Life

Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI - A free cooking school has opened at Artemis building, No 3 Lê Trọng Tấn Street, Thanh Xuân District in Hà Nội. "The Ajinomoto Cooking Studio has been opened to encourage people's passion for cooking, through which one can enhance the nutritional intake and health of one's family and stay happy," said Hiroharu Motohashi, general director of the centre. The dishes cooked at the centre have been newly designed, and are divided into four groups: dishes for people who love cooking; dishes for mothers with small babies (under five years); dishes for couples (newly weds and nearly weds); and dishes for families with children from 6 to 11 years. All cooking ingredients will be supplied by the centre, and each class will have a maximum of 12 to 14 students. The centre is calling for registrations for various courses to be held in June and July. For details, call 04 3 640 6688. - VNS … [Read more...] about Free cooking school opens in Hà Nội

Authorities in China have installed or upgraded over 50,000 lavatories in a "national toilet revolution" designed to clean up filthy public restrooms. — AFP/VNA Photo Viet Nam News BEIJING — China is taking care of a pressing need: Authorities have installed or upgraded over 50,000 lavatories in a "national toilet revolution" designed to clean up filthy public restrooms. Relief is coming soon, and by the end of the year China expects to have added or upgraded a total of 71,000 toilets, well exceeding a target initially set in 2015. The plan to fix the country’s bad reputation for grimy and smelly facilities has focused on restrooms in tourist sites. In some places, shiny new toilets have replaced unhygienic open pits that offered little privacy. More sanitation workers have also been hired. The National Tourism Administration said in a report last Friday that almost 93 per cent of the target has been reached. "At tourist sites, visitors were angered by … [Read more...] about China’s ’toilet revolution’ targets dirty lavatories

Music streaming leader Spotify has agreed to set up a US$43.45 million fund to settle a potentially costly pair of US copyright lawsuits from artists, lawyers say. — AFP/VNA Photo Viet Nam News NEW YORK — Music streaming leader Spotify has agreed to set up a US$43.45 million fund to settle a potentially costly pair of US copyright lawsuits from artists, lawyers said on Monday. The move marks the latest effort by the Swedish company to turn the page on messy disputes as it considers a public listing amid the soaring growth of streaming. The settlement would end lawsuits spearheaded by two indie songwriters who double as academics -- folk rock singer Melissa Ferrick and David Lowery, frontman of alternative rock bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven. The two had pursued class-action cases -- meaning a mass of musicians could claim payouts -- with Ferrick seeking US$200 million and Lowery asking for US$150 million. The artists had accused Spotify, which boasts of … [Read more...] about Spotify agrees to fund to settle copyright suits

Blurry beauty: French breakdance artist Valentine Nagata-Ramos will perform in the Japanese tragedy Sadako on the stage of the HCM City Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) on June 9. — Photo from the dancer’s Facebook page Viet Nam News HCM CITY — French breakdance artist Valentine Nagata-Ramos will perform in the Japanese tragedy Sadako at the HCM City Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) on June 9 as part of her Asian tour. Sadako is based on Japanese legend about having your wish come true if you can fold 1,000 paper cranes. Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the atomic bomb in Hiroshima, made 664 cranes before she died of leukemia at the age of 12. Her classmates folded the remaining 356 cranes and buried 1,000 cranes with her. The dance piece, Nagata-Ramos’s first solo, was created in 2011. The dancer mixes hip hop, Japanese dance form butoh, and origami. The performance will be followed by a workshop “I AM YOU” … [Read more...] about French breakdancer to take City stage

Viet Nam News HCMCITY- The Việt Nam Youth Federation (VYF) in co-operation with its partners has launched a national campaign to mark the 70th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs Day on July 27 in HCM City. The event, Theo Bước Chân Những Người Anh Hùng (Following in the Footsteps of National Heroes), began yesterday and features cultural and charity activities as well as celebrations at 70 historical sites around the country, including revolutionary sites in Tây Ninh, Quảng Nam, Hà Tĩnh and Thanh Hóa provinces. It is expected to attract more than 10,000 VYF members nationwide. The campaign's young participants will upgrade martyrs' cemeteries and historical relic sites. They will also offer free food, clothes and medicine, and build houses of gratitude for local people, Vietnamese Heroic Mothers, wounded and sick soldiers, and members of martyrs' families. Young volunteer doctors from hospitals and universities will offer free treatment for over 1,000 children and women … [Read more...] about Youth campaign celebrates revolutionary martyrs