NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Sunday (Jan 27) that US President Donald Trump's regular complaints about the alliance had not undermined it - adding that his criticism on defense spending was having a positive impact. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, pictured in Brussels on January 25, 2019, says the alliance has heard Trump "loud and clear" on defense spending AFP/EMMANUEL DUNAND Trump has frequently blasted members of the 29-nation western security partnership for not paying more into their national defense budgets. Before taking office, he called NATO "obsolete" and recent media reports said he spoke to senior officials last year about pulling out. "President Trump has been very clear, he is committed to NATO. He stated that clearly just a few days ago and also at the NATO summit in July," Stoltenberg said on "Fox News Sunday." "But at the same time, he has clearly stated that NATO allies need to invest more. And therefore at the summit in July last … [Read more...] about NATO chief says Trump”s funding gripes having “real results”
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Wood business says no to illegal timber
(VEN) - Domestic wood companies will say “no” to illegal timber when the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Vietnam and the EU on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) takes effect. Nguyen Ton Quyen, Secretary General of the Vietnam Timber and Forest Product Association (VIFORES), spoke about the agreement with Vietnam Economic News’ Hanh Nguyen. Minimizing risks from timber imports is crucial Could you share the implementation roadmap for the VPA/FLEGT between Vietnam and the EU? Following the signing of the agreement on October 19, 2018, 28 EU member states will submit it to their national parliaments for ratification. For Vietnam’s part, after the government ratifies the VPA, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will coordinate with other ministries and sectors to compile a draft degree guiding its implementation. The agreement is expected to take effect in 2021. Timber supplies from Africa … [Read more...] about Wood business says no to illegal timber
Pompeo says ‘counting on’ 2nd Trump-Kim summit
Pompeo told National Public Radio in an interview Thursday that there's been "some progress" in efforts to rid the North of its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. And while there is still a long way to go, the secretary said he never expected the issue to be easy or resolved "like instant pudding." "It's been a great process. They're not firing rockets. They're not conducting nuclear tests. We have a ways to go, and we will continue to work to achieve the president's agenda," Pompeo said. On a possible second summit, he said, "I'm counting on it." Trump said early this month that he expects to meet Kim in January or February. Pompeo has repeatedly voiced hope that a second summit will materialize even as the North Koreans have been reluctant to come out to talks. Last month a senior North Korean official was due to meet Pompeo in New York, but that meeting was called off at a day's notice. In the meantime Pyongyang has increasingly demanded … [Read more...] about Pompeo says ‘counting on’ 2nd Trump-Kim summit
Be patient, your bowl of noodles will come in an hour
The popularity of Nguyen Thi Thanh Huyen’s eatery for 40 years belies its simple looks. It is in a small alley off Tran Ke Xuong Street, Phu Nhuan District, not far from downtown Ho Chi Minh City. Foodies come to the place mainly for a bowl of spicy noodle or vermicelli soup. The eatery is open from 11 a.m. to late evening. Customers fill up every space available at 1 p.m. People even queue up to wait for their turn to eat despite the scorching mid-day sun. "We came here to have lunch," say Tien Thanh and Xuan Hoa, two customers. "We were prepared to wait, but we didn’t expect the place to be this crowded." Getting a seat does not end the wait. The queuing and waiting for the food could sometimes add up to an hour though the staff and cook are quick and serve many people at the same time. "It’s normal for me to make 50 plates at the same time," says the owner. Why is a simple noodle dish so tasty? The answer lies in the harmonious combination … [Read more...] about Be patient, your bowl of noodles will come in an hour
AFF Suzuki Cup: Players gave their best, says Vietnam’s head coach
"So after 10 years, we are in the AFF Cup final again. It is a well-deserved reward for the fans, who supported us all the way. And for the players, I want to thank them. They have given their best in this game," Park Hang-seo said at post-match conference. Vietnam repeated their first leg score in the second leg semifinal against the Philippines Thursday night in Hanoi, entering the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 with a robust 4-2 aggregate. Head coach Park Hang-seo shouts out instructions during the Vietnam - Philippines match at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi Thursday night. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong Park also stressed the need to remain focused and not get carried away. "Although we beat Malaysia 2-0 in the group stage, they showed that they have many dangerous attackers. We have to prepare for this carefully. Everyone has to stay focused," he said. On the other side, Philippines head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said Vietnam deserved to win this match and had a good chance to … [Read more...] about AFF Suzuki Cup: Players gave their best, says Vietnam’s head coach