Outstanding domestic and international events on January 17

DOMESTIC

Continuing his official visit to Poland, on the morning of January 17, local time (afternoon of the same day, Hanoi time), in the capital Warsaw, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Ms. Malgorzata Adamkiewicz, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Adamed Pharma Group - a Polish pharmaceutical and biotechnology group and Mr. Michal Fijol, Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of LOT Polish Airlines.In the picture:Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Ms. Malgorzata Adamkiewicz, Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Adamed Pharma Group.Photo: Duong Giang - VNA

On the morning of January 17, Doan Thi Diem Secondary School (Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi) held a ceremony to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its founding and receive the Second Class Labor Medal. Attending the ceremony were Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, First Vice President of the Central Emulation and Reward Council; former Vice President, President of the Vietnam Association for Promoting Education Nguyen Thi Doan; Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education Nguyen Dac Vinh, along with leaders, Board of Directors, teachers, parents and students of Doan Thi Diem Secondary School.In the picture:Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan presented the President's Second Class Labor Medal to Doan Thi Diem Secondary School.Photo: Thanh Tung - VNA

On the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam (February 3, 1930 - February 3, 2025) and the celebration of the Year of the Snake, on January 17, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Museum of Fine Arts held the opening ceremony of the thematic exhibition "95 years of spring with the Party". The exhibition introduces to the public 66 works of art by 55 authors, created between 1954 and 2010. The works are displayed in two forms: traditional and projection. Of which, 36 works in materials such as lacquer, oil, silk, bronze, wood, etc. are displayed in the traditional form and 30 works are displayed in the form of digital projection.In the picture:Delegates visit the exhibition.Photo: Phuong Lan - VNA

On January 17, two international 5-star cruise ships, Seabourn Encore and Silver Whisper, both of Bahamas nationality, docked, bringing more than 1,200 passengers to Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province. After docking, tourists participated in tours to explore Ha Long Bay, visit the city, visit some cultural and historical relics and neighboring localities. The weather was cold but sunny, many tourists were interested in tourist activities on Ha Long Bay such as visiting caves, kayaking, swimming, etc.In the picture:Two international 5-star cruise ships, Seabourn Encore and Silver Whisper, of Bahamas nationality, docked at Ha Long International Passenger Port.Photo: Thuy Duong - VNA

On January 17, the Military Command of Hoa Binh province sent engineering forces to coordinate with the Military Command of Hoa Binh city to salvage 18 artillery shells of various types identified as remaining from the resistance war against France, transport them to the assembly location and organize absolutely safe destruction.In the picture:The functional forces of the Military Command of Hoa Binh province transported the recovered warheads in military boxes to be destroyed.Photo: Trong Dat - VNA

On the afternoon of January 17, the La Lay International Border Guard Station (Quang Tri Provincial Border Guard) announced that it had decided to prosecute the criminal case of "Illegal transportation of military weapons" under Clause 2, Article 304 of the Penal Code. Previously, at the entry lane of the Joint Control House - La Lay International Border Guard Station, the inspection and supervision force of the La Lay International Border Guard Station in coordination with La Lay Border Guard Customs discovered and caught Cao Ba Huy (born in 2000, residing in Dien Thanh commune, Dien Chau district, Nghe An province) red-handed for illegally transporting military weapons, seizing 2 pistols and 92 bullets.In the picture:Cao Ba Huy was arrested with evidence including 2 pistols and 92 bullets hidden in a Lao beer crate.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

On January 16, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and visiting British Prime Minister Keir Starmer signed a 100-year partnership agreement. The document will deepen bilateral defense ties and pave the way for continued military support for the Kiev government. Under the partnership agreement, Britain will provide £40 million (about $49 million) to Ukraine to help restore its economy, including grain monitoring and boosting Ukraine’s booming technology sector.In the picture:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (right) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the signing ceremony of the 100-year partnership agreement in Kiev on January 16.Photo: Kyodo/VNA

On the morning of January 17, Israeli media reported that representatives of Israel, the Islamic Hamas Movement, the United States and Qatar had officially signed an agreement to release hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza. Citing two informed sources, the Jerusalem Post said the signing ceremony took place in Doha (Qatar) after information stated that the Israeli government would postpone the plenary session to vote on this issue from January 17 to January 18. Therefore, the release of the first three hostages will be postponed from January 19 to January 20.In the picture:The happiness of relatives of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip, after the ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas movement was announced on January 15.Photo: THX/TTXVN

On January 17, the city of Kobe in western Japan and surrounding areas held a ceremony to mark the 30th anniversary of the 7.3-magnitude earthquake that killed 6,434 people. The quake also injured about 43,000 people and damaged or destroyed about 640,000 homes. As many as 310,000 people had to take refuge in emergency shelters.In the picture:Memorial ceremony for the 30th anniversary of the Kobe earthquake in Kobe, Japan on January 17.Photo: Kyodo/VNA

SpaceX announced that it lost contact with its Starship spacecraft on January 16 during its seventh test flight. The Super Heavy rocket and Starship were launched into orbit from Starbase near Brownsville, Texas. Immediately after launch, the Starship separated from the booster to continue flying into space. The Super Heavy rocket returned to the launch tower. However, the Starship later lost contact with Earth.In the picture:The Starship spacecraft was launched into space from the Starbase near Brownsville, Texas (USA) on January 16.Photo: REUTERS/TTXVN