Breakfast @ Tuoitrenews – July 17 Politics -- The UK considers Vietnam an important priority partner in Southeast Asia, UK Ambassador in Hanoi Antony Stokes said during his meeting on Wednesday with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong before leaving. -- Diplomacy needs to be in the front line of national construction and defence, President Truong Tan Sang told 22 newly-appointed Vietnamese ambassadors and seven consul generals, who will lead Vietnam’s overseas representative agencies from 2014 to 2017, in Hanoi on Wednesday. Society -- Foreign infrastructure contractors that fail to meet deadline will not have the chance to join other future projects in Vietnam, Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang said Wednesday, after inspecting the progress of several under-construction projects in Hanoi. -- The typhoon Rammasun is likely to make landfall in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Phong on Friday, July 18, the Vietnam National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Center reported Wednesday. -- Vietnam Railway Corporation, the state-run company that manages the country’s railway, is among six enterprises that will be examined by the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam in the third quarter of this year, it was announced Wednesday. Business -- The local government of the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on Wednesday agreed in principle to a US$900 million renewable energy project to be invested by a South Korean firm. -- Israel remains committed to having policies to ensure the stable and safe investment environment for international investors despite the ongoing tension and conflict in Gaza, Israeli Ambassador in Hanoi Meirav Eilon Shahar said Wednesday. -- Vietnam could set up a special committee or a ‘super ministry’ to oversee the operations of state-run enterprises, an official from the Central Institute for Economic Management has said. Lifestyle -- The organizers of a beauty pageant called Nu Hoang Sac Dep (Queen of Beauty) was fined Wednesday VND50 million ($2,353) by the Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism for organizing the contest without licenses. Education -- More than 200 local English teachers in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre will have all of their monetary bonuses slashed if they fail to pass a coming English proficiency examination. -- Nearly 300 students from 75 countries and territories will arrive in Vietnam to attend the 2014 International Chemistry Olympiad, running from July 20 to 29, the Ministry of Education and Training announced Wednesday. -- Tokyo-based Chuo University will send representatives to Vietnam on November 15 and 16 to provide supports for Vietnamese students who want to study at their school. Sports -- The 2014 National Disability Championships kicked off Wednesday in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, attracting participations of 790 athletes with disability from 28 provinces and cities. Tuoitrenews