Vietnam News Today (Apr. 3): Vietnam Head into 2022 AFF Futsal Championship with High Hopes

Vietnam is speeding up nationwide vaccination campaign to better protect its people from virus infection. Photo: VOV

Daily Covid-19 infections fall to one month low of over 65,000

Vietnam recorded 65,619 coronavirus cases on April 2, representing a fall of nearly 7,000 cases compared to the previous day, the lowest figure recorded in the past month.

Official data from the Ministry of Health show 65,616 cases were logged in the country, including 42,193 cases diagnosed in the community. Only three people tested positive upon returning from overseas.

The Covid-19 outbreak is showing signs of waning nationwide with most cases infected with the Omicron variant.

Hanoi capital topped localities, registering 7,423 fresh cases, followed by Dak Lak, Nghe An, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai and Ha Giang that reported more than 2,000 each.

Notably, Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands announced 3,999 new cases, an increase of 900 cases compared to the previous day, cited VOV.

During the day, nearly 107,000 patients were discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, while an additional 37 patients died of the virus.

As of 06pm on April 2, Vietnam has confirmed 9,716,282 Covid-19 cases since the start of the outbreak, ranking 12th out of 227 countries and territories worldwide.

Of the infected patients, 7,713,354 have been discharged from hospital, and 42,563 patients have died of the virus.

More than 206 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide.

Vietnamese, Indian field hospitals in South Sudan share peacekeeping experience

A delegation of the level-2 field hospital No.3 of Vietnam engaging in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan has paid a working visit to India’s level-2 field hospital in Malakal state to enhance exchange and cooperation in peacekeeping operations in the African country, according to the Ministry of National Defense’s Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

During the visit, members of Vietnam's level-2 field hospital No. 3 learned about SOP standard procedures in hospital operation, which been painstakingly developed and updated by Indian colleagues during the Indian field hospital's 12 years of operation.

Doctors and nurses of the two hospitals also shared expertise and experience in handling real situations in order to improve the quality of medical examination and treatment services in the Mission.

In addition, they joined sports, cultural and culinary exchange activities, according to VNA.

Members of Vietnam's level-2 field hospital No. 3 learn about SOP standard procedures in hospital operation. Photo: qdnd.vn

The Vietnamese delegation also visited and presented gifts to the Cambodian Military Police unit and the level-1 field hospital of the Bangladeshi navy.

Although their term at the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan is about to finish, members of the level-2 field hospital No. 3 of Vietnam still regularly maintain professional coordination activities, contributing to promoting country, people and culture of Vietnam to international friends.

Previously, Colonel Rishi Raj, Commander of the level-2 field hospital of India led a delegation to visit the Vietnamese field hospital, during which Vietnamese military doctors shared hands-on experience.

In July last year, for the first time the two hospitals coordinated to organize an online training on how to improve medical capacity in preventing and controlling the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vietnam head into 2022 AFF Futsal Championship with high hopes

The 2022 AFF Futsal Championship officially kicked off in Thailand on April 2 with the Vietnamese team setting their sights on winning the championship.

This year's tournament features nine teams that are divided into two groups. Group A consists of host Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Cambodia, while Group B includes Vietnam, Myanmar, Australia, and Timor Leste.

Teams will compete in a round-robin format that will see the top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.

The Vietnamese futsal team are ready for the 2022 AFF Futsal Championship in Thailand. Photo: VOV

Most notably, the top three teams will win tickets to the AFC Futsal Asian Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Kuwait from September 25 to October 20.

Thailand that have held 15 titles in 16 AFF Futsal Championships remain the No1 contenders for this year’s championship title, reported VOV.

However, the hosting team have recently rejuvenated its squad, retaining only six players that competed in the Futsal World Cup 2021. In addition, key striker Suphawut is not able to join the lineup due to injury.

This would present a chance for other teams such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Malaysia to make a breakthrough this year.

Vietnam joins WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty

Vietnam’s accession to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) and implementation of the pact is expected to encourage the development of the local cultural industry, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organizations in Geneva said.

In her statement at a ceremony on April 1 to hand over Vietnam’s signed treaty document to Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Daren Tang in the Swiss city, the ambassador said the treaty will especially promote the cinema and performing activities in contribution to Vietnam’s socio-economic growth.

The WPPT deals with the rights of performers and producers of phonograms, particularly in the digital environment, cited VNA.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai (L), Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva presents Vietnam’s signed WPPT document to WIPO Director General Daren Tang. Photo: VNA

Tang, for his part, congratulated Vietnam on joining the WPPT, emphasizing that the accession is a testament to Vietnam's strong response to its commitments to the global intellectual property system, while help strengthening the protection of the related rights.

The joining is expected to also lead to increased employment and opportunities for the nation’s creative industry, he added.

On the sidelines of the event, Ambassador Mai had a meeting with Tang and two WIPO deputy directors general Sylvie Forbin and Hasan Kleib to discuss the implementation of cooperation contents agreed between Vietnam and WIPO during the working visit of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to the organization in November 2021. The WIPO leaders pledged to work closely with Vietnamese competent agencies to quickly and successfully conduct the contents.

FIFA and AFC highly praise Vietnam’s recent football achievements

Officials of FIFA and AFC have spoken highly of the football achievements that Vietnam has recorded during recent meetings with Tran Quoc Tuan, acting president of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Tuan was in Doha, Qatar to attend the 72nd FIFA Congress and talked with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and AFC President Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa on the sidelines of the congress on April 2.

VFF's acting President Tran Quoc Tuan meets with FIFA and AFC leaders. Photo: NDO

Leaders of the world and Asia’s football governing bodies congratulated Vietnam on its notable results, especially the women’s team’s qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, NDO reported.

They also spoke highly of Vietnam’s 1-1 draw with Japan in the third round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier, as Vietnam is the only representative of Southeast Asia to reach this stage.

The 72nd FIFA Congress opened in Doha on March 31 with the participation of 210 FIFA members. The VFF delegation attending the event is headed by its acting President Tran Quoc Tuan.

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