LocalauthoritiesandresidentsworktoaddresstheaftermathoftheflashfloodinM??ngP?nCommune,?i?nBiênDistrictinthenorthernmountainousprovinceof?i?nBiên.—VNA/VNSPhotoXuanT?HàN?I—Floodingtriggeredbypro-longedheavyrainsfromTyphoonPrapiroonbetweenJuly22-25hasresultedinsignificantdamagetothenorthernandcentralregionsandlossoflife.AccordingtoinitialreportsfromtheDepartmentofDykeManagementandNaturalDisasterPreventionandControloftheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,atleasteightpeoplehavedied,ninearemissingandthreehavebeeninjured.ThenorthernmountainousprovinceofS?nLawasthehardesthit,withfivedeaths,fourmissingpersonsandoneinjuredduetofloods.Theheavyrainandfloodingalsodamaged389houses,submergedsixprimaryandpreschoolsites,causedlandslidesat126trafficpointswithavolumeofabout7.97cubicmetresofsoilandrocks.Over270hectaresofriceweresubmergedandmorethan3,460livestockandpoultryweresweptaway.FlashfloodscausedbyprolongedheavyrainsledtotwodeathsandleftfivepeoplemissingafteritwreakedhavoconM??ngP?nCommune,?i?nBiênDistrictonthenightofWednesday.Thefloodsinjuredtwopeopleandcausedsignificantpropertydamagetolocalresidents.Abouttenhousesweresweptaway,eighthousescollapsedandaroundahundredotherhomeswerepartlydamaged.Manyhectaresofricefieldswerecompletelydestroyed.ThetotalestimateddamageisVN?3billion(US$118,530).Landslidesandmudblockedroads,causingtrafficcongestiononNationalHighway12passingthroughtheL?nhVillageareainM??ngP?nCommune.OnepersondiedafterbeingsweptawaybyfloodwaterinHàN?is??ngXuanCommune,Qu?cOaiDistrict.Theheavyrainraisedriverlevels,causingwaterloggingfrom20-50cmonstreetsinthedistrictsofLongBiên,C?uGi?y,ThanhXuanandalongtheTh?ngLongBoulevard.Additionally,Route70passingthroughPh??ngCanh,TayM?,and??iM?communesinNamT?LiêmDistrictexperiencedprolongeddeepflooding.Especially,theNamAnKhánhUrbanAreanearTh?ngLongBoulevardandtheinternalroadsoftheGeleximcoLêTr?ngT?nUrbanAreaweresubmerged.InHòaBìnhProvince,heavyraininHòaBìnhCityandthedistrictsofMaiChau,L??ngS?nand?àB?cresultedin213housesbeingflooded,submergedmorethan517hectaresofriceandcausedlandslidesonseverallocalroads.TorrentialrainfallaccompaniedbystrongwindsinTháiBìnhProvincesubmerged1,380hectaresofriceandaffectednearly2,000hectaresofvegetablesandothercrops.A15-metre-long,0.5-metre-wideand1-metre-highlandslideoccurredontheleftbankoftheH?ngHàIIDykeinV?VanCommune,V?Th?District.LandslideswerealsoreportedinH?LongCityinQu?ngNinhProvince,causingfivehouseholdstobemovedtosafety.InC?T?District,acementshipattheportandasmallspeedboatnearthepierweresunk.Morethan2,270hectaresofricewassubmergedinB?cGiangProvinceandmanyroadsinB?cGiangCityalsoexperiencedflooding.InThanhHóa(chǎn)Province,landslideswererecordedonseveralroads,withanestimatedvolumeofabout6,350cubicmetresofsoilandrocks.EighthousesinthedistrictsofM??ngLát,QuanS?nandQuanHóa(chǎn)werepartlydamaged.AccordingtotheNationalCentreforHydrometeorologicalForecasting,fromthenightofJuly27toAugust3,thenorthernregionandThanhHóa(chǎn)Provincewillexperiencescatteredshowersandthunderstorms,withsomeareasreceivingheavyrainfalls.Giventheseconditions,localauthoritieshaveimplementedthePrimeMinistersDirectiveonWednesdayonaddressingtheaftermathoftheheavyrainsandfloodingcausedbyTyphoonPrapiroonandpreparingforheavyrainsandlandslides.TheS?nLaProvincialSteeringCommitteeforNaturalDisasterPreventionandSearchandRescuehassetupseveralworkinggroupstocoordinatewithlocalcommunestoassistaffectedresidentswhilemobilisingforcesandequipmenttoensuresafetransportation.Warningsignswereinstalledindangerousareas,debrisfromlandslide-proneareaswereremoved.Tocontinueaddressingtheaftermathofnaturaldisasters,theDepartmentofDykeManagementandNaturalDisasterPreventionsuggestedthatS?nLaProvinceorganisesearcheffortsformissingpersons,providemedicaltreatmentfortheinjuredandmobiliseforcestosupportaffectedresidents.Provincesandcitiesnationwideshouldcloselymonitorforecastinformationandwarnings,andproactivelyimplementmeasurestodealwithheavyrain,tornadoes,lightning,hailandstrongwinds,itsaid.Toensureproperdrainageduringthestorm,theHàN?iDrainageOne-MemberLimitedLiabilityCompanyopenedthegatesoflakessuchasThi?nQuang,B?yM?u,TanMaiand??ng?a,andoperatedkeypumpingstationslikeYênS?,??ngB?ng1,??ngB?ng2andC?Nhu?tolowerwaterlevelsinthesystem.—VNS

AstreetfoodstallonNhàTh?Street,HàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I-Morethan16percentofstreetfoodestablishmentswhichwereinspectedinHàN?iviolatedfoodsafetyregulations,accordingtothecitysFoodSafetyDepartment.Sinceearlythisyear,thedepartmenthasconductedthesafetyinspectionsat5,820streetfoodestablishmentsincludingfacilitiesatfestivals,fairs,exhibitionsandtouristareas,includingstreetvendors.About83.7percentoftheestablishmentsmetthesafetystandards,saidthedepartment.ThemunicipalDepartmentofHealthhasprovidedhotlinenumbers(0823.88.9095,0922.55.9095)sothatresidentscanreportfoodsafetyviolationstotheFoodSafetyDepartment.Localauthoritiesalsoheldinspectionstotracethefoodoriginat15kitchensofprimaryschoolsand10foodproductionfacilities,processingandtradingestablishmentswhichprovideingredientsforschoolsacross15districtsandtowns.Fromthe324supervisedestablishments,298mettherequirements.Thecityalsomanagedfoodsafetyatbigpartiesat440communesandwardsof20districtsandtowns.Theinspectionteamsinstructedlocalpeopletofollowfoodsafetyregulationsatbigfamilypartiestoensurethatonehundredpercentofhouseholdssignedcommitmentstoensurefoodsafety.LocalauthoritieshavepilotedthemodeloffoodsafetycontrolforcateringservicesandstreetfoodaroundschoolgatesinTràngTi?nandHàngTr?ngwards,HoànKi?mDistrictwhere21restaurants,threehotels,52foodstalls,24streetfoodestablishmentsandfivefoodestablishmentsarelocated.Ofthese,67outof73establishmentshavevalidcertificatesofestablishmentsmeetingfoodsafetyconditions.AccordingtothecitysSteeringCommitteeagainstSmuggling,CounterfeitGoodsandTradeFraud,transportingandtradinggoodsofunknownoriginandqualityarestillongoing.Low-qualityfoodsincludericeflakes,snacks,sausages,chickenwings,frozenfoodandanimalorgans.Tradersandsmugglerschangedlabelsorcommittedotherfraudulentactstoextendexpirydates.VNSElectricworkerserecttemporarypolestosupplyelectricitytopeopleinChi?ngN?iCommune.—VNA/VNSPhotoH?ngC??ngS?NLA—Atotalof149householdsinChi?ngN?iCommune,MaiS?nDistrict,thenorthernmountainousprovinceofS?nLaonMondayregainedaccesstoelectricity,whichhadbeentemporarilycutduetofloods.TheMaiS?n-YênChauRegionalPowerCompany,theS?nLaPowerCompany,localauthoritiesandresidentstogethererectedbambooelectricpolestobringinthepowersupplies.Prapiroontyphoon–thesecondonethisyear-causedseriousdamagetothepeopleinthecommune.Sixpeopledied,eighthouseswerecompletelyburiedand81householdshadtobeurgentlyrelocated.Roadstovillageswereseriouslyerodedandmorethan100haofcropsofallkindswereflooded.Threesuspensionbridgeswerewashedawayandanotherwasdamaged.Thefloodsalsobroughtdown16low-voltageelectricpolesand33powerboxesweresweptaway,alongwithmanyassetsincludingelectricwires.C?mV?nTr?c,ChairmanoftheChi?ngN?iPeoplesCommittee,saidthatthemostdifficultthingforthelocalitywastheroads.Mostofroadstovillagesaredirtonesandthefloodwhichcausedlandslides,mademanyplacesimpassableevenformotorbikesandsomesectionsweresocongestedthatvehiclescarryingelectricpolescouldnotgainaccess.WiththespiritandresponsibilityofAllforthepeople,theMaiS?n-YênChauRegionalPowerCompanysstaffandworkersdidnothesitatetofaceobstacles,overcominglandslides,workingtogetherwithlocalauthoritiesandpeopletocutbambootomakepolestotemporarilyrestorethepowersystem.Theyensuredsafepowersupplyforthepeople,helpingthemtobringsomenormalitybacktheirlivesafterthefloods.TheS?nLapowercompanyisadvisinglocalshowtouseelectricitysafelyduringtherainyseasonandtheyhaveahotlinewhichtheycanreportpowerproblems:19006769.TheS?nLaPowerCompanyisdirectingunitstocloselymonitorandquicklyfixtheproblemwhenthefloodwaterrecedeandcontinuetocheckthegridsystem,powersourcesandreportdamagecausedbythefloodifanyarise.—VNS

Defendants,includingalawfirmsdeputydirector,appearinTi?nGiangProvincePeoplesCourtonTuesdaytofaceextortioncharges.—VNA/VNSPhotoTI?NGIANG—Ti?nGiangProvincePeoplesCourtonTuesdaybeganproceedingsagainst111defendants,includingadeputydirectorofalawfirm,chargedwithextortion.Thetrial,heldinM?ThoCity,involvesTr?nV?nChau,deputydirectorofPhápVi?tCompany,identifiedasthemastermindbehindanorganisedcrimegroupengagedinunauthoriseddebtcollectionactivities.Thegroupwasidentifiedasanorganisedcrimesyndicate,withChauandH?Qu?cH?ngplayingleadingroles.Accordingtoinvestigators,fromJanuary2021toFebruary2023,thetwomenexploitedthenameofPhápVi?tCompanytosignlegalconsultingcontractswithmultiplecommercialbanksandlendingfirms,whileactuallyconductingillegaldebtcollection.Thegroupwastoreceivebetween18percentto50percentofthetotalamountcollected,dependingonthedurationoftheoverduedebt.ThepolicefoundthatChauandH?ngdirectedaworkforceof579employeestointimidatenearly173,000borrowersinordertoextortuptoVN?456billion.TheywereabletoearnoverVN?168billionoftheextortedamountinexchangefortheirservice,ofwhichChaureceivedVN?15billionandH?ngVN?12billion,accordingtopolice.AparticularlyalarmingincidentinvolvedthreatsdirectedatanelementaryschoolinCaiL?yTown,resultinginaneight-year-oldgirldiscontinuingherattendanceduetofear.ThesituationarosefromadebtofVN?50million($2,000)owedbythegirlsuncle,whohadabscondedafterfailingtorepaythedebt.Authoritieshavealsoseizedmultiplepropertiesandvehicleslinkedtothetwomen.Nearly100defendantsvoluntarilyreturnedportionsoftheirillicitgains.Duringtheinvestigation,victimsdidnotseekcompensation.Thetrial,whichhasattractedpublicattentionduetoitsviolentnature,willlastuntiltheendofthemonth.Lastmonth,theHCMCityPeoplesCourtsentencedsevenformeremployeesofalendingcompanytoasmuchasnearlyfiveyearsinprisonforthesamecharge.Theywerefoundtohaveconductedvariousunauthoriseddebtcollectionactivities,includingsendingthreateningmessagestohundredsofthousandsofcustomerstocoercedebtrepayments.—VNSChairmanoftheHàN?iPeoplesCommitteeTr?nS?Thanh(right)ononeofthetrainsoftheNh?n-HàN?iStationmetroduringhisinspectionoftheprojectonTuesdaymorning.—VNA/VNSPhotoTrungNguyênHàN?I—ChairmanoftheHàN?iPeoplesCommitteeTr?nS?ThanhonAugust6inspectedthepreparationsfortheoperationoftheelevatedsectionoftheNh?n-HàN?iStationurbanrailwayproject,thecitysmetrolineNo.3,aheadoftheexpectedcommercialrunslaterthisweek.Reportingonthepreparations,Nguy?nCaoMinh,HeadoftheHàN?iMetropolitanRailwayManagementBoard,saidthatall10trainshadbeentestedsinceMayandnowmeettechnicalrequirements.V?H?ngTr??ng,ChairmanoftheBoardandGeneralDirectorofHàN?iMetroOneMemberCompanyLtd(HMC),statedthatallpreparationsregardingpersonnelandoperationalprocesseshadalsobeencompleted.Forthetimebeing,theelevatedsectionoftheNh?n-HàN?iStationlinewillapplyatemporarypricingforticketsandmaintenancesimilartotheCátLinh-Hà??ngline,Tr??ngsaid.Thetrialrunwilllastfortwotothreemonths,andinthefirst15dayspassengerscanenjoytheridesfreeofcharge.TheinvestorhasaskedforpermissiontoruntheelevatedsectionfromAugust9,2024,hetoldChairmanThanh.Theplantoconnectbusrouteswiththeelevatedsectionofthislinehasbeenpreparedandisawaitingcityapproval,headofHàN?istransportdepartmentNguy?nPhiTh??ngsaid.ThedepartmentrecommendsthatthecityallowstheHàN?iMetropolitanManagementBoardtohandoverthelineasistoHMCtemporarily,makingsurethatallconditionsaremetforthelinestimelyoperationtoservethepublic.Remainingissueswillbeaddressedintime,Th??ngnoted.HàN?isChairmanThanhpraisedtheeffortsofthemanagementboard,HMC,thetransportdepartment,andrelateddepartmentsandlocalities,statingthattheelevatedsectionoftheNh?n-HàN?iStationprojectwasreadyforoperation.Withthecurrentstateofthepreparations,heaskedforthemetroscommercialoperationstostartfromAugust8,onedayearlierthantheproposeddate.Healsorequiredallunitstofocusonquicklycompletingthefinalprocedures,withthetopprioritybeingthesafeandproperoperationofthetrain.AnyissuesmustbereportedimmediatelyandthePeoplesCommitteeandIwillsupportresolvingthem.Thepreparationworkmustbecomprehensiveandthorough,coveringsafety,technicalaspects,personnel,andsanitation,hestressed.Themetroline,thesecondtobeoperationalinthecapitalcity,is12.5kmlong,withtheelevatedsection(Nh?n-C?uGi?yDistrict)being8.5kmandtheundergroundsection(C?uGi?yDistrict-HàN?iStation)being4kmlong.Eachhour,about8,000passengerscanbetransportedoneachdirectionontheelevatedsection.OnJuly30,thetunnelboringmachinebeganoperationsontheundergroundsectionofthemetroline,whichpassesthroughseveraldenselypopulatedareassomanychallengesmayarise,accordingtotheinvestor.Themetroprojectstartedin2009andwasoriginallyslatedtobefinishedin2015butafterdelaysandsetbacks,thecompletiondateisnow2027.TheoriginalinvestmentcostsofVN?18,408trillion(US$732.14million,currentexchangerate)havenowswellednearlytwo-foldtoVN?34,532trillion($1.373billion).—VNSPartofthecrackintheearthwhichhasshiftedinHu?iL?pVillage,Qu?ngLamCommuneinthenorthernmountainousprovinceof?i?nBiên.—VNA/VNSPhoto?I?NBIêN—TheSteeringCommitteeforNaturalDisasterPreventionandControlandSearchandRescueofM??ngNhéDistrict,?i?nBiênProvincehasurged23householdstotemporarilyrelocatetorelativeshomesaftertheyweredesignatedathighriskofbeingcaughtinalandslide.Thearea,whichislocatedinHu?iL?pVillage,Qu?ngLamCommune,posesahighriskoflandslipsduetotheprolongedheavyrainsinrecentdays.T?V?nS?n,chairmanofthePeoplesCommittee,saidthattheareawasadjacenttoNationalHighway4H,withacracklengthofabout300metresandasubsidencedepthofuptoonemetre.Theheightofthecrackfromthesurfaceofthenationalhighwaywasapproximately200metres.Asubstantialamountofmudandsoilhadflowedthroughsmallcrevicesfromtheareaontothehighway,causingtrafficcongestionandimpacting23householdswith117residentslivingalongthehighwaybeneaththearea.Upondiscoveringthelandslide,thesteeringcommitteeurgedthe23householdstomovetotheirrelativeshomestemporarily.OnSunday,authoritiesdiscoveredanadditionalcrackabout60metreslongand0.5mto0.8mdeepabovethepreviouslyidentifiedlandslidearea.OnMonday,thePeoplesCommitteeofthedistrictrequestedthattheprovincialPeoplesCommitteeandtheprovincialSteeringCommitteeforNaturalDisasterPreventionandControlandSearchandRescueformaninteragencyinspectionteamtopromptlyassess,evaluateandproposemeasurestoensurethesafetyofresidentsandinfrastructureinthehigh-risklandslideareainthevillage.ThedistrictalsoaskedtheprovincialPeoplesCommitteeandtheDepartmentofFinancetoconsiderallocatingfundsforresettlingthe23households.TheCentreforCleanWaterandEnvironmentalSanitationwastoldtocoordinatewiththedistricttosurveyresettlementpointsandarrangefortherelocationofresidentsfromthedisasterarea.FollowingthedistrictPeoplesCommitteesrequest,theprovincialPeoplesCommitteeissuedofficialdocumentNo.3459onMonday,regardingtheinspection,assessmentandproposalofsafetymeasuresforresidentsandinfrastructureinthehigh-risklandslideareainthevillage.ThedistrictPeoplesCommitteewasorderedtoproactivelyallocateemergencyfundstosupportfoodandessentialsuppliesforhouseholdsatriskofhunger,ensurethesafetyoftemporaryhousingandimplementmeasurestopreventdiseaseandmaintainenvironmentalsanitationfortheresidents.Thedistricthadtocontinuetomonitortheweather,increasewarningsandbeondutyfornaturaldisasterprevention24/7topromptlydetectandorganisetherelocationofpeopleandpropertytoensuresafetyduringincidents.TheDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentwasassignedtoleadandcoordinatewithrelevantdepartmentsandagenciestourgentlyinspectthesite,assessthecurrentsituationandforecastthelandslideriskinthevillage.Basedontheassessment,theyhadtoproposeandimplementmeasurestoensuretheabsolutesafetyofresidentsandpropertyintheaffectedareaandreporttheresultstotheprovincialPeoplesCommitteebyAugust15.—VNS

Nguy?nH?uTi?nH?ngandhisgoldmedalfromthe56thInternationalChemistryOlympiad.VNA/VNSPhotoThanhTh??ngHàN?INguy?nH?uTi?nH?ng,astudentoftheB?cNinhHighSchoolforGiftedStudentsinthenorthernprovinceofB?cNinh,dreamsofbecomingadoctor.ThegoldmedalH?ngwonrecentlyatthe56thInternationalChemistryOlympiadinSaudiArabiahasbroughthimclosertothedream.Borninaplacewithstrongacademictraditionsandtoawell-educatedfamily,H?nghasalwaysmaintainedhistopspotintheclassrankings.Hehasalwayshadaparticularlovefornaturalsciences,especiallychemistry.Hisoldersister,apreviousstudentofB?cNinhHighSchoolforGiftedStudentschemistryclass,motivatedhimthemost.Hesaid:Iampassionateaboutchemistrybecauseitallowsmetowitnessthefascinatingphenomenaofchemicalreactions,whichresultinavarietyofcolours,precipitationandevaporation.Withmyknowledgeofchemistry,Icannowinvestigatethecomposition,structure,propertiesandchangesofmatterandexplainsubstancesandeventswithease.Itisreallyrelatabletoallpeopleslives.Thisisasubjectwithmanyapplicationsinreallife,hetoldVietnamNewsAgency.Hewaschosenforthespecialchemistryclasswhenhewasgradenine.Thatsameyear,hewonthefirstprizeinthechemistrycompetitionforexcellentstudentsinB?cNinhProvince.H?ngsaidinordertolearnchemistryproperly,onemustfirstmasterthefundamentalconceptsandthenworkthroughchallengingsituationsbyunderstandingtheunderlyingcausesoftheissues.Hecreatesacomfortableandexcitingroutineforhimselfeachdaythatbalancesleisuretimewithstudying,whichmakesiteasierforhimtotakeininformationandresearchpapers.Sharinghissecrettowinningagoldmedalattherecentinternationalcompetition,hesaid:Atfirst,whenIreadtheexamquestions,Ifeltabitconfusedbecausetheexamquestionshadmanynewpointsandwerealsotopical,requiringcandidatestohavetheabilitytothinkcomprehensivelyandperformoperationalskillsaccurately.Thetheoreticalexammentionedtheapplicationsofchemistryinindustry,environmentalpollutiontreatment,andadvancedmaterials.Atthattime,Iquicklyregainedmyconfidence,rememberingthewordsofencouragementfrommyteacherstosolveproblemsfrombasicknowledge,withthemottoofdoingeasythingsfirst,difficultthingslater,doingthingsfirmlyasmuchaspossible.Iwastheninacomfortablemoodandachievedgoodresults.Recallingthemomentwhenhisnamewascalledoutasagoldmedalwinnerattheinternationalcontest,hesaid:IfelthappyandproudbecauseIhavecontributedatinyparttobringachievementstotheFatherland,theprovince,theschoolandmyfamily.Thisisnotonlymyownachievementbutalsotheeffortsoftheentireteamofteachersintheschool,alongwiththesupportandencouragementofmyfamily,hesaid.ThefirstpersonIsharedmyjoywithwasteacherV?Th?Len[hishighschoolteacher]whosmiledandcriedatthesametimewhenIannouncedtheresult.Nguy?nQuangHòa,H?ngsfather,whofollowseverystepofhisson,couldnothidehisemotion.Itwasajustrewardforwhathehaddone.OurfamilyisalwaysappreciativeofH?ngsteachersconcernandencouragement,hesaid.AfterworkingwithH?ngforthreeyears,teacherLenclaimedtohaveathoroughunderstandingofeachstudentsstrengthsandlimitations,enablinghertodevelopeffectiveteachingstrategiesthatmaximisetheirpotential.H?ngexhibitsall-aroundqualitiesalongwithaparticularfondnessandenthusiasmforchemistry.Healwaysgetsthegreatestgradesinchemistryinhisclassbecauseheplanshisdaysrationally,worksoutandstudieschemistryonhisown.H?nghadpreviouslyreceivedchemistryawardsbothlocallyandnationally.H?ngsaidhewillpursuehisdreamofbecomingagooddoctorandtreatingpeoplebyattendingtheHàN?iMedicalUniversity.VNS??ngThuNgatakescareofachildinthevillage.—Photosuckhoedoisong.vnHCMCITY—Familyplaysaveryimportantroleintheformationanddevelopmentofchildrenspersonality,buttherearemanyunfortunatechildrenwhoareorphansandneedprotectionandhelp.Nearly50yearssinceitsestablishment,theTh???cYouthVillageinHCMCityhascaredforandraisedtensofthousandsoforphansanddisadvantagedchildrenfromacrossVi?tNam.Althoughlessfortunatethantheirpeers,withthelove,care,helpandeducationofthestaffoffathersandmothershere,thechildrenhaveovercomedifficultiesandpressuresinlifetocontinuewritingtheirdreams.Everymeal,everysleep,everylesson,thechildrenherearetakencareofbythevillagesstaffasiftheyweretheirownchildren.Theyareablenottojuststudyuptohighschool,butalsogotouniversityorstudyatvocationalschools.Nguy?nH?uTài,DirectoroftheTh???cYouthVillagesaid:Icantcounthowmanyteachers,doctorsandbankofficershavecomefromhere.Therearealsomanychildrenwhohavefinishedschoolandbecomesuccessfulinlife.Agreatnumberofthemdecidetoreturnheretotakecareofchildrenwiththedesiretogiveloveforchildreninthesamesituationasthemselves.BackhomeOnechildwhoreceivedlove,care,nurturingandeducationfrommothersinthevillage,??ngThuNga,36,afterworkingasanaccountant,decidedtoreturntoworkinitsnewbornward.AlthoughIhavebeenworkingoutsideforalongtime,Istillcontinuetoreceivehelpfromeveryoneinthevillage,soIlearntmoreknowledgerelatedtoinfantsandpreschoolchildrentoreturnandcontributetothevillage,saidNga.Ngasaidthatitwasdifficulttotakecareofnormalchildren,butitismuchmoredifficulttotakecareofchildrenwithrarediseases.Childreninthevillageareseparatedaccordingtotheirphysicalcondition.Theoneswithcongenitaldisabilitiesordevelopmentaldisorderswillbearrangedinaclasswithspecialcareandteaching.Ngabelievesthatchildrenwhoneedinterventionmustbetaughtwithspeciallessonplans.However,thevillagesstaffdonothavemuchknowledgeandexperienceincaringforsuchchildren,sotheirworkmeetsmanyobstacles.Understandingthat,thevillagesBoardofDirectorshasinvitedspecialisedteachersanddoctorstotrainstaffwhodirectlyteachandcareforspecialchildren.Ph?mTh?Trang,31,fromNgh?Ancentralprovince,chosetheTh???cYouthVillageasherlong-termworkplaceaftergraduating.Shesaidthatsheandmostofworkersherearepreschoolorprimaryschoolteachers,sowhenshewasassignedtoteachchildreninneedofinterventionandtheoneswithdevelopmentaldisorders,shethoughtthisjobwouldnotbetoodifficult.However,realityhasshownteachersthatraisingthespecialchildrenisverydifficult.Mostofthemarenotabletocontroltheirbehaviour,sotheteacherscannotunderstandtheirthoughtsandwishes.Therefore,inadditiontobasicknowledge,teachersherehavetoexploretoknowthepersonalityofeachchildinordertocomeupwithappropriateeducationalmethods.Afterparticipatingintheinterventionclass,manychildrenhaveclearlychanges,reactingquicklyandcanfollowcommands.Weareoverwhelmedbythechildrensprogress.Thechildrenspositivechangeshavecreatedgreatmotivationforus.Wehopethattheycanintegrateintolife,gotoschoolliketheirpeersandcanbeindependentwhentheygrowup,saidTrang.GoldentimeRegardinginterventionforchildrenwithdevelopmentaldelays,Nguy?nTr?nNam,DeputyDirectoroftheHCMCityChildrensHospital,saidthatmanypsychologicalreasonsmadechildrenslowtospeaksuchasexpressivelanguagedisorderandautism.Alotofclinicaldatashowsthatbeforethreeyearsoldistheso-calledgoldentimetointervenechildrenwithdevelopmentalproblems.Therefore,takingchildrentomedicalfacilitieswithpsychologicalspecialistsforexaminationandassessmentisnecessarytoguideappropriatesolution.Earlyinterventionhelpschildrenbettertheirlanguageandcommunicationskills,creatingasolidfoundationfortheirfuture,hesaid.Asfortheteamdirectlyinstructingchildren,itisnecessarytobeequippedthemwiththeoreticalandpracticalknowledge.Iftheydonothaveenough,theycansupplementitduringtheirworkingprocess,saidNam.DirectorTàiaffirmedthatthevillagesstaffalwaystriedtheirbest,withenthusiasm,loveforchildrenandasenseofresponsibilitytotakecareofandbringthebestthingstothechildren.—VNS

ContractorsrepairthenationalroadsurfaceinTuyAnDistrictinPhúYênProvince.VNA/VNSPhotoXuanTri?uHàN?I–TheVi?tNamRoadAdministration(VNRA)undertheMinistryofTransporthasproposedrevokingtheauthorityoflocalitiesthatfailtokeepupwiththedisbursementprogressforroadmaintenancefunds.Localleaderswillbeheldaccountableforanydelaysindisbursementbytheendofthisyear.Thismeasureispartofaseriesofsolutionsaimedatacceleratingthedisbursementprocessforroadmaintenancethisyear.?oànChíHi?u,headoftheVNRAsPlanningDepartment,saidthatin2024,theadministrationwasallocatedVN?11.5trillion(US$454.8million)forroadmaintenance.AsoftheendofJune2024,onlyoverVN?3.2trillion($126.5million)hasbeendisbursed,reaching28percentoftheplannedamount.TayNinhhasthelowestdisbursementrateat3.7percent,followedbyV?nhPhúcat5.28percent,Nam??nhat8.1percentandKhánhHoàat8.5percent.TheprovincesofQu?ngNinh,HoàBình,KiênGiangandQu?ngNg?ihaverelativelylowdisbursementratesof10percent,12percent,13percentand14.1percent,respectively.Notably,70outof147projectsthattheadministrationhasallocatedfundsforhavenotyetundergonemaintenance.Thereasonistheslowprogressinselectingcontractorsandsigningconstructioncontractsbythelocalities.Specifically,HoàBìnhhaseightoutof15pendingprojects,V?nhPhúchasallthreependingprojects,CaoB?nghasfiveoutof15pendingprojectsandQu?ngNg?ihasalltenpendingprojects.Theadministrationhadrequiredlocalitiestodevelopdisbursementplansforthelastsixmonthsoftheyear.Mostunitshadregisteredfor100percentdisbursement,butmanylocalitieshavebeenslowinpreparingmonthlydisbursementplans.Localitiesthathavenotachieved70percentoftheirdisbursementplansincludeHòaBình,LaiChau,LàoCai,V?nhPhúc,TuyênQuang,HàGiang,B?cK?n,Qu?ngNinh,B?cNinh,TháiBình,Qu?ngNam,GiaLai,BàR?a-V?ngTàu,LongAnandKiênGiang.Ph?mTr?ngTài,deputydirectorofthe?i?nBiênProvincesTransportDepartment,saidthattheadministrationhascurrentlyauthorisedthetransportdepartmentstoapproverepairprojectscostinglessthanVN?5billion.However,ifadjustmentsareneededduringtheconstructionprocess,theymustbeapprovedbytheinvestmentdecisionmaker.Herecommendedastrongerdelegationofauthority,proposingthattheentiremaintenanceprocessbeentrustedtotheinvestorstoavoiddelayscausedbytheneedtoconsulttheadministrationforurgentrepairs.Toexpeditethedisbursementprogressinthefinalmonthsoftheyear,theadministrationhasinstructedtheroadmanagementzones,transportdepartmentsandprojectmanagementboardstopromptlyselectcontractors,signcontractsandreportanyissuestoacceleratetheprocess.Additionally,theyarerequiredtoreviewandre-registerplanstoensurethedisbursementrateofallocatedfunds.BùiQuangThái,directoroftheVNRA,addedthattheannualmaintenancefundingonlymeets40percentoftheneedsbutremainsunspent,withalargeamountofcarryoverfundingfromthepreviousyear.Heemphasisedtheneedtospendfundscorrectlyandentirelywithinthefiscalyear,notingthatwhiledecentralisationisbeingstrengthened,itmustbeimplementedappropriately.Forthe2025maintenanceplan,theadministrationhasintroducedseveralmeasurestospeedupthebiddingandcontractorselectionprocessestoensureprojectscanstartearlyintheyearandmeetdisbursementdeadlines.Transportdepartmentsthatcontinuetodelaydisbursementwillhavetheirauthoritytomanagenationalroadsrevokedandleadersofthedepartmentswilltakeresponsibilityforthedelay.—VNS

AparkinglotwhichencroachesintopublicspaceinD?chV?ngH?uWard,C?uGi?yDistrict,HàN?i.VNA/VNSPhotoTotakesomepressureoffparkinginHàN?i,ithasbeenproposedthatvacantspacesorlandlotsofprojectswithslowprogressshouldbegrantedtemporarypermitstobecomeparkinglots.TransportexportV?HoàngChungtalkstoKinhT???Th?(EconomicandUrbanAffairs)newspaperaboutthistopic.HowdoyouevaluateHàN?ispolicyofgrantingtemporaryparkingpermitstobehind-scheduleprojects?Ithinkthisisanecessarypolicy.Inthecontextthatthecitylacksstatictrafficinfrastructureandthedemandissogreattoday,turningemptyspacesintheheartofthecityintoparkingareasisanimportantsolutionthatwillbeeffective.Itissuchawastetoleavegovernment-managedlandplotswithoutinvestmentprojectsorwithbehind-scheduleprojects.Infact,ifwedontgranttheparkingpermitstothoselandlots,theywouldstillbeillegallyturnedintoparkinglotsandbenefitindividuals.Insomeplaces,illegalcarparkshaveexistedfordecades.Trillionsof??ngareestimatedtohavebeencollectedwithnotax.Meanwhile,thecitysauthoritieshavetoborrowmoneytoinvestintransportinfrastructure.Thatisaparadoxthatmustbedealtwithandthebestsolutionislicensingtomanageandcollecttaxes.Thisisalreadyaproperpolicybuttheimplementationprogressremainsslow.Inyouropinion,whatisthereasonbehind?Ithinkthebiggestreasonisthelackofaclearlegalcorridor,leadingtothefactthatmanagementagenciesstaycautiousanddonotdaretograntlicences.Otherreasonsshouldbementioned,forexample,enterpriseslackexperienceandunderstandinginthisservicefield.Inyouropinion,whatshouldHàN?idotoremoveobstaclesandsoonlaunchtemporarycarparkinglotsonvacantland?Firstofall,thecityneedstorecogniseandappreciatetheroleofthissolutioninurbanlife.Ithasgreatsignificanceinthecurrentcontextandinthelongterm,soitneedstobeorganisedandimplementedsystematicallyandstrictly.Inmyopinion,thecitycansetupajointsteeringcommitteetoovercomedifficultieswiththetemporaryparkinglotmodel.Thesteeringcommitteewillreviewrealityandcollectdatatodevelopageneralregulationandprocessforgrantingtemporaryparkingpermitsforvehiclesinvacantplotsoflandandlandofslow-movingprojects.Whencompletingtheregulations,thesteeringcommitteecanbedissolvedorconvertedtoworkinanotherfield.ThecommitteewillhelpthecityPeoplesCommitteereduceworkloadwhileunitsandlocalitieshaveclearerdirectionincompletingtheprocessthroughadministrativeandlegalprocedures.Whatconditionsarerequiredfortemporaryparkinglotstobelicensed?IseethatHàN?iisverysuccessfulwiththenon-cashfeecollectionmodelinparkingservices.Thatisaveryimportantconditionformanagingandexploitingthismodel.Itisnecessarytoconsidertheapplicationofcashlesstollcollectionasamandatoryconditionforunitsthatwanttoapplyforalicence.Inaddition,localitiesshouldbegiventheauthoritytoappraise,licenseandmanagethesetemporaryparkingspots.Atthesametime,taxesandfeesarepaidintothelocalbudget,thuscreatingadditionalrevenueforlocalitiestoreinvestininfrastructure.Theconditionsforfireprevention,fighting,andtrafficorganisationmustalsobeensured.Themostimportantthingtopayattentiontoisthetimelinefortemporaryparkinglotlicensing.Manybusinesseswithweakcapacityornotwillingtoimplementtheprojectmayconsiderapplyingforaparkingpermitasanexcusetoprocrastinate.Itisnecessarytoclearlyclassifywhichplotsoflandcanbelicensedandforhowlong.Forprojectlandplotsthathavebeenleftunusedfortoolong,wemustconsiderwithdrawingthemtotransfertoanotherinvestor,especiallyplannedstatictrafficprojects.Ontheotherhand,forvacantlandplotsmanagedbythelocality,itisnecessarytoclearlydefinethemaximumperiodoftimethatcanbelicensed,forexample,twoyearsorthreeyearsandencouragebusinessestoinvestandapplyforalicence.Itshouldnotbepossibletoissuealicencewithatooshortterm.Thecityalsoneedstoadjustparkingprices,especiallyintheinnercityarea.Withthepricebasedonthecurrentregulations,notmanyunitsarewillingtoapplytobegrantedaparkinglotlicence,butillegallybuildtheirown.VNSNGH?AN—Vi?tNamhasrecordedadecreasingnumberofchildrenwhohavedrownedeveryyear.ThefallinnumberswasconfirmedbyNguy?nTh?Hà,DeputyMinisterofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairs(MOLISA)atarecentworkshopontheissueinthecentralprovinceofNgh?An.AccordingtoareportfromMOLISA,thedrowningrateamongVietnamesechildrenhasbeensteadilydecreasing,withanannualreductionof3-5percent,equivalentto100fewercasesofchildrendrowningeachyear.DeputyMinisterHàemphasisedthattheseresultsareevidenceoftheeffectivenessofthecoordinationmechanismandtherobusteffortsofministries,localauthoritiesandinternationalorganisations.Overthepastfiveyears,withsupportfromtheBloombergPhilanthropiesandtheGlobalHealthPolicyAdvocacy,thechilddrowningpreventionprogrammeinVi?tNamhasprovidedfreeswimminglessonstomorethan29,000childrenaged6-15andwatersafetyeducationformorethan50,000childreninschools.Theyhavealsofundedtechnicaltrainingforalmostathousandteachersandhealthcareworkersand900community-basedswimminginstructors.However,drowningstillclaimsthelivesofnearly2,000childrenunder16anditremainsoneofthetoptencausesofdeathforchildrenaged6-15.ThechilddrowningrateinthecountryishigherthanthatofcountriesintheWesternPacificregionandistentimeshigherthanthatofdevelopedcountries.Childreninruralareasaretwiceaslikelytodrownasthoseinurbanareas.Additionally,55percentofdrowningdeathsoccuramongchildrenfrompoorruralhouseholds.Effortstopreventaccidentsandinjuriesamongchildren,particularlydrowning,haveconsistentlyreceivedtheattentionandsupportoftheNationalAssembly,theGovernmentandvariouslevelsoflocalauthorities.TheChildLawmandatestheStatesresponsibilitytoimplementmeasuresforpreventingchildaccidentsandinjuries.Thechildaccidentandinjurypreventionprogrammeforthe2021-2030periodincludescomprehensive,multi-sectoralinterventionsaimedatreducingchilddrowningfatalities.Thisprogrammefocusesonimplementingsolutionsandmodelstoteachwatersafetyskillstochildrenandensuringasafelivingenvironmentforthem.Promotingsurvivalswimminglessonsandeducationonwatersafetyskillsforchildren.PhotoCourtesyofMOLISAToacceleratetheprogressofthechilddrowningpreventionprogrammesandachievethegoalssetbythePrimeMinisterforpreventingchildinjuries,theInter-sectoralCoordinationPlanforChildDrowningPreventionfortheperiod2022-2030hasbeensignedbetweentheMoLISAandnineotherministriesandrelevantorganisations.Attheworkshop,KellyLarson,DirectoroftheBloombergPhilanthropiesInjuryPreventionProgram,praisedthemultidisciplinarycoordinationmechanismfordrowningpreventioninVi?tNam.Withitsinnovativeapproachesandthededicatedeffortsofrelevantauthorities,Vietnamisconsideredamodelforchild-drowningpreventionthatothercountriescanlearnfrom.Vi?tNamisapioneerindrowningprevention,shesaid.Theyhavedevelopedaverystrongprogrammetoreducedrowningsamongst6to15yearolds,andtheyhavedonethatinanumberofdifferentways.Theyfirsthaveidentifiedabestpracticecurriculumtoteachchildrenhowtoswim.Ihighlyappreciatedthecollaborationbetweennineministriestoensurethatsurvivalswiminstructioncanbebroughtto6to15yearoldsacrossthecountryandtheengagementandsupportfromprovincialgovernments.BloombergPhilanthropyisverypleasedtopartnerwithVi?tNaminthisefforttoprotectchildrenslivesandensurethemasustainablefuture.KellyLarson(firstleft)attendedafieldvisittoamodelofsurvivalswimmingclassinNgh?Anprovince.Inadditiontomultidisciplinarycooperationandlocalgovernmentcommitment,communityengagement,especiallyfromschoolsandparentsplaysacrucialroleinexecutingchilddrowningpreventionactivities.AgarwalVandanaShah,VicePresidentforHealthSystemsStrengtheningatCTFK/GHAIsaid:Drowningpreventioncannotbesolelyatop-downinterventionfromthegovernment,itrequiresthecollectiveeffortofvariousministriesandthecommunity,particularlyschoolsandparents.Therefore,wecommittoworkingalongsidetheVietnamesegovernment,localauthorities,andpartnerstoenhanceawarenessamongschoolsandfamiliesaboutensuringchildsafetyfromdrowningrisksandtofacilitatechildrensparticipationinsurvivalswimmingclasses.AgarwalVandanaShah(middle)emphasisedthecriticalroleofthecommunityincludingschoolsandfamiliesinpreventingchilddrowning.Thenationalprogrammeforchildinjurypreventionforthe2021-2030period,initiatedbytheGovernmentofVi?tNam,aimstoreducechilddrowningfatalitiesby10percentby2025andby20percentby2030.Teachingchildrensafeswimmingskillsandpromotingwatersafetyareamongsixlow-cost,evidence-basedinterventionstrategiesrecommendedbytheWHOandconstituteavitalcomponentofthegovernmentsdrowningpreventioninitiative.Additionalmeasuresincludetraininglifeguardsandfirstresponders,enhancingregulationsforboats,managingfloodrisks,installingbarriersnearwatersourcesandprovidingsafeplayareasawayfromwaterforyoungchildren.Protectingthehealthandlivesofcitizensalsohassignificanteconomicimplications.ResearchindicatesthatforeveryVN?1,000(US$0.04)investedindrowningprevention,thereisabenefitofVN?9,000.VNS

AssociateProfessor,Dr.LêV?nTruy?n,formerDeputyMinisterofHealth,speaksattheseminar.—VNSPhotoThanhH?iHàN?I—Vi?tNamspharmaceuticalindustrystillfacesmanychallengesanddifficultiesinthecontextofincreasinglydeepintegrationwiththeworld,participantsheardataseminarinHàN?i.Theseminar,entitledVi?tNampharmaceuticalindustryandthejourneytoparticipateinglobalisation,wasjointlyorganisedbytheSaigonTimesGroupandNewtechcoGroup.Speakingattheevent,AssociateProfessor,Dr.LêV?nTruy?n,formerDeputyMinisterofHealth,saidthatVi?tNamsdrugmarketreachedaboutUS$7billionin2023,whileaverageconsumptionwasat$70percapita,tentimesthatcomparedto2000.Ourcountryspharmaceuticalindustryhashadahighgrowthrateinthepast10yearswithacompoundannualgrowthrateof7.3percent.However,thepharmaceuticalindustryisstillfacingmanychallengesanddifficulties,asVi?tNamscontextisincreasinglyintegratingdeeplywiththeworldeconomy,saidTruy?n.Thefirstchallengeofthedomesticpharmaceuticalindustryisthatthematerial-technical-technologybaseisstilllow.Vi?tNamcurrentlyonlyhas17/250factoriesachievingadvancedGMP(EU,PIC/S,JAPAN,TGA).Morethan200factoriesmeetWHOandGMPstandards,butnofactoryhasbeenpre-qualifiedbyWHO(WHOpre-qualification),accordingtoTruy?n.Pre-qualificationisanimportantstep.Withthiscertificate,Vietnamesedrugs,suchasHIVdrugsormalariadrugs,willhavetheopportunitytobidandsupplydrugsforWHOprogrammesaroundtheworld,saidTruy?nonJuly31.Truy?naddedthatVi?tNamdoesnothaveconcentratedpharmaceuticalandbio-pharmaceuticalindustrialparkswithanecosystemincludingresearchanddevelopmentcentres,bioequivalenceandbioavailabilitytesting,clinicaltrialsandpharmaceuticalandpackagingfactories.Regardingfinancialcapacity,mostdomesticpharmaceuticalcompaniesaresmallinscale,havelowsalesanddonothavenational-scalepharmaceuticalcorporations.Besides,digitaltransformationisalsoabigchallengeformanypharmaceuticalbusinesses.AssociateProfessorTruy?npredictsthatthechangeinpharmaceuticalmarketstructurefromchemicaldrugstobiologicalandbiosimilardrugswillacceleraterapidlyinthecomingyears.Duetopopulationageingandshiftingdiseasepatterns,thesedrugswillaccountforabout40percentoftheglobalandSoutheastAsianpharmaceuticalmarket.Therefore,Vi?tNamneedstomakeeffortstoimproveresearchcapacityandtechnologyapplicationindrugproduction,aimingtobecomeacentreformanufacturing,processingandtechnologytransfer;andproactivelyproducespecialiseddrugs,specialtreatments,newdrugs,originalbrandnamedrugs,vaccinesandmedicalbiologicalproducts.Truy?nsuggestedthateachbusinessneedstoconsider,adjustandchangeitsmediumandlong-termdevelopmentstrategytosuittheStatesguidelinesandtheinternationalanddomesticbusinessenvironment,therebyimprovingthecompetitivenessofVi?tNamspharmaceuticalindustry.Panelistsattheseminar.—VNSPhotoThanhH?iAccordingtoVicePresidentoftheVietnamPharmaceuticalBusinessAssociationTr?nTh?Th?,Vi?tNamspharmaceuticalindustry,isakeyindustryandneedstofocusresourcesonpromotingdevelopment.OnOctober9,2023,thePrimeMinistersignedDecisionNo.1165/QD-TTg,approvingthenationalstrategyfordevelopingVi?tNamspharmaceuticalindustryfortheperiodto2030andvisionto2045todevelopVi?tNamspharmaceuticalindustryonparwithadvancedcountriesintheregion,ensuringpeoplehaveaccesstomedicineatareasonablecost.Domesticbusinessesneedtotakeadvantageofinternalresourcestothrive.Smallbusinessesshouldfocusonlyonkeyproducts,avoidingduplicationwithotherbusinessesthathavestrengthsandmoremodernproductionlines,accordingtoTh?.Newlyestablishedbusinesses/EU-GMPbusinessescantargettheETCmarketsegment(drugsdistributedtohospitals),withspecializeddrugproducts,specialiseddrugs,genericdrugs,vaccinesandbiologicalproductsandmedicinalingredients,addedTh?.Th?alsosuggestedthatbusinessesshouldtakeadvantageofFTAs??tocooperatewithforeigninvestors,therebyproducingpharmaceuticalswithhightechnicalcontent.PresidentofNewtechcoGroupV?Th?Tu?nAnhsaidthatinthecontextwheremostpharmaceuticalenterpriseshavelowfinancialpotentialandscatteredresourcestoday,buildinganecosystemfromproductresearch,applyingnewtechnologytotheproductionofpharmaceuticalproductsanddevelopingwidespreaddistributionchannelsisessential.Accordingly,thegrouphasdevotedfinancialresourcesandinvitedinternationalinvestorsandtechnologyexpertstoinvestinthepharmaceuticalandbiologicalindustrialparkprojectinTháiBìnhProvince.ThiswillbethefirstprojectinVi?tNamdedicatedtothedevelopmentofthepharmaceuticalandbiopharmaceuticalindustry,agatheringplaceforexpertsinbiotechnologyandpharmaceuticalchemistry,productioninvestment,technologytransfer,trainingandincubatingstart-upbusinessesintheVietnamesepharmaceuticalandbiopharmaceuticalindustry.—VNSAviewoftheH?iVanQuanrelicsitefromabove.—VNA/VNSPhotoMaiHuy?nTrangTH?ATHIêNHU?—TheH?iVanQuanrelicsite,atopthepicturesqueH?iVanPassbetweenTh?aThiênHu?Provinceand?àN?ngCityincentralVi?tNam,officiallyreopenedtovisitorsonThursdayafteratwo-yearrestorationprogramme.Thereopeningmarkstheculminationofajointeffortbybothlocalities,whoinvestedmorethanVN?42billion(US$1.7million)torestoretherelicsoriginalfeatures,includingNguy?nDynasty-erawallsandmilitaryposts.Visitorstakephotosattherelicsite.—VNA/VNSPhotoMaiHuy?nTrangOnitsreopeningday,thesitesawabout300domesticandforeignvisitorseagertoexploreitshistoricgrounds.Admissioniscurrentlyfreewhilelocalauthoritiesfinaliseaticketpricingscheme.Touristslearnaboutthehistoryoftherelicsite.—VNA/VNSPhotoMaiHuy?nTrangWhileminorinfrastructureupgradesareongoing,therelicsite,anationaltreasuresince2017,offersauniqueandcaptivatingglimpseintoVi?tNamsrichculturalheritagefortravellerstraversingthetraveller-favouriteH?iVanPass.LeadersofTh?aThiênHu?sand?àN?ngstourismdepartmentsparticipateinthere-openingceremonyoftherelicsite.—VNA/VNSPhotoMaiHuy?nTrangThesiteisexpectedtobecomeakeylinkinboostingtourismacrossthecentralregion.—VNSH?iVanQuan.—VNA/VNSPhotoMaiTrang

AviewofKonPlongDistrictinthecentralhighlandprovinceofKonTum.Atotalof82earthquakesoccurredinthedistrictinJuly.VNA/VNSPhotoD?ToánKONTUM–Atotalof83earthquakesoccurredinJuly,with82reportedinKonPlongDistrict,KonTumProvince,theInstituteofGeophysicsundertheVi?tNamAcademyofScienceandTechnologyannouncedonThursday.OnlyoneearthquakewasrecordedinNg?cL?cDistrictinThanhHoáProvince.Mostoftheearthquakesrangedinmagnitudefrom2.5to5.0.Amongthem,amagnitude5.0earthquake,whichoccurredat11.35amonJuly28inKonPlongDistrict,isidentifiedasthestrongesteverrecordedinthearea.Previously,in2022,theareaexperiencedamagnitude4.7earthquake.Preliminaryinformationindicatedthatthemagnitude5.0earthquakecausedsomedamagetohomesandaffectedthepsychologicalwell-beingofresidentsinKonPlongDistrict,particularlythosewholiveneartheearthquakesepicentre.SomeresidentsinneighbouringprovinceslikeQu?ngNam,Qu?ngNg?i,Bình??nhand?àN?ngCityalsoreportedfeelingtremors.Notably,onJuly28alone,therewere21earthquakes,andonJuly29,therewere25earthquakesinKonPlongDistrict.Nguy?nXuanAnh,DirectoroftheInstituteofGeophysics,statedthattherecentearthquakesinKonPlongDistrictareinducedearthquakescausedbythewateraccumulationinhydropowerreservoirsaffectingthefaultsystembelow,leadingtoearthquakesoccurringearlierthannaturalpatterns.Inducedearthquakesalsooccurincycles,withperiodsoffrequentquakesandquieterphases.Thisiscloselyrelatedtothewateraccumulationprocessinhydropowerreservoirs.Factorssuchasreservoirwaterlevels,fillingrates,andtotalwatervolumeimpactearthquakes.However,theseeffectsmaymanifestafterseveralmonthsoryearsaswaterpermeatesbelow,heexplained.EarthquakesinKonTumareexpectedtocontinueandaffectdenselypopulatedareasandkeyinfrastructure,especiallyneartheepicentre.Therefore,authoritiesneedtoregularlyupdateanddevelopearthquake-resistantdesignplansforvariousstructures,headded.–VNSTheofficerstrytoextinguishtheflamesengulfingthemotorcycle.—Photobaobinhthuan.com.vnBìNHTHU?N—AmanidentifiedasT.D.L.,36,inthesouth-centralprovinceofBìnhThu?nhassethismotorbikeablazeafterresistingaroutinetrafficstopandrefusingtocooperatewithpolice.OnTuesdayevening,apolicepatrolteampulledT.D.L.overforridingamotorbikewithoutahelmetwhilecarryingachild.Duringtheinspection,T.D.Lbecameincreasinglyagitatedandstartedtoverballyabuseandinsulttheofficers.Whenaskedtotakeabreathalysertest,herefusedandescalatedhisresistancebykickinghismotorbiketotheground.Thesituationworsenedwhenreinforcementsarrivedtoimpoundthevehicle.Heviolentlykickedthemotorbikeagain,causinggasolinetospill.Hethenignitedthefuelwithalighter,settingthemotorbikeonfire.Fortunately,theofficersswiftlyextinguishedtheflames,preventingfurtherdamage.Theman,residinginNamChínhCommune,??cLinhDistrict,wastakenintocustodyforquestioning.—VNS