Holidays 2020

AppleInsider breaks down every record Apple smashed in its gargantuan fiscal quarter ending in December 2020. Apple's first fiscal quarter was one to remember, breaking records left and right on its way to a staggering $111.4 billion in total revenue. While that number was the biggest takeaway, it was far from the only record the company shattered. Total revenue Apple brought in a staggering $111.4B in Q1 2021 During the 1Q 2021 financial quarter, Apple raked in $111.4 billion in total revenue. This is the first time the company has passed $100 billion for a quarter, breaking its previous record of $91.8 billion in the prior year's December-ending quarter. It's all the more surprising that Apple did this during a global pandemic, as many working families cut down on luxury purchases. Impressive iPad and Mac sales boosts may have partially reflected the greater need for work-from-home and Zoom-friendly computing devices. However, the iPhone continued … [Read more...] about Ten records Apple broke in its historic holiday 2020 quarter

Metro Line No.1 to be complete by 2020 The Saigon Times Daily An elevated section of HCMC’s Ben Thanh–Suoi Tien metro line runs along Hanoi Highway - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – HCMC is striving to speed up work on the Metro Line No. 1 project so that it can be put into operation by 2020 as planned, Sai Gon Giai Phong news site reported, citing city vice chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen. Capital disbursement delays have stoked concerns that the urban railway could fall behind schedule. As the project faces complicated legal procedures concerning the upward adjustment of investment, the Ministry of Planning and Investment has refused to allocate capital for the project, which has in turn prevented Japan from further disbursing its loan for the project. As such, the city has made an advance payment of VND3.2 trillion for the Metro Line No. 1 project. To ensure payments for contractors and to smooth construction work, the HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) proposed … [Read more...] about Metro Line No.1 to be complete by 2020

Labor may get extra time off for New Year’s Day 2020 The Saigon Times Daily Vice President of the Vietnam General Federation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu speaks at a conference in Hanoi on September 9 – PHOTO: NLDO HCMC – Employees in Vietnam officially only have one day off during the New Year Holiday, but they may get an extra day off following a proposal from the Vietnam General Federation of Labor. The federation held a conference in Hanoi today, September 9, to discuss four types of labor issues, including the New Year's Day, reported Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper. “The issues being discussed at this conference are important, affecting the execution of our guiding principles and resolutions in taking care of union members and employees,” stated the federation’s president, Nguyen Dinh Khang. On behalf of the federation, its vice president, Ngo Duy Hieu, proposed adding one or more days off for employees across the country during the New Year holiday. Hieu explained … [Read more...] about Labor may get extra time off for New Year’s Day 2020

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh meets with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Raymond Peters within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea.— Photo baoquocte.vn PORT MORESBY — Việt Nam and New Zealand yesterday agreed to coordinate in the Action Programme between the two countries. They reached the agreement during a meeting between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and his New Zealand counterpart Winston Raymond Peters within the framework of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Port Moresby, capital of Papua New Guinea. Minh suggested New Zealand increase the number of Vietnamese citizens taking part in the annual working holiday programme and thanked the country’s Parliament for approving the non-refundable official development assistance (ODA) provision for Việt Nam in the 2018-2021 period. Winston Raymond Peters spoke highly of Việt Nam’s … [Read more...] about Việt Nam, NZ agree to realise Action Programme for 2017-2020

A collision between an emergency medical service vehicle and a car on National Road No.1 passing through the southern province of Tiền Giang on February 13. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — A total of 109 people were killed and 123 injured in traffic accidents across the country during seven days (February 10-16) of the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday, the Ministry of Public Security’s Traffic Police Department has announced. This is a reduction of 8 per cent in fatalities, 18 per cent in injuries and 29.3 per cent in accidents compared to the previous year, respectively, it said. There were two serious traffic accidents in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai and central Bình Định Province, killing seven people and leaving three others seriously injured. According to the department, most of the accidents occurred between 12am and 4pm and from 6pm to 10pm when people travel for the gatherings during the holiday. The department also said that the national traffic police force … [Read more...] about 109 killed on roads in seven days of Tết holiday

Apple CEO Tim Cook on an earnings call Wednesday said that the company set a new record for the most FaceTime call volume during the holiday season. Apple broke a lot of records in the holiday quarter of 2020, from revenues to sales of different products to income from Services. It turns out the company broke another record over Christmas as it recorded the highest-ever volume of FaceTime calls. Cook, during Apple's quarterly earnings call, stated that "as COVID-19 kept us apart, we saw the highest volume of FaceTime calls ever this Christmas." It is unclear if "this Christmas" refers to Dec. 25, the surrounding weeks, or the entire holiday quarter. Cook did not specify an exact amount of FaceTime call volume. The record, though, is not surprising, especially with friends and family physically apart for the holidays last year due to coronavirus restrictions. In addition, as stated on the call, the install base for iPhone is the largest it has ever been, and Cook … [Read more...] about Apple broke record for FaceTime call volume over holidays

Over VND2.2 trillion needed to pay metro contractors before Tet The Saigon Times Daily An elevated section of the city’s first metro line – Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien – PHOTO: THANH HOA HCMC – The HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) has proposed the HCMC People’s Committee and the HCMC Finance Department advance VND2.245 trillion (US$97 million) from the city’s budget to make overdue payments to the contractors of the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line. MAUR stated in its proposal that the local government had allocated VND1 trillion from its own budget to make payments for the city’s first metro line last year. Meanwhile, the contractors demanded a total of VND2.481 trillion in overdue payments, which should be sourced from official development assistance (ODA) funds. As of late this month, only an estimated VND236 billion was scheduled to be paid to them. MAUR urged the municipal government to approve the proposal urgently, prior to the Lunar New Year … [Read more...] about Over VND2.2 trillion needed to pay metro contractors before Tet

Tien Pagoda Festival going on in Hoa Binh Province The Saigon Times Daily Tien Pagoda in Hoa Binh Province - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - Tien Pagoda Festival has been taking place in Lac Thuy District in the northern province of Hoa Binh, attracting thousands of visitors, especially Buddhists coming to pray for peace, health and happiness. Recognized as a national tourism site in 2011, Tien Pagoda is a venue for eco-tourism as well as spiritual and cultural events. Tien Pagoda Festival is an annual event held in Hoa Binh Province on the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday (Tet). Located about 80 kilometers from Hanoi and 9 kilometers from Lac Thuy District’s center, Tien Pagoda is surrounded by marvelous mountains and caves. It is part of a complex called Dam Da, which also comprises Trinh Temple (also known as Quan Trinh) and Mau Temple, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Luu Huy Linh, vice head of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said Tien … [Read more...] about Tien Pagoda Festival going on in Hoa Binh Province

Metro Line No. 1 to be 80% completed this year By Le Anh A section of the Metro Line No. 1 project in Binh Thanh District is under construction - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC - HCMC will strive to accelerate work on the Metro Line No. 1 project so as to complete 80% of the project this year and to put the line into operation by 2020 as planned, said Bui Xuan Cuong, head of the Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR) of HCMC. To ensure the progress of the project, MAUR had proposed the HCMC government advance VND2.248 trillion (US$96.7 million) from the city’s budget to make overdue payments to the contractors, who resumed work on February 11, after the Tet holiday. The city has so far advanced VND3.273 trillion for the project. Cuong remarked that only 62% of the first metro line in the city, connecting Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and Suoi Tien Park in District 9, had been completed at the end of last year, lower than the target of 65%. Metro Line No. 1, when … [Read more...] about Metro Line No. 1 to be 80% completed this year

Attractive offers at Saigon Phuquoc Resort & Spa By Thuy Anh Aerial view of the Saigon Phuquoc Resort & Spa - PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAIGONTOURIST HCMC - Covering four hectares on the west coast of Phu Quoc Island, the Saigon Phuquoc Resort & Spa, a unit of Saigontourist Holding Company, is offering a host of appealing promotions for guests. Special promotion With 100 spacious bungalows and villas, the resort is offering discounts of 16% to 37% on room rates for Panorama room, Star Cruise bungalow, VIP bungalow, President suite, Star Cruise with two bedrooms and President with two bedrooms, with a stay period from March 1 to April 29, 2019. New Year offer Guests staying from now until February 28, 2019 in Panorama room, Star Cruise bungalow, VIP bungalow, President suite, Star Cruise with two bedrooms, and President with two bedrooms will be entitled to a 35% discount on room rates. Half board package The package includes accommodation and set menu … [Read more...] about Attractive offers at Saigon Phuquoc Resort & Spa