But as Martin Rama of the World Bank points out, Vietnam has almost no middling private firms between these mom-and-pop ventures and big exporters backed by foreign investors.

ECONOMIST: Vietnam's economy

"We are trying to have a normal life, to live like we usually do, " said Rama Handi as an Aloe Vero manicurist lacquered her nails red.

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The "vote-a-rama, " as it's known on Capitol Hill, typically is an annual affair each budget season.

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Harry Reid, the Majority Leader, from Nevada, had predicted that the process, known as Vote-O-Rama, would go past two in the morning, and had warned senators to stay close to the chamber.

NEWYORKER: The Empty Chamber

Although 20 female participants of the workshop hailed from different regions of the country, such as Rio San Juan, Bocana de Paiwas, El Rama, Jinotega, La Dalia, Somoto and the capital Managua, they soon realized that they face the same issues and challenges.

UNESCO: MEDIA SERVICES