Childish Gambino -- seen performing in Las Vegas in September 2018 -- won for Grammys for his politically provocative hit "This Is America" but he did not attend the ceremony. Photo by AFP/Robyn Beck "This is America," Childish Gambino's searing indictment of police brutality and racism, scored a breakthrough for rap on Sunday at the Grammy awards, where the top prize went to country artist Kacey Musgraves. It won both record and song of the year, becoming the first hip hop track to win either of the top Grammy categories in 61 years. "This is America" also took Grammys for best music video and best rap performance. However, Childish Gambino, the music alter ego of actor Donald Glover, was not around to accept the honor. Both Glover and leading nominee Kendrick Lamar were Grammy no-shows in what was seen as a snub by the rappers for past disappointments when socially incisive rap material lost out to pop or R&B at the highest honors in the music business. "I really wish he … [Read more...] about Rap scores Grammy breakthrough while girl power rules awards show
Government where god supposedly rules
Vietnam needs a better Government bond market
Chairwoman of the Vietnam Bond Market Association Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - In recent years, the Government bond market has become an important capital mobilisation channel for Vietnam. However, the scale of the country’s bond market is modest compared to national economic scale and to other regional countries. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, chairwoman of the Vietnam Bond Market Association (VBMA), speaks to Vietnam News Agency about proposals to make the Government bond market more attractive. According to a report of the Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX), Government bond mobilisation dropped sharply last year in terms of value against 2017. What were the main reasons for this? The total value of Government bonds issued last year stood at 196.8 trillion VND (8.46 billion USD), a year-on-year reduction of 19.35 percent. The main cause of reduction in value of Government bond mobilisation came from slow disbursement of public investment. According to the Ministry of … [Read more...] about Vietnam needs a better Government bond market
Việt Nam needs a better Government bond market
In recent years, the Government bond market has become an important capital mobilisation channel for Viet Nam. However, the scale of the country’s bond market is modest compared to national economic scale and to other regional countries. Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, chairwoman of Viet Nam Bond Market Association (VBMA), speaks to Vietnam News Agency about proposals to make the Government bond market more attractive. According to a report of Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX), Government bond mobilisation dropped sharply last year in terms of value against 2017. What were the main reasons for this? The total value of Government bonds issued last year stood at VND196.8 trillion (US$8.46 billion), a year-on-year reduction of 19.35 per cent. The main cause of reduction in value of Government bond mobilisation came from slow disbursement of public investment. According to the Ministry of Finance, disbursement by ministries, sectors and departments at central and local administrations in the first 11 … [Read more...] about Việt Nam needs a better Government bond market
Archaeologists find Mexico temple to god of skinning sacrifices
Viet Nam News MEXICO CITY — Archaeologists in Mexico have found the first temple to the pre-Hispanic deity Xipe Totec, a god of fertility and war who was worshipped by sacrificing and skinning captives. Evidence indicates that priests ritually sacrificed their victims on one of the temple’s two circular altars, then flayed them on the other and draped themselves in their skin, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement. Historians have long known that Xipe Totec ("the flayed god") was worshipped by numerous peoples across what is now central and western Mexico and the Gulf coast. But the discovery – made among the ruins of the Ndachjian-Tehuacan archeological site in the central state of Puebla – is the first time a temple dedicated to the god has been found, the institute said. The artefacts uncovered at the site include three stone sculptures of Xipe Totec: two skinned heads and a torso, whose back is covered in … [Read more...] about Archaeologists find Mexico temple to god of skinning sacrifices
German government plans to relax rules to attract foreign workers
Germany's booming economy is short of workers. (Photo: AFP/Fred Tanneau) Germany's first ever immigration law, to be agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet on Wednesday (Dec 19), is eagerly anticipated by industries. But the law, which will have to be put to parliament, risks opening new fault lines in a country already deeply split over a record influx of more than a million mostly Muslim refugees and migrants since 2015. The German Trade Union Confederation has also warned that the eased access could lead to salary dumping and exploitation of foreign workers. Under the planned relaxed rules, jobseekers from outside the EU - including, for example, cooks, metallurgy workers or IT technicians - would be allowed to come to Germany for six months to try and find employment, provided they speak German and can financially support themselves. More controversial has been a plan to allow migrants already in Germany who are awaiting decisions on their asylum applications to stay if … [Read more...] about German government plans to relax rules to attract foreign workers
Government urges caution against controversial “World Mission Society Church of God”
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — With the mounting negative reports concerning activities from the controversial religious movement “World Mission Society Church of God” in the north of Việt Nam, the Government’s religion authority has called for alertness and advised not to equate the movement with other legitimate Protestant groups with similar names in the country. Vũ Chiến Thắng, head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, said that the committee “is aware of and is keeping tabs on the Church of God’s movement.” The new religious phenomenon that has drawn wide public attention in the recent weeks takes it root years ago with limited presence in the northern provinces of Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, and Thái Nguyên, but seems to have picked up speed in spreading to other localities in the country. Allegations of its cult-like conducts – including deceptive recruitment, … [Read more...] about Government urges caution against controversial “World Mission Society Church of God”
Government urges caution against controversial “World Mission Society Church of God” movement in Việt Nam
Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — With the mounting negative reports concerning activities from the controversial religious movement “World Mission Society Church of God” in the north of Việt Nam, the Government’s religion authority has called for alertness and advised not to equate the movement with other legitimate Protestant groups with similar names in the country. Vũ Chiến Thắng, head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, said that the committee “is aware of and is keeping tabs on the Church of God’s movement.” The new religious phenomenon that has drawn wide public attention in the recent weeks takes it root years ago with limited presence in the northern provinces of Hải Phòng, Quảng Ninh, and Thái Nguyên, but seems to have picked up speed in spreading to other localities in the country. Allegations of its cult-like conducts – including deceptive recruitment, … [Read more...] about Government urges caution against controversial “World Mission Society Church of God” movement in Việt Nam
Auto imports drop following government’s new decree
Only 337 cars of all kinds were shipped to the country, according to data of the General Department of Customs. Of the imports, there were only 17 passenger cars with nine seats or less, amounting to 567,000 USD. Notably, no cars were imported from Indonesia and India. Photo for illustration only In 2017, Indonesia was among the top countries after Thailand with the highest number of exported cars to Vietnam. India too had a relatively large number of exported vehicles in 2016. However, in January this year, both the countries did not export any car to Vietnam. Meanwhile, Thailand lost its recognition as the largest import car market in Vietnam, with only 36 vehicles exported to the country since the beginning of the year. Among the automobile export markets to Vietnam in January 2018, Russia suddenly rose to the top, with 159 vehicles being exported, worth 274 billion VND (12.03 million USD), equivalent to 1.7 billion VND each. Under a deal on autos signed between … [Read more...] about Auto imports drop following government’s new decree
Festival dedicated to Mountain God listed as national heritage
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - The worship of Tan Vien (the God of the Mountain), one of the Four Immortals in Vietnamese faith, will be officially recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. A ceremony to receive the certificate from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will take place on February 25, on the occasion of the festival dedicated to the God. The festival will be organised at a complex of Ha (Low), Trung (Middle) and Thuong (Upper) temples in Ba vi district on the outskirts of Hanoi from February 23-25. The annual festival attracts thousands of visitors from all regions of the country. Besides a traditional ritual and an incense offering ceremony held at the temples, many folk games, sports and performances are organised. It also kicks off the year for Ba Vi district Tourism with the theme of "Cultural Rendezvous". According to the legend in the northern delta, Tan Vien, also called Son Tinh, was the God of the Mountain … [Read more...] about Festival dedicated to Mountain God listed as national heritage
Madrid to keep Catalonia reins if Puigdemont seeks remote rule
Speaking to party members in Madrid, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Puigdemont had "to be physically present" in Catalonia to take office.And if that didn't happen, he warned, the central government would maintain the direct rule imposed after Catalan leaders declared independence in October.Puigdemont is the separatist camp's favoured candidate to lead Catalonia again after pro-independence parties won an absolute majority in regional elections on Dec 21.But he is in self-imposed exile in Belgium and if he returns, he risks arrest on charges of rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds for his role in the region's failed independence bid.On Twitter, Puigdemont responded by pointing out to Rajoy that his conservative Popular Party had only "secured four lawmakers on December 21 and continues to govern Catalonia from Madrid."By contrast, Puigdemont's Together for Catalonia list won 34 seats in the best result for a separatist grouping, with anti-independence party … [Read more...] about Madrid to keep Catalonia reins if Puigdemont seeks remote rule