Outstanding domestic and international events on January 1

DOMESTIC

On January 1, many localities in Ha Tinh organized the announcement of Resolution No. 1283/NQ-UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of district and commune-level administrative units of Ha Tinh province in the period of 2023 - 2025. Accordingly, in the period of 2023 - 2025, the whole province will arrange 3 district-level administrative units, 23 commune-level administrative units and expand the administrative boundaries of Ha Tinh city to reduce 1 district and 7 communes. From January 1, 2025, Ha Tinh province has 12 district-level administrative units, including 9 districts, 2 towns and 1 city; 209 commune-level administrative units (including 170 communes, 25 wards and 14 towns).In the picture:Leaders of Ha Tinh province presented flowers to congratulate the Standing Committee of Thach Ha District Party Committee.Photo: Hoang Nga - VNA

On January 1, the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union held a ceremony to honor 14 young people as "Outstanding Young Citizens" in 2024. Attending the ceremony was Mr. Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the City Party Committee. This is an annual activity organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union to honor typical young people living, studying and working in Ho Chi Minh City, with many achievements and outstanding contributions to the overall development of the city.In the picture:Mr. Nguyen Van Nen, Politburo member, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Secretary of the Central Youth Union, Chairman of the Central Council of Young Pioneers Nguyen Pham Duy Trang awarded the title of Young Citizen of Ho Chi Minh City to Dr. Pham Thanh Tuan Anh.Photo: Thu Huong – VNA

On January 1, at Bai Mon National Scenic Area - Mui Dai Lanh (Dong Hoa Town, Phu Yen Province), the Town People's Committee held a flag-raising ceremony for the new year 2025 and welcomed the first tourists to Mui Dai Lanh - the place that welcomes the earliest sunrise on the mainland of Vietnam. In the sacred atmosphere of the first day of the new year, many cadres, soldiers, people of Phu Yen Province and hundreds of tourists turned towards the national flag and sang the Vietnamese National Anthem. Many tourists participating in this event felt very proud and loving about the scenery of their homeland and country.In the picture:Leaders, officers, soldiers, people and tourists participate in the Flag Salute Ceremony at Dai Lanh Cape.Photo: Tuong Quan – VNA

On January 1, the Department of Tourism of Da Nang City organized a series of activities to welcome nearly 3,000 tourists arriving in Da Nang on the first day of the new year - New Year 2025 by air and sea. At 6:45 a.m., nearly 2,000 tourists of European and American nationalities on the Noordam cruise ship docked at Tien Sa port to visit Da Nang city on the first day of the new year 2025. Also on the morning of January 1, at the domestic and international arrival terminals of Da Nang International Airport, the welcoming ceremony for tourists by air, coordinated by the Department of Tourism of Da Nang City, Da Nang International Airport, and Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company, also took place vibrantly.In the picture:Tourists visiting Da Nang by sea were given flowers and gifts at the welcoming ceremony.Photo: Tran Le Lam - VNA

On January 1, at Ngo Mon Square, Hue Imperial City, Hue City People's Committee held the Announcement Ceremony of National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025. With the theme "Hue - Ancient Capital, New Opportunities", National Tourism Year 2025 aims to strengthen connections, create momentum for tourism development between Hue City and other provinces and cities; at the same time, contribute to enhancing the image, position, and brand of Vietnamese tourism in general and Hue City in particular. In addition, the event is expected to be a very important boost to help Hue City's socio-economic development, creating conditions to attract resources for investment and development, building new and attractive products in the locality in the coming time.In the picture:Tourists are excited to visit Hue Imperial City on New Year's occasion.Photo: Mai Trang - VNA

On January 1, the 2025 Vietnam International Half Marathon took place in Hanoi. This year's tournament gathered 5,000 athletes competing in distances from 5km to 10km and half marathon with two starting locations: Hoan Kiem Lake and Thong Nhat Park. The Vietnam International Half Marathon became a festival marking a special milestone on the first day of the new year.In the picture:Athletes participating in the distances at the Vietnam International Half Marathon 2025.Photo: Minh Quyet - VNA

On January 1, the Department of Investigation Police on Corruption, Economic and Smuggling Crimes, Nghe An Provincial Police, informed that they had just coordinated with related forces to arrest Pham Van Tam (born in 1984, residing in Binh Hop Commune, Tan Ky District, Nghe An Province) for illegally storing and manufacturing firecrackers, seizing 55 kg of firecrackers, including 30 kg of homemade firecrackers.In the picture:Subject and evidence of the case at the police station.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

Romania and Bulgaria officially joined the Schengen Area on January 1, expanding the border and passport control-free zone in Europe to 29 member states. The expansion took place at 22:00 GMT on January 1, with events held at the countries' borders. Romania and Bulgaria were previously included in the Schengen area from March 2024, eliminating border checks at seaports and airports.In the picture:A sign directing travelers to the Schengen area at Henri Coanda International Airport, near Bucharest, Romania, March 31, 2024.Photo: THX/TTXVN

Russia officially stopped supplying gas to Europe via Ukraine on January 1, when the five-year transit agreement between the two countries expired, marking the end of Moscow's dominance of the European gas market. According to data from the Ukrainian gas transportation system operator, as of 11 p.m. on December 31, 2024, Russia had not registered any gas for January 1, 2025 via the gas pipeline through Ukrainian territory.In the picture:The starting point of the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline system in Ust-Luga, Russia.Photo: Bloomberg/VNA

Belgium will ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes from January 1, as part of a national anti-smoking plan to protect young people's health. Belgium will be the first country in the European Union (EU) to ban them. The EU aims to achieve a generation of smokers by 2040, reducing the number of smokers in the bloc from around 25% today to below 5%. Some EU countries plan to meet this deadline earlier.In the picture:Disposable electronic cigarette.Photo: VNA