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MenreadleafletsonHIV/AIDSpreventionandcontrolinthenorthernportcityofH?iPhòng.—VNA/VNSPhotoD??ngNg?cHàN?I—Vi?tNamhasbeenrecognisedasoneofthefewcountrieswiththebestHIV/AIDSpreventionandtreatmentintheworld.Theleadistheresultoftheparticipationoftheentirepoliticalsystemandrelevantforces,alongwitheffortsofmanycommunitygroups.AssociateProfessorPhanTh?ThuH??ng,DirectoroftheVi?tNamAdministrationofHIV/AIDSControl(VAAC)undertheMinistryofHealth,saidthatatpresent,manyHIV-positivepeopleinVi?tNambelongedtovulnerablegroupssuchaspeoplewhousedrugs,sexworkersandmenwhohavesexwithmen(MSM).Theyareeasilydiscriminatedagainst,sotheStatehealthsystemismoredifficulttoaccess.Currently,thecountryhasabout400communitygroups,whichplayanimportantroleineducatingpeopleabouthowtoreducetheriskofcontractingHIVandconnectingindividualstotreatment,alongwithprovidingfreepracticalhelp.ThegroupsconvincepeoplewithHIVtogofortreatment,helpingthemovercomedifficulttimesandreintegrateintolife.Oneofthekeyfactorsthathelpcommunitygroupsbeeffectiveisclosecooperationamongmembers.Experienceandexpertisesharinghasenhancedthecapacityoftheoverallsystem.Forexample,theVi?tNamNetworkofPeoplewithHIV(VNP+)isanon-governmentalorganisationfoundedin2009,whichnowhasmorethan300affiliatememberclubsacrossthecountry.TheseclubsgivetechnicalsupportandprovideadvocacyforpeoplelivingwithHIV.Thankstothiscooperation,membersofthegroupshaveimprovedtheirabilityfortestingconsultation,mutualcareandsupportandexpandedepidemicsurveillanceforpeopleathighriskintheirareas.DeputyDirectoroftheKiênGiangCentreforDiseaseControlV?Th?L?isaidthatwithoutpeersfromthecommunitygroups,itwasabigchallengetoaccessat-riskpeople,whiletheriskofinfectionamongMSMwasincreasingatanalarmingrate.SupportWhenreceivingapositiveHIVtestresult,Nguy?nThúyNg.,wholivesinBìnhTh?nhDistrict,HCMCity,collapsedandfeltlikeherlifehadstopped.ButwhenshemetNg?ThúyH.,leaderofthegroupForabrightertomorrow,Ng.foundjoyagain.Ng.recallsthatafterherhusbanddiedofHIV,thecommunitygroupsuggestedshealsotestandwhilewaitingfortheresults,shebecameahermit.Theresultswereexactlyasshepredicted.ButtheloveandenthusiasmfromthegrouphelpedNg.regainthewilltoliveandequipherwithbetterknowledgeandunderstandingaboutHIV/AIDS.Now,sheherselfisoneoftheactivemembersofthegroup,helpingandmentoringnewmembers.Eachdayoflivingmustbe24hoursofloveandmeaningisthegroupsmottoandisspreadbyallmembersofthegrouptobringhopetopeoplelivingwithHIVacrossthecountry.Currently,theHIVinfectionrateamongpeoplewhousedrugsandMSMisoneofthemainsourcesoftheHIVepidemicinVi?tNam.StatisticsfromtheVAACshowedthattheHIVinfectionrateincreasedbysixfoldbetween2012and2020.However,formanyreasons,theMSMcommunitycannotaccessanduseservicessuchastestingandtreatmentintheusualway.Therefore,morethanever,communitygroupsarethebridgetohelppeoplewithHIVaccessservices,getinformationandcollectpracticalitemssuchasneedlesandcondoms.Vi?tNamisgraduallytransferringfinancialresponsibilityforHIV/AIDSpreventionfrominternationaldonorstodomesticagencies,withcommunitygroupsexpectedtobecomeanindispensablepillarintheworkneedingtobedone.ExperiencefromtheCOVID-19pandemicprovedthepowerofcommunitynetwork.Whensocialdistancingwasapplied,manypeoplelivingwithHIVhaddifficultyaccessingantiretroviraldrugs.ThenetworkquicklycalledforvolunteersandcoordinatedwithlocalmedicalfacilitiestosupplymedicinetoHIVpatientshouses.Thankstothetimelysupport,thousandsofpeoplelivingwithHIVdidnothavetointerrupttreatmentduringthepandemic.Inaddition,thecommunitynetworkalsoinvitedparticipationfromtheprivatesectorandotherresources,creatingadiverseandsustainableecosystemforHIV/AIDSprevention.—VNSAmedicalworkerattendstopatientsinintensivecareattheNationalCancerHospitalsTanTri?uBranchinHàN?i.Reportsindicatethat65-75percentofinpatientssufferfromnon-communicablediseases.VNA/VNSPhotoMinhQuy?tHàN?I—TheMinistryofHealth(MoH)hasapprovedaprojectaimedatpreventing,detecting,andmanagingnon-communicablediseasesandmentalhealthdisordersthroughtheendof2025.Themoveismeanttoenhancepublichealthprotection,careandimprovementbystrengtheningpreventivemeasures,earlydetectionandtreatmentmanagement.Theprojecthopestoreducetheprevalenceofpre-diseaseconditions,illnesses,disabilitiesandprematuredeathscausedbycancers,cardiovasculardiseases,diabetes,chronicobstructivepulmonarydiseaseandasthmaaswellasmentalhealthdisorders.Hospitalreportsindicatethat65-75percentofinpatientssufferfromnon-communicablediseases,withoncology,respiratoryandcardiovasculardepartmentsparticularlyburdened.Mentalhealthisalsoasignificantchallenge.StatisticsfromtheNationalInstituteofEndocrinologyrevealthatapproximately6-7percentofthepopulationhasdiabetes.AccordingtotheNationalCardiovascularInstituteofVi?tNam,hypertension,thesilentkiller,affects25percentofpeopleovertheageof25.Theprevalenceofnon-communicablediseasesisrapidlyincreasing,yettheyaredetectedandtreatedinonlyone-thirdofpatients.Vi?tNamshighalcoholconsumptionexacerbatesinjuries,brainstrokesandheartattacks,whilethehighsmokingratecontributestovariousdiseases,includingcancer,chronicobstructivepulmonarydiseaseandcardiovascularissues.Non-communicablediseasesareestimatedtoaccountforabout77percentofalldeathsinVi?tNamannually,mainlyduetocardiovasculardiseases,cancer,diabetesandchronicobstructivepulmonarydisease.Inresponse,theMoHsprojectsetsseveralgoalsfor2024-2025.Theseincludeincreasingprevention,earlydetectionandtreatmentmanagementratesfornon-communicablediseasesandmentalhealthdisorders,enhancingthehealthsystemscapacitytoprovidetheseservicesandimprovingmonitoring,informationmanagementandreportingonnon-communicablediseases,mentalhealthdisordersandassociatedriskfactors.AstrokepatientreceivingemergencytreatmentatEHospitalinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoAchievingthesegoalsrequiresorganisingservicesforscreening,performinghealthchecks,measuringindicatorsandconductingteststodetectnon-communicablediseasesandmentalhealthdisordersearly.Regularscreeningshouldbeintegratedintomedicalservices,especiallyatcommunalhealthstations,withperiodicpublichealthchecksandproactivevisitsbyhigh-riskindividualstomedicalfacilities.Screeningshouldalsobeincludedinthehealthcaremanagementofchildrenandstudents,withworkplacehealthexaminations,elderlycareandprenatalcheck-upsforpregnantwomen.Thetargetgroupincludespeopleofallages,withafocusonthoseaged40andaboveandindividualsdeterminedtobeathighriskforspecificdiseases.Regularmonitoring,check-ups,counsellingandpreventionareessentialforhigh-riskindividualsandthosewithpre-diseaseconditions.Thisincludesmanagingandpreventingcardiovascularrisk,counsellingforsmokingcessation,screeningandinterventionstoreduceharmfromalcoholconsumptionandcreatingpsychologicalcounsellingrecordsforthoseathighriskofmentaldisorders.Activitiesshouldbeorganisedthroughintegratedhealthmanagementateducationalinstitutions,workplaces,communityhealthstationsandrelatedmedicalfacilities.TheMoHaimstodevelopandenhancethecapacityofthehealthsystemtoprovidetheseservicesatalllevels.—VNS

AworkerchecksthetransmissionsystemattheTayNinhProvincialTelecommunicationsCentre.—VNA/VNSPhotoMinhQuy?tHàN?I—Vi?tNamsinternationalfibreopticcablesystemshouldhaveatleasttennewunderseacablesby2030,bringingthecountrysundersearoutestoatleast15.ThestrategyhasbeenapprovedbytheMinistryofInformationandCommunications(MIC).TheprojectednumberofcablesclearlydefinestheimportanceofVi?tNamsinternationalfibreopticcablesystemaspartofthedigitalinfrastructureandsomethingwhichmustbeprioritisedintermsofinvestment,ensuringthecountrysconnectioninternationally.ItmustalsohaveenoughcapacitysothatsomeVietnamesecitiescanbecomeregionaldatacentres.Developingtheinternationalfibreopticcablesystemaimstobuildinternationalconnectivitybridgefordigitaleconomicpromotion,digitalsociety,defenceandsecurity.State-ownedenterprisespioneeredtheinternationalfoundationofthecablesystem,helpingdomesticandforeignbusinessesinorderforthemtoquicklymakebreakthroughsinVi?tNamsinternationalfibreopticcablesystem.Thestrategyalsodefinesavisionthat,by2035,thesystemwillbeamongtheleadinggroupsintheregionintermsofquantity,capacityandquality,becomingasuperlargecloudcomputingserviceprovider.ItaimstomakeVi?tNamanimportantlinkinregionalandinternationaldigitalinfrastructureanddatatransmission.Alsoby2030,underthestrategyVi?tNamwillputintouseatleasttwomoreinternationallandfibreopticcablelines,ensuringthatthetotalcapacityonlandisatleast15percentoftheactualusedcapacityofthemarinesystem.SustainableTorealisethesetgoals,theMICclearlyoutlinesfourgroupsofsolutionsincludingapparatusorganisation,domesticcooperation,internationalcooperation,researchanddevelopment.By2027,Vi?tNamwillopenfournewunderseafibreopticcablelinesforpublicuse,bringingthetotalcapacitytoatleast134TeraBytesPerSecond(Tbps),ThecountrywillmaintainatleastSingapore,HongKong(China)andJapanasthemaindigitalhubconnections,whileperiodicallyreviewingandevaluatingdigitalhubstoaddappropriateconnectionpoints.Ofthefournewunderseacableroutesthatwillbedeployedby2027,atleastoneroutewillbeownedbyVi?tNam.Fortheperiod2028-30,atleastsixnewunderseafibreopticcableroutes,includingonerouteownedbyVi?tNam,willbeputintouse,increasingthetotaldesigncapacityofmarinefiberopticcablesinVi?tNamtoaminimumof350Tbps.TheMICassignedtheDepartmentofTelecommunications(DoT)tobethecoordinatorforimplementingthestrategy,annuallyreportingtotheMoICsleaders,organisingapreliminaryreviewonthestrategyconductionby2027andproposingamendmentsandsupplementstokeytasksforthenextstage.Telecommunicationsbusinesseswillissuedetailedplansfortheirworkbasedonthestrategycontent.AccordingtotheDoT,inadditiontotwolandcablelinesconnectingtoHongKong(China)andSingaporewithatotalcapacityof5Tbps,Vi?tNamcurrentlyhasfiveinternationalunderseafibreopticcablelineswithtotalavailablecapacityof34Tbps.—VNSAfentanyldoseformedicaluse.—Photocongan.com.vnHàN?I—ThepolicearewarningabouttheimminentarrivaloffentanylinVi?tNam,asyntheticopioid50timesstrongerthanheroinand100timesmorepowerfulthanmorphine.LieutenantGeneralNguy?nV?nVi?n,DirectoroftheDrugCrimeInvestigationDepartment(C04)undertheMinistryofPublicSafety,highlightedthedangersofthisdrug,citingitsroleinthesurgeofoverdosedeathsintheUS.HesaidfentanylissmuggledintotheUSmainlyfromMexicoandCentralandSouthAmericancountries.ThemainprecursorsusedtoproducethesubstanceareNPP(N-Phenethy-4-Piperidone)and4-ANPP(4-Anilino-N-Phenethylpiperidine).Theeaseofabsorptionisalarming,just0.2mg,aminusculeamountcomparabletoapenciltipdot,cancauseshockanddeathifabsorbedthroughtheskin.Becauseofthetoxicity,fentanylandsomeofitsderivativeshavebeenincludedinScheduleI-ListofSubstancesunderControlunderthe1961UnitedNationsConvention.AvideosharedbytheUSauthoritiesdepictingaDEA(DrugEnforcementAdministrationofficeraccidentallyexposedtofentanylandsuccumbingrapidlyunderscoresthisdanger,saidVi?n.InSoutheastAsia,fentanylhasbeendetectedandseizedinMyanmar,Laos,andThailand,whereauthoritiesinterceptedmorethan510tonnesofAniline,whichcanbeusedtoproduce85tonnesoffentanyl.Additionally,China,amajorsourceofprecursorchemicalsusedinfentanylproduction,alsoraisesconcernsaboutpotentiallocalmanufacturing.DespitethecurrentlackoffentanylbeingdetectedinVi?tNam,thepolicearetakingproactivemeasures.C04hascollaboratedwithvariousagenciestostrengthenbordercontrols,monitorprecursorchemicalsandraisepublicawareness.AtthepressconferenceonTuesday,Vi?nsaidtherewillbeabigpushtoeducateteenagers,studentsandthegeneralpopulation,emphasisingthedangersoffentanylandothernew,emergingdrugs.Ifadrug-relateddeathoccursinVi?tNamanditiscausedbyfentanyl,thepolicemusttracetheoriginofthedrugtofindoutwhereandfromwhomitwaspurchased.Theymustfindthesourceatallcosts,becausethissubstancemusthavebeenbroughtinfromabroad,saidVi?n.Themedicaluseoffentanylisstrictlycontrolled.Hospitalsuseitasapowerfulpainreliever,typicallyadministeredthroughinjections,patchesornasalsprays.However,illegallyproducedfentanyloftentakestheformofpills,powders,orsolutions,sometimesmixedwithheroin,cocaineorevendisguisedasmorecommondrugs.Thislackofcontroloverdosageandpuritysignificantlyincreasestheriskofoverdoseanddeath.FentanylsclassificationunderGroupIIofVi?tNamsnarcoticsregulationsallowslimiteduseformedicalandresearchpurposes,butonlyunderstrictsupervision.DerivativeslikeAlfentanil,ButyrfentanylandRemifentanilarealsotightlycontrolled.Bytighteningregulations,raisingawarenessandfosteringinternationalcooperation,thepolicehopetomitigatethepotentialdevastationthisdrugcouldcause.TheInternationalNarcoticsControlBoardhasidentifiedmorethan150fentanyl-relatedsubstancesthathavenomedicalapplications.TheUnitedNationsOfficeonDrugsandCrimealsoestimatesthatlaboratoriesmayhavesynthesisedhundredsoffentanyl-likesubstances.—VNSSocialhousingblocksinHàN?iforworkersattheTh?ngLongIndustrialPark.Thetargetisthatallindustrialparksandexportprocessingzonesinthecityhavesocialhousing.—VNA/VNSPhotoLêDanhLamHàN?I—TheauthoritiesofHàN?ihaveapprovedaplantoimprovethelivesofitsresidentsacrossvariouslevelsby2030.Specifictargetsincludeensuringveteransandtheirfamiliesonmonthlyallowanceshavecomfortableconditionsofliving,abovetheaverageintheircommunities.Additionally,thecityaimstoslashunemploymentratestobelow3.0percentoverallandbelow3.5percentinurbanareaswhileitaimstotrainatleast80percentoftheworkforce.Socialsecurityisalsoasignificantpieceofthepuzzle.Theplanaimsforasubstantialportionoftheworking-agepopulationtoparticipateinsocialandunemploymentinsuranceschemes.Beyondworkingyears,italsostrivestoprovideasecurefutureforretirees,withatargetof65percentreceivingregularpensionsandsocialsupport.Healthandwell-beingareequallyimportant.HàN?iissettingitssightsonalonger,healthierlifeforitsresidents.Theaveragelifeexpectancyisexpectedtoreach77years,withaminimumof68yearsspentingoodhealth.Expandinghealthinsurancecoverageto98percentandencouragingresidentstouseprimarycareservicesarecrucialstepstowardsachievingthisgoal.Butperhapsthemoststrikingaspectoftheplan(PlanNo.181/KH-UBND)liesinhousing.HàN?iresidentscanexpectasignificantimprovementinlivingspace,withtheaveragesquarefootageperpersonbeing32sqm.Furthermore,thecityplanstodevelopastaggering2.5millionsqmofnewsocialhousing.Thisincludestheconstructionofonetotwoindependentsocialhousingcomplexes,alongwiththemostnoteworthycommitment,ensuringeveryindustrialandexportprocessingzoneinthecityhasaccesstosocialhousing.Thesuccessoftheprogrammehingesonitbeingimplementedsoauthoritieshaveurgedallrelevantagenciestoputtheplanintoaction.—VNS

AchildreceiveshervaccineshotagainstmeaslesinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhoto?àoTh?MinhTúHCMCITY—Measlescaseshavebeenrisingsincethebeginningof2024,particularlyinHCMCity,raisingconcernsabouttheinsufficientvaccinationcoverageratesinprovinces.HCMCitysDepartmentofHealthattributedthesurgetotheCOVID-19pandemic,whichdisruptedthesupplyofvaccinesintheExpandedProgrammeonImmunisationin2022.Thedisruptionderailedvaccinationrates,withmanychildrennotreceivingtheirvaccinationsontime,oratall.Bythebeginningof2023,whenthevaccinesupplybegantoincrease,HCMCityandotherprovinceshadimplementedcatch-upvaccinationplansforchildren.However,vaccinecoveragerateshavestillnotreachedtherequiredlevelstogiveherdimmunity.Inresponsetoconcernsabouttheshortageofmeaslesvaccinesinthepastthreemonths,HoàngMinh??c,DirectoroftheGeneralDepartmentofPreventiveMedicine,saidvaccineproductiontakestime.Hesaidnewvaccinedoseswereproducedinthefirsttwomonthsof2024anddistributedtolocalitiesforvaccinationfromJuneuntilOctober.Vi?tNamhasreceived17/21milliondosesofmeaslesvaccine,whichhasbeentransferredtotheCentresforDiseaseControlintheprovinces,said??c.HealsosaidthattheMinistryofHealth,fromApriltoJune,deliveredenoughmeaslesvaccinesfortheExpandedProgrammeonImmunisation,ensuring7.5percentofchildrenarevaccinatedmonthly.HeaddedthattheyhadadvisedtheMinistrytoreviewallnon-vaccinatedchildrenandthatprovinceswithchildrenwhohadnotreceivedenoughdoseswouldberequiredtoorganisecatch-upvaccinationprogrammes.TheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO)haswarnedthatVi?tNamisatriskofameaslesoutbreakin2024,duetothelowvaccinationratesin2023,ifitdoesnotimplementfullvaccinationprogramme.—VNSSYDNEY—AdelegationledbyChairmanoftheVietnamNationalAuthorityofTourism(VNAT)Nguy?nTrùngKhánhonJune18attendedatravelsymposiumandmanysideactivitiesinAustraliasMelbournecity.Attheevent,MinisterCounselloroftheVietnameseEmbassyinAustraliaNghiêmXuanHoàsaidthebilateralrelationshavewitnessedstrongdevelopmentinrecentyears,notablytheestablishmentofthestrategiccomprehensivepartnershipinMarch.Intheirjointstatement,theirleadersagreedtoseekopportunitiestospurtourismdevelopment,hecontinued.Hoapointedtoadvantagestopromotetourismcooperationbetweenthetwocountries,includingthegrowingbilateralrelations,AustraliantouristsgreatinterestinVi?tNamandviceversa,andjointeffortsinforgingtourismcooperation.Forhispart,KhánhsaidVi?tNamisstrivingtoturntourismintoakeyeconomicsector,addingoverthepasttwoyears,itstourismindustryisbouncingbackaftertheCOVID-19pandemicwithremarkableachievements.Thecountrystourismindustryanddestinationshavebeenhonouredwithprestigiousinternationalawards.Particularly,inthefirstfivemonthsof2024,itwelcomed213,000Australianvisitors,anincreaseof35percentoverthesameperiodlastyear,makingAustraliatheseventhlargestsourceoftouriststoVi?tnam.AustralianSenatorRaffCicconesaidVi?tNamisakeymarketinAustraliasdiversificationoftourismmarkets.TobetterunderstandtheVietnamesemarketandservetouristsfromtheSoutheastAsiannation,RaffsaidtheAustralianTradeandInvestmentCommission(Austrade)iscoordinatingwiththeAustralianTourismExportCouncil(ATEC)toorganiseaprogrammethemedVi?tNamHostinthenextfewmonths,andincludeVi?tNamintothelistofAustraliasimportanttourismmarkets,togetherwithChina,India,Japan,theRepublicofKoreaandIndonesia.HecalledtheAustralia-Vi?tNamTravelSymposiumagoodopportunityfortwosidestolearnabouteachothersmarketandpromotethecollaboration.Afterthesymposium,tourismbusinessesandagenciesofVi?tNamandAustraliajoinedabusinessmeetingandtworelevantdiscussions.—VNS

SHTPTrainingandSunEduholdacompletionceremonyfortheintensivetrainingcourseinICphysicaldesign,Level1,onJune14.—PhotocourtesyofSunEduHCMCITY—Morethan200studentshavesofargraduatedfromtheintensivetrainingcourseinintegratedcircuit(IC)physicaldesign,Level1,atSunEduInternationalEducationJointStockCompany,whichhasacollaborationwithSHTPTraining.OnJune14,SHTPTrainingandSunEduheldagraduationceremonyforthecourseIthadopenedonApril1attheHCMCitysSàiGònHi-TechPark(SHTP)withsupportfromtheNationalInnovationCentreandICtechnologycompaniesSynopsysandCadence.Thetraineeswereengineerswhohadgraduatedandbeenselectedfromvariousuniversities.ThepracticaltrainingequippedthemwithICphysicaldesignskillsattheblockdesignlevellikeimport,floorplan,placement,clocktreeCTSandrouting.TheyalsotrainedintheuseofpopulardesignautomationtoolssuchasSynopsysandCadence.ThegraduatesmeettherecruitmentneedsofbusinessesattheSHTPsuchasMarvell,Renesas,AmpereComputing,ADTechnology,QuestGlobal,andSiemens.SomeofthemhavebeensignedupuponcompletionasjuniorICengineersatMarvell,ADTechnologyandQuestGlobal.L?uHuêTi?n,directorofSunEdu,saidhiscompanyspartnersincludehigh-techparks,industrialparksandleadingglobalsemiconductorcompaniessuchasNVIDIA,Cadence,Synopsys,Ansys,Siemens,MarvellandAmpereComputing,andmanyleadinguniversitiesintheUS.So,aftergraduation,traineeshavelotsofopportunitiestoaccessjobsandcreateasolidsteppingstoneforthemintheircareers.—VNS

Nguy?nMinhQuan,formerdirectorofTh???cCityHospital,atHCMCityPeoplesCourtonTuesday.VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCITY—AlocalcourtinHCMCityonTuesdaysentencedtheformerdirectorofTh???cHospitaltoanadditional11yearsinprisonforinvolvementinascandalrelatedtocoronavirustestkits,bringinghistotalprisontermto30years.Nguy?nMinhQuanwasfoundguiltyofsigningacontracttopurchasetestkitsatpricesthatwerethreetimeshigherthantheiractualcost,resultinginsignificantfinanciallossesforthehospital.QuanwaspreviouslyconvictedofembezzlingoverVN?102.5billion(US$4.2million)throughbid-riggingandmoneylaunderingandwasorderedtorepaytheembezzledfunds.ThecourtfoundthatQuanpressuredsubordinatestoawardcontractstospecificcompaniesandpersonallybenefitedfromtheembezzledamount.FiveotherformerofficialsofTh???cHospitalreceivedsentencesrangingfrom2.5yearsto3.5yearsforviolationsofbiddinglawsthatcausedseriousconsequences.Inaseparatetrialearlierthisyear,formerministersandofficialswerefoundguiltyofbriberyandmismanagementinconnectiontothetestkitscandal.FormerhealthministerNguy?nThanhLongwassentencedto18yearsinprisonforacceptingbribes,whileformerscienceandtechnologyministerChuNgocAnhreceivedthreeyearsformismanagement.Vi?táTechnologyCorp,aprivatemedicalfirm,accusedofcolludingwithofficialstosellCOVID-19testkitsatinflatedprices,playedamajorroleinthescandal,accordingtopolice.PhanQu?cVi?t,itsfounderandchiefexecutive,wasgivena29-yearsentenceinadditiontoa25-yeartermhandeddowninaseparatetrial.TheverdictscomeasVi?tNamcontinuesitsnationalanti-corruptioncampaign,whichhasledtoinvestigationsofnumerousseniorofficialsforcorruption.Vi?táreportedlysoldapproximately4.5milliontestkitsinthenationduringthepandemicatpricesatleastthreetimeshigherthantheiractualcost,illegallygeneratingVN?1.23trillion($50million),accordingtopolicereports.—VNSRepairsunderwayintheChíTh?nhtunnelafterthelandslideonMay22.VNA/VNSPhotoT??ngQuanHàN?IInlessthanamonth,thevitalHàN?i-H?ChíMinhCityrailwayline(North-Southrailway)experiencedtwolandslidesattheB?iGióTunnel(KhánhHòaProvince)andChíTh?nh(PhúYênProvince),whichcosttensofbillionsof??nginrepairs,aswellascausinginterruptionsforthousandsofpassengers.Thoughtheseparticularincidentsweredealtwithswiftlyandtravelrestored,thesolutionsmayonlybetemporaryandtheriskoffurtherlandslidesalongtheNorth-Southrailwayremainsapossibility.UnprecedentedhighlevelofriskTheNorth-Southrailway,spanningfromQu?ngBìnhProvincetoKhánhHòaProvince,includes27tunnelsconstructednearlyacenturyago(between1926and1936)tothestandardsandtechnologyavailableatthetime.Thesetunnels,linedwithconcreteorstone,havedeterioratedsignificantly,exhibitingcracksandleakingwithwater,posingengineeringandsafetyrisks.TheB?iGióTunnel(KhánhHòaProvince)andChíTh?nhTunnel(PhúYênProvince)wereundergoingrepairsandupgradeswhenlargelandslidesoccurred.LêQuangVinh,DirectorofPhúKhánhRailwayOperationBranch,saidthatthecausesofthelandslidesatbothtunnelsweresimilar,bothrelatingtotheirage.AlongtheNorth-Southrailway,othertunnelshavealsostartedtoshowsignsofdecline,affectingtrainsafety.VietnamNewsAgencyreportersrecordedtheconditionattunnelnumber14(passingthroughtheH?iVanPassarea,LiênChi?uDistrict,?àN?ngCity)withalengthofover940m.Insidethetunnel,thereisweatheringandsignsofdilapidation,withpervasiveseepageandwetness.Theconcreteceilingofthetunnelhasmanycracks,withwaterflowingdowninstreams.Inthemiddleofthetunnelthereisastretchofabout100mwithoutaconcretearch,onlyanaturalstonearch,whiledownbothsides,alcovesafetyareaswhereyoucanstepoffthetrackswhentrainspass,arefullofwater.Tr?nThi?nC?nh,DirectoroftheVi?tNamRailwayAuthority(VNRA),notedthatduringreinforcementandrepairs,theengineeringunitsdidnotfullyanticipatewhatwasatstake.Thelandslideoccurredatapointthatwasnotaprobedrillpoint,resultinginthetunnelliningbreaking.Thisincidentunderscorestheneedforexperiencetobegainedforfuturerepairs,includingreinforcingandconsolidatingatunnelceilingbeforedrillingtoavoidlandslides.Inreality,duringtherepairofmosttunnels,landslidesoccurbutonasmallerscale.However,thetunnelsintheSouthCentralregion,suchasB?iGióa(chǎn)ndChíTh?nhtunnels,havecomplexgeologicalconditions,leadingtolargerlandslides.TunnelNo14inH?iVanPass.Therearedozensoftrainscrossingthistunneldaily.VNA/VNSPhotoQu?cD?ng.DoubleDamageThelandslidesattheB?iGióa(chǎn)ndChíTh?nhrailwaytunnelscausedasignificantdelaysonthetheNorth-Southrailwayline,resultinginsubstantiallossesforproduction,businessandtourismactivities.AccordingtoVietnamRailways(VNR),thetotaldamagecausedtotherailwaysectorwasnearlyVN?50billion(US$1.9million).DuetothelandslideattheChíTh?nhTunnel,therailwayshadtotransfertensofthousandsofpassengersontocoachestoensuretheirjourneycontinued.PassengerswereassistedintravellingbetweenTuyHòaStation(TuyHòaCity)andLaHaiStation(??ngXuanDistrict)inPhúYênProvince,adistanceofnearly50km.VNRcancelledseveraltrains,fromMay23toMay30.Additionally,therailwaysectortemporarilyhaltedtenfreighttrainsontheNorth-Southrailwayline,whileothervehicleswereforcedtotakealternateroutesasdirectedbylocaltrafficpolice.AccordingtoLêQuangVinh,DirectorofPhúKhánhRailwayOperationBranch,aftertheChíTh?nhrailwaytunnellandslide,theunithadtomobilisemaximumresourcestofocusonrepairwork.Notonlyarethereeconomiclosses,butthecontinuousoccurrenceoftunnellandslidesalsounderminespublicconfidenceinthequalityofserviceandsafetywhentravellingbytrain.Nguy?nV?nTrung,apassengertravellingbytrainfromH?ChíMinhCitytoNgh?Anprovince,encounteredtheChíTh?nhtunnellandslideatTuyHòaStationandhadtocontinuehisjourneyonacoach.Althoughhewassympathetictotheoperators,TrungvoicedhisconcernastworailwaytunnellandslidesoccurredconsecutivelyinKhánhHòaandPhúYênprovincesrecently.Heworriedthatifalandslideoccurredwhileatrainwaspassingthroughthetunnel,theconsequenceswouldbemuchmoresevere.AworkerdirectingtrainsinGi?StationinKhánhHoà.VNA/VNSPhoto??ngTu?nAlong-termsolutionAfterdeterminingthecausesofthelandslidesattheChíTh?nhandB?iGiórailwaytunnels,variousremedialsolutionswereproposedbyexpertstoquicklyreopenthetunnelsandresumetransportationactivities.Nguy?nThanhHoài,DirectorofProjectManagementBoard85,statedthatmonitoringandassessinggeologicalconditionsatrailwaytunnelsisessentialtopreventfuturelandslides.Specialisedagencieswillevaluateandforecastgeologicalchangesandlandsliderisksattunnelsectionsandtherewillbeaproactivereviewandmaintenanceplansfordegradedtunnelsatthehighestriskoflandslides.TheVietnamRailwayAuthorityhasbeengraduallyreinforcingandrenovatingseveraltunnels,includingthoseintheH?iVanPassareafundedbytheFrenchgovernment.Despitetheseefforts,twelvetunnelsontheNorth-Southrailwaylineremaindilapidatedandarescheduledtoberepairedshortly.Inadditiontopromptlyrepairingrailwaytunnels,theoperationalmanagementunitalsoactivelyimplementssafetysolutionsfortrainoperations.HoàngAnhD?ng,DeputyDirectorofQu?ngNam-?àN?ngRailwayJSC,whichmanagestherailwaysystemthrough?àN?ng,Qu?ngNam,andQu?ngNg?i,saidthathiscompanyhasoverhauledtherailwaystructureinTunnelNo14andbuiltdrainagesystemsonbothsidesofthetunnelwallstominimisedamagefromleakinggroundwater.However,asrepairingandupgradingthetunnelwallsandarchesrequiresspecialisedexpertiseandsubstantialfunding,D?ngsuggestedhigherauthoritiesresearchandfindsolutions.EnsuringsmoothtrafficthroughtheB?iGióa(chǎn)ndChíTh?nhtunnelsisjustthebeginning.TheMinistryofTransportandVNRarecontinuinggeologicalsurveysandandtryingtofindlong-termsolutionstoensuretunnelsafety.Inaddition,aworkshopwillbeorganisedtoevaluatethecurrentsituationandconsultwithexpertsonremedialmeasures.??ngS?M?nh,ChairmanoftheMembersCouncilofVNR,emphasisedtheimportanceofproactivemeasuresandtakinganinventoryofalloldrailwaybridgesandtunnels,sotheycanbereinforcedifneeded,beforetheybecomeaproblem.OnFebruary28,2023,thePolitburoissuedadocumentoutliningthedevelopmentofVi?tNamsrailwaysystem,withtheprimarygoalbeingbuildingarobustnationalnetwork,acrossurbanrailwaysandmakingaNorth-Southhigh-speedrailwayabackbonetoalloperations.Itwillconnectupurbanrailwaylines,majoreconomiccentres,domestictransporthubs(seaports,internationalairports)andinternationaltransits.TheMinistryofTransporthasbeenseriouslystudyingtheinvestmentinahigh-speedrailwayontheNorth-Southaxisforsometime.In2011,theMinistryofTransportproposedtothePolitburoaninvestmentplanforaNorth-Southhigh-speedrailwayatatotalcostofoverUS$67billion.However,duetoinsufficientfundingatthattime,theMinistryofTransportcouldnotproceed.ItsbelievedthatVi?tNamhassufficientresourcestobuildaNorth-Southhigh-speedrailwaywithelectrification.Thisistheonlyfeasiblegreentransportmethod,suitableforclimatechangeadaptation,contributingtoreducingcarbonemissionstozeroandpromotingthedevelopmentofagreeneconomy,saidDeputyMinisterofTransportNguy?nDanhHuy.Howeveritistruethatcomparedtoothermodesoftransport,therailwayisbeingleftbehindduetoitsoutdatedtechnicalinfrastructure,therecentconsecutivelandslidesbeingaprimeexample.Therefore,thePartyandtheStatesdirectiontoinvestinamodernrailwaylineensuresafundamental,sustainablesolutionforthecontinuousoperationoftrainsontheNorth-Southrailwayline.VNS

Tr??ngM?Lan,chairwomanofrealestatedeveloperV?nTh?nhPhát,wassentencedtodeathaftershewasfoundguiltyofthelargestfinancialfraudinVi?tNamshistory.VNS/VNSPhotoHàN?I—Legalproceedingshavebeeninitiatedagainst2,100corruptioncasesinvolving4,211defendantsnationwidesinceearlythisyear,theCentralSteeringCommitteeforPreventionandControlofCorruptionandNegativePhenomena,revealedonThursday.Accordingtothecommittee,thefightagainstcorruptionhasintensifiedfollowinganordermadebyPartyGeneralSecretaryNguy?nPhúTr?ng.ThePartyCentralCommitteesInspectionCommissioncompletedsevenoutofeightinspectionsoncaseswhichhavefallenundertheoversightofthesteeringcommittee.Itimposeddisciplinarymeasuresagainst68Partyorganisationsand104Partymembers,including20officialsunderthemanagementofthePartyCentralCommittee.TheauthoritieslaunchedinvestigationsintocasesreportedatPhúcS?nGroup,Thu?nAnGroupwhilecompletingtheinvestigationandissuingindictmentstoprosecutecasesattheVietnamRegisterandlocalregistrationcentresandFLCGroup.ThefirsttrialsatV?nTh?nhPhátGroup,SCBBankandTanHoàngMinhGroupwerecompleted,withthedeathsentenceimposedforthefirsttimeonaprivatebusinessownerforpropertyembezzlement.Fromthecases,assetsworthoverVN?85trillionwereconfiscated,accordingtothecommittee.Attheprovinciallevel,localitiesstartedcriminalproceedingsagainst463defendantsin190newcorruptioncasesthisyear.Partycommittees,organisationsandcompetentagencieshavebeentoldtoadoptmoreconcertedandeffectivemeasuresintheanti-corruptiontasksandfocusonhandlingseriouscorruptioncasesthatlargelyattractpublicconcern.TheyhavebeenaskedtocompleteinvestigationsintocasesatFLCGroup,AICCompany,V?nTh?nhPhátGroup,SàiGòn-??iNinh(Lam??ng)andworktogetherinarrestingandextraditingsuspectsanddefendantswhohavefledabroad.TheCentralSteeringCommitteeforPreventionandControlofCorruptionandNegativePhenomenaagreedtoaddtwocasesunderthecommitteessupervisionwhicharethecaseatThu?nAnGroupandrelatedagencies,localities;andanotheratPhúcS?nGroupJointStockCompany,Th?ngLongRealEstateandTradingInvestmentJointStockCompanyandanumberofrelatedagenciesandlocalities.—VNSVNApresentedgiftstolocalresidentsatahandoverceremony-VNA/VNSPhotoSóCTR?NG–TheVietnamNewsAgency(VNA)sbureauintheMekongDeltaprovinceofSocTrangincollaborationwiththeprovincialassociationforvictimsofAgentOrgange(AO)/dioxinandbenefactorshandedoverahousetoanAOvictiminAnThanhNamcommune,CuLaoDungdistrictonMay30.TheVNAbureaumobilisedtheSocTrangLotteryOneMemberCompanyLimitedtosponsorthe45-square-metrehouse,whichwasbuiltatthetotalcostof80millionVND(over3,100USD).AccordingtoChairmanofthelocalAOvictimsassociationNguyenHung,manysocio-politicalorganisationshavejoinedhandsandmobilisedresourcestosupportlocalpeopleaffectedbythetoxins.Fromtheoutsetoftheyear,16houseshavebeenconstructedwhile16,000giftshavebeenpresentedtothevictims,hesaid.SocTrangprovinceisnowhometoover14,000AOvictimsandthoseexposedtothetoxicchemicals;however,nearly2,200ofwhomhavereceivedmonthlysupportsofar.-VNS

AttheworkkingsessionbetweenBìnhThu?nleadersandtheMARDdelegation.VNA/VNSPhotoBìNHTHU?N–Thesouth-centralprovinceofBìnhThu?nhasrecordedpositiveresultsinpreventingandfightingillegal,unreportedandunregulated(IUU)fishing,Nguy?nV?nChi?n,ViceDirectoroftheprovincialDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentreportedtoadelegationfromtheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD)ataworkingsessiononWednesday.Chi?nsaidthattheprovincehasmobilisedtheengagementofthewholepoliticalsysteminthework,focusingonurgentsolutionsfollowingthePrimeMinistersdirections.Thankstotheclosesupervisionofthelocalfishingvesselfleet,especiallythosewithhighrisks,theprovincehasnotseenfishingvesselsviolatingforeignwaterssinceearly2023,Chi?nsaid.Theofficialsaidthatsofar,1,942operatingboatsoutof1,953localfishingvesselswithalengthof15mandabovehaveinstalledtheVesselMonitoringSystem(VMS).Theremaining11vesselsarecurrentlyoutofservice.Thelocalityhasupdatedthedataof5,935fishingboatswithalengthfrom6mandabovetothenationalfishingvesselregistrationsystemVnfishbase,whileissuingfisheriesexploitationlicencesto3,290vessels.TheremaindersarewaitingfornewlicencesastheiroldlicencesexpiredonApril30.Besides,theprovincehasappliedstrictpunishmentstoviolationsofIUUfishingregulations.Lastyear,theprovincialSub-DepartmentofFisheriessanctioned378casesandcollectedatotalfineofVN?3.5billion(US$137,484),whiletheprovincialBorderGuardCommandsanctioned197casesandcollectedafineofVN?650million.Addressingtheworkingsession,DeputyMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentcumDeputyHeadoftheNationalSteeringCommitteeforIUUFishingPreventionandControlPhùng??cTi?naskedBìnhThu?ntoworkharder,especiallyindealingwithviolations.HeexplainedthatdrasticactionsareneededfromnowuntilSeptembertolifttheEuropeanCommission(EC)syellowcardwarning,whichhasbeenimposedonVietnameseseafoodexports.Earlier,theMARDsworkinggroupinspectedIUUpreventionandcontrolattwofishingportsandanumberofagenciesinBìnhThu?n.Meanwhile,thecentralprovinceofNgh?An,whichhasacoastlineofmorethan80kmandnearly3,400fishingvessels,hasalsoshownstrongperformanceinIUUfishingpreventionandcombat.Currently,2,450localfishingvesselswithalengthof6mandabovehavebeenregistered,reaching97.69percentofthetotalnumberofvesselssubjecttoregistration.Theprovincehasissuedaplantospecifytargets,tasksandsolutionsstatedintheGovernmentsResolutionNo52/NQ-CPontheactionprogrammeandplantorealisethePartyCentralCommitteesSecretariatsDirective32-CT/TWonstrengtheningthePartyleadershipoverIUUpreventionandcombatandboostingsustainabledevelopmentofthefisherysector.Undertheplan,theprovincialPeoplesCommitteeaskedlocaladministrationsatalllevels,agencies,organisationsandindividualstojoinhandsinpreventingviolationsofIUUpreventionandcontrolregulationsfromearlywhilecloselymanagingthelocalfishingboatfleetandstrictlyhandlingviolations.Localauthoritieswererequestedtomonitor100percentofoperatingfishingvesselsandconductregularpatrolsatsea.Organisationsandindividualsfailingtocompletetheirtaskswillreceivestrictpunishments,accordingtotheplan.VNSVietnameseDeputyMinisterofForeignAffairs??HùngVi?tstressedtheneedforallchildren,whetherinurban,ruralorremotearea,tohaveaccesstoplaygrounds,toys,safespaces,andopportunitiesforphysicalactivity.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—InanticipationoftheinauguralInternationalDayofPlayonJune11,theUNagenciesinHàN?icelebratedtheoccasionearlyonThursday,followingtheMarch25approvaloftheUNGeneralAssemblysresolutioninitiatedbyVi?tNamandco-sponsoredby138countries.Speakingattheevent,VietnameseDeputyMinisterofForeignAffairs??HùngVi?temphasisedtheimportanceofplay,especiallytothewell-beinganddevelopmentofchildren.Hestressedtheneedforallchildren,whetherinurban,ruralorremotearea,tohaveaccesstoplaygrounds,toys,safespaces,andopportunitiesforphysicalactivity.Ontheoccasion,hecalledonUNagenciesandtheprivatesectortocollaboratewithVi?tNaminaddressingtheshortageofgames,recreationalactivitiesandresourcesforchildren.UNICEFActingChiefRepresentativeinVi?tNamLeslieMillerthankedtheVietnameseGovernmentforinitiatingandpromotingtheresolutionontheInternationalDayofPlay.Sharingthesamesentiment,ChiefOperationsOfficerofLEGOGroupCarstenRasmussenexpressedadesireforcontinuedcooperationwiththeVietnameseGovernmentandUNICEFtoexpandplayandlearningopportunitiesforchildren.TheeventalsoshowcasedthecreativityofVietnamesechildren.Over8,000artworksweresubmittedtoUNICEFonthethemeofdreamplaygrounds,with31chosenforpresentationthere.—VNS