Social News Headlines 25/6 Landslide halts highway traffic in Thanh Hoa   Traffic was halted as major landslides hit a section of Highway 15C which links the Quan Hoa and the Muong Lat Districts of the central Thanh Hoa Province. The landslides cut off Muong Hoa from other areas. Heavy rains and flooding on Sunday and Monday caused hundreds of cubic meters of soil and stones to slide down on to Highway 15C, according to Luong Minh Thong, Secretary of the District Party Committee. The floods also swept away many cattle in the National Defense Economic Unit 5 farm in Doan Ket Village of Muong Lat District, causing a loss of more than VND300 million or US$14,000. The local authorities are coordinating with the province's transport department to clear the traffic in the area where the landslide occurred. Police bust football betting ring Ha Noi police arrested a woman who was allegedly involved in an illegal football betting ring, said the police yesterday. Pham Nhu Quynh, 42, told police that she worked as a go-between for a betting ring. On June 16, she got VND10 million (US$476) from Bui Hai Anh. Police raided an Internet cafe in Hai Ba Trung Street in Hoan Kiem District last Friday and caught Bui Hai Anh and some of his accomplices red-handed while they were taking part in betting via the Internet on a World Cup match between the UK and Uruguay. Police seized three mobiles, several computers and related documents. Hai Anh confessed that he took part in football betting via the Internet many times with Quynh. The case is under investigation. Newborn-screening project benefits kids Medical stations in Hanoi have so far provided prenatal and newborn screening services for over 23,600 pregnant women and 11,600 infants in a bid to reduce the rate of children born with congenital defects. A major centre for this purpose was recently put into use at the Hanoi Obstetrics and Gynaecology Hospital. Built at a total cost of VND74 billion (US$3.48 million), the facility is part of a project to promptly detect innate disorders through screening in the 2013-2015 period. The municipal health department has also opened training courses for nearly 80 doctors and screened nearly 7,000 children for hearing disease. According to the General Office for Population and Family Planning, more than 87,000 babies are born with congenital conditions in Vietnam each year. Hanoi police unable to stop trade in fake plates While police admit that Tran Nhat Duat Street in Hoan Kiem District has dozens of shops making illegal car and motorbike registration plates, they also claim there is little they can do about it. Local authorities also say they have not found effective ways of controlling production and trade in fake plates. The 800-metre street, running along the Hong (Red) River dyke from Long Bien Bridge to Tran Quang Khai Street, has shops capable of producing any type of number plate. Chu An Thanh, deputy director of the Hoan Kiem District Police, said his men could not resolve the problem because the shops' activities were sophisticated. "Whenever they see the police, they immediately hide the objects they are working on," said Thanh. "Catching the makers is very difficult and needs professional skills and careful investigations into the existence of criminal rings," he said. Thanh added that the punishment given to those caught was only a fine and that this was not strong enough. Illegal number plates were not considered to be goods for sale so the law had no specific regulations to control plate makers, he said. However, earlier this month, Hoan Kiem Police did catch a man making fake number plates at his motorbike repair shop in the street. The man, named Vu Ta Tuoc, admitted that each set of automobile number plate was sold at VND400,000 (US$19) and each motorbike plate sold for VND150,000 ($7). Nguyen Anh Tuan, head of the district's Economic Crime Investigation Police Team, said that district police were compiling a list of fake plate makers and setting up plans to eliminate the industry. In the short term, police have joined hand with local authorities to strengthen management of the illegal trade. They have also asked shop owners in the street sign a commitment not to produce fake plates. Twice-yearly STH worming recommended Healthcare officials have urged local residents to take preventive measures against soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) infections. Viet Nam has one of the highest rates of such infections in Asia, according to the National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology. STH infections are among the most common infections worldwide and affect the poorest and most deprived communities, the World Health Organisation has said. They are transmitted by eggs present in human faeces which in turn contaminate soil in areas where sanitation is poor. The main species that infect people are roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura) and hookworms (Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale). Dr Tran Thanh Duong, the institute's head, said that its surveys from 2006-2007 and 2010-2011, a well as other reports in Viet Nam's provinces, showed that 82 million people in Viet Nam had been infected with STH at one time or another, and that more than 33 million people were at a high risk of STH infection. The rate of STH infection in the Hong (Red) River Delta region topped the list, at 47.7 per cent, following the northern midlands (41.4 per cent) and the Central Highlands (27.9 per cent). STH can be transmitted by eating unwashed raw vegetables, using unhygienic water, walking in bare feet and having unclean hands, Duong said. Worms feed on blood, leading to a loss of iron and protein, and sometimes malnutrition, Duong said. "For instance, each hookworm feeds on 0.04-0.16 millilitres of blood per day," he added. STH infections cause anemia, intestinal manifestations, Vitamin A deficiency, and diseases related to the liver, gallbladder and lung, he said. Duong said that vegetables should be washed before eating, and food should be cooked well. Both children and adults should have the habit of periodic deworming twice each year, Duong said. The institute is carrying out a community deworming campaign until July 15 to raise awareness about STH infection and health care risks caused by such infections. Ministry asks for support to build storm-resistant houses The Ministry of Construction has asked the Government to promulgate policies on building storm-resistant houses for more than 86,000 households in 20 coastal provinces in the north and the central regions. This is part of a three-year project to support building of storm-resistant houses for poor families in the northern and central coastal provinces from Quang Ninh to Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces. It is based on survey and evaluation results on the housing situation in areas prone to storms and tropical low pressure phenomena. Poor and near-poor households which don't have houses or have been living in make-shift houses would be aided for building houses with a minimum area of 24sq.m and having firm foundations, frames, walls and roofs. The ministry estimated that it would need around VND48 million or US$2,250 for constructing a 24-square metre storm-resistant house. The funds would come from the State Budget and preferential loans, or will be partly mobilised from the community or poor families. One-third of the construction cost will be borne by the Government. Those living in disadvantaged areas would receive additional support of VND3 million or $140 from the State Budget. A maximum loan of VND16 million ($760) at preferential interest rates would be provided to those who want to build new houses, and VND8 million or $380 to those who want to repair their houses. Photo exhibition on Hoang Sa, Truong Sa islands Northern border Quang Ninh province on June 24 hosted an exhibition featuring photos, documents and map collections of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, asserting Vietnam’s sovereignty over the two islands. The exhibition themed "Hoang Sa, Truong Sa of Vietnam-historical evidence" displays documentary photos, official documents of the Nguyen Dynasty, a collection of 200 maps, nearly 200 documents and photographs along with historical evidence published by China and western countries affirming Vietnam’s territorial sovereignty over continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the two islands. Some Vietnamese oldest maps published since the 15th century are also evidence confirming the nation’s sovereignty over the two archipelagoes. The exhibition also displays documentary photos of the Nguyen Dynasty on the construction of a sovereignty stele, placing Buddhist statues and relics of Hoang Sa heroes, reflecting the daily life of residents and security guards in the two islands. The photo collections have helped affirm Vietnam’s establishment and consecutive sovereignty enforcement for Hoang Sa and Truong islands for more than last five centuries. It also showcases a documentary collection on the Paracel Islands from the French colonial period (1937-1974), the Nguyen Dynasty during which a hydro-meteorological station and radio stations were built, and the official documents of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 -1945), especially official documents of the Minh Mang dynasty including an edict sending missions on duty in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa. The event, running through June 25, also introduces a number of books and literary and artworks about sea and islands and includes film screenings on Paracel and Spratly archipelagoes and art performances. Office helps ensure safe migration for workers The pilot Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), supported by International Organisation for Migration, has become a reliable provider of useful information on overseas labour markets and helped improve legal and safe migration for Vietnamese labourers. The comment was heard at a symposium jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the organisation in Hanoi on June 24. Since its inception in 2011, the centre has helped raise local workers’ awareness of issues related to migrant labour, through sharing information on overseas employment opportunities and telling them about organisations that can handle their problems emerging the life abroad. These help reduce the risks migrant workers can face during working overseas as well as maximise benefits from their employment, participants said. The MRC also provides documents on how to make a labour migration successful. It has to date built 15 manuals on a number of foreign labour markets, including Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia and Thailand. Many suggested the centre expand its operation and increase support for labourers from mountainous and remote areas, enabling them to access official information on the field of their concern. Vietnam, Norway’s Red Cross associations foster cooperation A delegation from the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) made a working visit to Norway from June 19 – 24 to intensify cooperation with its counterpart in the European country. During the trip, the Vietnamese side had discussions with representatives of the Norwegian Red Cross (NRC), the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, and the DNV Company which has supported many clean water and environmental hygiene projects in Vietnam. They looked at their collaboration in the past years and drew up programmes for joint efforts in the time to come. On June 23, VRC Chairman Nguyen Hai Duong presented his society’s medals to NRC President Sven Mollekleiv and NRC Regional Coordinator for Asia-Pacific Gideon Tesfai in recognition of their contribution to Vietnam’s humanitarian activities. On this occasion, Counsellor Le Thanh Binh from the Vietnamese Embassy thanked the NRC and the Norwegian Government for their assistance to Vietnam, and expressed his hope that the relations between the two organisations and peoples will further flourish in the future. Overseas teachers trained to better language teaching skills A training course was opened in Hanoi on June 24 aiming to sharpen skills of overseas Vietnamese teachers in teaching their mother tongue. Attending the course are 30 teachers from countries where the Vietnamese communities have high demand for learning Vietnamese such as the Czech Republic, Germany, the UK, France, China, Laos, and Thailand. At the opening ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son voiced his hope that after this course, the teachers will better transfer knowledge about Vietnam’s history, culture and people to young generation in foreign countries so that they will know more about their homeland and work to preserve and promote national identities. The course, which will run through July 12, is the second of its kind held so far, following the first one in 2013. Ca Mau enlarges coastal protective forest areas The southernmost province of Ca Mau has set to fortify its coastal protective forests against probable erosions and landslides triggered by climate change. According to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Van Suu, an annual 2,000 hectares of protective forests will be developed along the province’s coastline from 2014 to 2020. The target will bring the locality’s total coastal forest coverage to 32,000 hectares, mainly grown with mam (Avicennia), mangrove (Rhizophora apiculata) and vet ( Bruguiera gymnorrhiza ), with Mam alone covering 25,000 hectares. The forest coverage in Ca Mau has reduced considerably since the 1990s due to local people’s acts of cutting down woods for shrimp farming. The local authorities are attempting to mobilise all possible resources to make up for the destroyed areas. With some 20,000 hectares of protective forest, Ngoc Hien district is leading in planting new forests and protection efforts. This is attributed to the district’s good planning on shrimp farming areas, which requires local breeders to make their benefits and forest protection go well together, explained Nguyen Truong Giang, Chairman of the district People’s Committee. Vietnam is one of the five countries in the world most vulnerable to climate change while the Mekong Delta region, Vietnam’s rice granary, is among the three large deltas in the world worst hit by it. Cows to be donated to northern border poor As many as 34,000 cows will be given to poor households in the northern border areas between now and October 2016, as part of a State plan to reduce poverty there. For a start, 24,000 of them will be sent to the provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Son La, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. At a Hanoi conference on June 24, President Truong Tan Sang asked ministries, agencies and businesses to back the initiative while spreading more productive business models in frontier areas. Representatives from ministries, companies and localities signed an agreement to launch the project and offer an aid of VND394 billion (US$18.7 million), equivalent to 26,000 cows. The conference was co-hosted by the Border Guard High Command, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the Central Committee of Vietnam Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viettel telecommunications group, the State Bank of Vietnam, and the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies. World Drug Day observed in Hanoi The fight against drugs is a hard and long-term task which requires the involvement of the entire community, an official from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has said. At a meeting in Hanoi on June 24 in response to the World Drug Day (June 26), Deputy Minister Nguyen Trong Dam said that despite the Party and State’s efforts, the combat has yet to yield satisfactory results. The drug problem in the country has seen complicated developments with the increasing number of addicts who now number 182,790, he said, adding that most of them are young people. According to the deputy minister, with the theme “Drug use disorders are preventable and treatable”, the 2014 World Drug Day calls for the participation of people from all social strata in the combat. Le Trung Tuan, Director of a Hanoi-based drug research and mental support centre, who used to be a drug user for six years, said drug use disorders are treatable if users believe in the future. Vietnam Folk Arts Association donates books to Laos Professor To Ngoc Thanh, on behalf of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, handed over a collection of books depicting the lives of Vietnamese 54 ethnic groups to the Office of the Laos’ National Assembly in Vientiane on June 14. Thanh said that the content of the books belonged to the fields of folklore of the country’s 54 ethnic groups. The books introduce the special charm of the Vietnamese ethnic groups, portraying their everyday lives and work, society, cultural activities, spiritual culture and cultural aesthetics during the struggle for national independence and construction. Khamphay Vilaphan, Vice Chairman of the Office of the Laos’ National Assembly (NA) expressed sincere thanks to Vietnam Folk Arts Association for the valuable collection of books. These books will help the Lao people understand more about culture of Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups, then the two countries will together build, preserve traditional culture and keep Laos-Vietnam relationship firmly, he noted.    Vietnam, Algeria push sport partnership Vietnam and Algeria have agreed to deepen their sport cooperation following the spirit of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in April 2010. The agreement was reached at a working session between deputy head of the Vietnam Sport Administration under the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Lam Quang Thanh, and Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Mohamed Tahmi, as part of the former’s recent tour. The three-day visit, which started on June 21, aims to promote an action plan and proposals in the field conforming to the 2010-2014 MoU and the 10th session of the Vietnam-Algeria Intergovernmental Committee held in Hanoi from January 8-10, 2014, respectively. During the 10th session, both countries were unanimous to step up all-around affiliation in economics, agriculture, information and communications, housing and urban development, among others. Vietnamese martial arts, Vovinam, have become popular in the North African country, evidenced by the establishment of the Algeria Vovinam Federation (FAVV) last August. There are about 8,000 martial artists practising in 140 Vovinam clubs across the country. International tourism surges in Phu Quoc In the first half of 2014, the Phu Quoc island district of southern Kien Giang province has welcomed 268,000 arrivals, reaching 53.6% of its annual target, up 26% over last year’s same period. Of the figure, there were 72,620 foreign arrivals, achieving 48.4% of the yearly goal, representing a jump of 34.8% over the prior year. The locality earned VND1,014 billion from tourism in the first half of the year, realizing 50.7% of the annual plan for 2014. Huynh Quang Hung, Vice Chairman of Phu Quoc island district People’s Committee said that since early June, the locality has received on average about 5,000-6,000 arrivals per day and the figure is expected to continue. There are slightly more than 4,000 guest rooms on Phu Quoc island and the occupancy rates are at near capacity, with hardly a room to be found, he said. The number of flights on the Hanoi-Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City-Phu Quoc routes have been raised to 20 flights per day. Meanwhile the Russia-Phu Quoc international flights are now at 6 flights each month, are scheduled to increase to 10 flights each month in the near future. Hung noted tourism is booming on the island and that by early 2015, Phu Quoc island is planning to put into operation a suite of luxury resorts, restaurants, hotels meeting four or five-star standards, creating an additional 2,000 guests rooms. A Vietnamese heart towards homeland Loewall Uyen Nhu, an Overseas Vietnamese (OV) residing in Australia, has donated nearly VND50 million to the Vietnam Coast Guard Force that are protecting national sea and island sovereignty. Uyen Nhu, 74 years of age, is one of the millions of dedicated expatriates who have risen to the occasion and are actively supporting the country in the cause of national construction and defence. She expressed her strong objection to China’s illegal deployment of Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig inside Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and said that as a long-standing neighbour with Vietnam, China has turned its back on the sentiment and moral tradition of the two nations. She said she hopes that the issue will be settled soon. Earlier, Nhu donated AUD1,000 to Truong Sa (Spartly) soldiers on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year festival and AUD2,000 to northern border guards. She has actively raised funds for the poor and women in Vietnamese localities, including building a kindergarten in Bac Giang province. VNA boosts ties with Indonesia The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Antara News Agency of Indonesia agreed to strengthen co-operation at talks between top officials yesterday. Antara President and Managing Director Saiful Hadi is currently on a visit to seek stronger connections between the two news agencies. During the talks, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi and Saiful Hadi compared notes on their common concerns, while emphasising the role played by news agencies in enhancing information exchange and friendship between countries, especially among ASEAN members. They also discussed the establishment of a federation of ASEAN news agencies to boost co-ordination at multilateral forums, heightening the role of communications in the resolution of regional and international issues. After the talks, a renewed co-operation agreement to exchange information was signed. The two agencies signed their first agreement in 2001. The new agreement will enable the agencies to continue exchanging English news and pictures for their countries' press agencies. They also pledged to work closely to exchange visits for press correspondents and copy editors in the future. Antara will also support VNA correspondents operating in Indonesia. During their trip, the Indonesian guests toured several key editorial boards and information units at the VNA. Vietnam focuses on training high-quality medical manpower Measures to improve the quality of medical workforce were discussed by health experts during a meeting held in Hanoi on June 24. Organised by the Ministry of Health, the event was participated by representatives from the United Nations agencies, foreign banks, development cooperation and technical assistance agencies, which are Vietnam’s partners in the field, and those from several medical schools and hospital across the country. Speaking at the event, Deputy Health Minister Le Quang Cuong stressed that health manpower is a vital part of any country’s medical system as they hold the key to ensuring the efficiency and quality of healthcare services. He urged participants to deliberate ways to renovate the training programmes in the field, saying that the human resources development is one of the seven priorities of the national health sector in the 2011-2016 period. Takeshi Kasai, Chief Representative of the World Health Organisation in Vietnam said Vietnam should consider reforming the training of health workers as the first step to improve the quality of medical services. He added that the meeting will look into a future working mechanism for Vietnam’s medical partners. The quality of healthcare services in Vietnam has been improved remarkably in recent years. However the country is still facing a shortage of skilled medical workers, especially those for preventive health, and medical units in remote areas. Vietnam hopes to increase the number of doctors nationwide to 9,000 by 2016. It will also pay attention to training general practitioners and developing family health models, while intensifying the training quality. HCM City to host agricultural seeds exhibition The second exhibition on agricultural seeds is set to open in HCM City's Biotechnology Centre in District 12 on June 26, with the participation of nearly 60 companies. The expo will feature 250 booths displaying various products, including seeds for vegetables, flowering and ornamental trees, aquaculture, livestock brood stock and agricultural implements. Le Minh Dung, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the exhibition would introduce quality seeds and brood stock suitable for local conditions in an effort to raise productivity, quality and competitiveness. It also aims to boost the transfer of advanced technology in farming as well as encourage farmers to use seeds with a clear origin. The event will also feature an ornamental-fish exhibition, a competition to find the best orchids, and experts will counsel farmers and visitors on using new technologies in seed and livestock production. There will also be a conference on the application of high technology in creating crop plant seeds, domestic animals and seafood brood stock. Organised by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the exhibition will run until June 29. Initiative donates cattle to families in northern region About 34,000 cows will be given to poor families in northern border areas between now and October 2016 as part of a State plan to reduce poverty in the region. At first, 24,000 cows will be sent to the provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Yen Bai, Son La, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An. Speaking at a Ha Noi conference yesterday, President Truong Tan Sang thanked ministries, agencies and businesses for backing the initiative. Representatives from ministries, companies and localities launched the project with aid of VND394 billion (US$18.7 million), enough to buy 26,000 cows. The conference was co-hosted by the Border Guard High Command, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the Central Committee of Viet Nam Red Cross Society, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Viettel telecommunications group, the State Bank of Viet Nam, and the Viet Nam Bank for Social Policies. President Sang also met yesterday with the proprietors of 75 innovative companies seeking State support in reaching out to more markets at home and abroad. They included award-winners recently honoured for innovation and creativity by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Radio the Voice of Viet Nam. President meets owners of innovative firms Meeting with President Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi on June 24, owners of 75 innovative firms asked for the State support in hi-tech application, which will help them reach out to more markets at home and abroad. They are among award-winners recently honoured for innovation and creativity by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Radio the Voice of Vietnam. President Sang lauded them for outstanding achievements in innovating technology and improving the quality of Vietnamese-branded products. In reply to their request, he assured them that the Party and State highly value the role of science and technology in national industrialisation and modernisation. As the era of trade liberalisation is approaching, enterprises should adopt state-of-the-art technologies to become highly competitive, helping the country become industrialised by 2020, he said. Source: VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/ND