Day: July 5, 2021

Kien Giang has reportedly gained encouraging outcomes in conserving rare animal and plant genetic resources to serve socio-economic development, a plan this Mekong Delta province implemented between 2014 and 2020.

As a result of the plan implementation, 83 potential and valuable genetic resources were identified, with 61 subject to conservation during the period, the provincial Department of Science and Technology said.

Most of the protected plant genetic resources belong to the species that are economically valuable and associated with local collective trademarks such as the Tac Cau pineapple, Bong Sung sweet potato, Ba Ho durian, Hoa Thuan mangosteen, Phu Quoc peppercorn, and Ha Tien peppercorn.

They also include herbal plants widely used in traditional medicine like “mat nhan” (Eurycoma Longifolia), “ha thu o” (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb), “kim that” (Gynura procumbens), and “thien nien kien” (Rhizoma Homalomenae occultae).

Meanwhile, the conservation of animal genetic resources has been focused on aquatic species with high economic value such as the cobia (Rachycentron canadum), seahorse, “ca chach lau” (Mastacembelus favus), and “ca that lat” (Notopterus notopterus).

Endemic species like “lan bau ruou” (Calanthe rubens Ridl) and the Phu Quoc spring catfish have also benefited from the conservation plan.

The local administration has approved some genetic resources like “bi ky nam” (Hydnophytum formicarum Jack), “ghe xanh” (Portunus armatus), mud clam (Geloina coaxans), and blood cockle (Anadara granosa) for researching and building commercial farming process.

Besides, the Ministry of Science and Technology approved the precious genetic resource of the Phu Quoc ridgeback for preservation, which was listed as a national-level task.

Conservation efforts have helped recover and save some genetic resources, thus maintaining and capitalising on the rare and valuable ones for agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and medicine, the Kien Giang department noted.

It added that the successful conservation has proved useful for not only protecting biodiversity but also creating competitive products in the local market and for export.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

More than 500 entries have been sent to the first press awards on the Agent Orange (AO) disaster and the settlement of consequences of the toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam.

The awards were launched by the Vietnam Association for Victims of AO (VAVA) in early 2020.

Entries were submitted by both professional and amateur writers such as reporters from press agencies, members of the armed forces, and overseas Vietnamese.

The eldest contestant is an 81-year-old man in Thanh Xuan district of Hanoi.

Eighty outstanding entries have been chosen for the final round, which will select three first-place prizes, five second-place prizes, 10 third-place prizes, 15 consolation prizes, and some supplementary ones.

The award presentation ceremony is scheduled to take place around the 60th Vietnam AO/Dioxin Disaster Day (August 10).

From 1961-1971, the US troops sprayed more than 80 million litres of herbicides – 44 million litres of which were AO containing nearly 370 kilograms of dioxin – over southern Vietnam.

As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese were exposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions of their descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct result of the chemical’s effects.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

It is a must for Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s biggest COVID-19 hotspot at present, to tighten exit-entry regulations, heard a meeting between the Standing Board of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control and local leaders on July 5.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Duc Anh reported that the city detected 711 new COVID-19 cases from 6am on July 4 to 6am on July 5.

Measures are needed to quickly control the spread of the pandemic, he said, highlighting the serious implementation of social distancing measures in line with relevant directives.

HCM City will promptly roll out systems monitoring people who have taken COVID-19 testing before they enter or leave the city. It is working with localities and centrally-run agencies in this regard, according to the official.

Local leaders affirmed efforts to ensure daily activities of residents, especially the poor, and the safety of the national high school graduation exam.

The city will step up contact tracing, quarantine and testing in the coming days, while closely supervising pandemic prevention and control at industrial parks as well as accommodations of workers.

HCM City tightens exit-entry regulations to prevent pandemic spread hinh anh 2

At the working session (Photo: VNA)

In his remarks, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son said HCM City has established a testing management centre headed by a vice chairperson of the People’s Committee to ensure quick, accurate tests.

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Huy Dung said all local residents have been provided with QR codes through health declaration apps, making it easier for the operation of checkpoints.

The official said his ministry and the health ministry will integrate test and vaccination results in the QR codes in the next 24 hours to facilitate the travel of people.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 13th Party Central Committee opened its third plenum in Hanoi on July 5 under the chair of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The plenum will focus discussion on and make decision on a number of important issues relating to the socio-economic development plan in 2021-2025.

The plenum will consider and issue working regulations of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission in the 13th tenure; regulations on the implementation of the Party Charter, and rules on inspection, supervision and discipline of the Party during the 13th tenure.

The Party Central Committee will also look into the nomination of leading positions of State agencies during the 15th tenure of the National Assembly to be submitted to the 15th NA to elect or approve at its first session, along with a number of other important issues.

The plenum is scheduled to last until July 9.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi said the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa cum eSwatini has been closely monitoring the situation in eSwatini and actively undertaking measures to protect Vietnamese citizens in the country.

According to Loi, there are two Vietnamese citizens residing in eSwatini (formally known as Swaziland), one of who is in the capital Mbabane – an area where violent protest activities are taking place.

The ambassador had talked on the phone with the citizens in eSwatini to give them encouragement and instruct them on necessary measures to ensure their safety.

He affirmed that the embassy would roll out measures to protect citizens based on the actual situation of the area and of the citizens. The ambassador suggested that the two Vietnamese citizens in eSwatini regularly keep in touch with the embassy to receive the necessary support.

The two citizens are so far safe from the ongoing protest in the kingdom.

The protests in eSwatini began in May when students and teachers rallied against the killing of Thabani Nkomonye, a law student at the University of Eswatini after being arrested by police. The protests continued to spread to cities and rural towns with demands for political reform in the country. Peaceful protests turned violent with the military’s crackdown on June 29.

In addition, there was looting and destruction of property targeting Pick n Pay, Shoprite supermarket chains, some government agencies and ATMs..

Reports on casualties in the protests are varied, with the Southern African Development Community-SADC announcing at least one death but opposition groups reporting as many as 40 killed and more than 150 injured

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Prime Minister has approved the election of Chu Ngoc Anh as Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee for the 2021 – 2026 term.

The approval was also given to the election results of the vice chairmen for the People’s Committee, namely Le Hong Son, Nguyen Trong Dong, Duong Duc Tuan, Ha Minh Hai, Chu Xuan Dung, and Nguyen Manh Quyen.

At its first meeting in late June, the 16th Hanoi People’s Council elected Chu Ngoc Anh, member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee in the 15th tenure (2016 – 2021), as Chairman of the People’s Committee for the 16th term (2021 – 2026).

Anh won over 92 votes of the 94 council deputies present at the event, equivalent to 97.87 percent.

Le Hong Son, Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee in 2016 – 2021, was re-elected Vice Chairman for the new tenure.

Along with Son, the council also re-elected the other five vice chairmen in the previous term, namely Nguyen Trong Dong, Duong Duc Tuan, Ha Minh Hai, Chu Xuan Dung, and Nguyen Manh Quyen, for another tenure.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The issues on the working agenda of the third plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee are very important, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong stressed while delivering his opening remarks at the event on July 5.

The Party chief stated these matters involve the leadership and instruction for the realisation of goals and tasks regarding socio-economic growth and the building of a strong and transparent Party and political system along with a law-governed socialist state of the people, by the people, and for the people.

He required the Party Central Committee to spend their time considering thoroughly the tabled issues so as to contribute comments and recommendations, and make decisions at the end of the plenum, which is slated for July 9.

The plenum is scheduled to discuss and decide on a number of important issues relating to the socio-economic development plan in 2021-2025.

Other important issues on the agenda include the issuance of working regulations of the Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission in the 13th tenure; regulations on the implementation of the Party Charter, and rules on inspection, supervision and discipline of the Party during the 13th tenure.

The Party Central Committee will also look into the nomination of leading positions of State agencies during the 15th tenure of the National Assembly to be submitted to the 15th NA to elect or approve at its first session, along with a number of other important issues. /.

Source: Vietnam News Agency