Uncategorized

ANKARA — Istanbul's mayoral candidates clashed on Sunday in a historic television debate, the first since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's party came to power in 2002. The ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) Binali Yildirim, an Erdogan loyalist and former premier, went head-to-head against the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) candidate Ekrem Imamoglu a week before the re-run vote on June 23. The AKP suffered a shock defeat in local elections on March 31 in Istanbul and Ankara after the party and its predecessors had run the two cities since 1994. Imamoglu, a former district mayor, had won by around 13,000 votes against Yildirim. But Turkey's top election body ordered a re-run of the Istanbul election after a challenge by the AKP who claimed there were suspicious votes and irregularities. The AKP's Yildirim said during the debate that "votes had been stolen" from him. But Imamoglu insisted he was "the elected mayor", adding: "There is a democractic fight … [Read more...] about Istanbul holds first TV debate in mayoral race since 2002

 Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc meets with voters in the city’s An Dương District yesterday to inform them of the outcomes of the NA’s seventh session. —VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and the delegation of National Assembly deputies from the city of Hải Phòng met with voters in the city’s An Dương District yesterday to inform them of the outcomes of the NA’s seventh session. The voters showed their delight at the achievements of the city and the country, as well as at the success of the latest NA session. They proposed the Government pay greater attention to designing specific policies to develop the private sector as well as small-and-medium-sized enterprises. Economic development should be combined with improving incomes and narrowing the rich-poor gap, they said. The voters expressed their concern … [Read more...] about Prime Minister meets voters in Hải Phòng

  Young dancers perform during the contemporary dance Kiều’s Tale at the HCM City Opera House last year. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Phúc Hùng HCM CITY A contemporary dance based on Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều), the masterpiece by the great poet Nguyễn Du, will be restaged at the HCM City Opera House on June 22. The dance is directed by Jung Sun-Goo and choreographed by Chun Yoo-Oh of South Korea. It premiered in HCM City in March last year. The work recounts the life, trials and tribulations of Thúy Kiều, a beautiful and talented young woman who sacrificed herself to save her father and younger brother from prison. Kiều sold herself into marriage to a middle-aged man, unaware of his profession as a pimp. He later forced her into prostitution, marking the start of a series of tragic events in her life. Chun will bring three “Kiều” on stage representing the character’s life, spirit and … [Read more...] about Dance about Kiều’s Tale returns to Opera House

   Theatrical performances for teenagers should be relevant to their age group. Photo courtesy of Tuổi Trẻ Theatre HCM CITY – More theatrical performances have been created for children, but plays for teenagers are needed as well, experts have said. In addition to children’s theatrical plays inspired by foreign culture such as the movies Shrek or Mermaid, Tuổi Trẻ Theatre has recently launched several plays on traditional Vietnamese folk tales such as Con Chim Xanh and Sơn Tinh – Thuỷ Tinh, and Lệ Ngọc Theatre has introduced Tấm Cám. Compared to previous years when most characters in the plays were from famous cartoons, games or superhero movies, this year’s traditional orientation has made the industry more exciting. This year, Tuổi Trẻ Theater will schedule weekly performances for children. While it might be easier to produce shows for kids, coming up with … [Read more...] about More theatrical plays for teenagers are needed

ĐỒNG THÁP — Farmers in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Đồng Tháp have switched to growing short-term crops often in rotation with rice and perennial trees on more than 16,000ha of infertile rice fields since last year. They mostly grow vegetables, corn, sesame, soy bean, sweet potato, lotus, mango, longan, orange, and jackfruit. The short-term crops provide an income of VNĐ10-300 million (US$428-12,850) per hectare more than rice while the perennial trees fetch VNĐ90-500 million ($3,850-21,420) more, according to the province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Lê Thị Kim Châu, who now uses her 4,000sq.m of land to grow water spinach for their seeds in Hồng Ngự District’s Thường Phước 1, said she needs less water now than for rice and the crop is easy to grow. Amid climate change and drought, rice yields in her area are not high, and so she decided to … [Read more...] about Đồng Tháp converts rice fields to grow more lucrative crops