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The central city will not host the 36th International Theatre Institute (ITI) World Congress in 2018 after failing to secure funds from sponsors and donors, director of Da Nang's sports and culture department Huynh Van Hung told Viet Nam News. A performance of Tuong (Classic Drama) in Da Nang's Nguyễn Hiển Dỉnh Theatre. Da Nang city has cancelled the 36th International Theatre Institute World Congress in 2018 due to a lack of funds. — Photo courtesy Nguyen Hien Dinh Theatre Hung said the biennial event, which was scheduled for August in the city with the participation of 1,000 artists from 90 countries, could not be held with only funding of VNĐ15.3 billion (US$675,000) from the state budget. He said the funds could only cover 50 per cent of cost for hosting the event, while fundraising had failed for the budget shortfall. Hung said the city’s leadership had sent a letter to the ITI’s President Mohammed Al-Afkham to explain the … [Read more...] about Da Nang cancels International Theatre Institute World Congress

France defender Samuel Umtiti celebrates scoring against Belgium in their World Cup semi-final. (Photo: AFP/Chrristophe Simon) Didier Deschamps' team are firm favourites to win Sunday's showpiece in Moscow and become world champions for the second time - 20 years after their first triumph in 1998. But they will come up against a hungry Croatia side boasting one of the players of the tournament in Real Madrid star Luka Modric, who is desperate to win the trophy for the nation of just over four million people. Croatia's Luka Modric has been one of the stars of the World Cup in Russia. (Photo: AFP/Franck Fife) France made a slow start to their World Cup bid but they have gone up through the gears during the knockout rounds and look a formidable blend of youthful vitality and experience. They will approach the match at Moscow's 80,000-capacity Luzhniki Stadium full of confidence and with the pain of losing the final of Euro 2016 on home soil to Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal … [Read more...] about France focus on World Cup glory, spurred on by 2016 Euro pain

Blue Origin has developed a system similar to a traditional rocket: the New Shepard AFP/HO Virgin Galactic, founded by British billionaire Richard Branson, and Blue Origin, by Amazon creator Jeff Bezos, are racing to be the first to finish their tests - with both companies using radically different technology. MOMENTS OF WEIGHTLESSNESS Neither Virgin nor Blue Origin's passengers will find themselves orbiting the Earth: instead, their weightless experience will last just minutes. It's an offering far different from the first space tourists, who paid tens of millions of dollars to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) in the 2000s. Having paid for a much cheaper ticket - costing US$250,000 with Virgin, as yet unknown with Blue Origin - the new round of space tourists will be propelled dozens of miles into the atmosphere, before coming back down to Earth. By comparison, the ISS is in orbit 250 miles (400 kilometers) from our planet. The goal is to approach or pass through the … [Read more...] about First space tourist flights could come in 2019

The actor was taken to hospital but was soon discharged as his injuries were not serious. File photo: Actor George Clooney. (Photo: AFP/Alberto Pizzoli) George Clooney was involved in a motoring accident in Sardinia, Italy when his scooter collided with a car today (Jul 10), reports say. According to the Italian newspaper La Nuova Sardegna, the actor was travelling towards the set of his new television series Catch 22 when his scooter encountered a suddenly turning car. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance and given an MRI scan, but was soon discharged as his injuries were not serious. He reportedly suffered bruises to a knee and arm, as well as slight injuries to his pelvis. His wife, Amal, arrived at the hospital and accompanied him as he left. The 57-year-old is in Sardinia filming for the series based on the 1961 novel by Joseph Heller. In the six-part World War Two drama, set to air next year, he plays US Air Force commander Scheisskopf and also serves as executive … [Read more...] about George Clooney injured in scooter accident in Italy

"So You Think You Can Dance Vietnam 2015" winner Do Hai Anh and other dancers from Vietnamese company Unicorn Art Co., Ltd. will present the ‘Yen Lam’ dance performance in DanzINC–International Dancers & Choreographers Residency Festival in Singapore. Traditional Vietnamese dance elements will make an appearance on the stage in Singapore The ‘Yen Lam’ dance performance is the combination of contemporary dance and Vietnamese traditional dance—an exclusive, first-of-a-kind performance to present at International Choreographers’ Platform held by Odyssey Dance Theatre Ltd. (ODT) in Singapore. The show offers guests an opportunity for involvement, exposure, and action in the community and culture through the art of dance. Unicorn Dance and ODT invite guests and art lovers to take on this unique journey that will evoke emotional connections, memories, and shared experiences by stimulating all senses. Specifically, Do Hai Anh will be … [Read more...] about Vietnamese dancers to perform at Singapore international festival