vietnam
Chinese Valentine’s Day is rooted in legend and tradition, not just romance
BEIJING | Chinese Valentine’s Day is not all about flowers and chocolates. Beyond the romance embraced by some contemporary couples, Qixi is an ancient tradition rooted in legend, prayer and cultural activities that survive to this day. The festival is observed on the seventh day of the seventh month of the Chinese calendar, which fell […]
Small changes in Hanoi’s streets can mean big disruptions for those who depend on them
HANOI, Vietnam | The noise is everywhere in Hanoi. The crack of a hydraulic breaker, the groan of excavators, the crunch of brick and concrete being torn apart. As Vietnam pushes for double-digit economic growth, its capital is pursuing an ultramodern vision for the next 100 years. In the first half of 2026 alone, Hanoi […]
Days disrupted: Across the world, the Iran war is reshaping everyday life
HANOI, Vietnam | Across seven countries, seven people woke up to days that no longer looked the way they once did. The war in Iran began months ago and thousands of miles away. But its effects quickly ricocheted across the world — oil markets first, sending fuel prices higher. Then the shock moved outward — […]
A former prime minister who led Israel out of Lebanon fears mistakes are being repeated
JERUSALEM | It was just before sunrise when the last columns of Israeli tanks crossed from Lebanon back into Israel and then-Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who ordered the withdrawal, said the homecoming of Israeli troops sent “shivers down his spine.” That was May 24, 2000, the day Israel ended its 18-year occupation of southern Lebanon. […]