ThebridgeonHCMCitysfirstmetrolinespanningtheSàiGònRiver.Buildingaself-drivingtramlinerunningoncanalsisproposedtohelpreducecongestionintheTanS?nNh?tairportsvicinity.—VNA/VNSPhotoAnHi?uHCMCITY—Aprivateinvestorhasproposedtobuildaself-drivingtramlinerunningonHCMCityscanalstoreducecongestionnearTanS?nNh?tairport.AccordingtothecitysDepartmentofTransport,thelinewouldrunbetweenTanS?nNh?tAirportinTanBìnhDistrictand??mSenCulturalParkinDistrict11.Itwouldhavealengthofnearly30kmandanestimatedcostofaboutVN?20trillion(US$780million).PhanC?ngB?ng,deputydirectorofthemunicpalDepartmentofTransport,saidthedepartmenthassentadocumenttothecitysDepartmentofPlanningandArchitectureandtheUrbanRailwayManagementBoardtoseektheiropinionsontheproposaloftheHàN?i-basedTh?chBànParkJSC.Theworkisplannedtobecarriedoutinthreephases.ThefirstphasewillbefromtheairporttoNguy?nKi?uIsletinDistrict4withalengthof12.7kmrunningalongNhiêuL?c-Th?NghèCanal.Inthesecondphase,itwillbeextendedfromtheislettoBàTàngBridgeinDistrict8,adistanceof5.7km,along??iCanal.Thethirdphaseisan11.5kmsectionfromBàTàngBridgetotheintersectionofHoàngV?nTh?andútT?chstreetsalongTanHóa(chǎn)CanalandL?cLongQuanStreet.Accordingtothecompany,theworkisexpectedtoproceedsmoothlysinceitwillrunalongcanals,therefore,thereisnoproblemwithlandacquisitionandclearancechallenges.Itwouldmainlybebuiltofsteel,allowingmassproductioninfactoriestospeedupprogress,itsaid.Self-drivingtramshavetheadvantageofswitchinglaneseasilycomparedtomonorails,andthecostisalsolower,itsaid.Theworkisexpectedtobecompletedinfiveyears.Itwouldaddresscongestionneartheairportwhilealsohelpingdevelopthecitysurbanrailnetwork,itsaid.Themainstationswillbeconnectedtothemetrosystem.Thecityplanstobuildeightmetroroutesandthreetramlineswithatotallengthof220kmatanestimatedcostof$25billion.ThefirstmetrolinebetweenB?nThànhMarketinDistrict1andSu?iTiênThemeParkinTh???ccityisalmostcomplete,withthelatestplansayingitshouldbeputintooperationthisyear,andworkhasstartedonthesecond.ItisfundedbyofficialdevelopmentaidloansandtheGovernment.Theremaininglinesareintheplanningstage.Therehavebeennospecificplansforthetramlines.—VNS

The7-year-oldpatientsbodyadaptstothenewheartonlyoneweekafterthehearttransplant.PhotocourtesyoftheVi?tnam-GermanyFriendshipHospitalHàN?I—Vi?tNam-GermanyFriendshipHospitalhasannouncedthesuccessfulcompletionofahearttransplantforaseven-year-oldgirldiagnosedwithend-stageheartfailureduetodilatedcardiomyopathy.Thismarksthe10thpediatrichearttransplantperformedatthehospital.Threeyearsago,thepatient,T.T.D.L.,wasdiagnosedwithaconditionwheretheheartmusclesbecameenlargedandweakened,andshesubsequentlyreceivedconservativetreatmentwithspecificmedicationsattheHàN?isCentralPediatricHospital.Recently,herheartfailureprogressedrapidlyandseverely,showingpoorresponsetoconservativetreatments.Thechildwasdiagnosedwithend-stageheartfailure,andhearttransplantationwasdeterminedtobetheoptimaltreatmentoption.HeartexpertsatthehospitalsCardiovascularandThoracicCentrenotedthatonlyafewcasesofbrain-deadorgandonorsareavailableeachyearnationwide,makingitextremelychallengingtofindasuitabledonorforpediatrichearttransplants.Thechildsend-stageheartfailurecausedsignificantbreathingdifficulties,requiringbedrest,andshowedpoortreatmentresponse.Withoutahearttransplant,herchanceofsurvivalafteroneyearwasverylow.Fortunately,thepatientreceivedaheartdonationfromabrain-deaddonor,whichrevivedherlife.Thedonorsorganandtherecipientsorganwereaperfectmatch,althoughthedonorsbodysizewas3.5timeslargerthanthatoftherecipient.Thissignificantdifferenceinbodysizepresentednumerouschallengesforsurgeryandpost-transplantrecovery,posingachallengeforbothdomesticandinternationaltransplantcentres.AttheVi?tNam-GermanyFriendshipHospital,withexperiencefromninepreviouspediatrichearttransplants,themedicalteamanticipatedthesechallengesanddevelopedanaggressivetreatmentprotocolforthepatient.Oneweekafterthehearttransplant,thechildsbodybegantoadapttothenewheart.Afterthreeweeksofpost-surgery,thepatientisrecoveringverywell.Sheisengagingindailyactivities,meetingthecriteriafordischargefromthehospital.–VNSAmedicalworkertakescareofanewbornattheCentralHighlandsRegionGeneralHospital.—VNA/VNSPhotoNguyênDungHàN?I—WarningsaboutdecliningbirthratesinVi?tNamhavebeenhighlightedinmanyplacesbymanyexpertsrecently.TheysaidthatVi?tNamsfertilityrateisheadingdownbelowthereplacementlevel.Overthe19yearssincereachingthereplacementlevelin2005,for15yearsthefertilityratehasbeenlowerthanthelevelneededtomaintainthepopulation.ProfessorNguy?n?ìnhC?,formerdirectoroftheInstituteofPopulationandSocialIssuesundertheNationalEconomicsUniversity,saidthatafter45yearsoffamilyplanning,Vi?tNamachieveditsgoalofreducingbirthratein2005.Atthattimethebirthratedroppedtoapproximately2.1childrenpermother(whichisthatreplacementlevel)andhasbeenloweredsincethen.Childbirthhaschangedfromanatural,instinctivebehaviourtoaplannedbehaviour,frompassivetoactive,fromlargequantityandlowqualitytosmallquantitywithhighquality,fromlessresponsiblechildbirthtoamoreresponsibleone.ThisistrulyoneofthemostprofoundsocialchangesinVi?tNaminthepast80years,havingapositiveimpactonlifequalityofeachindividual,family,communityandthecountryssustainabledevelopment,saidC?.However,Vi?tNamsfertilityrateisshowingatendencytofallbelowthereplacementlevel.Inparticular,theentireurbanandsouthernregionshavefallenbelowthereplacementlevelforabout25yearsnow.Lastyear,theaveragenumberofchildrenperwomanattheendofchildbearingageinurbanareaswasonly1.7whileinruralareasitwas2.07,inthesoutheastitwas1.47andintheMekongDeltaitwas1.54.C?isconcernedthatthebirthratewillcontinuetodeclineiftherearenonewpoliciestorespondtoandpreventthedownwardtrend.ThebirthrateinsomeregionsandprovincesofVi?tNamhasdecreasedsharply,butonaverageacrossthecountry,itisstillaroundthereplacementlevel.Therefore,theseriouschallengesoftheissuehavenotyetbeenfullyexpressed.However,lessonslearntfromdevelopedcountrieswithsimilarculturescanwarnofthechallengescausedbythetrendofdeepdeclineinbirthrates,bothatthemacroandmicrolevels,hesaid.Firstofall,atthemacrolevel,manycountrieswithprolongedlowbirthratesaresufferingpopulationdecline,labourshortages,ahighelderlypopulation,slowandevennegativeeconomicgrowth.C?analysedthatatthemicrolevel,averylowbirthrateofonechildforalongtimewillleadtothe4-2-1syndrome,meaningfourgrandparents,twoparentsandonechild.Whentheonlychildisyoung,he/sheistakencareofbysixpeopleincludingparentsandgrandparents.Butconverselywhenhe/shegrowsup,he/sheisresponsiblefortakingcareofsixpeople.Beingtakencareofbymanypeopleandhavingtotakecareofmanypeoplearedisadvantageoustoboththedevelopmentoftheonlychildandthefamilyslifequalityingeneral.Thesadrealitycanalsobethatparentswithonlyonechildareleftalone,whentheirchildrendiefromaccidentsorillnesses.Inaddition,inmanylocalities,thelowbirthratehasledtoasharpdecreaseinthenumberofprimaryandsecondaryschoolstudents.Asaresult,localauthoritiesmustmergeschoolsfromtwodifferentcommunesorwardsintoonenewschool.SupportAparadetopromotetheincreaseinbirthrateandimprovepopulationqualityinHCMCity.—VNA/VNSPhoto?inhH?ngC?proposedasolutiontoincreasethebirthrate,suggestingthattheStateshouldsupportfamilieswithsmallchildren.Ifhavingchildrennotonlybenefitsthecoupleandthefamily,butalsobenefitssociety,providinghumanresourcesforsociety,thenofcourse,raisingchildrencannotbethesoleresponsibilityofthefamily,especiallywhenthecostofraisingchildrenisincreasinglylargecomparedtotheincomeofyoungcouples,saidC?.Therefore,theState,familyandsocietyneedtoworktogethertoraiseandeducatechildren.TheStateneedstodiversifytheformsofsharingcostsofraisingandeducatingchildrenwithcouples,suchasanone-offpayment,annualallowances,reductionofpersonalincometax,exemptionorreductionofobligationstocontributetothecommunitywhenraisingsmallchildren,exemptionorreductionoftuitionfees,hesaid.Inaddition,C?alsoproposedthatcoupleswithyoungchildrenenjoyflexibleworkingconditions,suchasreducedworkinghours,cominginlateandleavingearly,unpaidleaveandworkingfromhome.InKorea,femaleworkersenjoy90daysofmaternityleavewhereasmaleworkerswhosewivesgivebirthareentitledtotendaysofleave.Childcareleaveisuptooneyearforbothmaleandfemaleworkers.Workerscanchoosetheappropriatetimetotaketimeofftocarefortheirchildrenuntiltheirchildrenareeightyearsold.Atthesametime,theStateshouldhavepoliciesforcouplestreatinginfertility.Vi?tNamhasmorethanonemillioninfertilecouples,accountingforabout7.7percent.Thus,technicalandfinancialsupportforinfertilitytreatmentisagreateconomicneed,alongwithhavinggreathumanitariansignificanceandisasolutiontoincreasebirthrates.Otherproposedsolutionsincludepromotingresearchandcommunicationonthedecliningbirthratesinthecountry,creatingforumsforpeople,especiallyyoungpeople,todiscusstheimmediateandlong-termconsequencesoflatemarriageandlowbirthrates,innovatingpoliciesandlawsrelatedtobirthrates,ensuringsocialsecurityfortheelderlyanddevelopingasystemoffamilysupportservices.—VNS

Nguy?nTh?ThuH??ngatablooddonationevent.—VNA/VNSPhotoNguy?nLànhNAM??NH—BlooddonationissteadilybecomingastrongmovementinthenorthernprovinceofNam??nh,withenthusiasticparticipationfromeveryone,includingcivilservants,workersandlocalresidents.Nguy?nTh?ThuH??ng,alectureranddeputysecretaryoftheH?ChíMinhCommunistYouthUnionatNam??nhUniversityofNursing,isaprominentvolunteerintheuniversitysblooddonationmovement.Shehadbeeninstrumentalinspreadingthemessageofblooddonationamongstudentswith17blooddonations.Evenasastudentoftheuniversity,H??ngwasactivelyinvolvedinblooddonation.Herfirstdonationwasin2007,rightaftershewasadmittedtothenursingprogrammeattheuniversity.Asamedicalstudent,sheunderstandsthemessageOnedropofbloodgiven,onelifesaved,so,sheregularlyregisterstodonateherblood.H??ngalsojoinedtheuniversitysBloodDonationDisseminationandMobilisationTeam.In2011,aftergraduatedfromtheuniversity,shewasselectedasalecturerandcontinuedherinvolvementintheblooddonorcampaignsattheuniversity.In2023,theuniversitysBloodDonationDisseminationandMobilisationTeamrecruitedover1,500peopleforvoluntaryblooddonation,collecting1,026unitsofblood,surpassingtheirtargetby293percent.Similarly,LêTh?H?nh,ahealthcareworkerattheYênTh?PrimarySchoolinYYênDistrictintheprovincehasdonatedblood34timesoverthepast11years.In2023,shewasrecognisedasoneofthe100exemplaryblooddonorsnationwidebytheNationalSteeringCommitteeforVoluntaryBloodDonation,theVi?tNamRedCrossSocietyandtheNationalInstituteofHaematologyandBloodTransfusion.H?nhsaid:Bloodcanwaitforpatientsbutpatientscannotwaitforblood.Whenshebegandonatingbloodin2013,theblooddonationmovementwasnotasdevelopedasitisnow,especiallyinruralareas,wheremanywerehesitantduetofearsabouttheimpactonhealth,shesaid.Soshesigneduptodonateherbloodwheneverateamofvolunteerscametoherschoolsothatsurroundingpeoplecouldseethatblooddonationwouldnotimpacttheirhealth.ShenotonlyparticipatesinlocalblooddonationeventsbutalsoregistersherphonenumberwiththeprovincialGeneralHospitalandtheuniversitytobeavailableforemergencyblooddonations.Whenshereceivesurgentblooddonationcall,shewilltravelnearly40kmfromherhousetothehospitaltodonateblood.SpreadingblooddonationmovementLocalsteeringcommitteesforvoluntaryblooddonationatalllevelshaveintensifiedcommunicationcampaignsinrecentyears,enhancingcommunityawarenessofvoluntaryblooddonationtofurtherdeveloptheblooddonationmovementintheprovince.Theprovincenowhasnineblooddonationclubswith425activemembers.TheprovincialRedCrossvolunteersactivelycoordinatewithvariousuniversity,collegeandvocationalschoolteamstoorganiseblooddonationeventsattheprovincialGeneralHospitalonthethirdSundayofeverymonth.Ph?mMinhPh??ng,chairmanoftheNam??nhRedCrossSociety,saidpreviously,voluntaryblooddonationwasunfamiliartomanypeople.Initialscepticismandpsychologicalbarriersoftenresultedinlowerparticipationrates.However,theintensifiedcommunicationeffortshadhelpedthemovementgainmomentumandbecomedeeplyingrainedinthecommunity.Observingthatblooddonationdoesnotadverselyaffecthealthandcansavelives,morepeoplearegraduallydrawnintothemovement,creatingabroad-basedinitiative,Ph??ngsaid.Inthefirstsixmonthsofthisyear,theprovinceorganised13voluntaryblooddonationevents,attractingnearly4,300participantsandcollecting4,626unitsofblood,witha60percentrepeatblooddonationrate.Ph??ngsaidlocalitiesshouldfocusonbuildingnetworksofblooddonationvolunteersacrossvariousgroupsandareastoensurethecontinuedexpansionofthevoluntaryblooddonationmovement.—VNSAround7,700haofthesummer-autumnricecropin??ngThápProvincehavebeenplaguedbywhiteflies,causingyoungplantstodieandreducingriceyields.VNA/VNSPhotoNguy?nV?nTrí??NGTHáP—Some16,000haoutofthe100,000haofsummer-autumnricecropintheMekongDeltaprovinceof??ngTháphavebeendamagedbypestsanddiseases,resultingindecreasedoutput.Around7,700hahavebeenplaguedbywhiteflies,amoth-like,sap-suckinginsectthatstuntsorevenkillsplants.Thepesthasmostlyinfestedone-month-oldricecrops,especiallytheOM18and?àith?m8varieties.Nguy?nV?nMong,whogrowsOM18riceinCaoL?nhDistrictsM?Th?Commune,saidwhiteflieshavedamagedaroundonehectareofhisfields,killingyoungplantsmostlyintheirfloweringstage.Thepesthasbeenaroundfortwoyears,andcoulddevastate10-30percentofafield,andfarmershaveyettofindaneffectivesolution,hesaid.Nguy?nThanhHi?nofThanhBìnhDistrictsTanPhúCommunesaidwhiteflieshavedriedoutflowersonhistwo-hectarericefield,andoutputislikelytofallby500kilogrammesperhectaretosixtonnes.TheprovinceDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentsaidlargepopulationsofwhitefliesareduetoabnormallyhighmoistureandlackofsunshine.Itisalsobecausefarmersusepesticideswhenplantsareonly10-15daysold,whichistooearlyandkillsoffpestsnaturalpredators.Thenumberofwhitefliesisforecasttoincreaserapidlyinthenextfewweeksduringtherainyseason,thedepartmentwarned.Totackletheproblem,itinstructedfarmerstoadoptpreventivemeasuressuchasthethreereductions,threegains(3R3G)technique,trackingplanthealth,applyingsuitablewateringmethods,andusingorganicfertiliserstopreventwhitefliesfromspreading,saveproductioncostsandgrowsafeproduce.The3R3Gapproachpromotesareductionintheuseofseeds,fertilisersandinsecticidesandhelpsincreasefarmersincomes,lowerriskscausedbypesticidesandimprovetheenvironmentwithlesspollutionfromfarmchemicals.Thedepartmentalsourgedfarmerstokeepaneyeonothervarietiesthatarepronetowhiteflies,suchasJasmine85,VD20,OM4900,IR50404,andstickyrice,removegrassfromtheirfieldsandensureregularirrigation.Regularcareandinspectionsarealsoneededtopromptlypreventwhitefliesfromspreadinganddevisesuitablesolutions,itadded.—VNSArescueteampullsavictimtosafetyfromalandslideinNaRìDistrict,B?cK?nProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoNguy?nC?ngH?iHàN?I—HeavyrainsandlandslidesoverthepastfewdayshavewreakedhavocacrossnorthernVi?tNam,leavingatrailofdestructionintheirwake.Accordingtoreportsfromnorthernprovinces,thetorrentialdownpoursfromJuly29to30haveresultedinthetragiclossofsixlives,withonepersonmissingandtwoothersinjured.Theprovinceshavealsoexperiencedextensivedamagetoinfrastructure,with82housesreportedtobedestroyedordamagedandafurther18requiringurgentevacuation.Agriculturallandshavenotbeensparedeither,withmorethan80hectaresofcropssubmergedinfloodwaters.Additionally,landslideshavecausedwidespreadtrafficdisruption,with51separateincidentsreported,leadingtothedisplacementofthousandsofcubicmetresofsoilandrock.InLàoCaiProvince,heavyrainsandfloodinghavecausedtheRedRivertooverflow,reachingitshighestlevelthisyear.Therapidlyrisingwatershaveinundatedcropsalongtheriverbanks.Thewaterlevelisexpectedtocontinuetorise,peakingat2pmonJuly31beforegraduallyreceding.Themeteorologicalagencyforecastsevenmoresevereweatherfortheregion,withupto200mmofrainwaterexpectedincertainspotsthroughAugust1.Inresponsetothesituation,localauthoritieshaveworkedtirelesslytoprovideaidandsupporttotheaffectedcommunities.Effortsareunderwaytorelocatedisplacedresidents,provideemergencyshelteranddistributeessentialsupplies.TheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmenthascalledformeasurestomitigatetheimpactoftherecentearthquakesinKonPl?ngDistrict,KonTumProvinceandtoprepareforpotentialfutureevents.Theministryhasalsosentanurgentdirectivetoprovincesandcities,aswellasrelevantministriesandagencies,regardingthepreventionofcasualtiesandactiveresponsetofloodsandlandslidesinthenextfewdays.Underthedirective,theyareurgedtostepupcommunicationcampaignstokeeppeopleonhighalert,strengthendisasterpreparednessandenforcesafetymeasures,includingstrictlycontrollingaccesstoflood-hitareas.Theyarealsourgedtoenhancemonitoringofweatherconditionsandprovidetimelyupdatestothepublicandassemblerescueteamsandresourcestobeonstandbyforanypotentialincidents.—VNS

Anew-styleruralareainthenorthernprovinceofTháiNguyên.—VNA/VNSPhotoTr?nTrangHàN?I—DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàhaschairedameetingonthefirst-everplanforurbanandruralsystems,stressingtheroleofruralareasinurbanisation.ThisisVi?tNamssectoralplanthatgoesintodetailonmanaginganddevelopingurbanandruralsystems,basedonthenationalmasterplan.Anetworkofurbanandruralareasisexpectedtotakeshapethroughsectoralandregionalconnectionsinregardtoinfrastructure,resourceuse,environmentprotectionandbiodiversityconservation.Theplanfor2021-2030withavisionto2050,stressesurbandevelopmentasagrowthdriverandakeyelementofeconomicgrowth,whileruralareasplayafundamentalroleinsustainableurbandevelopment.DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàchairsthemeetingonWednesday.—VNA/VNSPhotoMinh??cTheMinistryofConstruction(MoC)willdocumentthepolitical,legalandscientificbasisforthisplanaswellasitsimpactinrelationtoothersectoral,provincialandnationalplanning.AccordingtoconstructionministerNguy?nT??ngV?n,thisisthefirsttimethattheplanforurbanandruralsystemsisbuiltbasedontheLawonPlanning.Thisplanaimstoconnecturbanandruralspacestothenationalsocio-economicdevelopmentzonesandregionswithspecificfocuses,whileeffectivelylinkingtotheinfrastructuresystem.Urbansystemsareexpectedtobedevelopedindifferentlinesandclusters,concentratingonseveralareasthatenjoyfavourablegeographical,socio-economicinfrastructureandagoodavailableworkforce.Theseadvantageswillturnthemintokeyregionsandeconomiccorridorsforgrowth,therebyimpactingothersmallandmedium-sizedurbanareasandacceleratingtheurbanisationofruralzones.Theplanalsoaimstoreduceurbandevelopmentgapsbysupportingruralareasthroughsmall-scaleurbanzonesandsuburbs,whilestrengtheningthelinkagesbetweenthem.Ruralareasareplannedforcomprehensive,sustainableandmoderndevelopmentwithcomprehensiveinfrastructureandsocialservices,aligningwithurbangrowthwhileretainingtheiruniquecharacteristics.Ruralresidentialareasareconsideredakeyelementinruralspaces,andareplannedinconsiderationofnaturalresourcesandtraditionalcultures,aswellasagriculturalecologicalzonesandnationaldefence-security.By2030,theurbanisationrateisexpectedtoexceed50percent.Thenumberofurbanareasnationwideisestimatedatbetween1,000and1,200.Economywise,theseareasshouldcontributeapproximately85percenttothenationalGDP(grossdomesticproduct).Meanwhile,thecountryshouldhaveatleast90percentofcommunesmeetingnew-styleruralstandards,whilealldistrictsshouldhaveanurbanzone.By2050,theurbansystemmustbecomeacohesivenetwork,ensuringabalancebetweendifferentregionsandeffectivelycopingwithclimatechanges,risingsealevel,naturaldisastersanddiseases.Inadditiontoenvironmentalprotection,thearchitectureinthisareamustretainitsuniqueidentitywhiletransformingtobegreen,smartandmodern.ThegoalistoelevatetheVietnameseurbansystemsroleandpositionintheAsia-Pacificurbannetworks,whiledemonstratinghighcompetitivenessinnational,regionalandinternationalsocio-economicdevelopment.Commentingontheplan,DeputyMinisterofPlanningandInvestment??ThànhTrunghighlightedtheimportanceofclearlydefiningdevelopmentgoalsandstrategies,whichwillthenactasthefoundationfordynamic,cohesiveandcomprehensiveurbanandruralplanning.Meanwhile,DeputyMinisterofCulture,SportsandTourismHoàng??oC??ngsaidthattheplanmustformclustersofurbanandruralareaswiththeiruniquecharacteristics,inalignmentwiththeirownhistory,naturalandsocio-economicconditions.—VNSAbusoperatesinHCMCity.—VNA/VNSPhotoTi?nL?cHCMCITY—HCMCityhassetatargetofhavingallofitsbusesusingcleanfuelsorelectricityby2030,heardaworkshopongreenandelectricenergyforpublictransportheldinthesouthernlargesteconomichubthisweek.Thecitynowhas2,209busesrunningon138routes,ofthem546buses,accountingfor24.7percentofthetotal,usecompressednaturalgas(CNG)orelectricity.ThebusnetworkcoversallareasinHCMCity,servingtraveldemandofabout300,000passengersdaily.InlinewiththePrimeMinistersDecision876/QD-TTg,datedJuly22,2022,thecityaimstoensureallneworreplacedbuseswillutilisegreenenergystartingin2025,withalong-termgoalofachievingafullygreenbusfleetby2050.Additionally,alltaxisareexpectedtousegreenenergyby2030.Ph?mV??ngB?o,DeputyDirectorofthePublicTransportManagementCentre,highlightedthatthecityisaimingtoreachits2030targetearlierthanthenationaldeadline.However,thistransitionfacesseveralchallenges,includingthehighcostofelectricbusescomparedtodiesel,alackofCNGrefuelingstations,andunderdevelopedcharginginfrastructure.Thecityisalsoexploringvarioussupportmechanismsforbusinessesinvolvedinthetransition.Theseincludeofferinglow-interestloansandtaxincentivestofacilitatetheshiftfromfossilfuelstocleanenergy.ThecitysDepartmentofTransportintendstofinalisethesepoliciesbySeptember,startingwithbusesandextendingtoothervehiclesinsubsequentphases.Khu?tVi?tHùng,DirectoroftheInstituteofTransportStrategyandDevelopment,notedthatthecitystargetisambitiouscomparedtonationalstandards.Thecitybenefitsfromasignificantnumberofbusroutecontractsendingandundergoingrebiddingin2025and2026,whichcouldacceleratethetransition.Nonetheless,integratingnewinfrastructure,particularlylandforchargingstations,remainsasignificantchallenge.From2024to2030,thecitywilltendercontractsfor108busroutesinvolvingapproximately1,901buses.By2025,thecityplanstohave2,542buses,increasingto3,317by2030.Despitetheseplans,thedevelopmentofgreenenergyvehiclesfaceshurdlessuchasinsufficientCNGrefuelingstationsandhighinvestmentcostsaselectricbusesarearound13percentmoreexpensivethandieselmodels.Additionally,thecharginginfrastructureforelectricbusesisnotyetfullydeveloped.Ph?mXuanMai,anexpertfromtheHCMCityUniversityofTechnology,saidthatwhileCNGbusesaredecreasinginpopularityduetotherapiddevelopmentofelectricbuses,andthelatterareexpectedtogrowsubstantiallyduetotechnologicaladvancements,supportivepolicies,andincreasingconsumerdemand.Tosupporttheexpansionofelectricbuses,Mairecommendedthegovernmenttoinvestincharginginfrastructure,includingsolar-poweredstations,anddeveloprenewableenergysourcestoensurecleanpowersupply.Similarly,MaiLinhGroupsrepresentativehighlightedthatsolarenergyisanoptimalsolutionforachievingthenet-zeroemissiontargetandiscurrentlyevaluatingelectricvehiclesforitstaxiserviceswhileseekingpartnershipswithelectricvehiclemanufacturers.Nguy?nDuyKhánhfromSaigonbuspointedoutthattheinitialcostofelectricbusesissignificantlyhigher,approximatelyVN?6billion(US$237,000)perbus.Hesuggestedthatthegovernmentshouldconsiderofferinglowerinterestratesonloans,withproposalsrangingfrom1-2percent,comparedtothe3percentsuggestedbythePublicTransportManagementCentre.TheDepartmentofTransportiscurrentlyproposingvarioussupportmechanisms,includinginterestratesubsidies,importtaxreductions,andinvestmentincharginginfrastructuretoencouragetheadoptionofgreenenergybuses.DirectorofthedepartmentTr?nQuangLamemphasisedthatthecityiscommittedtoprioritisingtheshifttogreenenergyandwillworkondevelopingsupportivepoliciesthroughtwophases.Thefirstphase,bySeptember,willfocusonfinalisingmechanismsforelectricandCNGbuses,withthesecondphaseaddressingalltypesofvehicles.Thedepartmentisalsoworkingonmappingoutthechargingstationnetwork,initiallyfocusingonbusdepotsandmajorbusstations.ThecitysDepartmentofIndustryandTradewillalsoorganiseworkshopsoninvestmentpolicies,technicalquotas,supportingmechanisms,amongotherstosupportenterprises,associationsandsectorsparticipatinginthetransition.—VNS

Firefighterswereabletoextinguishtheflameswithinfiveminutes,andtheareawasclearedwithinanhour.—PhotocourtesyofTanS?nNh?tauthorityHCMCITY—ADIYpowerbankinapassengerscheckedluggagecaughtfireafterbeingleftbehindatsecuritysrequestatHCMCitysTanS?nNh?tInternationalAirportonTuesdaynight.Theincidenthadminimalimpactonairportoperations,airauthoritiesnoted.Theincidentoccurredaround11:55pmwhenairportsecuritystaffinstructedamalepassengertoremovehispowerbankfromhischeckedluggageduetotheassociatedfirehazards.Shortlythereafter,thedevicecaughtfire.Firefighterswereabletoextinguishtheflameswithinfiveminutes,andittookapproximatelyonehourtosecureandcleartheaffectedarea.Arepresentativefromtheairportsaidthepowerbankwasado-it-yourselfhomemadetype,andsinceadrypowderfireextinguisherwasused,powderdustcreatedsmokeintheextinguishedarea,andby12:55AMonJuly31,theareahadbeenthoroughlycleaned.Theincidentdidnotsignificantlyimpactoperationsattheterminal,therepresentativesaid.Thelithium-ionbatteriesinthesedevicesgenerateenergythroughelectrochemicalreactionsthatinherentlyproduceheat.Duetothepotentialforoverheatingandcombustion,certainairlineshaveprohibitedtheuseofpowerbanks,whileothersadvisepassengerstonotifycrewmembersshouldtheirdevicesbecomeexcessivelywarm.Mostairlinesrequirepassengerstostorepowerbanksintheirhandluggagetomitigateanypotentialhazards.—VNS

VietnameseAmbassadortoJapanPh?mQuangHi?uspeaksataseminaronpromotingsupportforVietnameseworkersinJapantointegrateintothelocalcommunity.—VNA/VNSPhotoTOKYO—TheVietnameseEmbassyinJapanonJuly30heldaseminaronpromotingsupportforVietnameseworkersinJapantointegrateintothelocalcommunity,developthemselvesandtheircareers,withtheparticipationofrepresentativesofrelevantJapaneseagencies,departmentsandlocalities.Therearecurrentlynearly600,000Vietnameseliving,studying,andworkingacross47prefecturesandcitiesofJapan.Inhisopeningremarks,VietnameseAmbassadorPh?mQuangHi?usaidthatthemajorityofVietnamesepeoplearehardworking,eagertolearn,andliveharmoniouslyandamicably.TheyhavecontinuouslyimprovedtheirJapaneselanguageskillstobetterthemselves,supporttheirfamilies,andcontributetoJapanseconomy,aswellasenhancingthefriendshipbetweenthetwocountries.HenotedthatfollowingtheJapaneseGovernmentspolicyrevisionallowingtalentedforeignworkerstoresideandworkforalong-terminJapan,thenumberofVietnameseworkersintheEastAsiancountryisexpectedtocontinuerisinginthenearfuture.Therefore,theembassyorganisedthiseventtoexchangeopinionswithJapaneseagencies,departments,sectorsandlocalitiesonmeasuresforVietnameseworkerstochooseJapaneselocalitiesasadestinationtoworkandliveforalongterm,becomeapartofthelocalsocietyandeffectivelycontributetothesocio-economicdevelopmentofthatlocality,addedHieu.YasuhisaArai,arepresentativefromJapansMinistryofJustice,providedanoverviewofthenewrecruitmentandtrainingsystemannouncedbythegovernmentonJune21.Heexplainedthatunderthenewlaw,thetechnicalapprenticetrainingsystem,whichinvolvesskilltransfer,willbefundamentallyre-evaluated,whileanewrecruitmentandtrainingsystemwillbeestablishedtodevelopandensurehumanresourcesinfieldswhereJapanisexperiencingalabourshortage.Attheseminar,representativesfromYamanashi,Kanagawa,andAichiprefecturesbriefedparticipantsontheirrespectivelocalityseffortstoattractforeignlabourers,particularlythosefromVietnam.HieuemphasisedtheneedtofocusonJapaneselanguagetraining,Japaneseculturepopularisation,andskilldevelopmentforVietnameseworkers.Healsohighlightedtheimportanceofcontinuoustrainingactivities,startingbeforetheirarrivalinJapanandmaintainingitthroughouttheirtimelivingandworkinginthecountry.—VNSAviewofHu?City.ThecentralprovinceofTh?aThiênHu?wantsinvestmentfundstodevelopurbanandhealthcareserviceprojectsin2025-30.PhotocourtesyofV?ThiTH?ATHIêNHU?—Thecentralprovincehasproposedaseriesofkeyinvestmentprojectsincludinganewurbanandhealthcareservicein2025-30,callingforaninvestmentofmorethanVN?6.3trillion(US$252million)fromtheStatebudget,ODAandpreferentialloans.Theprovincesaidtheproposals,alreadysenttothegovernmentforapproval,willmeanacompletefaceliftforthelocalareahelpingittonewgrowthfordecades.ItalsosaidaconsortiumofDojiGoldGemGroupandDojiLandcompanyhaswonthebidforanewluxurytrade-service-housingcomplexprojectinthenewAnVanD??ngurbanarea.TheDojiconsortiumwillbedevelopingthecomplexacrossan18.2haarea,withaninvestmentofVN?4.6trillion,providingaccommodationandservicesfor9,000people.Theprovincealsoplanstobuildaresearch-trainingandclinicalmedicalcentreintheHu?CentralHospital.Itwillusenon-refundableODAsourcedfromtheKoreaFoundationforInternationalHeathcare(KOFIH),withaninvestmentofVN?250billion($10million).AnexpansionandconstructionoftheHu?CentralHospitalNo2projectinPhong?i?ndistrictwillgivethedistrictafurther500hospitalbeds,easingoverloadofthedowntownhospital.DoctorsandnursesworkatHu?CentralHospital.Thekeyhospitalwillbeexpandedandupgradedwithnewhi-techservicesin2025-30.PhotocourtesyofTh?aThiênHu?PortalTheprojecthasbeenlookingtoaninvestmentofVN?351billion($14million)fromtheEconomicDevelopmentCo-operationFund(EDCF)throughtheExport-ImportBankofKorea(KEXIM).Thecurrentdowntown-basedHu?CentralHospitalalsoplanstobuildanew900-bedhi-techanesthesiaandstrokecentre,withtotalinvestmentofVN?1.1trillion($44million).Theprovincesaidthehugeinvestmentinthehospitalandthenewurbanproject,ispreparingthegroundtoitbecomingacentralgovernment-managedurbanareafrom2025.Th?aThiên-Hu?isdesigningitasa‘smart,alowcarbonanda‘zeroplasticwastemetropolis.AeonMallVi?tNamsaiditplanstobuilditsfirsttradingarea,AeonMallHu?,withaninvestmentof$170millioninAnVanD??ngnewurbanarea.Hu?hasbuiltsixindustrialzoneson2,600ha,creatingasmoothspacefordomesticandforeigninvestors.The$104million-investedGilimexIndustrialPark–thefirst‘greenandcleandestinationfordomesticandforeigninvestors–hasbeenunderdevelopmentreadytohostkeyhi-techinvestorsfrominternationalanddomesticsources.Th?aThiênHu?hasalreadygrantedlicencesto19newinvestmentprojects,worth$208million,includingeightFDIprojectsworth$33.2million.VNS

BANGKOK—MedicsattheKingChulalongkornMemorialHospitalofThailandonJuly17confirmedthatthefourVietnameseandtwoAmericansfounddeadintheGrandHyattErawanHotelinBangkokdiedfromcyanidepoisoning.Theysaidthesixdeathsappearedtohaveoccurredabout12to24hoursbeforepolicearrivedonthescene.Thebodiesshowedtracesoftherapid-actingchemicalandhadpurplelips,indicatingalackofoxygen,ChulalongkornHospitalsKornkiatVongpaisarnsintoldreporters,addingmoretestswerebeingconducted.Atapressconferenceheldearlierthesameday,Thaipolicealsosaidcyanidewasfoundinallcoffeecupsatthescene,andoneofthesixisbelievedtohavepoisonedtheothersoverdebtissues.ItwasconfirmedthatonlythesixenteredandleftRoom502ofthehotel,accordingtoPolMajGenNoppasilpPoolsawat,deputycommissionerofMetropolitanPoliceBureau.Amongthesix,whotravelledtoThailandfromJuly4-12,isacouplefromHCMCity,buttheydidnotcheckintothehotelatthesametime.Noppasinsaidthecaseappearedtobepersonalandwouldnotimpactthesafetyoftourists.Alsoatthepressconference,policesaiddebtissuesarethemotivebehindthecrime,andthattheseventhpersonwhowaspartofthehotelbookingleftThailandforVi?tNamonJuly10.—VNSTheCivilAviationAuthorityofVi?tNam(CAAV)hasacceptedarequestofC?nTh?InternationalAirporttoextenditsoperatinghours,amovedesignedtohelptheairportmeetgrowingdemand.—Photobybaochinhphu.vnC?NTH?—TheCivilAviationAuthorityofVietnam(CAAV)hasacceptedarequestfromC?nTh?InternationalAirporttoextenditsoperatinghours,amovedesignedtohelptheairportmeetgrowingdemand.Operatinghourswillbeextendedbyfourhourseveryday,from5amto11:59pm,effectivefromJuly13toSeptember4.TheCAAVhasalsorequestedtheairportinformrelevantagenciesandunitsoftheairport,aswellasrelatedparties,tocoordinateoperationsandensuresecurity,safety,andefficiency.TheVi?tNamAirTrafficManagementCorporationwillcollaboratewiththeairporttoprovideinformationinaccordancewithregulations.Additionally,theCAAVhasaskedVietnamesecarrierstoincreaseflightstoC?nTh?,especiallyontheHàN?i–C?nTh?route,andtoexpandnewdomesticandinternationalroutestoC?nTh?.TheCAAVwillcontinuetostudypoliciestofacilitateoperationsofVietnameseairlinesandforeignairlinestoC?nTh?.Currently,therearefiveflightroutestoC?nTh?fromHàN?i,Vinh,H?iPhòng,?àN?ng,andC?n??o,withatotalof11-12roundtripseachday.VNS

TheconvictsattheappealtrialonJuly17.—VNA/VNSPhotoPh?mKiênHàN?I—SevenconvictsinthenotoriousVi?táCasewereproposedforsentencereductionsduringanappealtrialonJuly17.PhanQu?cVi?t,Vi?tácompanysformerGeneralDirector,isamongthoseappealingforreducedprisonterms.Hewassentencedto25yearsbehindbarsduringthefirst-instancetrial,forbribingseveralgovernmentofficialstoobtainlicencestosellCOVID-19testingkitsathighpricesduringthepandemic.Duringtheappealtrial,heardbytheCentralMilitaryCourt,theprosecutorarguedthatthepaymentofVN?200million(US$7,890)incompensationfordamagesbyVi?táandhisroleinthefightagainsttheCOVID-19pandemiccouldbeconsideredanextenuatingcircumstanceinhisfavour.Theprosecutor,accordingly,proposedreducinghissentencefrom25yearsto22years.Tr?nhThanhHùng,formerDirectoroftheDepartmentofScienceandTechnologyforEconomic-TechnicalSectorsandH?AnhS?n,formerDeputyDirectoroftheMilitaryMedicalAcademysInstituteofBiomedicineandPharmacy,areotherconvictswhohavefiledappealsseekingsentencereductions.HùngandS?nwerefoundguiltyofabusingtheirpowersastheycollaboratedwithVi?ttoenlistVi?táastheAcademysprojectpartner,enablingittosecurelicencesfortestkitmassproduction.TheprosecutorproposedareducedsentenceforHùng,from15yearsto13yearsinprison,onthegroundsofaDeputyMinisterofScienceandTechnologysrequest,hiscompensationfordamagesandhisroleinthefightagainsttheCOVID-19pandemic.Similarly,theprosecutorproposedS?ntobesentencedto10yearsimprisonment,downfromhisoriginal12-yearterm.Anotherconvict,Nguy?nV?nHi?u,formerHeadoftheAcademysEquipmentandSuppliesDivision,wasalsorecommendedforareducedsentence.Hi?uwasconvictedofviolatingbiddingregulationstohelpVi?táwinbids,becomingthetestkidsupplierfortheAcademy.Vi?tpaidHi?umorethanVN?3.5billion(US$138,000)forthehelp.Afterweighingthemitigatingfactors,theprosecutorproposedHi?ubeunderlockandkeyforfiveyears,insteadofsevenyearsasruledinthefirst-instanceverdict.ThreeotherconvictsrecommendedforreducedsentencesareV??ìnhHi?p,Vi?tásformerDeputyGeneralDirector,LêTr??ngMinh,formerHeadoftheAcademysPharmaceuticalChemistryDepartmentandNg?AnhTu?n,formerHeadoftheAcademysFinanceDepartment.Hi?p,convictedofbribinggovernmentofficialstowincontractswithvariousCentresforDiseaseControl,andMinh,accusedofforgingdocumentstohelpVi?táwinthebids,wererecommendedtohavetheirsentencereducedfromsixyearstofouryearsinprison.Tu?n,foundguiltyoftakingVi?tsmoneytoassisthiminhisschemeisappealingforatwo-yearjailtermwiththesentencesuspended.Hewassentencedtofouryearsatthefirst-instancetrial.—VNSHCMCityssmarttrafficmonitoringandoperationcentre.—VNA/VNSPhotoTi?nL?cHCMCITY—HCMCityisimplementingsolutionstoensureinformationsecurity,includingafour-layerprotectionmodel.Lam?ìnhTh?ng,directorofthecitysDepartmentofInformationandCommunications,answeredquestionsfromdelegatesatthe17thsessionofthemunicipalPeoplesCouncilmeetingonMonday,focusingonthecityssocio-economicanddefense-securitysituation.Hesaidthecityiscarryingoutasurveillancesystemopen24hoursadayandsevendaysaweek,andbuildingabackupdatabasecentre.Itsetsatargetofreviewing100percentoftheinformationtechnologyinfrastructureandensuringconnectivityamongthecity,districts,wards,communesandtowns.Thedepartmentiscollaboratingwithrelevantunitstoreviewandidentifytheneedforinvestmentinover3,000devicesforunitsandlocalitiesofVN?150billion(US$5.9million).Regardingslownetworkaccessinlocalitiesaffectingtheinteractionbetweenresidentsandauthorities,thedepartmentgavethreereasons,includingoldanddegradedcomputerinfrastructure;hugedemandfordigitaltransformationandthearisingrequirementstriggeringdifficultiesforplatformmanagement;andsoftwareandplatformsofministriesandagenciesnotinaccordancewiththecity.Regardinginformationsecurityandnetworksecurity,thecityisimplementinganumberofsolutionssuchasplacingalldatainthecitysdatacentre,whichismonitored24hoursadayandsevendaysaweek.Thecityisresearchingandbuildingabackupdatacentreproject.Itisdeployingthefour-layerinformationsecurityprotectionmodelatagenciesandunits,adatabasecentre,ateamofindependentassessmentexpertsandsystem-to-systemconnectionensuredbycentrally-runagencies.Thecityalsohasaninformationsecurityresponsenetworktosupportunitswhenincidentsoccur.Asfordatasharing,thecitysdatabasesystemhasbeenlinkedtoanintegratedandshareddigitaldatabaseplatformsuchasasystemforhandlingadministrativeprocedures,receivingandresolvinginformationviaswitchboard1022,andaunifiedsystemforresolvingcomplaintsanddenunciations.Intheupcomingtime,thecitywillputintooperationsystemsforlandmanagement,constructionlicenses,electronicschoolrecordsandelectronicmedicalrecords.—VNS