Vietnamese DPM Pham Binh Minh loses his job

23 Sept 04:31 Key points summarised by AI

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, along with Vu Duc Dam, was dismissed from his position and expelled from the Communist Party and Politburo on January 5th.
Minh's dismissal is reportedly linked to his failure to properly supervise repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to widespread bribery cases.
Officials in overseas missions were accused of accepting money from Vietnamese citizens for seats on these crucial repatriation flights.
Foreign Affairs Minister Bui Thanh Son was also reprimanded by the Party's Politburo for managerial negligence related to these same flight violations.
Experts suggest these high-profile dismissals are primarily a consequence of corruption allegations rather than internal power struggles.

Lamphun in a New Light

Today 15:02 Key points summarised by AI

Lamphun illuminates its ancient city with two concurrent light festivals: the high-tech VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN and the traditional Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival.
VIJIT Thailand @ LAMPHUN transforms historic landmarks into an outdoor gallery, using projections and multimedia to animate Lamphun's history, including Queen Chamadevi's story.
The Hundred Thousand Lantern Festival, part of Yi Peng, fills temples and streets with countless traditional lanterns, symbolizing Buddhist devotion and personal wishes.
These festivals offer a unique after-dark experience, blending contemporary light art with centuries-old Lanna traditions, connecting visitors to Lamphun's past and faith.