Day: June 2, 2023

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PH flag hoisted at Cambodia ASEAN Para Games

The Philippine flag was formally raised alongside the 10 colors from other participating countries during the 12th ASEAN Para Games team welcome ceremony at the Morodok Techo National Stadium here on Friday. Philippine Paralympic Committee (PPC) President Michael Barredo and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Commissioner and Chef-de-mission Walter Torres joined the 30 athletes and coaches in singing the national anthem in the event attended by delegates from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Timor Leste, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and host Cambodia. Torres also presented a Philippine handicraft to the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia and the National Paralympic Committee of Cambodia (NPCC) Board of Directors Vice President Hun Many and NPCC Secretary General Yi Veasna during the exchange of souvenirs. More than 2,600 athletes, coaches and officials are taking part in the Games which will officially open on June 4. Swimmer Ariel Joseph Alegrabres, a triple-gold winner in 2022, will serve as flag-bearer, leading a select group of 50 athletes and officials, during the opening ceremony. A total of 24 gold medals are at stake in the first day of the athletics competition. ‘We are ready,” said track and field coach Joel Deriada, who is aiming to improve their medal haul of six golds, four silvers and 14 bronzes last year in Surakarta, Indonesia. Also scheduled to see action on June 4 are swimmers Gary Bejino (S6) and Ernie Gawilan (S7) in the 400m freestyle event. Both competed at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. ‘Our goal is to make the country proud,’ said Tony Ong, head of the national swimming team coaching staff composed of Olympian and Asian Games gold medalist Ral Rosario, Brian Ong (Strength and Conditioning/coach) and Leonardo Ramos. The Philippines ranked fifth overall in the last Para Games with 104 medals — 28 golds, 30 silvers and 46 bronzes.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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French box office film Asterix and Obelix to be screened in Vientiane

Moviegoers will be able to discover the new adventures of the two heroes Gallic at the Major Cineplex in Vientiane Center, Vientiane.

The film will be screened in Thai or French, with Lao subtitles.

A preview of the film was organized on May 31 at the initiative of the French Embassy and the French Institute, one of whose main missions is to promote French culture in Laos.

Released in France in February 2023, Asterix and Obelix – The Middle Empire quickly took the lead in the French box office.

Aimed at young and old alike, the film is inspired by famous comic book adventures of Asterix and Obelix, funny and endearing Gallic diehards, created in 1959 by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo and whose 40th album will be released at the end of the year.

The comics sector in France (manga, comics, youth comics and genre comics) represents more 84 million albums sold in 2022 and 921 million euros in turnover. It is also more than 1500 French authors who have chosen the 9th art to express their creativity.

On the strength of their success, the Asterix albums have often been adapted for the screen. The Middle Kingdom is the 5th film adaptation of his adventures. The famous director Guillaume Canet has surrounded himself with great names of cinema, music and also sport! Zlatan Ibrahimovic, former PSG striker, is keen on it for example the role of Antivirus, a gigantic Roman soldier whom no one can resist.

Asterix and Obelix – The Middle Kingdom has already been released in around thirty countries and made more than 4.5 million entries into the world. The action takes place in 50 BC. The Empress of China is imprisoned following a coup fomented by Deng Tsin Quin, a traitorous prince. Helped by Graindemaïs, the merchant Phoenician, and by his faithful warrior Tat Han, Princess Fu-Yi, only daughter of the Empress, fled to Gaul to ask for help from the two brave warriors Asterix and Obelix, endowed with a strength superhuman thanks to their magic potion. Here are our Gauls on their way to China, without suspecting that Caesar and his mighty army have also taken over the Middle Empire.

The adventures of Asterix and Obelix, their benevolent humour, their commitment to making us discover other cultures, their anachronistic roots in contemporary society make them accessible heroes to the whole family. Their albums are available at the Institut français media library, a place open to everyone, from 3 to 99 years old.

In 2022, French films attracted 27 M viewers and generated 167.4M euros in revenue at the international. French cinema is also very present in festivals and on platforms SVOD and is distinguished by the great diversity of films it offers, from comedies to adventure films, through fantastic or historical films. The 7th art, symbol of creativity, is also strongly supported by the French government.

Source: Lao News Agency

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DPM Saleumxay receives US-ASEAN Business Council Senior Vice President

Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith received in Vientiane on Jun 1 a courtesy visit from Senior Vice President and Regional Managing Director for the US-ASEAN Business Council Michael W. Michalak, whose office is based in Singapore.

Michael W. Michalak and executives from RMA, Coca-Cola, Visa, and law, pharmaceutical, IT, and financial firms from the U.S. are visiting the Lao PDR to meet with Lao counterparts on capacity building on digital economy, infrastructure development, health, environment and sustainable development.

Expressing warm welcome to the guest, Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay praised the US-ASEAN Business Council for promoting its cooperation on trade, investment and environment with the Lao PDR.

He called on the US-ASEAN Business Council to further enhance cooperation with ASEAN as well as the Lao PDR, the chair of ASEAN Summit 2024, especially on capacity building of relevant sectors in the country.

In reply, Mr Michael W. Michalak affirmed the willingness of the US-ASEAN Business Council to assist Laos in preparing for its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024, and called on the Lao government to support the activities of the council through making use of ASEAN Economic Community mechanisms.

Mr Michael affirmed that he would further strengthen the cooperation between ASEAN Business Council and U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, thus contributing to building ASEAN Community, and Laos’ preparation for ASEAN chairmanship in 2024.

ASEAN Economic Ministers are expected to visit the U.S. next year to meet with officials of the US-ASEAN Business Council to promote ASEAN-US cooperation on trade and investment.

Source: Lao News Agency