VIENTIANE Ichiro Suzuki Mariners Jersey , Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- An agreement on Lao national television channel upgrade project with Chinese sponsor has been signed in Lao capital Vientiane.


The agreement was signed by the Economic Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Laos Wang Qihui and Bounchao Pichit, head of Lao National Television on Friday.


The project includes upgrade of studio, editing system, transmission and conversion system, provision of high-definition broadcasting vehicles and portable transmission equipment, among others.


The project is expected to raise the production quality standard of Lao television programs and provide technical support for better exchange of radio, film and television between China and Laos.




ISTANBUL, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Turkey and Austria on Thursday pledged to rebuild ties despite disagreements on Turkey's accession process to the European Union.


"Today we have discussed what we can do to open a new page in relations," Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters at a joint press conference with his visiting Austrian counterpart Karin Kneissl in Istanbul.


The two countries' relations have been damaged as Austria took a continuous opposition towards Turkey's accession process to the EU.


"We cannot ask or force Austria to change their thoughts or position about Turkey's EU membership bid," Cavusoglu said, adding that both parties should focus on building a "positive agenda."


But the Turkish minister urged the EU to take decision, saying "we don't want that the EU keeps us waiting at the door anymore, we have been standing there for 60 years."


Turkey applies for associate membership of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1959. Turkey is a candidate country for EU membership following the Helsinki European Council of December 1999. Accession negotiations started in October 2005.


But Ankara's tie with the EU have strained in due course over issues including democracy and human rights, in particular over the crackdown that followed the 2016 coup attempt.


Kneissl said the two ministers discussed all the critical and troubled issues but mainly concerned with improving the atmosphere in the relationships.


She added that the talks exceeded her expectations even though the differences remain in several issues.


Ties between the two countries have also soured even further when Austrian authorities restricted Turkish politicians from campaigning in the country ahead of a referendum in Turkey in 2017. The Turkish community in Austria is composed of nearly 200,000 people of who half are Austrian citizens.



If you want to operate at Peak Performance then you need to give your body what it needs to function effectively - nutrition and exercise. The better you feel the more effective you'll be and the more you'll be able to do.

1. Eat more Fast Food. Bet you never thought you'd hear me say that! By fast food I mean food that your body is able to deal with fast. Not junk food that turns into slow food as soon as it gets into your digestive system. This means fresh fruit and veg juice and the only way to get this is from a juice bar or make your own at home. Check out Jason Vale to hear from the man himself on all that is wonderful and good about juices.

2. Look at what you eat. Eat fresh fruit and veg and avoid processed food. Do you ever read labels? What exactly are you putting into your body - do you really want all those chemicals? Notice that sugar creeps into most processed foods. What replaces the fat in 'low-fat' and sugar in 'sugar-free'. And don't get me on the subject of what really goes into producing the food that we eat - that's a whole other can of worms! Concentrated on creating the habit of healthy eating and avoid yo-yo dieting to control your weight.

3. Drink more water. We all know we should be drinking more but how often do you manage it? Even slight dehydration can affect your performance, energy levels and efficiency. Have a large glass of water first thing each morning and last thing at night then make sure you sip water throughout the day - have a bottle at your desk, in the car and especially if your exercising. If you're thirsty you're already dehydrated!

4. Don't forget to Breathe! Most of us only use the top part of our lungs when we breathe. To breathe correctly, breathe in to your stomach for a count of two, then into your upper chest for two to fully inflate your lungs. Reverse the process and breathe out for four counts. Try this for a few minutes at a time throughout the day and revive your body. Use it as a warm-up when exercising - matching your breathing with your stride - it's a great fat-burner.

5. Stop the Bloat. Do you suffer from bloating after you eat? Keep a food diary of everything you eat and note how you feel throughout the day. Try going dairy and wheat free for a couple of weeks and see if it makes a difference. Apparently the vast majority of us don't even have the enzyme to digest cow's milk after the age of three! No wonder it doesn't agree with us!

6. Get enough sleep. Your body needs time to recover each day - if you're not getting the sleep you need, you're likely to reach for that cup of coffee every morning to keep you going. Set a regular time to go to bed and get up each day and stick to it. Our bodies like routine.

7. Exercise regularly. Have you noticed how when you feel tired and low on energy - actually getting out for some exercise can make you feel better. Find something you enjoy - it doesn't have to be going to a gym and pounding away on a treadmill, learnparticipate in a team sport, go out for a walk, swim find ways to build exercise into your daily routine. 30 minutes 3-5 times a week is all it takes.