Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — April 12

Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man had a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Saturday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

-- Leaders of Cuba, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Chile, Sweden, Hungary, and international organizations have sent letters and messages of congratulations to Vietnam’s newly-elected key leaders.

-- Vietnam and Laos held a security cooperation conference in Vientiane on Thursday and Friday, exchanging information and strengthening their partnership to prevent and address the impacts of security threats on both countries.

Society

-- Scorching heat is forecast to continue sweeping Vietnam on Sunday, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius, posing challenges to daily life and production activities.

-- The Border Guard Command of Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam has worked with relevant units to receive 73 Vietnamese citizens repatriated by Cambodia for illegal residence and unauthorized employment in the neighboring nation.

-- A prolonged heatwave has hit Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam since early April, with temperatures ranging from 36 to 38 degrees Celsius, affecting public health, as hospitalizations among children and the elderly have risen 20-50 percent.

Economy

-- Mitsubishi Xforce may debut a new version in Vietnam this June, though it remains unclear whether it will be a facelift or simply an equipment update.

-- More commercial banks have jumped on the rate-lowering bandwagon, making it easier for individuals and firms to access loans.

-- Dong Nai Province, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, has ordered a review of fuel supply sources to ensure sufficient and continuous supply for contractors involved in the underway Long Thanh International Airport project and other major projects in the province.