Any stylists infringing the directive face fines of 40,000 taka (US$474). — AFP PhotoViet Nam News DHAKA — A barber’s association in a northern Bangladesh town has warned its members not to give “foreign” haircuts or beard styles on pain of fines, an official said on Thursday. An association order has been hung up at every barber shop in the town of Bhuapur in the Muslim-majority South Asian nation of 165 million people. Any stylists infringing the directive face fines of 40,000 taka (US$474). Flamboyant hairstyles adopted by some of the Bollywood and Hollywood movie heroes and top cricketers have become increasingly popular among young men in Bangladesh, where short and neat cuts used to be the norm. The head of the association Shekhar Chandra Sheel said they took the measure following a request from the local police chief. “He asked us not to cut hair and beards following the Western model. He said these hairstyles are spoiling our young … [Read more...] about Bangladesh town barbers face fines for ’foreign’ cuts
Veteran town of salem
Greece to lease buildings in UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town
Over a dozen empty buildings in one of Greece’s most scenic locations -- the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rhodes -- are being offered for lease in the coming weeks. — Photo greece-is.comViet Nam News ATHENS — Over a dozen empty buildings in one of Greece’s most scenic locations -- the UNESCO-listed Old Town of Rhodes -- are being offered for lease in the coming weeks, a ministry official said on Wednesday. Half the state-owned buildings, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, will be turned into homes or small hotels, and the rest will be leased as shops, said Maria Michailidou, head of the antiquities body for the broader Dodecanese island group that covers Rhodes. "Most of them are in poor condition," Michailidou said. "Whoever leases them will have the responsibility of restoring them," she said. The largest island of the Dodecanese, Rhodes was occupied by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem from 1309 to 1523, before they were ousted by the Ottoman … [Read more...] about Greece to lease buildings in UNESCO-listed Rhodes Old Town
Sa Pa to be upgraded to district-level town
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (standing) chairs the meeting on the establishment of Sa Pa town (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 15 chaired a meeting on the plan to set up the district-level town of Sa Pa in the northwestern province of Lao Cai, highlighting the establishment’s necessity to local development. Over the past years, Lao Cai has been mobilising resources for developing Sa Pa district into a big tourism centre of the province, as well as Vietnam. The number of tourists there grows by 23.4 percent annually, surpassing 2.5 million in 2018. There are 571 services establishments in Sa Pa district at present, including one- to five-star hotels, and 34 travel agencies. Many tourism projects have been put into use like the Fansipan tourism and entertainment complex and the Sa Pa cultural park. Meanwhile, transport, power and water supply, and telecom infrastructure has also been improved to meet local development demand. At the … [Read more...] about Sa Pa to be upgraded to district-level town
Nguyen Tieu festival sees Hoai river shine in ancient town of Hoi An
Thousands of tourists have paid a visit to the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam to release lanterns into the Hoai River to pray for happiness, peace, and luck in the year ahead for the Nguyen Tieu festival, which celebrates the first full moon of the new lunar year. The Nguyen Tieu festival is held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. It is seen as a spiritual event for local residents who wish to express their gratitude to ancestors and pray for prosperity and wealth during the yearHoi An often hosts the festival earlier than neighbouring localities, between the 14 to 16 of the first lunar monthCrowds of visitors pour into Hoi An to take part in the opening of the Nguyen Tieu festival.Every street in the city appears vibrant with colour as they’re adorned with lanterns for the occasion.Hoai River is illuminated by lanterns throughout night.Both local residents and visitors release candlelit paper flowers into the Hoai River to pray for … [Read more...] about Nguyen Tieu festival sees Hoai river shine in ancient town of Hoi An
Ten towns hit by river pollution from Brazil dam disaster
Viet Nam News RIO DE JANEIRO - Ten towns in southeast Brazil are suffering river pollution after a dam collapse at a mine nearly three weeks ago that killed 166 people and left 155 missing, presumed dead, according to officials. Mineral-laced sludge from the disaster near the town of Brumadinho has contaminated 75 miles (120 kilometers) of the Paraopeba river, impacting the riverside towns, the Institute for Water Management in the affected state of Minas Gerais (IGAM) said in a report. Officials have warned locals off using the river water for drinking, watering animals or irrigation. State environmental authorities had detected levels of toxic metals in the water, including lead and chromium, in the first 12 miles (20 kilometers) of the spill. IGAM director Marilia Carvalho de Melo was quoted by a local news website saying it was "unlikely" the waste would make it as far as a hydroelectric plant on the Sao Francisco river … [Read more...] about Ten towns hit by river pollution from Brazil dam disaster
Hoi An among Elle list of stunning holiday ideas for 2019
Hoi An ancient town (Photo: VNA) The ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam was among the 10 stunning holidays ideas for 2019 offered by Elle, the worldwide lifestyle magazine of French origin. Elle described Hoi An as arguably Vietnam’s most underrated and marvellous town, a melting pot of architecture, history and culture. Dating back to the 15th and 19th century, the port town has a statuesque-ancient-town vibe. "From ornate Buddhist monasteries to the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge and from the bustling Riverside market to the tranquil old town, Hoi An has it all!" Elle wrote. Other destinations on the list included the Grand Canyon in the US who was ranked at number one, followed by Tunisia, Greenland, French Polynesia, Berlin in Germany, Cairo in Egypt, Dakar in Senegal, Matera in Italy. Hoi An is a well-known travel destination in Vietnam. The ancient town was named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1999. Earlier, Hoi An has been named among the … [Read more...] about Hoi An among Elle list of stunning holiday ideas for 2019
Italian town of Sambuca in Sicily sells homes for a dollar
Looking for a dose of instant sunshine to help you through the winter? This latest deal out of Italy could be just the warm jolt of vitamin D you need. As of right now, you can buy a house on southern Italy's beautiful island of Sicily for less than the cost of an espresso. Sambuca, a hilltop town with views over the Mediterranean island and nearby beaches, has placed dozens of dwellings on the market for €1, or just over a dollar. The deal is aimed at reviving a community that, like many other rural spots in Italy, has suffered from depopulation in recent years as residents move to bigger cities. It's not the first Italian town to lure in outsiders with tempting offers but, say local officials, Sambuca is scrapping red tape to make sure anyone interested can more or less make their purchase right away. "As opposed to other towns that have merely done this for propaganda, this city hall owns all €1 houses on sale," says Giuseppe Cacioppo, Sambuca's deputy mayor and tourist … [Read more...] about Italian town of Sambuca in Sicily sells homes for a dollar
Once enemies, Vietnamese and US veteran pilots join hands in Hà Nội
Charlie Tutt, a retired US marine and head of the US veteran pilot delegation, speaks at the meeting among Vietnamese and US pilots. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương GiangViet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese and American veteran pilots, once enemies in the air during the anti-US war, reunited in Hà Nội on Wednesday for the third time. Present at the gathering were Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Đức Soát, hero of the People’s Armed Forces and head of the Vietnamese veteran pilot delegation; Charlie Tutt, head of the US veteran pilot delegation; representatives from the Air Defence – Air Force Service under the Việt Nam Defence Ministry and veteran pilots of the two countries. In his remarks at the event, Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Đức Soát said the Vietnamese and US veteran pilots met for the first time in Hà Nội on April 13, 2010 and their second meeting took place in San Diego, California, the US, in … [Read more...] about Once enemies, Vietnamese and US veteran pilots join hands in Hà Nội
Tunisian government announces social reforms after week of unrest
Tunisia's government on Saturday announced an increase in aid to the needy and improved health care as part of social reforms following a week of unrest triggered by austerity measures. Social Affairs Minister Mohamed Trabelsi told reporters that monthly aid to needy families would rise from 150 dinars (50 euros) to between 180 and 210 dinars (60 and 70 euros). He said reforms which have been in the pipeline for several months would guarantee medical care for all Tunisians, without elaborating, and also provide housing to disadvantaged families. The announcement came after President Beji Caid Essebsi consulted with political parties, unions and employers. The North African country has been shaken by a wave of protests over poverty and unemployment during which hundreds of people were arrested before the unrest tapered off. "It's a very advanced legal project, which was submitted to parliament and will be discussed over the next week," said a government source who requested … [Read more...] about Tunisian government announces social reforms after week of unrest
Vietnamese mother of US veteran denied visa to attend his funeral: report
A Vietnamese mother was denied visa to the U.S. twice and could not attend the funeral of her son, who served in the U.S. Navy, his father told the media. The 22-year-old veteran died of leukemia last month but his mother missed his burial because her request to visit was turned down by the U.S. Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City, WREG-TV reported. “That’s what made me fuming mad. Fuming,” the father, Hung Truong, who is of Vietnamese origin, told the Memphis station. His son served in the Navy for four years before leaving in October and had planned to study graphic design. He died on December 17, shortly after doctors diagnosed him. The father said his son was inspired by John F. Kennedy’s exhortation: Don’t ask what your country did for you, but ask what you did for your country. “But he’s already done for this country, but what has this country done for him?” he said, as cited in the report. Truong, who owns a jewelry store in … [Read more...] about Vietnamese mother of US veteran denied visa to attend his funeral: report