Outstanding domestic and international events on December 24

DOMESTIC

On December 24, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Health held a conference on implementing health work in 2025 to summarize and evaluate the implementation of health work in 2024 and the direction and tasks in 2025. Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long attended the conference. On behalf of the Government and the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements that the health sector has achieved in 2024. Particularly in the field of medical examination and treatment, according to the Deputy Prime Minister, the health sector has done many proud things...In the picture:Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long gave a speech at the conference.Photo: Minh Quyet - VNA

On December 24, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony to honor 17 collectives and 23 individuals as typical examples in the patriotic emulation movement "Silent but noble examples" for the 6th time - 2024.In the picture:Ho Chi Minh City leaders commended and honored outstanding individuals in the patriotic emulation movement "Silent but noble examples" in 2024.Photo: Xuan Khu-VNA

On December 24, Dien Bien Provincial Party Committee held a Conference to commend and reward outstanding collectives and individuals in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle and to award prizes for composing and promoting literary, artistic and journalistic works on the theme "Studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and lifestyle".In the picture:Awarding Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of Dien Bien Provincial People's Committee to outstanding individuals in studying and following Ho Chi Minh's ideology, morality and style.Photo: Xuan Tu - VNA

On December 24, the Department of Science and Technology of Can Tho City coordinated to organize the opening ceremony of the City's Innovation and Startup Festival 2024 (Techfest Cantho 2024) with the theme Tay Do Startup - Journey of Aspiration. The event aims to connect resources to support the city's innovation and startup ecosystem; create opportunities for innovative startups to access knowledge, skills, and finance.In the picture:Ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Can Tho City Innovation and Startup Festival 2024.Photo: Thu Hien - VNA

On December 24, at the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital Historical and Architectural Relic Site, Hoa Lu District, Ninh Binh Province, the program "Hoa Lu Walking - Dai Co Viet Y Quan" took place to spread the image of Vietnamese traditional costumes to a large number of people and tourists. This program is part of the Hoa Lu Legacy Project of Sinh Duoc Cooperative. The program took place in the space of King Dinh Tien Hoang Temple and King Le Dai Hanh Temple with activities such as ancient costume parade, exchanges, and taking photos with tourists.In the picture:Volunteers perform traditional costumes at the program.Photo: Thuy Dung - VNA

On the afternoon of December 24, Chau Thanh District Police, Tay Ninh Province, announced that this unit had just coordinated with the Mobile Police Department of Tay Ninh Province Police to destroy a gambling den in the form of "cockfighting" with money won or lost in the rubber garden area of ​​Hoa An Hamlet, Hoa Hoi Commune, Chau Thanh District. The police force caught red-handed and invited 59 subjects who were organizing and gambling illegally, seizing the following evidence: Over 200 million VND, 15 fighting cocks, 4 pairs of iron spurs, 1 scale, 15 baskets of betel nuts, 38 motorbikes, more than 56 mobile phones and many other related documents.In the picture:Gamblers, gambling organizers, and evidence were caught red-handed at the scene.Photo: VNA

INTERNATIONAL

On December 23, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with visiting Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Transport Vitaly Savelyev to discuss the implementation of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) project. The Iranian President's Office said Iran is determined to complete the construction of the INSTC, a transport route connecting South Asia with northern Europe.In the picture:Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (R) and Russian Deputy Prime Minister for Transport Vitaly Savelyev at a meeting in Tehran on December 23, 2024.Photo: IRNA/VNA

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan affirmed that his country's stance is to protect Syria's unity and territorial integrity under all circumstances, and said it is ready to support the Syrian people. Speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting in Ankara, Erdogan added that Turkey is in close contact and discussing the above-mentioned views and stance with Ahmed al-Sharaa, the leader of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is leading the force in power in Syria.In the picture:Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan speaks at a press conference in Istanbul.Photo: AA/VNA

Senior diplomats from South Korea and the United States agreed on December 23 to fully restore bilateral diplomatic and security schedules that had been suspended due to political turmoil in South Korea over President Yoon Suk-yeol’s declaration of martial law. According to a press release from the South Korean Foreign Ministry, Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong-kyun and his US counterpart Kurt Campbell held their first talks in Washington, during which they agreed to further strengthen the allies’ common defense stance.In the picture:South Korean Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun speaks to reporters at Dulles International Airport, near Washington, U.S., December 22, 2024.Photo: Yonhap/VNA

On December 24, at least 12 people were killed and three others injured in an explosion at an explosives factory in Balikesir province, northwestern Türkiye. Part of the factory collapsed due to the impact of the explosion. Authorities have ruled out the possibility of sabotage. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.In the picture:Explosives factory in Balikesir province, northwestern Türkiye where the explosion occurred.Photo: AA/VNA