Asian 2018 world cup qualifiers

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn delivered the keynote speech at Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) High-level Policy Dialogue held on Tuesday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyễn Điệp HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bùi Thanh Sơn on Tuesday chaired the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) High-level Policy Dialogue, themed “ASEM at 25: Strengthening Asia-Europe Partnership in a Transforming World” held both in-person and virtually in Hà Nội. The dialogue is an initiative of Việt Nam to mark the 25th anniversary of ASEM foundation (1996-2021) and is one of the most important activities of the forum in 2021, serving as an important opportunity for members to discuss the development orientation and vision of the Asia-Europe Partnership in the new period. The outcome will be an important contribution to the 13th ASEM Summit scheduled to be held on November 25-26 in Cambodia. In his remarks, Vietnamese foreign minister Sơn lauded the remarkable achievements and … [Read more...] about Asia-Europe partnership indispensable for world’s stability and prosperity: Foreign minister

People's square in Zadar, where Luka Modric started his career as a professional footballer with NK Zadar. (AFP Photo) A national hero in his home country and crowned the best player on the planet, Modric was rewarded for his key role in Croatia's historic run to the World Cup final and his club Real Madrid's third straight Champions League trophy. "It's a unique feeling. I'm happy, proud and honoured," said Modric, who also won the FIFA Player of the Year award in September. The star-studded Paris ceremony could hardly be further removed from Modric's early years as a child refugee, fleeing the burned-out shell of a remote Croatian cottage where he spent part of his childhood. The burned-out shell of a stone cottage where Croatia's World Cup captain Luka Modric spent part of his childhood. (AFP Photo) Hidden in the folds of Velebit mountain, with the nearest neighbours several kilometres away, trees now grow inside the roofless ruin and a sign warns of "Mines - … [Read more...] about Modric, from Croatian war child to Ballon d’Or winner

An athlete taking part in the upcoming Tokyo Paralympics was vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Hospital 199 in Đà Nẵng on Monday. — Photo dangcongsan.vn Thanh Nga HÀ NỘI — For weeks, track and field athlete Khuất Phương Anh has been training in the Hà Nội-based National Sports Training Centre, without being allowed out. “Due to the fear of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country, the centre's leadership has banned all athletes and coaches at the centre from going out for more than a month,” Anh told Việt Nam News . “That's why we are less worried about the pandemic so we can train safely for important upcoming tournaments. “However, I have not been vaccinated, so I am a bit worried and want to get vaccinated soon to train and compete wholeheartedly,” Anh added. “In the centre, we only eat and practice, so the days run quickly. Sometimes, I play games in my free time, sometimes I ask my mother to buy food and cook it for myself. We have to … [Read more...] about Athletes hope to be vaccinated soon

Malaysia’s CPI rises 4.7 percent in April  (Photo: https://www.theedgemarkets.com/ ) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - Malaysia’s consumer price index ( CPI ) rose 4.7 percent year-on-year in April 2021 — the highest since 2018. The Department of Statistics Malaysia said in a statement on May 21 that the increase in CPI was driven by the spike in fuel prices, with the index of transport surging by 27 percent compared to April 2020. Previously, Malaysia’s CPI in March increased by 1.7 percent. The Southeast Asian country’s GDP in the first quarter of 2021 shrank 0.5 percent, much better than the 3.4-percent decline in the fourth quarter of 2020. However, this was also the fourth consecutive quarter the country recorded economic contraction. Despite the economic slowdown in the first quarter of 2021 and the Government’s order to apply the Movement Control Order (MCO) nationwide from May 12 to June 7, the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) still maintains its economic growth forecast for … [Read more...] about Malaysia’s CPI rises 4.7 percent in April

Thailand’s cross-border trade up 26.7 percent in four months. - Illustrative image (Bangkokpost file photo) Bangkok (VNA) - Thailand ’s cross-border trade rose by 26.7 percent in the first four months of this year, raising its government's confidence that such trade will grow by 3-6 percent in 2021 after declining 1.7 percent last year. Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit revealed on June 1 that the country's overall cross- border trade , including transit trade , totaled 526 billion baht (16.86 billion USD) between Jan-April, 295 billion baht of which belonged to border trade, up by 17 percent year-on-year, and 231 billion baht from transit trade, a rise of 41.9 percent. For border trade, Malaysia remained the biggest partner of Thailand by value. Two-way trade between Thailand and Malaysia hit 107 billion baht in the period (up 52.9 percent), followed by Laos at 71.2 billion baht (up 13.5 percent), Myanmar at 60.2 billion baht (down 0.002 percent) and Cambodia … [Read more...] about Thailand’s cross-border trade up 26.7 percent in four months