Representatives of the National Economic Research Institute of Laos and the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance pose for a photo at the meeting in Hanoi on March 21 (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Laos would combine forces in cooperative economy, heard a meeting in Hanoi on March 21 between President of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) Nguyen Ngoc Bao and head of the National Economic Research Institute of Laos Bouasone Bouphavanh. The Lao guest said that he was impressed by the rapid changes in Vietnam, particularly in cooperative economy development. He expressed his hope that Laos will branch out its cooperative system based on Vietnam’s experience. Meanwhile, Bao expected that bilateral collaboration in the cooperative economy will make significant contributions to bolstering the development of the sector in the future. He said that in the past few years, the Vietnamese Party and Government have outlined various policies and programmes to facilitate … [Read more...] about Huge potential for Vietnam, Laos to collaborate in cooperative economy
Climate change adaptation experience shared in Da Nang
Chairman of the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance Nguyen Ngoc Bao (standing) addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA) Da Nang (VNA) – Members of the Asian Farmers’ Group for Cooperation (AFGC) shared new production models that are adapted to the effects of climate change during its 19th annual conference held in the central city of Da Nang from March 20-21. Head of the National Cooperative Union of India Ved Prakash Setia said the Indian government issued a seven-point strategy in a bid to double farmers’ incomes by 2020. He cited the zero budget national farming model in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh as an example, saying that it uses cow pats and urine to enrich soil in cultivation, instead of harmful chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Head of the Cooperative Federation of Thailand Poramate Intarachumnum said Thailand has been hard hit by the impacts of climate change, such as flooding and drought, causing it to launch an action plan to mitigate green house … [Read more...] about Climate change adaptation experience shared in Da Nang
Greece to lease buildings in UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town
Over a dozen empty buildings in one of Greece’s most scenic locations -- the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rhodes -- are being offered for lease in the coming weeks. — Photo greece-is.comViet Nam News ATHENS — Over a dozen empty buildings in one of Greece’s most scenic locations -- the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rhodes -- are being offered for lease in the coming weeks, a ministry official said on Wednesday. Half the state-owned buildings, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, will be turned into homes or small hotels, and the rest will be leased as shops, said Maria Michailidou, head of the antiquities body for the broader Dodecanese island group that covers Rhodes. "Most of them are in poor condition," Michailidou said. "Whoever leases them will have the responsibility of restoring them," she said. The largest island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes was occupied by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem from 1309 to 1523, before they were ousted by the Ottoman … [Read more...] about Greece to lease buildings in UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town
Osaka silent over ex-coach lawsuit as Miami Open begins
World number one Naomi Osaka. — Photo ouest-france.fr Viet Nam News Tennis MIAMI — World number one Naomi Osaka refused on Wednesday to become embroiled in a dispute with one of her former coaches who is suing her for 20 per cent of her career earnings. Christopher Jean, who helped the Japanese two-time Grand Slam champion when she was a junior, wants at least US$2 million of the $10 million of her earnings to date. Jean insists Osaka’s father, Leonard Francois, had signed a contract when he was coaching the 21-year-old and her sister Mari in 2011. Osaka said she was "not allowed to say anything" about reports of the lawsuit, although sources close to the Japanese star stressed they are not fearful of the outcome and believe the matter will be resolved shortly. When asked about the difficulty of dealing with the trappings of fame and becoming the world’s top player, however, Osaka admitted she is still learning."I am still relatively new at this so I … [Read more...] about Osaka silent over ex-coach lawsuit as Miami Open begins
New York’s MoMA sells rare Picasso drawing in Paris
Pablo Picasso, ’Flute Player and Reclining Nude’ (Joueuse de flûte et nu couché). — AFP Photo Viet Nam News PARIS — A rare nude drawing by Picasso of his lover Marie-Therese Walter is to be sold by New York’s Museum of Modern Art in Paris later this month, Christie’s said on Wednesday. MoMA is putting the ink drawing Flute Player and Reclining Nude under the hammer to raise money for its acquisitions fund. The auction house said the work from 1932 -- which has never before been sold -- is one of a series of drawings in which the artist revealed his passion for the French teenager he met in the street in 1927 when she was 17 and he 46. Years later, she told how Picasso walked up to her while she was out shopping in Paris and declared, "I am Picasso! You and me are going to do big things together." "He saw me coming out of the metro and took me by the arm," Walter recalled. "I was a young innocent girl. I knew nothing -- nothing of life … [Read more...] about New York’s MoMA sells rare Picasso drawing in Paris