October 17-23: Second session of 14th National Assembly opens

October 17-23: Second session of 14th National Assembly opens

1. Second session of 14th National Assembly opens

The second session of the fourteenth National Assembly (NA) opened in Hanoi on October 20. The NA held a preparatory meeting to discuss and adopt the working agenda for its second session.

While year-end NA sessions focus on major socioeconomic issues, this sitting will concentrate on legislation, with four bills and one resolution slated to be adopted and twelve other draft laws and one resolution subject to debate.

2. ADMM+ experts on humanitarian anti-mine action meet in Hanoi

General Ngo Xuan Lich, Minister of National Defence (centre), and representatives look at bombs and mines displayed in the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre which was inaugurated yesterday in Hanoi (Photo:VNA)

The Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) convened their fourth conference in Hanoi on October 20.

The eighteen member states discussed and agreed upon a report summarising the group’s activities for 2014-2017. According to the report, the group was established in 2013, consisting of the ten ASEAN member states and their eight partners in dialogue—India, the Republic of Korea, the US, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, China and Australia.

Participants also discussed tasks for 2017-2020, with proposals on organising more conferences on bomb/mine affairs, boosting humanitarian anti-mine action and carrying out a drill in 2019.

3. Vietnam Airlines honoured at 2016 World Travel Awards

Vietnam Airlines has been presented with two awards for being Asia’s Leading Airline (Economy Class) and Asia’s Cultural Airline at the 2016 World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony.

The ceremony took place at the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort on October 15, with the participation of nearly 200 representatives from global travel agencies, media outlets and hospitality experts.

4. No inorganic arsenic found in Vietnamese fish sauce: Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health (MOH) announced on October 22 that 100% samples of fish sauce taken for testing were found to contain no inorganic arsenic or other heavy metals, such as lead, mercury and cadmium.

A total of 247 samples from 210 brands produced by 82 fish sauce manufacturers (both by traditional and industrial methods) at markets and several supermarkets were randomly selected to be tested. All inspected manufacturers made fish sauce from fish, salt and food additives in different proportions, according to the tests.

5. Vietnam attends 18th World Congress of Russian Press

Vietnam participated in the eighteenth World Congress of Russian Press, held in Paris, France from October 19-21. The event drew representatives from more than 500 press agencies with Russian-language publications from 63 countries and aimed at expanding the global influence of the Russian language.

Participants also aimed to increase cooperation between Russian-language media outlets and Russian-speaking communities abroad.

6. Vietnam National Mine Action Centre inaugurated

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate Vietnam National Mine Action Centre

The headquarters of the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre was officially inaugurated and put into operation on October 20 at Thach Hoa Commune, Thach That District, Hanoi.

The centre will work closely with relevant ministries and localities, domestic and international organisations and foreign embassies to perform its tasks. It has also coordinated with other agencies in designing and proposing UXO impact settlement policies and plans.

7. Monsoon Music Festival storms Hanoi

Monsoon Music Festival (MMF), Vietnam’s biggest musical event, stormed the capital city of Hanoi on the night of October 21 with a repertoire featuring a line-up of Vietnamese and international artists.

The legendary German rock band Scorpion headlined this year’s concert on the night of October 23. Their Hanoi performance was part of the band’s world tour to celebrate its 50-year anniversary.

8. AFC U19: Vietnam enter semifinals, securing World Cup berth

FIFA immediately sent congratulations to the U19 Vietnam.

Vietnam beat hosts Bahrain 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-19 Football Championship to reach the semifinals, securing a berth at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Vietnam will face either Japan or Tajikistan in the last four, with the two sides meeting in the quarterfinals on October 24.

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