FourVietnameseindividualsareaccusedofhackingUSnetworksfromMay2018toOctober2021,causingover$71millioninlossesforvictimcompanies.—VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCITY—FourVietnameseindividualshavebeenchargedintheUSfortheirallegedinvolvementincyberattacksthatresultedinlossesexceedingUS$71millionforvictimcompanies.Theaccusedmembers,knownaspartoftheVietnamesecybercrimeorganisationFIN9,aresaidtohaveorchestratedsophisticatedhackingschemestargetingnetworksthroughouttheUSbetweenMay2018andOctober2021.TheindictedindividualsareTaVanTai(alsorecognisedasQuynhHoaandBichThuy),NguyenVietQuoc(referredtoasTienNguyen),NguyenTrangXuyen,andNguyenVanTruong(alsoknownasChungNguyen).Throughtacticssuchasphishingcampaignsandsupplychainattacks,thegroupallegedlygainedunauthorisedentryintothecomputersystemsoftargetedcompanies.Onceinside,theyreportedlyextractedconfidentialinformation,employeebenefits,andmonetaryassets,resultinginsignificantfinancialrepercussions.Thecybercriminalsexploitedtheiraccesstodivertdigitalemployeebenefits,suchasgiftcards,totheirownaccounts.Inaddition,theypilferedpersonaldataandcreditcardinformationfrombothemployeesandcustomersoftheinfiltratedcompanies.Toconcealtheiridentities,thedefendantspurportedlyutilisedstolendatatoestablishonlineprofilesandengageintransactions,includingthesaleofstolengiftcardsoncryptocurrencyplatforms.Theyfacechargessuchasconspiracytocommitfraud,extortion,andcomputer-relatedactivities,conspiracytocommitwirefraud,intentionalharmtoaprotectedcomputer,conspiracytoengageinmoneylaundering,aggravatedidentitytheft,andconspiracytoperpetrateidentityfraud.Thepenaltiesforthesecrimesspanfromamaximumoffiveyearstoamandatory20-yearprisonsentence,dependingontheoffense.—VNS

Thebusinwhichtheboywasforgotten.—VNA/VNSPhotoTHáIBìNH—TheTháiBìnhCityInvestigationPoliceDivisionislookingatapossiblecriminalcaseofunintentionalactiontocausedeathafterapreschoolchilddiedafterbeingforgottenontheschoolsshuttlebus.ThecountisstipulatedinArticle128ofthePenalCode2015.Ataround6pmonWednesday,thepolicereceivedareportfromT.D.A,20,wholivesinD?ngNgh?aCommune,V?Th?District.A.informedthemthathisyoungnephewT.G.H.,whoattendedtheH?ngNhungKindergarteninPhúXuanCommune,TháiBìnhCity,hadbeenforgottenontheschoolsshuttlebus,leadingtohisdeath.Immediatelyaftertheincident,leadersoftheTháiBìnhProvincePartyCommittee,theprovincialPeoplesCommittee,themunicipalPeoplesCommitteeandtheprovincialpolice,launchedajointinvestigationintotheterribleincident,alongwiththePeoplesProcuracy.Initiallyinquiriesshowedthatatabout6.20amonWednesday,N.V.L,59,fromtheQuangTrungWard,inTháiBình,drovea29-seaterbus,withateacheronboard,fromtheH?ngNhungKindergartentopickupH.andnineotherchildrenandbringthemtoschool.WhenarrivingatthekindergartenL.openedthedoortolettheteachersandthepre-schoolersgetout,andthendroveaway,parkedthebusattheschoolgatesandleft.Whenenteringtheclassroom,theteachertookaphotoofallthestudentsinattendanceandsentittotheschoolssoftwareformonitoringandmanagement.ShenoticedthatH.wasabsentbutdidnotnotifyhisfamily.Atabout5pmonthesameday,A.wenttotheschooltopickH.anddiscoveredthetragicincident.H.smotherisworkingabroadandheislivingwithhisgrandmother.—VNSTheconferenceinsession.—VNA/VNSPhotoNg?cBíchHàN?I—Representativessharedinformationabouttheglobalsemiconductormarketandtheopportunitieswhichcouldbeseized,forVietnamesebusinessesthathavebeen,areandwillbepartofthiscommercialecosystemduringaconferenceonWednesdayinHàN?i.TheconferenceCooperationtodevelopthesemiconductorindustrywaswithintheframeworkoftheVi?tNam-AsiaDigitalTransformationSummit2024(Vi?tNam-AsiaDXSummit2024)organisedbytheVi?tNamSoftwareandInformationTechnologyServicesAssociation(VINASA).Tr??ngGiaBình,ChairmanoftheVINASAsFoundingCouncil,saidthat25yearsago,Vi?tNamjoinedtheinformationtechnologysoftwarefieldfromapositionofzero.Butcurrently,hesaid,inthefieldofsemiconductors,Vi?tNamcertainlydidnotstartatzero,becausethecountryalreadyhasmanyadvantagesinthefield.Intheglobaltechnologyworld,asemiconductorwaristakingplacebecausethetechnologywilldominatethefuture,hetoldtheseminar.Indiahasthelargestnumberofsemiconductorchipdesignengineers,but70percentoftheworldschipsetsareproducedinChina.Withtheheatofthesemiconductorproductecosystem,countriesaroundtheworldareinvestinginthisfield.Therefore,Vi?tNamneedstohaveastrategyandseizethisopportunity,saidBình.Recently,theVINASAestablishedtheSemiconductorIndustryDevelopmentCommitteetosteerexperts,businessesandpartnerstocometogetherintheindustrythroughtraining,connectingandcooperating,creatingincentivesfordomesticandinternationalinvestors.Nguy?nTh?L?Quyên,DeputyDirectoroftheNationalInnovationCentreundertheMinistryofPlanningandInvestment(MPI),saidthatworldwide,thechipmarketwasmaintainingacompoundannualgrowthrateof14percentandhadbeenforthepast20years.Ithasthepotentialtobecomeatrilliondollarindustryby2030.Ithasbeenpredictedthattheworkforceneededforthesemiconductorsectorwillalsoincreaseeveryyear,withChinaestimatedtoneed400,000workersby2030,whiletheUSwillneed67,000andSouthKorea,JapanandIndiaalsohavehighdemandspersonnel.Therefore,trainingandsupplyofhumanresourcesforthesemiconductorindustryinourcountryneedsmoreattention,shesaid.TheprojectDevelopinghumanresourcesinthesemiconductorindustryto2030,withavisionto2050,chairedbytheMPI,forecaststheneedforabout50,000engineersinthesemiconductorindustry.Ofthetotal,Vi?tNamwillneed15,000chipdesignengineersand35,000engineersinmanufacturing,packaging,testingandotherfields.Vi?tNamneedstotrain1,300lecturersatresearchinstitutes,universities,trainingfacilitiesandbusinessesandexpandtheeducationnetworkto200facilities.Nguy?nThi?nNgh?a,DeputyDirectoroftheDepartmentofInformationTechnologyIndustryundertheMinistryofInformationandCommunications,proposedsolutionsforsemiconductorhumanresources.Weshouldnotonlycareabouttraining,butwillalsoneedtoattractbusinessestoinvestinVi?tNamtopushthedomesticsemiconductormarket.Because,despitemanyadvantages,Vi?tNamscontributioninthisfieldcomparedtotheworldisinsignificant,hesaid.Promotingtheformationofasupportecosystemforchipmanufacturingbusinesseswillhelpthecountryincreaseitsattractivenesstolargemanufacturingcorporations,turningourcountryintotheonewithmoresemiconductorchipproductionactivities,saidNgh?a.Therefore,ourcountryneedstoaddresstheshortcomingsinpoliciestoprioritisethesemiconductorindustry,speeduphumanresourcetrainingandfurtherexpandopportunitiesforcooperationandinvestmentinthesector,hesaid.—VNS

MinisterofForeignAffairsBùiThanhS?n(right)andAnnaKrystynaRadwan-R?hrenschef,UndersecretaryofStateatthePolishMinistryofForeignAffairs,atameetinginHanoionMay29.PhotocourtesyoftheMinistryofForeignAffairsHàN?IMinisterofForeignAffairsBùiThanhS?nreceivedAnnaKrystynaRadwan-R?hrenschef,UndersecretaryofStateatthePolishMinistryofForeignAffairs,inHàN?ionMay29.ThePolishofficialisonavisittoVietnamtoconveneapoliticalconsultationatthedeputyministeriallevelbetweenthetwoforeignministries.S?naffirmedthatVietnamalwaystreasuresandwishestoenhancemultifacetedcooperationwithPoland.Theministersuggestedthetwocountriesstepupall-levelmutualvisitstostrengthenpoliticaltrustandmutualunderstanding,thuscreatingafoundationforpromotingandexpandingcooperationinotherareas.Inparticular,theyshouldcontinuetoeffectivelymaintainthepoliticalconsultationatthelevel.AppreciatingthePolishGovernmentsactivesupportfortheVietnamesepeoplethere,hecalledonall-levelauthoritiesoftheEuropeannationtocontinuecreatingfavourableconditionsforthecommunitytosettledown,practicallycontributetothelocalsocietyandeconomy,andperformtheirroleasabridgeofbilateralfriendshipandmultifacetedcooperation.Onthisoccasion,thehostofficialalsoproposedPolandratifytheEU-Vi?tNamInvestmentProtectionAgreement(EVIPA)tofacilitateequalandmutuallybeneficialinvestmentpartnerships.Forherpart,Radwan-R?hrenschefnotedsheisimpressedwithVi?tNamsachievementsinsocio-economicdevelopmentandintegrationintotheworld.Shesharedherhostsopinionsandproposals,pledgingtopromotePolishministriesandsectorscoordinationwithVi?tNamtofurtherboosttheeffectivenessofbilateralcooperationinallspheres.VNSChairmanofthe?àN?ngPeoplesCommitteeLêTrungChính(L)meetswithMayorofLeHavrecityEdouardPhilippe.PARISAdelegationofthePeoplesCommitteeof?àN?ngCityledbyitsChairmanLêTrungChínhpaidaworkingvisittoFrancefromMay27-29.Duringhisstay,ChínhhadaworkingsessionwithMayorofLeHavrecityEdouardPhilippewhovisitedVi?tNamin2018inhiscapacityasFrenchPrimeMinisterandvisitedthecentralcityin2023.Atthismeeting,thetwosidesdiscussedcooperationpotentialandprioritiesbetweenthetwocities.The?àN?ngdelegationalsomadefieldtripstoLeHavrePort,andSiemensGamesa,NewPort2000andGMPwharvestolearnaboutseaportinfrastructure,maritimelogisticsactivities,andpotentialcooperationwiththeFrenchcity.InParis,thedelegationhadworkingsessionswiththeVietnameseEmbassyontheprospectofpromotinglocality-to-localitycooperationwithFrance,andleadersofUbisoftEntertainmentSA-aFrenchvideogamepublisherheadquarteredinSaint-Mandéwithdevelopmentstudiosacrosstheworld-onitscurrentinvestmentprojectsinDaNang.Atthemeeting,Ubisoftproposed?àN?ngsupportittorentofficeatthecitysSoftwareTechnologyParkII.Ubisofthasinvestedin?àN?ngsinceFebruary2020andisfocusingondevelopingmobilegames.VNSVetivergrassissuccessfullytested.Photogiaoducthoidai.vnHàN?I–AgroupofstudentsfromtheVi?tNamAcademyofAgriculturehavesuccessfullytestedgrowingatypeofgrassthatcaneffectivelyabsorbtoxinsfromfertilisersandpesticidesthatpollutesoilandwater.Thesevenstudents,V?HoàiNam(teamleader),Nguy?nMinhXuan,Nguy?nTrungH?ng,Nguy?nNg?cThanh,Nguy?nTh?Qu?nhSa,Nguy?n??HoàngTùngandTr?n??cDuy,namethegrassvetiver.Excessiveuseofpesticidesandotherchemicalsisachallengeforagriculture,leadingtosoildegradationandsoilpollutionandthetoxicitycanlastwithintheearth,sothatplantsthenre-absorbthosetoxins.Theresearchteamfoundthat,althoughtherehasbeenashifttospecialisedcropcultivationinrecentyears,manydeadlandareasareappearingmorefrequentlyinthenorthernmountainousregion.Inadditiontotheoveruseofpesticidesinfarming,unsafefertilisersourcesalsocausemicro-organismsinthesoilandwateraroundthefarmingareastograduallydie.Sotheneedforasafeandeffectivesolutiontocleanupcropgrowingareasinthenorthernmountainousareasisanimperative,becauseitistheagriculturalsectorthatbringsinthemainincomes.Namtoldgiaoducthoidai.vnthattheperennialvetivergrasshastheabilitytoeffectivelyabsorbtoxicmineralsfromunsafefertilisersourcesortheoveruseofpesticides.Inaddition,withitsdeepandwidespreadrootsystem,asagiantgrassitalsohastheeffectofpreventingerosionwhengrowninareaswithsteepslopes,saidNam.Andwithitsstrongvitality,vetivergrasscansurviveeveninthedryseasonanddoesnotrequiremuchefforttocarefor.Thegrassalsoactsasanindicatorofsoilhealth,sowhenplanted,itcanalsobeusedasasignoftheconditionsunderground,whetheritisfreshorpollutedandwhetheritissuitableforplanting.Withthosegreatattributes,growingvetivergrassinspecialisedcropgrowingareasinthenorthernmountainousprovincestominimisetoxicmineralresiduesinthesoilandwaterenvironmentisareasonableandnecessarysolution,thestudentsaid.Anillustrationofshowingthevetivergrasssrootswhichcanabsorbtoxinsinsoilandwater.Photogiaoducthoidai.vnAccordingtotheteamleader,thesolutionissafe,simpleandeffective.Thegrassisbeinggrowninthenorthernmountainousprovinces,specificallyintherosegrowingareainLaiChauProvince.Becauseofitbeingindicatorofsoilpollution,thegrasshelpfarmersrecognisewhenthefarmingenvironmentisnolongersuitableforcropgrowthandplantelsewhere.Plantingvetivergrassiseasyanddoesnotrequirehigh-qualityhumanresourcesormodernequipment,asthegrassgrowsfastandrequireslittleinthewayofinvestmentintermsofskillsorexpertise.Therefore,itdoublysuitedtothenorthernmountainousregionwherethemajorityoftheworkforceareunskilled,Namsaid.Plantingonlyneedsguidancefromexpertsatthebeginning,thenfarmerscanhelpandguideeachother,soitcouldbewidelydeployedinallregions.AssociateProfessor,Dr.Nguy?nV?nL?c,seniorlecturer,deputyheadoftheFoodCropsandAgronomyFacultyoftheVi?tNamAcademyofAgriculture,gavehighpraisetotheprojectbecauseofitspotentialforimmediatepracticalapplication.VNS

B?nTreProvincesGiaoLongIndustrialParkwasfloodedonMay21followingheavyrains.Theprovinceisworkingonmitigatingthefloodingproblem.-VNAPhotoB?NTRE—B?nTrePeoplesCommitteehascomeupwithsolutionstotacklethefloodingproblemattheGiaoLongIndustrialPark,thelargestintheprovince,assouthernVi?tNamisseeingfrequentheavyrains.The166haindustrialparkinChauThànhDistrictisfrequentlyfloodedduringheavyrains,makingitdifficultforworkerstoenter.ChairmanofB?nTreProvincePeoplesCommitteeTr?nNg?cTamsaidthePeoplesCommitteewouldinstructtheDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,thedistrictandtheManagementBoardofIndustrialZonestodredgecanalstodrainwaterawayfromthepark.Theywillalsosetupmorepumpstoclearwaterquicklywhenitrains.AftertheNationalHighway57BsectionbetweentheAnKhánhroundaboutandtheparkwasupgraded,theroadisatahigherelevation,leadingtorainwaterflowingintothepark,hesaid.B?nTrenowplanstoraisetheroadsinsidetheparktothesamelevelasNationalHighway57B,whichwouldenablewatertodrainquickly.Besides,theongoingconstructionofroadDK07betweenGiaoLongPortandtheunder-constructionPhúThu?nIndustrialParkwillalsoincludealargewaterdrainagesystemforthepark,whichisexpectedtobefinishedin2025.Thisnewsystem,combinedwithanupgradetotheparksinternalwaterdrainagesystemandroadelevation,wouldsolvethefloodingproblem,Tamsaid.OnthemorningofMay21theindustrialparkwasheavilyfloodedafterprolongedrainsonthenightbefore,withwaterstandinguptoametredeep,causingmassivetrafficcongestionattheentrance,anddamagingmanymotorbikes.Theheavyrainfloodedtheroadsinsidetheparkandforcedpowertobecutoffduringthenight,leavingthewaterpumpingsystemnon-operational.—VNSAsaltfieldinSaHu?nh.ThecentralprovinceofQu?ngNg?ihasapprovedaprojecttoconservetheSaHu?nhsaltfieldandencouragecommunity-baseddevelopmentinPh?Th?nhward.—PhotocourtesyofSaHu?nhcommunity-basedtourism??CPH?TOWN—ThecentralprovinceofQu?ngNg?ihasapprovedaprojecttoconservethewell-knownSaHu?nhsaltfieldandencouragecommunity-baseddevelopmentinPh?Th?nhwardwithfundingfromUNDPandtheGEFsmallgrantsprogramme.Theprojectwillaimtosupportthecommunitywithtechnicalassistanceinpromotingthesaltfieldsconservationandenvironmentalprotection,aswellasencouragingcommunity-basedtourismrelatedtoSaHu?nhculture,whichisthoughttodatebackto2,500to3,000yearsago.Italsofocusesonexpandingthetraditionalsaltproductionareaandpromotingitshigh-qualityproduct,whilealsoboostingwastesortingatsourceandnon-chemicalsaltmaking.Aseriesofprogrammesonmangroveforestrestorationandwetlandecologysystemconservationhasalsobeenplannedinthearea,aimingtopromoteitasauniqueattractionforecotoursandallowvisitorstoglimpsethelifestyleofatraditionalsalt-makingcommunity.AccordingtoareportfromtheUNDP,theuniquewetlandecosystemoftheSaHu?nhSaltFieldprovidesavaluablesourceofsalt,butalsoplaysanimportantroleinsupportingthelocalenvironmentandthelivelihoodsofpeoplewholivethere.Thesaltfieldactsasashelterforvariousspeciesofbirds,fish,shrimp,crabsandplantslikesamphire,glasswortandseaweed,creatingadiverseecosystemthatbenefitsboththeenvironmentandthecommunity.TheSaHu?nhSaltFieldareacovers29.73sq.kmandhostsapopulationof25,608withanaverageannualincomeofVN?42.5million(US$1,700).Currently,thereare550householdsproducingsalton115hectares.Thefieldisadestinationforcommunity-basedtourismandcraftexperiencetourservices.AmancheckssaltafterdryingitinsunlightattheSaHu?nhSaltField.SaltproductionhasbeenatraditionaltradeinQu?ngNg?iprovinceforcenturies.—VNSPhotoC?ngThànhSaltmakershavebeenproducingorganicsaltasanOCOP(OneCommuneOneProduct),asustainabletourismbrandforhigh-valuelocalproducts.Othersalt-relatedproductshavebeenmadebythecommunity,including‘saltflowers(surface-crystallisedsaltlayers)andsaltcookedinabambootube.In2023,SaHu?nharchaeologicalrelicsfromtheSaHu?nhCulturewererecognisedasatypeofNationalSpecialHeritagebythePrimeMinister.Visitorsjoinatriptoasalt-makingcommunityinthePh?Th?nhWardof??cPh?TowninQu?ngNg?iProvince.Ecotoursandcommunity-basedserviceshavebeenbuiltupatthelocallevel.—PhotocourtesyofSahuTheSaHu?nhsaltecotourwillbethesecondcommunity-basedtourismserviceonthesite,afterthefirstGòC?VillageecotourwaslaunchedinPh?Th?nhCommune,whichalsoboastsauniqueuntouchedarchaeologicalheritagecomplexatAnKhêLagoon.—VNS

TheintersectionofNationalHighway8AontheB?iV?t-HàmNghiExpresswayin??cTh?District,HàT?nhProvinceisunderconstruction.HàN?I—PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhhasissuedadirectiveurgingtheaccelerationandtimelycompletionoflandclearanceworkforvitalnationalprojectsandtransportationinfrastructuredevelopments.Thedirectivewassenttoorganisationsandministries,includingpoliticalandsocialagencies,industryandtrade,transportministries,provincialandcitypartycommittees,peoplescommittees,membercouncilsandVietnamElectricity.ThePMsdirectivestressedtheimportanceofmoderninfrastructureinVi?tNam,particularlyintransportation,fordrivingeconomicgrowthandensuringnationalsecurity.The13thPartyCongresssetagoalofcompleting3,000kmofexpresswaysby2025and5,000kmby2030.Localareasshouldaccelerateeffortstostreamlinelandclearance,engageindirectdialoguewithresidentswhowillbemoved,resolvingcomplaintsandimprovingresettlementconditions.Whileprogresshasbeenmade,somelocalitiesarestilllaggingbehind,whichisimpactingoverallprojecttimelines.Tomeetsetdeadlinesforkeyprojects,PMChínhurgedtheCentralCommitteeoftheVietnamFatherlandFront,thePartyCentralCommitteesCommissionforMassMobilisationandvariouspoliticalandsocialorganisationstoactivelyengageandcloselycoordinatewithlocalpartycommitteesandauthorities,inordertomobiliseresidentsalongprojectroutestopromptlyhandoverland.ProvincialpartysecretariesandPeoplesCommitteechairswithprojectspassingthroughtheirareasareinstructedtoprovideleadership,directagenciesandcloselymonitorprogress.TheyareurgedtoexpeditelandclearanceforprojectsincludingtheNorth-SouthExpressway,2021-2025,tworingroadprojectsandthreeEast-WestExpresswayprojectsbythesecondquarterof2024.Thedirectivestressestheneedfordirectcommunicationwithresidents,effectivelegalsolutionsforgrievancesandprioritisinglandclearancesinconstruction-criticalareas.Provincesarecalledupontospeedupcompletionofresettlementareasandinfrastructurerelocationandthosewhoarestillbehindscheduleareurgedtocatchup.Additionally,provincesareurgedtoresolveforestlanduseissuespromptly,whilethosewithdisputesoverlandpricesareadvisedtoaddressthemswiftly.Ministriesandagencies,suchastheMinistryofIndustryandTradeandstatecapitalmanagementagencies,areurgedtosupportinvestorsinexpeditingproceduresforrelocatinghigh-voltagepowerlines.ThedeadlineforthisisJune30,2024.DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nH?ngHàandtheGovernmentOfficearetaskedwithoverseeingtheimplementationofthisdirective,ensuringpromptreportingtothePrimeMinisteronanyissuesbeyondthedelegatedauthority.—VNS

RooftopsolarpanelsareinstalledonabuildinginHCMCitysGòV?pDistrict.—VNA/VNSPhotoNg?cHàHCMCITY—HCMCitysPeoplesCouncilhaspassedamasterplanonadjustmentstotheGeneralPlanningofthecityuntil2040withavisionto2060,focusingondualtransformationactivities(digitaltransformationandgreentransition).Underthemasterplan,thecityspopulationisexpectedtoreach13millionpeopleby2040,14.5millionpeopleby2050,and16millionpeopleby2060.TheInternetwillbeavailableonalargescaleandhavein-depthcoverageinkeyeconomicsectors.Labourmarketdevelopmentandacreativityenvironmentwillcontinuetohelpthecitybeanattractivedestinationforyoungpeoplewhowillhaveaccesstoandapplydigitaltechnologyfasterthanpreviousgenerations.Thenumberofworkersinthecityisincreasing.Therateoftrainedworkersis85.2percent,andworkerswithuniversityorhigherdegreesis18.8percent,higherthanthewholecountryof10.6percent.Labourproductivityis2.6timeshigherthanthewholecountry.Digitaltechnologywillpenetratedeeplyintolifeandtheworkingenvironment,graduallyformingdigitalhabitsamongcitydwellers.Thecityhastakensignificantstepsinitsgreentransition.PositivechangesseeninthedevelopmentoftransportinfrastructureandculturalareasalongtheSàiGònRiver,andwaterwayroutesintheinnercityandinter-regionaltrafficconnectionsareagreatexampleofthetransition.Intheactionplanrespondingtoclimatechangeforthe2021-30period,thecitysetsatargetofreducingemissionsby10percentby2030,developingamasstransitpublictransportationsystemandmetrolines,andpromotingthetransitiontousingenvironmentallyfriendlyfuels.Thecityismobilisingallresourcestoachievethesegoals,includingfinancialsources,high-qualityhumanresources,connectionsandco-operation.InJanuary,thecitycalledforinvestmentin28projectsinthegreengrowthprogrammewithatotalcapitalofnearlyVN?160trillion(US$7billion).ItaimstoturntheSàiGònHigh-TechParkintothecountrysfirsthigh-techparkachievingnet-zeroemissions.AustralianPrimeMinisterAnthonyAlbaneseannouncedasupportpackageworthA$105million($69.5million)forVi?tNamsclimatechangeresponseandenergytransitionduringhisofficialvisittothecountryinJunelastyear.Australiaalsoincreased2.5percentofODAforVi?tNaminthefiscalyear2023-24andproposedtoconsiderODAco-operationasanimportantelementinthepartnershipinthefuture.TheAustralianGovernment,throughtheWorldBank,hassponsoredthecitytodevelopadatamanagementstrategyby2025,withavisionto2030,creatingthefoundationforthecitysdigitaltransformationprocess.Expertssaidthatthecityneedstoimprovemechanismstomobilisediverseresourceseffectively.Italsoneedstopromoteinvestmentco-operationinvariousfields,attractnewresourcesfromgreenbonds,developacarbonmarketandgreencredit,andexploitdataresources.—VNSAgroupofforeignvisitorsinHàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I—AThailand-initiatedsinglevisaprogrammeforsixASEANcountriesisexpectedtohelpVi?tNamattractmorelong-haulandhigh-spendingtravelers,accordingtoinsiders.ThaiPrimeMinisterSretthaThavisinhasdiscussedtheSchengen-typevisawithhiscounterpartsinCambodia,Laos,Malaysia,MyanmarandVi?tNaminrecentmonths,aimingtoensureseamlessmobilityfortravelersinallsixcountries.HailingThailandsinitiative,ChairmanoftheUNESCOHàN?iTravelClubTr??ngQu?cHùngsaidthesinglevisawillfacilitaterichtouriststravel,thusincreasingtourismrevenue,whilecreatingfavourableconditionsfortravelfirmstoforminter-regionalroadtrips.Meanwhile,VietSenseTravelCEONguy?nV?nTàihighlightedthesuccessstoryoftheSchengenArea,wheretheapplicationofasinglevisahasbeenbenefittingitsmemberstates.AsinglevisapolicywillhelpVi?tNampromotetourismlinkageswithitsneighboursandparticularlyaddresstheissueoflosinginternationalvisitorsduetocurrentvisabarriers.Therefore,travelfirmshavehighexpectationsfortheestablishmentofajointvisaregion.Similarly,AZATravelCEONguy?nTi?n??tbelievesthatwiththesinglevisapolicy,thesixcountrieswillbeabletoimprovetheircompetitiveedgeoverotherASEANdestinationsandtourismpowersinAsialiketheRepublicofKorea,JapanandChina.Vi?tNamhasextendedvisaexemptionsfortouristsfromsome30countriesandterritoriesascomparedtoover80nationalitieseligibleforvisaexemptionsinThailand,hesaid,addingthatjoiningtheinitiativewillbeaquantumleapforVi?tNamstourismvisapolicy.IfVi?tNamdoesnotjumponthebandwagon,itwilllosetourismopportunitiesandadvantagesoverthefivecountries,??tstressed.Fromanexpertperspective,Dr.NunoF.RibeirofromRMITUniversitydescribedthevisaarrangementasagreatopportunityforVi?tNamtoattractinternationalvisitorswhomayotherwisevisitonlyThailandandMalaysia.SeeingVi?tNamsnewvisapolicyasawaytogrowtourism,hesuggestedthecountrycontinuetoextenditsvisaexemptiontoattractmorevisitors,especiallyconsideringvisaexemptionsforthosefromdevelopedcountrieslikeAustralia,Canada,theUS,andtheremainingmembersoftheEuropeanUnion.DeputyDirectorGeneraloftheVi?tNamNationalAuthorityofTourismHàV?nSiêusaidthatpoliticalstability,defenceandsecurityandforeignaffairsinallsixcountriesshouldbelookedintocarefullybeforethesingle-visaprogrammeisrolledout.—VNS

Inspectorschecktheoccupationalhygieneandsafetyattheconstructionsiteof?àR?ngBridge,whichispartoftheNorth-SouthexpresswayprojectpassingthroughPhúYênProvince.VNA/VNSPhotoT??ngQuanHàN?I-PrimeMinisterPh?mMinhChínhonTuesdayissuedadirectiverequestingtheimprovementofoccupationalhygieneandsafety,giventherecentoccurrenceofconsecutiveseriousaccidents.Thedirectivesaidthesedreadfulaccidentshaveresultedinfatalitiesandinjuries,affectingproduction,socio-economicdevelopmentandcausingpsychologicalinstabilityamongworkers.Inthedocument,thePMinstructstheMinisterofLabour,InvalidsandSocialAffairstoenhancethemanagementandconductregularinspectionsandaudits,particularlyatkeyconstructionprojectsandhighriskareasatenterprisesusingmachineryandequipment.Mediaagenciesareurgedtointensifycommunicationsefforts,raiseawarenessonthematteramongemployersandemployees,publiclydiscloseviolations,goodexamples,andvaluableexperiencesandlessonslearnednationwide.ChairpersonsofPeoplesCommitteesofprovincesandcentrally-runcitiesareaskedtoheightentheirsenseofresponsibilityinensuringoccupationalhygieneandsafetyandconsidertheworkasalong-termandimportanttaskinlocalsocio-economicdevelopmentandhumansecurity.Enterprisesshouldbeincentivisedtoproactivelyinvestinandimplementeffectivepreventionmeasures,whilesuccessfulmodelsshouldbemultipliedandviolationsmustbestrictlytackled,thePMnoted.-VNSAVietnamAirlinesA321aircraftislandingon?i?nBiênAirport.—VNA/VNSPhotoNguy?nTrungKiênHàN?I—AreportfromthenationalcarrierVietnamAirlinessuggeststhatthedamagetothenoseconeandcockpitwindshieldofitsA321aircraftonMay19couldhavebeencausedbyhail.Accordingtothereport,followingthetakeofffromN?iBàiAirportinHàN?i,theaircraftencounteredseverehailwhenitwasclimbingtothealtitudesof5,000menroutetoC?nTh?CityonMay19.Thehailreportedlycauseditsco-pilotssidewindshieldtocrack.Upondetectingtheissue,thepilotsreducedspeedandflewbacktoN?iBàiAirport.Inspectionrevealedadentwithadiametreofapproximately40cmonthenoseconeandacrackedwindshieldontheco-pilotsside.Theexactcauseoftheincidentisstillunderinvestigationbyaviationauthorities.Accordingtoanexpert,ataltitudesofbetween3,000to5,000m,hailstonestendtobelargerthanwhentheyreachtheground.Theimpactofthesehailstones,combinedwiththehighspeedoftheaircraft,cancausedentsonthefuselageandnosecone.Encounterswithhailarenotuncommoninaviation.Inanotherseparateincident,anotheraircraftflyingfromVinhCityinNgh?AnProvincetoTanS?nNh?tAirportinHCMCitywasalsoforcedtoreturnonthesamedayduetoacrackedwindshieldonthecaptainsside.Bloodwasfoundonthewindshield,indicatingabirdstrike.—VNS

HònCh?ngportborderguardsinspectafishingvesseloffthecoastofKiênGiangProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoLêHuyH?iHàN?I—TheEuropeanCommission(EC)hasrescheduledaninspectiononillegal,unreported,andunregulated(IUU)fishinginVi?tNamfromMaytothisupcomingautumn,accordingtoDirectoroftheFisheryInspectionDepartmentNguy?nQuangHùng.ThevisitwilltakeplacearoundSeptember-OctoberinsteadofMay,aspreviouslyexpected.Intheinterim,Vi?tNamwillcontinuetotakestrictactionstoremovetheECsyellowcardforlocalfisheryproducts.DeputyPrimeMinisterTr?nL?uQuangisalsoexpectedtochairameetingandconductafieldvisitonmeasuresagainstIUUfishingincoastalareasinJune.TheMinistryofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment(MARD)willalsohaveamonthlyplanforon-siteinspectionsalongthecoaststartingnowandcontinuinguntiltheECsvisit.Hùngemphasisedthatthekeyprioritiesinthemeantimeareminimisingviolationscommittedbylocalfishingvesselsinforeignwatersandstrictlyenforcingregulations.Atthesametime,authoritiesmusttakeactionforvesselmanagementtoensureeligibilityforfishingatsea,inadditiontoverifyingfisheryproductoriginsattheports.ThesearethekeytasksandtheymustberadicallyaddressedwithvisibleresultsfromnowuntilSeptemberinorderforustohaveachanceatliftingthe‘yellowcard.Otherwise,itwouldbeverydifficulttoreporttoandnegotiatewiththeEC,saidHùng.DeputyMinisterofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentPhùng??cTi?nalsostressedthatauthoritiesmustfollowtheECsfourgroupsofrecommendationsforVi?tNam,alongsidethecompletionofpolicyframeworks,specificactionplansandstrengthenedinspectionsonfishingfleets.Authoritiesmustalsoensurethat100percentofthevesselshaveavesselmonitoringsystem(VMS)installed,andthatnoshipsareallowedtosetsailwithoutmeetingalltherequirements.Adigitaltracingplanisalsoexpectedtobeissuedtopreventdocumentationfraudinproductorigincertification.Higheradministrativefineswillalsobeimposedforviolations.AccordingtoareportfromtheMARD,theECsfourthIUUfishinginspectioninVi?tNaminOctoberlastyearshowedthatpositiveprogresshadbeenmade,butlimitationsandshortcomingsstillremain,whichmeanstheyellowcardwarninghasnotbeenremoved.TheremovaloftheyellowcardonmarineproductsisseenasacriticalandurgenttaskforVi?tNam,astheEuropeanUnionisamongthetop3largestexportmarketsforVietnameseseafood,onlybehindtheUSandChina.—VNSWorkershospitalisedduetofoodpoisoningwerebeingtreatedatL?cVi?tFriendshipHospital.VNA/VNSPhotoHoàngHùngHàN?IThebacteriaBacilluscereuswasdetectedinthefoodsamplesfoundtobetheprimarycauseinthefoodpoisoningcaseatShinwonEbenezerVietnamCo.,Ltd.thatsawover400peopletakentohospitalinV?nhPhúcinApril.LêH?ngTrung,DirectoroftheV?nhPhúcDepartmentofHealthrevealedthecauseofthemassfoodpoisoningincidentattheNationalConferenceonStrengtheningFoodSafetyandPreventingFoodPoisoningonTuesday,addingthatallofthosehospitalisedhavenowbeendischarged.Themassfoodpoisoningincidenthappenedataround3.30pmonApril15,afterworkershadtheirlunch.Theystartedtovomit,sufferfromabdominalpainandheadachesand438ofthemwererushedtomedicalfacilitiesinV?nhYênCity.Theworkersreportedthattheirlunchconsistedofstir-friedturkeywithlemongrassandchili,stir-friedcauliflower,pickledvegetablesandbeansproutsoup.Bacilluscereusbacteriaweredetectedinthefoodsamples,identifiedasoneofthemaincausesoffoodpoisoning,Trungsaid.Thisresultwascompiledfromsamplestested,includingfoodingredients,watersources,environmentandpatientwaste.Thisbacteriumproducestwomaintoxinsthatcausevomitinganddiarrhoea,whichalignswiththesymptomsexhibitedbythefoodpoisoningvictims.Trungsaidthefooditemwhichhadcausedthesicknesswasthesoursoupwithbeansprouts,whichincludedingredientsliketamarind,springonionsandcoriander.Theinvestigationrevealedthatonthatparticularday,therewasashortageofsixkilogramsofbeansproutsduringthemenupreparationandsokitchenstaffhadboughtadditionalsuppliesfromV?nhYênMarket.Althoughthevegetablesupplierforthekitchenmetfoodsafetystandards,theadditionalvegetablesboughtfromthemarketdidnotgothroughthesupplier.Provincialauthoritiesarecontinuingtoinvestigatetoclarifyfurtherdetails.Nguy?nThanhPhong,DirectoroftheMoHsFoodSafetyDepartmentpointedoutthatalthoughmanyfoodshopsdopossessaCertificateofFoodSafety,ingredientscanbesourcedfromanywhereinthemarketandcanlackclearoriginsandareunregulated.Hence,regularinspectionsandsamplestoragemustbeconductedtopreventfoodpoisoningincidents,saidPhong.PermanentDeputyMinisterofHealth??XuanTuyênpraisedV?nhPhúcProvincesquickresponsetothepoisoningincident,whichensuredthatallpatientsweredischargedwithoutanyfatalities.Tuyênalsostressedtheimportanceoftracingtheexactcause,fromfoodsupplytoprocessingandconsumptionandtheneedtoimposeseverepenaltiesonorganisationsorindividualsviolatingfoodsafetyregulations.VNS