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Economic Times
01-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Trump advises the Macrons on face-shoving incident, says they need to ensure the door remains closed
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How did Donald Trump and Elon Musk react to the video? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads What exactly happened on the plane steps? What was the Macrons' response to the backlash? Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads How did Mr. Macron's team respond to the video? FAQs A surprising moment between Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron made headlines this week when the French First Lady playfully shoved her husband's face on the plane steps. As the video went viral, Donald Trump responded with unsolicited marriage advice during a press the Macrons dismissed it as harmless fun after a long flight, the video sparked global speculation and humorous response to a question about his advice to his French counterpart, President Trump suggested that any physical squabble be kept out of the public eye, as per a report by The a joint press conference with Elon Musk, President Trump joked, "Make sure the door remains closed," to reporters in the Oval president continued by dismissing rumors that the couple's marriage was having Trump asserted that the couple is fine despite those rumors. He claimed that he knew them very well, but he quite didn't understand what that was about. 'They're two really nice people." They're also alright,' he stated, as per the report by The tech billionaire Elon Musk subsequently made a joke about how the French president's wife did not give him the black eye he had on during the press explained that his five-year-old son, X, gave him the bruise after he allegedly invited him to punch him in the face. "I wasn't anywhere near France," he the plane's door opened, Mr. Macron was seen standing by himself in footage captured by the Hanoi-based Associated Press news agency. Suddenly, his wife's arms, which were off-camera, appeared through the doorway on the left before she used both hands to push him in the quickly regaining his composure, Mr. Macron turned to wave through the open door, having looked surprised moments led to some very serious PR problems and wild speculation has ensued in the aftermath of the incident. Footage of the incident and pictures of Mr. Macron looking enraged quickly went viral. Emmanuel Macron accused "crackpot" conspiracy theorists of trying to amplify rumors about his marital status."My wife and I were squabbling, or rather we were joking, and I was taken by surprise," Mr. Macron said in response to the shoving incident. This situation has now escalated into a global Mr. Macron and his wife arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday, they made light of the shoving incident in an attempt to allay president appeared at the top of the stairs, giggling, after giving the cameras a playful wave. After exchanging arms, the pair walked down the stairs together to meet claiming that the video was artificial intelligence (AI), the Elysée Palace later acknowledged that the images were real and that they were actually a sign of "closeness" and horseplay following a 16-hour president and his spouse were having a good laugh as they unwound one final time before the trip began. "It was a moment of intimacy," an Elysée assistant Trump joked that the Macrons should "keep the door closed" to avoid such incidents being witnessed in both Macrons stated that it was playful and not serious just a moment of fun after a lengthy flight.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This Airline Was Named the No. 1 Low-cost Carrier in the World
Airline Ratings released its rankings for the World's Best Airlines of 2025. It named Hanoi-based airline Vietjet the No. 1 low-cost airline in the world. VietJet has domestic flights between Vietnam and routes within Asia, too. Vacationing is expensive. According to data from Pacaso, the average cost of just travel (domestic round-trip flight, airport parking, and rideshare) for a week-long vacation in 2024 for two people was $1,040, up 3 percent year-over-year. No matter how you slice it, going on an adventure will cost you some cash. However, there are ways to save like considering a budget airline. We know that "budget airline" usually conjures up nightmares of having to pay all sorts of extra fees for little to no service, but there not all carriers are equal. In February, Airline Ratings released its rankings for the World's Best Airlines of 2025. The team selected their airline "based on a set of stringent criteria." To be considered for the list, an airline must offer a "comprehensive full-service experience, including meals, snacks, and beverages regardless of flight duration." Its economy seat pitch must also be at least 31 inches, and its business class must have lie-flat beds. Finally, the airline must have a seven-star safety rating and offer a consistent range of in-flight product. Though not mandatory, the list also took into consideration amenities like WiFi and in-seat power. However, specifically for its low-cost airline list, the team considered airlines that "offer a combination of affordable on-board services, such as meals, drinks, and snacks," while other services like Wi-Fi must be available to purchase. The list also noted that the highest-ranked low-cost carriers "offer exceptionally low base fares and maintain an excellent route network" and must also meet that seven-star rating. So, after doing all that labor, it named Vietjet, a Vietnamese airline based in Hanoi, as the top low-cost airline in the world. "VietJet has mastered the art of delivering exceptional value to passengers, combining competitive fares with a reliable and innovative service model," Sharon Petersen, CEO of Airline Ratings, shared. "Their ability to make air travel accessible to millions without compromising on safety or efficiency sets them apart. In addition to this, our onboard reviews have noticed time and time again the dedication of their crew to help all passengers, and that is something we highly regard." The airline operates domestic flights within Vietnam but also flies between Thailand, India, China, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Australia, and Dubai. However, it's not the only low-cost carrier getting a shoutout. The list also noted Cebu Pacific, an airline out of the Philippines, was its runner-up. See what other airlines made the larger list at Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Voice of America
22-02-2025
- Business
- Voice of America
Vietnam's railway drive raises risk of mismanagement, debt traps, analysts say
Analysts are pointing to management and funding issues for Vietnam's planned north-south, high-speed rail initiative and express concerns over potential 'debt traps' and growing Chinese influence as Beijing funds a railway connecting the two countries. The comments come as Vietnam is expanding its infrastructure by building railways using Chinese and Vietnamese funding, projects that could help the country's outlook in the long term. As part of the effort, Vietnam's National Assembly on Feb. 19 gave near-unanimous approval to legislation allowing the country to use Chinese loans for a new $8.3 billion rail link from the port city of Haiphong to China. Nguyen Hong Minh, then the transport minister, announced Vietnam's plans to use the Chinese loans for the 391-kilometer passenger and freight line from Lao Cai on the Chinese border and passing through Hanoi. "Vietnam's current railway system is outdated, and the country needs a new system to support its economic development," Minh, now the construction minister, said, adding that construction is expected to begin this year and be completed by 2030. The National Assembly vote followed its November approval of construction of a high-speed railway connecting Hanoi to the country's southern economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City. That project is Vietnam's most ambitious infrastructure initiative to date and is projected to cost Vietnam $67 billion. Authorities said construction should begin in 2027 and be completed by 2035. Ha Hoang Hop, chair of the Hanoi-based Think Tank Viet Know, told VOA on Feb. 17 that while both projects could modernize the country's transport network and improve its economy, 'public sentiment is cautious.' 'There have been several publicly funded railway and infrastructure projects in Vietnam that have led to public frustration due to delays, cost overruns and poor-quality outcomes,' Hop said. 'Public skepticism is also fueled by fears of debt traps associated with Chinese loans,' he said. Hop cited fear the construction of the high-speed rail project could be dogged by the country's 'historical issues with project management and corruption.' 'There is indeed concern that the north-south, high-speed rail could face similar challenges given the scale and complexity of the project,' Hop said. Mismanagement and corruption Albert Tan, associate professor at the Asian Institute of Management in Manila, told VOA on Feb. 18 that while Vietnam's railway modernization will improve the country's supply chain efficiency, the major problem is corruption. 'The corruption level in Vietnam is so high that when you have that amount of money that the Chinese are pumping in, I'm sure there will always be leakages,' he said. Tan said railway funds ending up in 'someone's pocket' have caused delays and cost overruns for Vietnam's two city Metro lines. In 2021, the Chinese-funded Cat Linh-Ha Dong Metro line began running in Hanoi, five years behind its originally planned opening. The first line of the Ho Chi Minh City Metro, primarily funded by Japan, opened in December 2024, six years behind schedule. Costs ballooned for both Metro lines while under construction and delayed payments to contractors slowed the process. 'Somehow the money doesn't go back to the contractor. Money goes somewhere to other stakeholders,' Tan said. For the north-south, high-speed rail, Hop said the country is planning to rely on domestic funding with capital likely to come in the form of 'government bonds, public investment and possibly some low-interest loans.' 'A $67 billion project will still be a significant challenge requiring careful financial management,' Hop said. Chinese influence Hanoi's decision to pursue domestic funding for its high-speed rail shows the country's drive to 'maintain strategic autonomy,' Hop said. As it looks to Chinese loans for another rail project, though, 'there remains a significant portion of the populace wary of increasing economic dependency on China,' he added. Tran Anh Quan, a Vietnamese social activist currently living in exile, told VOA on Feb. 18 he fears the Chinese-funded railway will leave Hanoi indebted to Beijing and could be a weak point if conflict were to break out between the countries. 'This is definitely a debt trap,' he said. 'Expanding the railway to China would be very dangerous if China attacked Vietnam.' Tan also shared concerns over the "one-way" flow of money. He said the Chinese loans are likely to be paid to Chinese firms that will 'retain control over construction and maintenance, with little technology transfer to local engineers.' Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, told VOA that Chinese influence in the region is already 'massive.' He said Chinese funding for the Vietnamese railway is in line with Beijing's goal to expand its influence in Southeast Asia. The railway 'fits right into China's efforts to link the Mekong region, and to connect them to China,' he wrote in an email. Kurlantzick said that in Vietnam's delicate balancing act between Washington and Beijing, China is taking the upper hand as he sees U.S. influence waning with the withdrawal of funding to Vietnam through USAID and weakening public diplomacy more broadly. 'China is by far the dominant economic power in Southeast Asia already, increasingly the dominant security power, and now, with the U.S. giving up its soft power in the region, China will increasingly bolster its soft power in the region, too, making it even more dominant,' Kurlantzick said. Minh Son To, a research assistant focused on Vietnamese and Chinese politics at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University, told VOA February 20 Hanoi has looked to Laos with concern after a China-funded high-speed rail threw the country into an 'existential debt crisis.' Still, he said many are eager to see Vietnam develop. 'Any 'China' label is bound to evoke some concern, though I wouldn't overstate that,' he told VOA. 'Vietnamese know that they need development and infrastructure, regardless of where it comes from.'
