VietnameseAmbassadortoThailandPh?mVi?tHùnganswerspressinterviewsabouttheincident.—VNA/VNSPhotoHuyTi?nBANGKOK—TheVietnameseEmbassyinThailandonJuly19supportedfamilymembersofthosewhodiedintheBangkokhotelincidenttoreceivetheirpersonalbelongingshandedoverbyThaipolice,andcontinuedtoprovidethemwithguidanceonrelevantconsulateprocedures.Ithasalsosentdetailedinformationtodomesticauthoritiesandaskedforsupportintheproceduresfortheimportofthebodies,scheduledforJuly20and21.Theofficewillcontinuetocloselyfollowtheincidentandcoordinatewithrelevantauthorities,andtakesubsequentandnecessarycitizenprotectionmeasures.Earlier,onJuly19morning,AmbassadorPh?mVi?tHùngreceivedSananAngubolkul,ChairmanoftheThailand-Vi?tNamFriendshipAssociation,whocametoexpresscondolencesontheincident.OnJuly16,sixpeople,fourofthemVietnamesetogetherwithtwoothersUScitizensofVietnameseorigin,werefounddeadatGrandHyattErawanhotelinPathumWanDistrictofBangkok,Thailand.MedicsattheKingChulalongkornMemorialHospitalofThailandonJuly17confirmedthatthesixdiedofcyanidepoisoning.—VNS

WorkersprocessseafoodforexportattheGò?àngJoint-stockCompanyintheM?ThoIndustrialZoneinthesouthernprovinceofTi?nGiang.—VNA/VNSPhotoMinhTríHàN?I—TheVi?tNamGeneralConfederationofLabour(VGCL)hasproposedtotheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs(MoLISA)thattheworkingweekfallsbelow48hours.MoLISAbelievesthatreducingworkinghourswouldbringpositivesocioeconomicimpacts,sotheyhaveaskedfortheideatobefullyresearchedonascientificandpracticalbasistoensurefeasibility,whenaddingthepolicyintheamendedLabourCode.Accordingtoexperts,toreduceworkinghours,thereisnootherwaythantoalsoimproveproductivity,increasewagesandensureworkerslivingstandards.But,inVi?tNam,manufacturingenterprisesaremainlysmallandmediumones,operatingbasedoncheaplabourandnotinvestinginmodernmachineryandtechnology,soproductivityremainslow.LookingatcountriesthathaveachievedoutstandingproductivitylevelssuchasSingapore,JapanandSouthKorea,tomaintainproductivitygrowth,theyhaveundergonestrongstructuralchangessuchasinvestingintechnologyandincreasingproductionefficiencyandproductquality.EnsurestableincomeAssociateprofessor?inhTr?ngTh?nh,seniorlecturerattheAcademyofFinance,saidthatreducingworkinghoursto44hours,onthewayto40hours,wasinlinewiththegeneraltrendofdifferentcountriesintheregionandtheworld.Itcreatesfavourableconditionsforworkerstoimprovetheirhealth,regeneratelabourpoweraswellasimproveprofessionalskillsandhavetimetoparticipateinothersocialactivities.Therefore,theproposalisworthconsideringandputtingintopractice.UnderTh?nhsanalysis,increasinglabourproductivityhasbeenimplementedbybusinessesformanyyears,butitcannotbeachievedafterashorttime.Th?nhsaidthatifreducingworkinghours,businessesneededtohavecertainsolutionstostabiliseorincreaselabourproductivityfirst.Themostfundamentalsolutionisimprovingworkersqualificationsandcapabilitiessothatreducedworkinghoursstillensurewagesaswellasemployeescontributionstothebusinessesandsociety.Ifenterprisesstilluseold,outdatedtechnology,productivityandqualitycannotincrease.Iftheprocessdoesnotapplydigitalisation,itwillnotensuretherequirementsofimprovingproduction.Obviously,businessesandworkersmusthaveunityandcoordinationintheissue,thenwecanreduceworkinghoursbutstillimproveproductivityandwages.Workerslivingstandardisstablewithgoodwelfare,saidTh?nh.BùiS?L?i,formerDeputyChairmanoftheNationalAssemblysSocialAffairsCommittee,statedthatthegoalisincreasinglabourpower,whichwasalsoarequirementofthelabourmarketwhenforeignbusinessesarefloodingintoVi?tNamtohireworkers,especiallyinthecontextthatVi?tNamandtheworldhavegonethroughtheCOVID-19pandemic.Ifanimmediatereductioninworkinghoursisapplied,from48hoursto44hours,itwillhaveastrongimpactonforeignbusinessesthatwanttoinvestinVi?tNam,becauseVi?tNamshumanresourcesarepartofanagingpopulation.Areductionoffourworkinghoursmeansreducinghumanresources,saidL?i.Forthatreason,ifreducingworkinghoursinthecurrentlowlabourproductivityconditions,itmustbecalculatedandconsideredverycarefully.Thesocio-economicimpactsshouldbere-evaluatedtoensureworkersstillhavestableincomes.Inrealitytoday,manyworkersareindifficultcircumstancesandtheywanttoworkovertimetoincreasetheirsalary.Ontheotherhand,someotherworkerswanttoreduceworkingtimetocombinewithotherjobs,sotheremustbeaplantoevaluatetheimpact.Inthelongterm,Iaffirmthatwemustreduceworktime.But,inthecurrentconditions,weshouldconsidercarefullyandchooseanappropriatetimetograduallyreducetheworkingtime,hesaid.L?isaidthatreducingworkinghoursisadesire,alegitimateaspirationandatrendofthetimes.Atpresent,workersincomeisstilltoolow,soreducingworkinghourswillcausedifficultiesfortheworkersthemselves,notfordomesticandforeignenterprises.Themostimportantmethodisencouragingbusinessestoinvestmoreintechnologyandreallocatingpersonnel.Ifanybusinessmeetsthoserequirements,itcanpilotreducingworkinghourswhilestillincreasinglabourproductivityandworkersincome.L?isaidtheworkersthemselvesmustimprovetheirskills,becausegoodskillswillpromotelabourproductivity.Atthesametime,enterprisesshouldbuildentertainmentandculturalareastoameliorateworkersspirituallife,toimprovetheirmotivationforthemtobeenthusiasticinproduction.—VNSHCMCITY—HCMCityincollaborationwith22provincesandcitiesinthesouthernregionwillhostaregionaljobfaironJuly31.Thiseventwillbeheldbothin-personatFPTPolytechnicCollegelocatedinsideQuangTrungSoftwareCityinHCMCitysDistrict12andonlinethroughplatformslikeSkypeandZoom.Thein-personeventisexpectedtoattract50-60businessesand1,200-1,500jobseekers.Theonlineeventinotherprovincesisanticipatedtodrawover100businessesand1,000-1,200jobseekers.Thisregionaljobfairisexpectedtoeffectivelyconnectjobseekerswithemploymentopportunitiesinawidergeographicalarea.Provinceswithabundantlaboursupplycanprovideworkerstobothlocalbusinessesandthoseinotherlocalitieswithrecruitmentneeds.Businessesinneedoflabourerswillhavemorechancestofindsuitablecandidates.Manybusinessesarecurrentlyseekingtohirenewemployees,whileothersarefacingchallengesandhavehadtoscalebackoperations,leadingtomassivelayoffs.Therefore,organisingregionaljobfairsiscrucialtoconnectingbusinesseswithjobseekers.Thecityhasbeenactivelyfacilitatingthesejobfairstoensureemploymentopportunitiesforworkers,boththosecomingfromotherprovincestothecityandthosereturningtotheirhometowns.Inthefirsthalfof2024,thecitycollaboratedwithprovincesintheMekongDelta,southeastregion,andotherlocalitiestoorganise32jobfairs.Thesefairsprovidedjobcounsellingtoover112,000individualsandintroducedjobopportunitiesto11,665labourersinneed.Additionally,businessesinthecitycreated166,135newjobopportunitiesandfacilitatedemploymentforover74,000individuals.Moreover,over4,100peopleweresenttoworkabroad.Itisforecastthatinthelasthalfofthisyear,thecitywillneedupto161,500labourers,includingabout108,000positionsinthecommerceandservicesectors,whichaccountsfor67percentoftotallabourdemand,followedbyindustryandconstructionatnearly33percent.Thesefiguresindicateasubstantialanddiversedemandforlabouracrossvarioussectorsandskilllevelsinthecity.However,manybusinessesarestrugglingtofindsuitablecandidates.Meanwhile,manyunemployedindividualsareeitherwaitingforbetteropportunities,hesitanttoseekemployment,orunabletofindjobsthatalignwiththeirqualificationsanddesiredincome.—VNS

Ph?mV?nHi?ufixesapotholeatnight.—Photonld.com.vnHàN?I—Ph?mV?nHi?uhasdedicated14yearsofhislifetofillinginpotholesonHàN?isroads.Inspiredbyapersonalaccident,the33-year-oldlivinginHàH?iCommune,Th??ngTínDistrict,HàN?i,beganhissolitarymissiontoimproveroadsafetyin2010.Whileridinghomefromwork,hewassenttumblingwhenhismotorbikehitafloodedpothole.Luckily,heescapedwithminorinjuries.Ashepickedhimselfup,hesawanothermotorist,awoman,sufferasimilarfate.Theincidentleftalastingimpactonhismind.Icouldntshaketheimageofthosepeoplefallingintothatpothole,Hi?usaid.Irealisedthatifnothingweredone,moreaccidentswouldhappen.Drivenbyasenseofresponsibility,hedecidedtotakemattersintohisownhands,reportedtheNg??ilao??ng(TheLabourer)newspaper.Asapaperdeliveryman,hewasnostrangertothecityspockmarkedroadsand,usinghisownmoney,hestartedbuyingasphaltandgravel.Toavoidtraffic,heworkedmostlyatnight,fillingpotholesoneatatime.HisinitialrepairsitesincludedbusythoroughfareslikeTamTrinhandTr??ngChinhroads.Hedusuallybehomeby7pm,butthenhedcomeinaround11pm.WhenIasked,hedsayhewasworkingovertime,LêTh?Chi?n,hismother,recalled.Hislateworkcausedherconcern,butlittledidsheknowhersonwaswagingaone-manwaronpotholes.Whenshediscoveredwhathehadbeendoing,shewarnedhimaboutthepotentialrisks,tellinghim,ThatstheGovernmentsjob.Peoplemightthinkyouredamagingtheroad.ButHi?ustayedhiscourse.Hisselflesseffortsoftenwentunnoticedor,worse,misunderstood.Somepeoplethoughthewasuptonogoodwhentheywitnessedhimmeddlingwiththeroad.Once,Iwasworkingonapotholearound8pmwhensomeonereportedmetotheauthorities.Luckily,theyunderstoodafterIexplainedmyself,saidHi?u.Forsixyears,Hi?ukepthisgooddeedsunderwraps,shunningthelimelight.Hismotivationwassimple:toimproveroadsafetyforeveryone,notpersonalglory.Hecouldntgiveanexactnumberofpotholeshehasrepairedovertheyears.Forhim,itwasntaboutstatisticsbutaboutmakingadifference.Heestimatestacklingtwoorthreepotholesweekly,mainlyinHàN?issoutherndistricts.Hissolitarycrusadeattractedattention.Movedbyhisdedication,agroupofyoungpeoplejoinedforceswithHi?uin2016,formingtheTh??ngTínYouthVolunteerGroup.Withmorehandsondeck,theireffortsbecamemoreorganised.Spottingapotholewasnowacalltoaction,withthegroupquicklymobilisingtofixtheproblem.Thegroupseffortswentbeyondtime.Membersalsocontributedmoneytobuyingrepairmaterials,andconstructioncompaniessometimesdonatedsurplussupplies.Astheirimpactgrew,sodidtheirreach.StartinginHàN?issoutherndistricts,thegroupexpandeditsworkacrossthecityandintoneighbouringprovinceslikeHàNam,H?ngYên,andHòaBình.Wedonthaveafixedschedule,saidLêTh?Vi?t,along-timemember.Wheneverwespotabadroad,wemobilise.Everyonecontributes,whetheritstimeormoneyandourgoalissimple:saferroadsforeveryone.Oneparticularlychallengingrepairfortheteamwasamassivesix-metrepotholenearasugarfactoryinPhúXuyênDistrict.Luckily,thecommunitycametogethertohelp,quicklytransformingthateyesoreintoasmoothroad.Despitestartingafamily,hiscommitmenttotheroadshasntwavered.Hishomeisamakeshiftrepairshop,stockedwithasphalt,toolsandprotectivegear.Determinedtodothejobright,heevensoughtadvicefromacivilengineer.Heworksalldayandthenheadsouttofixpotholesatnight,saidhiswife,LêTh?Ph??ng.Iworryabouthishealth,butthisishispassion.Ouryoungdaughterevenhelpsoutsometimesandshessoproudofherdad.Healsoassistsaccidentvictims,rushingthemtothenearesthospital.Heslostcountofthelivesheshelpedsave,butonerecentincidentstandsout,rescuingamotorcyclistwhohadfallenoffthePhápVan–C?uGi?Expressway.Youcantjustleavesomeonestranded,especiallyatnight.Helpingothersiswhatmattersmosttome,heexplained.Beyondroadrepairs,thegrouphasorganisedclean-updrives,tree-plantinginitiativesandcharityevents.Inrecognitionofhisoutstandingcontributions,HàN?iauthoritiesgrantedhimtheGoodPerson,GoodDeedawardin2023.—VNSThetrialinHàN?ionMonday.—VNA/VNSPhotoPh?mKiênHàN?I—ProsecutorsinthefraudandstockmanipulationcaseofFLCGroupsaythedefendantsviolationsareconsciousanddeliberateactions.IntheongoingtrialagainstFLCchairmanTr?nhV?nQuy?tand49otherdefendants,prosecutorsonMondaysaidthatQuy?tisthemastermindbehindthecasewhomadeallnecessarypreparationstoorganise,coordinateanddelegateotherdefendantsinaseriesofdeliberatefraudulentactionsovermanyyears,withmultipleinstancesofunwarrantedincreaseofcapitalcontributions.TheprosecutionstatementsaidthatthisseriesofviolationsstartedfromthepurchaseofGreenBeltCompany(laterrenamedFaros),withfiveallegedlybaselessincreasesinownerscapitalcontributionfromVN?1.5billion($59,300)toVN?4.3trillion($170million).Thedefendantsthenallegedlyarrangedpaperworktolistthecompanysstocks,ROS,ontheHCMCityStockExchange(HOSE).Withmorethan391millionsharessoldattheirinflatedvalue,thedefendantsaccumulatedmorethanVN?4.8trillion($190million)andembezzledoverVN?3.6trillion($142.4million)ofstockinvestors,accordingtotheprosecutors.ProsecutorsalsosaidthattheotherdefendantsareQuy?tsfamilymembers,subordinatesandacquaintances.AmongthemaretwoofQuy?tsyoungersistersTr?nhTh?MinhHu?andTr?nhTh?ThúyNga,whohetrustedandassignedvariousfraudulentactions,includingposingasshareholdersonpaper,holdinginvestmententrustmenttolegitimiseinflatedcapitalcontributions,recordingfalsifiedinformationinfinancialstatementsforaudits,aswellasotherdocumentsaspartofthenecessaryprocedurestolistROSonthestockexchange.OtherdefendantsarefromtheDepartmentofPublicCompanySupervision(undertheStateSecuritiesCommission),theVi?tNamSecuritiesDepositoryandClearingCorporationandtheHOSEusedthefraudulentinformationinFarosfinancialstatementsanddocumentstoapprovethecompanyanditsstockregistration,listing430millionROSsharesontheHOSE.Accordingtotheprosecutors,withoutthecontributionsofanyofthedefendantsinthelistingofROSshares,Quy?twouldhavebeenunabletosellmorethan391millionstockstoinvestors.AtthetrialonMonday,mostdefendantsaccusedofhelpingQuy?t,Hu?andothersintheirwrongdoingsadmittedtotheactionsandchargesbroughtagainstthembytheprosecutors.However,theyandtheirdefencelawyerssaidtheyareunawareoftheinflatedcapitalinvestmentsandROSsharelistingforfraudulentappropriationofproperty.Inresponse,theprosecutorssaidthatthesedefendantssigneddocumentsrelatedtotheunwarrantedcapitalcontributionincreasesmultipletimes,andacceptedinvestmententrustmentswithouthavingactualcapitalfundingorinvolvingininvestmentactivitiesthemselves.Therefore,theymusthaveknownthattheirsignatureonthesefalsifieddocumentsisillegal,accordingtotheprosecutors.Thesedocumentsincludecapitalincreasedocuments,financialstatementsandpaymentorderstosevenorganisationsandsevenindividualsborrowingfundingfromFaros,withouttakingintoaccountthecompanysactualoperations,itsregulationsorbusinesslaws,butatthedirectionofQuy?t,Hu?andDo?nV?nPh??ng(FLCsCEO,whoareinhiding).Therefore,theprosecutorsrejectedthereasoningofthedefendantsandtheirlawyers,whilealsoassertingtheinterconnectionofthedefendantsrolesandactionsasaccompliceswithQuy?t,Hu?andNga.—VNSHàN?I—TheInternationalCooperativeAllianceAsia-Pacific(ICA-AP),incollaborationwiththeICA-APWomensCommitteeandtheVi?tNamCooperativeAlliance(VCA),convenedtheICA-APRegionalBoardMeetinginHàN?ionMondayInheropeningspeech,VCAChairwomanCaoXuanThuVancommendedtheICA-APRegionalBoardforitseffortstouniteICA-APmembercountriesandcreateplatformsforfemalecooperativeleadersintheregiontosharevaluableexperienceineconomicdevelopment.SheexpressedheroptimismabouttheupcomingapprovalandimplementationoftheICA-APstrategicplanfor2025-2030,acrucialdocumentinlightoftheInternationalYearofCooperativesin2025.TheVCAwillalwaysbearesponsiblememberoftheICA-AP,activelyjoiningothermembercountriesinfutureactivitiestoimprovethealliancesoperatingefficiencyandglobalstanding,Vanremarked.SheaddedthattheVCAwillfacilitatethesharingofexperienceandmutuallybeneficialcooperationamongcooperativesindifferentcountries,contributingtothegrowthofthecooperativemovementbothregionallyandglobally.Inparticular,theVCAiscommittedtomakingeveryefforttosuccessfullyhosttheAsia-PacificWomenCEOsinCooperativesSummitoverthenexttwodays.ThebiannualICA-APRegionalBoardMeetingservesasaplatformformemberorganisationstoreportontheiractivities,discussongoinginitiatives,andaligneffortswiththeUnitedNationsSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Along-standingmemberoftheICAsince1988,theVCAhasbeeninstrumentalinpromotingVi?tNamscooperativeeconomyandfosteringinternationalcollaboration.Foundedin1895,theICArepresentsaglobalnetworkofaround3millioncooperativesandmutualorganisationswithacombinedmembershipof1.2billionpeople,constitutingatleast12percentoftheworldspopulation.Thetop300cooperativesworldwidegeneratedatotalrevenueof2.4trillionin2022,providingstableandqualityemploymentformorethan280millionpeople.—VNA/VNS

ForeigntouristscheckingoutsouvenirsonsaleatB?nThànhMarket,HCMCity.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ng??tHàN?I—AsofJuly2024,internationalarrivalstoVi?tNamreachednearly10million,anincreaseof51percentcomparedtothesameperiodlastyearand1.9percenthigherthanin2019,beforeCOVID-19pandemicstruck,accordingtothelatestreportfromtheGeneralStatisticsOfficeofVi?tNam.Travellersarrivingbyairreached8.4million,accountingfor84.2percentofthetotalinternationalarrivals,whilearrivalsbylandreached1.4million,accountingfor14.1percentandarrivalsbyseareached165,500(1.7percent,triplingcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear).ThetourismindustryrecordedstronggrowthinthenumberofvisitorsfromEurope,witha47.3percentincrease.Othermarketsalsosawhighincreases,suchasAsiawith57.1percent(mainlyduetotheincreaseinChinesevisitors),Australiawith27.3percentandtheAmericaswith9.7percent.SouthKoreaandChinaremainthetwolargestinternationaltouristmarketsforVi?tNam.Julysaw1.15millioninternationalarrivals,theleastnumberofforeigntravellersintheyearsofar,continuingthedownwardtrendforthelowseason(Vi?tNamspeakinternationaltourismseasonisfromOctobertoMarchnextyear),butthisisstill11percenthigherthanlastJuly.AlthoughthenumberofChinesetravellersinJulydecreasedcomparedtoJune(with310,000and249,200visitorsrespectively),overthefirstsevenmonthsofthisyear,Chinesevisitorsstillincreasedby190percentandSouthKoreanvisitorsincreasedby37.2percentcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear.InthelistoftopmarketswiththelargestnumberofinternationalgueststoVi?tNaminJuly,Taiwan(China)had101,465visitors,theUnitedStateshad62,900visitors,Japan44,569visitorsandAustraliahad37,853visitors.Notably,thenumberofvisitorsfromEuroperecordedstronggrowth,withatotalofmorethan103,000visitorsinJuly,up9.4percentcomparedtothepreviousmonth.Amongthem,Russianvisitorsincreasedby75.7percent,Italianvisitorsby61percent,Frenchvisitorsby33.4percent,Britishvisitorsby25.2percent,Spanishvisitorsby38.3percentandGermanvisitorsby27.4percent.Thegrowthisattributedtothefavourablevisapoliciesandeffortsbymanagementagenciesandtouristbusinessesandlocalitiesinpromotingandpromotingtourism.ThesummerperiodVi?tNamisusuallypeakseasonfordomestictourism,asstudentsenjoythesummerbreakandfamiliesusuallytakethisopportunitytogoonholiday.Travelandtourismrevenueinthefirstsevenmonthsof2024isestimatedatVN?35.2trillion(nearlyUS$1.4billion),up31.8percentcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear.SomelocalitiessawstrongincreasessuchasHCMCity(upby42.2percent),?àN?ng(up38.6percent),C?nTh?(up33.7percent),HàN?i(up29.7percent)andQu?ngNinh(up21percent).—VNSTheeelandthelemonextractedfromthepatientsanus.—Photosuckhoedoisong.vnHàN?I—A31-year-oldIndiannationalnearlylosthislifeafterinsertingaliveeel,approximately65cmlong,intohisanus.Vi?t??cHospitalinHàN?ionMondaymorningsaidthatthehospitalsdoctorssuccessfullyperformedemergencysurgerytosavethepatientslife.OnJuly27,theemergencydepartmentofthehospitalreceivedamalepatient,31yearsold,anIndiannational,whoarrivedinastateofsevereabdominalpain.Uponobtainingthepatientsmedicalhistory,itwasrevealedthatataround12pmonJuly27,hehadinsertedalargeeelintohisanus.Thepatientwasimmediatelyexamined,underwentimaging,testsandanultrasound.TheX-rayimagesshowedaradiopaqueskeletonlyinghorizontallyintheabdominalcavityfromlefttoright.LêNh?tHuy,DeputyDirectoroftheColorectalandPelvicFloorSurgeryCentreatVi?t??cHospital,statedthatthehospitalhadpromptlyarrangedateamofendoscopyexpertsandanesthesiologiststoperformacolonoscopyintheattempttoremovetheforeignobjectthroughtheanus.Unabletoreachtheeelviatheanusandwiththepatientspainincreasing,theteamdecidedtoperformemergencysurgery,accordingtoHuy.Uponopeningtheabdomen,thedoctorsdiscoveredaliveeelapproximately65cmlongand10cmincircumferenceinthepatientsabdominalcavity.Theeelhadbittenthroughthepatientsrectumandcolontoescapeintotheabdominalcavity,Huyadded.Afterremovingtheeel,thedoctorsalsoextractedalemonthroughtheanus.Uponcheckingfornootherforeignobjects,theperforationintherectumandcolonwassutured.However,duetothehighcontaminationoftherectumandthepresenceoffaecalmatterintheabdominalcavity,thedoctorsdecidedtocreateacolostomytopreventfaecesfrompassingthroughthenewlysuturedperforation.Accordingtothedoctors,manypeople,especiallyyoungmen,haveatendencytoseekunusualsensationsusingsextoys.Vi?t??cHospitalhadpreviouslyperformedsurgeriestoremovevariousobjectsthroughpatientsanuses,suchaswindoilbottles,glasscupsandadulttoys.However,thisisthefirstcaseinvolvingaliveanimal,specificallyaneel,beinginsertedintotherectumandcausingperforation.Eelscansurviveinanaerobicconditionsforalongtimeandhavetheabilitytobitethroughthegastrointestinaltract.Therefore,peopleshouldneverinsertliveanimalsthroughtheanustoseekintensesensationsduetotheunforeseeableconsequences,Huywarned.—VNS

AcollisiononHàN?i-H?iPhòngexpresswayonJuly11killedtwopeopleandinjuredseveralothers.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Trafficaccidentskilled6,204peoplenationwideinthefirstsevenmonthsofthisyear,adeclineof717or10.36percentyear-on-year,accordingtotheNationalCommitteeforTrafficSafety.Asmanyas14,242trafficaccidentswerereportedacrossthecountryduringtheperiod,injuring10,976people,up32.95percentcomparedtothesameperiodlastyear.Ofthetotal,14,125roadaccidentskilled6,126peopleandinjured10,953others;84railway,60andeight;30waterway,17andinjuredfive;andthreemarine,one.InJulyalone,1,889trafficaccidentsoccurrednationwide,killing860peopleandinjuring1,424others.Notably,threeaccidentsoccurringontheHàN?i–H?iPhòngexpresswaypassingthroughGiaL?cDistrictinthenorthernprovinceofH?iD??ng,andanotherontheTrungL??ng–M?Thu?nexpresswayresultedinseriousconsequences.TheCivilAviationAuthorityofVi?tNamreceived126mandatorysafetyreports,oneLevelB,oneLevelC,and48LevelDincidents,including32relatingtoatechnicalfailure,twotoabirdstrike,13toflightcrew,andthreetotechnicalstaff,amongothers.—VNS

AdoctorexaminesatouristinthesuspectedmassfoodpoisoningincidentinBìnhThu?nProvince.—Photocand.com.vnHàN?I—Thirty-sixfoodpoisoningoutbreakswerereportedinthefirsthalfof2024,makingmorethan2,100peopleillandclaimingsixlives,accordingtotheMinistryofHealth.Whiletheoverallnumberofoutbreaksdippedslightlycomparedtothepreviousyear,thenumberofpeopleaffectedsurgedthree-fold.Thenorthernmountainousregionsawadeclineincases,whereasthecentralcoastandsoutheastregionwitnessedanincrease.DeputyMinisterofHealth??XuanTuyênunderlinedaseriesofoutbreaksinprovinceslikeKhánhHòa,??ngNai,andV?nhPhúcwhichmadethousandsofpeopleillanddisruptedbusinesses.Hesaidwhilefoodpoisoningincidentsoccuringinhomesandatprivategatheringshavedeclined,theproblemhasshiftedtorestaurants,hotelsandstreetfoodstalls.Recentoutbreaksatschoolsandcompanycanteenshavealsoraisedconcerns.Hecitedharmfulbacteriaandnaturaltoxinsastheprimaryfactorsbehindtheillnesses.Porkandchickendisheshavebeenidentifiedascommonsourcesofcontamination.TheMinistryofHealthhassteppedupeffortstocombatfoodpoisoning.AdirectiveissuedinMayoutlinedmeasuresforministries,provincesandcitiestopreventandrespondtooutbreaks.Healthofficialsnationwidehavebeeninstructedtostrengthenfoodsafetyinspections,trackdowncontaminatedproductsandpunishviolators.Localauthoritiesaretaskedwithdevelopingtailoredplanstoaddressspecificriskswithintheirjurisdictions,consideringfactorslikeeconomicconditionsanddiseaseoutbreaks.Publicawarenesscampaignsarealsounderwaytoeducatepeopleaboutfoodpoisoningrisks,especiallyinhigh-riskareaslikeschools,factoriesandpopulartouristspots.Consumersareurgedtobecautiouswhenpurchasingfood,checkingforclearlabelsandexpirationdates.Theyarealsoadvisedtoavoidcannedgoodsthatappeardamagedorswollen,asthesemaycontainharmfulbacteria.Properfoodstorageisalsocrucialtopreventcontamination.Theministryhasalsocalledonbusinessesandorganisationstojoinforcesinpromotingfoodsafety.Successfulmodelsofsafefoodproductionanddistributionwillbehonouredpublicly,whilethosefoundtobeendangeringpublichealthwillfacesevereconsequences.OnSaturday,healthofficialsinBìnhThu?nProvincereportedasuspectedmassfoodpoisoningincidentwhere182touristsfellillafterhavinglunchataresortinPhanThi?tCity.Thevictimswerereportedtohavedinneratalocalrestaurantthepreviousnightandwererushedtohospitalwithseverestomachcramps,diarrhea,andvomiting.Foodsamplesfromtheresorthavebeencollectedfortesting,butthosefromtherestaurantwereunavailableduetothepassageoftime.Healthinspectorsareexaminingbothestablishmentstoidentifypotentialcausesofthefoodpoisoning.ByMonday,43peoplehadbeendischargedfromthehospital.Moreinformationwillbereleasedastheinvestigationprogresses.—VNSTheanti-scammobilenTrustisdevelopedbytheNationalCybersecurityAssociation.—PhotocourtesyofnTrustHàN?I—Anationalanti-scammobileapplicationhasbeenlaunchedbytheNationalCybersecurityAssociation(undertheMinistryofPublicSecurity).Thefreeapp,namednTrust,istohelppeopledetectsignsofscammingbyverifyingphoneandbankaccountnumbers,aswellaswebsitelinksandQRcodes.ItwasfirstannouncedattheseminaronpreventingonlinescamsheldonMay13bytheNationalCybersecurityAssociation.FollowingitsbetaversionreleasedinJune,theapphasbeenupdatedtobetterscanformalwareandoptimiseitsperformance.nTrustiscurrentlyavailableonGooglePlayStoreforAndroiddevicesandontheAppStorefordevicesrunningoniOS.Ifusersdetectanysignsofscamming,theycanreportsuspiciousphonenumbers,bankaccountnumbers,websitelinksorsoftwareviatheapp.TheirreportswillthenbecompiledandanalysedbeforebeingsenttotheentirenTrustnetwork.—VNS

AmedicalworkercheckstheRussianmanshealth.—Photosnhandan.vnTHáIBìNH—TheauthoritiesofnorthernprovinceTháiBìnhauthoritieshaveidentifieda46-year-oldmanwithRussiannationality,driftinginthecoastaltidalflatareaofTh?yTr??ngCommune,TháiTh?yDistrict??sufferingfromfatigueandhungerbutwithoutanyinjuriesonhisbody.HisnameisRomanBorisivandhaspassportvaliduntilNovember9,2028.At14.00onMonday,theDiêm?i?nPortBorderGuardStationinTháiTh?yDistrictreceivedareportfromTr?nXuanC?nh,46,in??ngHoàngCommune,Ti?nH?iDistrict,aboutthediscoveryofamaleforeignerinacoastaltidalflatarea.Afterreceivingtheinformation,theborderguardstationsentofficersandsoldierstothescene.TheworkinggroupandlocalpeopletookthemantoanoysterwatchtowerformedicalcareandfirstaidduetohispoorhealthandthentookhimtotheDiêm?i?nPortBorderGuardStation.ImmigrationchecksshowedthatheenteredVi?tNamonJuly15,2024,undertheunilateralvisaexemptionprogrammethroughtheTayTrangInternationalBorderGatein?i?nBiênProvince.AuthoritiescheckedRomanBorisovspersonalbelongingsandfoundonlydailynecessitiesandclothes,nomoneyorweapons.HesaidthatbeforeenteringVi?tNam,hehadbeeninThailandandLaos.Hestayedin?i?nBiênforaboutthreedays.Becausehehadnomoney,hewalkedandhitchedaridetoH?iPhòngCityonJuly20.Seeinghimwanderingaround,H?iPhòngpeoplegavehimshelterandfood.OnJuly28,hemovedtothecoastalmangroveforestarea.Localslenthimafoamraft,whichherowedalongthecoastanddriftedtothetidalflatareaof??Th?yTr??ngCommune.HispassportisvalidfortemporaryresidenceinVi?tNam.BorisovsaidhewishestocontinuetotravelfreelyinVi?tNam.Whenhistemporaryresidenceexpires,hewillgotoLaosandCambodiaviathelandbordergates.Currently,theRussianmanisbeingtemporarilycaredforandrestingattheDiêm?i?nPortBorderGuardStation.TháiBìnhProvinceauthoritiesdeterminedthathehadcompletedallproceduresaccordingtothelawanddidnotdiscoveranysuspiciousissuesrelatedtonationalsecurity.TheydecidedtoguidehimonVietnameseregulationsandlawssothathecancontinuehisjourneyinVi?tNam.—VNSAroadinChiL?ngWardofL?ngS?nCity,L?ngS?nProvince,iserodedduetoheavyrainsonJuly29-30.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—HeavyrainsonMondayandTuesdayhaveresultedinfivecasualtiesandheavypropertylossesinthenorthernregion,reportedtheVi?tNamDisasterandDykeManagementAuthorityundertheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment.Asof5pmonTuesday,downpour-triggeredlandslidesandfloodskilledtwopeopleinT?aChùaandM??ngChàdistrictsinthenorthwesternprovinceof?i?nBiên.Meanwhile,35housesinM??ngáng,N?mP?,andM??ngChàdistrictscollapsedorwereflooded,17householdsinN?mP?wereevacuatedurgently,33.65haofriceinM??ngNhéandM??ngChàdamaged,and10roadsinM??ngNhé,N?mP?,andM??ngChàeroded.TotaldamageisestimatedatVN?3billion(US$118,600),localauthoritiessaid.InTháiNguyênProvince,onepersonmovingonafloodedbridgein??nhHóa(chǎn)Districtwasdead,alandslidedestroyedafarmwith200chickens,whilesomeriverbankandwallsectionswereeroded,leadingtodamageworthaboutVN?290million,accordingtothestandingofficeoftheTháiNguyênsteeringboardfornaturaldisasterresponse,search,andrescue.InB?cK?nProvince,landslidescausedbyheavyrainsinjuredtwopeopleandaffected15housesinB?cK?nCityandthedistrictsofCh?M?i,NgànS?n,B?chTh?ng,Ch???n,andNaRì.Besides,13.36haofriceand9.82haofothercropsarenowunderwater.Manyroadswerealsowashedawayinpart,includingNationalHighway3B,theroutefromC?L?toV?nMinhcommunes,andNaNg?mroadinC?mGiàngCommune.SomeotherfacilitieswerealsohithardsuchasthepolicestationofC?L?CommuneinNaRì,thehealthcentreofQuangPhongcommuneinthesamedistrict,andthekindergartenofV?H??ngCommuneinB?chTh?ngDistrict.InL?ngS?n,downpoursinundated26housesandtriggerederosionalongmanyroadsacrosstheborderprovince.ProlongedrainsalsofloodedmanyroadsinH?LongCityofQu?ngNinhProvincewhileerodinganembankmentinH?ngH?iWardandaroadinH?ngGaiWard.Assoonastheincidentshappened,theprovincesauthoritieshavevisitedandofferedassistancetothevictimsfamilies,controlledthetrafficflow,placedwarningsigns,evacuatedpeopleandpropertytosaferplaces,andsupportedlocalpeopletoaddressconsequencesandstabilisetheirlife.TheNationalCentreforHydro-MeteorologicalForecastingpredictedthatheavyrainswillcontinueinthenorthernregioninthenextfewdays.—VNS

ThePharmacyCounteratHCMCitysTropicalDiseasesHospitalinDistrict5.—VNSPhotoNguy?nDi?pHCMCITY—HCMCityisallowedtoproactivelyimportdrugs,especiallyspecialisedandraredrugs,forthespecialtreatmentneedsofmedicalfacilitiestopromptlymeetdiseasepreventionrequirementsandotherurgentneeds.ThecitysDepartmentofHealthonJuly16announcedthattheGovernmenthadissuedDecreeNo.84/2024/ND-CPonpilotingthedecentralisationofstatemanagementincertainfieldstocityauthorities.Accordingly,inthehealthcaresector,thecityisauthorisedtodecideontheimportlicensingofmedicinesneededforspecialtreatmentsarisingduringmedicalexaminationsandtreatmentasstipulatedbymedicalfacilitiesunderthecitysmanagement.T?ngChíTh??ng,directoroftheDepartmentofHealth,saidalthoughhealthcentresinthecityhadimplementeddrugprocurementbiddingformedicalstationsinrecentyears,theresultsofdrugsupplybiddingformosthealthcentresindistrictsandTh???cCityhadbeenlimited.Thelistofdrugsdoesnotfullymeetthemedicalexaminationandtreatmentneedsatmedicalstationsanddoesnotalignwiththeactualexpectationsofbothpatientsanddoctors,hesaid.Theprocurementofdrugsforprimaryhealthcarefacilitiesstillfacesseveralchallenges,includingtheprolongedprocessofselectingdrugsuppliersandahighpercentageofitemsforwhichnosuppliersarechosen,accordingtoTh??ng.Themainreasonismanysuppliersdonotparticipateinthebiddingprocessbecausethequantityofdrugspurchasedbyeachhealthcentreissmallcomparedtothevolumesuppliedtohigher-leveltreatmentunits.Additionally,thepersonnelathealthcentresresponsibleforbiddinglackbothinnumberandprofessionalism.Toaddressthisissue,thecitysDepartmentofHealthhasdeterminedthatensuringthesupplyofdrugsforprimaryhealthcarefacilitiesisoneofthekeytasksofthecityshealthcaresector.SincetheBiddingLawtookeffectonJanuary1,2024,thedepartmenthasdevelopedaplanforcentraliseddrugprocurementforprimaryhealthcarefacilitiestoenhancethecapacitytosupplydrugsfortreatmentneeds,especiallyatmedicalstations.ThispolicyhasreceivedtheconsensusofthePeoplesCommitteesofdistrictsandTh???cCityandhasbeenimplementedforhealthcentresuniformly,Th??ngsaid.Currently,thedepartmenthascompileddruglistsfromvarioushealthcentresforgenericdrugs,consistingofover400typesofdrugs,andherbalmedicine,whichincludesdrugscombiningactiveingredientswithherbalandtraditionalmedicines,totallingnearly60typesofdrugs.IthasentrustedHùngV??ngHospitalandtheTraditionalMedicineHospital,whicharerecognisedfortheircapacityandexperienceinmanagingthebiddingprocess,withthesecontractsandmobilisedhealthcareprofessionalstosupporttheselectionofcontractors.Thehospitalsarediligentlyproceeding,anditisanticipatedthatbySeptemberthisyear,thecitywillfinalisecontractorselectionstocommencedrugsupplytohealthcentresandmedicalstations.Inadditiontoeffortstosupplydrugstoprimaryhealthcarefacilities,theDepartmentofHealthisfocusingonensuringdrugsupplyfortheentirehealthcaresystemacrossthecity.Tomonitorandfacilitatedrugsupply,ithasestablishedataskforceforprocurementanddistributioncoordination.Thistaskforcegathersinformationondrugsupplyfromhealthcarefacilitiestoprovidetimelysupport.Regardingraredrugs,itmaintainsregularcommunicationwiththeMinistryofHealthtoimplementsupportivemeasuresforhospitals.IthasreportedtotheDrugAdministrationDepartmentundertheministryandpromptlyimportedseveralraredrugsintoVi?tNamtomeettreatmentdemands,includingglobulin,diphtheriaantitoxinserumandmethotrexate.Somedrugshavealreadycompletedlicensingproceduresandwillsoonbeimportedintothecountry.Thecityiscommittedtostrengtheningitsprimaryhealthcarefacilityoperationstobuildaresilientgrassrootshealthcaresystemandanextensivenetworkaccessibletoallresidents.Thisinvolvesenhancinghumanresources,infrastructure,andtechnologicalcapabilitiestoeffectivelymeetthecommunityshealthcareneeds.Inaddition,improvingdrugsupplyisconsideredacriticalinitiativetoencouragemorepeopletoutiliselocalhealthstationsformedicalconsultationsandtreatments,accordingtoTh??ng.—VNSPublicemployeesworkattheSecurityOperationsCentre(SOC)andIntelligentOperationsCentre(IOC)ofNinhThu?nProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Facingtheincreasingrisksofpersonaldatatheftandransomwareattacks,cybersecurityexpertsareadvisingontheneedforbetterlegalframeworksandcoordinationtoprotectcitizensandtheirrights.LêQuangHà,productdirectorofViettelCyberSecuritysaidthatinthefirstsixmonthsof2024,thecompanyrecorded46databreachesandsales,13millionrecordsonsale,12.3gigabytesofsourcecodesleaked,alongsidetenransomwareattacksand56companiessuspectedofbeingtargeted.Therewerealso495,000DDoS(distributeddenial-of-service)attacks,2,364phishingdomains,sevenadvancedpersistentthreatgroupsdetected,17,648newcybersecurityvulnerabilitiesdiscoveredand2,139IPaddressesconnectedtophishingdomains,thetechexpertadded.Giventhisfrequentlevelofcyberattacks,itcanbesaidthataprofessionalcybercrimeindustryhasbeenestablished,HàtoldTint?c(News)newspaper.AccordingtoDirectoroftheNationalCyberSecurityCentreColonelLêXuanTh?y,sincetheendof2023,sixransomwareattacksonVietnamesebusinessesinbanking,securities,energy,postalservicesandtelecommunicationshavebeenrecorded.ColonelTh?yaddedthatinthewakeoftheseseriouscyberattacks,mostorganisationsfailedtoreportissuestoauthorities.Nguy?nMinhChính,DirectoroftheMinistryofPublicSecuritysDepartmentofCyber??SecurityandHigh-techCrimePrevention(A05)saidthatpersonaldataleakswerecommoninthecybersphere,withmanyinternetusersunawareoftheneedtoprotecttheirowninformation.Theseleakscouldcomefromtheirpublicpostsorwerestolenduringdatatransferandstorage.Thesaleandpurchaseofpersonaldata,bothrawandprocessed,wererampant,headded.Thissituationstemmedfrombusinessesandserviceprovidersallowingthird-partypartnersaccesstotheircustomersdatawithoutstrictregulationsandobligations.Inothercases,businessesactivelycollecttheircustomersinformationtoformtheirowndatabase,whichisthenanalysedandprocessedforcommercialpurposes.SystematicdatatradeExpertsobservedthatpersonaldatatradeisnowbeingconductedsystematically,andinsomecases,withwarrantyorupdatesperthebuyersrequest.Mostofthetransactionsaredoneopenlyoverextensiveperiodsoftimeontheinternet,whetherthroughwebsites,socialmediaorhackerforums.Thesaleandpurchaseofpersonaldataarenotscatteredbetweenindividuals,thereisinvolvementofbusinessesandorganisations,saidA05directorChính,explaininghownewcompaniesoftenillegallycollectpersonaldataforcommercialpurposesthroughtoolshiddenonwebsites.Malwarespreadintheonlinesphereandattacksonthecomputersystemsofotherbusinessesandorganisationsalsoposethreatstodatabases,accordingtoChính.A05statisticsshowedthatthepublicsecurityministrycrackeddownonhundredsofindividualsandorganisationsengaginginpersonaldatatrade,withseveralcasesoflarge-scaledatatheft.Theamountofillegallycollectedandtradedpersonaldatafromthesecasesreachedthousandsofgigabytes.Theministryhasalsoactivelydetectedandinvestigated16casesofleakedinternaldataandstatesecretsontheinternet.Inresponsetotheincreasinglyrampantillegaldatatrade,thepublicsecurityministryhasadvisedthegovernmentandNationalAssemblyonthedevelopmentofDecree13/2023/N?-CPonpersonaldataprotection.TheministryisalsoassignedtoleadandcoordinatethedraftingoftheLawonPersonalDataProtectiontoprotectcitizensrightstopersonalprivacy,humanrightsandcybersecurity.Meanwhile,theResearchandConsultingCommitteeforTechnologyDevelopmentandInternationalCooperation(undertheNationalCybersecurityAssociation)proposedestablishingacollaborativeinformationplatform.ThisplatformisexpectedtobeconnectedtodatabasesoftheMinistryofPublicSecurity,MinistryofInformationandCommunications,theStateBankofVietnam,cybersecurityorganisationsinthecountryandglobally,aswellasindependentcybersecurityexperts.V?Ng?cS?n,headofthecommitteesaid:Sharinginformationisthebestwaytooffermembersoftheassociationacomprehensiveviewofthesituationandlatestcybersecurityintelligence.Thiswillhelpthemidentifyandactivelyrespondtonewthreats,therebyenhancingsecurity.—VNS