Outstanding domestic and international events on March 18

DOMESTIC

On the morning of March 18, 2024, in Hanoi , National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue chaired and delivered the opening speech at the Question and Answer Session at the 31st Session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on a group of issues in the financial sector. In his opening speech, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue stated that, in implementing the Law on Supervisory Activities of the National Assembly and People's Councils, Regulation 334/2017/UBTVQH14 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on organizing supervisory activities of the National Assembly, annually at the regular sessions in March and August, the National Assembly Standing Committee will organize a Question and Answer Session at the National Assembly Standing Committee. In photo: National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue delivers the opening speech at the Question and Answer Session. Photo: Nhan Sang-VNA

On March 18, 2024, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Journalists Association held the 2024 National Conference. Attending the conference were Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia; Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and leaders of a number of central and local ministries, departments and branches and leaders of press agencies nationwide. With the theme of "Continuing to build a strong Association: Solidarity - Discipline - Innovation - Creativity - Development", in 2024, the Association at all levels will continue to consolidate and build an organizational system, innovate the content and methods of operation; constantly improve the role and quality of activities, contribute practically and effectively to the propaganda and dissemination of the goal of building a professional - humane and modern press and media. At the same time, the Association continues to focus on building a team of journalists to meet all requirements; promote people-to-people diplomacy activities, and enhance the Association's reputation in the international arena. In photo: Party Central Committee Secretary, Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia speaking. Photo: Thu Hoai - VNA

In mid-March 2024, the heat wave continues to be intense in the South. According to experts, the heat wave in the South will continue from the second half of March to the first half of May 2024. In the Central Highlands and the South, drought will continue in April 2024. In the photo: Ho Chi Minh City residents cover up to avoid the heat wave. Photo: Hong Dat - VNA

On the evening of March 17, 2024, at Bai Truoc Park, Vung Tau City (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), the 2024 National U23 3x3 Basketball Championship officially ended after two dramatic final matches between the men's match between Soc Trang 1 and Air Defense-Air Force 1, and the women's match between Can Tho T&T and Ho Chi Minh City 1. The final result, the men's championship at the 2024 National U23 3x3 Basketball Championship belonged to the Air Defense-Air Force 1 team, second place belonged to Soc Trang 1 team, and the third place belonged to Hanoi 1 and Ho Chi Minh City 1 teams. The women's championship at the 2024 National U23 3x3 Basketball Championship belonged to Ho Chi Minh City 1 team, second place belonged to Soc Trang 1 team, and the third place belonged to Hanoi 1 and Hanoi 2 teams. In Photo: Air Defense-Air Force Team 1 won the men's championship. Photo: Doan Manh Duong-VNA

At 1:00 p.m. on March 18, 2024, the rescue force and police of Binh Phuoc province found the body of Nguyen Hoai Phuong Tram (16 years old), the last victim in the case of 3 students who were swept away by water while playing in the Can Don hydroelectric reservoir on March 17. Previously, the authorities found the first body, Tran Thi Yen Nhi (15 years old), about 200 meters from the scene at 11:00 p.m. on March 17. The second body, Tran Thi My Duyen (15 years old), was found on the morning of March 18. All 3 lived in Thien Hung commune, Bu Dop district, Binh Phuoc province. In the photo: Rescue forces deployed to search for female student Nguyen Hoai Phuong Tram. Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

According to the first official results announced on March 17, after the polls closed, Mr. Vladimir Putin won the Russian presidential election with 87.97% of the votes. The second place was the candidate of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF), Nikolai Kharitonov, who received 4.6% of the votes. The third place was Mr. Vladislav Davankov of the “New People” Party with 4.2% of the votes and the fourth place was the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDPR), Mr. Leonid Slutsky, with 3% of the votes. In the photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a press conference in Moscow on March 18, 2024. Photo: THX/TTXVN

On March 17, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen signed a Joint Declaration on the Comprehensive and Strategic Partnership between Egypt and the European Union (EU). The joint declaration was signed within the framework of the Egypt-Europe Summit held on March 17 in Cairo. Also at the conference, EC President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the EU has committed a 7.4 billion euro (8.1 billion USD) aid and investment package to Egypt. In photo: Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi (right) and President of the European Commission (EC) Ursula von der Leyen at the signing ceremony of the joint declaration within the framework of the Egypt-Europe Summit in Cairo, March 17, 2024. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced on March 17 that more than 13,000 children had been killed in Gaza in the Israeli attack, saying many were severely malnourished and "didn't even have the strength to cry". UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell shared: "Thousands of children have been injured and we can't even tell where they are. They may be trapped under the rubble... We have not seen such a high mortality rate among children in most other conflicts in the world. In this photo: A child injured in an Israeli airstrike is treated at a hospital in Rafah, Gaza Strip on February 26, 2024. Photo: AFP/TTXVN

According to sources from the Japanese government and Ministry of Defense on the morning of March 18, North Korea appears to have launched two ballistic missiles, both of which fell outside the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). According to the Japan Coast Guard, the two launches took place about 30 minutes apart. Meanwhile, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said Pyongyang may have launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles from North Hwanghae Province. In photo: South Korean media reports on North Korea's missile launch in Seoul, March 18, 2024. Photo: Yonhap/TTXVN

The Haitian government has extended the curfew in the western part of the capital Port-au-Prince until March 20, 2024. The area remains under a state of emergency until April 3. The curfew, which will be in effect from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. local time, will not affect members of the public service on duty such as firefighters, ambulance drivers, medical staff and accredited journalists. In this photo: Police tighten security in Port-au-Prince, Haiti on March 9, 2024. Photo: AFP/VNA

TH (according to VNA)

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