Police uncover huge ATM fraud operation in Nha Trang

Police in the central province of Khanh Hoa has arrested three foreigners for using counterfeit ATM cards to withdraw money from banks’ ATMs.

The detainees were KorneevValentin Nilolov, born in 1960, Genov Aleksandar Simeonov, born in 1969, and DimitrovIliyan Plamenov, born in

1987, from Bulgaria, who arrived in Vietnam on August 14, 2013 via Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City.

Colonel Truong Vinh Quang, head of the PA92 investigation division of Khanh Hoa provincial police, said on September 9 that the three

foreigners were arrested on September 8 when they were caught illegally withdrawing money from ATMs in Nha Trang city.

It was a premeditated and well-planned fraud operation said colonel Quang, adding that his colleagues seized many exhibits, including more than

210 fake ATM cards, US$13,000, VND105 million, 5 mobile phones, 3 electronic chips, and 1 ATM scanning machine, and a round-shaped

electronic device. According to preliminary investigation, the three suspects admitted their violations. They installed devices at ATMs in Nha

Trang city to clone information from ATM users, and then steel money from their accounts by using counterfeit ATM cards with PIN codes.

They successfully withdrew VND96 million from eight counterfeit cards at ATMs of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV)

and VND15 million at ATMs of the Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint- stock Bank (Techcombank).

Functional agencies and local police forces are broadening the scale of investigation.

Hanoi public-service companies urged to present income report 

The Hanoi Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has requested 11 local public-service firms to inform them of the income of their officials and staff.

The move followed a recent scam in HCM City in which the leaders of four public interest companies were accused of embezzlement from employees' salaries. As a result of this fraud they received an annual salary of VND 2.6 billion (USD123,809). They are now suspended and awaiting punishment for their actions.

These companies were found to have manipulated their books and contracts with employees in order to pay extremely high wages to managers while cheating low-level staff.

Speaking with a DTiNews reporter, the department Deputy Director, Nguyen The Hung, said, despite being required to turn over information concerning the income and insurance of leaders and staff, the department has not yet received any report from the companies.

Earlier, Head of the Propaganda and Training Commission, Phan Dang Long, said that the violation is unlikely to harm public-services in the city.

Meanwhile, Deputy Director of Danang City’s Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Van An confirmed that the salary of general director of Danang Urban Environment Company, is VND22 million (USD1,047), double that of the directors of some local departments, while the deputy director’s salary is around VND20 million (USD952.4).

Four arrested for golf store raid

A gang of four have been arrested for stealing US$35,000 worth of currency from a golf software company in the capital's Thanh Xuan District, with police treating the incident as an inside job.

Hoang Thi Thu, 26, from Thai Nguyen Province, had worked as an interpreter for Golf Jon Company and decided to stage a break-in with her boyfriend and two younger brothers after she was fired.

Thu later confessed to the police that she organised an off-site farewell party on August 29, but arrived 30 minutes late, during which time the four burglars cut the company's power and CCTV system before breaking into its safe.

Around $6,000 and VND600 million ($29,000) in cash was taken during the break-in.

The alleged thieves remain in custody under further investigation.

Plough jackknife kills one, injures nine

One person was killed and nine others injured when a tractor transporting workers overturned in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong's Da Oai District yesterday morning.

The dead woman has been identified as Nguyen Thi Du, a local resident.

The other nine injured were rushed to the provincial Dinh Quan District Hospital and Da Huoai District Medical Centre, where one is said to be in critical condition.

Authorities to crackdown on toy shops

With the Mid-Autumn Festival fast approaching, authorities are beginning a nationwide crackdown on the markets expected to see increasing demand during the holiday.

The Ministry of Science and Technology have revealed that in recent inspections, over 30 per cent of examined toy shops were found to be violating regulations on goods ownership and proof of origin.

Out of 340 toy shops checked in the last month, 92 have been fined for not providing accurate labelling while 12 have been penalised for selling products without a conformity regulation (CR) stamp

"Most of these toys were smuggled across the border without certificates of origin," explained Tran Minh Dung, the ministry's chief inspector, to Ha Noi Moi newspaper.

In the capital last month, authorities discovered many dangerous toys being transported and purchased by illegal means.

Last Monday, market watch teams found and confiscated over 1,000 smuggled toys in two shops in Hang Giay and Luong Van Can streets.

On August 27, another team seized over 100 plastic toy guns and swords with unclear origin in a warehouse on Duc Giang street in Long Bien District.

The forbidden products were said to belong to the Ha Noi Industry Construction Joint Stock Company, who may have been planning to sell them during the Mid Autumn Festival.

City police previously discovered a truck transporting over 7,000 toy guns of many types in Hoang Mai District, all of which were banned from being sold.

"There are a great many toys in the market nowadays, and many varieties. The management of the products' CR stamps, as a result, is difficult," Dung said.

He also added that the current fine of VND10-15 million (US$480-720) levied on violators, regardless the scale of their wrongdoing, was not strong enough to prevent them from selling smuggled toys.

He attributed this reason for the meagre collection of only VND45 million (over $2,000) from violators during the inspection period, even though 104 people were found to have broken the law.

"Decree 80, effective this Sunday, will hopefully solve this shortcoming as it specifically refers to punishment levels basing on quantity and quality of goods which violate trade regulations," Dung said.

Vietnam, Japan reviews cooperation projects

A ceremony was held in Dien Bien province on September 9 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan.

Participants reviewed the implementation of JICA-funded projects in Dien Bien and enjoyed a photo exhibition on the results of Vietnam-Japan cooperation over the years.

Pham Duc Hien, Director of the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said that Dien Bien has three technical projects funded by JICA- one on rural development in the southwestern part of the province, another on Sustainable Forest Management in the Northwest

Watershed Area and a pilot project on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+).

The total investment cost is estimated at VND312.6 billion, of which 95.7% come from Japan’s non-refundable aid and the remainder from the Vietnamese government's counterpart funding.

 Kenji Murata, a representative of JICA Vietnam Office, said that since the two countries established diplomatic ties, Japan has paid due attention to providing the efficiency of its investment projects with a focus on agricultural and rural development in the northwestern region of Vietnam.

Lo Van Tien, Vice Chairman of the Dien Bien provincial People’s Committee, expressed his thanks to the Japanese Government for providing the largest amount of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, wishing that Japan would continue to assist Dien Bien to reduce poverty and move toward sustainable growth.

Leader of RoK-Vietnam Friendship Association hornoured

Choi Young Joo, Chairman of the Republic of Korea (RoK)-Vietnam Friendship Association, was awarded Vietnam’s Friendship Order in Hanoi on September 9.

Addressing the event, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Chairman Vu Xuan Hong praised Choi Young Joo’s active contribution to strengthening Vietnam-RoK ties of cultural exchange, education, economy-investment cooperation, and charity.

In reply, Chairman Choi Young Joo pledged to do everything possible for the benefit of ever-lasting friendship and cooperation.

Choi Young Joo is now Chairman of the Board of Panko Company located in Binh Duong province. The company has created more than 7,000 jobs for local workers.

More Vietnamese nurses in need in Japan

Japan is asking Vietnam for help supplying them with more nurses and caregivers.

Toshio Terashita, president of Shinseikai Terashita hospital explained to VIR that the hospital had been training Vietnamese nurses and caregivers for about six years. At present, only one Vietnamese therapist is working at the hospital.

"We want to use more Vietnamese nurses, caregivers and therapists. Many Japanese hospitals are racing to lure them from Vietnam," Terashita said.

"Among foreign employees at Japan's hospitals, those from Vietnam are most highly valued because they are skilled, patient and diligent.

Besides, Vietnam often trains nurses and caregivers in Japanese before sending them abroad, while other countries don't do that," he said.

He noted Japan's issues with an aging population. Some 65 per cent of our people are elderly, while Japanese families only produce 1.4 children each, and few Japanese want to pursue a career in nursing and caregiving.

"As a result, Japan suffers from heavy shortages," he said.

At present, Japan is reported to be in need of about 40,000 nurses and some 150,000 caregivers. So, those from Southeast Asian nations, especially from Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia, are preferred most as Japan and these nations share many cultural similarities.

Under the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) on sending Vietnamese nurses and caregivers to Japan inked last year, about 300 nurses and caregivers will be sent to Japan for training every year.

Under the EPA, Japan would also help Vietnam build a system to appraise the quality of nursing care in Vietnam and provide certificates for nurses and caregivers after they finish their studies in Japan.

Vietnamese nurses and caregivers can work for seven years in Japan under the EPA. This time can be lengthened if they want to continue.

Training fees come from Japan's official development assistance to Vietnam.

However, Terashita said that the implementation of the EPA remained slow, making it difficult for Japan to attract more Vietnamese nurses and caregivers.

Nanohanaen, a nursing home for the elderly in Chiba prefecture, is reported to be receiving only two nurses next year from Vietnam via cooperation with a Vietnamese human resource firm.

"The slow implementation of the EPA will prevent Vietnam's medical professionals from experience operating high-tech medical equipment, while Japan is finding it difficult to promote such technologies in overseas markets, for example Vietnam, and training foreign workers in how to use them," Terashita said.

According to Vietnam's LOD Human Resource Development Corporation, which sends Vietnamese nurses and caregivers to Japan, Vietnam is now training 182 Vietnamese nurses, who will go to Japan next year, in Japanese language and other soft skills.

Vietnamese, Lao peace committees fortify links

The Vietnam Peace Committee (VPC) and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity (LCPS) have agreed to cooperate more closely in the coming time.

The agreement was reached during talks in Hanoi on September 9 between National Assembly Vice Chairman and VPC President Uong Chu Luu and LCPS President Khamphan Simmalavong.

Accordingly, both sides will facilitate high-ranking visits, share the working experience of social and non-governmental organizations in each country and offer personnel training in external relations.

At the same time, they will assist each other to promote multilateral people-to-people activities, jointly deal with climate change, and properly tap Mekong River natural resources, while working with other people’s organisations to popularise Vietnamese and Lao cultures and tourism services.

During its 5-day visit to Vietnam, the Lao delegation will also meet with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), and the Ho Chi Minh City chapters of VUFO and VPC.

APLAC 2013 underway in Da Nang

Technical meetings and the 19th General Assembly of the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC 2013) opened in the central city of Da Nang on September 9.

During the five-day event, representatives from 26 member countries and institutions will attend a plenary meeting, technical meetings, and a meeting of the Technical Committee and the Mutual Recognition Arrangement council.

This year’s function will review the implementation of the mutual recognition of regional laboratories, inspection and certification bodies to minimize administrative barriers among member countries.

Founded in 1992, APLAC acts as a steering agency of accreditation bodies and harmonises accreditation practices in the Asia - Pacific region.

A licence granted to a product when it meets the quality standard in an APLAC member country will also be valid in other member nations, saving time and money for exporters.

The Bureau of Accreditation of Vietnam, established in 1990, now manages nearly 700 laboratories, inspection and certification bodies across the country. It became a member of APLAC in 2000.

Vietnam, RoK increase labour cooperation

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Employment and Labour (MOEL) held a seminar in Hanoi on September 9 to increase labour and employment cooperation between the two countries.

Participants reviewed the results of bilateral cooperation over the years and agreed that experts from both ministries will negotiate for the early signing of a special Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

They appreciated Vietnam’s efforts in reducing the number of illegal workers in the RoK and speeding up the implementation of a cooperative programme on sending Vietnamese labourers to the country, MOEL Minister Phang Ha-nam was quoted as saying.

During the seminar, both sides signed a cooperation agreement on labour and employment. In addition to existing cooperative realms including labour hygiene and safety, vocational training and social insurance, the agreement focuses on expanding bilateral cooperation to ne areas such as labour management and improving sustainable employment.

RoK helps Vietnam build space database

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the environment, space and land management database.

The MoU was signed in Hanoi on September 9 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and the RoK Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Addressing the signing ceremony, MONRE Deputy Minister Nguyen Manh Hien said the RoK is a leading country in building space and land management database in Asia, expressing thanks to the RoK ministry for its support in the field over the years.

The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that the RoK ministry will continue to support the MONRE, especially in training.

HCM City, Shandong set closer friendship

Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Shandong province agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the city on September 9 to reinforce their friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Signatories were Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Hua Ngoc Thuan and Shandong Deputy Governor Xie Geng.

Under the MoU, both sides will push forward cooperation in agriculture, trade, science-technology, tourism, environmental protection, culture and education.

Added to this, they will also actively share information and facilitate visits while forging more effective exchanges and cooperation.

Welcoming Xie Geng earlier, Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan hailed the signing as a move that will usher in long-term cooperation opportunities between the two sides.

He said his city can learn from Shandong’s expertise in developing infrastructure like underground railways and seaports.

Seminar discusses Vietnam-RoK nuclear cooperation

A seminar on nuclear cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held in Hanoi on September 9 by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

It is part of activities held during Korean President Park Geun Hye’s on-going visit to Vietnam, which include an exhibition on Vietnam’s future nuclear industry and seminars on human resources training for the nuclear industry in Vietnam.

MOITE Minister Yoon Sang Jick expressed his hopes that cohesive energy strategy between the two countries will further develop and gain success through specific collaborative programs, creating more development opportunities for relevant industries in Vietnam. The RoK has said it will support Vietnam in sci-tech development.

Nuclear power is environmentally friendly energy which is crucial for green growth. The RoK ranks fifth in the world in nuclear power with a capacity of 20,716MW. The country wants to share its extensive experience in supplying nuclear power solutions and successful management of nuclear power plants, Yoon said.

At the seminar, delegates also shared information and discussed new ideas regarding important issues on the two countries’ nuclear power policies, and feasible study, fuel, maintenance, equipment and human resources development in the field of nuclear power.

Dong Nai Province to scrap temporary rubbish dumps

Southern Dong Nai Province will eliminate temporary rubbish dumps once all its planned waste treatment zones with plants and dumps begin operation, according to the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

Of the nine planned, six are already in operation, it said.

The province has 28 temporary dumps now after 13 were closed this year.

They caused environmental pollution and affected the lives of nearby residents, the department said.

They will be converted into rubbish collection points for transport to the treatment zones.

All the temporary dumps in Bien Hoa city and Tan Phu, Cam My, Xuan Loc, and Thong Nhat Districts would be eliminated by the end of this year, the department said.

Thong Nhat, for instance, has five of them, and after they become collection points, the waste will be transported to the nearby Quang Trung Waste Treatment Zone for treatment.

It collects around 30 tonnes of domestic waste daily.

In Dong Nai, around 91 per cent of the total waste generated is collected and treated, the department said.

Danang hosts Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation review

Delegates from 26 countries and territories met at the Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (APLAC) conference in Danang City on September 9.

The annual meeting aims to review the implementation of a mutual recognition policy in accreditation with common standards for laboratories, and inspection and certification bodies to minimise trade barriers in administrative procedures among its member countries.

During the conference which runs until September 14, participants will attend technical and plenary meetings.

APLAC was established in 1992 with nearly 30 members. It manages and coordinates between member countries in implementing criteria for laboratories, inspection and certification bodies. Thus, each qualified product that meets the quality standard in an APLAC member country will

have equal value in other countries, helping export businesses save time and expense.

The Vietnam Laboratory Accreditation Scheme was set up in 1990 under the management of the Ministry of Science and Technology. It now manages nearly 700 laboratories, inspection and certification bodies across the country. It plays an important role in Vietnam’s economic integration and development through providing quality product certification services.

It has become an official member of the APLAC since 2000.

Early detection vital in battle against hepatitis

Screening for hepatitis should be more prevalent in Viet Nam, particularly in remote and mountainous regions, so the incidence of liver cancer could be reduced.

The statement was made by Professor Bui Duy Tam, chairman of the International Liver Foundation for Viet Nam.

He, who is also chairman of the San Francisco-HCM City Sister City Committee, told Viet Nam News that hepatitis is often a silent disease in which symptoms do not appear until the liver is severely damaged.

"At that point, it is too late for treatment," he stressed.

Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are the main causes of liver cancer, cirrhosis and acute liver failure, he said.

Dr. Ho Tan Phat, deputy head of Cho Ray Hospital's digestive and liver diseases ward, told local media that the treatment method for primary liver cancer caused by hepatitis B and C was a liver transplant.

However, finding liver donors is difficult and the cost for a transplant runs into the hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong.

Phat said that preventive methods against hepatitis such as vaccines should be taken, and that early detection and treatment was critically important.

Tam also said that preventive measures against liver disease were always more effective than treatment for hepatitis B and C viruses.

The vaccine for hepatitis B prevention has been shown to be very effective, he said.

From 1984 to 2004, Taiwan's vaccination programme has reduced the incidence of hepatitis B from 10 per cent to less than 1 per cent in children, according to Tam.

In 2010, only 0.1 per cent of children under one year old had been infected with the hepatitis virus.

Tam said that children and adults should be checked for hepatitis A, B or C with a blood test.

If the blood tests are negative for hepatitis B infection or exposure, the patient needs to take three vaccine shots over six months to prevent liver

disease and further complications.

If the test is positive for HBsAg or is anti-hepatitis C, doctors can provide a second evaluation with possible monitoring and proper treatment.

Tam said that more education activities about the disease and vaccinations were needed in Viet Nam.

Since 2009, the International Liver Foundation for Viet Nam has worked with many hospitals to carry out the Viet Nam Liver Project which aims to educate the Vietnamese public, train health professionals and provide screening, vaccination and treatment services to the public.

In the project, students of medicine and pharmacy universities, particularly nursing faculties in Viet Nam, are screened and receive vaccination shots as they are exposed to a higher risk of transmission of the virus, Tam said.

More and more people have been infected with the hepatitis B and C viruses in recent years, Tam said.

"The bad news is that one in every 10 people has hepatitis B or C with ongoing hepatitis and even may have no knowledge about it," he added.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Viet Nam is one of the top nine countries with the highest incidence of hepatitis in the Western Pacific Region.

As of July, 10-20 per cent of the total population has been infected with hepatitis B, and 4-5 per cent with hepatitis C.

Statistics released in 2010 showed that in the last 10 years, the hepatitis B infection rate had doubled from 10 to over 20 per cent in the provinces of Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien Hue, Tam said.

In large cities such as Ha Noi and HCM City, the percentage was increasing because of high population density and prostitution and injectable drug use, he said.

Many people in Viet Nam, especially those living in remote villages or ethnic minorities in mountainous regions or fishing villages, have not had the habit of being screened for detection, he said.

The number of children infected with hepatitis B in Western-Pacific countries including Viet Nam is not less than 2 per cent, according to the WHO. This is primarily due to the low number of children getting the vaccine.

From 2003 to 2006, the number of babies in Viet Nam vaccinated 24 hours after delivery fell from 94 per cent to 60 per cent.

Ministry proposes support to poor women in remote districts

The Ministry of Health has proposed to the government to offer more support to low income women living in remote and disadvantaged districts.

The Ministry suggested all healthcare treatment be given free for these women in state-run medical facilities.

Moreover, the Ministry wants to provide meal support to low income female patients in case they have to stay in hospitals for long time for treatment or giving birth.

In addition, the Ministry also suggested transport fee support from house to clinic and vice versa. According to the Ministry, disadvantaged women must even receive support when they come to hospital for prenatal check-up.

As per statistics, the country has around 1.2 million poor households that belong to ethnic minority groups. Supposing that each poor house has one woman then the country has 1.2 million poor women.

An average examination of a person is 1.64 times a year and the rate of inpatients is 6 percent. Accordingly, total spending for support of women is estimated around VND52 billion (US$ 2,444,031) per year.

VNA/SGGP/Dantri/NhanDan/VNS/VOV