Road agency: Big bikes can use expressways

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam said it would implement a six-month pilot plan to permit motorcycles with engine capacity of over 175cc to use three expressways.

These expressways are Hanoi-Lao Cai in the country’s north, and the south’s HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay and HCMC-Trung Luong.

However, the agency said when the pilot plan is implemented has not been decided.

Nguyen Van Huyen, general director of the agency, told the Daily that motorcycles could travel on HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay and HCMC-Trung Luong expressways at a minimum speed of 60 kilometers per hour and a maximum speed of 120 kilometers per hour.

However, riders of heavy duty bikes will be permitted to move at a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour at some sections of the expressways whose road surface is not smooth and speed limit signs will be placed at these sections.

Meanwhile, bikers can travel at 60 kilometers per hour to 80 kilometers per hour on Hanoi-Lao Cai Expressway.

To use the expressways, high-capacity motorcycles will have to meet safety and quality requirements and get registration certificates from competent agencies.

In addition to appropriate driving licenses, bikers will be required to wear motorcycle clothing on the expressways. They will be banned from carrying goods or people.

Bikers can use the second lane from the right and next to the lane for emergency stop and pass other motorcycles on the emergency lane.

A representative of Vietnam Expressway Services Engineering Joint Stock Company (VEC-E), the operator of the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway, said although relevant regulations are being drafted, many bikers have used the expressway as they thought the pilot plan has started.

Therefore, VEC-E had to stop them and write to heavy duty motorcycles clubs to make things clear.

Six-year record heat increases encephalitis cases 

Health authorities warn of a sharp rise in encephalitis across the country due to the unseasonably hot summer, with temperatures at hit six-year highs in northern regions.

The Health Ministry reports 136 cases of viral encephalitis to date, with five deaths, and 24 cases of meningococcus, with two fatalities.

Do Thien Ha, deputy head of infectious diseases at the National Paediatrics Hospital, said critical cases had been rising since the start summer.

The HCM City-based Paediatrics Hospital No.1 has been treating a lot of children with encephalitis. Truong Huu Khanh from the hospital said Japanese encephalitis is the most dangerous form, with fast-moving complications.

“Many children who represent with a fever have to go on respirators because they can't breath, and face months of hospital care," Khan said.

He urged parents not to dismiss fevers in their children but seek medical help, particularly if the fever is accompanied by vomiting or convulsions. They should also have their children vaccinated.

Doctors warned of infection risk at public swimming pools, particularly for viral encephalitis, which can spread in water that is heavily used and not properly monitored in hot conditions. Water treatment can be erratic or inadequate, with some pools being treated with toxic chemicals.

The Health Ministry requested localities to tighten control over encephalitis to prevent its spread.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said northern Vietnam is experiencing hot weather not seen for six years. High-30s to low-40s have persisted for more than a week, but temperatures should start to drop by May 30.

An El Nino has been declared by international meteorological authorities for the Western Pacific region and will likely cause higher summer temperatures for the next two-to-seven years.

VND15 bil spent on supporting disadvantaged children

The National Fund for Vietnamese Children has planned to spend nearly VND15 billion (US$6,882,312) to help children of low-income families in all disadvantaged corners of the country in support to the month-long action program for children themed “ Listening to children" from June 1 to 30.

These activities in the month-long action program include meeting with 55 needy children who study well.

The Fund will launch the action program in the northern city of Hai Phong and expect to raise VND20 billion (US$917,641) from organizations and individuals who advocate charity activities and projects for disabled and disadvantaged children.

The Fund will host a ceremony to honor 200 needy children who study well in some provinces in the northwest.

On the occasion of the action program, leaders of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the National Fund for Vietnamese Children May 26 visited and presented gifts to children who went to Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in Hanoi for treating and seeking consultation for maxillo-facial deformities.

Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Hong Lan gave gifts to 40 children coming from the northern provinces of Thanh Hoa, Ha Giang, and Thai Nguyen each worth VND700,000(US$32.1) including cash and gifts.

The National Fund expected to sponsor around 6,000 unfortunate and needy children across the country with total spending of VND76 billion (US$3,483,262)

Scorching weather raging in central Vietnam, with likely max temp of 41°C

The ongoing scorching weather in central Vietnam will continue in days to come, with some areas suffering high temperatures of 41 degrees Celsius, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting has warned.

On Tuesday, the highest temperatures in many central provinces reached over 39 degrees Celsius, and the hot weather will likely continue until the end of this month, the center said.

If the ongoing hot weather lasts until May 31, this heat wave will be the longest in the past 15 years in Vietnam, said Le Thanh Hai, deputy director of the center.

The hottest temperatures, up to 41 degrees Celsius, are likely to be recorded on Thursday and Friday (May 28 and 29) in some areas from Thanh Hoa to Ninh Thuan Provinces in the central region.

Today, May 27, the scorching heat continued in the central part, with Nghe An Province suffering a high temperature of 39.2 degrees Celsius and Ha Tinh Province experiencing heat of up to 39.1 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, central coastal provinces will have average highs of 36-39 degrees Celsius, but some areas may suffer heat of over 40 degrees Celsius, the center said.

The hot spell is affecting the northern region as well, with high temperatures there possibly reaching 39 degrees Celsius.

At 11:00 am today, the temperature in Hanoi was 35 degrees Celsius, and was forecast to rise to 37 degrees Celsius by 3:00 pm.

Around the evening of May 30, a cool snap will enter northern Vietnam and ease the hot weather there, the center forecast.

Power cutoff delayed due to heat wave

The Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) has decided to delay the cutoff of electricity until May 29 due to a heat wave in Ha Noi.

Earlier this month, the EVN had announced the schedule of power cutoffs in many districts to maintain services as regulated.

The corporation has urged local people to use electricity economically, especially at peak hours.

According to the corporation, due to hot weather, power consumption has been increasing dramatically in May as compared to other months of the year.

On May 20, power consumption exceeded 101 per cent as compared to last year's day of highest consumption.

A shortage in power supply has been forecast for this summer. The corporation has asked their companies to prepare plans and complete all upgrade and repair works to meet the power demand of the city's people during this summer.

Authorised agencies to collect waste products from consumers

The Prime Minister has issued a decision on the collection and treatment of waste products.

Under the decision, authorised agencies will collect and treat waste products such as batteries, electrical and electronic equipment, lubricants, and tyres from July 1, 2016.

The electrical and electronic equipment include compact and fluorescent bulbs, computers, computer screens and CPUs, printers, fax machines, scanners and cameras, and mobile phones, besides DVD recorders, television sets, air-conditioners and washing machines, as well as refrigerators.

Transport vehicles such as motorbikes and cars, which cannot be used, will be collected in July 2018.

The decision makes the manufacturers take responsibility for collecting their waste products.

The consumers are also responsible for handing over the waste products to individuals or entities charged with collecting waste products.

The decision will take effect on July 15 this year.

Central city on high alert for forest fires

Central city's forest department has put forest fire alert at level 5 (top dangerous level) as temperature in the city and central region hit 36-38 degrees Celsius over the past week.

Head of the city's forest management department Tran Van Luong told Viet Nam News yesterday that any careless action by local people can trigger a huge fire.

He said all firemen and fire-fighting vehicles and equipment have been put on alert since Tuesday.

Luong noted that rangers in Hoa Vang, Lien Chieu, Son Tra, and Ngu Hanh Son districts had been sent to inspect and ensure that local people refrained from using any inflammable material or fire for farming. Their tasks also included communicating precautionary measures to communities living near forests.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, central provinces may touch 40 degrees Celsius.

Drought in the area is expected to become more severe as forecasts have ruled out rain for the next few days.

The city has a total forest area of 67,148ha, of which over 43,000ha is special use and protection forest and two nature reserves – Ba Na and Son Tra.

In 2012, a serious fire destroyed 100ha of forest on Hai Van Mountain Pass in Lien Chieu District.

27-km upgraded Highway 1A opens

The central province of Quang Nam has opened the first 27.7-km section under the expanded and upgraded National Highway 1A project, built on a total investment of 1.6 trillion (US$76 million).

This is also the first project to become operational in central and Central Highlands Province.

The section, which took 26 months for preparation and construction, winds through Phu Ninh, Nui Thanh District, and Tam Ky city. Developed on a build-operate-transfer basis, the section has six lanes for vehicles travelling at a maximum speed of 80km per hour.

The expanded and upgraded National Highway 1A project will see the expansion of 672km of the total 1,887km and the 663-km Ho Chi Minh Highway Project, which passes through the Central Highland region and spreads across 23 provinces and cities from the north to the south of the country.

Viet Nam, Sweden join hands in health sector

In the coming time, Viet Nam's health sector should focus on minimising hospital overcrowding, upgrading healthcare system at the grassroots level, and ensuring health insurance for all.

At a conference held by the Ministry of Health and the Embassy of Sweden in Ha Noi today, experts noted that for a sustainable healthcare system, the management of service costs should also receive more attention.

The country should also improve food safety and hygiene and environmental pollution.

Pham Le Tuan, Deputy Minister of Health, said that over the past years, Viet Nam has made a number of important achievements in the country's healthcare system and has reached most of the targets in the Millennium Development Goals. However, the system still has challenges to overcome.

Typically, with more than 65 per cent of the total population of 90 million people living in rural areas, their access to healthcare facilities is not as good as that of people living in urban areas. Besides, hospitals in urban areas are overcrowded, with occupancy rates reaching 150-200 per cent.

Tuan observed that the country will need investments to construct more hospitals in both rural and urban areas and upgrade the existing ones.

Camilla Mellander, Sweden's Ambassador to Viet Nam, said her country has contributed to Viet Nam's healthcare system by assisting in building the National Paediatrics Hospital in Ha Noi and the Viet Nam-Sweden Hospital in northern province Quang Ninh.

In the coming time, the two countries will coordinate to train workforces and staff for the healthcare sector. Sweden will assign experts to give technical support to Viet Nam.

One child dies from eating poisoned crab

One child died and another was hospitalised here yesterday evening after they ate a crab that had been poisoned by plants it had consumed prior to being caught.

The siblings, Ngo Thanh Cao, 10, and Ngo Thanh Tai, 8, were sharing the crab, when 15 minutes later, Cao vomited and died on the spot. The family, residing in the central province's Vinh Tan Commune in Vinh Linh District, took Tai to the local hospital's emergency room.

The crab had been given to the family by a relative, who had grabbed the crustacean on local Con Co Island. They had cooked it as part of the children's dinner.

Tai is now recovering after doctors pumped his stomach to remove the poison. The crab is endemic to the island and living in the hollows by streams. Locals have used the crustacean as food for centuries.

A doctor said the crab had eaten some poisonous plants before it was caught and cooked.

Charity helps improve learning environment

American technology company Honeywell and NGO ActionAid yesterday wrapped up a project to improve the learning environment for 1,800 students in three schools in Dak Lak and HCM City.

Nguyen Thi Minh Khai and Tran Phu primary schools in Dak Lak and Tran Van On primary school in the southern metto received donations of tables, chairs, bookshelves, and four computers each loaded with library software, books, and study materials.

It was done as part of ActionAid's "Small Bricks-Big Changes" programme to better learning conditions for poor children, with Honeywell providing US$25,000.

The programme aims at improving the education of at least 10,000 children by the end of 2017.

Ha Noi apartments fit to burst

Many people living in Ha Noi's apartment buildings have complained about cramped and stuffy conditions caused by high density living and poor facilities.

Many are trying to sell and move to more people-friendly locations.

Pham Minh Tuyet, a resident in a building in the BEMES Kien Hung Apartment Complex in Ha Dong District said she was trying to sell her 60-square-metre apartment.

"The residential garage area is so small that it can only hold motorbikes. Those who own cars must park around the building or even in child play areas," she said.

"I sometimes have to ask for help to get my motorbike out because everything is jammed in so tight," Tuyet said.

She said she was also annoyed that the elevator was full of people in the mornings and afternoons.

The building complex consists of three buildings on one hectare. There are 22 apartments on each floor.

Dai Thanh apartment complex in Thanh Tri District's Ta Thanh Oai Commune is in a similar situation. About 13,000 people are living in six buildings covering two hectares. The small yard next to each building is the only open space for residents, but it has been taken over by household businesses.

In Kim Van-Kim Lu Apartment Complex in Hoang Mai District, residents in CT12B Building complained about a parking area built for 4,000 motorbikes but actually stores up to 6,000.

Pham Giang, a resident in CT12B Building said he moved into his 54.3 square-metre apartment last December, but is now trying to sell or rent.

Ngo Doan Duc, former vice chairman of the Viet Nam Architecture Association, said that apartment investors focused on sales and forgot about creating a comfortable and convenient living environment.

He said many investors even asked to use the land fund for public areas to build more buildings or villas. This is why many apartment buildings lack public areas, such as halls, parks and cultural rooms.

The building of schools and kindergartens was also often left to last or forgotten.

Duc blamed the situation on bad management by authorised agencies that grant licences for the projects.

Pham Sy Lien, vice chairman of Viet Nam Construction Association, said the law only required a building licence and did not require certificate of completion. This created a loophole that investors would use to change their initial design and make more profit.

Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tran Nam has asked the municipal Construction Department to re-examine the granting of licences to projects.

VN Red Cross Society kicks off blood donation campaign

The Viet Nam Red Cross Society and the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion have launched a blood drive to mark the 152nd World Red Cross Day.

The annual donation campaign, this year titled the Nguyen Du Street Blood Donation Festival, was launched on Tuesday to support the summer 2015 campaign Nhung Giot Mau Hong (Red Drops of Blood).

Hundreds of Hanoians in Hai Ba Trung District's Nguyen Du Ward have joined the humanitarian event so far.

Early this month a blood donation campaign titled Hanh Trinh Do (Red Journey) was held for the third time in Da Lat.

Previously held in July 2013 and 2014, Red Journey collected more than 28,300 units of blood.

More than 1.15 million low-income people in rural areas received free medication and 90,000 received health advice.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health is working on the draft law on blood and stem cell donation, which it will submit to the National Assembly in 2016.

In 2014 more than 1.05 million units of blood were collected during the drive, 8.4 per cent higher than the amount recorded in 2013.

The donations were used to treat a large number of patients in need of blood.

According to the World Health Organisation, Viet Nam needs about 1.8 million units of blood per year.

VN to simplify insurance procedures

The Viet Nam Social Insurance will implement several measures to simplify health insurance procedures to motivate more people to buy insurance.

The measures are being taken after the number of people buying health insurance in the first three months this year fell by 1.4 million, compared with the end of last year.

The measures are aimed at curbing the fall and to help a targeted 75 per cent of the population buy health insurance this year.

Under the plan, the Viet Nam Social Insurance will co-ordinate with the Ministry of Health (MoH) to spread awareness about the benefits of health insurance.

The measures being taken in provinces and cities, where only 60 per cent of the population have bought health insurance, will be checked.

The procedures involved in collecting health insurance will be simplified and made easier to implement.

Health insurance will be allowed to be collected twice a year now, instead of just once a year earlier.

Experts from MoH said one reason for the fall in the number of people buying health insurance was that poverty decreased in some communes, and so they did receive support from the State budget to buy health insurance.

Some enterprises also reduced their staff at the beginning of this year due to the economic crisis.

In addition, some residents did not understand the regulations related to health insurance, affecting the number of health insurances being bought by households.

Getting lists of households buying health insurance was also difficult because communes and wards people's committees did not pay enough attention to this work and did not think that it was their duty.

Provinces and cities also did not have detailed guidance about inspections in enterprises. Thus, some of the enterprises either owe or have evaded payment for their workers' health insurance.

Farmers’ Association honours Arthur Erken

Arthur Erken, a representative of the United Nations Population Fund in Vietnam (UNFPA), was honoured on May 26 by the Vietnam Farmers’ Association (VFA) at a ceremony in Hanoi.

Erken has played an instrumental role in assisting Vietnam implement effective population strategies involving issues such as family planning, domestic violence, gender imbalance and other challenges.

Nguyen Quoc Cuong, VFA President, presented the honour to the UNFPA representative.

In accepting the award, Arthur Erken thanked the VFA for the accolade and affirmed that he would continue to support Vietnamese partners in solving emerging population problems in the future.

Vietnam intends to raise health insurance coverage

Vietnam aims to lift the rate of people with health insurance to 75 percent in 2015, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has said.

In the first quarter of 2015, exactly 63,157,544 people purchased health insurance, equivalent to 69.7 percent of the total population.

It is over 2.3 million more people than were covered in the first quarter of last year, but also 1.4 million fewer people than the figure from the end of 2014.

According to the MoH, there are many reasons leading to the reduction, including localities’ changes in poverty alleviation policies and shifting workforces in companies.

Challenges in the implementation of household health insurance have also contributed to the decline.

To overcome those challenges, the MoH aims to boost the rate of insured households and cover more target groups, including near-poor households, farmers with average income, workers and students.

Health insurance payments will be made easier and more convenient by simplifying procedures.

Solutions sought to effectively manage natural resources

Domestic and foreign environmentalists gathered at the 16th conference of the International Resource Panel (IRP) under the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Hanoi on May 27 to discuss solutions to effective and sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources.

Deputy Minister Bui Cach Tuyen said growth in the Southeast Asian region is mainly based on exploiting natural resources, which increases socio-economic and environmental challenges.

Vietnam, in particular, has to face with rising environmental pollution and biodiversity declination, he said.

Ashok Khosla, Co-Chair of the IRP, said humankind is facing serious problems as consequences of overexploitation and ineffective use of natural resources such as land, water, food and energy.

He hailed the Vietnam Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for its commitments to seeking measures to deal with environment challenges in the country.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is an active member of the IRP which is responsible for seeking solutions to poverty elimination, job generation, and economic development in line with effective and sustainable utilisation and management of natural resources.

The conference, to run until May 29, will discuss global environmental issues such as green growth, ecological system, land, and food. Several initiatives and solutions pertaining to marine resources – an issue of great concern in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, have been put forward at the event.

Lord Buddha’s birthday marked

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi visited the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) headquarters in Hanoi on May 27 on the occasion of Lord Buddha’s 2559th birth anniversary.

On behalf of the municipal agencies, Nghi extended their best wishes to the VBS and Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers.

He highlighted contributions of the VBS and its Hanoi chapter as well as Buddhist followers over the past years to the city’s development.

He said he hopes that the VBS will continue contributing to the capital’s development.

Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu, Vice Chairman of the VBS, thanked the local authorities for their help for the VBS’s activities.

Established 34 years ago, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) now has chapters in all 63 provinces and cities.

Quang Nam province holds fire-fighting training

Local residents joined relevant forces in an exercise to deal with fires at the Cu Lao Cham (Cham Island) world biosphere reserve in central Quang Nam province on May 27.

During the drill, co-organised by the provincial Ranger Department and Hoi An city People’s Committee, hundreds of border guards stationed on Cham Island were mobilized together with local forest rangers to put out the fire.

In addition, the medical staffs gave first aid to the injured and transported them to the hospitals.

According to head of the provincial Ranger Department Phan Tuan, the drill offered useful experiences for local community in dealing with fire during the dry season, especially when Cham Island is 25km away from the mainland.

Cham island biosphere reserve is currently home to 1,500 hectares of special-used forests.

Green growth: Securing the future for Vietnam businesses

The Vietnam government has moved aggressively to style itself as a leader amid the global push to de-carbonize and reduce greenhouse emissions said Trinh Minh Anh, a Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) official.

If we fail to achieve sustainable economic development Vietnamese businesses face a future of increasing resource scarcity and competition, Anh said at a seminar on May 27 in Hanoi addressing the nation’s overall green growth strategy.

The continued environmental degradation and unabated climate change impacts will be catastrophic for the nation’s economy, he stressed.

Industries such as seafood, garment and footwear currently must follow strict quarantine and environment standards of foreign countries or face having their exports banned and suffer devastating financial consequences.

However, most businesses’ financial capacity is limited while their infrastructure is weak and technologies are out of date, resulting in numerous violations of environmental protection regulations.

It is way past time for Vietnam to prioritize goods and services and to encourage businesses to apply environmentally friendly technologies to minimize pollution, Anh stressed.

Nguyen Huy Hoan, another MoIT official in turn revealed that the MoIT plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8-10% compared to 2010 and use mineral resources more effectively to fuel production.

In addition, a representative from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) reported that the cost of climate change accounted for 2-6% of GDP, which is equivalent to US$3-9 billion.

Meanwhile the representative said Vietnam needs around US$30 billion to invest in implementing an effective green growth strategy.

Last but not least, Nguyen Tuan Anh from the MoIP proposed the Government should devise a legal framework for green growth and encourage the private sector to join the movement.

First external information service awards presented

The first ever National External Information Service Awards 2014 (in the field of press) were presented at the Vietnam News Agency’s headquarters in Hanoi on May 27.

The awards were organised by the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communication and Education and the Central Steering Committee for External Information Services.

The presentation ceremony was attended by Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh; and Politburo member Dinh The Huynh, who is the Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education, and Head of the Central Steering Committee for External Information Services. It also saw the presence of officials of some central committees, ministries and sectors, key press agencies of Vietnam, and award winners.

From the call for nominations on December 8, 2014 to the closing date of March 31, 2015, 515 entries from many Vietnamese and foreign press and media agencies were submitted.

They included 255 print newspaper entries, 68 online newspaper entries, 14 radio entries, 79 television entries and 99 press photo entries.

The entries were created in 10 languages: Vietnamese, English, French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Lao and Bulgarian. Entrants included journalists, experts, researchers, Vietnamese expatriates and some foreigners.

Entries for the awards varied considerably in categories and content that comprehensively reflected Vietnam’s political, economic, cultural and social life and reviewed important events in the region and the world in 2014.

They also introduced the great achievements made in the “Doi moi” (renewal) process and national development and defence; promoted images of Vietnamese land, culture, and people to the world; communicated the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws; and refuted fabricated information and distorted arguments on Vietnam, especially regarding important and sensitive issues as well as emerging issues of public concern such as sea and island sovereignty, borders and territory, ethnic and religious affairs, democracy and human rights.

After the preliminary and final judgment rounds, 59 entries were selected for the first, second and third place awards as well as consolation prizes in five categories: print newspaper, online newspaper, radio broadcasting, television broadcasting and press photo.

In total, there were five first prize winners, 10 second prize winners, 13 third prize winners, and 31 consolation prize holders.

Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, Dinh The Huynh congratulated the individual and group prize winners and affirmed that the National External Information Service Awards 2014 was a success.

He stressed that at present, external information services are benefitting from numerous new opportunities while also facing an array of challenges.

He said agencies working on external information services need to understand the importance of their work, regularly renovate and improve the efficiency of services offered and continue implementing the Strategy for the development of external information services in the 2011-2020 period of the Political Bureau so as to help promote Vietnam’s prestige and win over the assistance of the international community and overseas Vietnamese communities, thus creating favourable conditions for the cause of national development and defence.

Outstanding works among the winning entries will be chosen to print and publish in several languages.

Poor communes in Tra Vinh get financial assistance

Twenty-nine very-poor communes in the southern Tra Vinh Province recently received financial aid worth VND47 billion (US$2.16 million).

The aid will be used for developing infrastructure facilities and production, aiming at increasing the incomes of the ethnic minorities.

According to the provincial Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee, VND37 billion of the total money will be used for building and maintaining infrastructure facilities, roads and public works of electric supply stations, and irrigation systems, besides clinics, post offices and cultural houses in the communes.

The rest of the money will be spent on carrying out production assistance projects.

The projects will give loans to poor households for raising livestock and cultivation. Training courses on fisheries and agricultural development will be held for households to help them improve their knowledge of family economic development.

Deputy head of the provincial Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee Son Tuoi said for implementing the programme of infrastructure development in poor communes in 2014-15, the province planned to build 101 facilities, costing VND73 billion (US$3.34 million).

So far, 65 works have been completed, while 18 others are being constructed. The total disbursement was VND44 billion.

The province has set aside VND17 billion (nearly US$780,000) to provide assistance to the local people in production development.

So far, the province has given VND9 billion (US$412,800) to 1,116 households for expanding cultivation and livestock breeds and to buy production machines.

Judgements made public in bid to improve transparency

The Supreme People's Court yesterday launched the publication of a collection of selected court judgements.

The publication was in three volumes covering criminal, civil, commercial and administrative judgements of the Supreme Justice Council during 2010-12.

The publication was supported by the European Union, Denmark and Sweden who funded the Justice Partnership Programme.

Bui Ngoc Hoa, Deputy Chief Justice of Viet Nam, said at the launching ceremony, the publication strengthened transparency in the adjudication of the judiciary and the commitments of Viet Nam towards international integration.

For internal purposes, he said the publication of cessation and re-opening decisions of the Justice Council was a significant instrument in promoting transparency and publicity in court adjudication.

"It provides directions for judges in deciding similar cases and promotes predictable decisions for the public," Hoa said.

Representatives of universities said the publication of three volumes was a useful source of reference for legislators, lecturers, researchers and law students in the period involving Viet Nam joining the World Trade Organisation.

The volumes will be provided free to the Supreme People's Court, province and district-level people's courts, ministries, universities, research institutes and libraries.

Those who interested can access www.toaan.gov.vn to read the full collection of these volumes.

The publication of judgements was part of Viet Nam's judicial reform strategy.

Representatives from the Central Judicial Reform Steering Committee, Supreme People's Court, Supreme People's Procuracy, Ministry of Justice, National Assembly, law firms, universities, embassies, international organisations attended the launching ceremony.

Disadvantaged students praised for outstanding academic performance

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on May 27 to recognise the academic achievements of outstanding students from disadvantaged backgrounds.  

Co-hosted by the National Fund for Vietnamese Children (NFVC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the event honoured 55 disadvantages students from 11 provinces and cities nationwide for their academic excellence in the past school year.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister Dao Hong Lan said the government has implemented several policies that support children and young adults in their development, such as healthcare, education and child protection laws.

During the ceremony a number of musical and arts performances were held.

The honoured students were awarded gifts and scholarships to help them continue their education despite their disadvantaged backgrounds.

The event was organized on the occasion of the International Children’s Day June 1.

Also on the occasion, a month of action for children entitled “Listening to children” will be launched across the country from now to June 1, with a focus on promoting laws and policy as well as actions on ensuring children’s right to participate.

Numerous activities are also planned for the action month such as presenting gifts and scholarships for disadvantaged children as well as inaugurating facilities for children.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri