Read what is in the news today.

Politics

— The U.S.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will open a regional office in Hanoi to coordinate, share experience in and tackle the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of State said on Thursday following an online ministerial meeting hosted by the U.S. that took place with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

— The U.S. has pledged to provide nearly US$153.6 million in assistance to several projects of the Mekong countries, the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun announced at the first Mekong-U.S. Partnership Ministerial Meeting on Friday.

Society

— Vietnam reported an imported coronavirus case on Friday evening, raising its tally to 1,060, while recoveries reached 902 and virus-related deaths remain at 35, according to the Ministry of Health.

— A No. 41 bus running on the route between An Suong Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoc Mon District and Mien Tay Bus Station caught fire on Friday evening.

— Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed decisions to appoint Ngo Thi Minh as the fourth Deputy Minister of Education and Training and Nguyen Ba Hoan as the fourth Deputy Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

— Designing works are underway for the construction of the Nhon Trach Bridge, which is estimated to cost over VND2.2 trillion ($94.8 million), to connect Ho Chi Minh City’s District 2 and Nhon Trach District in neighboring Dong Nai Province, the project’s investor said on Friday.

Business

— The Customs Department of Hai Phong City, located in northern Vietnam, has seized the largest ever shipment of counterfeit cigarettes with more than one million packs, worth over VND30 billion ($1.3 million), illegally imported from Cambodia to the port city.

— The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade has issued a warning on potential health risks of Milk Lab Almond Milk 1L, produced by Australia’s Rio Coffee Ltd, and ordered a nationwide recall of the product.

Education

— The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Education and Training has officially withdrawn the establishment licenses of all ten facilities of the Dai Bang (Eagle) English Center in the city because of its unlicensed operation.

Lifestyle

— Vietnamese-American 2016 Pulitzer winner Nguyen Thanh Viet has been selected as the newest member of the Pulitzer Prize Board, according to an announcement on the award’s official website.

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