PARIS — Leonardo da Vinci may have suffered traumatic nerve damage that left him with a "claw hand", impairing his ability to paint in later life, a new study said. The two scientists reached their finding by studying a chalk drawing of da Vinci attributed to the 16th-century Lombard artist Giovanni Ambrogio Figino. "Rather than depicting the typical clenched hand seen in post-stroke muscular spasticity, the picture suggests an alternative diagnosis such as ulnar palsy, commonly known as claw hand," Lazzeri said in the report. Researchers say the physical weakness of Leonardo da Vinci, whose sculpture by Italian artist Pietro Magni is seen in Milan, was not accompanied by any cognitive decline . French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella on Thursday kicked off commemorations to mark 500 years since da Vinci died in France.

Though the private sector now accounts for 42 per cent of GDP, more can be done to reach the sector’s full potential. “We need to create space, resources and opportunities for the private sector to develop more smoothly,” he said. On average, the private sector annually provided 1.2 million jobs, resulting in a great contribution to the nation’s GDP growth. Thao called for consensus in terms of perception and actions among the Government, authorities and agencies with regards to the development of the private sector. PM Phúc and State leaders participated in the ribbon cutting ceremony of the opening of the Private Economic Achievement Exhibition.

From January to April, the country's trade turnover reached $157 billion, up 8 per cent year on year. Its export value amounted to $78.8 billion, up 6 per cent, while imports totalled $78 billion, up 10.4 per cent. The US remained Việt Nam's biggest export market, spending nearly $18 billion on Vietnamese goods, up 28 per cent year on year. It was followed by the EU ($14 billion), China ($10.4 billion), South Korea ($6.2 billion) and Japan ($6.1 billion). Việt Nam spent nearly $3 billion importing the three groups of products, statisticians said.

The country exported $78.8 billion worth of goods in the first four months of 2019, up 6 per cent year on year. From January to April, the country's trade turnover reached $157 billion, up 8 per cent year on year. Its export value amounted to $78.8 billion, up 6 per cent, while imports totalled $78 billion, up 10.4 per cent. It was followed by the EU ($14 billion), China ($10.4 billion), South Korea ($6.2 billion) and Japan ($6.1 billion). Việt Nam spent nearly $3 billion importing the three groups of products, statisticians said.

Experts confirm that coal-fired power plant must ensure environmental protection. Việt Nam has 25 coal power plants operating commercially. At present, all 25 coal power plants have installed suspended particulate matter systems using CORONA technology. Our agency has applied many measures, including the legal framework towards revising of the 2014 Environmental Law on the development of environmental technology and standards. However, the quality of the flying dust and coal ash from Vietnamese coal plants is not high.

China has been Việt Nam’s biggest trade partner since 2004, and bilateral trade has been continuing its strong growth. China is currently Việt Nam’s second largest export market after the United States. It is China’s fifth largest export market and ninth largest import market. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Việt Nam–China trade turnover reached $106.7 billion last year, up 13.5 per cent compared to 2017. China is the main export market for Việt Nam’s agricultural and aquatic products.

Việt Nam is fast becoming an attractive investment destination for Chinese enterprises. China has been Việt Nam’s biggest trade partner since 2004, and bilateral trade has been continuing its strong growth. China is currently Việt Nam’s second largest export market after the United States. It is China’s fifth largest export market and ninth largest import market. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Việt Nam–China trade turnover reached $106.7 billion last year, up 13.5 per cent compared to 2017.

The Deputy PM, also Chairman of National Traffic Safety Committee, was speaking at a meeting to review traffic safety in the first quarter of the year and set tasks for the second quarter. Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister said the number of traffic accidents during the Lunar New Year holidays decreased significantly this year. There were 4,030 traffic accidents nationwide in the period, killing 1,905 people and injuring 3,141 others. A leader of the HCM City People's Committee said health check-ups for drivers working in transport businesses were being carried out. The committee will continue to set up inspection teams in localities that had high levels of traffic accidents in the first quarter.

The Deputy PM, also Chairman of National Traffic Safety Committee, was speaking at a meeting to review traffic safety in the first quarter of the year and set tasks for the second quarter. Speaking at the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister said the number of traffic accidents during the Lunar New Year holidays decreased significantly this year. There were 4,030 traffic accidents nationwide in the period, killing 1,905 people and injuring 3,141 others. A leader of the HCM City People's Committee said health check-ups for drivers working in transport businesses were being carried out. The committee will continue to set up inspection teams in localities that had high levels of traffic accidents in the first quarter.

Thursday's news conference will be the first time President Emmanuel Macron address the French media, without standing alongside a foreign dignitary. – AFP/VNA PhotoPARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron will unveil his long-awaited response to nearly six months of humiliating street protests today as he lays out reform plans that could prove decisive for his political future. Macron swept to power in 2017 on hopes he would be a youthful breath of fresh air for France. And a day later, someone leaked the entire text of his reform plan speech to the media. "This is an unprecedented exercise for Emmanuel Macron, who has been inclined to short-circuit traditional media, preferring a locked up communication carried out via social media," Le Parisien newspaper said.

Six of the 12 projects are in the transport sector, with the biggest being a 15km road in Nhơn Trạch District worth $235 million. Đồng Nai has attracted more than $373 million in 38 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects as of the end of March, of which $152.6 million was registered in 18 new FDI projects and $220.5 million was added to 20 existing projects. According to the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, most of the projects are in the high-tech and environmentally friendly support industry. The province has been home to 1,901 FDI projects with a total registered capital of $34.1 billion. Of them, 1,400 projects worth $28.9 billion are operational.

People flock to Đầm Sen Water Park in HCM City during the summer. — Photo dantri.com.vnHÀ NỘI – Summer is the peak season for tourist companies and high sales and dividend rates are expected to drive tourism shares up in the coming months. Shares of Thành Thành Công Tourist JSC (VNG) and Superdong Fast Ferry Kiên Giang JSC (SKG) were also favoured by investors. There are 19 tourist companies listed on official and unofficial stock exchanges in Việt Nam. Market analysts have said the low liquidity can be attributed to the fact that most listed tourism companies are small- and medium-sized enterprises with volatile business performance.

Shares of Thành Thành Công Tourist JSC (VNG) and Superdong Fast Ferry Kiên Giang JSC (SKG) were also favoured by investors. Their share prices increased by between 20 and 30 per cent in the peak season. There are 19 tourist companies listed on official and unofficial stock exchanges in Việt Nam. While the prospects for tourism stocks are bright in general, many of them have not received much attention from investors. Market analysts have said the low liquidity can be attributed to the fact that most listed tourism companies are small- and medium-sized enterprises with volatile business performance.

A shortage of experts, failure of educational facilities and equipment to meet demand and old training curriculums are obstacles to the engagement of business in vocational training and education, Thành said. The Labour Code only regulates the role of enterprises in establishing vocational training institutes or organising training for their employees, but ignores many other aspects, she said. A mechanism that institutionalises the co-operation with the business sector should be jointly developed to suit Vietnamese conditions, she said. Ninh said to strengthen the connection between industry and vocational training, there should be alignment between laws, regulations and other legal documents. Amendments related to vocational education are expected to facilitate and provide opportunities for employees to get training and improve their occupational skills.

The Department of Trade Protection under the MoIT said the investigation was initiated based on requests submitted by four domestic MDF producers on October 18, 2018. VRG Kiên Giang MDF JSC, VRG Dongwha MDF JSC, VRG Quảng Trị MDF JSC and Kim Tín MDF JSC submitted the requests, claiming industrial wood board products imported from Thailand and Malaysia were dumped in the Vietnamese market at a margin of 18.59 per cent to 50.6 per cent. The ministry will also verify information provided by relevant parties before issuing its conclusions. Public consultation will be arranged, making it easier for relevant parties to provide information and express their views. The ministry has recommended all organisations and individuals that are importing, exporting, distributing and using the investigated goods provide information to protect their rights and interests.