The surging average temperature, rising sea levels, and increasing extreme weather patterns are affecting socioeconomic development as well as people's lives.

Given this, the 13th National Party Congress regarded protecting and improving the environment, and implementing solutions to climate change and natural disasters as main tasks.

Vietnam is facing various types of natural disasters, such as record-breaking temperatures, flooding, saltwater intrusion, and landslides.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control reported 1,964 natural disasters of 21 types last year, causing huge human and property losses. Since the beginning of this year, the country experienced extreme weather events like severe cold spells in northern and north-central regions, drought, saltwater intrusion, landslides and flooding in the Mekong Delta, and hail storms in northern, north-central, Central Highlands and southern regions.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said up to 13 storms and tropical depressions are expected to enter the East Sea this year, of which up to seven would make landfall.

Against the backdrop, Vietnam has worked out policies, strategies, and plans in response to climate change, and taken disaster risk management as a key task.

The work has been integrated into socioeconomic plans as well as investment programmes and projects of ministries, agencies and localities, especially those on infrastructure development, transport, and new urban area building.

Deputy head of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE)’s Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration Hoang Duc Cuong said the administration has been assigned to keep a close watch on weather conditions and water sources to issue both early and long-term warnings.

Professor, Dr. Huynh Thi Lan Huong, from the Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, proposed a number of solutions to fulfil climate change adaptation targets in Vietnam such as restoring forest resources and ecosystems, paying more attention to agriculture and food security, investing more in infrastructure, establishing early warning systems, building climate facilities, and relocating residents in climate risk areas.

At the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Duba, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), last year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted solutions taken by Vietnam, including the roll-out of a climate strategy, another on green growth, and the National Power Development Plan VIII, and the building of a range of relevant institutions.

Despite significant outcomes reaped over the past decades, more specific actions are needed to ease losses from climate change./.

Science, technology cooperation a pillar in Vietnam-Russia relations: official

Cooperation in science and technology between Vietnam and Russia has a long tradition and is an important and inseparable part of the time-tested friendship between the two countries, according to Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Tran Hong Thai.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the state visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 19-20, Thai said that after their diplomatic relations were established on January 30, 1950, the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) and the Soviet Union (now Russia) signed of a scientific and technical cooperation agreement between the on March 7, 1959, prioritising bilateral cooperation in the field of science and technology.

Over the past 65 years, the two countries have inked a series of agreements on cooperation in this field. In November 2014, the cooperation was raised to a strategic level when the two nations signed a strategic partnership agreement on education and science and technology on the occasion of the visit to Russia by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Science and Technology has coordinated with Russian partners to provide funding to carry out nearly 60 joint research collaboration tasks on biotechnology, new materials, electronics, automation, social sciences, humanities, and economics.

On November 21, 2011, the Governments of Vietnam and Russia signed a cooperation agreement on building the Centre of Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST) in Vietnam.

Accordingly, in 2018, the Prime Minister approved the investment policy to build the 10-MW centre in Long Khanh city in the southern province of Dong Nai and assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to be its investor.

In the coming time, the two sides will continue to promote collaboration in science, technology and innovation through the mechanism of the joint committee on education, science and technology cooperation whose meeting is held annually in a rotational basis in each country.

They will periodically identify priority directions for cooperation in this field, thereby selecting joint research cooperation tasks for being funded.

Notably, Vietnam’s priority directions for cooperation with Russia in the coming time will focus on the fields that Russia has strengths and Vietnam has needs such as new materials, biotechnology, marine research, space technology, energy technology, and rational use of natural resources.

In addition, the two sides will pay attention to implementing the CNST project and intensifying collaboration in training human resources for the project’s implementation, stated Thai./.

Heatwave plague locals’ lives in all regions

Over the past few weeks, long-lasting extreme heat waves have affected people all across the country, making especially it difficult for those working outdoors.

Motorbike taxi driver Nguyen Van Khai, who works in Hanoi, said he must wear long sleeves and a helmet with a face shield whenever he is outside in order to protect himself from the sun's dangerous rays.

He takes advantage of the moments when there are no passengers to sit and relax beneath the bridge or under the shade of a tree.

"I have to work for the sake of life, even though the weather is hot and harsh," he told the Vietnam News Agency.

Le Ngoc Lam, a worker at the Tuynel brick factory in Trieu Son district, Thanh Hoa province, said he normally starts work at 7am but when the temperatures are forecast to hit 40 degrees Celsius and the heat is at its worst, he must begin working at 4am in order to complete by 10am.

"I sweat a lot in hot weather because my daily job is to load and unload bricks from the pits. I have to drink a lot of water and wear protective gear," he said.

In HCM City, the heat can be felt from 8am. Many people who go to work in the morning feel tired due to morning heat.

Pham Van Tai from Tan Thoi Hiep ward in District 12 said: "I have already seen the bright sunshine while taking my child to school at 7am.”

Due to traffic, he has to spend about an hour traveling 12km from his home in District 12 to District 3.

"I feel exhausted in the morning from the heat and the traffic," he said.

In many other places, the heat has also brought droughts. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Central Highlands' Dak Nong Province reports that the prolonged heatwave caused numerous lakes, rivers and streams to progressively dry up.

Over 8,000ha of crops in the province are vulnerable due to water scarcity.

Numerous small rivers and streams in the area have dried up, reducing the amount of water in irrigation reservoirs and decreasing the flow of nearby rivers and streams.

Some tiny ponds have lost their water source, and the amount of water that people had been storing in small ponds to irrigate crops in streams and high foothills has also dropped.

The southern droughts have gotten worse because of the heat.

A state of emergency has been declared in four provinces - Tien Giang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, and Long An - as a result of droughts. In Ca Mau and Kien Giang, the drought has resulted in landslides and subsidence.

The National Centre for Hydrometeorological Forecasting predicts that temperatures will generally be between 0.5 and 1 degree Celsius higher than the average for many years during the upcoming months, particularly from July to September.

There will be more intense heatwaves, particularly in the north and central regions.

Hoang Phuc Lam, the centre’s deputy director, said extreme heat is probably going to occur more frequently than it has in many past years. Next months will see continued heat in the northern and central regions. The heat in the north will persist until August, with July being the key heat-producing month. The heat will persist in the central region through September, with July and August being the peak months.

Medical experts warn that excessive heat will have negative effects on people's health. For those who have to work in hot weather, it is necessary to arrange working time in cool weather such as early morning or late afternoon, and avoid working in high temperatures.

If working in a hot environment, employees should limit their work hours, refrain from engaging in strenuous physical activity, and take a 15–20 minute break in a cool area after 45–60 minutes of work.
They are advised to wear loose, airy, sweat-absorbent clothing, avoid using alcohol completely, and stick to drinking water with added salt and minerals, such Oresol, instead of exposing any part of their body to direct sunlight, especially the neck and shoulder area.

Local authorities have been urged to take prompt measures to help local residents avoid the heat, especially ensuring domestic water supply./.

Government issues warning to former Vinh Phuc leader

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has signed a decision of the Prime Minister to impose a warning on Nguyen Van Tri, former Chairman of the People’s Committee of the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

According to the decision, which took effect from June 19, Tri, who served as Chairman of the Vinh Phuc People’s Committee from September 2015 to October 2020, committed wrongdoings in his work. He had already received punishments from the Party.

Earlier, at its 40th session from April 23-24, the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission said that Tri violated the principle of democratic centralism and working rules as well as the principle of criticism and self-criticism, solidarity and unity in the Party and the personnel work; and showed a lack of responsibility and relaxed leadership, letting the Party delegation to the provincial People’s Council and the Party Civil Affairs Committee of the provincial People’s Committee and many other organisations and individuals seriously violate the Party’s rules and the State’s laws during the implementation of some investment projects, including those invested by AIC Group and FLC Group.

The commission concluded that the above-mentioned wrongdoings have caused very serious consequences and risk of very big losses to the State’s money and asset, stirring public concern, and causing very negative impact on the reputation of the Party organisation and administration of the locality.

The commission decided to impose a warning to Tri./.

Russian media highlights Putin’s visit to Vietnam

Russian media has simultaneously reported activities of President Vladimir Putin during his state visit to Vietnam from June 19 to 20.

According to Fontanka.ru, the Russian leader thanked the warm welcome of the Vietnamese people.

The Russian News and Information Agency RIA Novosti quoted Putin as saying “I want to express my gratitude to all of my Vietnamese friends for arranging the state visit for us. Thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome. I mean it is not just the temperature outside but also the people who are full of joy to welcome us.”

Hanoians flocked to the streets early in the morning to catch a glimpse of Putin who arrived in Hanoi at late night.

Meanwhile, Ura.ru said during a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Putin affirmed that Russia stands ready to establish a long-term direct oil and gas supply, including Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), for Vietnam.

The Russian President also acknowledged the successful cooperation between the two nations in the area of energy, recalling Russia’s participation in the Southeast Asian country’s power production facilities, it added.

TASS, a leading news agency in Russia, highlighted that at least 11 agreements in the fields of energy, lab facility development, and cooperation between the two justice, taxation, and customs sectors were signed during Putin’s visit./.

Vietnam, RoK step up cooperation in climate change response

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh and Deputy Minister of the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Environment Hyoeun Jenny Kim co-chaired the first meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Joint Working Group on Climate Change Cooperation on June 20.

The virtual meeting came after both countries pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in 2021.

Thanh highlighted Vietnam’s National Climate Change Strategy (2021-2030) with a vision to 2050, which outlines measures for adaptation and mitigation. He pointed to numerous international agreements, including the 2021 Framework Agreement with the RoK as crucial steps in tackling climate change.

Vietnam’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) submitted to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2022 commits to a 15.8% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, he said, adding that the country is planning a pilot domestic carbon market in 2025, with full operation targeted for 2028.

Looking ahead to COP29, Vietnam hopes for clearer guidelines on climate finance goals and the establishment of rules for bilateral cooperation on carbon credit exchanges under the Paris Agreement’s Article 6, he said.

He expressed Vietnam’s desire to learn from the RoK's experience in developing its domestic carbon market and facilitating international carbon credit exchange, particularly for bilateral agreements.

Kim, for her part, highlighted the active participation of both sides in implementing the Framework Agreement, with the potential for further collaboration, especially on carbon markets.

Representatives from Vietnamese ministries presented proposals to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field.

The Korean side also proposed projects on greenhouse gas reduction, including initiatives in non-fired brick production, rooftop solar power, biomass fuel use in industrial boilers, among others./.

Vietnam attends Cambodia’s commemoration of Pol Pot-overthrowing journey

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet on June 20 presided over a ceremony at the Techo Koh Thmar X16 military historical site in Tboung Khmum province to mark the 47th commemoration day of the nation’s historical journey leading to the overthrow of the Pol Pot genocidal regime, gathering more than 3,000 local delegates and many other foreign guests.

The event saw the attendance of Vietnamese guests, including Deputy Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Vo Minh Luong, Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang.

In his remarks, Cambodian PM Hun Manet stressed that the event was to remember and honour the immense contributions of generations of soldiers and people who bravely laid down their lives for the nation.

Expressing his gratitude for the support of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts for Cambodia’s national liberation cause, he noted that Cambodian leaders and people assisted Vietnam in its struggle for national liberation and reunification, while their Vietnamese counterparts supported Cambodia in liberating the country from the Pol Pot genocidal regime and in its subsequent national development. This historical truth, he asserted, must be understood clearly by the people of both countries.

On this occasion, PM Hun Manet thanked the Vietnamese Government and People's Army for their assistance in transforming former battlefields into historical sites, fostering peace, friendship, cooperation, and development along the two nations’ border areas.

At the event, the PM awarded orders to individuals who made significant contributions in the repatriation of 49 remains of martyrs of the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation (KUFNS).

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang said that the 47th anniversary served as not only a reminder of the historic struggle against a brutal regime but also a vivid testament to the enduring friendship, solidarity, and relations between the Vietnamese and Cambodian people.

To mark this year's anniversary, Cambodia began construction of a guesthouse worth 1.2 million USD and various auxiliary projects within the Techo Koh Thmar X16. Tang noted that these projects will help enhance the site’s significance, providing better conditions for educating traditions and history for people, particularly younger generations of Vietnam and Cambodia.

On June 20, 1977, Hun Sen, then 25 years old, and his four comrades crossed Kampong Cham province (now Thbong Khmum) to enter Vietnam to establish a force to liberate Cambodia and its people. He founded the KUFNS the following year. Together with Vietnamese volunteer soldiers, the force completely defeated the genocidal regime on January 7, 1979, bringing back peace to Cambodia and its people./.

Vietnamese, Chinese anglers to join international recreational fishing friendlies

About 100 anglers from Vietnam and China's Guangxi will take part in the second qualifying round of the Vietnam - China International Sport Fishing Friendly Tournament held at the MIDI sport fishing lake in Ho Chi Minh City's Thu Duc city from June 21-24, according to the Vietnam Sport Fishing Association.

The anglers will compete in individual and team categories. They will be divided into eight lots, competing in four rounds, each round lasting 70 minutes. The anglers use 3.6m-long fishing rods in the first and second rounds and 4.5m-long fishing rods for the third and fourth rounds.

At the end of the tournament, anglers ranked from 1st to 12th will be able to participate in competition events sponsored by the Vietnam Sports Fishing Association. Some 20% of Vietnamese athletes with the highest achievements will be chosen for the 2024 National Championship organised by the association.

The Vietnam - China International Sport Fishing Friendly Tournament has five qualifying rounds with the first round taking place in China in April, and the second round in Vietnam from June 21-24, 2024. The third round will be held in China in August, the fourth round in Vietnam in October and the final round in Guangxi, China in November.

Previously, 30 Vietnamese athletes and guests participated in the first round in China./.

Vietnam News Agency signs cooperation agreement with TV BRICS

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on June 19 signed a cooperation agreement with TV BRICS International Media Network.

The document was inked by Bui Duy Trinh, head of the VNA representative office in Russia, who was authorised by the agency’s General Director Vu Viet Trang, and CEO of TV BRICS Janna Tolstikova on the sidelines of the XV International IT Forum in the Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous District.

The agreement will enable the people of Vietnam to receive the most up-to-date and objective information on the development of BRICS, an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates; and international activities of the BRICS member countries.

In turn, TV BRICS will adapt content received from colleagues from Hanoi into foreign languages, post them on its platforms – a multilingual portal and TV channel – and distribute them through a network of partners, which already includes more than 70 major media outlets from many countries around the world.

“We believe that BRICS has good prospects as many countries wish to become members of the association. The VNA sees even more opportunities for cooperation with foreign colleagues. The partnership with the TV BRICS International Media Network, which interacts with major national media from different countries, was an important step forward for us in the development of international information exchange,” said Trinh.

“The partnership of Vietnam's media as an active and responsible member of the international community with the media of the BRICS countries is necessary for the development of global cooperation. This is particularly important against the backdrop of the BRICS strengthening ties with Southeast Asian states. Thailand has officially announced its desire to join the association, and Malaysia has expressed interest. BRICS countries such as Russia, India and China are full-scale dialogue partners with ASEAN,” Janna Tolstikova stated.

Within the framework of the XV International IT Forum, the VNA’s representative attended a discussion session on new technologies in the communications industry, during which he said that AI can bring huge benefits and breakthroughs to economic development as well as in the information field.

Countries first need to have a comprehensive set of rules on AI, and news agencies need to issue guidance on how to use AI to avoid risks and negative impacts on security and social safety and order, he added./.

Russia’s Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area wishes to bolster IT cooperation with Vietnam

Acting governor of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area of Russia Ruslan Kukharuk on June 19 said the locality wishes to bolster information technology (IT) cooperation with Vietnam.

He made the statement within the framework of the 15th international Information Technology (IT) Forum which took place in the area from June 18-20.

Kukharuk affirmed that the relationship between the two countries has had a good tradition for decades. This relationship has not only been tested over time but also demonstrated the views of the two countries, as well as the tradition of friendship between the two peoples.

He said that the special relationship is also reflected in the ongoing state visit to Vietnam by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The official expressed his belief that there will be a special programme during the visit, covering all issues of cooperation between the two countries, to promote business projects as well as humanitarian activities between the two peoples.

He said that the autonomous area can cooperate with Vietnam in IT platforms on education, health, trade, and data analysis, among others, with the application of artificial intelligence (AI).

According to him, the two sides can also cooperate in the field of tourism as Vietnam is a traditional destination preferred by Russian tourists.

The area is the main oil-producing region of Russian and one of the world's largest oil-producing regions, with production accounting for about 5% of the world's total (216.1 million tonnes).

The area ranks third in the socio-economic rating of the regions of Russia as well as the second in terms of economic size in the country, only after Moscow.

The international forum has been held annually in the city of Khanty-Mansiysk since 2008./.

Cambodian scholar highlights Vietnam-Cambodia good relations

Cambodia’s national news agency Agence Kampuchea Press (AKP) and some other press agencies like Fresh News and AMS have recently run an article spotlighting the good relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

The article was penned by Kin Phea, Director General of International Relations Institute of Cambodia under the Royal Academy of Cambodia, ahead of the 57th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations (June 24, 1967-2024).

In his writing, the scholar noted that the countries, which share a border of more than 1,270 km and the Mekong River, are connected by historical, geographical and political ties.

Cambodia has adhered to the foreign policy of good neighbourliness, strengthening friendship and expanding cooperation within the framework of the bilateral relations, and supporting each other in international and regional forums.

Vietnam has also considered Cambodia a good neighbour and a top priority in its foreign policy, Kin Phea continued.

According to the scholar, the bilateral relations are developing in various fields. Vietnam and Cambodia shared the view that strengthening and enhancing the friendship and cooperation are very important to both nations. Their bilateral foreign policies demonstrate the depth, sustainability and diversification of the relations. The two countries have worked together in addressing global challenges, expanding their relations at all levels and across platforms, and promoting mutual understanding, he said.

The leaders of the two countries have always highlighted their commitments to strengthening, expanding and advancing the relations to a new level, for the sake of their people.

The scholar affirmed that the good relations have not only brought benefits to both countries but also actively contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.

He stressed that strengthening the bilateral relations and cooperation is neccessary, and suggested the two countries continue their collaboration in the areas of mutual interest, in line with the motto of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability".

The scholar expressed his hope that the relations between the two countries will continue to grow more extensively, intensively and efficiently in the time head.

Michelin reveals 2024 Bib Gourmand for Hanoi and HCM City

Michelin Guide has revealed this year’s Bib Gourmand list for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Accordingly, the second edition of the MICHELIN Guide in Vietnam sees the Bib Gourmand selection for Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City feature a total of 42 establishments, including 18 eateries in Hanoi, including five newcomers; and 24 in Ho Chi Minh City, with eight newcomers.

Bib Gourmand, one of the famous Michelin restaurant guides, recognises restaurants that offer customers great food at reasonable prices. Bib Gourmand restaurants may not have a Michelin star, but the food must still be delicious, whilst the total cost for three courses should come to under a certain amount, depending on the local cost of living.

Here are the five new entrants featured in the Bib Gourmand list for Hanoi:

Bún Chả Chan, a small bun cha shop operating for over a decade which is dedicated to not only serving the typical caramelized pork meatballs on rice vermicelli with a tangy, sweet broth; but also offering grilled pork belly or minced beef in betel leaf as options.

Luk Lak, a restaurant offering traditional Vietnamese fare with a unique character, including dishes such as Sa Pa's pork belly dipped in herbal sauce grilled to perfection and served with mac mat leaves that cut through the richness and enliven the flavours.

Miến Lươn Đông Thịnh, a 40-plus-year-old shop that offers a menu revolving around eel, with notable delicacies including eel noodles, eel congee, and eel soup.

Mr Bảy Miền Tây, a small shop which is renowned for its signature crispy banh xeo pancake with various fillings, as well as also offering hot pot, spring roll, rice noodles, and barbecues as its best sellers.

Phở Khôi Hói, a street food eatery offering pho, or beef noodle soup, with many cuts to choose from, including rare cuts such as beef heel muscle.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the eight newcomers on the Bib Gourmand list include Bánh Xèo 46A, Bò Kho Gánh, Bún Bò Huế 14B, Mặn Mòi (Thu Duc City), Nhà Tú, Tiệm Cơm Thố Chuyên Ký, Vị Quê Kitchen, and  Sol Kitchen & Bar.

Moving forward, the 2024 restaurant selection of the MICHELIN Guide Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, including MICHELIN Stars and Special Awards, will be unveiled on June 27.

Mister World 2019 Jack Heslewood arrives in Vietnam

Jack Helsewood, winner of Mister World 2019, touched down in Vietnam on June 19 to model in a fashion show and take part in activities of the Mr World Vietnam 2024 male pageant.

The aerospace engineer became the first ever British person to clinch a top finish in an international male pageant and is the fifth European to be crowned Mister World.

He will join models to perform in collections created by local designers Le Thanh Hoa, Thuy Nguyen, Ha Duy, and Le Ngoc Lam at the 2024 Vietnam Beauty Fashion Fest (VBFF) All Stars.

Furthermore, Toni-Ann Singh, winner of Miss World 2019, and some international delegates such as Lesego Chombo, Miss World Africa; Jessica Gagen, Miss World Europe; and Aché Abrahams, Miss World Caribbean came to Vietnam on June 19 to attend diverse activities in the country.

Foreign beauties will also spend a week taking part in activities held within the framework of the Mr World Vietnam 2024 pageant.

Summer sees increased risk of injuries for children

Despite numerous warnings, each summer witnesses an increase in the number of children being injured and involved in accidents, leading to not just physical problems, but also psychological impacts.

Dr. Lê Hải Lợi from the Emergency Department at HCM City's Children's Hospital 2 said that child accidents occur year-round, but typically increase during the summer.

On average, the hospital handles two to three child injury cases daily, including traffic accidents, drownings, falls from climbing and bites from snakes or insects.

Recently, Children's Hospital 1 in HCM City admitted an eleven-year-old girl from Kiên Giang Province who was bitten by a venomous snake.

According to her family, on June 6, she was bitten on the right ankle by a snake in the garden.

She became drowsy and had difficulty breathing, leading to initial treatment at a local hospital before being transferred to Children's Hospital 1.

The hospital has also seen several cases of children being stung by bees since the beginning of summer.

Dr. Nguyễn Minh Tiến, deputy director of the hospital, noted that summer is a time when children are on vacation, travelling, returning to their hometowns and may not be closely supervised by their families.

Common accidents during this period include burns from electricity, fuel or chemicals, drownings, bee stings, snake bites and traffic accidents.

Ksor Y Phát, a twelve-year-old boy from Đắk Lắk Province, was electrocuted while climbing onto a roof to retrieve a kite he had been flying with friends. He sustained burns on the lower half of his body.

After initial treatment at a local hospital, Y Phát was transferred to Children's Hospital 2 for further care, including skin grafts.

At the same room in hospital, the nine-year-old Lâm Hạnh Dung from Bình Dương Province was in pain.

Ten days ago, she fell while riding her bicycle at a neighbour's house, knocking over a pot of boiling water, which spilled onto her. She suffered severe burns from her shoulders to her buttocks.

These are just two of many cases of children being treated for injuries at Children's Hospital 2 in HCM City.

Statistics from the Department of Environmental Management, Ministry of Health, show that over 370,000 children under sixteen suffer accidents each year nationwide, resulting in 6,600 fatalities.

In HCM City alone, more than 19,000 cases of child injuries were reported in 2023, with over 8,000 occurring at home.

This means that every day, hundreds of children and adolescents in Việt Nam are injured.

The consequences of such accidents are often severe, doctors said.

For instance, M.T., a twelve-year-old girl from Kiên Giang Province, lost both her legs in a traffic accident, along with other serious injuries.

Rushed to Children's Hospital, she underwent immediate surgery to amputate both hips.

When she woke up, M.T. cried inconsolably, unable to believe she had lost her legs forever and her mother said she is uncertain about her daughter's future now that she is without legs.

In early June, the drowning deaths of two young girls at a swimming pool during a family trip to Quảng Ninh Province shocked many.

While the adults were not paying attention, the girls fell into the pool. They were rushed to the hospital, but both passed away.

Doctors emphasise that the physical and psychological impact of injuries on children is severe and can be fatal and that parents must take responsibility for preventing accidents.

Doctors advise parents to watch their children closely during the summer, teach them to avoid dangerous activities and never leave them home alone or allow them to go out unsupervised.

Parents should equip their children with knowledge on self-protection and basic emergency response skills.

When planning a trip, parents should research potential risks and equip themselves with basic first aid skills in order to deal with any emergencies.

Mekong Delta marine provinces to focus on sustainability

Coastal provinces in the Mekong Delta have been focusing on developing a sustainable, environmentally friendly and climate change adaptive maritime economy to ensure strong development and improve the lives of their people.

Bến Tre Province aims to have a sustainable and strong marine economy that focuses on developing renewable energy, aquaculture and tourism by 2030.

To this end, it has prioritised off-shore aquaculture and fishing and promoted marine conservation.

It has also fine-tuned policies, invested in infrastructure, supported local businesses and farmers and encouraged them to apply technology in producing and selling environmentally friendly products.

Efforts have been made to raise awareness of environmental protection and develop sustainable agricultural practices.

Local authorities said any business model or practice that could do harm to the environment would not be licensed.

Besides, Bến Tre will develop over 50,000ha of its eastern region under a development plan for until 2030.

It will focus on building a vibrant maritime economy that can also protect the environment, prevent coastal erosion and adapt well to climate change.

Trần Ngọc Tam, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said Bến Tre has invested in maritime infrastructure such as the Cửa Đại Bridge connecting with Tiền Giang Province, the Rạch Miễu 2 Bridge and the Phú Thuận Industrial Zone, among others.

It has also devised solutions to minimise greenhouse gases such as expanding agricultural models with a low carbon footprint, building grid-connected wind power plants and developing organic farming.

Bạc Liêu Province has been focusing on protecting its maritime biodiversity and resources and utilising their advantages.

It has increased the use of technology to forecast and warn about natural disasters, enabling authorities to proactively devise preventive measures and adapt faster to climate change and sea level rise.

It has also built coastal residential areas that are eco-friendly and well adapt to climate change.

To foster the marine economy, it has actively applied new technologies in fishing, marine farming and seafood processing.

It has switched from traditional to more advanced and environmentally friendly models, focusing on developing a hi-tech closed value chain to churn out high-quality products.

Weather monitoring stations around the province have been installed with hi-tech equipment.

The southernmost province of Cà Mau has advantages for developing various marine industries, but a rapid increase in coastal services, excessive fishing and urbanisation have placed enormous pressure on the marine environment.

Đỗ Quang Hưng, deputy director of the province's Department of Natural Resources and Environment, said it was crucial to use the media to raise awareness of environmental protection and educate people on the risks of oil spills to preclude possible disasters.

The department said it would continue to have programmes for marine protection, such as establishing a sea conservation area, placing artificial coral reefs at conservation areas and building maritime corridors to protect coastal areas.

Hưng said it was also important to invest in projects that utilise the maritime advantages and protect the environment and biodiversity. 

Coastal localities told to brace for potential tropical storm this weekend

The tropical depression may directly affect the northern and central areas of the East Sea, including the waters around the Hoàng Sa archipelago and the Gulf of Tonkin around 

A low-pressure area may form in the northern and central parts of the East Sea around June 22-23 that could intensify into a tropical depression or storm, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

The tropical depression may directly affect the northern and central areas of the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), including the waters around the Hoàng Sa archipelago and the Gulf of Tonkin over the following two days, reported the agency.

Forecasts indicate that approximately 65 - 75 per cent of this low-pressure area may intensify into a tropical depression, with a 20 - 30 per cent chance of developing into a storm.

In addition, due to the influence of the increasingly active southwest monsoon, the central and southern parts of the East Sea, including the waters around the Trường Sa archipelago, the waters from Bình Định Province to Cà Mau Province, from Cà Mau Province to Kiên Giang Province and the Gulf of Thailand, are expected to experience heavy rain showers and thunderstorms.

During those thunderstorms, there will be a chance of tornadoes and strong winds at levels 6 - 7, with wave heights potentially rising above two metres.

The waters from Bình Thuận to Cà Mau and the western part of the southern East Sea, including the western waters of the Trường Sa archipelago, are expected to have strong southwest winds at level 5 (29-38km per hour), sometimes reaching level 6 (39-49km per hour), with gusts at levels 7-8, rough seas and high waves of 1.5-2.5m.

The Standing Office of the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control on Thursday has issued document No 246/VPTT to the Command for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue of the coastal provinces and cities from Quảng Ninh to Kiên Giang to prepare for emergency measures in case of worsening weather.

The committee asked the local offices of the Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and Search and Rescue be ready, to closely monitor warnings and watch weather bulletins in case of strong winds, high waves at sea and the potential formation of low-pressure areas in the coming days.

Warnings need to be sent to captains, owners of vessels and boats operating at sea to proactively prevent and develop appropriate production plans, ensuring the safety of people and property. 

Local authorities should be prepared, keeping forces on alert in case they need to scramble rescue and relief operations. They should also maintain strict duty shifts and regularly report to the National Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control and the local offices of the National Committee for Disaster Incident Response and Search and Rescue.

HCM City applies 3D technology for waterway management

HCM City has completed the application of BIM - GIS, a 3D technology for management work on all 82 waterways, with a total investment of more than VNĐ11.3 billion (US$443,710).

The Management Centre of Waterway Systems under the city’s Department of Transport has deployed the application of 3D point cloud and 3D mesh models to the inland waterway survey for management work.

The centre has completed digitising all waterways, with a total length of more than 522.8 km.

The total area underwater is 5,557ha,  while the total area of the two sides of the shore is more than 8,880ha.

The city has applied the technology in 223 river-crossing projects, 146 inland waterway ports and wharves, and undertaken landscape planning on both sides of the rivers.

The technology applied to existing waterway embankment infrastructure can determine the elevation and centre line of the embankment.

It can determine the location coordinates of the river-crossing projects, including width, length, navigation compartment and anti-collision pillars.

For bridge projects, the lowest beam elevation and smallest span can be determined to serve the assessment of the size of the fairway according to the actual technical level.

Port and wharf projects on local inland waterways can update their location, scale, structure, VN-2000 coordinates and routes.

According to the municipal Department of Transport, the application of technology aims to digitise survey data results and integrate them into the city's inland waterway management information system, serving the management, notification and exploitation of inland waterways in the city.

The survey results serve the issuance of traffic notices for management work, and provide information and instructions to crew members, vehicle drivers and relevant organisations and individuals to ensure traffic safety.

They also serve as a basis for building investment plans, and upgrading and maintaining works of inland waterway infrastructure in a reasonable and synchronous manner. 

Việt Nam-Australia research impacts transcend borders: scholars

Việt Nam-Australia research partnerships can develop new knowledge, resulting in policy changes that improve people's lives in Việt Nam and around the world, said University of Sydney professor Greg Fox at the Sydney Việt Nam Innovation Symposium in Hà Nội on Thursday.

This year’s event also marks the launch of the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, which aims to leverage the institution’s research capabilities and foster productive research networks with partners and industry in Việt Nam in areas including medicine and health, economics, agriculture, the environment, food safety and more.

The Australian scholar, who also acts as the interim director of the university’s Sydney Southeast Asia Centre, said: “Việt Nam and Australia share many common and important challenges.

“Both of our countries are facing ageing populations, we're both subject to the increasingly impactful effects of climate change, we're both agricultural nations looking to modernise our agriculture through our exports, and we’re also facing huge social challenges as a result of the rise of digital technologies and all of the disruption that is causing.

“As partners, Australia and Việt Nam have a lot to work on together.”

Addressing the event, Dr Nguyễn Thu Anh, executive director and head of research of the University of Sydney Vietnam Institute, pointed out that Việt Nam is facing numerous challenges, including limitations in the labour forces, rapid urbanisation rate, as well as shortcomings in terms of infrastructure, power supply, environmental issues, agriculture, technology and healthcare.

At the same time, the country also holds potential for growth with multiple development strategies for science, technology and innovations to 2030.

Vietnamese and Australian institutions have witnessed extensive collaboration, with almost 5,000 joint research papers published over the last three years, according to Emma Johnston, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Sydney.

Among these, the 500 publications co-authored by the University of Sydney and researchers from Việt Nam have found over 43,000 citations, which is seen as proof of their impact.

“When we partner with research institutions in Vietnam, we’ve created great knowledge and worked on excellent solutions, but we're also confident those solutions are going beyond both of our countries and having an impact around the globe,” said Johnston.

The event also includes panel discussions with experts from Việt Nam and Australia, where they discussed successful collaborations, key factors in fostering productive research partnerships, as well as the importance of transdisciplinary research to address complex problems in Việt Nam and Australia. 

Two men sentenced for activities aimed at overthrowing government

Two Vietnamese individuals from the southern province of Tiền Giang have been sentenced by a local court for “activities aimed at overthrowing the government.”

The court on Wednesday sentenced Nguyễn Đức Thanh, 56, to 16 years in prison, and Nhựt Kim Bình, 47, to eight years in prison for this charge.

Thanh was found guilty of sharing distorted and anti-State content on social media, despite previous fines for similar offenses.

He joined a “terrorist organisation” called the “Provisional National Government of Việt Nam” between 2019 and 2023, and engaged in anti-government activities such as recruitment and training.

Despite facing fines, Thanh continued spreading false information and inciting others, including Bình, to join the terrorist organisation.

The provincial police found anti-state social media posts by Thanh and evidence of his recruitment activities.

The organisation, headquartered in the US, is considered a terrorist group by Vietnamese authorities.

Its leader, Đào Minh Quân, 72, a Vietnamese American who currently lives in the US, has been wanted for terrorist activities against the Vietnamese government since 2017.

The group’s plans included recruiting forces, establishing bases, and purchasing weapons for terror acts in Việt Nam.

The heads of the organisation living abroad continued to expand their forces for terrorising, sabotaging, and assassinating officials in Việt Nam.

Authorities have warned against any involvement in activities associated with the organisation, as it would be considered terrorism under Vietnamese law.

The group’s members have been involved in terrorist activities in Việt Nam since 2015, leading to legal actions against supporters and participants. 

Đồng Tháp Province to develop lotus cultivation sustainably

Đồng Tháp Province aims to develop lotus cultivation sustainably to produce high quality products for export and improve farmer incomes.

Located in the Đồng Tháp Mười (Plain of Reeds) region, the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province has many ponds, lakes and wetland areas which are favourable conditions for cultivating the plant.

It is the delta’s largest lotus growing province with 1,838ha as of the end of last year, exceeding 31 per cent of its target set for 2025, according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The department, in co-operation with relevant agencies, has selected and created 52 lotus varieties which are grown for harvesting flowers, pods, stems or roots, or making ornamental plants.

Farmers who grow lotus for harvesting pods earn an average profit of VNĐ100 million (US$3,900) per hectare during the five-month crop.

Nguyễn Thành Dũng in Thanh Bình District’s Tân Mỹ Commune said he gets a yield of 7-8 tonnes of pods per hectare per crop.

“The profit of growing lotus is two to three times higher than that of rice,” he said.

Lotus is identified as one of five key agricultural products under the province’s agricultural restructuring plan for 2021-25.

The province has set up measures to develop the plant to become a key agricultural product, which has advanced technologies, brand names and origin traceability.

The measures will also improve the quality of lotus products and develop lotus-related tourism products under the country’s “One Commune-One Product” programme.

The province will also develop specialised lotus growing areas, mostly in Tháp Mười, Cao Lãnh, Châu Thành, Thanh Bình, Tân Hồng and Tam Nông districts.

Tháp Mười, which is the province’s largest lotus growing district, aims to have 1,000ha of the plant and five specialised growing areas next year.

Trần Văn Nhãn, deputy director of the province’s Centre for Agricultural Services, Irrigation Work Exploitation and Management, and Rural Clean Water, said to assist farmers accessing farming processes that grow lotus sustainably and have high quality, the province is implementing exemplary farming models.

One model is a 100ha lotus farming area in Tháp Mười District, which uses an organic method, applies mechanisation and technologies of Industry 4.0, has linkages among stakeholders in producing and selling, and provides experimental tourism services.

Other models include a 3ha lotus farming area for harvesting roots in Tháp Mười, and a 2ha fish-lotus farming area in Tam Nông District.

They have helped farmers access modern farming models, improve quality and diversify lotus products, Nhãn said.

The department has provided farmers methods of managing diseases and growing the plant under good Vietnamese agricultural practices and organic standards.

It is boosting the development of linkages between farmers and companies to improve lotus quality and secure sales for farmers.

Farmers now sell lotus mostly to traders.

The province has 30 lotus processing companies which produce 120 lotus-related food and cosmetic products.

It has 59 OCOP products and 200 dishes and beverage items which are made from lotus.

HCM City eyes sustainable development of marine economy

HCM City People’s Committee has issued a plan to implement the strategy for the sustainable exploitation and use of natural resources and protection of the marine and island environment to 2030 with a vision to 2050.

The plan outlines that the city will give high priority to develop tourism, marine transport and services, fisheries, energy, coastal urban areas, and other marine sectors as well as improve community livelihoods.

Cần Giờ, the only coastal district in the city, will be developed to become a high-quality leisure and eco-tourism hub by 2030.

The rate of solid waste collected and treated in the district will reach 100 per cent and the rate of urban wastewater treated to meet technical standards will stand at 40 per cent by 2030.

Under the plan, marine and coastal ecosystems will be effectively managed and protected. The city’s aquaculture growth rate will be maintained at 2.2 – 2.5 per cent a year.

The plan also focuses on planting forests along coastlines, preserving biodiversity, and improving the quality of the environment.

Marine resources, and seas and islands will be effectively exploited and utilised by 2050, driving the city’s green growth, biodiversity conservation, marine environment protection, and a society in harmony with nature. 

Responsible AI must minimise violations on users’ legal rights

Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents numerous dangers and obstacles in terms of ethics, society and the legal landscape in a fast-evolving socioeconomic environment. It requires a comprehensive and extensive view based on the development of relevant legal policies, according to experts.

Responsible AI - a global agenda issue - has attracted the attention of countries around the world, including Việt Nam.

Associate Professor Nguyễn Thị Quế Anh, principal of the University of Law at the Vietnam National University, said AI is one of the basic elements of the fourth industrial revolution. In addition to its many advantages, AI has sparked serious worries about its possible drawbacks from an ethical, societal and legal standpoint.

Việt Nam has determined that responsible AI requires looking at typical national methods from around the globe in order to learn from them and develop policy recommendations for Việt Nam.

She noted that Việt Nam should not imitate the foreign policies and legal systems of other nations, but must instead use its own analysis, assessments and apply relevant lessons.

Citing the educational sector as an example, she said AI is crucial to bringing the concept of personalised learning to life by modifying the pace, substance and method of instruction to meet the individual needs of each student.

With the aid of AI, data can be retrieved from a variety of sources, verified, and analysed using machine learning and predictive analytics technologies.

She said: “AI has enormous potential in education, acting as a catalyst for educational transformation for all stakeholders. However, there are possible ethical and social hazards associated with the use of AI applications in education, including those related to privacy, the preservation and use of student data, discrimination based on gender, race, socioeconomic status and aptitude levels, as well as societal and cultural prejudices.”

According to Dr Tôn Quang Cường, University of Education, Vietnam National University, the application of technologies such as computer vision, machine learning, natural language processing, intelligent robots, automation and sensors, have covered the entire Vietnamese education system from universal education to higher education and vocational training, even business training - lifelong education.

But there is an urgent need to determine and assess ethical norms in order to maximise advantages and minimise AI hazards because of the growing popularity of AI applications in education and the significance of this subject, he said.

The Ministry of Science and Technology recently released a decision outlining certain guidelines for researching and developing responsible AI systems, in light of the growing focus on responsible AI.

According to the ministry, the assessed AI systems will bring great benefits to people, society and the economy through supporting and solving difficult problems that people and communities are facing. However, it is necessary to research and take measures to minimise risks while developing and using AI, balancing relevant economic, ethical and legal factors.

The ministry holds that AI research and development in Việt Nam should be a human-centric resource, where everyone can enjoy the benefits of life and from AI systems.

The ministry also emphasised how important it is to reduce the possibility that AI systems could violate people's or organisations' legal rights or interests.

Nine guiding principles have been established for the study and creation of AI systems, including accountability, transparency, control ability, innovation promotion, security, privacy and respect for human rights and dignity. 

Student invents heart rate measurement system to classify dengue fever patients

A student of the University of Engineering and Technology at Vietnam National University has invented a non-contact heart rate measurement system to classify dengue fever patients.

Lê Quốc Anh, an Electronic and Telecommunications student, said in the field of medical health, non-contact measurements in things like heart rates were highly prized and when the pandemic started, the need for measuring a person's survival rates, without touching them, became even more necessary.

He said: “Normally, to confirm that a patient has been infected with dengue fever, the doctors must do a blood test which takes a lot of time. But quickly classifying and identifying dengue patients is really important.”

There are some studies showing that the heart rate of people with dengue fever is higher than that of normal people. Therefore, it is possible to quickly screen people for dengue fever based on the heart rate parameters measured before taking confirmed test, according to Anh.

Assisted by Dr Lưu Mạnh Hà, lecturer at the University of Engineering and Technology, Quốc Anh invented a system which uses radar technology to measure heart rates, broadcasting the result with low transmit power, without needing any physical contact.

This device can quickly determine the patient’s heart rate within five seconds by processing the wave signal reflected from the patient's chest. The person being checked just needs to stand still at a distance of 20 cm in front of the device and breathe evenly. Compared to commercial contact heart rate measuring devices, this device has an accuracy of 96 per cent.

Anh said that a non-contact system for measuring the temperature of sick people had been applied using infrared cameras, however these devices often did not have high accuracy due to the impact of environmental temperature and when sick people take fever-reducing medicine. Because using radar to measure heart rate had only recently received attention, commercial products had not yet appeared on the market.

The biggest difficulty was that the research required a lot of biomedical as well as in-depth knowledge. Anh must read many reference documents, implement ideas on actual equipment and conduct measurement and evaluation experiments.

Dr Hà said the system proved its effectiveness and practicality as it could research, identify and quickly classify dengue fever patients before biochemical testing.

At the end of his third year, Quốc Anh asked to join the medical and telehealth research group at the school's Advanced Institute of Engineering and Technology. Because it was a new field, finding references to learn from was difficult, he said.

His project is a cooperation between the University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University, the University of Electro-Communications, Japan and Việt Nam’s Central Hospital of Tropical Diseases.

Anh will continue to research and improve the system to operate it stably in environments outside the laboratory and in hospitals.

Based on the laboratory model, more signals will be collected from a large number of patients and methods will be proposed to improve the collection of vital signs from non-contact measurement systems.

Biomedical research is also a direction that the Institute for Advanced Engineering and Technology wants to explore in the future, so the department hopes that Quốc Anh and other students will continue to research and develop the project, according to Dr Hà.

Two killed, two injured in land dispute murder in Quảng Ngãi

A horrific murder left two people dead and two children injured in the central province of Quảng Ngãi on Wednesday.

According to local authorities, the victims, identified as L.H.T., 45, and his wife, P.T.P., 42, were found dead at their home around 6.30 am in Nghĩa Dõng Commune, Quảng Ngãi City.

Their two children, six year old L.H.N.Y., and four year old L.H.C.N., were severely injured and rushed to the Quảng Ngãi Provincial General Hospital for treatment.

Police swiftly responded to the scene and apprehended the suspect, Lê Đình Thuyết, 57, who was hiding in the backyard of the victims' house.

Thuyết, who resides in Nghĩa Thành Commune, Châu Đức District, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province, is reportedly a nephew of the deceased's father.

Initial investigations suggest a long-standing land dispute between the victims' family and Thuyết's family as the motive for the crime.

Thuyết is believed to have harbored resentment and planned the attack, travelling from his residence in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu to Quảng Ngãi the day before.

The suspect allegedly armed himself with a knife and broke into the victims' property on the night of June 18, waiting until the following morning to carry out the killings.

The murder is under further investigation.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes