Ha Noi blogger to spend 15 months in jail for slander

Ha Noi blogger Pham Viet Dao has been sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to abusing his rights to freedom and democracy.

The court ruled that his actions had infringed upon State interests, rights and legitimate interests of organisations or citizens under Article 258 of the Penal Code.

The jail term will starts from the date he was detained on June 13, 2013, the court ruled.

The indictment read that Dao, 62, residing in Buoi ward, Tay Ho district, authored three blogs –Phamvietdao3.blogspot.com, Phamvietdao4.blogspot.com and Chientranhtrungviet.blogspot.com – on which he posted 91 articles slandering the Party and State.

At the yesterday's trial in the capital city, Dao admitted his guilt, saying his actions were a result of a lack of awareness of the law. He promised not to repeat his actions.

Dao has 15 days to appeal the verdict.

200kg of black coral seized in Quang Binh

Police in the central province of Quang Binh seized 239 kilos of black coral transported by car on Tuesday.

Tran Anh Tuan, the driver, said that the cargo was being taken from Malaysia to Da Nang International Airport, to be sold in the central province of Ha Tinh.

According to police, the rare coral has a market value of VND3 million (US$150) per kilo.

An investigation is underway.

Woman returns abducted baby

A woman suspected of taking a baby from Hung Vuong Hospital in District 5 on Monday gave herself up to local police yesterday.

Huynh Thi Ngoc Thuy, 37, and her husband returned to the hospital's post-natal faculty to give the baby back to its mother, police said.

Thuy told police that she had had a miscarriage and wanted to have another baby.

The grandmother of the baby had reported the missing baby to the hospital and police.

The police are continuing their investigation.

Northern mountainous region suffers water shortage

Provinces in the northern mountain regions including Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Yen Bai and Hoa Binh are experiencing severe water shortages.

Muong Khuong District in Lao Cai Province is experiencing the worst drought. Local residents living in the limestone geography must carry water 10 kilometers in Din Chin and Ta Gia Khau Commune. It takes the whole day to get 20 liters at public water tanks or rivulets in the mountain.

The two communes have only 3-4 rivulets which run very slowly, said Sung A Tra. Over 1,000 residents experience water shortage and losing 500 hectares of corn grounds.

Residents enter the forest in search for water sources from March to May every year in Bat Xat, Muong Khuong, Si Ma Cai and Bac Ha District, said the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Lao Cai Province.

Besides cold snaps, local people have to reel under unseasonal hot and dry winds in the northwestern region during the dry season every year, said Luu Minh Hai, director of the Hydro Meteorological Center in Lao Cai.

Thousands of residents are experiencing the same condition in Ha Giang Province.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment have surveyed and discovered 23 streams on the Dong Van Karst Plateau in Ha Giang. They are studying to build a system to exploit water for four districts.

These streams are expected to supply 9,000 cubic meters per day to meet demand of about 100,000 people.

Police seize giant shells

The southern coastal Ba Ria-Vung Tau provinces water police have seized 150 giant shells from a local fishing ship.

Each shell measures about 0.6 to 1.2 metres across. The biggest shell weighs more than 70kg.

The shells are believed to be of giant clams, one of the most endangered clam species.

The police brought the shells ashore yesterday and asked the authorised agencies to test them to see whether they are of the giant clam or not.

The exploitation of the giant clam, scientifically calledTridacna gigas,has been banned asit is listed asa rare and endangered species by Viet Nam and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Blaze guts market in Hung Yen Province

A fire broke out during the evening of March 19 at Pho Hien market in northern Hung Yen province.

Despite the heroic rescue efforts of hundreds of firefighters, police, soldiers and local residents the two-storey market was completely destroyed.

Fire engines and rescue forces from nearby Ha Nam and Hai Duong provinces and Hanoi city were mobilized to battle the blaze, before firefighters managed to get it under control.

All told, about 100 traders have been adversely affected and preliminary estimates of the property loss is set at VND300 billion (roughly US$15 million).

Since it began operations in December 2013, the 29,000-sq.m Pho Hien market has been a major venue for traders of garment and textiles, footwear, electric products, food, and home appliances.

Colonel Vu Duy Hien, Head of the Hung Yen City Police, said the fire broke out at approximately 8pm on March 19, and erupted into flames a few minutes later.

Hundreds of people flocked to the site to salvage their wares but were unable to enter the market due to the fierce heat and flames.

The cause of the blaze has been attributed to an electrical short at one of the pavilions.

Gamblers, ring leaders get prison terms in Bac Ninh

The Bac Ninh People's Court yesterday sentenced two leaders of a gambling ring to five years and 42 months in jail respectively.

Duong Anh Duc, 50, from the northern province of Bac Giang got the five-year sentence and the shorter sentence was awarded to Khuat Thi Huong, 48, of Bac Ninh Province.

They will also have to pay fines of VND20 million (US$950) and VND15 million ($710) respectively.

The indictment said Duc and Huong had collaborated in organising the gambling ring since October, 2012. They were caught red-handed together at a massage parlour with 102 other individuals engaged in illegal gambling on December 29, 2012.

Police seized more than VND5.8 billion ($281,000) in cash, 69 cell phones, and two tablets. The court ruled that the money and the gadgets will be submitted to the State Treasury.

The court in the northern province also sentenced 46 other people to between 15 months and four years in prison for engaging in illegal gambling and organising gambling. Probation sentences of 24-30 months were handed down to 38 other defendants in the case.

Localities urged to monitor bird flu spread

Localities need to monitor bird flu virus spread and potency of vaccines, urged the National Steering Committee on Avian Flu Control at a meeting in Hanoi on March 18.

There remain 24 hotbeds of bird flu in 14 cities and provinces, namely Ca Mau, Can Tho, SocTrang, Vinh Long, TayNinh, Dong Thap, Khanh Hoa, Gia Lai, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Ben Tre, Ha Giang, Quang Nam and BinhThuan, reported the Department of Animal Health.

The total number of culled poultry has to date hit nearly 58,000, largely from southern localities with 1.1 and 2.3.2.1 virus strains. The rate of ducks positive for H5N1 virus in the south-western and south-eastern regions make up over 61 percent of sick ducks across the nation.

Deputy head of the Animal Health Department Dam XuanThanh said in addition to bird flu, the foot-and-mouth disease is emerging across the central province of Quang Tri and the northern mountainous province of Son La.

He called on localities to take more samples for tests, offer vaccination, set up quarantine areas while cracking down on the trading of sick or smuggled poultry and their products.

According to the Ministry of Public Health, preventive measures continue to prevent H7N9 entering the country as it has so far affected 390 people in 15 Chinese cities and provinces, of whom 121 were fatal.

HCM City Hall will be open to public

The entire ground floor of City Hall will be upgraded into a public area available to a number of public activities while HCMC’s government offices will move to the upper floor and other neighboring constructions, according to a blueprint suggested by municipal authorities.

“This is an idea in the scheme of comprehensive site planning and architectural design of the city’s administrative center suggested by the city government,” said Nguyen Trong Hoa, head of the HCMC Institute for Development Studies.

The local government will pay close attention to the conservation in designing and development. The city wants to create a cozy relationship between citizens and authorities, he asserted at a seminar on heritage conservation here on March 18.

The city authorities have ordered an immediate repair of block A 255 located on Tran Hung Dao Street in District 1 for a makeshift administrative facility during the upgrade of the central quarter.

The city’s government has earlier approved a plan to host an international contest on idea, site planning and architectural design of central administrative constructions in the area restricted by the streets of Le Thanh Ton, Pasteur, Ly Tu Trong and Dong Khoi.

According to the city’s Department of Zoning and Architecture, the facade of City Hall will be extended to Dong Khoi Street while its rear is divided into two sections, one intended for departments and sectors and the other for the city’s People’s Committee.

Swiss man receives award for building suspension bridges

Tony Ruttimann from Switzerland designed and sponsored all 48 suspension bridges in Ben Tre Province in the Mekong delta. He received the Third Labor Medal in 2008.

Ben Tre is considered to be one of leading provinces in the Mekong Delta region to eliminate cau khi (monkey bridges) and build the most suspension bridges, said Trinh Van Y, chairman of Ben Tre Province's Bridge and Road Science and Technology Association.

After the collapse of the suspension bridge in Cha Va Village in the northern province of Lai Chau, the quality of suspension bridges raised concerns.

Residents praise Ruttimann whenever they cross the suspension bridges, said Dr. Le Khanh in Cam Son Commune when crossing a 40-meter suspension bridge over Binh Phu River.

The association was set up in 2003 when Ruttimann designed three suspension bridges in Dong Thap Province, said Mr. Y. He invited the engineer to Ben Tre Province to solve commuting issues in the intricate canal systems.

The province was much in poverty therefore Ruttimann decided to collaborate with charities in Vietnam and Switzerland to raise funds.

Local citizens and the government constructed pillars as foundations for the bridges. Building a suspension bridge takes only one month. Ruttiman designs the bridges 40-80 meters long, 1.4 – 1.6 meters wide as he just wants to allow only pedestrians and two-wheeled vehicles travelling on.

The Bridge and Road Science and Technology Association appealed to social contribution to build over 1,550 cement bridges in rural countryside districts and over 200 kilometer roads worth over VND250 billion (US$11,860,000) during a 10-year operation.

The association also helped build over 200 bridges in other provinces.

Popularisation stepped up for ethnic, religious policies

The Southwest Region Steering Committee this year will coordinate with ministries, central agencies and localities to step up popularisation work among ethnic minority people and religious followers in the region.

The task was launched by the committee at a conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on March 19.

The publicised content will focus on highlighting the development of the southeastern region as well as its achievements in promoting socio-economic development and ensuring security and defence.

The ethnic and religious policies of the Party and State and action programmes to implement ethnic development work by 2020 will also be on the agenda.

The work will be implemented through different channels, including presentations and dialogues at community meetings.

According to Nguyen Phong Quang, deputy head of the committee, the popularisation work for ethnic and religious people in the region recorded noteworthy results last year.

The committee, in collaboration with central agencies and regional localities, organised 52 meetings with ethnic and religious communities, drawing more than 11,000 participants.

The work helped better the understanding of ethnic minority people, religious dignitaries and followers about the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, especially those related to ethnic groups and religions, he said.

It also raised their vigilance over sabotage schemes of hostile and reactionary forces as well as their pride of national traditions, cultural and religious values, he added.

In parallel with popularisation work, the committee cooperated with agencies and localities to actively implement the Party and State’s policies for ethnic groups and religions, covering socio-economic development, social security guarantees, poverty reduction, vocational training, job generation, health care and support for the poor.

Deputy PM guides preparations for 2014 Vesak

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked relevant authorities and localities to closely work with each other to ensure security and safety for the United Nations Day of Vesak (Buddha’s Birthday, Enlightenment and Passing Away).

Celebrations for the 2014 Vesak will take place in the northern province of Ninh Binh from May 7-12, said Deputy PM Phuc at a meeting with leaders of several ministries, branches and localities, and representatives of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) regarding the organisation of the event.

Phuc was informed that plans for security, traffic safety and fire prevention have been devised.

The government’s Committee for Religious Affairs has partnered with ministries, branches and localities to guide the VBS in carrying out essential tasks.

Under the theme of "Buddhist Perspective towards Achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals", the event, to take place in Bai Dinh pagoda, is being organised by the VBS in collaboration with the International Council for the Day of Vesak.

The event is expected to welcome around 5,000 guests, including 1,500 from 95 countries and territories worldwide.

This will be the second time Vietnam has hosted the event. In 2008, the Vesak celebration in Hanoi was attended by over 600 Buddhist delegations from around the world.

Vietnam honours achievements of the young

A list of the top ten most outstanding young people in Vietnam was announced on March 19 to acknowledge their great contributions to the country.

The honoured individuals have shown their active role and enormous achievements in a wide range of fields, from studying, scientific research, production and business, national security and defence, culture-art, sports, and social activities in the interests of the community.

The finalists were chosen from over a hundred entries nominated by 54 agencies and organisations across the country by a judging panel and online votes via prestigious press agencies such as VTV6 youth channel, Tien Phong (Vanguard), Tuoi tre (Young Age), Thanh Nien (Youth), and VietnamNet.

A grand ceremony will be held in Hanoi on March 21 to present awards to the ten finalists. The winners will then go on to receive rewards from the Prime Minister at the Governmental Office on March 22, before taking part in a trip entitled “Returning to the root” to Hung King Temples in Phu Tho and Tay Thien pagoda in Vinh Phuc.

The ten awardees include Nguyen Duong Kim Hao, a 6th grader in HCM City; Bui Quang Tu, a 12th grader in Hanoi-Amsterdam high school; and Associate Professor and Dr. Le Anh Vinh, born in 1983, from the Hanoi-based National University.

Nguyen Sy Luan, born in 1985, Director of Binh Minh joint stock company, is also among the honoured, together with Dang Quoc Khanh, born in 1978, a military officer in central Nghe An province;  and Mai Hoang, born in 1979, a police officer in north-western Son La province.

Others on the list are Nguyen Dang Quang, born in 1998, from the Vietnam National Academy of Music; Mai Van Phuong, born in 1982, an engineer from the PTSC Geos and Subsea Services Company Ltd.; Lai Van Diep, born in 1980, Director of a handicraft Co. Ltd. for the disabled in northern Thai Binh province; and Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, born in 1996, from a military-run sport and training centre in HCM City.

Vietnam, Germany discuss science-technology cooperation

More than 100 Vietnamese and German scientists gathered at a conference in Hanoi on March 19 to look at ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in science and technology through a number of joint research projects.

Participants discussed water and environment issues, and their international cooperation programme to protect climate and environment by sustainable technology and services.

Key projects such as textile dyeing wastewater treatment, online urban traffic monitoring systems, and strategies for industrial sewage management were also put on the table.

The conference heard that the sewage discharged from the textile industry amounts to 25-30 million cubic meters annually, yet only 20 percent of which is treated.

Experts from the project had met with over 70 Vietnamese companies operating in the fields of dyeing, food, medicine, hospital, and hotel to introduce the latest technologies in treating industrial waste.

Andreas Suthof from the Department of International Relations and European Studies under the Asian Management Institute called for creative solutions and close collaboration between governmental offices and organisations to effectively carry out the joint projects between Vietnam and Germany.

Northern mountainous provinces to benefit more from poverty project

A consultative conference regarding the expansion of a World Bank-funded poverty reduction project in Vietnam’s northern mountainous provinces was held in Hoa Binh province on March 18-19.

The six-year project, starting from 2010, has a budget of 165 million USD with 150 million USD coming from the WB and the rest from the Vietnamese Government.

It targets more than 2,300 villages in 27 districts of the six northern mountainous provinces of Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Son La, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau and Dien Bien.

Participants at the event focused their discussion on the adjustment of the project’s components and how to encourage communes to keep up the activities started by the project.

They proposed the World Bank and the project’s coordinating board organise more training courses in bidding, financial management and contract control for local officials.

In Hoa Binh province alone, the project has helped build farmer groups to grow ginger, passion fruit and sugar-cane in Mai Chau, Lac Son, Yen Thuy, Tan Lac and Da Bac districts, benefiting about 19,000 households.

Conference discusses research nuclear reactor

A conference on the design and safe operation of research nuclear power reactors was held in Da Lat city, the Central Highland province of Lam Dong on March 19.

The conference drew the participation of more than 100 scientists from various countries including Russia, Japan, France, the US and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Experts from the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation (Rosatom) introduced specific features of research reactors in Russia, while sharing their experience in safe radiation and their proposal on the building of new-generation nuclear research reactors.

Meanwhile, scientists from the RoK, Japan and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) focused on the use of nuclear reactors to support nuclear energy development.

They also touched upon safety inspection following incidents at research reactors as well as neutron experiments at Japan’s research nuclear reactor No. 3.

Vietnam took the occasion to introduce the Ninh Thuan nuclear power plant project which is currently underway.

Vietnam and Russia are discussing a plan to build a nuclear technology and research centre in Vietnam , which will help the country train qualified experts in nuclear power.

Vietnam has only one research nuclear power reactor, which was built in Da Lat City in 1960 but stopped working in 1968 and its fuel bars were removed and transferred to the US during 1974-75. The reactor was restored in 1982 with assistance from the Soviet Union and the International Atomic Energy Agency and started operating on March 20, 1984.

It has served research on nuclear and neutron physics as well as on nuclear applications.-

Seminar updates carbon capture, storage technology

More than 50 domestic and foreign scientists gathered at a seminar in Hanoi on March 18 to update advanced carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology.

The function was held by the Vietnam Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources, the Vietnam Petroleum Institute and the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute.

Nguyen Dac Hong, Director of the Department of Science and Technology under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said under the National Target Programme on Climate Change Response, there are a number of researches into ways to reduce CO2 emission, of which CCS is an important one.

At the seminar, foreign experts shared solutions that have been applied by developed countries.

They also suggested areas with geological features suitable for CCS activities in Vietnam.

Participants also tabled the CCS commercialisation, which is encountering financial, technological, environmental and political barriers, and the scenario that the storage fails and carbon is released into the environment.

Italian Red Cross funds reproductive health project in Binh Thuan

The Italian Red Cross (IRC) has funded a project to helped improve reproductive health care for women in the southern central province of Binh Thuan.

Results of the project were reviewed at a seminar held by the Vietnam Red Cross’ chapter in Binh Thuan and the IRC Office in Phan Thiet city on March 19.

The project targeted women between the ages of 15-49 in Tan Tien and La Gi districts, the areas with the highest rates of reproductive health issues in the province.

The project provided consultancy and early diagnosis and treatment for women in the community, and organised campaigns to raise awareness of harmful everyday habits that increase the risk of catching diseases related to reproductive health.

Nguyen Tran Quan, Chairman of the provincial Red Cross, said the project has laid the foundation for more efforts to improve healthcare in the locality, especially in remote and island areas.

During the 2010-2012 period, the IRC also provided 150,000 EUR for similar projects in southern Tien Giang, Binh Phuoc and Long An provinces.

The projects in Tien Giang and Binh Phuoc have benefited 2,100 mothers and 1,800 children.

Saigon shutdowns sidewalk shops in backpacker area

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have enforced a rule to ban all business operations on sidewalks in the Backpacker Area in District 1 in an effort to ensure public order and security there.

Under the newly-issued regulation, all sidewalk shops on Pham Ngu Lao, Bui Vien, De Tham, and Do Quang Dau Streets have been forced to shut down, starting from March 15, according to Le Thanh Tuan, chairman of the People’s Committee of Pham Ngu Lao District.

Tuan said his committee had informed local people and businesses of the shutdown in a meeting held a week before the rule was officially enforced.

He added that vehicles are allowed to park on the sidewalk and local officials will consider allowing local inhabitants who have small houses or are financially poor to run their business in some parts of the sidewalk.

However, Tuan said there is no longer space for trade operations in the area at night.

Pham Thanh Kien, chairman of the People’s Committee of District 1, told Tuoi Tre that they do not have any plans yet to arrange a night trade area to serve visitors to the city’s popular tourist spot.

The HCMC People’s Committee had previously given a two-year license to Cuu Long Commercial & Investment Ltd Company to provide tourists with shopping and entertainment services in September 23 Park.

On Sunday, one day after the rule enforcement, an expat posted on Facebook a photo showing some foreigners placing their bottles of beer on newspaper sheets on a sidewalk on Bui Vien Street instead of sitting in a chair to drink as they did before.

The photo has attracted more than 200 comments in just a few days, mostly coming from expats and foreign tourists.

Some people said they love street food in the area so they might not come there anymore if their favorite street food is not available.

Others supported the government’s rule because they said it will give more space for pedestrians.

The photo was taken by Chris Dewaele, owner of Hidden Café in an alley behind Bui Vien Street.

Chris, who has run his shop for five months, told Tuoi Tre: “Maybe more regulations are needed in the area because sometimes there are a lot of chairs on the sidewalk, making it impossible for pedestrians to walk.”

“But some street shops are also good for the animation and the vivacity of the city,” he said.

The French man estimated that the number of visitors to the backpacker area now drops by 30 percent compared to the previous time.

Ten outstanding young people to receive award

Tien phong (Vanguard) Newspaper has announced ten individuals who will receive the 2013 Vietnam Outstanding Young Talent Award.

This year’s awardees include Nguyen Duong Kim Hao, a 6th grade student at Nguyen Gia Thieu Secondary School, Ho Chi Minh City; Bui Quang Tu, a 12th grade student at Hanoi - Amsterdam High School; Dr. Le Anh Vinh (1983), associate professor at Vietnam National University in Hanoi; Nguyen Sy Luan (1985), director of Binh Minh JSC; Lt. Dang Quoc Khanh (1978) of the Hanh Dich border station, Nghe An Province; Capt. Mai Hoang (1979), deputy police chief of Van Ho District, Son La Province; Nguyen Dang Quang (1998) of the Vietnam National Academy of Music; Mai Van Phuong (1982), chief engineer at PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation; Lai Van Diep (1980), director of the Vu Ninh Company, Thai Binh Province; and Lt. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (1996), a swimmer at National Defense Sports and Physical Training Centre 4.

The award is presented by the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union Central Committee to recognise individuals who serve as role models for the younger generation.

This year’s winners were chosen from a list of 20 nominees who made major contributions or innovations at school or work over the past year.