Quotes hoping for better days

The Hanoitimes - The symphony concert entitled “Hope” will kick-off a series of music performances by Vietnam Symphony Orchestra in 2021. Hanoians will be treated to some outstanding masterpieces by both international and Vietnamese composers starting from 8pm on March 12 at the Hanoi Opera House. This 90-minute-performance features the symphony titled “Hope” by Vietnamese composer Do Hong Quan; the music piece “The song my mother taught me” by A. Dvorak; the excerpt  “Intermezzo” from the opera “Cavalleria Rusticana” by P. Mascagni; “Parigi o cara” excerpt from Opera “La Traviata” by G. Verdi; the “Nessun Dorma” excerpt from the opera “Turandot” by G. Puccini; and the symphony Enigma Variations, Op. 36 by E. Elgar. The concert will be conducted by Japanese conductor Honna Tetsuji, with the participation of artists Bui Thi Trang (soprano), The Tung Lam (tenor) and other artists of the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra. The symphony concert is aimed at delighting Hanoian audiences with music classics during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as showcasing the solidarity of Vietnamese people and their optimisms for a better year ahead. In the 2021 season, the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra will focus on performing live concerts on stages and online via YouTube, Facebook, among others. The Orchestra will continue this going-online trend even in the following years in order to introduce quality musical works by famous international and Vietnamese composers to the public, helping them better understand about the symphony music. Tickets for performances by Vietnam Symphony Orchestra are available at the doors of Hanoi Opera House prior to the concert or sold online via http://ticketvn.com/ for free delivery . …

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VOV.VN understands that only four foreigners who were victims of recent sexual assaults carried out by a group of young men have reported the crime to the authorities. Several other victims have so far failed to show up at the police station, therefore the actual number of victims remains unknown, according to an investigator. Despite this, no additional sexual assaults have happened since the police tracked down several suspects, including summoning several people for interrogations. “Police agents have been deployed to patrol around West Lake where sexual assaults happened but recorded no similar cases,” said the investigator. Thanks to the presence of police forces, foreigners residing around West Lake feel more at ease when going out these days. “Previously I always brought with me a bottle of self-defence pepper spray, but now I am no longer worried when going out,” said J.K., a 24-year-old girl from South Africa. Meanwhile, K.M.C, a 25-year-old girl from Ireland, thanked the media and the police for their swift response. “I am still a bit worried whenever I go out, but the situation is getting better and better now,” she confided. The police operating in Tay Ho district have handled the case after receiving reports that foreign women living in the locality had fallen victim to a string of sexual assaults carried out by a group of young people. Some victims stated that they were sexually assaulted by young men as they were walking down main streets such as To Ngoc Van, Quang Ba, and Dang Thai Mai. An Irish victim even said the men drove a motorcycle at her, before strangling her, throwing stones at her, and snatching her belongings. The police subsequently summoned some suspects for interrogation. Tay Ho district remains a popular place among Hanoi’s expat community with many foreigners or foreign organisations renting property to either stay or work there. …

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Christmas illuminations are seen above shoppers on Regent Street in the main high-street shopping area of London on December 15, 2020 ahead of fresh measures for the capital amid rising novel coronavirus infection rates. The British capital faces tougher Covid-19 measures within days, the UK government said on December 14, with a new coronavirus variant emerging as a possible cause for rapidly rising infection rates.(DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP) Hopes for an end to the pandemic were boosted by positive assessments of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine, but a study warned that at least a fifth of the world's population in poorer nations may not have access to vaccines until 2022. With the virus resurgent in Europe, Germany closed non-essential shops and schools, swathes of England came under tighter curbs, and Denmark extended its restrictions. "It's very good that we're closing the shops, it's for our health. We can't wait for things to fall apart," said shopper Jurgen in Berlin, where people were rushing to finish their Christmas purchases before the shutdown. Germany had coped relatively well with the first wave in the spring, but it has struggled to contain a resurgence in recent months and its health minister said it wanted the European Union to approve the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine "before Christmas". Calls have been growing for the EU health regulator to speed up its vaccines decision process, with the bloc lagging behind a growing number of nations that have authorised the drug. Britain has already started using it, but high infection numbers forced London on Wednesday to join large parts of central and northern England under tough, economically painful restrictions. Pubs, bars, restaurants and other hospitality sites will close, apart from takeaways, as will theatres and other entertainment venues. "The hospitality business needs this week, and it's devastating. It is devastatingly awful," said Lesley Lewis, owner of The French House, a London pub. …

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