Social News 16/11 Deputy PM urges fire safety for high-rises   The government has paid attention to and issued documents on fire prevention and safety to strengthen the capacity of buildings, however, the implementation process has shown drawbacks, said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai during a meeting with sectors and provinces on Thursday. The meeting aimed at reviewing and promoting fire prevention and control as well as safety in the capacity of apartments and old public buildings in urban areas. According to the Department of Fire Prevention and Control, Rescue and  Salvage under Public Security Ministry, among 2,600 blazes this year until  now, sixteen cases occurred at high-rises, causing over VND10 billion (US $455,000) of property losses. The fire's cause is due to loose management of local authorities in  construction and fire prevention control. The punishments for violations in  fire prevention have not been focused, leading to long-lasting violations,  Major General Doan Viet Manh, the department's director, said. Regarding inspections on the capacity of houses and old and dangerous  public buildings in the cities, a report of the Construction Ministry shows that  a lot of high-rises and public buildings, which were built long ago and are out  of date, have degraded in quality and need their safety evaluated. More than 3,000sq.m of old apartments across the country were built  before 1994 with over 100,000 residents living in, the report reveals. During the discussion, the participants shared a common issue in which  buildings' quality does not meet requirements on fire and strength bearing  capacities. Fires and explosions affect these abilities and lead to collapse. Sharing ideas with representatives from the two ministries, the deputy PM  pointed out that management in construction and investment is the biggest  weakness because developers do not follow criteria in fire prevention and control as well as receiving construction permission while the punishments  are not strict. Many works do not meet standards in electricity, water systems but are still  in operation, he said, adding one more contributor which is the enlargement  of residents' living areas without following fire prevention and control  regulations. Awareness of investors and residents remains low with a small number of  high-rises conducting fire prevention rehearsals, he said. Hai ordered the public security ministry to work with the construction ministry  and relevant units to plan a document which details fire prevention and  control, ensuring safety in strength bearing capacity of buildings and submit it to the government. The document should focus on directing localities' people's committees to  review high-rises, residential areas, private houses and impose strict  punishments on violations while asking investors to improve weaknesses in fire prevention and control. He also highlighted the necessity of reviewing documents and laws to  ensure consistency of regulations. WB supports bridge building efforts Viet Nam and World Bank (WB) are working on an  agreement that would provide US$250 million to build 2,500 small-scale  bridges in remote areas across 50 provinces in Viet Nam, Deputy Minister  of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong has said while visiting some bridges in  northern Tuyen Quang Province's disadvantaged areas with a WB  representative. Negotiations for the agreement are expected to finish next year, paving the  way for Viet Nam to carry out the second phase of a project to build bridges in remote areas, especially in mountainous regions where ethnic groups lived. "The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2018, helping improve transport infrastructure and basically meet the traveling demands of residents in remote mountainous areas," Truong said. He said that their visit on Wednesday aimed to assess the effectiveness of newly-built bridges in the province and the need to have more such bridges in the provinces and other localities. Victoria Kwakwa, WB Country Director in Viet Nam, said that those bridges  were an optimal solution for local socio-economic development and for  residents in remote areas, especially poor people. She said that the WB would continue to co-operate with the transport  ministry to build more meaningful and useful bridges. "The World Bank plans to offer US$250 million to build about 2,500 bridges  belonging to the second phase of the project," she said. Last year, the transport ministry launched the project to build small-scale  bridges in remote areas where ethnic groups live. Under the project, Viet  Nam needs about VND12.6 trillion ($563 million) to build 7,800 small  bridges across the country. During the first phase of the project, 186 suspension bridges were built to  meet the urgent needs of local residents in 28 mountainous provinces in the  north, the central and Central Highland regions. Ha Xuan Hao, a resident in Hinh Lai Commune, Son Duong District in Tuyen  Quang Province said that he and local residents were very happy to have a  new suspension bridge in their residence. Previously, they used a floating bridge made from bamboo and barrels, he  said. "During rainy season, the floating bridge was removed and we hardly  travelled," he said, adding that they usually had to store food for months at a  time during rainy season because of limited travelling. General Director of the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam, Nguyen Van  Huyen, said that early this year, transport ministry and the National Traffic  Safety Committee also launched the programme "Bridge of Love" to raise  funds to build small-scale bridges for ethnic people. He said that with donations from enterprises and individuals, the  construction of 49 suspension bridges were kicked off and are expected to  be completed by the lunar New Year festival next February. The public and authorities including the transport ministry are more  concerned about suspension bridges in remote mountainous areas since  the deadly collapse of the Chu Va 6 suspension bridge in Son Binh  Commune of Tam Duong District, northern Lai Chau Province in February,  2014 that killed 8 people and injured 38 others. The Chu Va 6, with a length  of 54m and a loading capacity of 1.5 tonnes, began operation in late 2012. It was reported that the cause of the incident was a sudden failing of screws  attached to the girders. The screws used in the construction process had  also been found not to meet production standards. The ministry's  inspectors also discovered that the bridge's pylons had been built with brick  instead of with concrete, which might have also contributed to the collapse. Figures from the ministry indicate there are about 1,950 suspension  bridges in Viet Nam. About 809 operational bridges - roughly 40 per cent -  have shown signs of erosion and rust. Up to 94 per cent of them are  located on roads connecting villages and communes. Suspension bridges are typically built with the weight of the deck supported  by vertical cables suspended from other cables running between towers.  They are anchored in abutments at both ends.  HCM City to build new access roads to ease congestion The HCMC Department of Transport has approved a project to build two roads connecting Nguyen Van Cu Bridge and Vo Van Kiet Boulevard to ease chronic traffic congestion around the nearby intersection of Nguyen Van Cu and Tran Hung Dao streets. The total length of the two access roads is over 300 meters. Work on them may get off the ground soon so that they can be up and running in 2017. The project will require a total investment of VND170 billion (US$7.6 million). Nguyen Van Cu Bridge spans Ben Nghe Canal and links districts 1,5,4 and 8. It is normally congested due to traffic conflict at the intersection of Nguyen Van Cu and Tran Hung Dao roads. One end of the bridge is near Tran Hung Dao, so heavy traffic on the bridge can easily lead to traffic jams at the intersection at rush hour. The bridge, which was opened to traffic six years ago, has no branches joining Vo Van Kiet Boulevard and Nguyen Van Cu Bridge. People from districts 4 and 8 who want to enter the boulevard must pass the bridge and get to Tran Hung Dao-Nguyen Van Cu Intersection before they can get to the boulevard, thus causing traffic congestion at this intersection. Battered lawyers look for justice Ha Noi Police yesterday decided to prosecute the alleged  assailants involved in an assault on two lawyers in Chuong My District early  this month. At about 3:30pm on November 3, lawyers Tran Thu Nam, 39, and Le Van  Luan, 30, were leaving their client's house in Dong Cuu Village, Dong  Phuong Yen Commune when a group of people suddenly stopped their car  and attacked them. The lawyers are representing the family of Do Dang Du who died in police  custody last month. X-rays showed that Nam's nose had been broken and he had suffered eye  and head injuries that required a CAT scan. The attackers also snatched Luan's mobile phone during the assault. The news went viral as soon as photos of Nam's blood-covered face  spread on the internet. On Tuesday, a week after the attack, Ha Noi Police released their  preliminary findings, saying the two lawyers were beaten after unintentionally  spraying dirt on the gang as they drove past, which made them chase after  and attack the two men in revenge. The police identified eight members of the group, including seven local  farmers aged from 20 to mid-30, and a 38-year-old official from Dong  Phuong Yen Commune's Credit Fund. The victims have disputed the findings. Investigations into the attack will be ongoing following the decision to press  charges. Asian experts speak on public acceptance of nuclear technologies Experts from across Asia gathered in a workshop entitled “Public acceptance of nuclear technologies: Sharing Asian experience” held in the central province of Ninh Thuan on November 13.  The event was organised by the Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency (VAEA) under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) and Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation, ROSATOM.  In his remarks at the workshop, Andrey Stankevich, ROSATOM representative in Vietnam, said his company has provided comprehensive support to Vietnam in information and communication campaigns on nuclear power over the past few years.  Stankevich noted that the Nuclear Industry Information Centre (NIIC), established by ROSATOM in Hanoi in December 2012, has welcomed more than 45,000 visitors to date.  In February this year, ROSATOM and the MoST inked a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Information Support of Joint Projects in the Nuclear Power Industry from 2015 to 2020, he added.  VAEA Head Hoang Anh Tuan spoke on the significance of public acceptance in the development of emerging nuclear energy in Vietnam.  Nuclear power development plans cannot be successful without public acceptance, said Srisht Pall Singh from the Indian Nuclear Society.  He shared India’s experience on the matter, saying that the country could serve as an example for Vietnam, as it has 21 nuclear reactors in operation.  Construction of six additional reactors is underway and at least 12 more are scheduled to become operational over the next 20 years, he added.  Practices were also shared by experts from Malaysia, Bangladesh and Indonesia on inviting participation from relevant sides in the field. Ca Mau residents plant trees to prevent erosion Hundreds of local households in the southern province of Ca Mau have planted Nipa palm trees along approximately 10 kilometres of riverbanks over the past 2 years to prevent soil erosion.  Phu Tan, Thoi Binh and Tran Van Thoi districts have the largest number of newly planted Nipa palms.  According to local residents, Nipa palms have proven themselves the most effective barrier for erosion control. Even the strongest embankment needs Nipa palms to protect it from water damage, they said.  Before 1975, Ca Mau was home to more than 15,000 hectares of Nipa palms, which spread across about 10,000 tributaries and canals in the locality.  Back then the trees were grown for their leaves, which made good thatched roofs.  Since more and more locals replaced the leaves with stronger materials like tile and corrugated iron, the area under the trees declined significantly to only few dozen hectares.  The trees were also cut off to clear water surface for shrimp farming, triggering more serious soil erosion.  Now more aware of the importance of Nipa palms, residents have started replanting the trees in recent years.  Truong Thanh Hoai, an agricultural engineer, said the plant grows quickly in both salt water and freshwater, which is suitable for erosion control.- Vietnam tourism promotion drive held in France A Vietnam tourism promotion drive, part of the National Tourism Programme 2015, has recently been launched in Paris, France.  Speaking at the event on November 9, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Ha Van Sieu introduced Vietnam’s efforts to lure French and European holidaymakers to Vietnam, including the recent visa exemptions for French, German, British, Spanish, Italian and Belarusian citizens starting from July 1.  According to a representative from the Vietnamese embassy in France, Vietnam served more than 213,000 French tourists last year, making France the largest European source of arrivals for the country.  During the event co-hosted by VNAT and the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, a variety of tourism products and travel routes were introduced to visitors, including ecological tours of northern mountainous villages, hydroplane tours of Ha Long Bay, adventure tours of Phong Nha – Ke Bang and floating markets in the Mekong Delta.  A Vietnam Airlines representative also announced the recent operation of the top-class Airbus A350 on Hanoi/Ho Chi Minh City – Paris routes.  Secretary General of the World Most Beautiful Bays’ Club Bruno Bodard said with Ha Long, Nha Trang and Lang Co Bays among the world’s most beautiful, Vietnam is well-positioned to draw foreign tourists.  Nguyen Van Thi, Marketing Director of the La Maison de I’Indochine, expressed her wish that the visa-free stay will last three weeks instead of the current two weeks, to make it easier for tourists to discover more sites in Vietnam.  The VNAT hosted a similar tourism promotion event at the World Travel Market held in early November in London.  More activities will be launched in Spain’s Barcelona and Germany’s Frankfurt in the foreseeable future. Agriculture sector celebrates 70th traditional day The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development organised a ceremony in Hanoi on November 14 to celebrate the sector’s 70th traditional day and its fourth patriotic emulation congress. Addressing the event, President Truong Tan Sang praised the sector’s successes, noting that the sector is likely to face an array of challenges ahead. In that context, the sector must speed up its restructuring, increase research activities and application of technological advances into agricultural production, he said. The president requested the sector to diversify resources and increase investments in building infrastructure facilities as well as new-styled rural areas. On November 14, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree to establish the Ministry of Agriculture and the date became the traditional day of the agriculture and rural development sector. Over the past 70 years, the sector has successfully accomplished its important role and made huge contributions to the nation’s great victory in the struggle for national independence, protection and socialist construction. Having implemented the Party’s renewal policy over the past three decades, the sector has developed strongly and reaped important and comprehensive achievements in agro-forestry and fishery.- Tea party strengthens links among female diplomats in Laos The Women’s Union of the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a tea party in Vientiane on November 13, an activity to tighten connections among domestic and foreign female diplomats and popularise their countries’ identities.  The annual event gathered wives of diplomats along with female staff members of Laos, other countries and international organisations, including those from the women’s union of the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos.  It featured booths showcasing participating countries’ traditional handicrafts, cuisine and tourism information. Singing and dancing performances by the diplomatic corps also made up a significant part of the party.  At the tea party, representatives of the Vietnamese Embassy introduced famous places of interest in Vietnam, books on Vietnamese culture and people, and typical dishes such as “chung” cakes (square glutinous rice cake).  They also displayed their homeland’s sophisticated handicrafts, mostly items made from gems and pearls. Labor exporters exploit workers, send them to Taiwan for low paying jobs It will be very difficult for Vietnam to send workers to Taiwan (China) next year after many Vietnamese illegally broke their contracts to find jobs that paid better, officials said at a Hanoi conference recently. Around 1,100 Vietnamese workers in Taiwan (China) quit their job in the middle of their contracts every month this year, almost twice last year's monthly average, according to data released at the conference. More than 110 labor exporters attended the event.  Officials from the labor ministry said many workers have complained that the exporters charged them too much, US$7,000 a person, much more than the official fee of US$4,000 set by the government. Many workers had to borrow money for the payment, but the jobs they were given did not allow them to pay off that loan easily. Caregivers at hospitals, for example, earn around US$500 a month. The workers said labor companies forced them to tell the authorities, if questioned, that they paid the right fee. Most workers then lied to have a job.  Doan Mau Diep, deputy labor minister, said at the conference that the ministry will suspend or shut down labor companies that fail to reduce the number of workers breaking contracts. Recruiters that overcharge workers will face tough fines, Diep said. There are around 164,000 Vietnamese working in Taiwan, nearly 30% of the country’s overseas workforce. 300,000 coastal residents threatened by forest loss-triggered erosion Thousands of households along the coast of Tien Giang Province in the Mekong Delta have been seriously endangered by soil erosion caused by the loss of protective forests. Since the strip of protective forest, 21 kilometers long, covering the coast of Go Cong District has been ruined, around 300,000 locals and 55,000 hectares of farming land there have been “put under a knife blade” for years. Houses in the coastal area from the Soai Rap River mouth in Vam Lang Town to Den Do in Tan Thanh Commune are under permanent threat and may be swept away or sunk by erosion any time. A sea dike of steel concrete was built along the coast to protect local residential areas but it is just a temporary measure since sea waves have continued to encroach on land day by day. Before 1997, the depth of the 21km forest strip was 300-400 meters, acting as a natural wall to separate sea from land to protect the residential areas inside. In recent years, the forest has been eroded by 8 to 10 meters a year, according to the Tien Giang Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Some sections of the forest lose a length of twenty meters a year. Local authorities are planning to build a “soft” dike which is a combination of measures such as planting pillars to create walls to limit the strength of waves approaching the shore, placing bags of sand to consolidate the foot of dikes and stop erosion, and planting trees. They are building such a soft dike in a section of 1.4km at VND56 billion (US$2.5 million). Erosion has also occurred along thousands of kilometers of coast in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam for years. Public support plays role in nuclear plans Viet Nam has witnessed significant steps in the development of nuclear power, said Arnold Soetrisnanto, chairman of the Indonesian Nuclear Society, yesterday while attending a workshop entitled "Public acceptance of nuclear technologies: sharing Asian experience" in the southern province of Ninh Thuan. In an assessment of Indonesian Nuclear Society and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on abilities of a nation to develop nuclear power, Viet Nam scored 12 out of 19 points. State support is Viet Nam's advantage, he said. The international workshop, held by the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Agency and Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (ROSATOM), was a platform for nuclear electricity experts from Asian countries to share experience in attracting public acceptance of nuclear technologies. It is necessary to improve the public acceptance in the growth of nuclear power sector, which is still new in Viet Nam, as well as share roles of relevant agencies in developing Vietnamese nuclear power industry, Hoang Anh Tuan, director general of the Viet Nam Atomic Energy Agency said. The first nuclear power plant in Indonesia was selected to be located in Muria of Java island but encountered disagreement from the government and local residents. Indonesia could see clearly the importance of public acceptance in the successful implementation of nuclear power projects, Soetrisnanto said. Srisht Pall Singh, leading nuclear specialist from the Indian nuclear society, said that it was impossible to develop nuclear power without public acceptance. India's successful construction of reactors was a good example for Viet Nam to follow, he added. During the event, Andrey Stankevich, a representative from ROSATOM in Viet Nam, highlighted ROSATOM's support in Viet Nam's programmes to improve public awareness about nuclear power. In December 2012, a nuclear science and technology centre built by ROSATOM was opened in Viet Nam and received over 45,000 visitors. Viet Nam is teaming with Russian utility and ROSATOM on the country's first nuclear power plant, a two-reactor facility, in Ninh Thuan. The first reactor, with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts, is scheduled to come online in 2020.  Ha Noi to employ modern methods in agriculture The capital will speed up a programme to apply technology in the agriculture sector for the 2016 to 2020 period, aimed at increasing the proportion of agricultural products applying high tech to 35 per cent in 2020, Chu Phu My, director of Ha Noi department of agriculture and rural development, said. The programme has total investment capital of VND11,300 billion (nearly US$510 million), of which VND970 billion (nearly $45 million) is sourced from State fund. The programme is aimed at forming a large and concentrated plant growing area which applies high tech with 1,000 hectares for vegetables, 500 ha for flowers, 1,370 ha for fruit trees. The programme is also expected to establish modern, large-scale farms for animal husbandry and a 600ha farm for aquaculture. "The application of high technology will boost agricultural productivity and help authorised agencies to effectively control the quality of farmed products. The city will provide technical training for farmers and accelerate the construction of roads, irrigation systems and other necessary facilities,", My said. The application of high technology in agriculture sector will also speed up the transformation of plant cultivation and animal breeding structures in a sustainable manner and improve the living standards of farmers on the outskirts of Ha Noi. This is an inevitable trend, especially with the current rate of urbanisation in Ha Noi. Thuy Huong flower and ornamental plant cooperative of Chuong My District is an example of applying high tech in agricultural production. Its flower growing area covers 7 hectares. It has a 1,000sq.m glass house with modern ventilation and automatic irrigation systems for growing lan ho diep (Phalaenopsis ) and a 3,000sq.m modern net house for growing hoa ly (lily) and dong tien (gerbera). The cooperative gains about VND1 billion (nearly $45,000) in net profits per season. Chuong My District has formed 15 concentrated husbandry areas located far away from residential areas with 110 farms applying modern air cooling technologies. Owners of these farms have invested about VND50 billion ($2.2 million) to renew technologies. Other outskirt districts have applied high tech in agricultural production, for example an orchid growing model in Ha Mo ward of Dan Phuong District and in Tay Tuu Commune of Bac Tu Liem District. "Ha Noi is a large market with high demand for safe and clean food and specialties. I agree that the city needs to form large-scale farms and support farmers in selling their products," Nguyen Thai Dung, Deputy Director of Big C Supermarket said. He added that there should be close coordination between agricultural and trading sectors. Building brand names for agricultural products also plays a key role in enhancing the value of products and income for farmers. Railways driven into the sidings Little expansion has been made to Viet Nam's railway network since it opened over a century ago. A recent report by the Viet Nam Railway Authority (VNRA) showed that most of the country's rail network still resembles that built during the French colonial time in the late 19th century. Though a big north-south cross-country line was built later in 1976, the national rail network has yet to reach two strategic parts of the country – the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands. The country's sea ports, which had grown in both size and number through years, were often left unconnected. Some old railways running to sea ports such as Cua Lo, Quy Nhon and Sai Gon had even been demolished and erased from the rail map, said the report. VNRA head Vu Quang Khoi admitted that railway infrastructure was outdated with old technology and limited transport capability. Some 85 per cent of Viet Nam's railways used single-track lines where trains travelling in both directions shared the same track, Khoi said, plus other weaknesses that limited transport to no more than 50 trains a day. "The number of trains running on single-tracks can reach 80-90 trains a day in advanced countries, and as high as 400 to 480 on double-tracks," he said. This lack of development had played an undeniable role in the dramatic drop in the percentage of railway transport. During its peak years, railway transport accounted for nearly 30 per cent of total passenger transport in the country, and 7.5 per cent of freight transport, said Khoi. In 2013, railway passenger transport rate dropped to merely 3.5 per cent and to 1.7 per cent of total freight transport. Constant investments in roads across the country that made transport easier for personal vehicles and the recent boom of budget airlines were also reasons the railways' decline. The rapid expansion of low-cost airlines like Vietjetair, Air Asia and Nok Air has placed even more pressure on the railway network. "Of course I would choose air travel over trains," said Nguyen Thu Hang, a travel-lover. "Air fares are very cheap now, sometimes as cheap as train tickets. Travelling by plane also take less time than by train." Fertiliser use still ineffective The agriculture sector wastes an average of five million tonnes of fertiliser a year, estimated to be worth at least US$2 billion, Pham Quang Ha, a representative from the institute for agricultural environment said. Local farmers, cadres responsible for agricultural management and enterprises operating in the agricultural sector aren't trained in the effective use of fertilisers, leading to low production efficiency. "When farmers use more urea fertiliser than needed, soil will be acidified and heavy metals will accumulate, polluting underground water and threatening plants in the area," Ha said. Fake and shoddy fertilisers are also an issue. Every year, there is an average of 3,000 cases of regulations on fertiliser quality being violated, with more than 1,000 tonnes of shoddy fertilisers confiscated, according to Nguyen Thi Hang, deputy chief of inspectorate under the ministry of agricultural and rural development. "Most farmers buy fertiliser from local stores where fake and shoddy fertilisers are often sold, they themselves cannot distinguish between high quality and low quality fertilisers," Hang said. Nguyen Nhu Ha, a representative of the Viet Nam National University of Agriculture, said that training in how to effectively use fertilisers was key. "Local farmers should make best use of agricultural by-products and inorganic fertilisers to reduce environmental pollution and greenhouse gas," Ha said. Nguyen Viet Bac, an expert in agriculture, said that relevant ministries and authorised agencies should closely co-ordinate and enhance inspections of fertiliser-producing companies and stores. "Authorised authorities should examine one company or store again and again and licences should be revoked if necessary," Bac said. According to Nguyen Van Thanh, director of Viet Nam National Chemical Corporation, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will double the fines for violations of fertiliser quality regulations and market management officers will be mandated to fine violators. At present, market management officers do not have this ability. Regulations on granting permission for fertiliser production would be tightened, Thanh said.  HCMC honors outstanding young teachers On the occasion of the Teacher’s Day (November 20), the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union held the ceremony to honor outstanding teachers titled “The 2015 Outstanding Young Teacher” on November 14. This year, the organizers selected 179 lecturers and teachers among 551 nominations to receive the title of “The Outstanding Young Teacher”, including 27 teachers from kindergarten schools, 28 from primary schools, 45 from secondary schools, 27 from high schools, and 45 lecturers from universities and colleges. Attending at the ceremony were former Deputy President Truong My Hoa; Secretary, President of Vietnam Students Association Le Quoc Phong; Head of the Department of Propaganda and Training of the HCMC Party Committee Than Thi Thu; representative leaders of Department of Education and Training, universities, colleges, high schools, secondary schools, primary schools and kindergarten schools in the city.   Yesterday, 179 teachers & lecturers offered flowers at Ho Chi Minh Statue. On the occasion, a photography exhibition was organized at HCMC Youth Culture House to introduce models of young teachers, science research projects, comprehensive solution and tools for supporting education sector. Satellite hospitals save critical patients Doctors at northern Phu Tho Province's General Hospital successfully carried out surgeries and saved patients suffering from heart rhythm disorders via high frequency waves. Director of Phu Tho's General Hospital, Nguyen Huy Ngoc said the hospital co-ordinated with the Heart Institute of Bach Mai Hospital to transfer the technique of using high frequency waves to study heart electrophysiology and successfully operate on the first three patients. Senior doctor, Tran Van Dong, of the Heart Institute, said patients suffering from this disease once had to use the anti-heart rhythm disorder medicine, but the symptoms often recurred. Using high frequency waves to study heart electrophysiology would help to radically treat heart rhythm disorders in patients, Dong said. This method was safe with a 95 per cent to 98 per cent success rate in operations, and it helped to save time and money as compared to drug therapy, Dong said. Head of the Cardiology Department of Phu Tho's General Hospital, Nguyen Thi Thu Huong said rhythm disorder recurred when patients stopped using medicine. In addition, using medicine over a prolonged period could cause other diseases. The new technique was an optimised choice for the patients in radical treatment of heart rhythm disorder and the use of this technique in Phu Tho's General Hospital would help to ease the overload of the central hospitals, Huong said. In another case, the southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province-based Ba Ria Hospital saved a person whose heart stopped after he was electrocuted. Le Van Phuc, 26, Tan Hung Commune, Ba Ria city suffered an electric shock, fell down in a nearby fish pond and lost consciousness on Tuesday. He was then rushed to the hospital with his pulse and blood pressure falling to zero and he stopped breathing. Doctors conducted endotracheal intubation, applied an electric shock to the exterior of the chest, which helped his heart to beat again, but the patient again lost consciousness and suffered from rhythm disorder. The patient was then provided with breathing and respiratory equipment, an anti-rhythm disorder drug, and a vasomotor drug, and was put on a catheter. Phuc recovered and was discharged from hospital, Head of Ba Ria Hospital's Rehabilitation Department, Tran Thanh Dat said. Dat said this patient was saved thanks to the co-ordination of doctors of the emergency and rehabilitation departments.  Six former medical employees sentenced for fraud  The Ha Noi People's Court yesterday handed down punishments to six former medical officers of the Ha Noi-based National Hospital of Endocrinology for abusing their positions and power. They were given suspended sentences ranging from one-and-a-half years to three years for appropriating more than VND275 million (US$12,500). The accused former employees are 57-year-old Le Phong, former director of the hospital's training and direction of healthcare activities centre, and five of the centre's officers: 44-year-old Mai Anh Tuan; 42-year-old Nguyen Quoc Viet; 32-year-old Vu Minh Phuc; and 27-year-old Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh; as well as 30-year-old Nguyen Van Tuan. Between October 2010 and December 2011, the six people were assigned the work of organising communication training classes on iodine deficiency and diabetes prevention for local medical staff in some cities and provinces. The localities provided free meeting rooms for the training sessions. However, the six accused persons made fake hotel bills and meeting room rental bills to embezzle money. In November 2010, the training class in the northern Ninh Binh Province lasted only half a day, but it was reported by Vu Minh Phuc as having been held for three days. He and other five medical employees appropriated more than VND56 million ($2,550) as extra payment claims.  Steam boiler explosion kills two at paper plant A steam boiler exploded early on Friday morning at the My Xuan Paper Plant in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, killing two workers, Vietnam News Agency reported. Initial investigations by the local police and relevant authorities said the incident occurred around 12:30am when a group of workers from the Nam Thanh Nguyen Ltd. Co. were directly operating the Biomass steam boiler system. The company is in charge of operating the boiler system of the paper plant which is owned by Sai Gon Paper Joint-Stock Co. located in My Xuan A Industrial Park, Tan Thanh District. The Biomass system consists of three boilers with a total working capacity of between 25 and 30 tonnes. Boiler No 3 blew up, claiming the lives of the head of the work shift, Nguyen Thanh Long, who was standing close to the boiler and worker Nguyen Van Chung, who was standing at the fuel-supplying area for the boiler. The explosion also caused damage to the surrounding areas and set off fires. Worker To Van Tu immediately informed the competent authorities and called for help from the on-the-spot force to extinguish the fire and rush the victims to hospital. Long and Chung were hospitalised at the Tan Thanh District's Emergency Centre but died shortly after. Another worker suffered from minor injuries. The fire was extinguished at 2.30am. Further investigation is on to identify the cause of the explosion cause.  Three die, one injured following argument Three people died and another was injured following an argument at a house in Dai Lich Commune, Van Chan District, the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. According to police, after an argument, Pham Ngoc Thanh, 31, stabbed his brother-in-law, Dao Van Phu, who suffered serious injuries. Thanh then killed his sons, Pham Van Cong, 11, and Pham Van Dao, 7, and committed suicide by swallowing poison and hanging himself. Officials report that Phu is in serious condition at Nghia Lo Town Hospital. Local residents said Thanh threatened to kill his wife, Dao Thi Chi, one month ago. Chi became frightened and fled from the commune. Police are continuing their investigation into the incident.  Buddhism conference tackles int'l issues Buddhism plays a major role in maintaining peace, environmental security and sustainable development as well as enhancing regional cooperation, speakers said at an international Buddhism conference that opened yesterday in HCM City. More than 100 Vietnamese and 40 international scientists, managers and Buddhism researchers from the US, China, India, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and other countries are participating in the two-day "Buddhism in Mekong Region: History and Development" conference. The conference, the first and largest of its kind, was organised by the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities and the Viet Nam Buddhism Institute. Professor Vo Van Sen, rector of the HCM City University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said the conference aimed to create global awareness about peace, environmental security and sustainable development in the Mekong region. It also aims to contribute to international cooperation in economy, culture and environmental protection, and maintain cultural heritage of each country, based on the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals. The event also celebrates the vital role of Buddhism in maintaining territorial integrity on the basis of international law and sustainable development. More than140 presentations will be delivered during the conference, of which 40 presentations will be from foreign researchers. The speeches will focus on Buddhism's development path and protection of the environment in relation to globalisation and sustainable development. Speaking at the event, His Holiness Thich Tri Quang said that environmental protection and treatment in the Mekong region in the context of climate change was one of the focuses of conference's main themes. Buddhist researchers suggested the application of Buddha's teachings in raising social consciousness about environmental protection in the Mekong region, particularly the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam. Quang pointed out the need to reduce abusive exploitation of natural resources, to ensure environmental sustainability, and to meet the demand of future generations, according to UN guidelines. The Most Venerable Dr Thich Nhat Tu said the conference would collect opinions about creating a foundation for regional and international cooperation, thus enhancing sustainable and comprehensive development in the region. The Mekong River is one of the world's longest rivers, dominating political, economic, cultural and religious life of many countries such as Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and China. The Mekong sub-region countries not only share a regional civilisation and culture, but have also witnessed historic changes. The introduction and development of Buddhism in the region has contributed to forming the values of cultural identity from the past to today. As for the heritage and culture of the Mekong sub-region, the wisdom of Buddhism is a spiritual and cultural heritage of humanity, from ancient times to the modern age, Tu said. In the context of globalisation, changes have occurred in social, cultural, political and economic structures, which have increased interactive and cultural integration in the Mekong region. The conference also plans to discuss Buddhist culture as well as the activities of the Buddhist community as it relates to cultural awareness and behavior with the aim of reducing poverty and bringing prosperity and happiness. Buddhism is a major religion in the Mekong region countries, including Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. Buddhism came to Viet Nam in the 2nd century. Buddhists constitute the largest religious community in Viet Nam, with more than 12 million followers, 40,000 monks and nuns and nearly 15,000 temples, monasteries and other places of worship.  USAID steps up support for people with disabilities in Binh Phuoc The US Agency for International Development (USAID) launched its projects to support persons with disabilities in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on November 13. The support programmes will be carried out in Binh Phuoc by Action to the Community Development Centre (ACDC) and Vietnam Assistance for the Handicapped (VNAH). The projects aim to enhance the enforcement of laws on persons with disabilities and the implementation of their rights, provide the disabled with improved legal aid and access to information and public transportation, and help them fully integrate into society. These include one to enhance the implementation of rights for people who are disabled, which runs through 2018. Another project focuses on rights enforcement, coordination and therapy and lasts until 2020. Speaking at the launching ceremony, ACDC Director Nguyen Lan Anh said her organisation has worked to promote the integration process for people with disabilities, with the goal of creating a society without barriers for them. Christopher Abrams, Director of the Environmental and Social Development Office at USAID, said the US government is pleased to back Vietnam’s efforts to support people with disabilities living in poor provinces and dioxin hot spots. According to Vice Chairman of the Binh Phuoc People’s Committee Nguyen Huy Phong, the province is home to about 48,000 people with disabilities, approximately 5,300 of whom have severe disabilities. The province allocates annual funds to implement state policies on disability support and care, he noted.- Ninh Binh, RoK’s Asan city sign cooperation agreement The authorities of the northern province of Ninh Binh and Asan city of the Republic of Korea signed an agreement on friendship and cooperation in Ninh Binh city on November 13.  Under the agreement, both sides will enhance ties through exchanging regular high-level visits and strengthening links across culture, arts, education, economics and trade on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and respect.  Speaking at the signing ceremony, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Dinh Van Dien presented a brief account of the local strengths and potentials.  He believed that the bilateral relationship will further develop for common interests of the two localities.  Mayor of Asan city Bok Ki-wang expressed his belief that both sides will work together closely and effectively in the future.  Ninh Binh and Asan are due to sign a twinning agreement in the first half of 2016.- RoK helps Vietnam train mine clearance personnel Fifteen Vietnamese personnel will attend a training course in mine clearance in Seoul from November 16-27, the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s defence ministry announced on November 13.  The trainees are scheduled to visit military training establishments for sapper and logistics corps as part of the course’s programme.  According to a preliminary survey in 2002, nearly 9,300 communes with 6.6 million hectares of land across Vietnam were contaminated with unexploded ordnances (UXOs), accounting for 21.12 percent of the country’s land area; the central region is the most contaminated.  UXOs claimed 42,135 lives and injured 62,163 others from 1975 to 2000. Vietnam has spent tens of millions of USD every year on UXO disposal and providing support to UXO victims. Informal labourers need stronger protection The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and Oxfam Vietnam jointly held a conference in Hanoi on November 13 to discuss ways to strengthen the role of trade union in representing and protecting informal labourers.  According to Dang Quang Dieu, head of the VGCL’s Department of Socio-economic Policies, Emulation and Reward, although informal employment has an important role in the economy, it always includes the latent risk of unemployment, poverty and social inequality.  The majority of informal labourers, who are not protected by trade unions, are working without a contract and social or unemployment insurance, with unstable jobs and incomes, and without any allowance or welfare, Dieu noted.  He added that the sector receives limited encouragement and support through specific policies from the State.  During the conference, participants also voiced concerns about relevant issues that needed adjusting, including an obliged, legally binding labour contract for informal labour with sections on payment, working time, leave allowance, labour safety and hygiene.  They also pointed to the need to design suitable taxation policies, as well as capital support to optimise the labourers’ potential.  The State should also amend legal regulations in social and health insurance, with an aim to give more support and rights to the labourers, while strengthening the role of trade unions in representing and protecting their rights, they said.  Van Thu Ha, a representative from Oxfam Vietnam, held that in the coming time, Vietnam’s trade union should draw up a clear, specific strategy to encourage informal labourers to join trade unions, expanding welfare for informal labourers and implementing the International Labour Organisation’s recommendation on facilitations the transition from the informal to the formal economy.  According to a joint study by France’s Research Institute for Development in Vietnam and the General Statistics Office, informal employment accounts for nearly 90 percent of total jobs in Vietnam, with 50 percent in agriculture, 14.3 percent in informal businesses, 10.8 percent in non-regular and freelance jobs and 14.9 percent in formal enterprises. 63 millionaires- farmers honored by Agricultural Ministry The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development last night hosted a ceremony to honor 63 outstanding farmers from 63 provinces and cities in the country. They were awarded for overcoming difficulties to increase household income, building creative production models, and applying advanced science and technologies.  On this occasion, the ministry awarded the prize ‘Gold Rice Flower’ to 80 teams and individuals for their outstanding products which have contributed to the country’s agricultural and rural development, and granted the title ‘Businesses for Farmers’ to 100 companies with big contribution to the cause.  Stating at the ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai congratulated and praised the awarded farmers, teams and businesses.  He required the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to expand good and creative production modals and intensify the connectivity among farmers, scientists and businesses. Two animal feed manufacturers in Dong Nai Province fined for using banned chemicals Inspectors of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have just issued fine to animal feed manufacturers which used banned chemical Salbutamol in making products. Cuong Phat located in Phu Son village in Trang Bom District and Bac Au My Company in Bien Hoa Town in Dong Nai Province received administrative fines of VND340 million(US$15,348) and VND470 million (US$21,216) respectively. In addition to the fines, the two companies were asked to stop operation in one month and they have to destroy all products containing the banned chemical. The Department of Animal Health in Dong Nai Province have also fined 4 farms in Vinh Cuu District lately for feeding pigs with animal feed containing banned chemical Salbutamol. Total amount of fine is VND60 million (US$2,708). The World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation banned the use of SAL as growth promoters in animal husbandry. Vietnam banned the substance in husbandry in 2002. Vietnam officially send workers to Thailand    The Thai government has approved the Ministry of Labor’s (MOL)’s proposal for recruiting workers from ASEAN member countries.  Thailand will allow Vietnamese workers entering the country under travel visa prior to February 10, 2015 to register and complete procedures to work legally in Thailand within one year. Visa fees applied for Vietnamese workers will decrease from 2,000 THB (57 USD) to 500 THB, equal to those applied for workers from Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia. Figures from the Association of Southeas Asian Nations (ASEAN) co-member state showed that between 50,000 and 100,000 Vietnamese, most of them from Viet Nam's impoverished central region, are already working in Thailand illegally.  Thailand's government in February issued a labor instruction for Vietnamese, encouraging those working illegally in construction, fishery and household services to register with the authorities to receive a one-year work permit. VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri