After the transfer deadline for Premier League clubs to strengthen their squads for the upcoming season passed on Thursday (Aug 9), AFP Sport looks at who enjoyed the best and worst of the transfer window: Missing piece? Alisson Becker is expected to help Liverpool provide a title challenge. (AFP/MANAN VATSYAYANA) WINNERS Liverpool In their quest to end a 29-year wait to win the title, Liverpool weren't just the biggest spenders, but got their business done early and improved the key areas of Jurgen Klopp's squad that needed strengthening. Two calamitous errors from Loris Karius in losing the Champions League final to Real Madrid in May made it clear an upgrade was needed in goal and €72.5 million (US$84 million) were splashed on Alisson Becker from Roma in a short-lived world-record fee for a goalkeeper. Fabinho and Naby Keita will add extra dynamism and depth to the midfield, while Xherdan Shaqiri offers better back-up to the prolific front three of Sadio Mane, … [Read more...] about Winners and losers from the Premier League transfer window
Best and worst dressed golden globes
The Tailor wins Best Feature Film at Golden Kite Awards
“Co Ba Sai Gon” (The Tailor) won the Best Feature Film at the Golden Kite Awards, which was announced in Hanoi on April 15. A scene of The Tailor which wins Best Feature Film at the Golden Kite Awards 2017 - Photo: xonefm.com The Tailor, which beat other 13 nominees, is a romantic comedy featuring the culture and lifestyle of the Saigonese as well as history of ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress). Theo VNA … [Read more...] about The Tailor wins Best Feature Film at Golden Kite Awards
PM visit to Chu Đậu ceramic village: Extolling and promoting the ’golden hand’ artisans
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Ten days after a surprise visit to Bát Tràng pottery village in Hà Nội, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc yesterday visited Chu Đậu Village in the northern province of Hải Dương, considered one of the ‘cradles of Việt Nam’s ceramics.’ According to researchers, the beginning of the ceramic craft of Chu Đậu Village dates back to the 11th century and nearly died out in the late 17th century. In 1992, an ancient shipwreck was recovered in waters off Cù Lao Chàm (Chàm Islet) in south-central Việt Nam and as many as 400,000 pottery artifacts were found. Amongst these expensive items, several were discovered to have originated from a small village in northern Việt Nam, and only then did the once-lost craft of Chu Đậu Village enjoy a revival after nearly four decades. Different from the white glaze and blue patterns … [Read more...] about PM visit to Chu Đậu ceramic village: Extolling and promoting the ’golden hand’ artisans
‘Three Billboards’ wins big as Golden Globes power through sex scandal
Dark drama "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" was the big winner with four Golden Globes awards on Sunday on a night marked by scathing jokes about sexual harassment and passionate odes to those breaking their silence. Mother-daughter comedy "Lady Bird" was named best comedy film and the indie A24 movie's star Saoirse Ronan won for comedy actress. Gary Oldman was named best drama movie actor for his role as British wartime leader Winston Churchill in Focus Features' "Darkest Hour" and Frances McDormand took home the award for drama actress for her role as an angry mother seeking vengeance in Fox Searchlight's "Three Billboards." James Franco won the comedy actor award for his cult movie homage "The Disaster Artist," also from A24. Mexican director Guillermo del Toro won best director for magical fantasy "The Shape of Water." However, the night was dominated not by who took home prizes but by jokes and speeches about the sexual misconduct scandal that has rocked … [Read more...] about ‘Three Billboards’ wins big as Golden Globes power through sex scandal
Hollywood gets party season started at glitzy Golden Globes
Billed as the most raucous event in the showbiz calendar, the champagne-drenched Hollywood Foreign Press Association's annual prize-giving is a draw for filmmakers and actors looking to create some buzz ahead of the Oscars in March.But this year's ceremony, seen as the first big opportunity for the industry to unite against a pervasive culture of sexual misconduct brought to light by the downfall of disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein, may strike a more somber tone."The deluge of sexual misconduct revelations has been the story of the year, so it's safe to predict that it will be the story of the night at the Golden Globes," Debra Birnbaum, executive editor for television at industry weekly Variety, told AFP."It will influence everything from Seth Meyers' monologue to impassioned acceptance speeches to the fashion."The ceremony at the Beverly Hilton - the first for late night NBC funnyman Meyers as host - is not as reliable at predicting Oscars glory as the galas held by … [Read more...] about Hollywood gets party season started at glitzy Golden Globes
Golden Globes 2018: Sexual harassment scandal dominates ceremony
Powerful speeches and statements of unity have dominated the 75th Golden Globe awards.It was the first major Hollywood awards ceremony since the film industry was hit by sexual harassment scandals, with stars wearing black to honour victims.Oprah Winfrey summed up the mood, saying "a new day is on the horizon" as she collected an honorary award.The big film winner of the night was Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, which took home four awards.The Oscar-winning actress stars as a grieving mother who challenges police over the fact her daughter's killer has not been found.Big Little Lies won the most awards in the television categories, including honours for its stars Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern and Alexander Skarsgard. It was also named best limited TV series. 'Power of women'Kidman won the first award of the night for her role as a victim of domestic violence.The main focus on the night was on the current atmosphere in Hollywood and campaigns like Me Too and Time's Up, which are … [Read more...] about Golden Globes 2018: Sexual harassment scandal dominates ceremony
Golden Globes celebrate the year of the genre movie
In a year of devastating hurricanes, ubiquitous sex assault scandals and a strikingly candid presidential Twitter account, it is little wonder that cinemagoers are turning to escapist fantasy. With fairy tale romance "The Shape of Water" leading the nominations for the Golden Globes, dark farce "Get Out" topping critics' lists and horror movies making $1 billion at the box office, 2017 may come to be seen as the year of the genre movie. Jordan Peele's "Get Out," which satirizes suburban white guilt over racial inequality in the United States, is emblematic of the rise of genre films in this year's awards season. It has been almost a year since its release, and most movies brought out that far ahead of Hollywood's various prize-giving ceremonies are long forgotten by the time the trophies are being polished. Yet "Get Out" is up for two Globes on Sunday and entertainment website Eonline.com has been extolling its virtues as a genuine contender. Guillermo del Toro's "The Shape of Water," … [Read more...] about Golden Globes celebrate the year of the genre movie
Golden Globe Award given to talents in science, technology
This year’s award was given to 9 young talents in the 5 areas of information technology and communications, medical-pharmaceutical, biological, environmental and new material technology. 20 outstanding female students are honored for involvement in scientific study in IT, electricity, electronics, and mechanics and their active role in the Youth Union and other social activities.Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Van Tung said the Ministry will offer young people opportunities to participate in science and technology activities to serve national industrialization and modernization.On the same day, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong met the awardees in Hanoi. She praised their efforts and called on them to continue to nurture their passion for scientific research and contribute their youthful engery to national development. … [Read more...] about Golden Globe Award given to talents in science, technology
“Social Network” electrifies Golden Globes
Facebook film "The Social Network" won four Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, including best drama, making it a front-runner in Hollywood's Oscar race after sweeping several honors from critics and industry groups in recent weeks."Social Network" also won the best director award for David Fincher, best screenplay for writer Aaron Sorkin and best musical score, written by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.The film recounts the story of the founding of social networking site Facebook, an international phenomenon with 500 million users that was started in a college dormitory by founder, billionaire Mark Zuckerberg.The Facebook founder did not cooperate with the movie's makers, and the film is a piece of fiction. Nevertheless, producer Scott Rudin and Sorkin pointed out that Zuckerberg's creation has been a phenomenon that has changed the way the world communicates."I want to thank everyone at Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg for his willingness to use his life and work as a … [Read more...] about “Social Network” electrifies Golden Globes
“White Silk Dress” not Oscar nominee
The Academy Award organizing board has made public the list of nine finalists which will compete for five nominations for the 80th Oscar’s Best foreign Film category, Vietnam’s “White Silk Dress” was not among them.Producer of “White Silk Dress” Phuoc Sang said: “I am not too upset. It is good enough that the film was reviewed by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It is a great honor for the film to be Vietnam’s representative at the 80th Oscars”. The failure of “White Silk Dress” isn’t a surprise; up to 63 foreign films were sent to the organizing board. Many films that had high hopes were also rejected, for example 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days, a Romanian film which won the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival 2007 and was nominated as the Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes. French film Persepolis and La Vie en Rose suffered the same fate.The nine finalists of the … [Read more...] about “White Silk Dress” not Oscar nominee