Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- The 15th National Assembly (NA) on November 27 passed a law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Health Insurance with 446 deputies, or 93.11% of the total lawmakers, voting in favour.

Notably, under the new law, in addition to groups of health insurance participants specified in the current law, others stipulated in other laws are added. Village health workers and midwives will also enjoy support to participate in health insurance as a way to encourage and motivate them. Read full story

- The 15th National Assembly approved the resolution on the investment policy for the National Target Programme on Drug Prevention and Control by 2030 at its ongoing 8th session in Hanoi on November 27 afternoon.

The programme aims to harness the collective strength of the political system and the entire population in drug prevention and control. It highlights the continuous and synchronous implementation of solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of the work across three key areas - supply, demand, and harm reduction. Read full story

- Party General Secretary To Lam had a working session with the Standing Board of the Party Committee of Hanoi on November 27, during which he hailed the city's pivotal role and its pioneering in implementing Party resolutions, and urged the city to continue promoting its position as a leading locality.

The Party chief described the capital as a key economic growth hub and the nation’s centre of innovation. Its pioneering and creative spirit in implementing initiatives provides a practical model for other localities to adopt and expand nationwide, he said. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the opening ceremony of the National Innovative Entrepreneurship Day (Techfest Vietnam 2024) themed “Joining hands to develop Vietnam's innovative startup ecosystem” in the northern port city of Hai Phong on November 27.

In his remarks, the PM stressed that the Party and the State always pay special attention to science, technology, and innovation, considering them one of the top national policies for rapid and sustainable development. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had online talks with Lao Foreign Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane on November 27.

Thongsavanh thanked Son for being the first foreign minister to send congratulatory messages and hold online discussions upon his appointment as Lao Foreign Minister, showing the close-knit and special relationship between the two foreign ministries and the two nations as a whole. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan held a ceremony to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944-2024) and 35 years of the All-People Defence Festival.

The event drew many Japanese officials, including Defence Minister Nakatani Gen, along with ambassadors and defence attachés from various nations; as well as representatives of the Vietnamese community in Japan. Read full story

- Vietnam and Bulgaria have significant potential for multi-sector collaboration, ranging from high-tech industries and automobile manufacturing to agriculture, food processing, healthcare, and education.

This was highlighted by participants at the Vietnam-Bulgaria Business Forum, jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) and the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency (BSMEPA) on November 27 in the southern metropolis. Read full story

- A business forum was held by the Dutch Embassy in Vietnam in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 27, seeking ways for sustainable aquaculture in the region.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, the Mekong Delta is the country’s aquaculture powerhouse that generates 61.8% of Vietnam’s seafood production and 57.6% of its seafood export value. But the region is facing such major challenges as climate change, saline intrusion, environmental pollution, biodiversity loss, and increasing international market pressure. Read full story./.