Outstanding domestic and international events on March 18

DOMESTIC

On the afternoon of March 18, in Hanoi, Politburo member and President Luong Cuong chaired a conference to approve the draft report of Inspection Team No. 1907 of the Politburo and Secretariat in 2025 for the Party Committees of Central Party Agencies. Also attending were Politburo member and Permanent Secretary of the Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, Secretary of the Party Committees of Central Party Agencies.In the picture:Politburo member, President Luong Cuong, Head of Inspection Delegation No. 1907 chaired the Conference.Photo: Lam Khanh - VNA

On March 18, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the Government's Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation, Digital Transformation and Project 06 on "Developing the application of population data, identification and electronic authentication to serve national digital transformation in the period of 2022 - 2025, with a vision to 2030" chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee. In the afternoon of the same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Head of the State Steering Committee for important national projects and works, key to the transport sector, chaired an online meeting with leaders of ministries, branches, and localities of Can Tho, An Giang, Hau Giang, and Soc Trang on accelerating the construction progress of the Chau Doc - Can Tho - Soc Trang Expressway Project, Phase 1.In the picture:Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the first meeting of the Government's Steering Committee on science, technology, innovation, digital transformation and Project 06 on the morning of March 18.Photo: Duong Giang - VNA

On March 18, during the visit and working program in Tuyen Quang province, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and the delegation worked with the Standing Committee of Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee. Acknowledging and praising the achievements that Tuyen Quang has achieved in recent times, the National Assembly Chairman pointed out that the province has many potentials and advantages with convenient roads; a unique forest ecosystem that is a condition for developing forestry and tourism; a tradition of solidarity among ethnic groups... In the coming time, the National Assembly Chairman suggested that the province focus on land use planning, construction planning, socio-economic planning... to attract investors...In the picture:National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks.Photo: Doan Tan - VNA

On March 18, in Ho Chi Minh City, the National Assembly Office, the Delegation Affairs Committee in coordination with the HSF Organization (Germany) on the Project "Strengthening the capacity of the National Assembly Office and the legislative capacity of National Assembly deputies for the goal of sustainable socio-economic development in Vietnam" organized the "Conference to promote the implementation of the right to political participation of Vietnamese women".In the picture:Delegates take souvenir photos at the conference.Photo: Thanh Vu - VNA

On March 18, Lang Son province held the launching ceremony of "Joining hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses" in the province by 2025. At the ceremony, the Organizing Committee received support from units, businesses, and philanthropists with a total amount of more than 11,364 billion VND.In the picture:Lang Son province honors the "Golden Heart" of units and businesses.Photo: Anh Tuan - VNA

Domestic gold prices continued to rise on March 18, following the increase in world gold prices. In Ho Chi Minh City, many people still rushed to buy gold despite the high price. In the face of the gold "fever", the demand for gold rings increased, and some large gold shops had to limit the number of gold rings sold due to insufficient quantity.In the picture:Many people still rush to buy despite the high price of gold.Photo: Hua Chung - VNA

On March 18, Colonel Vo Duy Tuan, Deputy Director of the Investigation Police Agency of Phu Yen Province Police, informed: the provincial police force has extradited two brothers, Ngo Quyet Nhu (born in 1999) and Ngo Viet Tien (born in 1997, both residing in Ward 3, Tuy Hoa City) from Cambodia in connection with a murder case in 2022 that occurred in Tuy Hoa City.In the picture:The two subjects Nhu and Tien were extradited to Phu Yen by the police force.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

The death toll from a series of Israeli airstrikes on Hamas targets across the Gaza Strip has risen to more than 322, according to medical sources and witnesses. According to a statement issued by the Israeli Prime Minister's Office early on March 18, the move came after Israel said Hamas had "repeatedly refused to release the hostages" and rejected proposals made by US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Mr. Steve Witkoff and other mediators.In the picture:Transporting injured victims after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City.Photo: THX/TTXVN

Shares of Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD surged to a record high on March 18 after the company unveiled a new battery technology that shortens the charging time for electric vehicles (EVs) to the same as a full gas car. The new battery technology, called the "Super e-Platform," has a maximum charging speed of 1,000 kW and allows vehicles to travel up to 470 km after taking just 5 minutes to fully charge, according to BYD.In the picture:BYD electric vehicle models are introduced at the high-tech week in Kathmandu, Nepal.Photo: THX/TTXVN

Unseasonably heavy snow has blanketed Seoul and its central areas since early on March 18, disrupting rush-hour traffic across the capital region. The snowfall has also caused numerous accidents and collisions between vehicles. To ease congestion during the morning rush hour, the Korea Railroad Corporation said it has added 14 train services to subway lines in the capital region.In the picture:Snow covered Yangyang, South Korea.Photo: Yonhap/VNA