DeputyHeadofthePartyCentralCommitteesCommissionforPublicityandEducation,V?ThanhMaidelivershisspeechattheconferenceonThursday.—VNA/VNSPhoto??ngTu?nNHATRANG—Theseaandislandsareanintegralpartofthenationssacredterritory,aninseparablecomponentthatholdsimmensestrategicimportanceforthecountrysdevelopmentacrosseconomic,political,social,nationaldefenceandsecurityspheres.DeputyHeadofthePartyCentralCommitteesCommissionforInformationandEducationV?ThanhMaimadethestatementatthe2024ConferenceonpromotingVi?tNamsMarineandIsland,heldinNhaTrangCityinthesouth-centralcoastalprovinceofKhánhHòa,attendedbyrepresentativesfrom28coastalprovincesandcitiesonThursday.Theconferencewasjointlyorganisedbythecommission,incollaborationwiththeprovincialPartyCommittee,theMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentandtheNavyCommand.Thetaskofpromotingawarenessofmarineandislandissueswasalong-term,ongoingresponsibilitythatinvolvedtheentirepoliticalsystem.Thus,raisingpublicconsciousnessabouttheroleandsignificanceoftheseterritorieswasessential.EffortstopromoteawarenessofVi?tNamsmarineandislandterritorieshaveyieldedsubstantialresults,playingacrucialroleinenhancingpublicunderstandingandaffectionfortheseareas.Thatalsoencouragedtheforcesresponsibleformanagingandprotectingthenationsmaritimesovereignty,Maisaid.ThePartyofficialalsohighlightedthattheglobalandregionalsituationscontinuedtoevolverapidlyandcomplexly,withthetrendsofpeace,cooperationanddevelopmentfacingnumerouschallenges.Domestically,politicalandsocio-economicstabilisedandthePartysexternalrelations,Statediplomacyandpeople-to-peoplediplomacywerebeingactivelymaintainedandstrengthened,enhancingthenationsprestigeandposition.Hostileforcescontinuedtoexploitissuessurroundingnationalsovereigntyoverborders,seas,islands,ethnicityandreligiontodisseminatedistortednarrativesandfabricationsaimedatunderminingtheStateandfracturingtraditionalfriendshipswithneighbouringcountries.Underthiscontext,heurgedalllevels,sectorsandlocalitiestodeepentheirunderstandingofthePartyandStatesresolutions,strategiesandregulations,therebyfosteringconsensusregardingthemissiontosafeguardmaritimesovereignty.Theconferenceservedasanopportunityforthe28coastalprovincesandcitiestoupdateandassimilatecrucialinformationandorientationsregardingthesituationintheEastSea(internationallyknownastheSouthChinaSea)andtheworkofprotectingVi?tNamsmaritimesovereignty,aswellasthePartysperspectives,policiesandlawsrelatedtomarineandislandissues.Participantsattheconferencealsoengagedindiscussions,exchanginginitiativesandexperiencesinpromotingmarineandislandawareness,ultimatelyaimingtoenhancelocaleffortsinthearea,therebycontributingtosocio-economicdevelopmentandtherobustprotectionofthenationssacredsovereigntyinthenewsituation.ViceSecretaryofNhaTrangProvincePartyCommitteeNguy?nKh?cToànsaidinrecentyears,promotingmarineandislandawarenesshadbeenrecognisedasasignificanttaskbylocalauthorities.Themissionhadbeenimplementedcomprehensively,featuringdiversecontentandforms,particularlythroughcoordinatedeffortsbetweenlocalitiesandunits,alongsidetheNavyCommandandCoastGuard.ThefocushadbeenoneffectivelyimplementingtheMarineandIslandPromotionCoordinationProgrammebetweentheNavyCommandandtheprovincialPartyCommitteefortheperiod2023-25.Duringtheconference,delegatesconcentratedondiscussingseveralkeyissues,includingtheprotectionofVi?tNamsmaritimesovereigntyonpoliticalanddiplomaticfronts.Theyconsideredrecentresultsincombatingillegal,unreportedandunregulated(IUU)fishing,andthecurrentsituationintheEastSea,alongwithpredictionsanddirectionsforfuturetasksinsafeguardingmaritimesovereignty.—VNS

Tuy?n Vi?t Nam kh?i ??u thu?n l?i ? ASEAN Cup sau khi th?ng Lào 4-1.Hi?p m?t chúng t?i ch?i kh?ng nh? y.

?i?u quan tr?ng là c? ??i r?t nh?n n?i.HLV Kim Sang Sik th?a nh?n tuy?n Vi?t Nam g?p khó kh?n trong hi?p 1.n? l?c tìm ki?m cái k?t t?t ??p.

C?m ?n các C?V ?? ??n r?t ??ng.sau ?ó giành k?t qu? t?t cu?i cùng

HCMCityisinvestigatingandcrackingdownonpeoplewhoexploitchildrenandolderpeoplebyforcingthemtobegonthestreets.–Photochinhphu.vnHCMCITY-HCMCityislookingontackletheissueofhomelesschildandelderlybeggars,butisthwartedbythefactthattheyaretaughthowtoevadedetectionbyauthoritiesbytheirexploiters.Tr?nQu?cD?ng,deputyheadofthecityDepartmentofLabour,WarInvalidsandSocialAffairssocialprotectiondepartment,saidDecisionNo.812/QD-UBND(datedMarch10,2023)onprotectingvagrantchildrenandothersinneedofurgentprotectionisbeingimplemented.Ithasyieldedpositiveresultsbutnevertheless,duetotheeconomicsituation,vagrantbeggarscouldstillbeseeninmanyplaces,hesaid.Theyusuallygathernearreligioussites,busstations,petrolstations,traditionalmarkets,androadintersections.Theyhavewaystoavoidtheauthoritiessuchaspretendingtoselllotterytickets,pensandchewinggum,makingitdifficultfortheauthoritiestodealwiththem.Thepolicehavebeeninstructedtocloselymonitoranddealwithpeoplesuspectedtobeexploitingchildrenandseniorsbypushingthemintobegging.Accordingtothedepartment,manyofthesecasesarehardtohandlebecausetheoffendersarerelatives,evenparents,ofchildren,andtheyaretheonestellingthemhowtoavoiddetection.Inthefirstninemonthsof2024sheltersandthedepartmenthavetakeninover1,100homelesschildrenandelderlyanddisabledpeople.Thepubliccancallthecitys1022hotlinetoreportbeggarssothatauthoritiescangivethemsuccour.Thedepartmentisalsoworkingwithvariousagenciestoraisepublicawarenessofhowtheyshouldnotgivealmstobeggarsandco-operatewithauthoritiesthroughpostersandthemedia.ThecityPeoplesCommitteewillcarryoutaninspectioncampaignatdistricts6,7,PhúNhu?n,GòV?p,TanBình,andTh???cCity.ThecityalsogetsbeggarsfromneighbouringCambodia,mostlywomen,childrenanddisabledandelderlypeoplelivinginborderprovinces.AuthoritiesaremonitoringareaswithCambodianpopulationstoidentifyandtakehomelessCambodianbeggarstosocialsheltersbeforehandingthemovertothecountrysdiplomaticmission.Therearecurrently16publiccentreswith6,505peopleand64privateoneshousing3,177people.–VNS

Sceneoftheaccident.—Photoanninhthudo.vn??KN?NG—ThreepeoplehavediedandtwoinjuredafteraroadtrafficaccidentearlyFridaymorningintheCentralHighlandsprovinceof??kN?ng,Theincidentoccurredaround1.00amwhenapickuptruckwithfivepeopleonboardoverturnedintotheroadsideditchinNamBìnhCommune,??kSongDistrict.Threepeople,??ngNguyên,31,V?Ng?cHà,30andPh?mH?ngQuan,29,losttheirlivesintheaccident.Theremainingtwo,?àoV?nTh?nh,29,andTr?nV?nQuang,40,wereseriouslyinjuredandrushedtothehospital.Thecauseoftheaccidentisunderinvestigation.—VNSTheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairsonNovember15inHCMCityheldtheworkshopoftheASEANCommissiononthePromotionandProtectionoftheRightsofWomenandChildren.—VNA/VNSPhotoThanhV?HCMCITY—Vi?tNamwillstrengthencoordinationwithotherASEANmembercountriestodeveloparoadmaptoimplementtheDeclarationontheEliminationofBullyingofChildreninASEAN,attendeesheardataworkshopheldinHCMCityonFriday(November15).TheworkshopoftheASEANCommissiononthePromotionandProtectionoftheRightsofWomenandChildren(ACWC)wasorganisedbytheMinistryofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs.Itattractedtheparticipationofmanydomesticandforeignexpertsinwomenandchildren-relatedissueswhoexchangedanddiscussedkeyhighlightsofVi?tNamin2024,priorityareasfortherightsofwomenandchildrenpost-2025,andcooperationactivitiesatbothnationalandregionallevels.HàTh?Minh??c,deputydirectorgeneraloftheministrysDepartmentofInternationalCooperation,briefedparticipantsonremarkableachievementsinimprovingthelifequalityforwomenandchildreninASEAN.AccordingtostatisticsfromtheMinistryofPublicSecurity,therewere1,317casesinvolving1,697individualsrelatedtotheabuseofover1,300childreninVi?tNam,adecreaseof31casescomparedtothesameperiodin2023.Ofthetotal,casesofsexualabusedecreasedby0.2percentcomparedtothepreviousyear.ThecountryisconductingafinalreviewoftheASEANRegionalPlanofActionontheEliminationofViolenceagainstChildrenandWomenforthe2015-25period,anddevelopinganewactionplanforthe2026-35period,??csaid.ItisproposingtocontinueconsultationsbetweenACWCVi?tNamandnetworkmembers,especiallyforprojectschairedbyVi?tNam,shesaid.Vi?tNamwillcarryouttheregionalprojectonenhancingthecapacityoffrontlineofficialsinpreventingandcombatinghumantraffickingthroughtheuseofvictim-centeredandgender-sensitiveapproachesatthenationallevel,shesaid.LêH?ngLoan,chiefofChildProtectionatUNICEFVi?tNam,saidabouttheorganisationsprioritiesbothregionallyandinVi?tNam.Theyincludeprotectingchildrenduringthe2022-26periodbysupportingevidencecollection,researchinginternationalstandardsandbestpractices,andsharingresultstopublicisetheimprovementofpoliciesandlawsonsocialwork,childrensrights,andchildprotection.UNICEFalsofocusesonstrengtheningchildprotectionsystemsandservices,developingaskilledsocialservicesworkforce,providingjudicialassistanceforjuveniles,anddevelopingcomprehensivedatabasesandmanagementsystemsforchildprotection,shesaid.Regardingthepreventionandresponsetogender-basedviolenceforthe2022-26period,LoansaidtheUnitedNationsPopulationFund(UNFPA)willfocusonpromotingtheimprovementoflawsandpoliciesongender,gender-basedviolence,andfamilyviolence.Itwillalsostrengtheneffortstopreventgender-basedviolenceanddomesticviolence,promoteinter-sectoralcoordinationtoensuretheprovisionofhigh-qualityessentialsupportservicesforwomenandgirlsaffectedbyviolence,andenhancecoordinationinrespondingtogender-basedviolenceinemergencyanddisastercontexts.Manyparticipantsdiscussedthepossibilityforcontinuedcoordinationandactionstoensuretherightsofchildrenatthenationallevelinthecomingperiod,andproposedcooperationactivitiesatbothnationalandregionallevels.Vi?tNamandotherASEANmembercountriesalsoagreedtoadopttheDeclarationontheProtectionofChildrenfromallFormsofOnlineExploitationandAbuseinASEANin2019.—VNS

PermanentDeputyPrimeMinisterNguy?nHòaBìnhworkedwiththepeoplescommitteesof12central-levellocalitiesataconferenceheldinHCMCityonNovember14topromotetheimplementationofProject06onacceleratingnationaldigitaltransformation.—VN/VNSPhotoTi?nL?cHCMCITY—InNovember,thePolitburowillissueanewresolutiononnationaldigitaltransformation,PermanentDeputyPrimeMinisterNguy?nHòaBìnhsaidataconferenceheldinHCMCityonNovember14.Bìnhchairedtheconferencewiththepeoplescommitteesof12central-levelprovincesandcitiestopromotetheimplementationofProject06thatfocusesondevelopingtheapplicationofpopulationdata,e-identificationandauthenticationfornationaldigitaltransformationinthe2022-25period,withavisionto2030.ThenewresolutionwillincludemanysolutionscombinedwiththeimplementationofprogrammesunderProject06,hesaid.ManydigitaltransformationandinformationtechnologyexpertspointoutthatoneoftheweaknessesisthatVi?tNamsdatabaseconstructionremainsfragmentedanddoesnotyethavelargedatacentres.ThegoalofProject06istobuildlargedatacentres,hesaid.Implementingdigitaltransformationinareassuchaselectronichealthrecords,criminalrecords,andlandandcivilstatusisveryimportantbutsomelocalitieshavenotcompletedthem,hesaid.HeaskedthelocalitiestopaymoreattentiontoimplementingnationaldigitaltransformationprogrammesandProject06.Accordingtostatistics,uptonow,thewholecountryhasintegrated14.8millioncitizenselectronichealthrecordsintotheelectronichealthbookdataontheVNeIDapplication.AsofNovember13,47localitieshavedeployedtheissuanceof24,887criminalrecordsonVNeID,and15localitieshavecompleteddigitisingcivilstatusdata.ColonelV?V?nT?n,deputydirectoroftheDepartmentofAdministrativePoliceforSocialOrderundertheMinistryofPublicSecurity,saidHCMCityhasdigitised12.8millioncivilstatusrecords(100percent),whileBìnhD??ngProvincehasbasicallycompletedthetask.Theremaining10localitiesareatriskofnotcompletingtheplantodigitisecivilstatusdatathisyear,hesaid.KiênGianghasnotyetimplementedit,whileNam??nhandNinhThu?nprovinceshaveonlyachievedonepercentand16percent,respectively.TheMinistryofPublicSecurityrequestedthelocalitiestourgentlycompletedigitisation,andusedigitisedcivilstatusandlanddatatoreduceadministrativeprocedures.Theyshouldfocusoncompletingdigitisationandcleaningupdataonjudicialrecords,criminalrecords,andexpungementdocumentsbeforeMarch31,2025toshortentheprocessingtimeforissuingcriminalrecordcertificates.DigitaltransformationisanobjectiverequirementandaninevitabletrendgloballyinthecontextoftheFourthIndustrialRevolution.Ithasbeenpresentinthedailyactivitiesofeachpersonandeachfamily.Vi?tNamregardsdigitaltransformationasastrategicchoiceandatoppriorityforrapid,sustainabledevelopment,andcalledonministries,agencies,localitiesandtheentiresocietytojoinhandsinspurringsocio-economicdevelopmentbasedondigitaltransformation,science-technology,innovationandstart-ups.Project06isahighlightandakeytaskofnationaldigitaltransformationoverthepastyears,withHàN?iandHCMCitytappedforpilotimplementation.Itaimstoservefivemaingroups,includingadministrativeproceduresandprovidingonlinepublicservices;economicandsocialdevelopment;digitalcitizens;connectingtheecosystem,exploitandenrichresidentialdata;andthedirectionandadministrationofleadersatalllevels.Inshort,theVNeIDapplicationortheelectronicchip-embeddedCCCDcardwillgraduallyreplacecitizensdocumentsinanumberoftransactionsasprescribedbylaw,providingpublicservices,commercialservicesservingcitizensdigitalutilitiessuchasresidentialservices,e-commerce,e-paymentandotherservices.—VNSThe?áBàncleanwaterplantinBàR?a-V?ngTàuProvincewithacapacityof20,000cu.mperdaysuppliescleanwatertoover34,000householdsacrossninecommunesandtwotownsin??t??andLong?i?nDistricts.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I–Vi?tNamcurrentlyhas18,109ruralwatersupplyfacilitiesprovidingstandardisedcleanwaterto9,374,264ruralhouseholds,saidL??ngV?nAnh,deputydirectoroftheWaterResourcesDepartment(MinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment).Amongthesefacilities,32percentoperatesustainably,27percentoperateunsustainablyand14.8percentarenon-operational,Anhsaid.Despitetheseachievements,41.8percentofthefacilitiesarestilloperatingbelowsustainabilitystandards,hetoldtheNationalConferenceonRuralCleanWaterSupplywhichwasorganisedbytheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentonFriday,inHàN?i.Bytheendoflastyear,74.2percentofruralhouseholdsnation-widehadaccesstocleanwaterthatmeetsestablishedstandards,with55.1percentofhouseholdsreceivingstandardisedwaterfromcentralisedsupplysystemsand19.1percentusinghousehold-levelwatersources.Accordingtothedeputydirector,theRedRiverDeltaregionhasthehighestrateofruralhouseholdsusingstandardisedcleanwaterwith91.9percent,whiletheTayNguyên(CentralHighlands)hasthelowestratewith39.5percent.ThenorthernmountainousregionandtheCentralHighlandshavethelowestpercentagesofruralhouseholdsusingcleanwaterthatmeetsnationalstandards.Theseregionsalsoreportthelowestratesofhouseholdsusingwaterfromcentralisedsupplysystems,bothcomparedtootherregionsandtothenationalaverage.While74.2percentofruralhouseholdsusecleanwaterthatmeetsnationalstandards,someprovinceshaveverylowratesofstandardisedcleanwaterusagefromcentralisedwatersupplyfacilitiesincludingHàGiang,GiaLai,YênBái,CaoB?ng,Lam??ngand?i?nBiênprovinces.RuralwatersupplyeffortshavecontributedtotheachievementsoftheNationalTargetProgrammeonNewRuralDevelopment,with6,289outof8,162communes(equivalentto77.1percent)meetingnewruralstandards.Amongthese,2,146communeshaveachievedadvancedruralstandards,and465communeshavemetmodelruralstandards.Additionally,6,512communes(79.7percent)meetthecriteriaforEnvironmentandFoodSafety,whichincludesruralcleanwatertargets.Duetofactorslikepopulationdistribution,terrainandwaterresourceconditions,thescaleofruralwatersupplyfacilitiesvariesgreatly,rangingfrombelow50cu.mperdaytoover1,000cu.mperday.Smallerfacilitiesareprimarilygravity-fedsystemslocatedinmountainousareas,whilelargerfacilitiesareconcentratedinplainswithhigherpopulationdensitiesandbettersocio-economicconditions.DeputyMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentNguy?nHoàngHi?pstatedattheconferencethat,despiteachievingencouragingresults,ruralcleanwatersupplyfacesnumerouschallenges.First,thepolicyframeworkforwatersupplyremainsincomplete,withnospecificwatersupplylaw,whileexistingregulationsareinsufficient,inconsistentandlackpracticaleffectiveness.Second,thereisasignificantneedforinvestmentinruralcleanwatertomeetthetargetof80percentofruralpopulationshavingcleanwaterby2030.However,fundingreliesprimarilyonthelimitedStatebudget,withsocialresourcesbeingmobilisedmainlyindenselypopulatedplains,whilemountainousandremoteareaslacksolutionstoattractinvestment.Thereisalsoavarietyoforganisationalmodelsformanagingcentralisedruralwaterfacilities,butnospecific,unifiedregulationsonmanagementmodelsandcapacity.Lowwaterprices,insufficientrevenuetocovercostsandalackoffinancialsupportleadtohighratesofineffectiveornon-operationalfacilitiesandlowservicequality.Lastly,freshwatersourcesareincreasinglydegradedinbothquantityandquality.Climatechangeexacerbatesextremeweather,naturaldisasters,floods,droughts,watershortagesandsalinisation,leadingtowaterpollution.Thisimpactsthereliabilityofcleanwatersupply,withmanyfacilitiesforcedtooperatebelowcapacityorevenshutdownduetoinsufficientwaterresources,affectingthesustainableandsafeprovisionofcleanwaterforruralresidents.Waterplaysacrucialroleinsocio-economicdevelopment,environmentalintegrityandasanessentialcomponentoflife.Ensuringthateveryonehasaccesstosafe,cleanwaterisakeygoaloftheParty,Government,ministries,localauthorities,andruralcommunities,Hi?psaid.Thus,theconferencewasanopportunityforofficials,expertsandmanagerstoreviewachievements,addresschallengesandoutlinecomprehensive,coordinatedsolutionstoensuresustainabledevelopmentinruralcleanwatersupply,sothateveryruralresidentcanaccesssafe,affordablewater,leavingnoonebehind,headded.VNS

DeputyPrimeMinisterLêThànhLongspeaksatthe8thNationalAssemblysessiononNovember12.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Therearestillmanyconflictingviewsfrommanager,scientistsandthebusinesscommunityregardingthenewtobaccomanagementpolicy,accordingtoDeputyPrimeMinisterLêThànhLong.Atthe8thNationalAssemblysessiononNovember12,DeputyPMLongemphasisedthatthisisaconcernforthepublicandvotersnationwide.InthespiritoftheGovernmentsdirective,policiestocontrolheatedtobaccoproductsandelectroniccigarettes(ore-cigarettes),collectivelyknownasnew-generationcigarettes,shouldbeissuedwhenthereisafullscientificconsensustoensureharmonybetweenthoseinvolved.Formanyyears,althoughtheGovernmentrepeatedlydirectedministriesandbranchestosubmitproposalsforappropriatemanagementpolicies,therewasstillnoagreementonaplan.Theemergenceofnew-generationtobaccoproductsgloballyhasledtomanymanagementchallengesincountries,includingVi?tNam.MinisterofIndustryandTradeNguy?nH?ngDiênsaidthatviolationsinvolvingtraditionalcigarettesornewgenerationcigarettesaremainlyduetosmugglingorillegalimports.Expertssaidthatproblemswithsmugglingnew-generationcigarettesareduetothelong-termlackofalegalframework.Theinevitableconsequenceisaseriesofproductqualityproblemsanddrugsdisguisedine-cigarettes.ManagementplansproposedbytheMinistryofIndustryandTradeoverthepast10yearshavealsocontinuallychanged,inadditiontoaproposedbanfromtheMinistryofHealth.Asforwhetherallnew-gentobaccoproductsshouldbebanned,DeputyChairmanoftheNationalAssemblysCultureandEducationCommitteeT?V?nH?saidthatauthoritiesneedtoconsiderscientificevidenceonthelevelofharmforeachproductandcompareitwiththelevelofharmfortraditionalcigarettestohaveabasisformakingdecisions.AttheNAsession,MinisterofHealth?àoH?ngLanemphasisedthattheuseofe-cigarettesandheatedtobaccoproductsisrapidlyincreasingandposespotentialhealthandsafetyrisks,especiallyforyoungpeople.TheMinistryhasproposedtheNAbane-cigarettesandheatedtobaccoproductsbeforetherevisedLawonPreventionandControlofTobaccoHarmisreviewedandpassed.MinisterLanhopesthatthisproposalwillbeconsideredinthesessionandthattheNAwillissueadecisiontobantheseproductstoprotectpublichealth.Adomesticmedicalexpertsaidthatitsokaytoban[theseproducts],theresnoneedtoresearchorevaluatewhencitingthetoxicityofnew-gentobaccoproducts.Thisopinionisbasedonthenumberofhospitalisationsduetousinge-cigarettescontainingbannedsubstances.WHORepresentativeinVi?tNamAngelaPratthasalsoconfirmedthatnicotineproducts,includinge-cigarettesandheatedtobaccoproducts,areveryharmfultohealthbecausetheycontainmanytoxinsthatcancausecancer,cardiovasculardiseaseandchroniclungdisease,aswellasacutelunginjurysyndrome,apotentiallyfataldisease.DrNguy?nMinh??cfromPh?mNg?cTh?chUniversityofMedicineinHCMCitysaidthatalltypesofcigarettesareaddictiveandtoxic,butthattraditionalcigarettes,heatedcigarettesande-cigarettesarenotdrugs.DeputyPMLongaskedthattheMinistryofHealthcoordinatewithrelevantagenciestocomeupwithappropriatemanagementsolutionsinthenearfuture.ThePrimeMinisterhasrepeatedlydirectedthisissue,assigningtheMinistryofHealthtopresideoverandcoordinatewiththeMinistryofJusticeandrelevantagenciestotakeappropriatemeasurestostrengthenthemanagementofe-cigarettesandheatedcigarettesandothertobaccoproductstoreporttotheNationalAssembly.Atthesametime,theGovernmentassignedtheMinistryofHealthtoresearchanddevelopaprojecttoamendtheLawonTobaccoHarmPrevention,saidtheDeputyPrimeMinister.AccordingtothespiritoftheGovernmentslaw,themanagementpolicyfornew-generationcigarettesnotonlycoversheatedcigarettesande-cigarettesbutalsotargetsfuturenew-generationtobaccoproducts.PolicydevelopmentfortheseproductsisnotonlytheresponsibilityofthetwomainadvisoryagenciestotheGovernment,theMinistryofHealthandtheMinistryofJustice,butalsorequirescoordinationbetweenotherrelevantagenciessuchastheMinistryofIndustryandTrade,theMinistryofScienceandTechnologyandtheMinistryofFinance.—VNSManystructureswererazedtogroundinQu?ngNinhProvinceduringTyphoonYagi,stressingtheneedforresilientbuildingsinVi?tNam.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—WhilethetransportationsectorinVi?tNamisshiftingtowardsgreenerpracticeswithmoreelectriccarsontheroad,thebuildingsectorisnotreallyontrack,accordingtoOmmidSaberi,thegloballeadfortheBuildingResilienceIndexProgrammeattheInternationalFinanceCorporation(IFC).OmmidSeberiwasspeakingattheworkshopEnhancingResilienceforBuildingsonFriday.HehighlightedIFCsdefinitionofresilientbuildings,whichcanwithstandthenaturaldisastersandclimatehazardstheyareexposedto,andideallycontinuetheiroperationswithoutdisruptionfollowingacrisis.HesaidtheBuildingResilienceIndex(BRI)isanIFCinnovationthatisonlineandgloballyavailabletousersfreeofcharge.AsofOctober2024,usershaveself-assessed162projects,resultingin9.8millionsq.mofassessedfloorspaceandUS$4.3billionintotalassets.TheIFCspecialistsaidBRIstakeholders,includingconstructiondevelopers,banksandoccupants,cantakeadvantageoftheindexinavarietyofways.DeveloperscanusetheBRItoassessandimproveresiliencetosite-specifichazards,thesecondtomakeinformedinvestmentdecisionsbasedonriskstobuildings,andthethirdtoreducetheriskoflossesduetonaturalandclimatehazards.HealsorevealedthatVi?tNamslocalhazardmapshavebeenfullyintegratedintotheBRIapp,with68,000sq.mofgrossfloorareaand300,000sq.mofseaportsunderverification.ProfessorTu?nNg?fromtheUniversityofMelbournenotedthatextremeweather,whichcostsAustraliansbetween$900millionand$4billionannually,canimpactbuildingsinvariousways.HeunderlinedtheroleofresilientbuildingsinreducingcostsandincreasingcommunityresilienceandintroducedtheBushfireResilienceRatingHomeSelf-Assessmentapp,whichisafreecommunityservicefundedbytheAustralianFederalGovernment.Theprofessorsaidthepurposeoftheappistohelpimprovehomeresiliencetobushfires.AhighResilienceRatingmeanstheusershomeismorelikelytosurviveabushfireandbeoperationalwithindaysorweeks.Tr?nPh??ng,aspecialistfromtheVi?tNamInstituteforBuildingScienceandTechnology,citedTyphoonYagiasanaturaldisasterthatdealtaheavyblowtonorthernVi?tNam.Heunderlinedseveraltypesofstructuresthatwereheavilydamagedbythestorm,includinghigh-risebuildings,factories,andcolumnandtowerstructures.Thespecialistrecommendedmeasurestomitigatenaturaldisasterdamagetobuildings,includingkeepingwinddatauptodate,organisingtrainingprogrammesontyphoondamagemitigation,andstrengtheningequipmentattachedtobuildings.—VNS