Outstanding domestic and international events on March 19

DOMESTIC

On the morning of March 19, Politburo member and President Luong Cuong chaired a conference to approve the draft report of Inspection Team No. 1907 of the Politburo and the Secretariat in 2025 for the Standing Committee of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee. On the same afternoon, during his working trip to Hung Yen, President Luong Cuong offered incense at the Memorial Site of General Secretary Nguyen Van Linh, the Memorial House of Lieutenant General Nguyen Binh in Ca hamlet, Yen Phu village, Giai Pham commune, Yen My district and the Memorial House of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, mother of President Ho Chi Minh in Van Noi village, Hong Tien commune, Khoai Chau district.In the picture:President Luong Cuong gave a speech at the Conference approving the Draft Report of the Inspection Delegation for the Standing Committee of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee.Photo: Lam Khanh - VNA

On March 19, the Government held a special session on law-making in March 2025 to review and provide comments on the following laws: Law on Atomic Energy (amended); Law on Science, Technology and Innovation; amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy and proposed the development of the Law on Enterprises (amended). Concluding the session, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh requested that the laws concretize the Party's policies and guidelines, especially the newly issued Resolutions, Conclusions and Directives.In the picture:Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the Government's special meeting on law making.Photo: Duong Giang - VNA

On the afternoon of March 19, in Hanoi, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chaired the conference on “Digital National Assembly and application of artificial intelligence technology in the digital transformation of the National Assembly”. The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that developing science, technology, and innovation is a key and indispensable factor to build a modern, democratic, transparent, professional, scientific, and effective National Assembly. The National Assembly needs to take the lead in investing in digital infrastructure, applying science and technology to train high-quality human resources to serve national digital transformation.In the picture:Conference scene.Photo: Doan Tan - VNA

On the morning of March 19, in O Mon district, the Steering Committee for the implementation of eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses in Can Tho city held a groundbreaking ceremony to build 8 houses for households in the city who are eligible to repair and build houses under the program "eliminating temporary and dilapidated houses".In the picture:Delegates performed the groundbreaking ceremony for a house for a family with revolutionary contributions in O Mon district.Photo: Thu Hien - VNA

During the construction and repair of the bridge connecting Chuon village with Con Cung village (Kim Thuy commune, Le Thuy district, Quang Binh province), the construction team discovered a large bomb right under the bridge pier, forcing the entire project to be temporarily halted to ensure safety. MAG's Mobile Bomb Disposal Team identified the bomb as MK81, weighing about 118 kg, with a lethal radius of more than 1 km. Immediately afterwards, the bomb was brought to a safe state by experts and successfully transported to a warehouse awaiting centralized destruction according to regulations.In the picture:MAG's Mobile Bomb Disposal Team examines the bomb at the scene.Photo: VNA

As part of a series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Quang Nam Province Liberation Day (March 24, 1975 - March 24, 2025), the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee (March 28, 1930 - March 28, 2025), on March 19, the Department of Home Affairs of Quang Nam province organized the opening of the exhibition "Quang Nam's historical imprints through archival documents on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Quang Nam Liberation Day (March 24, 1975 - March 24, 2025)" at the Quang Nam Historical Archives Center.In the picture:Exhibition visitors.Photo: Bang Nhiem - VNA

On the night of March 18, thick snow appeared on the top of Ta Xua in Ban Cong commune, Tram Tau district (Yen Bai), covering the tree branches. The snow lasted until the morning of March 19 when the sun rose and then gradually melted. This is the first time snow has appeared at this time. This is the third time frost has appeared on the top of Ta Xua since before Tet.In the picture:Snow covers the trees creating a beautiful picture on the top of Ta Xua.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

On March 18, after a phone call with his US counterpart Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin affirmed his fundamental commitment to a peaceful solution to the conflict and declared his readiness to cooperate with the US to thoroughly explore possible ways to achieve a comprehensive, sustainable and long-term solution, on the basis of ensuring Moscow's legitimate interests in the security field. President Putin also agreed to the initiative of a 30-day ceasefire on infrastructure and energy in Ukraine.In the photo:Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and his US counterpart Donald Trump spoke on the phone.Photo: Getty Images/VNA

The international community, especially Arab countries, the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, have expressed concern after Israel resumed attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing more than 400 people, including many women and children, and injuring 1,000.In the picture:People evacuate from Beit Hanoun city, Gaza Strip.Photo: THX/TTXVN

South Korea has confirmed more cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at local cattle farms, bringing the total number of cases this year to 10 just a week after the first case was reported. The latest cases were found at farms in Yeongam County in South Jeolla Province, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.In the picture:Quarantine workers spray disinfectant at a farm in Muan, South Jeolla Province after cases of foot-and-mouth disease were detected.Photo: Yonhap/VNA