Outstanding domestic and international events on February 21

DOMESTIC

On February 21, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a Government Conference with localities to implement the Central Committee's Conclusion, the National Assembly's Resolution, and the Government's Resolution on economic growth and promoting public investment disbursement. Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the task of at least 8% growth in 2025 has been "directed by the Party, agreed upon by the Government, supported by the National Assembly, agreed by the people, and expected by the Fatherland, so we only discuss action, not retreat."In the picture:View of the Government Conference with localities on economic growth.Photo: Duong Giang - VNA

On February 21, in Ho Chi Minh City, comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Commission visited and congratulated groups and individuals on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors' Day (February 27, 1955 - February 27, 2025).In the picture:Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia congratulated the collective of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy.Photo: Dinh Hang - VNA

On February 21, in Ha Long City (Quang Ninh), Quang Ninh Province hosted the 2025 Spring Meeting Program between the Secretaries of the Provincial Party Committees of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Ha Giang provinces (Vietnam) and the Secretaries of the Party Committees of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China). This is the opening diplomatic activity of the "Vietnam - China Humanitarian Exchange Year 2025" and celebrates the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.In the picture:The Secretaries of the Provincial/Regional Party Committees of the two sides signed the minutes of the 2025 Spring Meeting.Photo: Van Duc - VNA

At Lai Chau City Forest Park, Lai Chau province held the launching ceremony of "Tree Planting Festival to forever remember Uncle Ho" in the Spring of At Ty 2025. The whole Lai Chau province strives to plant over 5,000 hectares of forest in the final year to implement the target of Resolution No. 03-NQ/TU of the Provincial Party Committee on sustainable forest development for the period 2021 - 2025.In the picture:Delegates participated in planting trees at Lai Chau City Forest Park after the launching ceremony.Photo: Nguyen Oanh - VNA

On February 21, Kon Tum General Hospital successfully treated two patients with Botulinum type E poisoning, Y Chuih (born in 1978, residing in Tan Lap commune, Kon Ray district, Kon Tum province) and A Ro (born in 1982, residing in Dak Rve town, Kon Ray district) who were in critical condition. Currently, doctors are still treating and rehabilitating the patients.In the picture:The patients were treated at the Department of Intensive Care and Anti-Poison, Kon Tum Provincial General Hospital.Photo: Du Toan - VNA

On February 21, a fire suddenly broke out at house number 2A, alley 129/2/19 Nguyen Trai, Thuong Dinh ward, Thanh Xuan district, Hanoi city. Immediately after receiving the news, the Fire Prevention and Rescue Police force mobilized 3 specialized fire trucks, 2 fire fighting motorbikes and 16 officers and soldiers to the scene to put out the fire. The functional force promptly rescued 1 person, the homeowner (78 years old), who was trapped in the house, to escape safely, in stable health. The cause of the fire was determined to be an electrical short circuit in the induction cooker.In the picture:Homeowner rescued from fire.Photo: VNA

Scientists from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources and the Institute of Genome Research under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology have discovered two new species of lizards, with specimens collected in Sop Cop Nature Reserve, Son La province and Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen provinces, in the South Central region of Vietnam. The two new lizard species have been published in the international journal Zookeys and the European Journal of Taxonomy.In the picture:Two new lizards were discovered.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

On February 20, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss a range of topics, including relations with the United States and the conflict in Ukraine. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, from February 20-21.In the picture:Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (3rd left) and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi (2nd right) at a meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa.Photo: THX/TTXVN

On February 21, the Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) of South Korea conducted a search and arrest of Lieutenant General Won Cheon Hee, head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, on suspicion of involvement in the President's declaration of martial law on the night of December 3, 2024. The CIO announced that it had dispatched prosecutors and investigators to Won Cheon Hee's office and home in central Seoul that morning to collect relevant evidence.In the picture:The building housing the Corruption Investigation Office for Senior Officials (CIO) in Gwacheon, South Korea.Photo: THX/TTXVN

The number of Americans filing new claims for unemployment benefits rose modestly last week, suggesting the labor market remains strong despite massive layoffs of federal workers following President Donald Trump's inauguration, according to data released by the U.S. Labor Department. On a seasonally adjusted basis, initial claims for state unemployment benefits rose 5,000 to 219,000 in the week ended Feb. 15. Unadjusted initial claims fell 10,118 to 222,627 last week.In the picture:A worker unloads goods at a store in New York, USA.Photo: THX/TTXVN