June 1-7: PM attends send-off ceremony for trucks carrying lychee to major markets

Nhan Dan Online reviews the notable events that made headlines over the past week.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc talking with officials, employees and local people at the Uncle Ho fruit garden. (Photo: VGP)
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc talking with officials, employees and local people at the Uncle Ho fruit garden. (Photo: VGP)

PM attends send-off ceremony for trucks carrying lychee to major markets

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended a ceremony held in the northern province of Bac Giang on June 6 to send off trucks carrying harvested lychee for consumption in both domestic and foreign markets.

The container trucks carried huge quantities of lychee that are expected to be exported to major international markets including the US, Thailand and Japan, as well as being consumed n the domestic market and injected into the retail distribution system around the country.

PM Phuc’s presence at the ceremony showed the State’s and Government’s special attention to lychee growers in particular and farmers in general nationwide, especially in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic affecting all aspects of socio-economic life.

Vietnamese economy bounces back in May: WB

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Vietnam’s economy has gradually bounced back since social distancing measures were eased, according to the WB.

In its latest update released on June 3, the World Bank (WB) stated that Vietnam’s economy has gradually bounced back since social distancing measures were eased.

The WB noted that in May, the country’s industrial production index grew 11% from April, though it was still 3% lower than the figure in the same period last year.

Sharing the same trend, exports were up 5% month-on-month but down 5.5% year-on-year. Retail sales and processing-manufacturing also began to recover, expanding by about 10% from the previous month but still lower than that in May of 2019.

Vietnam’s northern region continues to bake in intense heat

The current heatwave in northern and central Vietnam is forecast to persist over the coming days, with temperatures in some places reaching as high as 39C, according to the national weather service.

On June 6, the highest temperatures in the Red River Delta were around 35-37C while the mercury reached 36-38C in north-central provinces.

Temperatures are above 35C for 10-17 hours each day while the lowest humidity levels are in the range of 45-55%.

The weather agency has warned of fire risks in residential areas due to an increased power demand along with forest fires in central-region provinces.

Vietnam announces two more SARS-CoV-2 test kits of international standards

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The test kits, One-step RT-PCR COVID-19 KIT THAI DUONG and RT-LAMP COVID-19 KIT THAI DUONG, have been widely used in Europe and named in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Emergency Use Listing procedure. (Photo: VNA)

Two more 'made-in-Vietnam' SARS-CoV-2 test kits meeting international standards were announced at a ceremony in Hanoi on June 5.

The test kits, namely One-step RT-PCR COVID-19 KIT THAI DUONG and RT-LAMP COVID-19 KIT THAI DUONG, have been widely used in Europe and are named in the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s Emergency Use Listing procedure.

The SUNSTAR JSC have joined hands with the two groups of scientists from the National Institute for Control of Vaccine and Biologicals and the Hanoi University of Science and Technology in the production of the test kits.

Vietnam records no new COVID-19 infections in community for 52 days

Vietnam reported no new COVID-19 cases on the evening of June 7, meaning that the country has remained clear of community infections for 52 consecutive days.

Up to 307 out of the 329 patients, equivalent to 93.3%, have successfully recovered.

The remaining 22 patients are undergoing treatment at medical establishments. Of the group, six have tested negative for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 once and nine others tested negative for the virus at least twice.

Family circumstance-based deduction for personal income tax increases from July

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Monthly taxable personal income will be raised from this July. (Photo: Hanoi Tax Department)

Starting from July, the family circumstance-based deduction level for each dependent of taxpayers will increase from VND3.6 million (US$155.8) per month to VND4.4 million (US$189.2) per month.

The adjustment was set out in Resolution No. 954/2020/UBTVQH14, issued by the National Assembly Standing Committee on June 2, outlining the increase in the family circumstance-based reduction for personal income tax.

Accordingly, the relevant monthly taxable personal income will be raised from VND9 million to VND11 million, equivalent to VND132 million per year.

Vietnam debuts its second mobile virtual network

Vietnam's second mobile virtual network, Reddi, with the numeral prefix 055, was rolled out by operator Mobicast in Hanoi on June 3.

The new network, the seventh in the country, uses the mobile phone infrastructure of the State-owned Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), which boasts some of the best coverage and quality in the country.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, VNPT Deputy General Director Huynh Quang Liem said the cooperation between Mobicast JSC and VNPT takes place in the context of the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) emerging strongly in Asia.

Winners of Vietnam Golf Awards 2019 announced

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Tran Le Duy Nhat has won the 'Professional Golfer of the Year (Men)' award.

Tran Le Duy Nhat and Vu Thi Van were named ‘Professional Golfer of the Year’ for the men’s and women’s categories, respectively, during the Vietnam Golf Awards 2019 gala at the Hanoi Opera House on June 4.

The awards were co-organised on a national scale for the first time by the Vietnam Golf Association (VGA) and the Vietnam Television Cable Corporation (VTVCab) to honour outstanding athletes, clubs, individuals, and units in the area of golf.

A total of 20 prize categories were up for grabs, with 13 voted for by the professional council, one by the organising committee, and six by viewers.