Leaders commemorate President Ho Chi Minh on National Day
Representatives from the Party, National Assembly, State, Government and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on September 1, on the occasion of the 75th National Day (September 2, 1945-2020).
Meetings, cultural events and gatherings were held both across the country and abroad over the past week in celebration of the date in 1945 when the Southeast Asian nation declared its independence from France.
Leaders of various countries sent messages and letters of congratulations to Vietnamese Party and State leaders on the occasion.
New school year begins with joy amid COVID-19
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Twelfth grade students of the Phan Dinh Phung High School (Hanoi) during the opening ceremony of the 2020-2021 academic year on September 5 morning.
The 2020-2021 academic year officially began for nearly 23 million students across the country following opening ceremonies, which were held on the morning of September 5 in many different forms in various locales due to the influence of COVID-19.
There were virtual events in some localities that were hit by the pandemic, while in other places, this new academic year’s opening ceremonies were held briefly by local schools, after they fully prepared all safety measures, such as measuring body temperature, washing hands and wearing masks, in order to welcome students to schools.
Many Party and State leaders joined teachers and students nationwide to officially kick off the new school year.
Public investment hits five-year high
Public investment in August and the first eight months of this year increased 45.4% and 30.4% year-on-year, respectively, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). The investment hit five-year high, reaching VND47.4 trillion (US$2.0 billion) in August and VND250.5 trillion from January to August.
Over the eight months, the amount of capital under the management of the central government hit VND41.2 trillion, equivalent to 48.7% of the yearly target and up 65.1% against the same period last year; and the volume of capital under the management of local administrations was VND209.3 trillion, equivalent to 51.1% of the yearly target and a year-on-year rise of 25.2%.
Vietnam attracted US$19.54 billion worth of FDI as of August 20, down 13.7% year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.
Vietnam triumphs in Tank Biathlon at 2020 Army Games
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Three members of Vietnam's tank crew celebrate when they cross the finish line at the final match of the International Army Games 2020 on September 4, 2020. (Photo: qdnd.vn)
The tank team of the Vietnam People’s Army triumphed at the final race of tank crews in the second division of the Tank Biathlon event at the ongoing 2020 International Army Games in the suburbs of Russia’s Moscow on September 4.
The Vietnamese team completed three rounds of competition in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 42 seconds, bringing down 13 out of the total 24 targets. The team received enthusiastic cheers from Vietnamese spectators and foreign friends.
The race also saw the participation of teams from Laos, Tajikistan and Myanmar.
815 COVID-19 patients in Vietnam fully recovered as of September 7 morning
As many as 815 of the total number of COVID-19 patients in Vietnam have fully recovered as of the morning of September 7, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
The country has reported a total of 1,049 COVID-19 cases, including 691 cases of domestic infection. There have been 35 COVID-19-related deaths so far.
Among the active patients, 27 have tested negative for the novel coronavirus once, 24 twice and 35 three times.
There are 39,975 people having close contact with confirmed cases or coming from pandemic-hit areas under quarantine at present.
Vietnam 42nd in global innovation index
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Vietnam ranked 42nd among 131 economies for the second consecutive year in the 2020 Global Innovation Index (GII), as announced by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
In economies making the most significant progress in their GII innovation ranking over time, Vietnam was first among 29 lower middle-income countries and third in Southeast Asia.
Compared to its own index last year, it posted higher levels in a number of indicators, including business sophistication, from 69th to 39th place, and creative output, from 47th to 38th.
Vietnam has used the GII as an important management tool since 2017, with its index rising from 71st place in 2014 to 59th in 2016 and 42nd last year.
Vietnam’s cuisine sets five world records
The records were based on applications submitted by the Vietnam Book of Records (VietKings) in early 2020.
Accordingly, Vietnam has been recognised as the country with the world’s most “strand and broth” dishes, the world’s most dishes made from flowers, and the greatest variety of special rolls.
The country also has the most kinds of mam (salted fish) and dishes made from mam, with 100 dishes having been recorded so far.
Last but not least, with up to 143 dishes made from rice flour in different sizes, Vietnam has established itself as the country with the world’s most dishes made from this ingredient.
Vietnamese photojournalist wins big in Malaysian photo contest
“Practicing Ritual” by Viet Van.
Viet Van, a photojournalist with the Lao Dong (Labour) Newspaper in Vietnam, won three gold medals at the Bugis Photo Cup Circuit 2020 in Malaysia.
Works entitled “Practicing Ritual” and “Belief” picked up two golds at the PhotoVivo salon. Meanwhile, “Practicing Ritual” earned another at the Knowledge Bowl salon.
The two colour photos were taken at the Sri Mahamariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in Kuala Lumpur.
The contest was held by the Asia Photographers Union (APU) with support from the Photographic Society of America (PSA) and attracted thousands of entries from a host of countries. Award-winning shots will be nominated for the 2021 APU Golden Dragon awards and showcased in Kuala Lumpur on September 20.
