Social News 26/11 Crane collapse traps several workers   A crane with a load capacity of several tonnes suddenly collapsed yesterday at Tan Thuan Port in HCM City's District 7, trapping many workers. The number of fatalities and injured people remains unknown. At 11.30pm yesterday, the crane broke while it was being used to unload cargo from a vessel of the Viet Nam Ocean Shipping Joint Stock Company. The crane fell down on the cargo and the workers near the vessel. Several rescue workers have been mobilised to save those trapped in the debris. Three ambulances have been kept ready to take the victims to hospital. The site of the accident has been cordoned off for further investigation. Cold weather shoulders over northern region A cold front is hitting the northern region of Vietnam which caused medium to heavy rains on a large scale, reported the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center yesterday. Currently, the highest temperature in the northern mountainous provinces dropped rapidly at 11- 14 degrees Celsius, at 8- 10 degrees Celsius at Sa Pa town in Lao Cai. The cold weather impacted directly to the west northern and northern central provinces yesterday evening; and according to forecast weather, the cold weather will come south, impacting the mid- central and southern central region in the upcoming days. Because of the influence of the cold front, provinces from Thanh Hoa to Khanh Hoa will see medium to heavy rains.Deep fog will appear in the areas of Ho Chi Minh City and Central Highlands. By evening today, showery weather is  to occur in Ho Chi Minh City. On November 27, sunny weather without rains and 24- 33 degrees Celsius temperature will experience in Ho Chi Minh City. Executives face trial on embezzlement charges The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City yesterday commenced a preliminary hearing for two defendants involved in a major embezzlement scandal at the Agribank Financial Leasing Company No 2 (ALC II). This is one of the eight key cases that the Central Steering Committee on Anti-corruption requested to bring to trial before the 12th National Party Congress, slated for early 2016. According to the indictment, Vu Quoc Hao, former Director of ALC II and Dang Van Hai, ex-Chairman of Quang Vinh Construction and Trade Co Ltd, were prosecuted for "misappropriating public property" and "intentionally violating State regulations on economic management that causes severe consequences." In 2014, Hao received a death sentence and a life sentence for commiting embezzlement and abusing power and position in several other cases. In the current case, he borrowed VND60 billion (US$2.64 million) from Le Hoang Tam, Director of the Hai Phong-based Dai Duong shipbuilding company. Hao transferred the money to Chairman of the Ham Rong Company Le Van Phong to invest in the Truong An apartment project in Thuan An commune of southern Binh Duong Province and buy land in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City. To pay debt, Hao and Hai signed financial leasing and false contracts to withdraw money from ALC II. Using "blank/fake" contracts signed with Quang Vinh Co., Hao transferred to Quang Vinh VND120 billion ($5.2 million) from ALCII, and pocketed VND75 billion ($3.3 million) of the amount. Also in 2007, Hao ordered the establishment of Cat Long Hai Joint Stock Company, an affiliate of ACL II. Then he directed his subordinates at the new company to buy an old submarine for VND100 million ($4,700). Hao colluded with members of the Vietnam Verification and Appraisal Joint Stock Company (VIVACO) to falsely assess the value of the old ship at VND130 billion ($6.15 million). He later appropriated VND78 billion (nearly $3.7 million) and used the money to buy 90,000sq.m in Tien Giang Province. The indictment stated that Hao and Hai violated Articles 165 and 278 of the Penal Code. According to the law, the highest penalty for such violations is the death sentence. The hearing will run until November 30. Ca Mau waterway accident kills two, injures seven The authorities are investigating the cause of a waterway accident that killed two people and injured seven yesterday afternoon at Sat Co Bridge in Ca Mau Province's Ngoc Hien District. The accident occurred in the southernmost province when a speedboat carrying nine people, including seven tourists and a tour guide, from Dat Mui District to Nam Can District, accidentally hit Sat Co Bridge's main pier. The collision killed 24-year-old Ly Thai Son, the steersman from Ca Mau, and 27-year-old Dang Quoc Dai, the tour guide from Khanh Hoa Province. Neither of them was wearing a life jacket. Their bodies were recovered several hours later by a rescue team. The lives of the seven tourists were saved, thanks to the help extended by local residents and authorities. They received only slight injuries and were sent to Nam Can and Ca Mau hospitals for treatment. All seven tourists left for HCM City today. ASEAN mutual recognition deal to help boost Vietnam tourism quality The implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement on Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) in ASEAN is an important step to boost Vietnam’s tourism quality, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Head of the VNAT, said in order to take advantage of the MRA-TP and the tourism integration in ASEAN, management agencies, tourism companies and training establishments will have to improve their capability as well as have policies of drawing competent employees. In preparations for the establishment of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN countries have signed 8 Mutually Recognition Agreements, including the one in tourism, with the goal of facilitating the mobility of skilled workers in the region, thus promoting trade and investment. The ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Once formed, the ASEAN Community will create a market of more than 600 million people with combined GDP of more than US$2 trillion. Thai vessel caught selling contraband oil to fishing boat A foreign vessel and a Vietnamese fishing boat were taken by the Vietnamese coast guard to An Thoi Port in Phu Quoc Island today after being captured while illegally trading fuel in Việt Nam's south-western waters on Sunday (22 Nov). The Thai-flagged V.Lucky, with five Thai sailors on board, was caught red-handed selling diesel to the boat at 9.30pm at the maritime border between Viet Nam and Indonesia, according to the Commander of the Maritime Police Zone 4. It was carrying 170,000 tonnes of diesel and a Thompson sub-machine gun with 17 cartridges. In Vietnamese fishing vessel BS-50048TS, the coast guard found three Vietnamese sailors and a fake foreign number plate (R. M. Sinar 144). The Maritime police Zone 4 was quoted by Tuoi Tre newspaper as saying that many cases of illegal fuel trading have been found in the south-western waters this year. ASEAN journalists to meet in Vietnam The 18th General Assembly of the Confederation of ASEAN Journalists (CAJ) will take place in Vietnam on November 27 with the participation of delegates from ASEAN and international organisations. A ceremony will be held on the same day to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the CAJ, the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) said on November 25. The year 2015 holds a significant meaning in the history of development of the ASEAN and CAJ given the establishment of the ASEAN Community at the end of the year. The VJA will launch a photo contest highlighting the active engagement of ASEAN journalists in raising public awareness of climate change. Established in 1975, the CAJ is comprised of journalist associations of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. The VJA joined the confederation in 1995, the same year when Vietnam became an ASEAN member. The CAJ is the largest press organisation in the region, which has set itself the goal of promoting free and responsible journalism in the bloc and increasing mutual understanding among ASEAN member nations for prosperity, equality, and peace in the bloc. Vietnamese Ambassador congratulates Laos on National Day Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Manh Hung have congratulated Lao Party and government agencies on the 40 th anniversary of Lao National Day (December 2). Ambassador Hung said the Vietnamese Party, State and people are delighted at achievements that the Lao counterparts have scored over the past 40 years, especially during the 30-year renovation period. He expressed belief that the 10 th National Party Congress of Laos will be a success that puts Laos on track towards further success in the future. On the occasion, he also thanked the Lao Party and people for their support to the Vietnamese during the national defence and construction, and affirmed that Vietnam will do the utmost to strengthen the Vietnam-Laos special relationship. Sounthone Sayachac, head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, said the achievements of the Lao Party, State and people are thanks to the sacrifice of many Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts and the great help of Vietnam. Deputy Foreign Minister Salomsay Commasith, for his part, said he believes that the time-honoured, special and comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Laos will last forver and continue flourishing. Measures sought to prevent sexual violence against women Experts gathered at a policy forum in Hanoi on November 25 to share information on sexual violence against women and girls and seek solutions to this problem. The forum was jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam in response to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (November 25) and the National Communication Campaign “Eliminating Sexual Violence against Women and Girls”. According to participants, about 35 percent women and girls on the planet have experienced at least one form of physical or sexual violence in their lifetime. Violence against women and girls still exists as one of the worst violations of human rights in the world, becoming an obstacle to efforts to boost development, peacekeeping and equality in society. Vietnam, in its development and international integration, has always paid attention to implementing measures to ensure social welfares and promote sustainable development. Ensuring human rights, including those of women, and gender equality has been asserted in the country’s constitution and legal system. There is no gender gap in access to education at all school levels. Women account for 48.8 percent of labour force, 24 percent of National Assembly deputies and 25 percent of business owners. A survey by the Master Card International Financial Group showed that Vietnam reached 66 out of 100 points in the women advancement index, ranking fifth among the 16 surveyed countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The index is based on three criteria, including occupation, education and leadership capacity. Delegates also proposed high-quality support services such as health care, psychological support and legal assistance, ensuring all victims can access these services. It is necessary to raise public awareness of gender violence, especially sexual violence, they said. Ministries and sectors should build national statistic data on sexual violence against women and girls in all environments while continuing to amend and enforce laws on it, they added. Public transport be key to urban transport Developing public transport is an important solution to facilitating the travel of people, reducing traffic jams and improving traffic safety, thus contributing to economic growth, said Deputy Transport Minister Le Dinh Tho. He made the statement at a seminar on sustainable urban transport and the sharing of experience in this field between Vietnam and Sweden, which was jointly held by the Transport Ministry and the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam in Hanoi on November 25. The deputy minister said the ministry is working to better mechanisms and policies to attract more foreign investments in terms of both capital and advanced technology in Vietnam’s transport infrastructure, especially public transport. The ministry welcomes cooperation in this field with foreign investors, particularly those from Sweden, as Sweden is lauded by the world for its success in making and enforcing traffic safety-related policies and developing sustainable public transport. Swedish Ambassador Camilla Mellander stated that with a growing economy, Vietnam will face numerous challenges n urban development. Therefore, a transport system with reasonable costs will help residents travel at the shortest time. According to Head of the ministry’s Transportation Department Tran Bao Ngoc, Vietnam is seeing a rapid increase in the number of vehicles, especially in major cities. Ho Chi Minh City now has around 7.2 million vehicles, including 659,000 cars and more than 6.5 million motorbikes, while Hanoi has 543,000 cars and over 5 million motorbikes. Meanwhile, around 10,000 buses are running on nearly 500 routes in the country. According to public transport development orientations, by 2020, public transport should meet 25 percent of travel demand in Hanoi, with urban railway making up 2-3 percent. The percentages for Ho Chi Minh City will be 20 percent and 4-5 percent, respectively. However, Vietnam currently lacks a land fund for transport, which negatively affects the development of sustainable public transport, Ngoc said, proposing investing in upgrading transit stations to ensure smooth connection between public transport means like buses, trains and taxis, with the focus on Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang. JICA urges speeding up wastewater treatment project in southern city The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has urged authorities of the southern province of Dong Nai to accelerate the signing and implementation of a wastewater treatment project in the industrial city of Bien Hoa. At a working session with the provincial People’s Committee on November 25, JICA representatives said the agency hopes the project can be signed during the 2015 fiscal year after 8 years of negotiations. Bien Hoa is looking for Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding for a wastewater treatment project which has a total cost of 12 trillion VND (533 million USD). Tran Van Vinh, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the wastewater treatment project play an important role in controlling flooding in Bien Hoa city. He suggested the agreement on the project be signed in the first quarter of 2016. International Friendship Day to connect international alumni The International Friendship Day 2015 will take place at Ban Nguyen Lake in Phu My Hung, District 7, Ho Chi Minh City on December 6 to connect generations of Vietnamese alumni who studied abroad. The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the municipal Departments of Culture and Sports, External Relations, and Education and Training; the city’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union; and the International Alumni Network (iAN). The International Friendship Day, themed “Vietnam Go Global” this year, hopes to gather ideas and experience of the alumni for the city’s integration process. It also creates a venue for cultural exchange to strengthen friendship between participants. A series of workshop will be held as part of the event where attendees discuss what international alumni could do to contribute to the national integration, which abilities enterprises require from the alumni, and how to start a business. An exhibition will take place to display traditional costumes and folk games that represent the cultures of Vietnam and other countries, alongside a music festival featuring a mixture of Vietnam’s folk music, pop and symphony performed by both local and foreign artists. Vietnam, Hungary share experience in environmental issue Vu Trong Kim, Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, received Director General of Hungary’s National Directorate General for Disaster Management (NDGDM) Major General Tollar Tibor in Hanoi on November 25. Tibor was accompanied by managers of the Hungary-based GAMA Corporation. During the meeting, Major General Tollar Tibor expressed his hope that his visit would contribute to strengthening friendship between Vietnam and Hungary. Hungary and its NDGDM are willing to share experience with Vietnam in atomic energy safety, firefighting and natural disaster response, he affirmed. For his part, Kim said Vietnam is developing nuclear power plants and large-scale industrial parks which face threats of fire and natural disasters. The visit of Hungarian delegation is a good opportunity for the two sides to discuss and exchange practices in rescue and relief as well as environmental issue and disaster management, he said, hoping for closer cooperation between the two countries. During the visit to Vietnam, the delegation gave an automatic air monitoring station to the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA) and shared experiences with the Fire Prevention and Fighting Police Department and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency. Celebration promotes Vietnam-Denmark friendship Important milestones and achievements in cooperation between Vietnam and Denmark were highlighted at a celebration to mark the 43rd anniversary of Vietnam-Denmark  diplomatic relations held in Hanoi on November 25. Addressing the event, President of the Vietnam-Denmark Friendship Association Tran Hong Ha reviewed results of all-around relations between the two sides over the last four decades, while stressing great potential and opportunities for further promoting their ties. He appreciated support and collaboration of the Danish Embassy in Vietnam in promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries and their peoples. Ha also spoke of contributions made by the embassy in enhancing cultural and art exchange between the two sides, affirming that the Vietnam-Denmark development cooperation programme in culture in 2011-2015 has contributed to Vietnam’s development and integration in the field. For his part, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Charlotte Laursen hailed Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in recent years. He said he hopes the Vietnam-Denmark relations will enter into a new chapter with stronger development in the future. The country is now Vietnam’s largest provider of non-refundable aid in the European Union. In 2014-2015, a total of 90 million USD of non-refundable aid from Denmark was disbursed for Vietnam in the fields of green growth, climate change adaptation, private sector development, clean water, culture and public administration. Two-way trade between the two countries hit 480 million USD in 2014, up 6.45 percent from the previous year. The annual event to enhance connection between the two nations was hosted by the Vietnam-Denmark Friendship Association. Last group of Vietnamese workers return home from Algeria The last 18 out of 49 Vietnamese workers in Algeria who wished to return home after a dispute with their Chinese employer flew home on November 25. The workers are expected to arrive at the Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport at 2:40 p.m. on November 26. The repatriation was made under an agreement signed on November 1 between Simco Song Da, the company that sent the workers to Algeria, and the Chinese employer in Algeria, Dongyi Jiangsu Co. Ltd. Earlier, the first 13 workers landed home on November 17 and another group of 18 workers returned home three days later. Seven workers who expressed their wish to stay in Algeria will sign a contract appendix with new norms. To conduct the repatriation, Simco Song Da has to pay 1,700 USD per worker to compensate its Chinese partner. The amount is equal to what each Vietnamese worker has to refund to their employer to end their contract ahead of schedule. In early October, Vietnamese workers contracted to work for Dongyi Jiangsu Co. Ltd at a construction site in Khenchela province, more than 460 km east of Algiers, called for help after being beaten by their employer. Under the contract, the workers should be paid based on working days and on a monthly basis. However, when they arrived in Algeria, the Chinese employer wanted to change to piecework payment. After the Vietnamese workers opposed the change, they were assaulted by the Chinese employer on September 16. Two workers, Dau Hoang Anh and Dao Ngoc Cuong, were injured during the assault. Simco Song Da is due to have a working session with the Vietnamese workers who returned home ahead of contract expiry on December 16. Vietnam transgender people celebrate historic legal recognition Hundreds of people have gathered in downtown Ho Chi Minh City night to celebrate a newly approved law that recognizes rights for transgender people. Despite the rain, people laughed, cried and hugged each other in happiness on Nguyen Hue Street, in front of the townhall. They shouted out: “We are transgender people" and “Thank you National Assembly." Some hold banners that read “Trans rights are human rights” and “We are writing history." The approval of the Amended Civil Code, which will take effect in 2017, is a humane decision that is expected to help end discrimination against transgender people, they said. The law will, for the first time, allow people who have undergone gender reassignment to register under the new gender. “Registering for an ID card with my true gender identity is no longer just a dream. I will no longer be embarrassed when applying for a job and other papers,” said Gia Ky, a transgender woman. Tran Anh Vu, 23, said she always wanted to change her name to Tran An Vy but could not. “I have fought for my true identity since I was a teenager,” she said. Huynh Minh Thao, communication manager of Ho Chi Minh City-based LGBT network ICS, said that it was a very special day for LGBT people, especially transgender people, when their rights were finally recognized. “This is a great development. I am really happy and proud. I hope the National Assembly will introduce detailed regulations on the issue soon.” Transgender people have faced discrimination in their family, school and society and many have to work in unstable jobs or do sex work, he said. “With the decision today, Vietnam has untied the knots to help transgender people be recognized by the society and face no more discrimination.” Cao Kim Chau, a 50-year-old mother of a transgender man, said she was very happy. “Love and understanding will win. Any parent loves their children. It is true that I want my son to be free and happy,” she said. Tang Ai Linh, a transgender man who got married to a woman 10 years ago, said his marriage has been recognized by family, and not under the law. “The new law is a victory of love and humanity,” Linh told Thanh Nien. AO effect on pregnancy at Vietnam’s hotspots still high The damaging effect of Agent Orange/dioxin on pregnancy at three hotspots in Vietnam is still serious, according to the latest research conducted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Science and Technology. The findings were announced at a scientific conference held on November 24 by the two ministries. According to Professor and Doctor Tran Duc Phan from Hanoi Medical University, the dioxin chemicals used by the US military during the war in Vietnam before 1975 continue to cause high rates of miscarriage, stillborns, and congenital malformation. It is serious at the three hotspots including the Danang and Phu Cat airports in the central region and the Bien Hoa terminal in the south, where the US military kept large amounts of dioxin chemicals during wartime. The ministries surveyed 1,500 pregnant women in Danang’s Thanh Khe District, 6,600 mothers-to-be in Phu Cat District of Binh Dinh Province, and 1,551 expectant women in Bien Hoa City, which is the capital of Dong Nai Province. This file photo shows US environmental experts working in a dioxin clearance project at the The results showed that the rate of miscarriage was 3.79% in Thanh Khe, 6.57% in Bien Hoa, and 4.45% in Phu Cat. The rates of death in womb were 1.59% in Thanh Khe, 2.38% in Bien Hoa, and 0.49% in Phu Cat. “Researchers discovered a link between abnormality in pregnancy and exposure to dioxin-related chemicals,” Dr. Phan said. Specifically, the rate of miscarriage in Thanh Khe and Phu Cat in 2013 was even higher than that in 2001. “We recommend that all women of child bearing age must be prescribed folic acid before their pregnancy,” said the doctor. From the 1950s to 1975, the US military sprayed 80 million liters of dioxin chemicals on forests and residential areas in Vietnam. Christian Fellowship Church of Vietnam opens 4th congress The Christian Fellowship Church of Vietnam (CFCV) commenced the fourth congress at its headquarters in Thoi Tam Thon commune of Ho Chi Minh City’s Hoc Mon district on November 25. The Reverend Huynh Huyen Vu from the CFCV said the congress, the Church’s biggest religious activity, is attended by nearly 700 dignitaries and followers from over 40 provinces and cities nationwide, along with domestic and international guests. The CFCV has the largest scope of operation among the 10 licensed Protestant organisations in the country at present, he noted, adding that the Church has actively contributed to charitable work as well as the national development. Addressing the event, deputy head of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs Bui Thanh Ha highly valued efforts by the CFCV’s dignitaries and followers. Their activities have thrived in the past several years with an increase in the number of places of worship. The Church has also engaged in charitable work such as offering humanitarian aid to its H’Mong ethnic followers who were victims of a bridge collapse in the northern mountainous province of Lai Chau, funding the repair of houses for flood victims, and providing supports for underprivileged students, he added. The official also highlighted the active participation of the CFCV’s followers in campaigns on building civilised lifestyle in residential areas and local cultural and economic activities. The CFCV’s fourth congress is scheduled to run through November 27. Japanese cherry trees to bloom in Hanoi The capital city received 161 cherry trees (Sakura) from the friendship association in Japan’s Fukushima City on November 24, reported the Ha Noi Moi Newspaper. Some of the trees have been planted at Thang Long Citadel Complex, where the handover ceremony took place. The others will be planted at several locations across Hanoi, including the spiral-shaped Co Loa citadel, Hanoi Museum and Hoa Binh Park. The presence of the renowned Japanese symbol in the capital city is expected to bring Japan’s culture closer to locals, and foster ties between Hanoi and Fukushima. Khmer festival takes to the water Fifty-five teams from the Mekong Delta provinces of Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Kien Giang participated in the Long Boat Race Festival of the Khmer people in Soc Trang province from November 23 to 25. The men's teams competed in 1,200m races while the women's teams took part in 1,000m competitions. This year's event includes an experimental long boat made of composite materials. The annual boat race is one of the highlights of the many traditional historical and cultural events of the ethnic Khmer people in the Mekong Delta. The long boat (locally called ngo) is considered a sacred object of the Khmer people. The boat is made of wood by artisans and Khmer Buddhist monks. It is decorated with images of dragons, tigers, elephants, lions and peacocks representing the power of the boat. The boat race is an activity celebrating the Ok Om Bok Festival held on the 15th day of the 10th lunar month with art performances, traditional sports and games, and release of paper lanterns into the air and on the river. During the festival, people pray for good luck, happiness, good weather and a bumper crop. The festival aims to preserve the cultural heritage of the Khmer and promote the tourism potential of the province. This year's festival will also include a wide range of activities including parachute performances. The Soc Trang provincial authority has asked the local tourism and hospitality industry not to raise hotel room fees and service prices during the festival. Vietnam attends international charity Bazaar Vietnam’s traditional culinary arts fascinated foreign friends at the International Bazaar held at the UN Headquarters on November 24 to raise funds for disadvantaged children around the world. The event, held by the UN Women’s Guild (UNWG) in Geneva, the Permanent Missions accredited to the UN, Geneva government authorities and businesses, drew the participation of 60 foreign diplomatic offices and international organisations. According to UNWG President Christine Evequoz, the bazaar has become a premier event in the international community. She highlighted that the event featured international fine arts, craft and food stalls selling wares and a lottery with over 200 prizes to be won. In addition to excellent cuisine from around the world, visitors had a chance to enjoy a joyful atmosphere brought about by talented dancers, singers and music bands. The total money raised through the event amounted to 300,000 CHF (295,300 USD), which will be used to help needy students and support scholarship programmes. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri