Heat Wave Forces Amtrak to Slow Trains for Fear of Expanding Tracks, Wires
DeputyMinisterofForeignAffairsandSCOVChairwomanLeThiThuHangspeaksatthepressconference.-VNA/VNSPhotoHàN?I-TheMinistryofForeignAffairsStateCommitteeforOverseasVietnamese(SCOV)heldapressconferenceinHàN?ionJune3toannouncetheresultsofthe20-yearimplementationofthePolitburosResolution36-NQ/TWonOVaffairs.Speakingattheevent,DeputyMinisterofForeignAffairsandSCOVChairwomanLêTh?ThuH?ngsaidResolution36hasraisedpublicawarenessofOVaffairsaswellassenseofreponsibilityinimplementingtasksrelevanttoOVaffairs.IthasgarneredwidespreadsupportandactiveparticipationfromOVs.Shehighlightedachievementsmadeinpolicybuildingconsultations,securinglegalrightsandprotectionsforOVs,preservationofVietnameselanguageandnationalculturalidentity,andexternalnewsservicestoensureOVsremaininformedaboutVi?tNam.Resolution36buildsuponthePartyandStatesunwaveringcommitmenttoviewingOVsasanintegralpartoftheVietnamesenation,avitalresource,andacornerstoneofnationalunity,shesaid.Ontheoccasion,H?ngrevealedthatthefourthWorldConferenceofOVsandthe2024forumofOVintellectualsandexpertswilltakeplacefromAugust21-28.TheaimistodisseminatethePartysguidelinesandStatepoliciesandlawsrelatedtoOVs,gaininsightintotheirdifficultiestoprovidetimelysupportandcollectsuggestionsfornationaldevelopmentinthenewsituation.-VNS
Caption:Farmerspreparefortheongoingsummer-autumnricecropinCàMauProvince.—VNA/VNSPhotoHu?nhAnhCàMAU—ThesouthernmostprovinceofCàMauistakingurgentmeasurestomitigatetheeffectsofpossibleinclementweatheronitskeycropsandaquaticspeciesduringtheongoingsummer-autumnseason.Itssummer-autumnriceisexpectedtosufferfromunfavourableweatherthisyear,includingprolongedheat,accordingtotheprovinceCentreforHydro-MeteorologyForecasting.Thelowrainfallsofarthisrainyseasoninalum-affectedareasmeansthealumisnotwashedawayfromricefieldsbeforethesummer-autumnricecropissown.May-Juneisthetransitionperiodbetweenthedryandrainyseasons.Buttemperaturesnowarehigherthannormal,andthiswillaffectthegrowthofseedlingsindryfields,thecentresaid.TherewouldbestrongwindsandheavyrainsinJulyandAugust,whichwoulddamagethericecropwhenitripens,itsaid.TheC?uLong(Mekong)Deltaprovinceplanstosow35,244haofsummer-autumnrice.Tr?nChíNguy?noftheprovinceAgricultureExtensionCentre,saidfarmersshouldpreparelandwellandtakemeasurestoimprovethesoilandreducethealum.Farmersshouldco-operatewiththeirdistrictagriculturalofficialsforinstructionsinnature-basedfarming.TheprovincePeoplesCommitteehasorderedtheDepartmentofAgricultureandRuralDevelopmentandotherrelevantagenciestostrengthenmeasurestopreventthespreadofdiseasesamongaquaticcreatures,especiallyshrimps.Thecountryslargestshrimpproducingprovincehas18,661haoffarmsaffectedbydiseasesthisyear,andamortalityrateof35-75percent,accordingtothedepartment.ItsAgricultureExtensionCentrehastoldfarmerstokeepacloseeyeonweatherforecastsduringthetransitionperiodtopromptlytakemeasurestosafeguardtheircrops.Shrimpfoodshouldbecheckedforqualitytoensurethesafetyofthecrustaceans,itsaid.Farmersshoulddissolvelime,nutrientmineralsandbioproductsinwaterandaddittoshrimppondswhentherearerains,itsaid.Whenthepondshaveabnormalwaterorotherconditions,farmersshouldinformagriculturalofficialsfortakingpromptremedialmeasures,itsaid.Theprovinceisexpectedtoharvest205,300tonnesofaquaticanimalsinthefirsthalfoftheyear,including121,200tonnesofshrimps,accordingtothedepartment.—VNSRescuersaresearchingforvictimsofthelandslide.VNA/VNSPhotoB?CK?N—AlandslideoccurredintheearlyhoursofTuesdaymorninginthenorthernmountainousprovinceofB?cK?n,killingfouroffivemembersofthesamefamily.AtthetimeofthelandslideinKhu?iúnHamlet,NghiênLoanCommuneofPácN?mDistrict,therewerefivepeopleinthehouse,fourincludingatinybabywereburied,andonlyonemanagedtoescape.AccordingtoB?cK?nProvincesOfficeoftheNaturalDisasterPreventionandControl,overnightandintotheearlyhoursofJune17andJune18,therewerewidespreadshowersandthunderstormsintheprovince.Regionalrainfallmeasurementsfrom8pmonMondayto06.30amonTuesdayrangedfrom5mmto90mmindifferentlocalities.RescueforceslaterfoundthebodiesofN?ngC?nCh?,41,HoàngTh?Thía,43,Ng?Th?May,18,whoisdaughter-in-lawofCh?andThíaandMaysyoungchild.LocalauthoritiesandtheleadersoftheprovincialNaturalDisasterPreventionandControlandSearchandRescueCommitteepromptlywenttothescenetohelptherescueeffortandtoassistthevictimsfamilies.—VNS
Cancerandstrokeareprimaryhealthconcerns.—PhotocourtesyofManulifeVietnamHàN?I—TheManulifeAsiaCareSurveyrevealsthatcanceristhestandouthealthconcernforpeopleinVi?tNam.Despitegrowingawarenessofavailabletreatments,risinghealthcarecostsalongsideinsufficientfinancialplanningprovideanobstacletomentalandfinancialwell-being.Stomachcancer:amajorconcernManulifesnewAsiaCareSurvey2024drewresponsesfrom8,400consumersfromacrosstheregion.ThesurveyincludesthelaunchofManulifesMyFutureReadinessIndex,whichmeasureshowconsumersviewtheircurrentandfuturephysical,mentalandfinancialwell-being.RespondentsinVi?tNamthinkthatphysicalwell-being(38percent)isthemostimportantfactorthatunderpinsbothmental(32percent)andfinancial(30percent)well-being,astheylookaheadtothenext10years.Cancerandstroke(both39percent)aretheprimaryhealthconcernsamongthosesurveyed.Theirconcernsarewellabovetheregionalaverageof34percentand31percentrespectively.Mentalhealthfactors,notablysleepdisordersandstress,alsoaffecttheirwell-being,butitscancerthatisconsideredthemostlikelyrisktotheirphysicalandfinancialwell-being.InVi?tNam,stomachcancerranksamongthetopfivemostcommoncancers,alongsideliver,lung,breastandcolorectalcancers.Asoftheendof2023,thenumberofstomachcancercasesdiagnosedisnotonlyrisingbutalsoincreasinglyaffectingyoungerpopulations.Whilelifestyle,activitiesandnutritioncontributetoitsprevalence,onesignificantfactorisinfectionbyHelicobacterpylori(HP)bacteria.Despiteitsimpact,mostVietnamesepeopleareeitherunawareoforoverlookthisfactor.DatafromtheMinistryofHealthandsomenationalhospitalsindicatethatupto70percentofthepopulationisinfectedwithHP,andaround80percentofstomachcancercasesarerelatedtoHPinfection.AccordingtotheVietnamYoungPhysiciansAssociation,Vi?tNamranksamongthetop10countriesworldwidewiththehighestmortalityratesfromstomachcancer.Alarmingly,upto20percentofpeopleunder40arediagnosedwiththisdisease.Althoughtreatmentmethodsforstomachcancerandothercancershaveimprovedandbecomemoreaccessible,thecostsremainsubstantial.TinaNguy?n,CEOofManulifeVietnam,emphasisedthefinancialrisksassociatedwithcancer.Notonlyiscancerahealthrisk,butitcanalsobecomeasignificantfinancialburdenwithoutearlypreventionplans,Nguy?nsaid.Tosupportcommunityhealthefforts,ManulifewillsoonlaunchtheLivingClean-Smart-Greencampaign.Thisinitiativeaimstoraiseawarenessaboutbuildingahealthylifestyleandpreventingstomachcancer,aswellasotherdigestivehealthissues.SheaddedthatManulifewillorganiseafreegeneralhealthcheckandHPtestingprogrammeforresidentsofHàN?iandHCMCity.GreatereffortstomitigatehealthrisksVietnameserespondentscitedrisinghealthcarecostsandinflation(both72percent)asthemainchallengestotheiroverallfinancialwell-being.Consumersseethehighestrisesinthecostofprescriptions,preventativehealthcare,outpatientservicesandhealthmanagementandwellnessservices.Vietnameseconsumersalsoperceivedanaverage24percentincreaseinhealthcarecostsoverthepast12months.ManulifeAsiaCareSurvey2024isconductedwithover8,400respondentsacrossAsia.—PhotocourtesyofManulifeVietnamOnascaleof1to100,peopleinVi?tNamexpressedtheirdesiredfinancialwell-beingleveltobe88,buttheexpectedleveltobe76,pointingtoalackofconfidenceabouttheirfuture.ThosesurveyedinVi?tNamsaidtheyaretryingtoexercisemore(60percent)andimprovetheirdiet(56-60percent)tomitigatehealthrisks.Thevastmajorityofthosesurveyed(nearly90percent)haveinsurance,beitpersonal,vehicleorhomeinsurance.Amongthese,personalinsurancerankedhighestwith77percent,inwhichlifeinsurancetakesup39percent.However,healthcoverageremainslow,especiallycriticalillnessprotection,giventheirconcernsaboutit.Only33percentofrespondentsarecoveredforaccidents,27percentforoutpatientneeds,19percentforinpatientneedsandjust16percentforcriticalillness.But,lookingforward,30percentofconsumersaged25-39saidtheyintendtochooseahigherpremiuminsuranceplanwithmorecoverageandbenefits.AcrossallthemarketscoveredinAsia,sevenoutof10respondentssaidtheyfeelthehealthbenefitsandcoveragefromtheiremployersarenotenough.InVi?tNam,80percentwouldliketoseeimprovedbenefitsandcoveragetosupporttheirfinancialwell-beingandplanning.ThesurveyshowsthatourVietnameseconsumershavefinancialworriesaboutinsufficientsavings,unexpectedmedicalexpensesandreducedincomesoverthenext10years.Recognisingthis,ManulifeVietnamiscontinuouslyenhancingitsofferingsbyintroducingadiverserangeofnewproductstailoredtomeetthevariousprotectionneedsandfinancialcapacitiesofourcustomers,Nguy?nsaid.Mostrecently,ManulifeVietnamhasintroducedtheTermInsurancewithReturnofPremium(TROP)product,whichincludesanaccumulationfeatureandguaranteedreturns.Inthefuture,wewilllaunchanewhealthinsuranceproductdesignedtomeetthediverseprotectionneedsofourcustomers,shesaid.—VNSTouristboatsatH?LongBayinthenorthernprovinceofQu?ngNinh.—VNA/VNSPhoto??cHi?uQU?NGNINH—AtouristhasreportedbeingstrandedonanislandinH?LongBaybyatouristboat,promptinganinvestigationfromtheQu?ngNinhProvincestransportdeparment.ThetouristpreviouslyclaimedontheirFacebookaccountaboutthedisastroustravelexperienceaftertheboatthatdroppedthemoffonTiT?pIslanddepartedwithoutthem.Thepassengerwasnotnotifiedbyphoneabouttheboatleavingandhadbeenwaitingfor30minutesatthewharf,unabletocalltheboatoperatorsphonenumber,accordingtothepost.InitialreportssaidthatonSunday,atouristboatidentifiedasQN926xcarried99peopletoTiT?pIslandinH?LongBay.Theboatwasnotabletogathereveryonewhenleavingtheislandduetothelargenumberofpassengers.Anothervesselwasthenarrangedtobringthembackashore.TheincidentwasnotreportedtothelocalInlandWaterwaysAdministrationorH?LongBayManagementBoard,whichonlylearnedofthecaseafteritwaspublishedonsocialmedia.Theshipownerwasalsocontactedandnotifiedoftheresponsibilitiesofallinvolvedinthecasetopreventsimilarincidentsfromoccurringandtoensurethesafetyoftouristswhenvisitingthebay.—VNSAdurianorchardinTi?nGiangProvincesCaiL?yDistrict.Theprovinceisgettingcodesforgrowingfruitstoincreaseexports.–VNA/VNSPhotoMinhTríTI?NGIANG–Ti?nGiangProvinceismakinggreateffortstoexpanditsfruitgrowingareasthathaveproductioncodestoserveexports.Thecountryslargestfruitproducingprovincehas83,000haundervariousfruits,including11specialitykindssuchasdurian,dragonfruit,mango,andjackfruit.TheC?uLong(Mekong)Deltaprovincenowhas284fruitgrowingareaswithatotalof20,440hathathaveproductioncodes,accordingtoitsPlantCultivationandProtectionSub-department.Theseareasgrowjackfruit,dragonfruit,mango,milkapple,durian,andwatermelon.Togetthecodes,farmersmustadoptVietnamesegoodagriculturalpractices(VietGAP)orotherequivalentstandards.Theprovinceproactivelyhelpsthemsecurethecodesfortheirfruits.Itinstructsthemtogrowfruitstohighqualitystandards,includingVietGAPandGlobalGAP.V?V?nMen,headofthesub-department,saidhisagencyadvocatesthatfarmersonlyusepesticidesallowedbythePlantCultivationandProtectionDepartment.Farmersshouldprioritiseusingbioproductstogrowfruitsandmanagepests,hesaid.Theprovinceaimstohave324duriangrowingareascoveringatotalof15,000hawithcodesnextyearcomparedto72areaswith2,600hanow.Duriananddragonfruitareamongitskeyfruitexports.Ithasnearly8,600haunderdragonfruitforexport,mostlyinCh?G?o,GòC?ngTayandGòC?ng??ngdistricts.Ch?G?o,theprovinceslargestgrower,has101areascovering5,932hawiththecodes.Nguy?nTh?KimH?ng,headofitsBureauofAgricultureandRuralDevelopment,saidheragencyhasinstructedfarmersinspecialiseddragonfruitgrowingareastoregisterforthecode,andofficialshaveinstructedthemtostrictlyfollowcultivatingprocessestomeetrequirements.Thedistrictencouragesfarmerstojoinco-operativesandco-operativegroupsandgrowthefruitstoVietGAPorGlobalGAPstandards.TheH?ngTh?nhPhátCleanAgricultureCo-operativeinQ??nLongCommunehas39memberswhogrowdragonfruiton132hatoVietGAPorGlobalGAPstandards.Ithasbuiltrefrigeratedwarehousesandprocessingfacilitiestopackagethefruitforexport.Nguy?nTrungQuy,itschairman,saidithasreceivedsixgrowingcodesforexporttotheUS,China,Australia,andNewZealand.ItisregisteringcodesnowtoexporttoSouthKoreaandJapan,hesaid.Itsdragonfruithasbeenrecognisedasafour-starproductunderthenationalOneCommune–OneProductprogramme.Ch?G?oissolicitinginvestmentinmakingproductsfromthefruittoincreaseoutletsforfarmers.Its11dragonfruitco-operativeshavestrengthenedlinkageswithcompaniestoexportthefruiteventohighlydemandingmarkets.–VNS
AfloorwormfarminYênBáiProvince.—Photoyenbai.gov.vnYêNBáI—Farmingsilkwormsonthefloorisapracticethatwasrecentlytestedasapotentialalternativeforthetraditionalmethodofraisingthewormsonbambootrays–butafteratrial,themodelhasbeendroppedintwooutofthreeareas.Amongthethreecommunesthathadtestedthissilkwormmodel,onlyVi?tThanhintheTr?nYênDistrictofthemountainousnorthernY?nBáiProvinceisstillholdingon.Meanwhile,Ng?cL?CommuneinHàNamProvinceandNamTh?ngCommuneinNam??nhProvince,bothinthenortherndeltaregion,nolongerhavesilkworms.LêH?ngVan,directoroftheCentralMulberryResearchCentre,saidthatraisingsilkwormsonthegroundrequiresaseparatebreedinghouseandalargefloorarea,whichareverydifficulttofindinthecrowdednortherndeltaregion.Normally,traditionalhousesintheareahavealtarsinthemiddleandtwobedroomsoneithersideofthehome.Forgroundsilkwormfarmingtowork,peoplehadtoremovealloftheirfurniture,includingbeds,cabinets,tablesandchairs,tomakespace,livinginsteadinsmallroomsinthehouse.Thismadetheirlivesuncomfortableduringasmallpilotprogrammetotestoutthesilkwormfarmingmethod.Afterashorttrialperiodwithagoodevaluation,peopleputtheirbelongingsbackintheirhousesandreturnedtothetraditionalmethodofraisingsilkwormsonbambootrays.Vansaidthenewmethodofraisingsilkwormsonthefloorismoresuitableforregionswherepeoplehavebighouseswithmorespaceavailableforfarming.ThatswhyonlyVi?tThanhCommuneinthenorthernmountainousprovinceofYênBáifoundthemodeltobeasuccess,Vansaid.Nowthesilkwormfarmingmethodisverypopularintheprovince.Raisingsilkwormsonthegroundactuallymakesthingssimpler.Peoplenolongerhavetocatchthesilkwormstoputthemonbambootrayswhentheyrereadytospintheircocoons.Withthenewmethod,whenthesilkwormsareready,farmerscanarrangetheminarowandthenplacetrayssothewormscancrawlupontheirown.Thishelpsbreederssavetimeandlabour.Inthenorthernplainsregion,itisimpossibletocleananddisinfectthesilkwormsarea,becausepeoplearelivinginthesamehouses.ButinYênBáiProvince,silkwormsareraisedinseparateareas,sotheycanberegularlycleanedwithdisinfectant.Breederscanalsosprinklewhitelimeonthesilkwormseverydaytobothdisinfectanddrythefarmingarea.Asforthewormsfavouritefood,mulberryleaves,farmershavebeengrowingnewerhybridvarietiesthatyieldmoreleavesthanever.Beforethe1970s,farmersgrewanindigenousvarietyofmulberry,withayieldofonly12-15tonnesofleavesperhectare.Thenewhybridvarietieshavebeenaroundsince1993,andcanachieveayieldof30-35tonnesofleavesperhectare.Currently,newmulberryvarietiesaccountforover90percentofallmulberryplantsgrown.Meanwhile,achangeinsilkwormbreedingsawashiftfromindigenoussilkwormswithyellowcocoonsandverythinshellstoahybridvariety,changingfromwormswithyellowcocoonstothosewithwhitecocoonsfromChina.Theshiftwastriggeredbyarecessionthatcausedthebreedingsituationinthecountrytostaggerin1993andeventuallycollapsefollowingtheSilkwormCorporationsgoingbankrupt.Dozensofsilkwormfarmsthroughoutthecountry–includinginthenortherndeltaaswellasmoremountainousareaslikeM?cChauDistrictinS?nLaProvinceandtheBàNàareain?àN?ngCity–wereallsoldoff.Inthese‘chaotictimes,privatetradersthenstartedimportingsilkwormeggsfromChina,resultinginaninfluxofwormswithwhitecocoons.Indigenousvarieties,includingsilkwormswithyellowcocoonsandcassavasilkworms,eventuallyaccountedforupto20percentofthemarketshare.By2012,themulberrygrowingareahadbeguntoincreaseagain.Itcurrentlysitsatnearly14,000hectares,doublethesizeitwasduringthelowestgrowingperiodbutstilllessthanhalfofthepeakmulberrygrowingarea.However,cocoonoutputisnowmorethan16,800tonnes,nolessthanitwasduringthepeakperiod.SilkoutputofVi?tNamin2021reached1,067tonnes,rankingfourthintheworldwithexportturnoverofUS$72million,afterChina,IndiaandUzbekistan–evenhigherthanitwasduringtheheightofthesilkboominthe90s.Whilemanycountriesarestillseeingadeclineinmulberrygrowingarea,Vi?tNamhasincreasedthefastestintherankings,whileThailand,whichpreviouslyhadamassivemulberrygrowingarea,hasnotyetovercomeitsdecline.SilkreelingfactoriesinVi?tNamhavealsoshiftedtoautomatictechnologythatallowsformuchhigherproductivityandhigherqualityofsilk.VillagesraisesilkwormsforfoodRaisingcassavasilkwormsforfoodinPhúTh?Province.—Photonongnghiep.vnAccordingtoVan,inthepast,peopleraisedsilkwormsmainlyforsilkproduction,butnowthepracticeismulti-purpose.Silkwormsarevulnerabletochemicals,andsoarethemulberryleavestheyeat,notanytypeofpesticidecanbeusedontheseplants.Sosilkwormareanaturallysafefood,suitableforfuturefoodtrendsincludingadoptingamorenutrient-rich,insect-baseddiet,theexpertremarked.Vietnamesepeopletypicallyeatpupae.Thecocoonsarestoredinacoldcontainersobreederscansellthepupaeasfoodandhelpsilkbreedersincreasetheirrevenue.Meanwhile,peopleinothercountriesdonotusuallyeatthepupae,sowhenmakingsilktheydrythecocoons,reelthesilkandthenprocessthepupaeintoanimalfeed.Duringaperiodofmarketfluctuationswhensilkcouldnotbesold,farmershadtosellthesilkwormsthemselvesorcutcocoonstosellthepupae.ThatswhyinVi?tNam,amarketforraisingsilkwormsandsellingpupaeasfoodhasgraduallyformedintraditionalsilkwormfarmingareas.Forexample,H?ngPhongCommuneintheV?Th?DistrictofTháiBìnhProvincehasabout250haofmulberryplantsspecificallyusedtoraisesilkwormsforpupae.Althoughtheyieldisonly5-6kgofcocoonforeacheggcycle,withanaveragesellingpriceofVN?100,000(US$25)perkiloofcocoon,raisingsilkwormsthiswayisstillquiteeconomicallyefficient.TháiBình,B?cGiang,andB?cNinhprovincesalsohaveseveraldozensofhectaresformulberrycultivation,toraisesilkwormsforpupae.Becausemulberryisacropwithjustoneuse,themulberrygrowingareacangiveestimatesastotheyieldofsilkwormsandsilk.Butcassavaisarootcrop,andonlyinsomeplacesaretheleavesusedtoraisesilkworms.Thismeansitisimpossibletoestimatethesilkoutputfromthecropitself.Cassavasilkwormyieldscanonlybeestimatedthroughthenumberofeggs.Raisingcassavasilkwormsisusefulforfarmersbecausethefarmercantakeadvantageofavailablecassavafarmingareas,usinglessthanonethirdoftheleavesforsilkwormssoasnottoaffecttherootsbelow.Thesetypesofsilkwormsarealsoverypopularasfood.Thereiscurrentlyavillageproducingcassavasilkwormsforfoodin??ngL??ngCommuneinPhúTh?Province.ViTi?nC??ng,chairmanofthe??ngL??ngCommunePeoplesCommittee,saidthatinthepast,thelocalpeoplemainlyplantedeucalyptusinthearea,whichhasafive-yearcycle,andsoldnearlyVN?100million($3,900)perhectare,equivalenttolessthanVN?20million($780)perhectareperyear.Sincepeopleconvertedtogrowingcassavaforleavestofeedsilkworms,theharvestisVN?200million($7,800)perhaperyear,upto10timestheprofitsfromgrowingeucalyptus,C??ngsaid.Afterthefirstyearofpickingleaves,peoplecutoffthecassavastem,leavingtheroottosproutmoreleaves.Attheendofthesecondyear,theydigupthetuberstosellasanimalfeed,heexplained.Itisestimatedthatthewholecommunecurrentlyhasabout300workersinvolvedinraisingcassavasilkwormsforfoodandsilk,providingmostofthebreedsforthewholenorthernregion,andbringinginanannualrevenueofuptoVN?60billion($2.4million),hesaid.—VNSTheinterfaceofafakeFacebookpageclaimingtobetheCybersecurityandHigh-techCrimePreventionUnit.—VNA/VNSPhotoHCMCITY—ThegrowingthreatofonlinescamsinVi?tNamhaspromptedexpertstowarncitizensaboutthesignificantfinanciallossestheycouldface,urgingstrictersecuritymeasurestoprotectindividualsfromfallingvictimtotheschemes.MajorGeneralNguy?nV?nGiang,deputydirectoroftheCybersecurityandHigh-TechCrimePreventionDepartment,highlightedtheincreasingprevalenceofonlinescamsinthecountryastechnologycontinuestoadvance.Scammersareconstantlyfindingnewwaystodeceivepeople,rangingfromfakejobpostingstophishingemails,allaimedatstealinghard-earnedmoney,hesaid.FinancialmattersareattheforefrontofcommononlinescamsinVi?tNam,withscammersutilisingdeceptivemessages,emails,andphonecallsonsocialmediaandmobilephonestotargetindividuals.Tocarryoutthesescams,fraudstersoftenusemethodssuchasbrandcounterfeiting,accounthijacking,onlinejobscams,lovescams,andonlinelendingtogainthetrustoftheirvictims.Phishingemailscamsareamongtheprevalenttacticsusedbyscammers,wheretheyimpersonatereputablecompaniesororganisationstotrickindividualsintoprovidingpersonalinformationsuchasbankaccountdetailsorsocialsecuritynumbers.Lastyear,citizensinVi?tNamlostsomeVN?10trillion(US$394million)tovariousonlinescams,up50percentfrom2022,accordingtoGiang.WiththeanonymitytheInternetprovides,trackingdownperpetratorsofthesescamsischallenging,allowinghigh-techcriminalstocreatenetworksbothdomesticallyandinternationallytocontinueevolvingtheirfraudulentactivities,expertssaid.Inresponse,thecentralbankhasannouncedtheyareworkingwithplatformssuchasGoogleandFacebooktoenhancepoliciesthatprotectpersonaldataandpreventfraudulentactivitiesfromoccurring.ThecentralbankhaslatelydirectedcreditinstitutionstoimplementbiometricverificationfortransactionsaboveVN?10millionstartingnextmonth.Byrequiringbiometricauthenticationsuchasfingerprintsandfacialrecognitionfortransactionsofthisamountormore,thecentralbankaimstoaddanextralayerofsecuritytoprotectaccountownersfundsandpreventfraudulenttransactions.Expertsrecommendedunifiedawarenessandactionfromallagencies,organisations,andindividualstocombatonlinefraudinVi?tNam.Theyrecommendedindividualsremainvigilantandcautiouswhenengaginginonlineactivities,asscammersoftenusefakewebsitesandphishingemailstostealsensitiveinformation.Individualsarealsourgedtoverifythelegitimacyofwebsitesbeforemakingtransactions,andbecautiouswhensharingpersonalinformationonline.Theyarealsoadvisedtoregularlyupdatesecuritysoftwareoncomputersandmobiledevicestoprotectagainstmalwareandotheronlinethreats.—VNS
Apassengerdoesautomaticcheck-inatN?iBàiInternationalAirport,HàN?i.—VNA/VNSPhotoHuyHùngHàN?I—Bookingratesondomesticroutesareunusuallylow,despitethefactthatitiscurrentlypeaksummerholidaytime,accordingtoCivilAviationAuthorityofVi?tNam.StatisticsshowthatduringtheperiodfromJune15toJuly15,thebookingratesforflightsfromHàN?iandHCMCitytovariouslocalitiesandviceversaareonlyatanaveragelowlevel,about50percentonnearbydatesand20-40percentonfurtherdates.SometouristroutesfromHàN?i/HCMCityhavehigherthanaveragerates,suchasHàN?i-QuyNh?n(80.7percentonJune15;72.5percentonJune16),HàN?i-PhúQu?c(74.9percentonJune15),HàN?i-NhaTrang(73.3percentonJune15and64.9percentonJune16),HCM-NhaTrang(77.7percentonJune15),HCMCity-?i?nBiên(78.3percentonJune15).Duringthepeaksummerperiod,ticketpricesondomesticflightshaveslightlydecreasedcomparedtoprevioustimes,claimedtheaviationauthorities.Passengersareadvisedtobooktheirflightsearlyandfarinadvanceoftheirdeparturedatetosecurethebestpriceswhentherearestillvariousseatoptionsavailable.Thisisalsoawaytohelpairlinesallocatetheirresources,optimisetheoperationsofaircrafts,minimisetherisksofflightcancellationandreducepressurestotheairlineswhentheirfleetisbeingcutdownlikepresent,accordingtoarepresentativefromtheaviationauthority.Amidcomplaintsofhighdomesticairfares,airlineshavepledgedtoorganisemoreflights,especiallylate-hourones,whichbringinmanymoreaffordableseatsforinterestedtourists.However,travelagenciesandwould-beholidaymakersarenottoothrilledaboutthenightflights,asitwouldmeanpayingforanotherdayatthehotel,inconvenienttransportationoptionsatlatehours,oritsimplydoesntworkforhouseholdswithelderlypeopleorchildren.ThenightflightsareonlyreallysuitableduringpeakNewYearholidaytimeswhenalotofpeopleneedtoreturntotheirhometown.ThenationalcarrierVietnamAirlinesthemselveshavesaidthattheirnightflightsarenotsellingwell,andabout10percentofthenightflightsinMayhavebeencancelledduetoalackofpassengers.Inthefirstfivemonthsof2024,thetotalpassengermarketisestimatedtohavereached38.1million,anincreaseof6.7percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023andequalto98percentofthesameperiodin2019(pre-pandemictime).Specifically,theinternationalmarketreached21.1millionpassengers,up44.3percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2022andup3percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2019;whilethedomesticmarketreached17millionpassengers,down19.4percentcomparedtothesameperiodin2023andequalto92percentofthesameperiodin2019.—VNS
TheHCMCitysDigitalTransformationCentreisdevelopinganewappcalledHCMCityMetroConnecttobetterserveandconnectwithcitizens.—Photowww.sggp.org.vnHCMCITY—HCMCityplanstolaunchanewappcalledHCMCityMetroConnectinSeptembertobetterserveandconnectwithcitizens.Thisisoneofthecityssolutionstoestablishanddevelopadigitalgovernment,digitaleconomyanddigitalsociety.V?Th?TrungTrinh,directorofthecitysDigitalTransformationCentre,saidthecentreisdevelopingtheHCMCityMetroConnectapptobeusedonsmartdevices.Theappisdevelopedwiththeunderstandingthatthespecificneedsofpeopleineachlocalityaredifferent,andthuscallforcustomisation.CitydwellersonlyneedtheircitizenIDcardnumbertosignintotheapp.Thisusefulappisameaningfulmilestoneforthecityandthewholecountryingeneral,shesaid.TheappwillcombineallusefulfeaturesofcurrentapplicationscontrolledbyStatedepartmentsandagencies.Anystateunitswithouttheirownappsyetcannowintegratetheirdatabasesintotheapp.Alldatabaseswillberunontheofficialdigitalmapofthecityandhavetheirprecisioncheckedtoensureitcanbestsatisfythepublicsdemandsinrealtime.Forexample,citydwellersinBìnhTh?nhDistrictwithawishtovisitahospitalcanaccesstheapptoidentifythenearestmedicalinstitutecertifiedbythecitysHealthDepartment.WhenwantingtolearnmoreaboutanypromotionalcampaignslaunchedbythecitysDepartmentofIndustryandTrade,theycanusetheapp.Buspassengerscanfindfullinformationaboutroutespassingthroughtheirlocation,includingtimeandfare.Wheninoperation,theappwillbelinkedtothecitysneighbourhoodsandhamlets.Basedonuserdatafromtheapp,thecitywillcalculatehowtoofferdigitaltransformationservicestoeachresident,makingitevenmoreconvenienttofollowadministrativeprocedures.Theappwillalsofurtherpromotetheprocessofdigitaltransformationineducation,healthcare,tourism,andsocialsecurityinthecity.Currently,thereareseveralappsofdifferentstatedepartmentsinthecitywiththeirownfeaturestoservethepublic.Forinstance,thecitysTransportDepartmentismanagingtheapp‘TTGTTPHCM(TrafficOrderinHCMCity),toprovidereal-timetrafficupdatestotravellersabouttheirintendedrouteandaroutefindingfeature.Anotherapp,‘UDIMaps,bythecityUrbanDrainageOneMemberCo.Ltd.providesthelatestupdatesandwarningsrelatedtothetide,urbanflooding,currentrainfall,aswellasforecastsofthepossibilityoffloodingduetorainonroadsinthecity.ThecitysDepartmentofPlanningandArchitecturehasitsappcalled‘Th?ngTinQuyHo?chTPHCM(HCMCitysPlanningInformation)toofferplanningdatainthewholecitytoindividuals,organisationsandbusinesses.Eachdistrictitselfhasdevelopeditsownapptoservelocalresidents,mostlytotracktheprogressofadministrativeprocedures,todeliverfeedback,andtoregisterforpublicservices.Theyhavebeeneffectivetoolstomaintainthelinkbetweenresidentsandlocalauthorities.—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