Theaftermathofthefirein2022inAnPhúkaraoke.—Photovov.vnBìNHD??NG—BìnhD??ngProvincialPeoplesProcuracyonThursdayindictedsixpeopleresponsibleforthedeadlyAnPhúkaraokefirethatkilled32victimsonSeptember6,2022.ThesixdefendantsbeingprosecutedareLêAnhXuan(ownerofAnPhúkaraoke),V?Tr??ngS?n,Ph?mQu?cHùng,Ph?mTh?H?ng(formerofficersoftheBìnhD??ngProvincialFirePreventionandRescuePoliceDepartment),andNguy?nThànhLuan(constructioncompanydirector).Theyarebeingprosecutedonchargeoffirepreventionandfirefightingregulations.Nguy?nV?nV?(formerofficeroftheThu?nAnCityFirePreventionandRescuePoliceDepartment)isbeingprosecutedfornegligence.Theinitialcauseofthekaraokefirewasdeterminedtobeanelectricalshortcircuit.Followingtheincident,authoritieslaunchedaninvestigationandinitiatedcriminalproceedings.OnSeptember16,2022,theinvestigatingagencyinitiatedproceedingsanddetainedtheownerXuan.Subsequently,S?n,Hùng,V?,andNguy?nDuyLinh(formerheadoftheFirePreventionandRescuePoliceTeaminThu?nAnCity)wereprosecuted.However,theinvestigationagainstLinhwassuspendedfollowinghisdeathduetoillnessinJune2023.Bytheendof2023,thepolicesinvestigationintotheAnPhúkaraokefirewascompletedandtheProcuracytransferredthecasefiletotheBìnhD??ngProvincialPeoplesCourtfortrial.OnMarch1,2024,thecourtreturnedthefiletotheProcuracy,requestingadditionalinvestigationintoseveralrelatedissues.Followingthesupplementalinvestigation,theinvestigatingagencyprosecutedadditionaldefendantsPh?mTh?H?ngandNguy?nThànhLuan.—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.—VNS

ArescueteampullsavictimtosafetyfromalandslideinNaRìDistrict,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.—VNSAnew-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.—VNSVietnameseAmbassadortoJapanPh?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.—VNS

Theanti-scammobilenTrustisdevelopedbytheNationalCybersecurityAssociation.—PhotocourtesyofnTrustHàN?I—Anationalanti-scammobileapplicationhasbeenlaunchedbytheNationalCybersecurityAssociation(undertheMinistryofPublicSecurity).Thefreeapp,namednTrust,istohelppeopledetectsignsofscammingbyverifyingphoneandbankaccountnumbers,aswellaswebsitelinksandQRcodes.ItwasfirstannouncedattheseminaronpreventingonlinescamsheldonMay13bytheNationalCybersecurityAssociation.FollowingitsbetaversionreleasedinJune,theapphasbeenupdatedtobetterscanformalwareandoptimiseitsperformance.nTrustiscurrentlyavailableonGooglePlayStoreforAndroiddevicesandontheAppStorefordevicesrunningoniOS.Ifusersdetectanysignsofscamming,theycanreportsuspiciousphonenumbers,bankaccountnumbers,websitelinksorsoftwareviatheapp.TheirreportswillthenbecompiledandanalysedbeforebeingsenttotheentirenTrustnetwork.—VNS

AmedicalworkercheckstheRussianmanshealth.—Photosnhandan.vnTHáIBìNH—TheauthoritiesofnorthernprovinceTháiBìnhauthoritieshaveidentifieda46-year-oldmanwithRussiannationality,driftinginthecoastaltidalflatareaofTh?yTr??ngCommune,TháiTh?yDistrict??sufferingfromfatigueandhungerbutwithoutanyinjuriesonhisbody.HisnameisRomanBorisivandhaspassportvaliduntilNovember9,2028.At14.00onMonday,theDiêm?i?nPortBorderGuardStationinTháiTh?yDistrictreceivedareportfromTr?nXuanC?nh,46,in??ngHoàngCommune,Ti?nH?iDistrict,aboutthediscoveryofamaleforeignerinacoastaltidalflatarea.Afterreceivingtheinformation,theborderguardstationsentofficersandsoldierstothescene.TheworkinggroupandlocalpeopletookthemantoanoysterwatchtowerformedicalcareandfirstaidduetohispoorhealthandthentookhimtotheDiêm?i?nPortBorderGuardStation.ImmigrationchecksshowedthatheenteredVi?tNamonJuly15,2024,undertheunilateralvisaexemptionprogrammethroughtheTayTrangInternationalBorderGatein?i?nBiênProvince.AuthoritiescheckedRomanBorisovspersonalbelongingsandfoundonlydailynecessitiesandclothes,nomoneyorweapons.HesaidthatbeforeenteringVi?tNam,hehadbeeninThailandandLaos.Hestayedin?i?nBiênforaboutthreedays.Becausehehadnomoney,hewalkedandhitchedaridetoH?iPhòngCityonJuly20.Seeinghimwanderingaround,H?iPhòngpeoplegavehimshelterandfood.OnJuly28,hemovedtothecoastalmangroveforestarea.Localslenthimafoamraft,whichherowedalongthecoastanddriftedtothetidalflatareaof??Th?yTr??ngCommune.HispassportisvalidfortemporaryresidenceinVi?tNam.BorisovsaidhewishestocontinuetotravelfreelyinVi?tNam.Whenhistemporaryresidenceexpires,hewillgotoLaosandCambodiaviathelandbordergates.Currently,theRussianmanisbeingtemporarilycaredforandrestingattheDiêm?i?nPortBorderGuardStation.TháiBìnhProvinceauthoritiesdeterminedthathehadcompletedallproceduresaccordingtothelawanddidnotdiscoveranysuspiciousissuesrelatedtonationalsecurity.TheydecidedtoguidehimonVietnameseregulationsandlawssothathecancontinuehisjourneyinVi?tNam.—VNSHealthexaminationatB?chMaiHospitalinHàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I-HàN?i-basedB?chMaiHospital,theleadinghealthcarefacilityinthenorth,willexaminepatientsoutsideofregularworkinghours,until9pmfromAugust1.AssociateProfessor?àoXuanC?,thehospitalsdirector,saidthemedicalexaminationhourswouldbeexpandedfrom5pmto9pm,withreceptionandsomeexaminationdesksopenedearlyfrom5-6amtoservepatients,especiallythosefromdistantlocations.Thismoveaimstomeettherecentsurgeindemandforhealthcheck-ups,whilealsoachievingthegoalofexaminingallpatientsduringtheday.Upto10,000patientsvisitthehospitaleverydayforcheckups,whichcausescongestion.Departmentswithinthehospitalhavetakenactiontoalleviatethequeues.Thehospitalhasbeenabletoovercomeitsmedicineandmedicalsupplyshortfall.Thehospitalunveiledanumberofmedicalequipmentsystemsearlierthisyear,includingsevenendoscopicsurgicalsystems,19digestiveendoscopysystems,threecomputedtomographyscanmachines,andfourmagneticresonanceimagingmachines.ThisisthefirsttimethatsevenmagneticresonanceimagingmachineshavebeenrunningsimultaneouslyatB?chMaiHospital.Patientswhohaveascanindicationcanessentiallybescannedonthesamedaywithouthavingtowait,C?said.Themodernequipmentmeantmanymorepatientshadcomeinforexaminationandtreatment,hesaid.Theimagingandtestingdepartmentwouldprioritiseoutpatientsinthemorningandinpatientsintheafternoonandevening.Withthesearrangements,testingresultsaretypicallyreceivedintheearlyafternoon,allowingmostpatientswhotravelfromfarawayplacestoreturnhomethatsameday.Thisisagreatefforttohelppatientssavemoneywithouthavingtorentaccommodationtowait,hesaid.Thehospitalhasalsopromoteddigitaltransformationbyassistingpatientstoregisterformedicalexaminationandtreatmentviaahotlineorapp.Everydaybetween2,000and2,500peoplesignupformedicalexaminationsviathesenewchannels,accordingtoC?.Registeringinadvancehelpstominimisecrowdingandwaitingtimeisminimised.Additionally,itrelievesdoctorsofpressurewhileimprovingthestandardofmedicalexaminationsandconsultations.Atthehospital,medicalprescriptionshavenotbeenprintedsinceJuly8.ResultsoftestingandscanningwillnotbeprintedfromthestartofAugustandeverythingwillbeonline.ThishelpssaveaboutVN?30billionperyear.OnlinemedicalrecordswillbeputonatrialbasisfromAugust,beforebeingofficiallyappliedatalldepartmentsthisyear.Onlinemedicalrecordshelpconnectpatientinformationtoallrelevantdepartments.Doctorsmayreadilytracktheirdevelopmentandusethatinformationtoforecastandscheduleadditionaltreatmentsfortheirpatients.Eachpatientwillgetacodeuniquetothemwiththeaimofcreatingafullypaperlesssystem.VNS

Policecarsparkoutsidethehotelwheresixpeople,includingfourVietnamesenationals,werefounddeadonTuesday.Photokhaosodenglish.comBANGKOK–Sixpeople,includingfourVietnamesenationals,werefounddeadintheGrandHyattErawanHotelinBangkok,ThailandonTuesday,accordingtolocalsources.TheincidentoccuringinPathumWanDistrictwasreportedtothepoliceforceinBangkoksLumpiniareaataround5:30pmonthesameday.Thevictimswerediscoveredinaroomwithnosignsofastruggle,andtheirluggagewasfoundnearthefrontdoor.InitialinvestigationshaveidentifiedthevictimsastwoVietnamesenationalswhoheldAmericancitizenship,alongwithfourVietnamesecitizens.Basedontheinitialevidencediscoveredatthescene,itissuspectedthatthesixvictimsmayhavediedasaresultofpoisoning.However,itremainsunclearwhetherthepoisoningwasintentionalorifthevictimscommittedsuicide.Thaipoliceareinvestigatingtheincident,examiningclosed-circuittelevisionfootageandquestioningwitnessesforpossibleclues.ThaiPrimeMinisterSretthaThavisinvisitedthesceneoftheincident.SpeakingtoVietnamNewsAgencycorrespondentsbasedinBangkok,VietnameseAmbassadortoThailandPh?mVi?tHùngsaidthatembassyofficialsareworkingwithlocalauthoritiestoverifytheincidentandtocarryoutnecessarycitizenprotectionmeasures.–VNSDefendantsatthetrialonTuesday.4,830kgofgoldweresmuggledfromCambodiaintoVi?tNam.VNA/VNSPhotoH?ngGiangHCMCITY—ThetrialbeganonTuesdayofagroupofpeopleaccusedofsmugglingalargeamountofgoldfromCambodiaintoVi?tNam,totakeadvantageofhigherpricesforthepreciouscommodity,withthegangexpectedtomakearound$700,000fromtheillicitdeal.ThecourtheardthatagangplannedtotakeadvantageofthedifferentialingoldpricesinVi?tNam,tosmugglemorethansixtonnesofgoldbarsovertheborderintoseveralprovinces.ThePeoplesCourtofH?ChíMinhCityonTuesdaystartedthefirsthearingsintothelarge-scalegoldsmugglingcasethatoccurredinTayNinhProvince,HCMCityandseveralotherlocalities.Nguy?nMinhPh?ng,43,fromBình??nhProvince,Nguy?nTh?Ng?cGiàu,44,fromTayNinhProvince,Nguy?nTh?KimPh??ng,39,fromTayNinhProvince,andtheiraccomplicesaretrialledforallegedlysmugglingoversixtonnesofthehighlypricedmetalfromCambodiatoVi?tNam.Thetrial,whichisexpectedtolastforthreedays,isbeingpresidedoverbyJudgeNguy?nTh?Hà.Accordingtothecasefile,Ph?nghadpreviouslyworkedatagoldshop,dealingingold,silver,andforeigncurrencyexchange,andhadconnectionsinthejewelleryindustryinHCMCity,TayNinhandCambodia.NoticingthatthegoldpriceinVi?tNamwashigherthaninCambodia,thedefendantagreedandarrangedtosellsmuggledgoldtodomesticgoldshopowners.Theindictmentstatesthatin2022,Ph?ngbeganestablishingandoperatingasmugglingringtobuyandsellgoldbarsfromCambodiatoVi?tNam.Ph?ngwouldreceiveordersfromdomesticcustomersandcontactcounterpartsinCambodiatoplaceorders.Giàuwasresponsiblefororganisingthetransportationofmoneyandgoldacrosstheborder.Giàu,aborderresidentlivingnearChàngRi?cbordergateinTayNinhProvince,exploitedborderpoliciesbyhidinggoldunderice-ladentricyclestosmuggleitacrosstheborder.InvestigationsrevealedthatfromAugust3toSeptember28of2022,Ph?ngandherassociatessmuggled4,830kgofgoldbarsworthVN?6.644trillion(US$260million),makingaprofitofVN?17.6billion($697,000).Ph?ngprofitedVN?2.4billion($94,700),GiàuprofitedVN?13.8billion($544,000),withtheremainingsplitamongtheother20defendants.TheindictmentdeterminedthatPh?ngsold4,830kgofgoldbarstomanypeople,including560kgtoHu?nhMinhKhánh(KhánhKimLoangoldshop),268kgtoNguy?nTh?Minh(KimHi?nBìnhMinhgoldshop),294kgto??ngTh?ThanhH?ng,1,828kgto36othercustomersand1,804kgtounidentifiedretailcustomers.Theinvestigationagencyseized76kgofgold.Additionally,anothergoldsmugglingring,ledbyNguy?nTh?KimPh??ng(Giàusyoungersister),smuggled1,320kgofgoldbarsworthoverVN?1.8trillion(approximatelyUS$70.9million).Ph??ngprofitedoverVN?3billion($119,000)andGiàuVN?3.7billion($146,000).Connectedtothecase,??ngTh?ThanhH?ng(theownerofPhúcH?nggoldshop)leftthecountrybeforeprosecutionbegan,leadingtheMinistryofPublicSecuritytoissueawarrantforherarrest,withfurtheractiontobetakenuponhercapture.—VNS

Nguy?nTh?Th?otakescareofaweek-oldnewborn,whochokedonmilkandstoppedbreathingandwassavedbyTh?o,atH?iPhòngChildrensHospitalinthenortherncityofH?iPhòng.—Photosuckhoedoisong.vnHàN?I—HealthMinister?àoH?ngLanhassentaletterofcommendationtonurseNguy?nTh?Th?ofromtheRespiratoryDepartmentofH?iPhòngChildrensHospital,forherquick-thinkingactionsinsavinganewbornwhohadstoppedbreathing,duetomilkaspiration,inataxi.OnJuly4,thirtyfouryearoldTh?osuccessfullyresuscitatedanewborn,whohadstoppedbreathing,inataxi,byusingherprofessionalreflexesandemergencyskills.Shehelpedthebabybreatheagainandcontinuedtosupporttheinfantstransporttothehospital,ultimatelysavingthebabyslifeandbringingimmensehappinesstothechildsfamily.Onbehalfofthehealthministry,LanpraisedandhonourednurseTh?oforherprofessionalism,humanity,responsibilityandethicalconduct.Youractionsexemplifythehighstandardsofmedicalethicsandthededicationtoservingthepeoplebyhealthsectorstaff,Lansaid.Intheletter,LanalsowishedTh?ogoodhealth,happinessinlife,professionalsuccessandcontinuedcontributionstothecauseofmedicalexamination,treatmentandpublichealthcare.Ataround9pmonJuly4,whileonherwayhome,Th?osawanelderlymaninapanic,holdingaseven-day-oldpalenewbornandrunningontotheroadasiflookingforataxitotakethebabytothehospital.Behindhim,awomanwasalsoinastateofpanic,cryingoutforhelp.Sensingthatthebabywasindanger,withtheinstinctsofamotherandtheskillsandresponsibilityofanurse,Th?oimmediatelystoppedhervehicle,ranoverandquicklyintroducedherselfasahealthcareworkerfromtheH?iPhòngChildrensHospital,offeringtosavethebaby.Whilespeaking,shetookthebabyfromtheelderlymansarmsandplacedtheinfantinthebackseatofanapproachingtaxi.Withoutwastinganytime,shefocusedintenselyonresuscitatingthebabywithexternalchestcompressions,mouth-to-mouthbreathinganddirectnasalandoralsuctionwhilethetaxiheadedtoTh?yNguyênGeneralHospital.Approximatelytenminuteslater,thetaxiarrivedatthehospital.There,Th?ohurriedlycarriedthebabyintothehospitalsEmergencyDepartmentandrequestedanendotrachealtubetoresuscitatethepatient.Shethenjoinedthedoctorsandnursesatthehospitalintheresuscitationefforts.Afteraboutaminuteofemergencycare,thenewbornspulsereturned,thenthebabywastransferredtoH?iPhòngChildrensHospitalforspecialisedtreatment.Nguy?nTh?Th?oreceivesanawardbySecretaryofH?iPhòngCitysPartyCommitteeLêTi?nChau(left)onMondayinthenortherncityofH?iPhòng.—VNA/VNSPhotoHoàngNg?cAftersixdaysoftreatment,thebabyshealthconditionimprovedsignificantly,withbloodparametresgraduallyreturningtonormal.Thebabyiscurrentlystillonoxygenandcontinuestobemonitoredandtreatedforrecovery.Th?osaid:Everythinghappenedsounexpectedlyforbothmeandthebabysfamily,butIbelieveanynurseinmypositionwouldhaveactedthesameway,notjustme.OnMonday,thePeoplesCommitteeofH?iPhòngCityapplaudedTh?oforherexceptionalperformanceinemergencycare,savingthelifeofaninfantoutsidethehospital.SecretaryofthecitysPartyCommittee,LêTi?nChau,saidthathehadcloselyfollowedthestorythroughthemediaandhewasmuchmoved.Hersimpleandeverydayactionhasmultipliedemotionsandstrengthenedfaithinthegood,inhumankindness,hesaid.—VNSThesiteoftheincidentattheCityLightBuildinginV?nhYênCity.—VNA/VNSPhotoHoàngHùngV?NHPHúC—Ablastoccurredatathree-storeyhouseinV?nhPhúcProvinceonTuesdaymorning,injuringsevenpeopleinwhatasuspectedgasexplosion.ThesiteoftheincidentwasashophouseonthefirstflooroftheCityLightBuildingonNguy?nT?tThànhStreetinV?nhYênCity,andhasbeenunderrenovationtobeopenasaKorean-styleBBQrestaurant.Atthetimeoftheincident,fourconstructionworkerswereinside,alongwithoneguardandtwoSouthKoreannationals.AlloftheinjuredhavebeentakentoV?nhPhúcProvincialGeneralHospitalfortreatment.Thereareseveralgascylindersonthescene,whilenumerouspiecesofdebrisandfurniturearescatteredinthesurroundingareaaftertheloudblast.Theexplosionalsoshatteredandfracturedtheglassdoorsandwindowsoftheadjacentstoresonthesamefloorofthebuilding.Therewasaloudblastbutthecauseoftheincidenthasnotyetbeendetermined,asgascylindersareunlikelytocreatesuchanexplosion,Nguy?nVi?tPh??ng,chairmanofV?nhYênCityPeoplesCommitteetoldVTCNews.Authoritieshavearrivedatthesceneandinvestigationsareongoing.—VNS