive free treatment under scheme run by the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation.