FIFA on Thursday officially brought forward the opening match of this year's World Cup by one day to November 20 in a rare change so that hosts Qatar feature in the gala game. A general view shows the Al Bayt stadium, built for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup. Credit: Reuters Photo Football's top officials universally approved the decision, FIFA said in a statement while Qatar said it would give unspecified help to fans affected by the change. On the old schedule, Qatar against Ecuador was to be the official inauguration match on November 21 but Senegal against Netherlands would be the first match of the day. England against Iran would have been second. Qatar had also been frustrated as it has invested in a huge opening ceremony show. "Host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday 20 November as part of a stand-alone event," said FIFA. "The opening match and ceremony of this year's tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought forward one … [Read more...] about FIFA officially advances World Cup by a day for Qatar
Confirmed ones to watch fifa 19
Vietnam closely monitors situation in Taiwan Strait: Spokeswoman
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP) Hanoi (VNA) – Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has stated that Vietnam is closely keeping a close watch on the situation in the Taiwan Strait. At the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 11, Hang affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance on the Taiwanese issue, which, she said, has been clearly reflected in common documents reached during high-level visits by Vietnamese and Chinese leaders. She confirmed Vietnam’s viewpoint that peace, stability and cooperation in the Strait hold significance to the region and the world amid regional and international complicated developments. On the basis of persistently following the 'One China' principle, Vietnam wants parties concerned to exercise self-restraint, prevent increasing tensions in the Taiwan Strait , making positive contributions to maintaining peace and stability, and promoting cooperation and development in the region and the … [Read more...] about Vietnam closely monitors situation in Taiwan Strait: Spokeswoman
Hanoi saves US$558 million by streamlining administrative apparatus
Hanoi has reduced the proportion of current spending over total budget expenditures from 58.8% (in 2016) to 51.2% (in 2020). Hanoi city has saved over VND13,000 billion (US$558 million) by streamlining the administrative apparatus in the 2016-2020 period, Kinh te Do thi newspaper quoted Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue as saying at a meeting on April 9. The city has reduced the proportion of current spending over total budget expenditures from 58.8% (in 2016) to 51.2% (in 2020), sparing more space for the wage reform and increasing resources for investment in socio-economic development, Hue said. Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Hai He appreciated all bodies and sectors for their timely proposals and models for trimming payroll. After the renovation, performance of the administrative apparatus was improved. The quality of administrative procedure handling has been enhanced … [Read more...] about Hanoi saves US$558 million by streamlining administrative apparatus
Patients increasingly using chip-based citizen ID card for medical registration
Vice Chairman of the HCMC Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control, Economic Recovery Pham Duc Hai is delivering his speech at the meeting All public hospital except for Nhan Ai Hospital and the leprosy treatment unit as well as all private hospitals (excluding cosmetic clinics) in HCMC accept chip-based citizen ID cards in replacement of traditional health insurance card. After one year carrying out the project ‘ Smart Healthcare from 2021-2025’, the heath sector in HCMC has been able to apply e-medical records in their operation and developed big data on the health and disease patterns of city dwellers. In 2021, the HCMC Health Department cooperated with the municipal Information and Communications Department to pilot the software to collect medical data of over 5,000 residents in Ward 27 of Binh Thanh District. Deputy Chief of the Office of the HCMC Health Department Le Thien Quynh Nhu is making her speech at the meeting It is planned that the city … [Read more...] about Patients increasingly using chip-based citizen ID card for medical registration
Vietnamese images shine in two international songs
The music video, named Waiting for you-5000 years, aims to introduce beautiful images of Vietnamese people to international friends, including the RoK. The video was recorded from May 17 to July 12 in 19 provinces and cities of Vietnam such as Hanoi, Trang An (Ninh Binh), Tam Chuc (Ha Nam), Ba Be (Bac Kan), Ha Long (Quang Ninh), Ho Chi Minh City, Mui Ne (Binh Thuan), Sa Pa (Lao Cai), Da Nang, Hoi An (Quang Nam). In response to the 30th anniversary of Vietnam - RoK diplomatic ties, Joseph Kwon introduced two songs Butterfly flakes and Waiting for you-5000 years . Of which, Butterfly flakes will be released in Ho Chi Minh City in the near future. Joseph Kwon is a multi-talented artist. He works as a musician, composer, singer, and producer in the RoK and the K-pop market. He is also known as one of the music therapists of the Well Hospital Voice Center and SBS Choir Radio Conductor. Joseph Kwon said that his love for Vietnam is very natural. When he was still a child, he fell … [Read more...] about Vietnamese images shine in two international songs
Vietnam still struggles to welcome back int’l tourists
With the peak summer travel season drawing to a close, Vietnam’s international tourism segment still faces bottlenecks on its route to full recovery. Within the framework of a program early this week to discuss the current state of the Vietnamese tourism sector, representatives from businesses and organizations across the country voiced doubts that Vietnam will meet its goal of welcoming five million foreign tourists by the end of the year if regulations governing visa policies, infrastructure, and personnel are not relaxed. Incomplete recovery According to Cao Thi Tuyet Lan, sales manager at Viettours Incentives & Events Co. Ltd., foreign tourists still find it difficult to enter the country despite Vietnam having fully reopened its borders. “What's more, it is hard to apply for visas for business travelers who work with domestic enterprises," Lan said. “[The domestic partner] first has to register [the foreign partner] with the Immigration Department, then wait for a … [Read more...] about Vietnam still struggles to welcome back int’l tourists
Party Inspection Commission holds 18th session
The 18th session of the Party Central Committee ’s Inspection Commission in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission held its 18th session in Hanoi from August 10 - 11 to discuss wrongdoings by several Party bodies and impose disciplinary measures against the officials involved. Looking into wrongdoings in the leadership over COVID-19 prevention and control by the Party civil affairs board at the Hai Duong provincial People’s Committee, the commission said the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee and the civil affairs board at the provincial People’s Committee had violated democratic centralism principles and working regulations. A lack of supervision had enabled the provincial People’s Committee and some organisations and individuals to break Party rules and State laws on pandemic prevention and control, especially in signing contracts and creating conditions for the Viet A Technologies JSC to exclusively sell … [Read more...] about Party Inspection Commission holds 18th session
Vietnam facilitates travel of Vietnamese, foreign citizens
Tourists in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been working with domestic ministries, agencies and foreign partners to facilitate travel of Vietnamese and foreign citizens, said Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang . At the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on August 11, Hang said amid the complicated and uncertain developments of the COVID-19 pandemic with new, more virulent and transmissible variants as well as the emergence of new epidemics like monkeypox, several countries are yet to open their doors and continue limiting travel, some of which are major tourism markets of Vietnam. As the global economy continues to struggle from the pandemic, international tourism has not yet fully recovered, and Vietnam is not an exception. Following the Prime Minister’s directions to accelerate the tourism recovery in the new situation, Hang said Vietnam has promoted the mutual recognition of 'vaccine passports' and the … [Read more...] about Vietnam facilitates travel of Vietnamese, foreign citizens
Cheaper, changing and crucial: the rise of solar power
Generating power from sunlight bouncing off the ground, working at night, even helping to grow strawberries: solar panel technology is evolving fast as costs plummet for a key segment of the world's energy transition. The International Energy Agency says solar will have to scale up significantly this decade to meet the Paris climate target of limiting temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The good news is that costs have fallen dramatically. In a report on solutions earlier this year, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said solar unit costs had dropped 85 percent between 2010 and 2019, while wind fell 55 percent. "There's some claim that it's the cheapest way humans have ever been able to make electricity at scale," said Gregory Nemet, a professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a lead author on that report. Experts hope the high fossil fuel prices and fears over energy security caused by Russia's attack on Ukraine will … [Read more...] about Cheaper, changing and crucial: the rise of solar power