A typical day at the MINUSCA Every day, the clock alarm goes off at 5:30 when it is still dark outside. Today, Major Dinh Duc Long is “on lodging duty”, which means he is to cook breakfast, prepare lunch boxes for others in the lodge to carry to work. At 7:20, after breakfast, everyone takes their backpacks and lunch boxes and walks to work. Walking from home to the mission’s HQs may be one of their most interesting periods of time of the day. A long the way, all local people they meet greet them. The children not only greet, but also run up to them to shake hands. Welcoming them at the gate of the UN mission are the greetings in the Sango language of the guards. They happily greet, “Good morning the Vietnamese people!” Buying stuff in preparation for the special day There are three Vietnamese officers working in Bangui (the capital city of the Central African Republic). They are Lieutenant Colonel Le Ngoc Son, Major Dinh Duc Long and … [Read more...] about A special day in the Central African Republic
Special officer
Special female liaison officers in the Tet Offensive
With many wrinkles on their faces, these now grey-haired commandos recalled magnanimously and vividly their memories of and stories about their combat against foreign invaders, which they could never forget. For those little women, nothing could dominate their iron will and high sense of determination. On the morning of January 31, 1968, a mother embracing her two-year-old child joined the forces in the attack direction towards the enemy’s Naval Command. The mother is Doan Thi Nho, former member of the Steering Board of Cu Chi Liberation Women’s Association. Nho was wife of Senior Colonel Nguyen Duc Hung, alias Tu Chu, the commander of the Saigon commando force. Hung was most wanted by the enemy, which offered millions of USD for information leading to his capture. Regarding her decision to bring along her baby while guiding 11 soldiers from Tay Ninh to Saigon on the afternoon of the first day of the Lunar New Year of the Monkey in 1968 to take shelter in a secret house … [Read more...] about Special female liaison officers in the Tet Offensive
Special committee to manage VND5,400 trillion capital at State-owned enterprises
The Hanoitimes - Prime Minister has signed a decision to set up a working group in charge of forming a special committee dedicated to manage huge capital and assets worth some VND5,400 trillion (US$237.89 billion) at state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue is the head of the working group, which is also include four deputy heads --- Nguyen Hoang Anh, former Secretary of Cao Bang Province Party Committee, Minister-Chairman of Government Office Mai Tien Dung, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung and Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung. The special committee will manage state capital at 30 state-owned enterprises, including the National Oil and Gas Group The working group will act as a consultant to the Prime Minister in setting up the special committee. During a last year’s conference between the government, ministries, and localities, Phuc stressed that this committee, which represents ownership of … [Read more...] about Special committee to manage VND5,400 trillion capital at State-owned enterprises
Defense cooperation – special relationship between Vietnam and Laos
On the morning of January 16, General Lich paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith. Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich (L) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith Welcoming General Lich and other Vietnamese high-ranking military delegates, the Lao top leader believed that the visit would help further tighten the special friendship and solidarity between the two Parties, States, and militaries. He highly valued the outcomes of the previous talks between General Lich and his Lao counterpart, adding that their defense cooperation is a special pillar in the bilateral traditional relations. Lao Party General Secretary and President Vorachith pledged to continuously instruct the Lao Defense Ministry to seriously and effectively implement the two sides’ agreements, particularly in building up a shared border of peace, stability, and development, as well as … [Read more...] about Defense cooperation – special relationship between Vietnam and Laos
Special economic zones ready to launch
Choosing a governance model for SEZsThe National Assembly (NA)’s Law Committee held a discussion on January 4, 2018 on the governance model for SEZs. There were several models proposed, but NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said, “The model could be different from current regulations, but must comply with the Constitution.”The governance model of SEZs should be simplified, effective, and decentralised in order to quickly establish and develop SEZs. They will be the new growth momentum of the economy and become 'institutional laboratories'.Nguyen Si Dung, former deputy head of the NA Office said it is time to select a governance model as this law is expected to be submitted for approval in May 2018 at the fifth session of the 14th NA.“In my opinion, the first option which suggests establishing a department of SEZ, but places governance outside the mandate of any people’s council or people’s committee is better. We need a process to … [Read more...] about Special economic zones ready to launch
Southern hub reduces traffic jams and flooding using special…
Ho Chi Minh city strives to address traffic jams and environmental pollution. (Photo: baotintuc.vn) According to Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the city People’s Committee, in 2018, the city targets to gain Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth of 8.3-8.5%, collect VND376.78 trillion to the budget, an increase of 8.3% compared to 2017. “To obtain the budget turnover, the city must rely on production and real economic growth, realize policies adopted by the National Assembly, and address people’s and businesses’ obstacles,” said Mr. Phong. “In particular, its special mechanisms will be applied to reduce traffic jams and flooding, using an estimated capital of some VND68 trillion”. In addition, until 2020, the city need VND85 trillion to tackle environmental pollution and flooding, and develop traffic infrastructure, Mr. Phong added. Earlier, in November 2017, during the 4th session of the 14th National Assembly (NA), the NA adopted a … [Read more...] about Southern hub reduces traffic jams and flooding using special…
Southern hub reduces traffic jams and flooding using special mechanisms
Ho Chi Minh city strives to address traffic jams and environmental pollution. (Photo: baotintuc.vn)According to Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the city People’s Committee, in 2018, the city targets to gain Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) growth of 8.3-8.5%, collect VND376.78 trillion to the budget, an increase of 8.3% compared to 2017. “To obtain the budget turnover, the city must rely on production and real economic growth, realize policies adopted by the National Assembly, and address people’s and businesses’ obstacles,” said Mr. Phong. “In particular, its special mechanisms will be applied to reduce traffic jams and flooding, using an estimated capital of some VND68 trillion”. In addition, until 2020, the city need VND85 trillion to tackle environmental pollution and flooding, and develop traffic infrastructure, Mr. Phong added. Earlier, in November 2017, during the 4th session of the 14th National Assembly (NA), the NA adopted a … [Read more...] about Southern hub reduces traffic jams and flooding using special mechanisms
Twitter says world leaders like Trump have special status
"Blocking a world leader from Twitter or removing their controversial Tweets would hide important information people should be able to see and debate," Twitter said in a post on a corporate blog.Twitter had already said in September that "newsworthiness" and whether a tweet is "of public interest" are among the factors it considers before removing an account or a tweet.The debate over Trump's tweeting, though, raged anew after Trump said from his @realDonaldTrump account on Tuesday that he had a "much bigger" and "more powerful" nuclear button than North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.Critics said that tweet and Trump's continued presence on the network endanger the world and violate Twitter's ban on threats of violence. Some users protested at Twitter's San Francisco headquarters on Wednesday.Twitter responded in its blog post that even if it did block a world leader, doing so would not silence that leader.The company said that it does review tweets by world leaders and enforces its rules … [Read more...] about Twitter says world leaders like Trump have special status
Việt Nam opens consulate office in China’s Macau
BEIJING – The Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau held a ceremony on Friday to launch a consulate office in the Macau Special Administrative Region of China. Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, Trần Thanh Huân, said the office aims to better ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists in the region. It will also give locals and international friends easier access to information about Việt Nam, thus boosting the friendship and co-operation between Việt Nam and Macau. Huân expressed his hope that the office will receive active and effective support of local organisations and enterprises, as well as of the Việt Nam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau. Macau is home to over 20,000 Vietnamese people, mostly domestic workers and service staff at casinos. There are also several Vietnamese-run firms operating in tourism and services. — VNS … [Read more...] about Việt Nam opens consulate office in China’s Macau
Vietnam opens consulate office in China’s Macau
The Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau held a ceremony on January 5 to launch a consulate office in Macao Special Administrative Region of China. Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, Tran Thanh Huan (L) speaks at the ceremony Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau, Tran Thanh Huan said that the office aims to better ensure the rights of Vietnamese citizens and tourists in the region.It will also give locals and international friends easier access to information about Vietnam, thus boosting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Macau.Huan expressed his hope that the office would receive the active and effective support of local organisations and enterprises, as well as from the Vietnam Fellow Countrymen Friendship Association in Macau.Macau is home to over 20,000 Vietnamese people, mostly domestic workers and service staff at casinos.There are also several Vietnamese-run firms operating in tourism and … [Read more...] about Vietnam opens consulate office in China’s Macau