SEOUL -- Office worker Park Mi-won had never bought her lunch from a convenience store, until her favourite lunch buffet recently raised prices by more than 10% to 9,000 won ($7) as South Korean inflation soared to a 14-year high. "After the price rise, I went to convenience stores instead, where I thought the prices were reasonable while food also tasted good," the 62-year-old said. "So now I go there two to three times a week." Global food prices surged 23% last month from a year before, according to an agricultural arm of the United Nations. The crisis in Ukraine has impacted supplies of grains from there and Russia, and caused energy and fertiliser prices to soar. Offering cheap instant noodles, sandwiches and "gimbap" (rice rolls) for under $5, convenience stores are gaining in popularity as salaried workers like Park seek ways to cut costs. An office worker eats his lunch at a convenience store in Seoul, South Korea, June 24, 2022. Photo: Reuters South … [Read more...] about S.Korean office workers hit convenience stores as ‘lunch-flation’ bites
Korean american gold medalist
7 killed as Hungarian boat carrying South Korean tourists capsizes on Danube
Hundreds of rescue workers try to help at the bank of Danube River at Budapest downtown. (GERGELY BESENYEI/AFP) The boat reportedly collided with another tourist vessel near the Hungarian parliament building, before turning over on the river, which has been flooding, with very strong currents, while a rainstorm enveloped Budapest. In Seoul, the foreign ministry said the South Koreans aboard the vessel when it sank were 30 tourists and three tour guides, in addition to the crew of two Hungarians. Seven of the South Koreans were rescued, seven died and 19 were missing, it added. "President Moon Jae-in issued an urgent order to work with the Hungarian government for rescue efforts," his spokeswoman, Ko Min-jung, told reporters. An emergency rescue team is among the 18 officials South Korea is sending to Budapest, the foreign ministry added, and it will provide counseling to victims' families. A Hungarian ambulance spokesman told state television that 14 people were pulled … [Read more...] about 7 killed as Hungarian boat carrying South Korean tourists capsizes on Danube
LIXIL announces continuing support for the Asia Pacific Property Awards
The Asia Pacific Property Awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement in the architecture, interior design, real estate and property development sectors in the region. LIXIL also reaffirmed its support for the IPA through the signing of a new three-year sponsorship. The Asia Pacific Property Awards are one of the biggest and most recognized awards in the industry with over 1,200 entries received from countries across the region. Sponsored by LIXIL Asia through its power brands GROHE and American Standard for the fourth year, the Asia Pacific Property Awards is the largest branch of the International Property Awards (IPA). The IPA winners are judged rigorously by over 100 of their peers and industry experts on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability. IPA winners are held up as industry role models for their commitment to excellence and hard work. The live IPA event was greeted with enthuasism from winners and participants … [Read more...] about LIXIL announces continuing support for the Asia Pacific Property Awards
Pham Van Mach to attend Asian bodybuilding competition next month
Pham Van Mach competing in the SEA Games 31 last month. He will take part in the Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship in mid-July in Maldives. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - SEA Games champion Pham Van Mach is targeting a gold medal in his return to the 54th Asian Bodybuilding and Physique Sports Championship next month in the Maldives. Mach is one of the best bodybuilder s in Vietnam, competing in the men's 55kg category and having won several national championships. The An Giang province-born athlete grabbed five world championship gold medals in 2001, 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2017. He also triumphed in the continental competition eight times, taking seven titles in a row from 2004 to 2012, and another in 2014. At last month's SEA Games 31, the 46-year-old athlete overcame all other rivals to secure his second Games gold. The title was a strong push for him to train hard in preparing for the Asian event on July 15-21. A total of 51 events will be … [Read more...] about Pham Van Mach to attend Asian bodybuilding competition next month
National Postage Stamp Exhibition 2020 concluded
The ceremony was jointly organized by the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Vietnam Philatelic Association, and the Vietnam Post. From 506 stamp frames gathered by collectors of all ages, the jury carefully analyzed and selected the best frames for the award. In detail, four gold prizes were given to collector Luu Van Luong from the Hanoi Stamp Association, collector Ngo Viet Vinh from the Ho Chi Minh City Stamp Association, collector Nguyen Hoai Thanh from the Can Tho provincial Stamp Association, and collector Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc from the Khanh Hoa provincial Stamp Association. In addition, the organizing panel presented gold plating, big silver, silver, bronze, B and C prizes to other high-quality works. The Vietstampex 2020 exhibition offered a chance for stamp collectors to display their works, share information on creating stamps, acquire more knowledge and experience for international stamp exhibitions in the future. Meanwhile, visitors had a better … [Read more...] about National Postage Stamp Exhibition 2020 concluded
New damselfly found in central Vietnam
A new species of damselfly, an insect closely related to the dragonfly, has been discovered by a researcher from Da Nang’s Duy Tan University studying biodiversity in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum. Damselflies and dragonflies are indicative of the water quality and general health of an ecosystem. They also help protect crops from pests. Dr. Phan Quoc Toan first wrote publically about the newly discovered species in an article published in the international journal of Zootaxa in early February, where he announced it would be named Coeliccia lecongcoi in honor of the scientific contributions made by Le Cong Co, the first president of Duy Tan University in the central city of Da Nang. Two damselflies of the Coeliccia lecongcoi are seen in tandem in this photo taken from Phan Quoc Toan’s paper published in Zootaxa in February 2019 . Phan Quoc Toan shows Coeliccia lecongcoi, the latest damselfly that he found in Vietnam and was featured in a … [Read more...] about New damselfly found in central Vietnam