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Politics

-- Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Lao government to pay an official visit to Vietnam from January 8 to 10 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, the Vietnam News Agency reported on Wednesday.

Society

-- Vietnam’s government and people on Wednesday donated US$100,000 to support people affected by deadly tornadoes in the U.S. state of Kentucky in December at a ceremony at the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Hanoi.

-- Vietnam has become one of the six countries with the highest COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the world, the Vietnam News Agency quoted Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh as telling a teleconference between the government and localities on Wednesday.

-- A Vietnam Airlines flight from Japan to Hanoi with nearly 50 passengers on board had to change its route on Wednesday and landed at Fukuoka Airport 40 minutes after departure from Narita International Airport due to a threat that it would be shot down over Tokyo Bay.

Lifestyle

-- The Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development, in collaboration with Netflix, on Wednesday launched a green campaign encouraging filmmakers to adhere to environmental protection criteria during the production and distribution process, along with a short film competition to showcase current issues of sustainable development and environmental protection.

-- Hanbin, a Vietnamese from the northern province of Yen Bai, has recently been announced among seven members of TEMPEST, a boy band about to debut in South Korea. 

-- A 20ha apricot forest located around 7km from Moc Chau Town in the northern province of Son La’s Moc Chau District has attracted visitors with its endless white during the blooming season.

World news

-- Thailand is considering measures such as limiting large gatherings and banning alcohol sales in restaurants to discourage customers to avert a wave of coronavirus infections, a health official said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

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