Pressure-free Osaka gets back to businessThe Saigon Times Daily Naomi Osaka of Japan celebrates her win over Lesia Tsurenko of Ukraine in a quarter-final match on day ten of the 2018 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, NY, USA September 5, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Naomi Osaka seemed to shrug off the weight of history on Wednesday, when she beat Lesia Tsurenko at the U.S. Open to become the first Japanese woman since 1996 to advance to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam. After forcing her opponent into a backhand error to clinch the match 6-1 6-1, Osaka neither cried nor cheered — the 20-year-old simply pumped her fist, smiled and shook hands with her beaten competitor. It was a departure from her tearful fourth-round victory over Aryna Sabalenka and a reflection of the new mentality Osaka is embracing as she advances in the tournament. “For me I feel like I was much more emotional for the … [Read more...] about Pressure-free Osaka gets back to business
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Deal on China-backed mega free trade pact likely in November: Singapore
The 16-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will cover about half the world's population and a third of its GDP, has taken center stage as Washington embarks on a unilateral, protectionist agenda, Singapore's trade minister said Saturday. The RCEP is backed by China and notably excludes the US, which had been leading another regional pact -- the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- until President Donald Trump abandoned it on coming to office early last year. Trump, whose administration has embarked on an America-first policy and is engaged in a tit-for-tat trade brawl with China, will skip two Asian summits in November, including one in Singapore. RCEP trade ministers and negotiators met in Singapore on Thursday and Friday on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathering. The RCEP will group the 10 ASEAN members plus China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. It will become the world's biggest free trade pact … [Read more...] about Deal on China-backed mega free trade pact likely in November: Singapore
Free admission to Complex of Hue Monuments on National Day
Ngo Mon (Noon Gate), the entryway into Hue Citadel. (Photo: VNA) Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The central province of Thua Thien – Hue will offer free admission to the Complex of Hue Monuments, an UNESCO heritage site in Hue City, for Vietnamese visitors on National Day (September 2). During the National Day holiday from September 1 – 3, the province will host the Hue Half Marathon 2018, a traditional boat race festival on the Huong River and a festival of “thanh tra”, a specialty pomelo of Hue, to draw visitors. Travel agencies have designed sightseeing tours taking visitors around famous temples around Hue and going on boat ride on the Huong River in the evening when tourists can enjoy live Hue folklore song performances and drop floating lanterns on the river. The province expects to welcome an increase of 15 percent in travellers during the holiday, said Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Nguyen Van Phuc. The department has … [Read more...] about Free admission to Complex of Hue Monuments on National Day
Canada eyes free trade with ASEAN
Trade Minister of Canada Jim Carr (Source: Reuters/Chris Wattie) Hanoi (VNA) - Canada wants free trade with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the country’s Trade Minister Jim Carr on August 27 on the eve of his trip to Thailand and Singapore. Expanding to the Southeast Asia region will help Canadian businesses access one of the world's fastest-growing markets, he said in a statement. A deal with ASEAN, which includes Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, would give Canada access to 650 million consumers. The minister’s comments followed a breakthrough in US-Mexico talks to revamp the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The development has led to Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland cutting short a European trip to rejoin trilateral NAFTA negotiations in Washington DC. Carr’s August 28-30 trip aims to promote bilateral trade and investment with Thailand and … [Read more...] about Canada eyes free trade with ASEAN
Central Highlands children with cleft lip, palate get free operations
Illustrative image (Source: operationsmile.org.vn) Dak Lak (VNA) – Eighty-three children with cleft lip and palate in the Tay Nguyen Central Highlands will receive free health check-ups and surgeries as part of the Operation Smile Vietnam programme. Operations for the children from Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Lam Dong province will be conducted from August 27 to 31 at the Tay Nguyen General Hospital in Dak Lak. Doctors from the Ho Chi Minh Medicine and Pharmacy University Hospital, National Hospital of Odonto – Stomatology, and 108 Military Central Hospital, among other top medical facilities, will perform these surgeries. The programme also subsidizes travel costs of the children. Speaking at a ceremony opening the programme in Dak Lak on August 26, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee H’Yim Kdoh said the programme had provided such operations for 852 children in Dak Lak. He said it demonstrate communal support toward the well-being of … [Read more...] about Central Highlands children with cleft lip, palate get free operations