Jesus calls the storm

Delegates at the 26th Meeting of ASEAN Tourism Ministers (Photo: VNA) Jakarta – Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet has called on other ASEAN member countries to support and cooperate with each other in tourism development. Speaking at a press conference on the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2023 in Indonesia on February 5, the official said apart from traditional markets that have experienced difficulties, ASEAN should seek new ones and adjust some policies relating to aviation connection and visas. He also suggested the bloc continue implementing tourism development strategies for 2016-2025 and adjust and update them after each meeting of ASEAN tourism ministers. Viet described culture as the core value of the regional tourism and a unique factor helping the countries attract tourists. Sharing Viet’s view, Philippine Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco also suggested the ASEAN countries come together to offer unified tourism packages. “We have … [Read more...] about Vietnam calls for ASEAN cooperation to spur tourism development

MUSIC & PERFORMANCES Hanoi-SiaM vol. 22: Aurora Borealis Feb 9, 8 pm Registration link ____________________________________________________________________________ EXHIBITION Quang Binh - Exhibition honouring General Vo Nguyen Giap Until Feb 20, HCMC-Exhibition ‘No more, not yet’ Opening: Feb 3, 06:30 pm EMASI Nam Long, 147 Street No.8, Nam Long Residential area, D7, Display: Feb – June, Wed & Fri, 10 am – 04 pm EMASI Nam Long (D.7) Tues & Thurs, 10 am – 04 pm EMASI Vạn Phúc (D.Thủ Đức) *and every last Saturday of the month From the organizer: Nguyen Art Foundation (NAF) proudly invites you to the opening of ‘No more, not yet’, an exhibition that looks back on Nguyen Thi Thanh Mai’s shapeshifting artistic practice in all its multiplicity. Winner of the Artist Excellence Award (inaugural edition, initiated by The Factory Contemporary Arts Centre and managed by … [Read more...] about What’s on February 6-12/2023

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA) Binh Dinh (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the north-central and central coastal regions to create more breakthroughs in development to match their potential and advantages while addressing a conference in Quy Nhon city, Binh Dinh province, on February 5. The conference touched upon the implementation of the Government’s action plan to materialise the Politburo’s Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated November 3, 2022 on orientations for socio-economic development and national defence and security in the two regions by 2030 with a vision towards 2045. It was also intended to promote investment in the regions with the theme of “Linkage - Breakthroughs from maritime economy - Rapid, sustainable development.” The regions hold strategic positions and roles of special significance in terms of economy, especially maritime economy, politics, culture, social affairs, environment, external relations, … [Read more...] about PM asks north-central, central coastal regions to create development breakthroughs

Brent crude futures crawled up 16 cents, or 0.2%, to $80.10 a barrel at 0022 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures rose 15 cents, also 0.2% higher, to $73.54 a barrel. Last Friday, WTI and Brent slid 3% after strong U.S. jobs data raised concerns that the Federal Reserve would keep raising interest rates, which in turn boosted the dollar. While recession fears dominated the market last week, on Sunday International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol highlighted that China's recovery remains a key driver for oil prices. The IEA expects half of global oil demand growth this year will come from China, where Birol said jet fuel demand was surging. He said depending on how strong that recovery is, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies, together called OPEC+, may have to reassess their decision to cut output by 2 million barrels per day through 2023. "If demand goes up very strongly, if the Chinese economy … [Read more...] about Oil prices edge higher as IEA’s Birol talks up China demand outlook

Industry players had lobbied for years for a prize celebrating the work behind video game soundtracks, an acknowledgment of the major impact gaming and its music have on pop culture. In her acceptance speech, Economou -- who composed the music for "Assassin's Creed Valhalla: Dawn Of Ragnarok" -- praised those who had urged the Recording Academy to finally include the category. Backstage, she said the win felt "incredible." "I did not have high hopes for this category because... I am generally very green in the video game music space and up against such giants and veterans," she said. For the inaugural award, the other nominees were the composers behind "Aliens: Fireteam Elite," "Call Of Duty: Vanguard," "Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy" and "Old World." Economou noted that she was the only woman nominated in the category, saying: "I hope it sets precedent and I hope it's not just one woman in the category each year from here on out." Before this year, video games were … [Read more...] about Assassin’s Creed’ composer wins first ever video game music Grammy

Consumers in the UK have been increasingly keen on Vietnam’s rice, especially after ST25 was honored as the best rice variety in the world in 2019, Nguyen Canh Cuong, trade counselor at the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. UK companies have paid much attention to Vietnam’s rice due to a higher demand in their country and incentives in the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). In particular, the UK has waived the import tariff on Vietnam’s fragrant rice instead of imposing a 17.4-percent tax rate as earlier. Vietnam’s rice value on the rise According to statistics from the Vietnam Trade Office in the UK, the European country’s rice imports from Vietnam rose in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, before the UKVFTA took effect, Vietnam’s rice exports to the UK surged to some 3,400 metric tons worth US$2.67 million from nearly 1,300 metric tons in the previous year. Vietnam’s rice exports to the UK fell 20 percent in volume but inched up four percent … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s rice increasingly preferred in UK

The public investment assigned to the transport ministry in 2023 was the largest ever. — Photo kinhtedothi.vn Viet Nam has been accelerating the disbursement of public investment since the beginning of this year after missing its target in 2022. The National Assembly approved the public investment plan with a total capital of over VND700 trillion (US$29.85 billion) in 2023, VND140 trillion higher than the plan in 2022 and VND260 trillion higher than 2021. At the Government’s monthly meeting last Thursday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for management to be enhanced to speed up the progress of major projects, especially key traffic works. “The disbursement of public investment must be accelerated from the beginning of the year,” he stressed, adding that the focus must be on the project preparation works and capital allocation. Agencies and localities were also gearing up for the disbursement of public investment. Ha Noi and HCM City - the country's economic … [Read more...] about Disbursement of public investment to be accelerated in 2023