Real Madrid: Richest European Soccer Team

The European soccer season is coming soon in August where most of the best football clubs on Earth compete for both trophies and financial rewards. Deloitte's football annual 'Money League' 2011 has released the list of richest European teams’ revenues for the 2009/2010 season for the 2009/2010 season in the sixth year running.

Real Madrid / League: La Liga (Spain)

2010 Revenue: 438.6 million euros ($625.8 million)

2009 Revenue: 401.4 million euros ($572.8 million)

Although Barcelona is the undisputed king of the pitch, but Real Madrid has topped the richest list. The team makes broadcasting revenues of 158.7 million euros which accounted for 34 percent of Real's 2010 revenue. The team has Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Wunderkind Mesut Özil and Christina Ronaldo.

Real Madrid / League: La Liga (Spain)

FC Barcelona / League: La Liga (Spain)

2010 Revenue: 398.1 million euros ($575 million)

2009 Revenue: 365.9 million euros ($528.3 million)

The continuous success of Barcelona makes the team the greatest in the history of club soccer. The team wins Spain's La Liga and European champions in 2010/2011. Most importantly, Barcelona is the first team in history to ever win Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, UEFA Super Cup, La Liga, Copa del Rey and the FIFA Club World Cup.

FC Barcelona / League: La Liga (Spain)

Manchester United / League: Premier League (England)

2010 Revenue: 349.8 million euros ($493.8 million)

2009 Revenue: 327.0 million euros ($461.6 million) B

Considered the valuable sports franchise in the world, Manchester United is rumored to worth $1.8 billion. The team failed to win European Champions League final to Barcelona but managed to have the nineteenth Premier League trophy.

Manchester United / League: Premier League (England)

Bayern Munich / League: Bundesliga (Germany)

2010 Revenue: 323.0 million euros ($455.7 million)

2009 Revenue: 289.5 million euros ($408.5 million)

Bayern Munich has always been the Germany's most successful club with 22 league titles, four European Champions League cups. German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer had been playing for the team in the 1970s.

Bayern Munich / League: Bundesliga (Germany)

Arsenal / League: Premier League (England)

2010 Revenue: 274.1 million euros ($359.4 million)

2009 Revenue: 263.0 million euros ($358.8 million)

Arsenal is the most successful soccer club in London and the second richest team in England in terms of income.

Arsenal / League: Premier League (England)

Manchester United - The Club With History

Famous Music Videos filmed on beaches

Beaches with blue water, sunshine, wind, white sand together with soaring rows of palm trees always provide great inspiration for music video makers. The cool sceneries of seas have been the prefect backgrounds for numerous music videos. In fact, beautiful beaches in Miami and Malibu have appeared as the stunning backgrounds in music videos of famous singers like Britney Spears, Beyonce, Will.I.Am, etc. and they have proved to be the locations to film music videos with romantic and stunning views.

1. Sometimes" - Britney Spears

“Sometimes” is a sweet pop song in the debut album “Baby One More Time” of the Pop Princess Britney Spears. The video directed by Nigel Dick filmed at Paradise Cove Resort on the famous beach Malibu in California. “Sometimes” is considered the single with most beautiful background in the album “Baby One More Time”. The video directed by Nigel Dick filmed at Paradise Cove Resort on the famous beach Malibu in California. “Sometimes” is considered the single with most beautiful background in the album “Baby One More Time”

2. "If I Let You Go" - Westlife

“If I let you go” was the song that made the band’s name spread all over Europe. The ground of the song is filmed on a beautiful beach in Ireland in which the guys stroll on the sand and play with waves

3. "Circle in The Sand" - Belinda Carlisle

“Circle in the Sand” is a song associated with the name of the famous female singer Belinda Carlisle in the 1980s.

4. "Baby Boy" - Beyonce feat.Sean Paul

Beyonce Knowles is known as one of the sexiest stars of the music industry. In summer 2003, she showed off her beauty with endowed sexy curves on Miami Beach, Florida, USA in the “Baby Boy” video clip.

5. "The Ketchup Song" - Las Ketchup

The Ketchup Song is the English version of the popular song “Asereje “of the Spanish family band Las Ketchup. The video clip of the song was filmed in Palm Beach, Florida, USA - one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. The three sisters of Las Ketchup group turned into youthful bar waitress.

6. "Mi Chico Latino" - Geri Halliwell

Geri Halliwell was one a member of the famous female music band Spice Girls. The video clip of “Mi Chico Latino was shot in the romantic island of Sardinia in the Mediterranean Sea. Geri appeared a sexy girl in bikini black bikini on a luxury yacht. She enjoyed the blue water of the sea Sardinia besides the hot Latin boys.

7. "You're Still The One" - Shania Twain

Filmed at the famous beaches of Malibu California, “You're Still the One” by the country music diva Shania Twain brought to audience romantic night images of the sea. The lyrical tone together with the beautiful ground has made the video become a remarkable hit of Shania Twain.

China says US fails to defuse 'debt bomb'

China warned Wednesday that tortured efforts to raise the US limit on borrowing had failed to defuse Washington's "debt bomb", and signalled it would further diversify its holdings away from the dollar.

China, sitting on the world's biggest foreign exchange reserves of around $3.20 trillion as of the end of June, is the largest holder of US Treasuries

After months of bitter negotiations with his Republican rivals, US President Barack Obama finally signed an emergency bill on Tuesday that averted what would have been a disastrous debt default for the world's biggest economy.
But in a blistering commentary, China's official Xinhua news agency ridiculed the US political process and warned that the deal had done nothing to change the country's addiction to borrowing.
"The months-long tug of war between Democrats and Republicans... failed to defuse Washington's debt bomb for good, only delaying an immediate detonation by making the fuse an inch longer," the commentary said.

It described the negotiations between the Republicans and Democrats as a "madcap farce of brinkmanship", and lectured US politicians to take more responsible measures to fix their country's economic problems.

In the first official reaction from a Chinese government body, China's central bank delivered a more measured statement and welcomed the deal.

But it nevertheless said it would continue to diversify its foreign currency investments.

"China's foreign exchange reserves will continue following the principle of diversified investment, enhancing risk management and minimising the negative impact of volatility in global financial markets," People's Bank of China governor Zhou Xiaochuan said in a statement.

"Large fluctuations and uncertainty in the US treasury bond market will affect the stability of international monetary and financial systems, which will hurt the global economic recovery."

Also on Wednesday, the Chinese ratings agency Dagong downgraded the United States for the second time since November, with a continuing negative outlook.

China, sitting on the world's biggest foreign exchange reserves of around $3.20 trillion as of the end of June, is the largest holder of US Treasury bonds and has previously expressed concerns over its investments.

China Investment Corp, set up in 2007 to invest a chunk of the country's hefty foreign-exchange stockpile, has been trying to diversify since the global financial crisis struck in 2008.

The $400-billion sovereign wealth fund has been increasing its already substantial holdings in European bonds to get better returns and prop up debt-laden euro-zone countries, which are major buyers of Chinese exports.

Exact figures on the size of China's euro holdings are hard to find, but analysts estimate its stockpile is relatively small, with most holdings in large countries such as Germany and France

However, analysts said China had no choice but to continue buying US debt in significant amounts for the time being.

"I'm sure they are looking into diversification but it's only going to be at the margins," IHS Global Insight analyst Alistair Thornton told AFP.

"In reality it is very hard for China to diversify away from buying US debt without fundamentally changing its whole economic model... no other market is as liquid as the US debt market."

Yin Zhentao, an economist with the Chinese Academy of Social Science, also said China had few other avenues.

"China's central bank has to mop up liquidity and the US Treasuries are the most important option," Yin told AFP.

Dagong, which has links to the government, said in a statement it had downgraded the United States' local and foreign currency credit rating from A+ to A, with a negative outlook.

Raising the US debt ceiling will "further deepen" the country's economic woes," said Dagong, adding that the "interest and safety" of creditors was not guaranteed.

Dagong has little financial muscle outside of China but has made a name for itself by accusing its three Western rivals -- Moody's, Fitch and Standard & Poor's -- of causing the financial crisis by not properly disclosing risk.

The big three agencies have consistently awarded Washington their highest possible ratings -- allowing the United States to take on more debt at lower cost, which China has blamed for fuelling inflationary pressures.

Dagong's chairman, Guan Jianzhong, is a paid adviser to China's government, but insists his agency is fully independent.

Article source: http://www1.dtinews.vn/news/news/international/china-says-us-fails-to-defuse-debt-bomb_14955.html

VN, Lao localities step up tourism cooperation

Tad Pha Suam water fall in Laos (Source: Internet)

Champassak province of Laos welcomed over 300,000 foreign tourists in 2010, of which the number of Vietnamese visitors sharply increased compared to the previous percentage.

This was a good translation of the cooperative agreement signed in 2009 by the Champassak Tourism Association (CTA) and the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association, CTA Chairman Somleth Phosalath said on July 18.

The rise is mostly attributed to the introduction of package tours, the improvement in transport routes, capacity and quality of the tourism sectors of both sides, she said.

She expressed her hope that the resumption of the Vientiane – Pakse - Ho Chi Minh City flight in January, 2011 would help to increase the number of Vietnamese arrivals, including those from Ho Chi Minh City, to Champassak province./.

 Article source: http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/VN-Lao-localities-step-up-tourism-cooperation/20117/19716.vnplus

Deadly delicious

With some careful preparation, stinging jellyfish make a delicious summer staple

Jellyfish salad is served up with the central bánh tráng nướng (rice cracker)
Vietnam’s gorgeous central coast is famous for its natural beauty – which is made all the more beautiful, each summer, with the arrival of multi-colored clouds of floating jellyfish.
These creatures aren’t just easy on the eyes. They have been eaten along the coast for generations and are now popular in Vietnam’s major cities.
Rhopilema hispiium (the most widely harvested jellyfish in Vietnam) are poisonous when still raw and unprocessed. A recent Japanese study found that Vietnamese jellyfish harvesters suffer a “persistent eruption” when they accidentally touch their unwieldy catch.
But there are no known dangers in eating it, once it has been processed.
After netting a smack of jellyfish, fishermen have to take special care to render jellyfish suitable for the dinner table – the tentacles are said to be the most delicious part.
When it is caught, fishermen carefully remove the mucous membrane – leaving behind the bluish, rheumy flesh. At times, the flesh is sun dried and cut into thin strips. At others, it’s merely soaked and sold fresh.
After being netted at sea, the creatures are soaked in alum that is derived from crushed guava leaves. When left in the mixture, the paste causes the meat to contract and firm up.
Jellyfish are harvested all up and down Vietnam’s coastline but it is considered a delicacy specific to Nha Trang, the capital town of Khanh Hoa Province, and Binh Dinh Province on the central coast.
In Ho Chi Minh City restaurants are now regularly importing fresh jellyfish from the coast.
Jellyfish salad

Both the soup and the salad dishes are available at the following restaurants around Ho Chi Minh City: 49 49 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1 Quay 535 Ba Thang Hai Street, Ward 8, District 10 Song Trang 1035 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Hai Hon Chong 159/46/33 Tran Van Dang Street, Ward 11, District 3

In the last few years, HCMC diners have warmed to the idea of dining on gỏi sứa, a salad that relies on the flavor of these prehistoric creatures.
To prepare the salad, rinse the jellyfish and pat it dry. In many cases, the jellyfish is tossed in a pan with shredded chicken, sliced pork or prawns. Adding meat to the dish makes it a meal.
The staple of the dish is acrid green banana, julienned mango, chopped ambarella, onion, crushed peanuts and herbs.
The dish is served up with the central bánh tráng nướng (rice cracker), and dipped into soy sauce or a mixture of salt, pepper and lemon juice.
Jellyfish soup
Jellyfish adds a nice flavor balance to seafood soups.
The broth can be prepared either by boiling pork or fish bones for several hours and skimming the surface of the pot.
To make the base, deep-fry annatto seed until the resulting oil is deep red. Fry shrimp and sliced pork belly (or fish cake) with seeded and quartered tomatoes and dump the resulting sauce into the pot of bubbling broth.
Place scalded vermicelli into a bowl and add slices of jellyfish. Finish by adding a scoop of bubbling broth and serve hot.

By Nguyet Anh, Thanh Nien News (The story can be found in the July 29th issue of our print edition, Thanh Nien Weekly)  

 

Article source: http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110730122141.aspx

Low vaccination rate puts hep-B target ‘out of reach'

Illustrative image (Source: Internet)

The World Health Organisation has warned Vietnam and eight other countries in the Western Pacific that they would not be able to reduce the hepatitis B infection rate in children to less than 2 percent by next year due to their low vaccination coverage.

It had pledged to support the nine countries – Cambodia , Kiribati , Laos , Papua New Guinea , the Philippines , Samoa , Solomon Islands , and Vanuatu being the others – that face significant challenges in combating the disease.

The major cause of the low vaccination rates is the large number of births that occur at home without skilled birth attendants, making it difficult to deliver vaccines and other care services, it said.

The countries target reducing the hepatitis B rate in children to less than 1 percent in future.

Dr Shin Young-soo, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific, said reaching the targets is crucial and doable.

"Focused, concerted action is essential, especially in the countries that continue to suffer from high rates of mother-to-child transmission," he said.

The region accounts for almost half the global incidence of hepatitis B while having only a third of the population.

More than 90 percent of countries around the globe are now including the vaccine against hepatitis B in routine childhood immunisation programmes, giving babies life-long protection.

July 28 has been designated as World Hepatitis Day, serving as an opportunity to promote specific actions towards controlling the disease./.

Article source: http://en.vietnamplus.vn/Home/Low-vaccination-rate-puts-hepB-target-out-of-reach/20117/19931.vnplus

US House votes to avert imminent default

A man watches a breaking news alert on the national debt limit on a TV in the window of a bank August 1, 2011 in New York City.

 
With barely a day to act, the polarized US House of Representatives approved a massive austerity plan to avert a debt default that would have wreaked havoc through the global economy.
After eight months of often angry negotiations, the Republican-led House voted 269-161 on a package backed by President Barack Obama to raise the limit on US borrowing and enact at least $2.1 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade.
The Democratic-led Senate was expected to approve the emergency measure in a noon (1600 GMT) vote Tuesday -- scarcely 12 hours before a midnight deadline by which the world's richest nation would run out of cash to pay its bills.
"It is imperative that the United States not default on the nation's obligations, that the full faith and credit of the United States be preserved, and that the nation's fiscal house be put in order," the White House said.
In a moment of high drama -- an rare show of unity in the ideologically torn Congress -- Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords drew applause and cheers from her assembled colleagues as she made a triumphant first return since being shot in the head in a January shooting rampage in her home state of Arizona.
But the vote showcased many of the political fault lines likely to shape Obama's November 2012 re-election bid, notably conservative Republicans' all-out push to cut government spending, and Democrats' quest to raise taxes on the rich.
The vote was a key test for House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, who said before the vote that the package would start "fixing our fiscal problems" and "provide more confidence for employers in America."
"The process works. It may be messy, but it works," Boehner told CNN in brief remarks after the vote.
The ultraconservative "Tea Party" among Republicans had demanded a hard line. Tea Party favorite Michele Bachmann opposed the deal as too tepid, although other members of the movement called the deep spending cuts a triumph.
Republicans backed the plan 174-66, while Democrats denied a Democratic president a majority of their votes, splitting evenly 95-95 on the measure after many of them waited until the last minute to cast their ballots.
Liberal Democrats were outraged at what they saw as an abandonment by Obama of core principles. Representative Nancy Pelosi, the top House Democrat and member of the party's left-wing flank, took to the floor before the vote and pleaded with her colleagues to consider supporting the package.
"I'm not happy with it," she said, but "please think of what could happen if we defaulted. Please, please, please come down in favor of preventing the collateral damage to our seniors and our veterans."
Liberals were aghast that the plan relied on spending cuts and did not include increases in tax revenues from the rich and wealthy corporations, although Obama has called for letting tax cuts for the top brackets expire in January 2013.
"This deal is a sugar-coated Satan sandwich. If you lift the bun, you will not like what you see," Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver, who heads the Congressional Black Caucus, said on his Twitter feed.
Financial markets also showed concern, with early optimism evaporating by midday on worries the deal could fail to prevent a downgrade of Washington's top Triple-A debt rating.
A downgrade could push up US interest rates, making debt payments more expensive and affecting any flexible-rate loan in the sputtering US economy, still grappling with historically high unemployment of 9.2 percent.
European share prices slumped sharply, but Wall Street recouped early losses. Shares opened lower Tuesday in Tokyo but largely over speculation that Japan will intervene to weaken the strong yen, dealers said.
Russia and China, often on the receiving end of US criticism, have been critical of the debt talks. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States of acting as a "parasite" living off its creditors.
US Vice President Joe Biden, a 36-year veteran of the Senate, held talks on Capitol Hill to press fellow Democrats to back the deal, fruit of six months of fitful talks between President Barack Obama and his Republican foes.
Emerging from closed-door talks with House Democrats, Biden said he had gotten an earful of their "frustration" but that there was a "a sword of Damocles hanging over everyone's heads."
The blueprint negotiated between Obama and congressional leaders would include more than $900 billion in cuts over the next 10 years -- $350 billion of it in defense. A special congressional committee would then be tasked with coming up with another $1.5 trillion in cuts to report by November 23.
A failure by the committee would trigger automatic cuts -- half in defense spending, a priority for many Republicans. Automatic cuts would not touch Democratic-backed Social Security and Medicare payments for the elderly, although they would still affect providers of the health care program.
In a key point for Obama, the package will raise the debt ceiling into 2013 --- meaning he will not be forced into a similar showdown with Congress on spending in the midst of his re-election campaign next year.
The debt ceiling would rise by up to $2.4 trillion in two steps. The US government hit its current debt limit of $14.3 trillion on May 16 and has since been operating through spending and accounting adjustments, as well as higher than expected tax revenue.

AFP

Article source: http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110802120807.aspx

Vietnam chess champ in second place at Dortmund contest

Vietnam’s Le Quang Liem drew his match with the Hikaru Nakamura, ranked first in the US, at the 39th Super GM Chess meet in Dortmund, Germany on Friday.
The draw with the 6th-ranked Japanese American helped the 27th-ranked Vietnamese extend his non-losing streak to seven matches with one win and remain in second spot at the July 22-31 event.
Second-placed Liem now has four points while fifth-ranked Russian Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik leads the tournament with six points. Liem, who is the only Vietnamese to enter the world top 100, also finished second at last year’s event.

By Hoang Quynh, Thanh Nien News  

 

Article source: http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110730185841.aspx

How to eat well and save the planet too

The fact that a billion people in the world live in or close to the edge of hunger is a sobering reminder that even basic needs should never be taken for granted
Eating used to be simple. If you liked it and could afford it, down the hatch it went. But the days of carefree consumption of food, are a thing of the past, especially for meat lovers.
If nonstop -- and contradictory -- pronouncements by doctors as to what you should or shouldn’t ingest don’t spoil your appetite, dire warnings about the ruinous impact of your favorite dish on the environment or the climate probably will.
The fact that a billion people in the world live in or close to the edge of hunger is also a sobering reminder that even basic needs should never be taken for granted.
So what’s a gourmand to do?
For those who enjoy the luxury of choice, help has come in the form of what may be the most wide-ranging overview so far on how different foodstuffs -- from lentils to lamb chops -- impact the environment, the fight against global warming, and the human body.
“A Meat Eater’s Guide to Climate Change and Health” is just that, a 90-page no-nonsense manual to help define a personal comfort zone between what your taste buds crave and what your conscience will allow them to experience.
Start with the rising threat of climate change, fuelled not just by gas and oil combustion but methane-belching animals and the long chain of production that brings their selected body parts to middle-class dinner tables the world over.
“Our assessment calculates the ‘cradle-to-grave’ carbon footprint of each food item based on greenhouse gas emissions generated before and after the food leaves the farm,” said Kari Hamerschlag, a senior analyst at the non-profit Environmental Working Group in Washington D.C.
The analysis, jointly conducted with the Portland, Oregon-based CleanMetrics Corporation, also includes the pesticides and fertilizers used to grow animal feed, the raising of livestock, as well as the processing, transportation and cooking that follows.
Even disposal of leftovers -- a major source of emissions and pollution, as it turns out -- are taken into account.
The same criteria are applied to various farmed fish, grains, dairy products and vegetables too.
No surprise, meat is the prime offender across almost all categories considered.
But as is true of George Orwell’s bestiary in “Animal Farm”, not all edible critters are equal, at least not when it comes to their harmful impact.
Pound-for-pound, lamb is the worst carbon polluter, generating nearly 40 kilos (86 pounds) of CO2-equivalent for every kilo (2.2 pounds) eaten. The next most carbon-intensive animal -- also a cud-chewing ruminant -- on the list is beef, with emissions of 27 kilos (60 pounds) per kilo.
Looked at another way, eating a modest 110-gramme (four-ounce) slice of braised lamb shank is the equivalent of driving a mid-sized car for 21 kilometers (13 miles). The same amount of beef works out to just over half that distance.
“If your family of four skips steak once a week, it’s like taking your car off the road for nearly three months,” Hamerschlag said.
Americans eat more meat -- exceeding Europeans by 60 percent -- than most other developed nations, with 100 kilos (220 pounds) produced each year for every man, woman and child.
But burgeoning middle-class appetites in rapidly emerging economies, led by China, are closing the gap with frightening speed, recent studies have shown.
In terms of health, the study reviews the well-known hazards of excess meat consumption, including heart disease, diabetes and obesity. It also highlights the widespread and controversial use of antibiotics for livestock and, in the United States, growth hormones.
The next culprit on the scale of climate and environmental impacts is cheese, mainly because of the large quantities of milk needed to produce it.
Pork, farm-raised salmon, chicken and turkey are all on a par when it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, but pigs -- the most widely-eaten meat in the world, with China accounting for half of global consumption -- are in a category of their own when it comes to environmental impact. Runoff from waste into fresh water sources and even the ocean are especially problematic.
As is the fact that global consumption of all meats combined has soared, from about 70 million tons in 1960 to about 300 million tons today.
Wasted food, the study found, accounts for fully a fifth of the carbon emissions linked to meat and dairy products in the US, with other rich countries not far behind.
“Reducing waste and buying only as much as you can eat is the easiest way to reduce greenhouse gases and other environmental impacts,” it said.
Inescapably, inevitably, ineluctably, the report arrives at this conclusion: vegetables are virtuous. Especially lentils.
That’s a hard truth for meat lovers. But there is advice here even for hardcore carnivores who cannot, or will not, kick the habit.
“Meat, eggs and dairy products that are certified organic, humane or grass-fed are generally the least environmentally damaging,” Hamerschlag said, with some studies pointing to health benefits too.
In the end, American nutritionist Michael Pollan’s seven-word mantra may be all the advice one needs: “Eat [real] food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”

Graphic comparing the carbon footprint of different food items

AFP  

 

Article source: http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pages/20110724174855.aspx

Salt parks tipped as tourism destinations

The Union of Science for Sustainable Tourism Development (STDe) plans to promote salt parks to tourists as an environmentally friendly attraction.

Illustration photo

STDe said 70 percent of the country's tourism sector focused on Vietnam 's 3,200km coastline.
Over the next 20 years, the STDe said it planned to cash in on the popularity of the sea by developing a tourism industry around salt production.
"Combining salt production with tourism is a way of capitalising on the popularity of the coast," said Nguyen Thu Hanh, STDe's chairperson.
Building salt parks will help promote the industry and preserve a traditional way of life, she added.
Planned parks would have attractions such as salt caves, slides, mazes, art exhibitions, spas – even salt hotels and villages, she said.
Next month, work will start on a pilot salt park in Ha Long, in northern Quang Ninh Province and on Cat Ba island in Hai Phong.
"But to turn the idea into reality, we need every sector of the tourism industry to participate," Hanh said.
Pham Trung Luong, deputy director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, said the tourism sector had done little to exploit the central province's coastline over the last 10 years.
"The lack of long-term and proper investment in coastal tourism means we have overlooked our region's natural advantages," he said.

Article source: http://www1.dtinews.vn/news/beautiful-vietnam/travel-to-vietnam/salt-parks-tipped-as-tourism-destinations_14737.html

Green light for USD4 billion South Hoi An project

VinaCapital and Genting Group have permission to reclaim a large area in Quang Nam province to implement a multi-billion dollar recreation resort project.

Quang Nam People’s Committee has allowed a VinaCapital and Genting Group joint venture to reclaim 1,555 hectares in Thang Binh district, within the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, about 70 kilometres south of Hoi An.
The announcement paves the way for the developer to start implementing its USD4 billion South Hoi An tourism project, which was granted an investment certificate last December.
VinaCapital and Genting will have 12 months to reclaim the area, otherwise they will lose the project site, according to Nguyen Van Lua, deputy director of Chu Lai Economic Zone Management Authority.
South Hoi An is the largest tourism project in Quang Nam province and also Danang, home to many luxurious resorts. VinaCapital and Genting will pump USD4 billion into the project.
The project consists of five-star hotels, resorts villas, gambling facilities for foreigners and 2,500 houses in maximum for sale or rent, according to Quang Nam People’s Committee. The developer can transfer parts of the project to other investors.
Lua said local authorities did not doubt over the developer’s financial ability but said VinaCapital and Genting “should start work soon”.
“Because the project occupies a large area, a slow implementation will raise questions among locals,” he said.
So far the developer has transfered USD15 million to the provincial authorities for site clearance and resettlement work.
The developer has received commitments local authorities to support its resettlement plans.
Last year, the local authority revoked an investment certificate of the USD4.15 billion Dragon Beach Resort in Dien Ban district, developed by United States-based Dragon Beach Group, as the developer delayed its deposit and site clearance work.
VinaCapital Group, which manages a USD1.8 billion fund in Vietnam, is one of leading real estate developers in the country.
Meanwhile, Genting Group is a world leading developer of integrated resorts globally and has been voted Malaysia’s leading corporation and one of Asia’s best managed multinationals. Its pioneer integrated resort is Resorts World Genting which attracted 19.5 million of visitors in 2009. South Hoi An will be Genting’s first involvement in Vietnam.

Article source: http://www1.dtinews.vn/news/beautiful-vietnam/travel-to-vietnam/green-light-for-usd4-billion-south-hoi-an-project_14297.html

Owen lifts Man United to 2-1 friendly win over Barca

Michael Owen scored in the 76th minute to lift Manchester United to a 2-1 victory over Barcelona in a friendly football match that reprised their clash in the Champions League final.

Manchester United's Nani celebrates scoring a first half goal against Barcelona during their friendly match at FedExField, on July 30, in Landover, Maryland. Man United won 2-1

Nani on Saturday opened the scoring in the 22nd minute for English Premier League champions Manchester United, who were dominated 3-1 by the Spanish giants in the UEFA Champions League final at Wembley in May.

Thanks to the stature of the clubs, FedEx Field in suburban Washington -- home of the NFL's Redskins -- drew a crowd of 81,807, the largest ever for a football match in the Washington DC area.

Tom Cleverley set up Owen's goal, intercepting Sergio Busquets' pass intended for Seydou Keita and racing toward the goal before finding Owen, who lofted the ball over Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes.

Six minutes earlier Thiago Alcantara had equalized, blasting into the top corner of the goal after winger Carlos Carmona had cut inside and slotted a pass through.

The victory completed a perfect US tour for Manchester United, who return to England after five victories in their five friendlies.

"Tonight wasn't a do-or-die situation," United assistant coach Mick Phelan stressed. "It was important that the players we put out on the pitch understand what it takes to play against an exceptional team.

"We have some very good young players out there and (they) proudly conducted themselves to a high standard."

Barcelona, who are without two-time FIFA Player of the Year Lionel Messi as well as Daniel Alves, Javier Mascherano and Alexis Sanchez for their US tour, travel to Miami on Sunday to face Mexico's Chivas Guadalajara in the second match of their North American pre-season tour.

"The confidence is huge," Guardiola said of Barcelona's outlook on the Spanish season, which begins in late August. "It's impossible to have more confidence in these players.

"It's impossible because they've shown me many, many times the quality they are."

Even with the notable absentees, Barcelona controlled the ball for long stretches.

But it was Nani who broke through to open the scoring, after Danny Welbeck broke from the back to set up the goal, with Nani giving Valdes little chance to make a save.

Although Barcelona continued to control possession, United's defence dealt ably with the constant pressure and Barcelona couldn't find another equalizer.

Thiago came close with a mid-range shot in the 89th, and Owen had a chance to add another goal in the first minute of injury time after a cross from Gabriel Obertan, but fired over the bar.

Thousands of spectators arrived early and gave the match a festive feel.

Chants of "Barca! Barca! Barca!" rang out from before kickoff, but United manager Sir Alex Ferguson reckoned support was about equally divided.

Once again on this North American tour, Ferguson was impressed by the atmosphere.

"It's quite possible it was 50-50 in terms of the fans for (Barcelona) and ourselves, and they're all mixed together," said Ferguson, whose side is now looking toward the Community Shield match on August 7 and their Premier League opener on August 14.

"It's a fantastic sight to see that. It gives you hope that the game is bereft of some of the things that have happened in the past."

Article source: http://www1.dtinews.vn/news/sports-_-entertainment/sports/owen-lifts-man-united-to-2-1-friendly-win-over-barca_14795.html

Harry Potter finale soars past $1 billion marker

The boy wizard is going out with a bang as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2," the eighth and final movie in the series, has surpassed $1 billion in worldwide sales.

The boy wizard is going out with a bang as "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows -- Part 2," the eighth and final movie in the series, has surpassed $1 billion in worldwide sales.

The ninth film to reach the billionaire club, it now ranks along with box office sales for movies such as "Titanic" and "Avatar," Warner Bros. Pictures said in a statement Sunday.
It also tied the record for the fastest climb -- after its July 15 release, it soared to $1 billion on Sunday. The meteoric rise is among other records broken by Potter, including highest one-day ticket sales ($92.1 million) and midnight premier sales ($43.5 million).
The film has now earned an estimated $318.46 million domestically and an estimated $690 million on the international side, according to Warner.
"To say that the global response to the film has been extraordinary would be an understatement. We are so proud that this last film in the series has not only reached such heights but has reached them in record time. It is now Warner Bros.' most successful release ever," said Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, Warner's president of international distribution.
In the finale, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson reprise their roles of Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger as the now young-adult wizards band together in a battle of good versus evil in the wizard world.
The movies are based on J.K. Rowling's series of novels about the adventures of the orphan Potter, who discovers he has magical powers. The books are a global phenomenon and available in 69 languages.
Over the weekend "Deathly Hallows" was fourth in North American box office ticket sales, with "Cowboys & Aliens" taking the number one spot in its debut and raking in $36.4 million.
"The Smurfs" also had a big debut weekend as it landed in the second spot with $35.6 million followed by "Captain America: The First Avenger" in third with $25.5 million.

Article source:  http://www1.dtinews.vn/news/sports-_-entertainment/harry-potter-finale-soars-past-$1-billion-marker_14869.html

Obama says both U.S. parties reach tentative debt ceiling deal

U.S. President Barack Obama said Sunday night that he had reached a last-minute debt ceiling deal with Republican and Democratic leaders to stave off a looming debt default crisis.

U.S. President Barack Obama stands at the lectern to deliver remarks on the debt ceiling crisis in the briefing room at the White House in Washington July 31, 2011. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A bipartisan plan could help lift the cloud of uncertainty over the U.S. economy and financial markets, he said at a hastily arranged press conference to ease market jitters. The U.S. federal government's borrowing limit, currently at 14.29 trillion U.S. dollars, was reached on May 16. The Treasury Department said that it would run out of cash to pay its bills unless Congress agreed to raise the limit by Aug. 2.
The first tranche of deficit cutting would be about 1 trillion U.S. dollars over the next decade, said Obama, adding that spending cuts would not come too quickly to hurt the fragile U.S. economic growth.
"The result would be the lowest level of annual domestic spending since Dwight Eisenhower was President -- but at a level that still allows us to make job-creating investments in things like education and research," he added.
The package would also set up a bipartisan congressional committee to find new deficit cutting ways in line with the second tranche of debt limit increase by November, Obama said.
House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said Sunday that the panel was endeavoring to find a deficit of at least 1.5 trillion dollars to trim.
Obama said this deal was not one he preferred, but added that "this compromise does make a serious down payment on the deficit reduction we need, and gives each party a strong incentive to get a balanced plan done before the end of the year."
Experts held that this package would lift the federal debt limit in two stages by at least 2.1 trillion dollars, enough to tide the White House over after the 2012 elections. But it was a tentative proposal, as any compromise plan still needs to clear a Democratic-controlled Senate and a Republican-held House.
"We're not done yet," Obama said, urging U.S. lawmakers to approve the debt ceiling compromise plan in next few days.
No votes on the deal were currently expected in either chamber of Congress until Monday at the earliest.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Sunday afternoon voiced his support to this blueprint plan, while House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Sunday afternoon that House Democrats have not decided whether to support the last-ditch deal.
VietNamNet/Xinhuanet
Article source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/11365/obama-says-both-u-s--parties-reach-tentative-debt-ceiling-deal.html

2014 FIFA World Cup preliminary draw

FIFA President Joseph Blatter presided over the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Preliminary Draw in the city of Rio de Janeiro on Saturday.

Former Brazilian football player Ronaldo participates in the preliminary draw for the FIFA World Cup 2014, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, July 30, 2011. (Xinhua/Wilton Junior/Agencia Estado)

Conducted by FIFA's Secretary-General Jerome Valcke, the draw, combined musical talent, emotion-catching video and soccer stars, determined the fate of 166 teams in their quest to earn a spot in the 32-team tournament.

Brazil's most famous soccer player Pele was on hand to welcome FIFA to Brazil. The legendary striker who scored more than 1,000 goals in his career, is an honorary ambassador to the 2014 World Cup.

Additionally, Brazilian President Dilma Roussef was present to observe the draw and learn more about the undertakings of her country's future event. Former stars including Ronaldo, Cafu, Zico, Zagallo, Bebeto, and current players including Neymar, Lucas Paizon, Fellipe Bastos and Paulo Henrique Ganso helped in the drawing.

The 32-team format will remain the same as previous World Cups. Europe will be represented by 13 teams. Africa will have 5 teams. South America and Asia will both have 4.5 spots. North America, Central America and the Caribbean will be awarded 3.5 places and Oceania will have a sole team competing for a chance to advance via an intercontinental play-off.

As Brazil is automatically qualified for the 2014 World Cup, the remaining 9 teams - Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela - will battle for the top four spots of the qualifiers and earn a spot in the tournament.

The fifth place finisher will compete in an intercontinental play-off against a team from Asia.

The North, Central American and Caribbean Zone are comprised of 35 participating members, who will compete for 3 spots in the 2014 World Cup. The team that places fourth in the group will advance to compete against the representative from Oceania.

With the drawing concluded, some 824 qualifying matches are set to take place. The quest for World Cup qualification begins as soon as September 2, 2011, and extends to October 15, 2013.

As Brazil do not have to compete in qualifiers, head coach of the national team Mano Menezes will have the tough task of preparing his team just through friendlies.

Upon their arrival to Rio de Janeiro, Blatter and Valcke expressed their support for Brazil, saying the country will be able to overcome the difficulties to deliver a successful World Cup.

Regarding the Confederations Cup that will take place in 2013, largely known as a warm-up to the World Cup, Blatter stated that FIFA is concentrating on three or four stadiums in Brazil to host the tournament. However, no definitive decision has been made as to which stadiums will hold the Confederations Cup.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet
Article source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/world-news/11350/2014-fifa-world-cup-preliminary-draw.html 

Vietnamese ao dai at Shanghai Wharf

VietNamNet Bridge – Some Vietnamese beauties paid a visit to Shanghai to advertise Vietnamese tourism in ao dai.

The trip was organized by Vietnam Airlines to advertise Vietnam’s marine tourism in Shanghai. The trip has participation of models from Elite Vietnam.

The appearance of Vietnamese models at the Shanghai Wharf attracted many visitors and local people. They hustled to take photos of Vietnamese girls in ao dai.

Miss Sea, Nguyen Thi Loan.

The most favorite contestant of the Miss Vietnam Global pageant,

Phan Huong Giang.

Model Phan Hoang Thu.

Phan Huong Giang and Miss Ao Dai of the Miss Vietnam

World 2010 pageant - Ha Hoang Anh.

Models Kieu Trang and Tuyet Trinh.

Nguyen Thi Loan and Miss Fashion of the Miss Vietnam

World 2010 pageant – Ninh Hoang Ngan.

Model To Uyen Khanh Ngoc.

VNE
Article source: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/arts-entertainment/11031/vietnamese-ao-dai-at-shanghai-wharf.html

Japanese beauty queen to join jury panel of Miss Ethnic Vietnamese

VietNamNet Bridge - Shizuka Ikeda, the second runner-up of Miss International Friendship 2010 will be a special guest at the sole national beauty contest in Vietnam in 2010 – Miss Ethnic Vietnamese pageant.

Japanese beauty queen Shizuka Ikeda

Other guests of the Miss Ethnic Vietnamese 2011 pageant, which will be held in November in HCM City, include Mavid Marmel, Chairman of the Mrs World Organization and Mrs World 2009, Victoria Radochinskaya.

Dr. Doan Thi Kim Hong, chief organizer, said that more than 100 girls of ten ethnic groups have registered for the beauty contest. The organizing board has set up three offices in the north, the south and the central region for the regional rounds.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hoang Tuan Anh said that the event honors the traditional values and praises the talent, intelligence and beauty of women from ethnic minority groups and affirms solidarity among ethnic groups. 

Contestants must be Vietnamese citizens, aged 18-28, from one of the 54 ethnic minority groups in Vietnam, and currently living and working in Vietnamese territory. 

Registration will last from June 1 to October 15. The beauty contest covers the northern, central and southwestern regions. 

Miss Ethnic Vietnamese 2007 Nguyen Thi Hoang Nhung, a Tay ethnic girl, student from the Hanoi Culture University

The qualifier round will take place in HCM City on October 22. The semi-final round will be held in Hanoi from May 3-5, for contestants in northern Vietnam and in HCM City from November 11-14 for those in southern Vietnam.

The final round of the competition is scheduled in Ho Chi Minh City from November 27 to December 10, at the Hoa Binh Theatre. On the final night of December 11, contestants will compete in traditional costume, evening gown and swimwear. The top 15 contestants will be selected and five will go into the interview round to find out who is the beauty queen. The event  will be broadcasted live on VTV1, VTV4 (for overseas Vietnamese) and VTV9.

Besides the three major titles, Miss Ethnic Vietnamese 2011, the first and second runners-up, over ten other titles will be presented.

PV
Article source:  http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/arts-entertainment/11430/japanese-beauty-queen-to-join-jury-panel-of-miss-ethnic-vietnamese.html