English website on boundaries launched

The Viet Nam Sovereign Boundaries Committee of the Foreign Affairs Ministry has officially inaugurated its English language website to present official information, reports and announcements about Viet Nam's boundaries.

The website http://biengioilanhtho.gov.vn/eng/home is the official source for news and information about the nation's policies and viewpoints on national sovereignty and features information about events and Party and State leaders' activities related to boundary management and protection.

The website also features information about protocols and conventions on delimiting territories, territorial waters and border gate management and provides access to international legal documents relating to Viet Nam's sovereignty for the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.

The ministry designed the website to improve citizen awareness on boundaries and strengthen friendly relations with neighbouring countries. It has received more than 57 million hits since the Vietnamese language page launched in 2009.

Truck trapped by pothole in HCMC downtown

The pothole causing the accident on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

The vehicle suddenly fell into the pothole when passing a road section in front of Thi Nghe Post Office near Thi Nghe Bridge on Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street in Binh Thanh District.

At the scene, the wheel of the car entirely swallowed by the hole measured 50 centimeters, 30 centimeters, and 1 meter in length, width and depth respectively.

The driver had tried to push the accelerator as hard as possible, but the truck could not get out until local residents joined hands to push it from the back.

The accident was initially said to be caused by the weak surface of the road.

Workers from HCMC Urban Sewerage Co then rushed to the area to erect barriers around the pothole position to fix it.

Many such accidents have taken place in HCMC in the last 2 years.

Quang Tri Province to receive US$2.9 million for land mine clearance

The central province of Quang Tri will receive US$2.9 million from Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) to clear mines and the remains of explosives left behind after the nation's wars.

The funding comes under an agreement signed between NPA and Quang Tri Province's People's Committee yesterday on implementing a project for environmental recovery and repairing the consequences of war.

The project aims to minimise the number of accidents, injuries and deaths caused by mines and explosive remnants that are still present years after the end of the nation's wars.

Under the project, Vietnamese people will be provided with internationally-standardised skills to safely destroy mines and explosives, and clear land that has been polluted by mines.

Funding will be provided to Trieu Phong, Cam Lo, Hai Lang and Dakrong districts to implement the project from 2012 to 2014.

At the signing ceremony, standing vice chairman of the committee Nguyen Duc Chinh committed to requiring localities to closely co-operate with NPA to effectively carry out the programme.

NPA is one of Norway's largest non-governmental organisations, founded in 1939, and has been involved in mine clearance activities since 1992. It is currently engaged in more than 300 projects in 30 countries.

The organisation began offering financial and technical assistance for Viet Nam mine clearance activities in 2007.

Island receives 50 electric generators

The Viet Nam-China Friendship Association yesterday donated 50 electric generators using clean energy to residents in Con Co Island of central Quang Tri Province. This was part of the project "Friendship Light Viet Nam-China" organised by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Le Quang Lanh, secretary of the Con Co District Party Committee, said the newly-established island faced many difficulties, especially in terms of electricity shortages. The equipment would allow islanders to take advantage of the clean technology and foster the island's environmentally-friendly tourism development plan.

Woman suspected of stealing newborn

A local woman reportedly was caught at the Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology in northern THai Binh Province as she attempted to carry a newborn baby out of the hospital, according to local media reports.

Apparently the woman wore a hospital uniform and came in contact with several patients and babies. She was identified by other staff as someone who did not work at the hospital.

The woman was transported to the Police Department in Quang Trung Ward of Thai Binh City. She claimed she was a staff of the health centre in Hien Khanh village, Vu Ban District, northern Nam Dinh Province.

The Thai Binh Police Department is investigating the case.

Gout formula among banned brands

The Ministry of Health's Department of Food Hygiene and Safety has ordered the recall of three kinds of functional foods, which allegedly failed to meet the standard of food hygiene and safety.

These functional foods include those with the brandnames Cishi, the Ultimate Gout Formula, imported and distributed by Delta Viet Nam Medical Equipment Company and Juji by Chau Phong Import-Export Company.

These companies must immediately stop distributing these functional foods and recall those which are on shelves.

Passenger fined over in-flight incident

Inspectors from the Ministry of Transport fined a Taiwanese passenger VND15 million (US$714) for opening an Emergency Exit door without authorisation during a flight.

Chung Wen, 81, was a passenger on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Gaoyong (Taiwan) to HCM City on November 19 when the incident occurred. He explained that he wanted to go to the toilet and mistook the Emergency Exit with the toilet door.

Opening an emergency exit during a flight can result in fines of between VND10 million to VND20 million ($476 to $952).

SOE recognised for its forest management

State-owned Dak To Planco enterprise in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum has been named the first recipient of the Forest Stewardship Council's (FSC) Controlled Wood Certificate for Natural Forest Management in Viet Nam.

The company is one of five enterprises to be assisted in a pilot Vietnamese-German Forestry Programme aimed at achieving sustainable forest management.

The certification is recognised as an international standard for sustainable forest management.

Communication device aims to help ships

Central Quang Ngai Province has set up long-range communication devices to reach offshore fishing boats at a total investment of VND12.3 billion (US$585,714), according to the local government.

Communication devices will be distributed to 440 fishing boats running at a capacity of more than 90 HP (Horse Power), about 27 per cent of the province's offshore fleet. Each device costs VND28 million ($1,300).

Le Van Son, head of the Quang Ngai branch of the Exploiting and Protecting Aqua-product Source Department said that setting up the devices aimed at helping local authorities control fishermen's activities on the sea and assisting their communication with each other.

NPA funds environment restoration project in Quang Tri

Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) will provide US$2.9 million for a project to help Quang Tri restore the environment and overcome the consequences of war by reducing accidents, injuries and deaths caused by mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

A cooperative agreement to this effect was signed on November 28 by NPA and the Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee.

Under the agreement, Vietnamese demining teams will get training by international standards to clear all mines, bombs and UXO in Quang Tri’s polluted areas.

At the signing ceremony, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chinh said that Quang Tri will closely coordinate with NPA in carrying out the project effectively from 2012-2014.

Founded in 1939, NPA is one of Norway's largest non-governmental organizations. Following the principles of solidarity, unity, human dignity, peace and freedom, NPA has got involved in more than 400 projects in 30 countries around the world.

In 2007, NPA began its operations in Vietnam through its financial and technical support for the “Renew” Project as co-sponsor.

Gender responsive policy, programme discussed

A dialogue forum on establishing and implementing a gender responsive policy and programme was held in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on November 28-29.

It was jointly held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women).

A representative of MoLISA confirmed that the Vietnamese Government has been improving gender equality laws and implementing policies and programmes on gender-related issues and women’s progress.

Delegates discussed the achievements and challenges of gender and gender equality, and shared information from a gender equality study jointly conducted by the Vietnamese Government and the UN.

Youth- future masters of the nation

The Party has always defined the youth as a core force in society, a vanguard of the revolution and the future masters of the nation, said Party General Secreatary Nguyen Phu Trong at a working session with the Ho Chi Minh Youth Union (HCMYU) Central Committee on November 28.

The Party leader stressed the important role of the youth in the cause of national construction and defence, calling on the HCMYU to enhance education in political theory, morality and an appropriate lifestyle for young people.

Youth work is one of the Party’s and nation’s vital tasks and the HCMYU has always been a reliable force in the Party, he said.

There are currently more than 22 million young people between 16-30 years old in Vietnam, accounting for 26 percent of national population and 37 percent of the workforce.

After three years of implementing Party Central Committee Resolution No 25 on enhancing Party leadership of youth activities, awareness of youth work has been raised among Party organizations, administrations and society.

However, there are some shortcomings as Youth Union operations have failed to keep pace with the rapid changes in society and youth education has not achieved the desired results.

Party leader Trong said in order to fulfill all the tasks entrusted to them by the Party, Youth Unions at all levels need to integrate youth education with practical activities in the family, at schools and throughout society.

He also declared that, in line with its glorious tradition, he believes the HCMYU will continue moving forward to reap greater achievements and deserve the confidence of the Party and the people.

Three Hanoi taxi drivers robbed in two days

The Hanoi police have arrested 4 gangsters in 3 robberies aimed at taxi drivers for the past two days.

Early Sunday morning, Nov 27, 32-year-old Tran Van Khoan, from Kim Chung Taxi Company, was carrying 3 men from Dong Da District to Dong Anh District when one of them suddenly pressed a knife on his neck and then took VND2.8 million (US$133) and a mobile phone from him before fleeing.

After being reported, a patrol police team chased after the robbers and caught them, Le Van Hien, Cao Dinh Ha and Vu Duy Cuong, all from Thanh Hoa Province.

Earlier on Saturday night, another taxi driver, Nguyen Van Duong, from Hung Vuong Taxi company, was threatened by a man who pressed two knives on his chest and asked him to hand in his money.

Right at this moment, a mobile police team drove by and immediately surrounded the cab and asked the robber to surrender himself, but he refused and threatened to kill Duong.

The police officers tried to persuade him to get out the car without injuring Duong and a long while later, the gangster surrendered himself to them.

Another robbery occurred at midnight of Friday, when 30-year-old Pham Van Duoc was called by a man to drive him from Hoan Kiem District to Hoang Mai District.

When Duoc’s cab reached Linh Nam Ward, the man threatened Duoc with a knife and took a mobile phone from him before fleeing.

Vietnam attends ASEAN bazaar in Mexico

A bazaar opened in Mexico City on November 28 with the participation of staff from the Vietnamese Embassy and other embassies of ASEAN member countries.

The Vietnamese pavilion which presents a collection of traditional ao dai (long dress), along with palm-leaf conical hats, different kinds of silk products and food, as well as Vovinam martial arts performances has attracted many visitors. 

This is an annual event co-organised by ASEAN countries to strengthen their friendship and solidarity with Mexico.

Vietnam attends int’l charity bazar in India

Vietnam has joined 40 other countries at an international charity fair in New Delhi, India.

The event, the 23^rd of its kind, held at Ashok hotel on November 27, drew the participation of embassies from 40 countries, including those from Russia, the Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Pakistan, Cuba, Egypt, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam.

The Vietnamese stall at the fair displayed lacquer paintings, palm-leaf conical hats, Trung Nguyen (Central Highland) coffee and other souvenirs, as well as traditional dishes.

The Vietnamese Embassy in India also handed out brochures promoting Vietnam as an ideal destination for investment and travel, and introducing the good relationship between Vietnam and India to the world community.

German bank supports Vietnamese vocational schools

The German Reconstruction Bank (KfW) will provide 10 million EUR in official development assistance (ODA) loans to carry out a project on vocational training in Vietnam in the 2011-2014 period.

An agreement to this effect was signed recently between the bank and the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam.

The project will help upgrade facilities at vocational training centres and schools to improve the teaching quality and enhance their training capacity.

Priority will be given to training in electricity, electronics and mechanical engineering.

The project has a total investment capital of 12.5 million EUR. The Vietnamese government will contribute 2.5 million EUR to the project.

VNN/VOV/VNS/Tuoi Tre