The People’s Committee of central Quang Binh province held a ceremony in Ba Doc Martyrs’ Cemetery on May 9 for the reburial of 18 sets of remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts, which were found and repatriated from Laos. Local staff and army personnel carry the coffin containing a set of remain. Army personnel salute to pay their last respect to the Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who died on duty in Laos. The coffins are draped with the national flag to honour the martyrs. The coffins are draped with the national flag to honour the martyrs.

Salary reform heats up Party Central Committee’s 7th plenary meetingThe 12th-tenure of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) discussed salary reform for officials, public servants, the armed forces and workers in the afternoon of May 9, the third day of its seventh plenary meeting. Minister of Home Affairs Le Vinh Tan delivered a report clarifying objectives, tasks and breakthrough solutions to implement the salary policy reform project. Tan also stressed information work to raise public awareness of salary reform, as well as the role of people, fatherland front and socio- political organisations in implementing the reform. Members of the Party Central Committee (PCC) reached high consensus on the issuance of a resolution on salary reform. Finance Minister DinhTien Dung lauded breakthrough measures in the salary reform policy scheme, ensuring transparency, fairness and empowerment for units and localities in terms of salary payment based on labour results.

Flamboyant flower festival to dazzle Hai PhongThe northern port city of Hai Phong will become vibrant again during the Hoa Phuong Do (Red Flamboyant Flower) Festival to be held from May 12 to 14. A performance featuring the city’s development at a gala night called Hai Phong Vuon Ra Bien Lon, or Hai Phong reaching out to the sea, held last year. The annual cultural and tourism event was initiated in 2011, through the idea of showcasing the city’s abundant and beautiful flower blossoms, and to promote and boost tourism and enhance the image of Hai Phong. Over the last seasons, the Flamboyant Flower Festival has become a recognised festival of the port city, symbolising and praising its people and land. Renowned as the city of flamboyant flower, Hai Phong is a peaceful city of wide boulevards dovetailed with organised tree rows.

“I am excited to lead and accelerate Masan Nutri-Science’s vision of being the leading provider of safe and affordable meat products. Based on my experience, I strongly believe the Vietnamese meat market will evolve from predominantly warm fresh meat to chilled meat. With Masan’s 3F meat platform, I am confident we will deliver Vietnamese consumers the best chilled meat products at affordable price points. “A developed and integrated Vietnamese market is an opportunity and motivation for South Korean businesses to evolve co-operation and investment activities. The list was based on the contributions of many golf experts from around the world and included four Vietnamese golf courses.

London ranked top city for studentsLondon has been ranked as the best city in the world for university students.The top 30 rankings for student cities, produced by the QS higher education data analysts, has previously put Montreal and Paris in first place. But London ranked poorly on one of the measures - affordability. Culture capitalFor students in London there is a higher concentration of world-class institutions than in any other city, including Imperial College, University College London, the London School of Economics and King's College. London achieved a high rating for being a very international city, with high levels of tolerance and diversity, so that overseas students would not feel isolated or excluded. Australia has been pushing for a growing slice of the international market in overseas students and Melbourne is ranked as the third best city for students and Sydney is ninth.

Potential new cure found for baldnessA potential new cure for baldness has been discovered using a drug originally intended to treat osteoporosis. It contains a compound which targets a protein that acts as a brake on hair growth and plays a role in baldness. "As the researchers say, hair loss is a common disorder and it can cause considerable damage to emotional health, including loss of self-esteem and confidence. "That said, more research will need to be done before it can be used by people with hair loss. "For individuals with hair loss, treatments can be very hit and miss.

Vietnam to actively contribute to 2018 Shangri-La DialogueTim Huxley, Executive Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)–Asia in Singapore, has urged Vietnam to send a high-ranking military delegation to the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue and deliver a speech at the event slated for June in Singapore. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh (Right) and Tim Huxley, Executive Director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS)–Asia. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh in Hanoi on May 9, Tim Huxley informed his host about major programmes and topics of the 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue. For his part, Vinh affirmed that Vietnam always supports and will constructively contribute to the upcoming 2018 Shangri-La Dialogue. Vietnam highly values the role played by the Shangri-La Dialogue as well as topics to be discussed at the 2018 event, he said.-VNA

Thu Thiem New Urban Area project to be scrutinizedThe HCMC delegation of National Assembly deputies plans to inspect the Thu Thiem New Urban Area project whose original 1/5000 zoning map the city government recently said is missing. Planning for the new urban area began in 1996, as the then Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet issued a decision approving its development. A design for Thu Thiem, together with the original zoning map, is believed to be attached to this decision and signed by the then Government leader. During the inspection period, relevant departments and agencies will have to prove their points on the basis of legal documents such as notices on conclusions of the city government, and policies on the area and status of Thu Thiem area. The maps, together with a statement asking for approval for the 1/5000 planning of Thu Thiem New Urban Area, were submitted to the central Government at that time, he said.

Platinum Victory to raise Vinamilk’s ownership to 11 percentPlatinum Victory Pte. Platinum Victory is currently the third-largest shareholder of Vinamilk. If the transaction is successful, Platinum Victory will hold 160.1 million shares of Vinamilk, equivalent to 11.03 percent ownership of the company. At the end of the trading session on May 8, the market price of Vinamilk’s shares was 185,100 VND (8.13 USD) per share. At this price, Platinum Victory will have to spend some 2.549 trillion VND to increase its ownership in Vinamilk.

Development plan for Langbiang Biosphere Reserve approvedThe Central Highlands province of Lam Dong has recently approved the development and management plan of the Langbiang Biosphere Reserve in five years from 2018. Langbiang Biosphere was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme in June, 2015. (Photo: ig-vast.ac.vn)Under the plan, the management board of the reserve will carry out various programmes to protect natural resources and cultural values as well as support economic and tourism development. The Langbiang Biosphere was added to the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of the International Co-ordinating Council of UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme (MAB) in June, 2015. The reserve is located in the famed Da Lat city at the highest altitude, compared to the country's other biosphere reserves, with Bidoup peak measuring 2,287m high in Da Nhim village.

to upgrade Saigon-Nha Trang railway routeThe Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) has proposed the Ministry of Transport to work out a project to improve the operation of the train on the Saigon-Nha Trang route with the aim of increasing capacity, minimizing the risk caused by human errors. The Saigon - Nha Trang railway route is 411.2km long with 36 train stations. As per proposal, this project will help improve railway infrastructure by applying a unified regulatory center and active safety systems, reducing the number of concurrent parking stops, thus increasing the railway throughput by 35-40 percent. In case it is approved, VNR leaders say, the project is expected to be implemented within 18 months. According to VNR, if the study and implementation of the project on the Nha Trang – Saigon route prove safe and effective, this will lay the basis for consideration and implementation of other similar projects.

AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 named Vietnam’s top goalThe leaders of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the National Coaching Council (NCC), and head coach Park Hang-seo sat down for a meeting on May 7 to finalise their plans and preparations for the 2018 Asian Games (Asiad), the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup, and the 2019 Asian Cup, with the AFF Cup having been confirmed as Vietnam’s top priority. The Vietnamese team (in red) will be given the most favourable conditions to prepare for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. In preparation for their gold medal hunt in the AFF Cup 2018, the national team will reconvene on October 11, calling up around 28 players. In the event of progression to the final of the AFF Suzuki Cup, the Vietnamese squad will have 23 days left to prepare for their 2019 Asian Cup mission. The draw results for the 2018 AFF Suzuki Cup.

Vietnam, Israel intensify defence collaborationDeputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 8 for the Director of Israel’s Defence Export and Cooperation Agency (SIBAT) Mishel Ben Baruch, who is on a working visit to Vietnam to seek ways to strengthen bilateral defence ties. He affirmed that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s leaders will create all the favourable conditions for the delegation to meet and seek cooperation opportunities with Vietnamese partners in line with Vietnam’s laws. He suggested that both sides speed up collaboration in education, training, search and rescue missions, and the defence industry. For his part, Baruch informed the host of the outcomes of his working session with representatives of the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Department of Foreign Relations. The Israeli side is willing to boost defence cooperation with Vietnam, especially in education-training, search and rescue missions, and the defence industry, he affirmed.

Vietnam, Australia hold second policy dialogue on agricultureVietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Australia’s Department of Agriculture and Water Resources signed off on two agreements at the second high-level agricultural policy dialogue in Canberra on May 8. They mentioned cooperation in fisheries and forestry in the coming time and shared policy priorities and challenges in agricultural research and development, water resources management, and organic food. Thompson added that Australia will closely work with Vietnam in multilateral organisations of which they are members. Deputy Minister Doanh asked Australia to re-open its market for Vietnamese fresh shrimp and reiterated the commitment of Vietnam’s competent agencies to working with Australia to address this issue, he said. The second high-level policy dialogue on agriculture between Vietnam and Australia took place as part of the working visit to Australia from May 7-11 by a delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development which was led by Deputy Minister Le Quoc Doanh.

Israel, Cyprus and Finland - featuring former X Factor semi-finalist Saara Aalto - were among the other nine countries who progressed. Finland's Saara Aalto appeared on the UK's X Factor in 2016 -- Photo: EPAThe UK, represented by SuRie, is automatically in Saturday's final as one of the "Big Five" countries. The other four are Germany, Italy, Spain and France, while hosts Portugal also automatically qualified for the final. Ryan O'Shaughnessy represented Ireland, which has more Eurovision wins - seven - than any other country, but has not won the competition since 1996. The nine unsuccessful countries included Azerbaijan, which had previously never failed to qualify from a Eurovision Song Contest semi-final since first entering a decade ago.