Illustrative photo. Source: VNA

Vietnam logs 1,699 Covid-19 cases on July 28

A total 1,699 Covid-19 cases were logged on July 28, raising the national caseload to 10,774,679, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total 6,877 Covid-19 patients were given the all clear on the day, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 9,888,468. There are 31 patients in serious conditions needing breathing support, cited VNA.

No death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stood at 43,092.

On July 27, 430,517 doses of vaccines were administered, raising the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected to 243,823,801.

The Health Ministry noted that the number of Covid-19 cases has been on the rise in recent days, and urged localities to accelerate vaccination efforts.

Vietnam, Germany work to solve passport issue

Vietnamese authorities are working alongside relevant German agencies as both sides seek to find a suitable solution as swiftly as possible after Germany refused to issue visas to holders of new Vietnamese passports.

The German Embassy in Vietnam announced on its official website on July 27 that it would refuse visa issuance to Vietnamese people possessing a passport in the new form.

The new Vietnamese passport has a dark blue cover instead of the traditional green one. Photo: VOV

Accordingly any Vietnamese citizens holding a passport issued from July 1 with a serial number beginning with ‘P’ will be unable to apply for a type-C or type-D visa to Germany.

Even with a valid visa, the holder of these passports can still be rejected at the German border as the passports have not been initially recognised by German authorities, according to VOV.

The German Embassy in a note to the Consular Department - Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained that the latest Vietnamese passport does not have clear information about the birthplace of its holder.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh posted in his Facebook account that this is a technical problem that will be solved soon by relevant Vietnamese agencies.

Vietnam looks to build next tech start-up unicorns in Asia: ADB

Vietnam is creating favourable conditions for the birth of Asia’s next tech start-up unicorns, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) July 2022 report entitled “Vietnam’s Ecosystem for Technology Startups”.

Nhan dan Online, the English version of Nhan dan (People) newspaper, cited the report as saying that Asia-Pacific’s next tech start-up unicorns may come from Vietnam as the foundations for building a solid ecosystem in support of these businesses are well underway.

According to the ADB, the Vietnamese Government’s long-term goal for the start-up sector is to attract knowledge, organisations, individuals and entrepreneurs to contribute to economic development and participate in creating successful start-ups.

Illustrative image. Photo: entrackr.com

Aimee Hampel-Milagrosa, one of the authors of the report, said that the Vietnamese government has recognised tech start-ups as the new driving force for national growth. To facilitate this process, the government has begun to promote key elements, such as financial and policy incentives, to create and build Vietnam’s next generation of start-up unicorns.

The report cites Project 844 as an example of government support, with aims of supporting 600 enterprises by 2025, of which 100 will successfully raise at least VND2 trillion (US$85.44 million) in capital.

The report states that agritech and healthtech are two areas with high social impact and strong potential to contribute to more equitable and sustainable development while fintech and e-commerce start-ups are the most prevalent in Vietnam and other countries.

The report also provides recommendations on how the government and other stakeholders can strengthen the ecosystem to enable tech start-ups to flourish in Vietnam.

Vietnam pockets two golds at Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship

Vietnamese students won big with two gold, one silver, and one bronze medals at the 2022 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship (MOSWC)’s awards ceremony held in the United States on July 28.

Nguyen Duy Phong of Hanoi University of Science and Technology brought home a gold medal in the Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 apps and Office 2019) category, while Bui Cong Minh, a student of Nguyen Tat Thanh High School, excelled in the Powerpoint 2016 category.

Nguyen Duy Phong wins a gold medal at the 2022 Microsoft Office Specialist World Championship. Photo: VOV

Nguyen Trong Khai of the University of Science and Technology of Hanoi won a silver medal in the Microsoft Excel (Microsoft 365 apps and Office 2019) category.

A bronze medal went to Dao Ngoc Tung Chi, a student of Hanoi-based Foreign Trade University, in the Microsoft Word 2016 category, reported VOV.

Vietnam sent six representatives to this year’s championship held in the US between July 24 and July 27, marking the 13th time it has participated in the world finale of the MOSWC. At the 2022 competition, Vietnam won the most medals among participating countries.

The MOSWC is an international playground for talented students aged 13 to 22 to showcase their passion for technology and outstanding skills in Microsoft Office, which includes Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint. Each year the competition attracts millions of students from over 100 countries and territories worldwide.

10-year journey connects seas, islands lovers

Over the past decade, Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and “For Beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” Club have connected a large number people and spread love to most remote areas of the Fatherland through many practical and meaningful activities, stated former Vice State President Truong My Hoa, who is also President of Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ho Chi Minh City on July 28 on the occasion of the 10-year “For Beloved Truong Sa Students” program, the 10th founding anniversary of the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and the 8th birthday of the and “For Beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” Club, Hoa said that during the Covid-19 period, the organizations raised VND6 billion (US$256,761) to support children from pandemic-hit families.

The program has built two primary schools in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes – Truong Sa Lon and Sinh Ton Primary Schools, and a kindergarten in Nam Du island of Kien Giang province, cited NDO.

Over the past 10 years, the program has presented 14,185 annual scholarships worth more than VND14 billion to needy students. Photo: tuoitre.vn

Last year, the Vu A Dinh Scholarship Fund and “For Beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” Club donated more than VND2 billion, along with necessities and medical equipment, to the frontline forces in Covid-19 fight.

The program took 13 teams with 309 members to Truong Sa archipelago, while providing assistance worth nearly VND7.8 billion to islanders and soldiers. The programme also presented more than VND9 billion as Lunar New Year gifts to islanders and soldiers based in Truong Sa island district, DK1 Platform, and policy beneficiaries, while building 57 houses for the needy, and awarded 14,185 annual scholarships worth more than VND14 billion to children of navy soldiers and fishermen in difficult circumstances.

Hoa also revealed a number of activities of the programme to be performed in August, including the conclusion of a contest themed “Seas and islands in my heart”.

At the event, the “For Beloved Hoang Sa-Truong Sa” Club raised more than US$129,236 of fund in total.

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