Royal Air Force of Australia
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Largest air show in Asia is celebrated
Singapore Airshow 2012 opened yesterday
Royal Air Force of Australia
A bomber B-52 of U.S. Air Force had a demonstration flight on the opening day exhibition.
The cargo aircraft C-17 of U.S. Air Force
The 787 Dreamliner is Boeing's famous also involved on the exhibition Singapore airlines this year
Jackie Chan also join the exhibitors with Embraer Legacy 650 aircraft of his
Royal Air Force of Australia
Saturday, February 11, 2012
People flock to watch ‘shapeshifting’ eel
Hundreds of curious people have arrived at 49 year-old Tran Van Kim’s house in Duc Hoa district, Long An province after a rumor he is raising an eel that could shapeshift into a dragon.
According to Kim, at the end of January, he caught an eel measuring 1.2m long and 2kg in weight. Kim decided to raise the giant eel in the family. Some visitors came to his house, saw the eel and spread a rumor that the eel would turn into dragon. As words spread, curious locals flocked to Kim’s house, hoping to witness the strange species. On Saturday and Sunday, more than 500 people rented a car and arrived at Kim’s house, asking to see his eel. Kim said he was asked to sell the eel for several million dongs but he turned down the offer.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
The Quang Ngai Market had big fire
4 hours this morning, fire broke out and spread quickly destroyed Quang Ngai wholesale market in the middle of the city center. To 8am the fire is not quenched.
Quang Ngai Provincial Police has dispatched hundreds of fire officials arrived, but the fire was so big to quench. So, contacted with fire fighting forces of Quang Nam province; to mobilize all forces fighting from Dung Quat oil refinery to put out the fire.
Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee Secretary Vo Van Thuong be present at the scene said a total of nearly 500 soldiers of police, army, militia and nearly 10 fire truck involved.
By 8am today, the fire still burning fiercely. Hundreds of small businesses in the kiosk around market is very panic moving goods, furniture for fear of fire spread.
Fire damage estimated can be up to tens of billion, hundreds of small businesses fall into "white hands" because of all the goods burned.
The cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
Girls’ Generation to perform on top French talk show, ‘Le Grand Journal’
After making their US television debut last week through ‘Live! With Kelly‘ as well as the ‘David Letterman Show‘, the ladies of Girls’ Generation will be performing on French television.
As many of you know already, Girls’ Generation is in France to attend the KBS ‘Music Bank in Paris‘ special event at the Palais Omnisports Paris Bercy. They’re also scheduled to release “The Boys” in France through Universal Music Group’s Polydor Records and to help promote their album, the girls will appear on top French talk show, ‘Le Grand Journal‘.
The girls are scheduled to appear live on the show on February 9th, other guests lined up on the show that same day include Amélie Mauresmo and Martina Navratilova.
French fans, are you excited?
SHINee’s Minho and Girls’ Generation’s Taeyeon to have a kiss scene in ‘Salamander Guru’?
Will SHINee‘s Minho and Girls’ Generation‘s Taeyeon have a kiss scene in the upcoming episode of SBS‘s ‘Salamander Guru‘? According to these still-cuts, there’s a chance that they could!
On the February 10th episode of ‘Salamander Guru’, Taeyeon makes a cameo as the renegade granddaughter of a wealthy businessman. Determined to avoid discussions of an arranged marriage at a formal gathering, she decides to climb down a pole outside a window and make her escape. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your view), she loses her grip and falls on top of ‘Minhyuk’ (Minho).
It seems that for the rest of the episode, Taeyeon tries to elude her grandfather’s henchmen, while simultaneously convincing Minho to take her out on a date. A preview from last week hints at a marketplace outing, where Taeyeon uses her aegyo to get Minho to buy a hairclip for her.
Find out how this date ends when ‘Salamander Guru’ airs its next episode on the 10th!
Maknae Chosen as Best Female Idol to Shine to White T and Jeans
Our dear maknae has been chosen as the most likely idol to shine in a plain white t-shirt and jeans. A poll was held from January 31st to February 7 2012 on an online community.
Seohyun garnered 2,206 (23.6%) of the total 9,356, taking her to the top! She was chosen due to her “golden” body proportions, being tall, slim waist and small face. Surprisingly (or maybe not) Jessica came in second with 1,883 (20.1%) of the votes.Going back to maknae, I think she totally deserves this poll win. The plain white totally shows her innocence and what a good person she is. Always being our maknae, always doing the right things! Congrats Seohyun,
“The Boys” Coming to France
It was announced on February 7th that “The Boys” will be released as a full album in France! The album will be released under Universal Music Group’s subsidiary, Polydor, France’s largest music label! It is slated for release on February 13th. Global Generation is coming!
The girls will also start promotions in France by appearing on French talk show “Le Journal De 20H” for an interview. Hmm…I wonder how good their French is?? I’m sure they’ve been studying it hard! They will also perform “The Boys” on “Le Grande Journal, ” the number 1 talk show in France. The shows air February 9th at 8PM CET and February 10th at 7PM CET, respectively.
And don’t forget, Music Bank 2012 in Paris is today, February 8th! Enjoy the show with our girls and other top idols tearing up the stage in Paris!
Yuri to Return to New York
After only coming back for a short week, it looks like the Big Apple will be getting some more of our ‘Black Pearl’. As we all know Yuri recently stepped down from her position as Music Core MC to shoot her upcoming SBS Drama Fashion King .
The cast and crew of the Korean drama has been confirmed to be heading to New York City according to SportsSeoul.com to shoot some scenes for the first episode. Yuri Kwon, Yoo Ah In, Shin Se Kyung, and Lee Jae Hoon will leave Korea on February 13th and arrive in New York City for a projected 2 week stay. The metropolis will serve as the setting where the 4 characters first meet.
According to a source close to the production, the cast and crew will be shooting in particularly trendy neighborhoods and a unnamed Fashion school in New York.
While nothing is officially confirmed, I can’t help but think that we can expect to hear more Yuri english in the drama. It’ll be interesting to see how her character ‘Anna Choi’ interacts with the city since she appears to be Korean American. With that, it appears that some NYC SONEs will get a chance to meet and greet her during her stay.
Jessica in a Wedding Dress
Holy god! Doesn’t Jessica look like a total yeo shin (goddess) in this wedding dress?? Don’t get too jealous Gorjess Spazzers :P , it’s for her roll in her drama “Wild Romance.” It hasn’t been revealed if her and Park Moo Yeol (played by Lee Dong Wook) get married in the drama yet, so you’ll have to keep watching to see. Any who, she still looks Gorjess in a wedding dress! Even better picture under the cut!
The boy magically survived when fall from the 9th floor
A 22-year-old boy in Portugal fell from the 9th floor but the wind blew to the sand next to it and survived. The boy still provinces and began to cry, then people come to rescue and took him to the hospital. Doctors said the head his suffered minor injuries Someplace of the thighs small broken and were treated.
Liem makes good start at Aeroflot Open
Vietnamese chess star Le Quang Liem made a good start at the Aeroflot Open 2012 being taken place in Russia by beating the home player Boris Savchenko in his opening game.
The incumbent champion and the fourth seed of this year event, Liem (Elo rating 2,714) won the game over Savchenko (Elo 2,609) after 40 moves, earning his first point in the tournament.
The Aeroflot Open 2012 takes place from February 7 – 15, with the cash award for the grade-A winner worth EUR20,000 (US$26,492).
It is considered one of the world’s most challenging chess champions, with players divided into three groups depending on their Elo rating.
Liem is competing in Group A with other players whose Elo rating is higher than 2,549.
Players with Elo rating between 2,299 and 2,550 will compete in Group B, while Group C will see matches between those with Elo rating lower than 2,300.
Besides grandmaster Liem, the Vietnamese chess delegation also has two other players – Le Quang Long (Elo 2,316), and Nguyen Van Huy (Elo 2,473), both of whom are competing in Group B.
Long also scored his first victory against Oleg Gladyszev (Elo 2,548), while Huy drew with Bence Szabo (Elo 2,330) of Hungary.
Liem will face Venezuela’s Eduardo Iturrizaga (Elo 2,649) in the second round tonight (Wednesday), while Long and Huy will be challenged by Vaibhav Suri of India, and Alavkin Arseny of Russia.
Indonesia, Vietnam to make Kung Fu movie
Vietnamese and Indonesian filmmakers will join hands to make a movie about Kung Fu titled “Ranh Gioi Trang Den” (The Boundary between Black and White).
The filmmaking crew from the Indonesian PT Jelita Ali Studio will arrive in Vietnam in the middle of this month to join the local team from Vinacinema Join Stock Company to look for filming locations.
According to Saigon Giai Phong Newspaper, the movie has an investment of VND10 billion (US$500,000) with each side contributing half.
The movie, which will be directed by Najantolisa from Indonesia, is about Nguyen Lu, a Kung Fu movie director who tries to rescue his younger sister from kidnappers.
The film will star local actresses Thuy Diem and Nhu Thao from Vietnam, as well as Guntur Triyono, Roger Danuarta and Siti Dewi Rahmawati from Indonesia and Pang Swee Teow from Singapore.
Najantolisa said he was thinking about casting Vietnamese actor Vo Thanh Tam or Huy Khanh as the movie’s hero.
The movie will hit theatres on April 27.
Two female scientists to get Kovalevskaya Award
The Vietnamese Kovalevskaya Award Committee has decided to confer the 2011 Kovalevskaya Award on two Vietnamese scientists for their great contributions to science.
The award, named after Russian mathematician Sofia Kovalevskaya (1850–1891), will be presented to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thanh Nhan, vice headmaster of the Science University under the Thai Nguyen University, and Vo Thi Thu Ha, vice rector of Vietnam Institute of Industrial Chemical, on International Women’s Day, March 8.
Dr. Nhan, 42, was bestowed with the Associate Professor title when she was just 35 and was then the youngest Associate Professor in Mathematics in Vietnam. She is now the director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s key laboratory for petrochemical refinery technology.
Meanwhile, Dr. Ha is the author of many outstanding scientific works, including one on producing biological solvents from renewable material.
The Kovalevskaya Award is an annual prize for either groups of, orindividual female scientists showing outstanding achievements in researching and applying science in practical life, with usefulness in socio-economic and cultural fields.
The Vietnam Kovalevskaya Award Committee was founded in 1985 and is headed by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Binh, former Vice President of Vietnam. By 2010, the Committee had selected and awarded prizes to 34 individuals and 15 groups.
Last year, the two winners of the Kovalevskaya Award were Luong Chi Mai, Assoc. Prof. Dr. and deputy director of the Institute of Information Technology and Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology; and Nguyen Thi Loc, PhD and head of Insect Ecology and Biological Control of the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute.
Sofia Kovalevsky was the first major female Russian mathematician, who made important contributions to mathematical analysis, differential equations and mechanics, and the first woman appointed to a full professorship in Northern Europe.
This prestigious award named in her honor is given to promising young academics to pursue their line of research in the sciences or arts and humanities.
Quang Ninh seeking capital for $4-bln casino project
The northern province of Quang Ninh is calling for investment to build a casino worth US$4 billion, and a $1-billion international airport, the two key projects under the master plan to establish the Van Don Economic Zone. Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the establishment of the casino has received the go-ahead from the Prime Minister. The project also includes a tourism complex spanning 2,000 hectares at Van Yen Commune, Van Don District, he told newswire VnExpress. “The project will become a tourism city at a world-class level,” he said.
“The people’s committee and the provincial Department of Planning and Investment is completing the detail plans for the project.” Besides the casino project, Quang Ninh is also attracting investments for the Van Don International Airport project, which is expected to cost $1 billion, the largest of the airport projects countrywide.
“The largest advantage of theVan Don Airportis its prime geographical position, from which it takes less than 2 hours to fly to other East Asian countries,” said Thanh. “Many investors have shown interest in the project, including a major Korean company, which has guaranteed a capital supply for the airport.”
Moreover, the northern province is also calling for investments in other 16 projects. The provincial authorities said this will be a good change for the locality to boost its foreign investment promotion. Quang Ninh is willing to cover 100 percent of the site clearance expenses for 12 projects on infrastructure development, and 30 percent of the remaining six projects, said Tran Duc Lam, director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment.
According to figures from the department, Quang Ninh has attracted foreign-direct investment projects worth $3.72 billion since 1989, while FDI disbursement was only $735 million. Earlier, Sheldon Adelson, chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, one of the world’s leading resort developers, also said he wanted to build two tourism complex worth as much as US$6 billion in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.
The complex is expected to feature casinos, hotels, restaurants, exhibitions, conferences, shopping center, spa, sports, theaters, museums and a variety of other entertainment and recreation places.
While the huge project is still seeking approval from Vietnamese government, George Tanasijevich, managing director of global development of Las Vegas Sands, told newswire VnEconomy that casino is the largest obstacle for the US giant to receive government’s go-ahead.
HCMC turns Thu Thiem ferry into wharf
After stopping operation since January 1, the Thu Thiem ferry was reopened as a wharf yesterday. HCMC Bridge and Ferry Works One-member Co Ltd. will set up a showroom at the wharf to display items showing the history of the facility as well as kiosks selling souvenirs to tourists.
The company will also improve the landscape of the area to make it an attractive venue for locals and foreigners while maintaining the traditional beauty of a ferry that has exited hundreds of years in the city. In the future, the company will equip the Thu Thiem wharf with express canoes and hydrofoils to provide travelers with tours along the Saigon River.
A number of tourism companies in Dong Nai Province have said they will use the wharf as a transit place for travelers who want to take tours of the province.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Fishing boat burst into fire in Han River
A fishing boat owned by Le Van Lo in Thanh Khe Dong ward, Thanh Khe district in Da Nang city, suddenly burst into flames when it was anchored in Han River on Tuesday afternoon.
The ship body and fishing equipment were all burned down completely. Fishermen who anchored their ships nearby said they saw a flame erupting as Lo’s family was cooking on the ship. Many people on the boats close by tried to help them put the fire out but gave up when the blaze started to get very strong. Later, the border patrol forces arrived and, using a hose to spray upon the ship, brought the fire under control. However, an oil tank on the ship started to leak, adding more fuel to the fire and helping it spread wider. An hour later, firefighters from Da Nang fire department arrived and managed to extinguish the flame completely with their big-sized hoses.
According to some fishermen, Lo’s ship burned two hours after it got back from the morning’s Fish Praying Festival near Xuan Ha beach in Thanh Khe district. The estimated damage is said to be around VND1 billion (US$48,000). This is the first time a ship has been destroyed by fire on Han River.
S.Korean band Big Bang likely to perform in Vietnam
South Korean well-known pop band Big Bang is likely to perform in Ho Chi Minh City in the middle of this April.
On February 6, photo of the five-piece group has been released on the official banner of Coca Cola’s “Sound Fest 2012” concert, hitting the band’s fan community who had flashmob performances titled “Bring Big Bang to Vietnam” in Hanoi and HCMC last December with the hope of drawing the band’s attention so that they could make trip to Vietnam.
Though YG Entertainment, the band’s managing company, has not made any confirmation, the event’s organizers said Big Bang will join other foreign and local singers to perform at Phu Tho Stadium on April 14.
Around 6,000 tickets are scheduled to be released. Formed in 2006, the band includes G-Dragon, Taeyang, T.O.P, Daesung and Seungri. Big Bang made their debut in August in 2006 at the Gymnastics Arena in Seoul Olympic Park during the YG Family concert. Following the performance, the group's first single, "Bigbang", was released and sold nearly 40,000 copies.
In 2009, they became the first foreign group in Japan to receive the Japan Cable Broadcasting Award for "Best Newcomer.”
Two year later, representing Asia-Pacific, Big Bang wins the Best Worldwide Act award of 2011 MTV Europe Music Awards held at Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Last November, 2NE1 girl group, which is also under by Big Bang’s managing company, also took Vietnamese fans by storm by a concert in Hanoi.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Pilgrims flock to Tran temple’s seal opening ceremony
The seal opening ceremony at the Tran temple in the northern province of Nam Dinh, took place on the 14th night of the first lunar month, which fell on February 5, attracting thousands of visitors. The ceremony was an re-enactment of a custom dating back the Tran dynasty (1225-1400), when mandarins took out their seals after the Tet holiday, resuming administrative activities, including rewarding and conferring titles. It has become a tradition for Vietnamese to come here to get a stamp in hope for gook luck and happiness.
The event opened with a procession to take the seal from Co Trach temple to Thien Truong temple, where 14 kings of the Tran dynasty are worshipped. Following a short speech of a local official praising the great accomplishment of the Tran Dynasty, the seal opening ceremony was held in a simple and solemnly manner in line with the traditional rites. Replicas of the Tran temple’s seal were distributed to the public from 7am on the 15th day of the first lunar month till the end of the lunar month, helping ease the crowd of pilgrims.
Numerous fish die in Da Lat’s iconic lake
A large number of dead fish have washed up with rubbish in the famed Ho Xuan Huong Lake of Da Lat’s tourist hotspot in the central highlands’ province, Lam Dong. Many visitors complained that they could not stand the smell of the fish when they walked around the lake, near Ong Dao Bridge. Of the hundreds of dead fish, the biggest weighed around 0.7kg, a witness said. Some local photographers say that dead fish suddenly began showing up after Tet ( the Lunar New Year Holiday).
Le Xuan Tham, deputy director of Lam Dong’s Department of Science and Technology, says it is possible that the deceased fish did not live in the lake but originated from waters upstream. However, local residents say the wastewater from households and factories upstream is the culprit.
Since local authorities spent dozens of billions of dong on tackling water pollution in the lake in 2010, blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) has been spotted frequently and the lake has been filled with its unpleasant smell.
According to the department, they will chair a seminar with the participation of several local scientists in March to determine the cause of the phenomenon, as well as seek measures to wipe out the blue-green algae.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
When farmers become photographers
ISEE (Institute for Studies of Society, Economy and Environment) is developing a program aimed to honor and promote the culture of ethnic minorities in Vietnam through its Photovoice project.
PhotoVoice is designed to help farmers around Vietnam use digital storytelling methods to represent themselves and help others see the world through their eyes.
Photovoice has been initially launched by iSEE in three provinces: Lao Cai in the north, Quang Tri in the center, and Soc Trang in the south. Many farmers have responded enthusiastically to the program.
Farmers in Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District of Soc Trang Mekong Delta province participate in the Photovoice project. Photo by Hoai Linh.
Mr. Đen, who owns the largest paddy field in Tam Phuoc Hamlet, Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District of Soc Trang Mekong Delta province, must hire Khmer workers from neighboring communes to harvest crops with average wages of VND150,000 to VND200,000 per person per day. Photo by Ly Thi Hong Kieu.
A traditional vehicle used by Khmer people to transport rice. Photo by Lam Thanh Tin.
A monk from Tra Tim pagoda begs for alms in Tam Phuoc Hamlet. Photo by Tran Thi Huynh Mai.
Ly Quang and his wife Phuong use water from the Ong Mui River, situated in Tam Phuoc Hamlet, to wash turnips before they take them to the market for sale. Photo by Thac Thi Kim Anh.
Khmer children in Tam Loc Hamlet, Dai Tam Commune, My Xuyen District of Soc Trang Mekong Delta province, hunting for rice-field-rats for food. Photo by Danh De.
Pham Van Nu and his son catching fish with nets on the Ta Liem River in the early morning. Photo by Hong Tam Buou.
Khmer children playing a folk game in Tam Phuoc Hamlet. Photo by Tran Thi Huynh Mai.
Tran Thi Thi and her son milking a cow. They own three dairy cows whose milk is their main income source. Photo by La Thuong.
A woman named Duong in Tam Phuoc Hamlet wrapping Bánh tét (Cylindrical glutinous rice cake filled with green bean paste and fat pork) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday. Photo by Hua Hoang Thanh.
Young Khmer people wear traditional costumes and masks in a Flower Offering Ceremony to receive monks and Buddhists from Chrong Pet Pagoda in Vien An Commune, Tran De District of Soc Trang Mekong Delta province. Photo by Trinh Phen.
A music band pictured at a Flower Offering Ceremony taking place at Can Gio 2 Pagoda in Tham Don Commune, My Xuyen District of Soc Trang Mekong Delta province. Photo by Tran Thi Huynh Mai.