Nation

New State President to be sworn in next TuesdayThe Saigon Times Daily Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is set to become the President of Vietnam next week – PHOTO: VGP HCMC – The new president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will take the oath of office next Tuesday, October 23, for the 2016-2020 tenure, General Secretary of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Hanh Phuc said at a meeting of the NA Standing Committee today, October 16. Following the passing of President Tran Dai Quang at the age of 62 on September 21 due to a serious illness, lawmakers are set to vote for a new president on the opening day of the sixth sitting of the legislative NA next Monday. Early this month, all members of the Party Central Committee formally nominated the incumbent Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, 74, for presidency. This is the first time in multiple tenures that a Party’s General Secretary has been recommended as the head of State. The candidate … [Read more...] about New State President to be sworn in next Tuesday

New State President to swear in next TuesdayThe Saigon Times Daily Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong is set to become the President of Vietnam next week – PHOTO: VGP HCMC – The new president of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam will take the oath of office next Tuesday, October 23, for the 2016-2020 tenure, General Secretary of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Hanh Phuc said at a meeting of the NA Standing Committee today, October 16. Following the passing of President Tran Dai Quang at the age of 62 on September 21 due to a serious illness, lawmakers are set to vote for a new president on the opening day of the sixth sitting of the legislative NA next Monday. Early this month, all members of the Party Central Committee formally nominated the incumbent Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, 74, for presidency. This is the first time in multiple tenures that a Party’s General Secretary has been recommended as the head of State. The candidate for … [Read more...] about New State President to swear in next Tuesday

Quarantine worryingly slow and looseThe Saigon Times Daily The alarm bell has been sounded over the import of wheat contaminated with the seed of a highly-dangerous invasive weed, but the response from both competent agencies and importers has been slow and ineffective. As widely covered in local media, the plant protection bureau under the agriculture ministry has found seeds of thistle, a type of alien invasive weed whose scientific name is cirsium arvense, in large volumes of imported wheat. Since the first batch of wheat imported from Russia was found to be contaminated with thistle seeds in May this year, authorities as of October 10 have found other shipments originating in the U.S., Canada and some other countries contaminated with this seed. To date, as much as 1.6 million tons of wheat has been imported from these countries. Thistle is characterized by sharp prickles on its leaves as well as all over the plant, which helps protect it from being eaten by herbivores. The … [Read more...] about Quarantine worryingly slow and loose

Suspended info minister tenders resignation from Party Committee of Central Agencies BlocThe Saigon Times Daily Nguyen Bac Son (L), former Minister of Information and Communications and his now suspended successor Truong Minh Tuan in this combination file photo – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Truong Minh Tuan, suspended minister of Information and Communications, has expressed the desire to vacate his position on the Executive Board of the Party Committee of the Central Agencies Bloc for the 2015-2020 tenure. On Wednesday, the committee held a conference to review the January-September performance and identify key tasks for the last quarter of this year. Vu Duc Nam, head of the committee’s Ideology and Education Commission, told Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper that its members had voted on the resignation of Tuan from the executive board in the current tenure. Tuan is a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and a deputy head of the Party Central … [Read more...] about Suspended info minister tenders resignation from Party Committee of Central Agencies Bloc

A Vietnamese child, once grown, would be only 67% as productive: WBBy Thanh Thom Primary students are in a primary school in the outlying district of Binh Chanh, HCMC – PHOTO: THANH THOM HCMC – A child born in Vietnam today will be only 67% as productive on attaining adulthood as he or she would have been if a complete education and proper health had been ensured during childhood, the World Bank Group stated in a new report launched today, October 11, at the World Bank-International Monetary Fund Annual Meetings in the Indonesian resort of Bali. The Human Capital Index (HCI) showed that 56% of children born today across the world will lose more than half their potential lifetime earnings because governments are not currently making effective investments in their people to ensure a healthy, educated and resilient population ready for the workplace of the future. Human capital – the knowledge, skills and health that people accumulate over their lives – … [Read more...] about A Vietnamese child, once grown, would be only 67% as productive: WB

Memorial, burial ceremonies for former Party chief Do Muoi held todayThe Saigon Times Daily High-ranking leaders at the tribute-paying ceremony for former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Following the respect-paying ceremony yesterday, the memorial service is held at 9:00 a.m. today, October 7 for former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi, who passed away on October 1 at the age of 101, VietnamPlus news site reported. The memorial service is held at the National Funeral Hall, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi, and the burial ceremony will follow from 1:00 p.m. the same day in his hometown in Thanh Tri District, Hanoi City. The Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, the National Assembly, the State Presidency, the Government, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee yesterday paid tribute to former Party chief Do Muoi in the national mourning etiquette at the National … [Read more...] about Memorial, burial ceremonies for former Party chief Do Muoi held today

State funeral to be held for former Party chief Do MuoiThe Saigon Times Daily Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi – PHOTO: VNA HCMC - A State funeral for former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi, who passed away on October 1 at the age of 101, will be held on October 6 and 7, the Government news website reported, citing an announcement by the State funeral organizing committee. The tribute service will be held from 7 a.m. on October 6 at the National Funeral Hall at No. 5, Tran Thanh Tong Street, Hanoi. It will be followed by a memorial ceremony at 9 a.m. on October 7. The burial ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on the same day in his hometown in Thanh Tri District, Hanoi City. At the same time, tribute and memorial services will also be held at the Reunification Palace in HCMC. The Vietnam Television station and the Voice of Vietnam radio station will broadcast live the tribute, memorial and burial ceremonies … [Read more...] about State funeral to be held for former Party chief Do Muoi

Ministry warns of possible hand-foot-mouth epidemicBy Hoang Nhung Doctor Truong Huu Khanh calms a child infected with hand-foot-mouth disease at the Infectious Disease and Neurology Department of Paediatric Hospital I – PHOTO: H.K HCMC – The number of hand-foot-mouth disease cases has surged around the country, according to healthcare specialists. The disease has a high mortality rate and may have severe effects on the economy if it is not contained urgently. Data from the Ministry of Health show that, from September 26 to October 1, Vietnam reported an additional 11,000 cases of hand-foot-mouth disease, raising the total number of infected people to 53,500. Among them, six people died and nearly 26,000 were admitted to hospitals for examination and treatment in five provinces and cities. Hand-foot-mouth disease, largely affecting children, has been on the rise in recent weeks in several localities including HCMC, Dong Nai, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Dong Thap and Ba … [Read more...] about Ministry warns of possible hand-foot-mouth epidemic

Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong introduced as candidate for State president The Saigon Times Daily Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – All members of the 12th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam today, October 3, agreed to introduce Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as the candidate for the position of State President, local media reported. The National Assembly will vote for new State President in its upcoming session set to start on October 21. This is the first time after multiple tenures that the Central Committee recommended a General Secretary to the National Assembly to become the President. According to regulations of the Communist Party, the candidate for the position of State President must meet standards set by members of the Politburo, the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, and must concurrently have such qualifications as high creditablity and capacity to unite others in the Politburo and the central … [Read more...] about Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong introduced as candidate for State president

Former Party chief Do Muoi dies aged 101By Staff writers Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Do Muoi passed away Monday night at the age of 101, the Vietnam News Agency cited the Board of Healthcare Services for Senior Officials as saying. Do Muoi, a leader who played key roles in Vietnam’s revolutionary fights and opening-up era, died at 11:12 p.m. Monday at the Military Central Hospital 108 in the capital city of Hanoi. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced. Born in February 2, 1917, Do Muoi, whose birth name is Nguyen Duy Cong, is a native of Dong My Commune, Thanh Tri District in Hanoi, and a member of the Communist Party for 78 years. He became active with revolutionary activities at early age and joined the French Popular Front at the age of 19. In 1939, he joined the Communist Party of Indochina, marking his first step into the … [Read more...] about Former Party chief Do Muoi dies aged 101