It was a tiny, distant world called Ultima Thule, hoped to help bring more knowledge about how planets took shape. The US space agency planned to ring in the New Year with a live online broadcast to mark the spacecraft's zoom past the mysterious object located about four billion miles (6.4 billion kilometers) away in a dark and frigid region of space known as the Kuiper Belt. The flyby at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday (0533 GMT) will take place about a billion miles beyond Pluto, which was until now the most faraway world ever visited up close by a spacecraft. Real-time video of the actual flyby is impossible, since it takes more than six hours for a signal sent from Earth to reach the spaceship, named New Horizons, and another six hours for the response to arrive. A solo track recorded by legendary Queen guitarist Brian May -- who also holds an advanced degree in astrophysics -- was set to be released just after midnight to accompany a video simulation as NASA commentators describe the close … [Read more...] about NASA speeds toward historic flyby of faraway world, Ultima Thule
Days of our lives cast
Traditional bronze casting brings prosperity, pride
Record breaker: Artisan Nguyễn Bá Châu (left) and his son, Quý, are pictured with the bronze drum that broke the national record in April. Photo courtesy of Nguyễn Bá Châu Viet Nam News The traditional craft of bronze casting in Chè Đông Village, Thiệu Trung Commune in the central province of Thanh Hóa has been famous nationwide for sophisticated products that are highly valued in economy, history and culture. The craft has not only provided the locals with stable income but also great pride when, recently, it was recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. Hoa Mai and Lương Hương report. Good news has recently reached the locals of Chè Đông Village in the central province of Thanh Hóa: their traditional craft – bronze casting – has been recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism … [Read more...] about Traditional bronze casting brings prosperity, pride
Trump, Obama tout clashing visions of U.S. as elections near
Trump, Obama tout clashing visions of U.S. as elections near U.S. President Donald Trump attends a campaign rally, ahead of midterm elections, at Pensacola International Airport in Florida, U.S., November 3, 2018 – PHOTO: REUTERS WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Barack Obama made duelling election appearances on Sunday, offering sharply different views on the country’s problems but agreeing on the high stakes for voters in the final 48 hours of a tight campaign. With opinion polls showing dozens of tight U.S. congressional and gubernatorial races in Tuesday’s election, the current and former presidents said the results would determine what kind of country Americans live in for the next two years. “This election will decide whether we build on this extraordinary prosperity we have created,” Trump told a cheering crowd in Macon, Georgia, warning that Democrats would “take a giant wrecking ball to our economy.” … [Read more...] about Trump, Obama tout clashing visions of U.S. as elections near
A scoop of holy water
Viet Nam News That summer I visited Varanasi for the first time. That city is considered a holy place because of its location on the sacred Ganges river. I had promised myself on this visit to that city I would visit the river. I was not traveling for pleasure. I’d be working. As a postgraduate student researching Oriental culture, I had accepted an offer to do some translations for the Indian railway ministry. Before I went to India to study, I had worked as an interpreter for diplomatic delegations for several years, so that work wasn’t unfamiliar to me. The only unfamiliar thing was that it was my first time interpreting for the railway industry, which required me to know about locomotives and diesel engines. For example, until then I only knew “solution” meant a way of solving something. Only when I visited the petrochemical factory of the Varanasi railway company did I learn that it had another meaning: a homogeneous, molecular … [Read more...] about A scoop of holy water
One melody in memory of father
Viet Nam News by Lê Hoài Nam To meet Diễm, his ex-wife, Đổng went to a refreshment stall on the side of a street. A few minutes later, she turned up in a black Camry. Getting out, at first glance she seemed greatly displeased with his casual clothes. “You’ve come by bus, haven’t you?” she asked him in a contemptuous voice. “Pawned your motorbike?” she went on. Blushing with shame he replied, “I needed the money to wire a building for lighting and high-tech gadgets. I’ll get it back soon.” “Hmm, at the age of fifty, with a degree in electrical engineering, you should be ashamed of yourself for having pawned your terrible motorbike,” she mocked him. “It’s not a big deal, I’ll be sorted soon.” “Really? What did you want to see me for then? Not for money, eh?” “Certainly not! Have I ever borrowed anything from you?” … [Read more...] about One melody in memory of father
Cold Beer
Viet Nam News By Phan Triều Hải Ever since her 32nd birthday last year, Vy had been afraid of gaining belly fat. So instead of eating cheese and drinking lots of beer before sleeping, the couple only drank two small glasses of beer at dinner. The weather in Sài Gòn encouraged beer consumption. Cao thought Sài Gòn was the best place to drink. This city had all sorts of problems: crowdedness, noise, heat, suffocation, traffic, lack of hygiene, pollution and beer was the solution that could dissolve all these issues in the fastest way. A gulp of beer enabled people to endure and relax, and made them irritable but energetic enough to do unexpected things. Beer lovers would never feel tired of Sài Gòn. Nor was there a better place for beer to show off its ability to excite, relieve stress, connect friends or accompany a solitary person. Nevertheless, Cao rarely went out to drink. He wasn’t social. Cao always wanted to be alone. His world … [Read more...] about Cold Beer
Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Man Utd visit
Manchester City players pose for a family photograph before the UEFA Champions League first leg quarter-final football match against Liverpool at Anfield stadium in Liverpool, north west England on Apr 4, 2018. (Paul ELLIS/AFP) Pep Guardiola's men will become the first team in the league's 26-year history to wrap up the title with six games to spare if they beat United at the Etihad - a fitting end to a season of almost total dominance in the league. City are 16 points clear of Jose Mourinho's second-placed team so it is a matter of when rather than if they wrap up the Premier League title, the first of Guardiola's reign in England. The runaway leaders will be desperate to reassert themselves after their chastening 3-0 defeat in the first leg of their Champions league quarter-final at Anfield. But the derby comes just three days before the return leg of their European tie and Guardiola faces a difficult balancing act, still believing he can overturn the Champions League deficit at … [Read more...] about Man City on brink of Premier League glory as Man Utd visit
What’s in a swear? Parents of teens debate
Viet Nam News by Mai Phương Do you know anyone who has never uttered a swear word? The answer is almost certainly no: swearing is almost as universal as speech itself. But many of us still believe that swearing is linked to bad behaviour, and that our own loved ones would never use such shameful language. Certainly, I believed that my own children had never so much as thought these words. Last week, I opened my computer to find that my 14 year-old daughter had left her Facebook messenger account open and active. I was shocked to find that her conversations with classmates were filled with an abundance of swear words. They covered all the bases as far as swear words go. There were those referring to sexual references, those that are profane or blasphemous, scatological or disgusting objects, animal names, ethnic/racial/gender slurs and ancestral allusions. Summoning all of my courage to learn the truth about my beloved child, I read all the way to the end. I found … [Read more...] about What’s in a swear? Parents of teens debate
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/2
PNJ targets opening at least 40 stores this yearPhu Nhuan Jewelry (PNJ) plans to open at least 40 new stores this year and have 300 by the end of April. The 40 new stores include gold stores or stores combining gold and silver retail.It has also set a net revenue target of VND14.1 trillion ($619.6 million) for the parent company this year, up 30 per cent, with after-tax profit increasing 22 per cent to VND882 billion ($38.7 million).PNJ is in the process of preparing for upgrading and modernizing its ERP system, through which it can study customer behavior at outlets and better understand customer choice.The company also plans to use big data to develop new products aimed at more specific customer groups and at the same time use digital marketing strategies to expand market share.As noted by HSC, PNJ’s sales in FY2017 increased 28 per cent year-on-year to VND10.97 trillion ($482.1 million) thanks to most segments growing strongly. Gold bar revenue increased 20 per cent, to … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/2
The valley of dew
Only Van went out alone, and drank one whole bottle of wine without getting drunk, as if he were drinking water. His head felt clear, and the blood in his chest flared up like fire. The men winked at each other, clinking their cups. “Hey Van, why isn’t your wife here to get well water for you to wash your face with?” the men jeered. Van threw his cup into a pillar of the communal house and stood up. The cup broke into pieces, putting an end to the New Year’s Eve party. Other people flitted around with their lovers, but Van flitted around with a shadow. Van went home and found the house in darkness, only lit up by the scent of incense recently burned to welcome spring. He sneered. They’re all sleeping like a log, he thought. Ever since Biu left, there hadn’t been any spring. Spring couldn’t come home to an ugly wife. Spring couldn’t lie in the hands of a breeding hen. The breeding hen only knew how to breed, not how to laugh. Whether she … [Read more...] about The valley of dew