The Hanoitimes - He participated in four wars against foreign invaders and was a key figure in the normalization of the Vietnam-US relations. US Ambassador lauds late President Le Duc Anh for normalization of US-Vietnam ties Former President Le Duc Anh passes away Vietnam’s highest decision-making bodies have decided to hold the funeral of former President Le Duc Anh with the national mourning etiquette next week, and the Communist Party of Vietnam’s General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong will take charge of it. Former president Le Duc Anh. Photo: local media A board of 39 senior officials led by Nguyen Phu Trong will take charge of the funeral, which will take place in Hanoi on May 3-4. A foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday that Mr. Trong fell sick due to a heavy workload and changing weather, and will be "back to office soon." Trong visited the southern province of Kien Giang on his 75th birthday in mid-April and … [Read more...] about Vietnam party chief in charge of former President Le Duc Anh’s funeral
New york next week weather
World News in Brief: January 12
* As the clock struck midnight, the partial government shutdown over disputed congressional funds for President Donald Trump's border wall entered the 22nd day on Saturday, making it the longest government closure in the US history. * The Syrian air defenses intercepted most of the missiles launched by Israeli warplanes on areas near the capital Damascus on January 11 night, the Syrian army said. The Israeli warplanes flew from the Galilee Panhandle and fired several missiles on the vicinity of the capital Damascus, said an army statement. * The United Nations on January 11 stepped up its battle against starvation in Yemen with a 32-million-US dollar transfer of funds from its Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to the humanitarian relief effort in the war-scarred country. * US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on January 11 discussions between the militaries of the United States and Turkey on Syria would continue next week, expecting the result of discussions would be … [Read more...] about World News in Brief: January 12
Digging deep: Singapore plans an underground future
But that may soon change, as the city-state prepares to unveil an Underground Master Plan in 2019. With some 5.6 million people in an area three-fifths the size of New York City - and with the population estimated to grow to 6.9 million by 2030 - the island nation is fast running out of space. Singapore has been reclaiming land for decades, but that is increasingly unsustainable due to rising sea levels and other impacts of climate change. So the city is going underground. Singapore has already moved some infrastructure and utilities below ground, including train lines, retail, pedestrian walkways, a five-lane highway and air-conditioning cooling pipes. It also stores fuel and ammunition underground. Now, the city wants to go further. "Given Singapore's limited land, we need to make better use of our surface land and systematically consider how to tap our underground space for future needs," said Ler Seng Ann, a group director at the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). "Currently, our … [Read more...] about Digging deep: Singapore plans an underground future
BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 18/11
Edelweiss launches Zurich-HCMC air service Vinalines to auction shares of its subsidiary Viet Nam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines) will auction over 13.44 million shares of its holding in Viet Nam Transport and Chartering Joint Stock Company (Vitranschart) on December 5, the Ha Noi Stock Exchange has announced. The shares, accounting for a 22.03 per cent stake of Vitranschart, will be auctioned at the Ha Noi bourse at the starting price of VND1,200 (5 US cents) a share. Vinalines is currently Vitranschart’s parent shareholder with a total of 35.4 million shares, equivalent to 58 per cent of the firm’s voting shares in circulation. Currently, Vitranschart is trading at VND700 per share, and there is almost no matched stock in recent sessions. Vitranschart reported a loss of more than VND182 billion in the first nine months of 2018. Although this figure was VND40 billion lower than in the same period last year, the loss contributed to raising the accumulated … [Read more...] about BUSINESS NEWS IN BRIEF 18/11
Strike a pose: International Yoga Day stretches around world
Downward-facing dogs, cobras and warriors sprouted all over Asia on Thursday, as the fourth annual International Yoga Day got under way. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose proposal for the global event won U.N. approval in 2014, led the way, performing his asanas with over 50,000 others in the northern city of Dehradun. People gathered at a sprawling forest research institute - snakes and monkeys were removed in advance - before dawn for the communal session involving the yoga-mad premier, an AFP reporter at the scene said. "The way to lead a calm, creative & content life is Yoga. It can show the way in defeating tensions and mindless anxiety," Modi said on Twitter. "Instead of dividing, Yoga unites. Instead of further animosity, Yoga assimilates. Instead of increasing suffering, Yoga heals," the 67-year-old said. Other gatherings took place in the capital New Delhi with 10,000 enthusiasts registered. Several hundred braved unhealthy pollution levels and hot and humid … [Read more...] about Strike a pose: International Yoga Day stretches around world