MADRID: A Madrid court on Thursday (Jul 20) ordered Spanish football federation president Angel Maria Villar and his son Gorka to be held in custody without bail following his arrest on corruption charges. Angel Maria Villar has headed the Spanish Football Federation since 1988. (AFP/JAVIER SORIANO) High Court judge Santiago Pedraz ordered the two men detained because he said there was a significant flight risk given their "huge financial means" and they could destroy evidence. Pedraz questioned Villar, a senior president of world football governing body FIFA, and his son throughout the day. Also examined were federation vice-president Juan Padron and Ramon Hernandez Baussou, general secretary of the Tenerife federation. Police arrested the four men on Tuesday following raids on federation … [Read more...]

The work "A wounded soldier" by Pham Muoi   Visitors at the exhibition Themed “Unforgettable memories”, the ten-day event showcases 48 outstanding works, carefully selected from the Vietnam Fine Art Museum’s collections. The fine art works created by veteran artists To Ngoc Van, Tran Dinh Tho, Nguyen Van Ty, Quang Phong, Ha Xuan Phong, Do Son, Le Tri Dung, and Le Duy Ung are expected to help viewers have deeper insight into resistance wars and great sacrifices of the Vietnamese people as well as the war aftermath. Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Vuong Duy Bien emphasized the contributions of the talented and hard-working artists who devoted much of their time and energy to arts, creating high quality art works about people at work and in battlefields, indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people in wartime, … [Read more...]

LONDON: Chelsea have reached an agreement to buy Spain international striker Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid for a reported €80 million (US$92.2 million), the two clubs announced on Wednesday (Jul 19). File photo of Real Madrid's forward Alvaro Morata. (JAVIER SORIANO/AFP) "Chelsea Football Club and Real Madrid have agreed terms for the transfer of Alvaro Morata to Stamford Bridge," Chelsea said on their club website. "The move is now subject to him agreeing personal terms and passing a medical." Madrid confirmed the news as well in a brief statement on their website. "The club wishes to express its thanks for the dedication, professionalism and exemplary conduct displayed by the player over the years, spanning his time in our academy right through to his spell as a member of the first-team squad," the … [Read more...]

NDO – Reigning national futsal champions Thai Son Nam will represent Vietnam to compete at the 2017 AFC Futsal Club Championship, scheduled to take place at Phu Tho Gymnasium, in Ho Chi Minh City, from July 20 to 30. The ten-day event will gather the participation of the 14 strongest futsal clubs from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Iraq, Qatar, Japan, Thailand, China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Australia, Lebanon and hosts, Vietnam. The participating teams will battle it out in a round robin tournament of four groups, with the top two placed teams of each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Thai Son Nam Club has been drawn in Group A, together with Erem (Kyrgyzstan), Al Dhafra (UAE) and Vic Vipers (Australia). The best result achieved by Thai Son Nam at the AFC Club Championship was a third-place finish, along with the Fair Play prize, in Iran two years ago. The door is wide open for the Vietnamese representatives to seize one of Group … [Read more...]

SHANGHAI: Arsenal were outplayed for long periods by Bayern Munich before salvaging a last-gasp draw and then winning 3-2 on penalties in a Shanghai friendly on Wednesday (Jul 19). Arsenal head coach Arsene Wenger (centre) speaks to his players during the International Champions Cup football match against Bayern Munich in Shanghai. (Johannes EISELE/AFP) Reserve goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez was the unlikely hero for the Premier League side, saving Juan Bernat's soft spot kick after Arsenal substitute Alex Iwobi made it 1-1 right at the end of normal time. It may only have been a friendly and Arsenal emerged victorious, but it made for painful viewing at times for manager Arsene Wenger, whose side suffered a 10-2 aggregate drubbing to Bayern in last season's Champions League. Robert Lewandowski needed just nine … [Read more...]

WASHINGTON: World number two Simona Halep and men's top-10 players Milos Ranoic and Grigor Dimitrov have accepted wildcard entries for the ATP and WTA Washington Open, organisers announced on Wednesday (Jul 19). File photo of Romania's Simona Halep returning against Britain's Johanna Konta during the women's singles quarter-final match of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships on Jul 11, 2017. (AFP/Glyn KIRK) The US capital's hardcourt event, which begins Jul 31, comes just ahead of the top US Open tune-up tournaments in Canada and Cincinnati for the US Open, which begins Aug 28 in New York. French Open runner-up Halep, a 25-year-old Romanian, stayed a career-best second in the rankings after Czech Karolina Plskova jumped to number one after Wimbledon and Germany's Angelique Kerber tumbled to third. The return of 2014 … [Read more...]

Co-organized by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Vietnam Writers’ Association, the ceremony is among the activities designed to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Wounded Soldiers’ and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947-2017).  Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung (first, left), presents first prize to writers in the literary works writing contest. Photo: Vietnam+  Honorary awards were presented to three writers - Le Van Ba, Dang Vuong Hung and Minh Chuyen. In the prose category, the organization board awarded three first prizes, six second prizes, five third prizes and six fourth prizes. In the poem category, there was no first prize; however two second prizes, 11 third prizes and five forth prizes were rewarded.  According to Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, the literary works writing contest to honor … [Read more...]

At a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on July 18, he said, “We have the chance to enter the final round of the AFC tournament so we will take the opportunity. Vietnamese fans have high expectations of the Vietnam team this time, so the pressure on us is high.”  Vietnam’s U22 team seen in a training session in preparation for the qualifying round of 2018 AFC U23 Championship. Photo: bongda.com.vn  Vietnam is in Group I along with the Republic of Korea, Timor Leste and Macau.  Vietnam will play Timor Leste in the first qualification match today at the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City.  The team will next face Macau on July 21 and the Republic of Korea on July 23.  The top two teams in the group will qualify for the AFC event’s final round held in China, next year.  “I don’t care whether Timor Leste is playing hard or not. The most … [Read more...]

Ngoc will play The Four Seasons by Vivaldi, a group of four violin concerti, each of which features a season of the year. It was written in 1721 and first performed in 1725 in Amsterdam.  Vietnamese-French violinist and chamber music performer Stéphane Tran Ngoc. Photo courtesy of HBSO  The musician will also perform Distant Light, a concerto for violin and wind orchestra written by Latvian composer Peteris Vasks in 1996.  The concert’s conductor is Meritorious Artist Tran Vuong Thach.  Ngoc completed his training in violin and chamber music at the Paris National Superior Conservatory of Music when he was 15. He received a master’s degree at the Brooklyn College’s Conservatory of Music before pursuing a doctorate at Juilliard School.  He has performed with leading orchestras, such as the Radio-France Philharmonic, Monte Carlo Philharmonic, National Orchestra … [Read more...]

Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) yesterday launched the Toyota Concert 2017 performed by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) under the support from Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism. With the main theme “The Romantic Love Songs”, the concert nights this year will continue to be under the baton of the Japanese experienced conductor Honna Tetsuji – the conductor that has supported and accompanied with Toyota Concert from the first days, as well as the first-time partipation of young talented pianist Nguyen Viet Trung and two famous Vietnamese singers Dang Duong and Dao To Loan. This is the 20th year that TMV has co-operated with VNSO to organise this event, in order to bring classical music nearer to music lovers, by that, contribute to bring a better life for Vietnamese. This year, beside three concert nights in Ho Chi Minh Theatre on August 16 and Hanoi Opera … [Read more...]

GUANGZHOU: Borussia Dortmund insisted that Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was going nowhere after the Chelsea target scored twice in a 3-1 pre-season win over AC Milan in China on Tuesday (Jul 18). Borussia Dortmund players celebrate during their International Champions Cup football match against AC Milan's in Guangzhou, China. (STR/AFP) The coveted Gabon hitman showed just why Dortmund are so reluctant to part company with their star striker with two confidently taken goals in rain-lashed Guangzhou. "We have decided that Auba will stay with BVB," said Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc. "The transfer window is closed for him." Nuri Sahlin opened the scoring for Dortmund after 16 minutes following a period of sustained pressure, finding the net with a tidy side-footed shot after good work from … [Read more...]

ROME: Francesco Totti confirmed his retirement on Monday (Jul 17), the Roma legend announcing "a new adventure" in his storied career as he takes up a directorship role at the Serie A club. Roma's forward Francesco Totti played his final game for Roma on May 28, 2017 after 24 years with the capital-city side. (AFP/Vincenzo PINTO) The 40-year-old played his final game for Roma in May after 24 years with the capital-city side, and decided to call it a day despite being linked with possible moves to Asia and the United States. "The first part of my life as a football player is over and now another more important one is about to begin," Totti wrote on his Facebook page. "Until May 28 I only thought about playing football, having fun and making a significant contribution to the team. Now I move on, I'm turning over a … [Read more...]

NDO – A wide range of activities took place on July 17 in celebration of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties(September 5, 1962-2017) and 40 years since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977-2017). A ceremony was held on July 17, at the Lao National Cultural Hall, to open the ‘Vietnamese Culture and Tourism Days in Lao’in Vientiane, with the attendance of Vietnamese Politburo member and National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong; and Lao Politburo member and Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction Central Committee Saysomphone Phomvihane. As part of the event, there will be an exhibition featuring 60 photos on the landscape, culture and people of Vietnam, particularly focusing on the natural, tangible and intangible cultural heritages that have been recognised as world heritagesites. Nearly 100 posters and photos on major cities, as well as traditional festivals in Vietnam, will … [Read more...]

In a first, Việt Nam grabbed a gold medal in swimming at the ninth ASEAN Schools Games, which is ongoing in Singapore. Nguyễn Đăng Khoa (left) wins Việt Nam’s first swimming gold at the Singapore ASEAN School Games on Sunday. - VNS Photo Trần Ngọc Tiến The Vietnamese swimmer triumphed in the boys’ 400m individual medley event, as Nguyễn Đăng Khoa came first with a timing of 4 minutes and 34.36 seconds and his teammate Lương Jeremie Loic Nino was second with 4:37.74.  According to their teacher Trần Ngọc Tiến, it was the first time Việt Nam had won a swimming medal at the annual ASG. Athletics has always been Việt Nam’s strong point. They did a good job yesterday with three gold, three silver … [Read more...]

SILVERSTONE, United Kingdom: Lewis Hamilton swept to his fourth consecutive victory at the British Grand Prix on Sunday (Jul 16) to move within a single point of world championship leader Sebastian Vettel. Mercedes' British driver Lewis Hamilton drives during the British Formula One Grand Prix at the Silverstone motor racing circuit in Silverstone, central England on Jul 16, 2017. (Photo: AFP/Andrej Isakovic) In a dramatic race packed with incident, Vettel suffered a late puncture and finished seventh for Ferrari after his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen also pitted with a similar problem in the closing stages. Hamilton's victory, a record-equalling fifth in his home event and the 57th of his career, rebooted his title challenge as he came home ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who started ninth, in a dominant Mercedes one-two … [Read more...]

LONDON: Martina Hingis clinched her 23th Grand Slam title as the Swiss star and Scottish partner Jamie Murray beat Henri Kontinen and Heather Watson 6-4, 6-4 in the Wimbledon mixed doubles final on Sunday (Jul 16). Britain's Jamie Murray (L) and Switzerland's Martina Hingis hold their trophies after beating Finland's Henri Kontinen and Britian's Heather Watson during the mixed doubles final at Wimbledon. (Photo: AFP/Adrian Dennis) Just hours after her compatriot Roger Federer won a record eighth Wimbledon singles crown, Hingis made it a double celebration for Switzerland on Centre Court. Top seeded Hingis and Murray, the brother of men's world number one Andy, saw off Finland's Kontinen and Britain's Watson. "It's not bad for us!" Hingis said of a memorable day for her and Federer. "I'm really pleased … [Read more...]

The orchestra of the HCMC Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will join the performance under the conductor, Meritorious Artist Tran Vuong Thach. Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has ever been performed by many local and international artists, including Bui Cong Duy, Sarah Chang. Composed in 1723, ”The Four Seasons” is considered one of the most daring works from the Baroque Period.   Vietnamese-French violinist Stéphane Tran Ngoc The violin concerto Distant Light, premiered in 1977 describe the ideal world that is never absent. The work is also a nostalgia with a touch of tragedy and images of childhood memories. Stephane Tran Ngoc was born in Paris. He graduated in violin and chamber music at the Paris National Superior Conservatory of Music when he was 15 years old. He later went to the United States being awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to study at Brooklyn College's Conservatory of … [Read more...]

NDO/VNA - A cycling tournament entitled ‘Returning to Truong Son’ began on July 15 in Hanoi, as one of the activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the War Invalids’ and Martyrs’ Day on July 27. Seventy cyclists from 12 local and two foreign teams will participate in the six-stage tournament which runs nearly 750km from the capital city to Quang Tri province in the central region of the country. The first stage on the opening day is 30 laps around Hoan Kiem Lake, totaling 51km. According to the organisers, Vietnamese national team cyclists will compete as it is their last warm-up event before August’s Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia. They will face strong foreign competition from Thailand and Laos, including Laos’ Alex Phounsavath, winner of the HCM City Television tournament in April. Apart from cycling, athletes and officials will take part in charity activities such as awarding … [Read more...]

Present at the opening ceremony were journalist Ha Dang, former member of the Party Central Committee, former chief of the Central Committee for Culture and Ideology; Senior Lieutenant General, Academician Nguyen Huy Hieu, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Deputy Minister of Defense; Lieutenant General Do Can, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's Army; Major General Pham Van Huan, Editor-in-Chief of the People's Army Newspaper, President of the Vietnam Motor-Bicycle Sports Federation and Chief of the organizing panel; representatives of General Department of Sports and Physical Training (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); sponsors of the tournament; and cyclists of 14 participating teams. Major General Pham Van Huan speaking at the opening ceremony  Major General Pham Van Huan opened the tournament and read State President Tran Dai Quang's … [Read more...]

LONDON: England international Kyle Walker signed for Manchester City from Tottenham Hotspur on Friday (Jul 14) in a deal that could see him become the world's most expensive defender. Tottenham defender Kyle Walker will cost Man City an initial £45 million with another £5 million due in a year's time and £4 million due in add-ons, according to The Times. (Photo: AFP/Justin Tallis) The 27-year-old right-back signed a five-year contract for a fee that could rise with add-ons to £54 million (US$70 million, €61 million), according to The Times and other media. The 27-times capped Walker - who will leave with City on their pre-season tour of the United States on Monday - is to be paid a reported £150,000 a week. "I am thrilled to be signing for City and can't wait to get started," Walker … [Read more...]