Party Central Committee’s 12th plenum concludes
The 12th plenum of the 12th Party Central Committee (PCC) wrapped up in Hanoi on May 14 after four days of work. All agenda items were completed.
The PCC decided directions regarding personnel for the 13th National Party Congress and the general election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2021-2025 term.
In his closing remarks, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong said the 13th PCC must be a united, pure and strong collective that has firm political mettle, good virtues, a strategic vision, and a creative mindset.
PM: No COVID-19 community infections should not mean being off guard
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (standing) delivers his speech at an online cabinet meeting on COVID-19 control, held at Government headquarters in Hanoi on May 15, 2020. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai)
Vietnam has been clear of COVID-19 community transmission for almost a full month but the public should not be caught off guard as the disease is still developing complicatedly in many other countries and as there is no vaccine nor special treatment available yet.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the above statement during his chairing of an online cabinet meeting on May 15, held to discuss measures to respond to the COVID-19 epidemic in Vietnam.
No new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the community for almost one month. There are also strong solutions in place to support production and business, as well as to promote the disbursement of public investment to bring the economy back to normal, the PM added.
Ministry: China’s suspension of fishing in Vietnam’s waters meaningless
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on May 11 said that China’s suspension of fishing in waters within Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea carries no weight whatsoever.
In a document sent to the People’s Committees of coastal cities and provinces, the ministry said the Chinese Bureau of Fisheries is implementing the suspension of fishing from 12 am on May 1 to 12 am on August 16 in various waters, some of which are within Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea.
The cities and provinces were required to encourage fishermen to continue fishing in Vietnam’s waters and to ask them to go fishing in groups to support each other.
Vietnam’s central bank cuts rates further to boost growth
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The headquarters of the State Bank of Vietnam.
The State Bank of Vietnam has announced a string of interest rate cuts for the second time in 2020, aiming to boost economic activities hit by the coronavirus outbreak and to ensure social security.
The refinance rate was slashed from 5% to 4.5% while the rediscount rate fell from 3.5% to 3.0%. The overnight lending rate was also cut by 0.5 percentage points to 5.5%.
At the same time, several rates on Vietnamese dong deposits were reduced by 0.3-0.5 percentage points.
Vietnam enters 31st straight day without COVID-19 community infections
Vietnam has no new COVID-19 cases to report on the morning of May 17, the 31st straight day in which the country is clear of coronavirus infections in the community, according to the national steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.
Among the 318 confirmed patients, 178 are imported and quarantined upon their arrival in the country.
As many as 260 patients have recovered from the disease, and the rest are being treated at eight central and provincial-level healthcare establishments nationwide.
Dong Cuu Village’s lockdown lifted, Hanoi free of virus outbreak
Dong Cuu villagers happily hold the national flag at the moment the quarantine orders were lifted.
On May 14, Hanoi officially removed the blockade from Tren Hamlet in Dong Cuu Village, Dung Tien Commune, in Hanoi’s outlying district of Thuong Tin, after 28 days of isolation.
This was the last outbreak of COVID-19 virus in Hanoi.
Golden Kite Awards 2019 honours best films
“Hanh phuc cua me” (The Happiness of a Mother), directed by Pham Huynh Dong, has won the Golden Kite Awards 2019 in the feature category.
At the annual awards ceremony held by the Vietnam Cinematic Association in Hanoi on May 12, the film also earned the most trophies, including the best screen writer award for Nguyen Thi Ngoc Bich, the best director award for Pham Huynh Dong, the best cameraman for Vo Thanh Tien, and the best leading actress award to Cat Phuong, who plays Mother Tue in the film.
The organising board also granted awards for the best animated, documentary, scientific and short films together with excellent artists.
Vietnamese midfielder in Fox Sports poll for Asian Front Three
Hanoi FC star Nguyen Quang Hai is listed in Fox Sports Asia for Best Asian Front Three. (Photo: VNA)
Vietnamese football star Nguyen Quang Hai has been listed as one of nine nominees for Asian Front Three by the prestigious sport website Fox Sports Asia.
On its official Facebook fanpage, Fox Sports Asia has created a poll for supporters who can leave their comments to choose their best attacking players of the continent.
There are three categories: Asia’s current heroes, future stars, and all-time legends. Supporters can pick three players each to decide the winners.
Hai belongs to the future stars together with Chanathip Songkrasin of Thailand and Safawi Rasid of Malaysia. Both of them are key element of the both national teams and their clubs.
First Vietnamese professor wins Europe math prize
Phan Thanh Nam has become the first Vietnamese professor to receive the European Mathematical Society (EMS) Prize.
Nam, 35, is a former student of the National University of Ho Chi Minh City. He is currently a math professor at the Ludwig Maximillian University in Munich, Germany.
Nam's research interests include mathematical physics analysis, especially multi-particle quantum mechanics, spectral theory, variational calculation, derivative equations, and calculus.
This year, the prize-giving ceremony will not be held as usual at the European Congress of Mathematics (ECM) because of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been postponed until June 2021.
