Latest news with #VnExpress
The Star
4 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Vietnam to establish first free trade zone in central region
FILE PHOTO: A vendor counts Vietnamese dong banknotes at Con Market in Da Nang, Vietnam, on May 2, 2023. The Da Nang free trade zone aims to serve as a key link in global and regional supply chains. - Bloomberg HANOI: The Vietnamese government has approved the establishment of the country's first free trade zone in the central city of Da Nang, local media VnExpress reported Monday (June 16). Covering an area of 1,881 hectares, the zone is expected to become a major economic, logistics and technological hub in the Asia-Pacific region, the report added. In the long term, the Da Nang free trade zone aims to serve as a key link in global and regional supply chains. According to the report, Da Nang is currently the only Vietnamese city that simultaneously hosts a high-tech park, a deep-water port, an international airport and a growing logistics network. - Xinhua
The Star
4 days ago
- Climate
- The Star
Vietnam death toll from Typhoon Wutip rises to seven
Residents navigate an inundated street in Hue City, June 15, 2025. -- Photo: VnExpress/Vo Thanh-Vietnam News/ANN HANOI (AFP): The death toll in Vietnam from heavy rains and flooding caused by Typhoon Wutip has risen to seven, authorities said on Monday. Wutip made landfall in southern China at the weekend with winds gusting up to 128 kilometres per hour (80 miles per hour) before downgrading to a tropical storm. Seven people have been killed, 100 houses damaged and almost 60,000 hectares (148,000 acres) of crops submerged in central Vietnam, according an update on Monday from the disaster and dyke management authority. Vietnam is hit by roughly a dozen tropical storms every year, but in June they normally affect the north of the country and move southwards later in the year. Late last week, central Vietnam, including the world heritage town of Hoi An, suffered serious flooding which caused deaths, disrupted traffic and damaged crops. Experts say human-driven climate change is causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more likely. Last year, natural disasters claimed 514 lives in Vietnam, three times more than in 2023. In September 2024, northern Vietnam was devastated by Typhoon Yagi, which killed 345 people and caused an estimated economic loss of $3.3 billion. - AFP
Independent Singapore
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Following his first trip to Penang, HK actor Louis Koo says he has 'fallen in love' with Malaysia
HONG KONG: According to VnExpress, the famous Hong Kong actor Louis Koo had his first taste of Penang while there promoting his latest action movie, Behind the Shadows , and get this—he totally fell in love with the Malaysian state. Photo: Instagram/Louis Koo The Star reported that Koo wrote on a Weibo post on Tuesday that although it was his first time in Penang, he had already fallen in love. According to The Star, what truly left a mark on him were the warmth of the people and the unforgettable prawn noodles in Penang. Absolutely love to come back Koo also posted three photos to accompany the social media post. Koo was deeply touched by the love and support he received from his Malaysian fans! He mentioned that he'd absolutely love to come back to the state if the chance comes up again, and he even promised to dedicate more time to fan photos on his next visit, which is great news for everyone! See also Supermodel Cara Delevingne ties the knot with Ashley Benson According to Hype, Louis Koo wasn't alone on his Penang trip! Co-stars Chrissie Chau and Phei Yong accompanied Koo for the press tour, and they visited Megamal Pinang and Gurney Plaza. Inaugural trip to Penang Although 55-year-old Koo has visited Malaysia many times, this recent trip marked his very first visit to Penang—the charming state in the northwest! However, Koo said it loud and clear: one visit was all it took for him to fall head over heels for the place absolutely. In the comments section, it was clear how much Malaysians appreciated Koo's visit to Penang. Many fans specifically thanked him, noting that most press tours typically confine themselves to Kuala Lumpur and the Klang Valley. Others were absolutely thrilled to meet Louis during the meet-and-greet sessions, eagerly sharing photos of their interactions with the actor. And, of course, plenty of people invited him to return to Penang, suggesting he try even more of the local delicacies on his next trip. See also The Rescue star nearly drowned during filming of underwater scenes Loyal fanbase across Asia Koo , who is now 55, really shot to fame thanks to his roles in those classic TVB dramas, such as The Condor Heroes , Detective Investigation Files IV , and A Step into the Past . His work in the late 1990s especially helped him build a vast and incredibly loyal fan base all across Asia. For those eager to see his latest work, his new film, Behind the Shadows , just hit cinemas in Hong Kong on Thursday. Since 2001, Koo has primarily focused on his film career, becoming a prominent figure in the Hong Kong film industry. He is known for his ability to portray a wide range of characters, moving beyond his initial typecasting in cool and aloof action roles to perform in comedies and romances successfully.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Details about Jeff Bezos and partner Lauren Sánchez's lavish Venice wedding spark outrage from locals: 'Holding their home hostage'
Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding to Lauren Sánchez has residents of Venice, Italy, worried about what the lavish affair will mean to their city, both logistically and environmentally. Bezos, the Amazon founder and one of the richest people in the world, is set to marry Sánchez on June 24 on the Venetian island of San Giorgio Maggiore. As VnExpress reported, the wedding is a high-end event, with many celebrities, politicians, and businesspeople on the guest list. For all of the publicity and news attention likely to be given to the wedding, there are also the couple's efforts to keep it relatively private. They have reportedly booked out five luxury hotels and reserved many, if not all, of Venice's water taxis, per the Daily Mail. Street closures and heightened security measures are also expected. Some locals believe the event will bring an economic windfall to Venice. But others are more skeptical, with some saying Bezos and Sánchez are "holding their home hostage." "It's going to be a great big nuisance," one tour guide told the Guardian. "I think most people are of the same opinion. We are exasperated by a whole series of problems related to overtourism and this is the umpteenth thing foisted on the city that we have to suffer." With such a high concentration of wealthy people arriving at Venice for the event, there also arise significant environmental concerns. In particular, many attendees are expected to travel to Italy on private jets — on which one flight can create more carbon pollution than the average person creates in an entire year. Others may stay on megayachts, which studies have found to be the largest polluters of any single item owned by the wealthy. This is especially troubling in Venice, which has been hit hard by pollution and a warming climate. Rising sea levels have exacerbated the problem of Venice's famed lagoon and canals frequently flooding the city. Partly in response, the city has put in an elaborate flood-gate system to combat rising tides, but each use costs more than $160,000 — and possibly closer to $300,000, as The Washington Post has reported. Bezos is also no stranger to backlash for his environmental habits. In particular, critics point to his $500 million yacht, Koru, that emits more than 7,000 tons of carbon each year, or about 450 times the average American's carbon footprint, according to calculations cited by the New York Post. Do you think America has a plastic waste problem? Definitely Only in some areas Not really I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
South China Morning Post
04-06-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Vietnam plans tougher penalties to curb illegal sex selection amid rising birth gender gap
Vietnam is planning to impose stiffer penalties for gender-based sex selection in pregnancy, as the government scrambles to address a deepening imbalance in the country's birth sex ratio – one of the worst in Asia. A draft proposal from the health ministry would raise the maximum fine for such violations to 100 million Vietnamese dong (US$3,800), more than triple the current penalty. Offences covered include disclosing the sex of a fetus, performing or facilitating sex-selective abortions, prescribing methods for selecting a baby's gender and coercing or persuading someone to terminate a pregnancy based on the fetus' sex. The measure, part of the Population Bill now open for public consultation until June 12, aims to deter what authorities describe as a growing and illegal trend. 'This increase is necessary to ensure individuals and organisations think twice before engaging in such illegal acts,' the ministry said, according to state-linked media outlet VnExpress. A group of Vietnamese children gather around a photographer. Photo: AP Vietnam bans all forms of sex selection, but enforcement has long been patchy and penalties weak. The current maximum fine of 30 million dong has proven 'insufficient as a deterrent', according to the government's policy impact assessment of the bill.
