Director of the city’s Investment Promotion Agency (IPA), Huynh Thi Lien Phuong said the MoU, which was signed late last month, aimed to build a trading centre, casino, high-end entertainment and luxury apartments in the coastal area. She said the project would be built on an area of 84,000.sq.m on the beach-front at Vo Nguyen Giap and Vo Van Kiet streets in the Son Tra peninsula. Phương said Da Nang authorities would auction land-use rights for the finance-trade-casino complex in the future. She said the city was drawing up a detailed plan for the first international duty-free zone and smart urban area for investors. Last year, five key investors – the Import-Export Pan Pacific Group (IPPG), T&T Group, New Techco company from Vietnam, and Sakae Holding and another company from Singapore – registered for a land-use rights auction for a US$2 billion finance-trade-casino complex in the central city. Jonathan Hanh Nguyen, who is chairman of IPPG Group, urged the city to ... » Learn More about Vietnam: Da Nang’s Central city to develop an international finance centre
International
Bank of Thailand issues stark warning over ongoing ban on foreign tourists
The Bank of Thailand has issued a sombre warning that the ongoing ban on foreign tourists returning to Thailand may have an even worse impact next year. Don Nakornthab, from the BOT’s economic and policy department, says if international tourists are not allowed back into the country soon, Thailand’s tourism industry will face even bigger threats next year. A report in the Bangkok Post says both the Tourism and Sports Ministry and the National Economic and Social Development Council have already reduced their forecasts of foreign tourists this year to 6.7 million (the vast majority of that number arriving in Q1, 2020) and 12 million for 2021. To put that in context, in 2019, Thailand welcomed nearly 40 million international tourists, with the resulting revenue accounting for nearly 20% of the total Thai GDP. The month of July was the fourth consecutive month in which Thailand received no foreign tourists. The borders remain largely sealed, while discussions about how to open ... » Learn More about Bank of Thailand issues stark warning over ongoing ban on foreign tourists
Ismail Sabri: 208 detained for SOP violations on Saturday (April 10)
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 200 individuals were arrested for movement control order violations on Saturday (April 10). Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said 208 individuals were arrested, with 199 being issued compounds while nine others were remanded. "Among the violations committed were entertainment outlet activities (112), failure to provide entry log equipment (27), not wearing face masks (16) and 53 other offences. "The compliance task force comprising of 3,196 teams involving 14,654 personnel conducted 66,140 checks on Saturday. He said the checks were conducted on 5,839 restaurants, supermarkets (4,481), banks (3,936), hawkers (3,019), markets/farmers markets (2,184), factories (2,163) and government offices (731). "They also monitored places of worship (3,332), recreational areas (1,810), land transport terminals (1,759), water transport terminals (347) and air transport terminals (106)," he said. Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said ... » Learn More about Ismail Sabri: 208 detained for SOP violations on Saturday (April 10)
Putrajaya keen to attract ecotourism projects
Come with creative investment proposals on tourism products and services to make Putrajaya an iconic ecotourism draw. That is the message from Federal Territories Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa to the private sector, as a way to increase the number of visitors to the administrative capital. “As Putrajaya is already a planned city with iconic buildings and complete facilities, private companies can readily utilise them, ” he said during a press conference to announce a glamping project in Putrajaya Wetlands Park. “This means they will not need big capital expenditure but just add value and run promotion programmes to draw attention to their tourism products and services. “We will be open and transparent so that these companies can help make Putrajaya a major recreational city that is eco-friendly and family-oriented, ” he said during the event held in Precinct 3. Annuar noted that Putrajaya was lacking in pull factor, which explained why the 25-year-old administrative capital ... » Learn More about Putrajaya keen to attract ecotourism projects
Rhino population in Nepal grows in conservation boost
KATHMANDU: Nepal's population of endangered one-horned rhinoceros has grown by more than a hundred over the past six years, officials said, with campaigners hailing the increase as a conservation "milestone". The population rose to 752 across four national parks in the southern plains, up from 645 in 2015, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation said on Saturday (Apr 10). "The increase of rhinos is exciting news for us," the department's information officer, Haribhadra Acharya, told AFP on Sunday. "But we have challenges ahead to expand the habitat areas of this animal to maintain the growth." Thousands of one-horned rhinos once roamed the southern plains, but rampant poaching and human encroachment on their habitat reduced their numbers to around 100 in Nepal in the 1960s. Since 1994, the Himalayan nation has conducted a rhino census once every five years, as authorities stepped up their efforts to boost population numbers for the species listed as ... » Learn More about Rhino population in Nepal grows in conservation boost
Cricket: Rizwan steers Pakistan to their highest-winning T20 run chase
JOHANNESBURG: Opening batsman Mohammad Rizwan steered Pakistan to their highest winning run chase as they beat South Africa by four wickets in the first Twenty20 international at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg on Saturday (Apr 10). Rizwan made an unbeaten 74 as Pakistan chased down a target of 189 with one ball to spare. Their previous highest T20 chase was 188 against Australia in Harare in 2018. The match swung in the last four overs of the two innings. South Africa could score only 29 in their last four overs, while Pakistan thrashed 52 off the last 3.5 overs Brief scores: South Africa 188-6 in 20 overs (A. Markram 51, H. Klaasen 50; Mohammad Nawaz 2-21, Hasan Ali 2-28) Pakistan 189-6 in 19.5 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 74 not out, Faheem Ashraf 30; B. Hendricks 3-32, T. Shamsi 2-29) Result: Pakistan won by 4 wickets Series: Pakistan lead the four-match series 1-0 Toss: South Africa ... » Learn More about Cricket: Rizwan steers Pakistan to their highest-winning T20 run chase
Football: Ibrahimovic ‘very close’ to renewing Milan contract, says Maldini
MILAN: Zlatan Ibrahimovic is close to renewing his contract with AC Milan, club director Paolo Maldini announced on Saturday (Apr 10). The Swedish international, who turns 40 in October, has been credited with turning Milan into title contenders again since his return to the Serie A club in January last year. "For Ibrahimovic there are only small details missing, we are very close to renewal," Maldini said before Milan's Serie A game at Parma. Ibrahimovic, who helped Milan to their last Serie A title in 2011, is the club's top scorer with 15 goals in 16 games having missed others through injury and illness. The former Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona forward's current deal runs until the end of the season with discussions about an extension June 2022. The Swede returned to the national team last month, more than five years after calling time on his international career. Meanwhile, contract talks with Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma are less ... » Learn More about Football: Ibrahimovic ‘very close’ to renewing Milan contract, says Maldini
Red-hot Rizwan leads Pakistan to T20 victory over South Africa
JOHANNESBURG: Opener Mohammad Rizwan smashed an unbeaten half-century to lead Pakistan to a nail-biting four-wicket victory over inexperienced South Africa in the first Twenty20 International at The Wanderers on Saturday. South Africa, who were without seven of their leading players, either injured or released to compete in the Indian Premier League, won the toss and elected to bat, posting 188 for six in their 20 overs on an excellent wicket. Rizwan scored 74 from 50 balls in Pakistan’s reply as the visitors profited from the depleted home bowling attack and reached their target with one ball remaining. It is their highest successful run chase in T20 cricket, beating the 187 they managed in a win over Australia in 2018. The industrious Rizwan was helped over the line by Faheem Ashraf (30 from 14 balls) as the pair added 48 in 24 balls for the sixth wicket, turning the match firmly in the visitors’ favour. South Africa’s total was boosted by half-centuries for opener ... » Learn More about Red-hot Rizwan leads Pakistan to T20 victory over South Africa
Chad votes with 30-year ruler Deby poised for sixth win
Key figure: Deby at a Sahel summit in the French city of Pau in January last year N'DJAMENA - Chad headed into presidential elections on Sunday in which Idriss Deby Itno, the country's ruler for the last three decades, looks assured of a sixth term. A key ally in the West's anti-jihadist campaign in the Sahel, Deby, 68, is frontrunner in a six-candidate race without major rivals after a campaign in which demonstrations were banned or dispersed. Chad has struggled with poverty and instability since gaining independence from France in 1960. Its leader, Deby, is a former rebel and career soldier who seized power in a coup in 1990 and has twice, with French help, thwarted attempts to oust him. Other candidates include Albert Pahimi Padacke, 55, a former prime minister under Deby, and Felix Nialbe Romadoumngar, 64 -- officially "leader of the opposition" as his URD party has eight seats in the National Assembly. Lydie Beassemda, 54, a former minister of agricultural production, ... » Learn More about Chad votes with 30-year ruler Deby poised for sixth win
Indonesians think corruption is worsening, survey says
Most Indonesians perceive that corruption has worsened in the country based on the frequency of electronic and print media outlets producing corruption-related news reports, a survey has revealed. The survey commissioned by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) found that 66.4 percent of respondents believed corruption in Indonesia had worsened in the nearly two years since President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo took office. Only 10.8 percent of respondents thought corruption cases in Indonesia had decreased, while the remaining 21.3 percent said the cases remained stagnant. “Although they think that the number of corruption cases are increasing, 50.4 percent of the respondents believe that the country is serious about eradicating corruption,” CSIS researcher Arya Fernandes told a press conference on Tuesday, adding that 28.2 percent of respondents said the government was not serious enough. Conducted from April 17 to 29, the survey involved 3,900 respondents aged at ... » Learn More about Indonesians think corruption is worsening, survey says