Toowoomba news headlines

Việt Nam’s headline inflation rate increased by 1.69 per cent in the first quarter of this year, putting pressure on the new Government to curb the rate going forward. — Photo vov.vn HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s headline inflation rate increased by 1.69 per cent in the first quarter of this year, putting pressure on the new Government to curb the rate going forward, according to a quarterly report on macroeconomic growth. The report, conducted by a group of researchers from the Việt Nam Institute for Economic and Policy Research (VEPR), was discussed during a launching ceremony in Hà Nội on Tuesday. The Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade supported the research. Việt Nam’s inflation rate hike in the first three months of 2016 was attributed to increasing fees for medical services and education, and the recovery of commodity and service prices in the world. New developments in the global economy, along with domestic changes, make it a … [Read more...] about VN’s headline inflation rises in first quarter

by Thu Vân “Your pens are the sharp weapons in the cause of telling the truth…” Thus began a letter that President Ho Chi Minh wrote to intellectuals and journalists in the southern part of the country on May 25, 1947. He also said in the same letter that “journalists should act like brave soldiers in the revolution to gain back unity and independence for the country.” One cannot imagine loftier ideals for this profession. Today, the lofty ideals may remain, but there are times I feel these are gathering dust in the shelves of our memory as the profession goes through one existential crisis after another. More than seven decades after President Hồ Chí Minh wrote the famous letter, it is fair to say journalism has gone through many changes, all over the world. Today, the profession is wedded, one could even say welded, to technology and business, and this creates a host of challenges in terms of the profession succeeding in the market place, in capturing the readers’ or … [Read more...] about Some good news, some bad news, some hopeful news

Representative of the People’s Army of Việt Nam with commanders of three Royal Australian Navy warships meet in HCM City on April 19. — Photo courtesy of the Australian Embassy. Viet Nam News HCM CITY — Three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warships, including the helicopter frigates HMAS ANZAC and HMAS TOOWOOMBA and support ship HMAS SUCCESS, docked at HCM City’s Sài Gòn Port on April 19 as a part of a goodwill visit. The three-day visit with a total crew of 73 officers and 569 sailors aims to strengthen relations between the two navies. The crew met senior officers and sailors of the Vietnamese People’s Navy to “participate in information-sharing activities covering broad topics such as search and rescue, peacekeeping and maritime security,” said Commander Michael Devine, RAN and Commander of the Task Unit for South East Asia Deployment. Colonel Nerolie McDonald, Australian Defence Attaché in Việt Nam, said: “It has been 17 years since we had three Australian Navy ships … [Read more...] about Royal Australian Navy warships visit HCM City

AUCKLAND — New Zealand leader Jacinda Ardern will spend a second night in hospital with her "very alert and hungry" newborn daughter who Twitter wags have dubbed the "prime miniature". Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford have been swamped with congratulatory messages from around the globe, including a private email from Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II. But after becoming only the second world leader to give birth while in office, she is now facing the realities of motherhood which has seen plans for a public appearance with her baby cancelled twice. A spokesman for her office said "everyone is doing well if not a bit tired" after Ardern spent much of her first night as a mum feeding the newborn. "The nurses described the child as ’very alert and one hungry baby’," the spokesman added. The baby, whose name has yet to be released, arrived Thursday afternoon,weighing 3.3 kilogrammes (7.3 pounds) and with the proud parents using social media to make the announcement. "Welcome to … [Read more...] about New Zealand’s ‘prime miniature’ baby keeps Ardern busy

Trịnh Xuân Thanh, vice chairman of the southern Hậu Giang Province and former chairman of PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC). — Photo vnexpress.net HÀ NỘI – Trịnh Xuân Thanh, vice chairman of the southern Hậu Giang Province and former chairman of PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC), will have to take responsibility for the losses during his time working at PVC, according to an announcement by t he Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission yesterday. Thanh, who made headlines in national media last month, was criticised by the public for his alleged abuse of an official plate on his luxury Lexus car , which he claimed was not his. Thanh, who was appointed to his position in May last year, explained that because of the province’s difficult financial situation, it was not able to arrange a vehicle for him to commute to work. Therefore, he’d borrowed his friend’s car for the purpose. The car was previously registered as a private car … [Read more...] about Southern province’s vice chairman to take responsible for past’s wrongdoings

A court of appeal yesterday decided to reduce the sentences of nine defendants involved in land violations in Đồng Tâm Commune in Hà Nội’s Mỹ Đức District last year.– VNA/VNS Photo Văn Điệp HÀ NỘI – A court of appeal yesterday decided to reduce the sentences of nine defendants involved in land violations in Đồng Tâm Commune in Hà Nội’s Mỹ Đức District last year. The Hà Nội People’s Court ruled in favour of the nine defendants who had appealed for reduced penalties. However, the court rejected the appeal of Phạm Hữu Sách, former head of the district’s Division of Natural Resources and Environment, who will still have to serve 24 months of probation. The violations made by the officials were uncovered following complaints by residents about a land scandal which made headlines in late March and mid-April, 2017. Ten former local officials faced charges of abusing their positions and power pursuant to Article 281 of the Penal Code. Those charged with “abuse of power … [Read more...] about Reduced sentences for nine defendants in Hà Nội’s land violations