Social News 6/9 Fire destroys pine forest in Quang Ninh Province   A forest fire broke out yesterday  in Ha Long city’s Hùng Thắng ward in the northern province of Quảng Ninh, destroying more than five hectares of pine trees. Nguyễn Lôi Phong, deputy head of Hùng Thắng ward’s Military Command, said the fire started around 6pm and quickly raged out of control. Local authorities mobilised hundreds of people as well as four fire engines to put out the fire. It took nearly four hours to get the fire under control as hot weather stoked the flames in the highly inflammable pine forest, said Vũ Hồng Phương from the provincial fire prevention and fighting police department. Fire-fighters found it difficult to reach the forest region as the fire broke out on higher ground, at about 40 metres, and there are densely populated residential areas at the foot of the hill, he said. Investigations are underway, but initial reports suggest that the fire could have started because of burning waste. Door-to-door campaign to collect e-waste launched Việt Nam Recycles (VR) has launched a door-to-door campaign to collect e-waste in several districts in HCM City and wards in Hà Nội, starting October 8 through December 2016. Representatives from these districts and wards, along with volunteers and VR members, will go door to door, visiting all households, to collect recyclable electronic devices and raise awareness on the importance of recycling. “This campaign aims to promote our collection programme, since the number of people who bring electronic waste to the designated collecting locations has been quite low,” VR spokesperson Miriam Lassernig said. “By going door to door to collect old electronic devices, we show them the convenience of the practice. Hopefully, with this approach, people will embrace the message of the programme,” she said. “At the same time, our staff and other members will explain the programme and highlight the benefits of proper e-waste recycling practices to the environment and to people’s health.” VR aims to collect and recycle obsolete or out-of-use electronic products for free and ensure that recycling is done in a safe and environment-friendly manner. The programme is expected to reach 32,000 households. The five districts in HCM City chosen to pilot the programme are District 1, 2, and 4, Bình Thạnh District, Phú Nhuận District; the five  wards in Hà Nội that will participate are Nghĩa Tân, Yên Hoà (Cầu Giấy District), Quán Thánh, Thành Công (Ba Đình District) and Cổ Nhuế (Northern Từ Liêm). Recently, Microsoft Mobile Việt Nam joined the cause. The Vietnamese government has underscored the role of manufacturers in collecting e-waste under Decision No. 16, which came into effect in July. Last September, VR had collaborated with a number of wards’ authorities in Hà Nội and launched a campaign urging people to bring their old electronic devices to the collecting locations. However, it had made little impact, since people are in the habit of selling old devices to junk dealers instead. Fire kills three in HCM City A major fire razed a one-floor house on Nguyễn Văn Quá Street in HCM City’s District 12 and killed three members of a family at about 3am this morning. Locals saw the blaze and tried to stamp it out but did not succeed. There were items inside the house that easily caught fire, making it more difficult to control the blaze. Colonel Lê Tấn Bửu, director of the city’s Firefighting and Prevention Police Department, told the Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper six fire engines and firefighters were dispatched to the scene upon receiving the news. The fire was controlled soon after. The three victims were Trịnh Ngọc Tin, his wife and their two-year-old daughter. The family runs a business offering wedding services, such as printing wedding invitations, selling wedding ceremony supplies and renting wedding outfits. The case is being investigated further. Two charged with human trafficking Border guards in the mountainous northern province of Lai Châu today charged two people with human trafficking, after they were caught trying to cross illegally into China with two women. Mã A Lâu, 27, from Lai Châu Province’s Hồng Thu Commune and Thào Thị Say, 24, from Điện Biên Province’s Nậm Nhừ Commune were caught on September 29. During questioning, the duo said they had enticed Mùa Thị Dua, 25, and Mùa Thị Sua, 17, into travelling with them to China and that they had planned to sell them to a middle man. They would have been paid between 1,000 and 2,000 Chinese yuan (US$150- 300) if they had been successful, they said. The two victims hail from Điện Biên Province’s Phìn Hồ Commune. The case has been handed to the police in Điện Biên Province for further investigation. Since 2011, the border guards in Lai Châu Province have come across around 26 cases of human trafficking and arrested 35 suspects. As many as 38 women have been rescued so far.  Cyclo driver prosecuted after 9-year-old boy’s death The Hà Nội Police have decided to prosecute Đinh Ngọc Thạch, 52, for violating driving regulations after the sharp iron sheet he was carrying on his cyclo caused the death of a nine-year-old. Thạch has been prosecuted under article 2020 of the Penal Code. The incident occurred on September 23 when his cyclo carrying long, sharp roofing iron sheet illegally stopped on Tân Mai Street. A nine-year-old boy, Trần Minh Hoàng, was riding his bike on the street. He was talking to his friends and did not notice the stationary cyclo and crashed into it. He slashed his neck and died of blood loss. In 2013, the administration banned three-wheelers and cyclos from transporting bulky goods across the city.  International volunteers build houses for the poor in Phu Tho International volunteers from Habitat for Humanity have joined the “Vietnam Big Build 2016” project to build houses for 20 poor families in Tam Nong district, northern Phu Tho province.  The project drew the participation of more than 200 volunteers from Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia, United States, New Zealand and Vietnam. On the occasion, Habitat for Humanity also supports 45 million VND (2,000 USD) for families of the project. Habitat for Humanity is a non-government organisation which has operated in Vietnam for 15 years. The organisation supported more than 13,600 low-income households nationwide. In Phu Tho, the organisation carried out some projects to build and repair houses, construct clean water and environmental sanitation works, and provided community-based training course for families from difficult backgrounds in Yen Lap and Cam Khe districts. Some ethnics-targeted policies lack cohesiveness Several policies targeting ethnic minorities are still not interconnected, troubling local authorities during implementation, some members of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Affairs Council said. At the council’s second plenary session that was opened on October 4 in Hanoi, council member Tong Thanh Binh said despite the large number of policies adopted for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, resources for implementation haven’t been ensured.  Though some programmes had been approved, the funding for implementation was not ready until several years later such as the programme on socio-economic development in Mang, La Hu, Cong and Co Lao ethnic communities in Ha Giang, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces.  He said capital must be guaranteed when policies are issued, and those policies should take into account specific conditions of the subject areas. They should also be under the management of single agencies to ensure their effectiveness.  Meanwhile, some ethnics-related policies and programmes have yet to be consistent, he added, noting Programme 135 on supporting infrastructure and production development in disadvantaged communes and Resolution 30a on a programme that supports rapid and sustainable poverty reduction in 61 poor districts. The two are part of a national target programme, but their management mechanisms are different.  A report of the Ethnic Affairs Council said overall living conditions of ethnics have been improved.  However, it admitted a lack of breakthrough solutions in the suggested policies for the time ahead. Resources allocated for policy and project implementation remain low compared to the real demand. As a result, many policies which near invalid dates may fail to reach their targets.  The 53 ethnic minority groups in Vietnam had a total population of 13.39 million, accounting for 14.6 percent of the country’s population (91.71 million) as of July 1, 2015. About 23.1 percent of the ethnic minority families were poor in 2015, 3.3 times higher than the general poverty rate of 7 percent, according to the General Statistics Office. Vietnam Episcopal Council convenes 13th congress The Party, State and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) will always closely work with religions in general and Catholic followers in particular in building the country prosperously and promoting the national great unity, said President of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.  Addressing the opening session of the Vietnam Episcopal Council (VEC)’s 13th congress in Ho Chi Minh City on October 4, which also saw the presence of representatives from the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs, and municipal officials, the VFF leader praised contributions of Catholic dignitaries and followers to the national construction and defence.  While highlighting the patriotism of Catholic followers, he expressed his hope that the VEC will continue promoting solidarity among Catholic communities nationwide.  He said with its responsibility, the VFF has been giving comments relating to the building of the Law on Belief and Religion to the National Assembly.  When the law is adopted, it will contribute to protecting the right to belief and religion of citizens, and recognise significant contributions of religions to the nation’s development as well, he noted.  On behalf of the VEC, Archbishop Paul Bui Van Doc thanked the Party, State and the VFF for their wishes to the congress, saying that the five-day congress will work to outline operation programmes in line with the current situation in the country. Some ethnics-targeted policies lack cohesiveness Several policies targeting ethnic minorities are still not interconnected, troubling local authorities during implementation, some members of the National Assembly’s Ethnic Affairs Council said.  At the council’s second plenary session that was opened on October 4 in Hanoi, council member Tong Thanh Binh said despite the large number of policies adopted for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas, resources for implementation haven’t been ensured.  Though some programmes had been approved, the funding for implementation was not ready until several years later such as the programme on socio-economic development in Mang, La Hu, Cong and Co Lao ethnic communities in Ha Giang, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces.  He said capital must be guaranteed when policies are issued, and those policies should take into account specific conditions of the subject areas. They should also be under the management of single agencies to ensure their effectiveness.  Meanwhile, some ethnics-related policies and programmes have yet to be consistent, he added, noting Programme 135 on supporting infrastructure and production development in disadvantaged communes and Resolution 30a on a programme that supports rapid and sustainable poverty reduction in 61 poor districts. The two are part of a national target programme, but their management mechanisms are different.  A report of the Ethnic Affairs Council said overall living conditions of ethnics have been improved.  However, it admitted a lack of breakthrough solutions in the suggested policies for the time ahead. Resources allocated for policy and project implementation remain low compared to the real demand. As a result, many policies which near invalid dates may fail to reach their targets.  The 53 ethnic minority groups in Vietnam had a total population of 13.39 million, accounting for 14.6 percent of the country’s population (91.71 million) as of July 1, 2015. About 23.1 percent of the ethnic minority families were poor in 2015, 3.3 times higher than the general poverty rate of 7 percent, according to the General Statistics Office. Workshop promotes ASEAN cooperation funds’ efficiency A workshop was held in Hanoi on October 4 to promote the efficiency of cooperation funds and programmes between ASEAN and its partners. Addressing the opening ceremony, Foreign Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung highlighted the formation of the ASEAN Community late 2015 and the consolidation of the ASEAN connectivity via implementing the ASEAN Vision to 2025 and the blueprints for each pillar and sector of the Community. The implementation of the commitments on ASEAN Community building is buoyed by external efforts and resources, particularly ASEAN cooperation funds as well as cooperation funds and programmes between ASEAN and its partners, contributing to enhancing the regional integration capability, Dung said. There are over 70 cooperation funds and programmes in the framework of ASEAN and between ASEAN and its partners, according to Dung. He underlined the significant contribution the funds and programmes have made to promote cooperation within ASEAN and between the bloc and its partners, particularly in narrowing down development gaps and adapt to shared challenges. The Deputy Minister hoped that in the coming time, ministries, sectors and localities will proactively explore the funds, thus showing Vietnam’s active participation in ASEAN cooperation. ASEAN General Secretary Le Luong Minh highlighted the role of ASEAN cooperation projects in solving regional issues, saying that they will benefit the bloc and its member nations. On the occasion, representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat introduced procedures to register and implement projects within the funds. Dak Nong: Party organisations tighten border-work link The Party committees of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong and the provincial border guard force have agreed to boost cooperation in dealing with issues along border areas and in socio-economic development in the locality. At a meeting on October 3 in Dak Nong, representatives from the two agencies signed an agreement on border coordination in 2016-2020. The two sides will focus on directing the provincial border guard force to manage and safeguard the national border. They will work to build plans to fight activities violating border sovereignty, and prevent diseases, organise free medical check-ups and medicine provision for local poor households and disabled people. The border guard force will also be active in the locality’s socio-economic development through helping residents in border areas escape from poverty. The two sides also agreed to propose the Government to develop the existing Dak Puer border gate in Dak Mil district into an international border gate in the future. During the last five years, the two organisations saw effective coordination in border work. They devised many solutions to issues arising along the border in line with Party policies. Under the direction of the two Party organisations, the provincial border guard force performed socio-economic development programmes, including movements of new-style rural area building, and those to support poor locals and students. On the occasion, representatives from the provincial border guard force’s Party Committee presented 100 breeding cows and 50 scholarships worth 1.8 billion VND to needy households and students in local border areas. President meets HCM City’s voters President Tran Dai Quang on October 4 met voters in Ho Chi Minh City to inform them of the planned discussion of the National Assembly’s (NA) second session and listen to their feedback and aspirations.  At the upcoming second session, NA deputies are scheduled to approve four bills, debate one draft resolution, 14 draft laws, while discussing the implementation of the socio-economic plan for 2016 and public debt management in the 2016-2020 period, together with the East Sea issue and the Government’s reports on crime combat and anti-corruption.  A number of local voters gave their ideas on the Law on Associations, suggesting that the NA consider the creation of a legal framework for associations to promote their role in society, while making clear regulations on the financial sources for non-typical associations.  They also raised concern about the State capital loss at State-owned groups and corporations, as well as the fight against corruption, the process of personnel appointment, environmental pollution and climate change response.  Some voters also voiced their opinions on current urgent matters related to LSD drugs sold in schools, pilot curriculums of the Ministry of Education and Training, and employment support to the disadvantaged youngsters.  President Tran Dai Quang said that the drafting of the Law on Associations aims to institutionalise policies of the Party and specify regulations of the Constitution 2013.  He clarified that the right of forming associations is among citizens’ basic rights, which has been stated in the Constitution. The State ensures and creates favourable conditions for citizens to practise the right, thus promoting the role of the associations in the national construction and defence, he declared.  On the socio-economic performance in the first nine months of 2016, the State leader stressed that the country is experiencing a recovery and development trend, with low inflation and rising foreign direct investment.  However, Vietnam is facing a number of difficulties, he said, pointing out that two out of the 13 socio-economic goals set for 2016 -- GDP growth and exports -- are likely to be unachieved.  Regarding public debt issue, President Quang noted that the figure rose rapidly from 51.7 percent of GDP in 2010 to 62.2 percent in late 2015, posing a pressure of payment on the State. However, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have still excluded Vietnam from countries with heavy burden of debt, he said.  The President informed voters that ant-corruption work has seen positive results and will be drastically carried out in the future.  On the case of Trinh Xuan Thanh, who is responsible for a loss of 3.3 trillion VND (142 million USD) at the PetroVietnam Construction Corporation, he briefed that the Ministry of Public Security has commenced legal proceedings against Thanh for deliberately infringing State regulations on economic management and causing serious consequences, while issuing wanted notice nationally and internationally against the man.  The President underscored that the case has raised the alarm on the need to review and re-evaluate regulations and process relating to personnel appointment, thus making necessary adjustments. Deputy Prime Minister greets Thailand’s KBank President Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue suggested Thailand’s Kasikorn Bank (KBank) offer more quality financial services suitable for Vietnam as the country aims to have 1 million businesses by 2020.  At a reception for KBank President Teeranun Srihoong in Hanoi on October 4, the official lauded the bank’s opening of its two representative offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 2014.  He showed his support for activities facilitating the operation of KBank’s micro and small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam.  Vietnam is restructuring the economy, credit organisations and banks, he said, suggesting the Thai bank’s participation in purchasing Vietnamese failing businesses and investing in the Vietnamese stock market.  Teeranun Srihoong affirmed that KBank will step up its assistance to Vietnamese SMEs and soon roll out an investment plan in the Vietnamese stock market.  Founded in 1945, KBank is one of Thailand’s biggest financial groups, ranking second in market share and fourth in total asset with about 71 billion USD. It also tops the country in the number of SMEs customers. Striker Hải quits football after long-term injury Former national striker Hải bid goodbye to football, playing his last season under Quảng Ninh Coal’s jersey in 2016. Hải, 31, who is from Khánh Hòa Province, played just five matches and scored one goal in the V.League tournament, which ended last month. The main reason for the poor show was attributed to a herniated disc, which prevented him from playing more aggressively Hải, who played 40 matches with the U23 and national teams, with a total of eight goals in 2007-08, made a transferring fee record of VNĐ9 billion when he moved from Khatoco Khánh Hòa to Navibank Sài Gòn in 2010. However, he was not happy with the new team and subsequently joined Hải Phòng in 2013-14. Later, he played for Quảng Ninh Coal in 2014-16. In 2016, Quảng Ninh Coal missed their first title, losing in the last round. However, the team triumphed at the National Cup, beating national champions Hà Nội T&T 6-5 in aggregate. Hải will now focus on his restaurant and shop selling bird nets in Nha Trang. He also has plans to open a football school for students.  RoK’s National Day celebrated in Ho Chi Minh City A ceremony was held by the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s General Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City on October 3 to celebrate the country’s National Day. Speaking at the event, General Consul Park Noh Wan highlighted growing relations between the two countries, stressing ties between the RoK and Ho Chi Minh City and neighbouring localities play an important role in the relationship. He affirmed to enhance ties, especially in trade and investment, between Ho Chi Minh City and RoK localities. Le Van Khoa, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, highlighted sound relations between the nations, which, he said, have contributed to cooperation in trade, investment, tourism and culture between RoK’s cities and Vietnam. He pledged the city will create favourable conditions for RoK businesses in Ho Chi Minh City, contributing to developing the two countries’ relationship. The RoK is the third largest investor in Ho Chi Minh City with more than 1,000 projects worth 4.3 billion USD. The RoK is also the biggest investor and one of leading Official Development Assistance (ODA) providers in Vietnam. It has invested over 50 billion USD in the Southeast Asian nation so far. Bilateral trade between the two countries hit 2.6 billion USD in 2015. France helps Can Tho improve medical services French experts are willing to assist the General Hospital of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho in applying advanced medical techniques, Jean-Patrick Lajonchere, France’s export coordinator for healthcare products and services, affirmed on October 4.  Jean-Patrick Lajonchere was inspecting the implementation of a French ODA-funded medical equipment project in the hospital.  During the inspection tour, he applauded the hospital’s effective use of the cutting-edge equipment in medical check-ups and treatment for patients in the locality and the region at large.  According to the hospital’s Director Le Quang Vo, the project has enabled the hospital’s staff to apply up-to-date techniques in health care, thus improving their medical services.  The Health Ministry on October 15 will examine the hospital’s competence in conducting several heart surgeries using the French ODA-funded equipment, he said.  The 850-billion-VND (38.3 million USD) Can Tho General Hospital was put into service on September 21, 2014. Covering a total area of 2.48 hectares, the hospital has 500 beds and a staff of nearly 600.  The French ODA-funded equipment project was implemented since 2013, with the total investment of approximately 22 million EURO (24.5 million USD), 19.5 million EURO of which came from France’s ODA.  The hospital has been equipped with over 3,000 advanced machines, including a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, a computerised tomography (CT) scanner, a Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) machine, and dialysis machines. High-tech medical centre to operate in Hanoi next month The Hanoi-based Saint Paul general hospital on October 4 announced the establishment of a high-tech medical centre, the first one in the capital city that meets international standards.  After five months of construction at a cost of 300 billion VND (13.6 million USD), the centre is expected to be operational in late November and double as a workforce training and technology transfer centre.  The centre accommodates 12 check-up rooms majoring in digestive cancer screening, three modern surgery rooms and three patient rooms with 45 beds, which are equipped with advanced facilities from Europe, such as magnetic resonance imaging and scanner system for the early detection of cancer related to the digestive system. Northwestern Culture Festival ends The three-day Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival of the ethnic minorities of northwestern Việt Nam ended yesterday in Lào Cai Province. Themed “Northwestern ethnic minorities – unity and development towards National Tourism Year 2017,” the festival featured nearly hundred cultural and sports events, which included art performances introducing the cultures of different ethnic groups, a fireworks show, art photo exhibitions showcasing northwestern people and the region’s development and integration process, fashion show of the northwest’s traditional costumes and booths promoting the cultural and tourism products of the region. The northwestern region has a unique cultural identity and great tourism potential. It is essential to preserve and promote the diversity of different cultures of the ethnic groups, according to Nguyễn Văn Bình, head of the Northwest Steering Committee. The region needs to encourage locals to engage in cultural activities, combining effective preservation with sustainable tourism and economic development, Bình said. The event attracted the participation of several artists, actors and athletes from the eight northwestern provinces of Hòa Bình, Sơn La, Điện Biên and Lai Châu, as well as Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Phú Thọ and Hà Giang. The 14th festival will be held in Sơn La Province in 2019. Watercolor paintings connect Vietnam, China A watercolor painting exhibition featuring art works by Chinese artists opened at the Art and Photography Exhibition center in Hanoi on October 2. The display is presenting 90 paintings by 10 artists from Hangzhou, China who were graduated from the China Academy of Art, specializing in watercolor. They are important members of watercolor research and creation associations in Hangzhou and in Zhejiang. The event themed “watercolor paintings connect Vietnam and China” is organized by the China Embassy in Vietnam and the China Academy of Art. The exhibition will run until October 7. Doctors remove 1kg tumor from woman’s kidney Medicine University Hospital in Ho Chi Minh yesterday said that its surgeons had just removed a big, rare tumor from a woman’s kidney. 61 year old woman from the Mekong delta province of Ca Mau arrived hospitalized when she experienced pain in her right belly. The woman said she has suffered the pain for one year. Looking her X-ray, doctors discovered that she had a complicated tumor in her kidney with big blood vessels in her belly. After thorough consultation, doctors decided to cut off the patient’s kidney to remove her tumor. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Duc, head of the urinary tract ward, said that surgeons have removed a tumor weighing nearly one kilogram. Following the operation, the woman’s health condition began to stabilize as her internal organs returned to their normal positions. Passenger fined for using other’s ID to check in flight A passenger from Lai Chau province was charged VND 7. 5 million by Northern Airports Authority because she used identity card of other person as traveling on flight number VJ 471 from Hanoi to Nha Trang of Vietjet Air. After scanning her luggage, the security officials detected passenger Leo Thi Mai from Tam Duong district, Lai Chau who used ID card of Doan Thi Hai from Yen Phong, Bac Ninh to check in the airport. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam often checked and detected many passengers using other personal papers to travel in domestic flights in the recent times. The relevant authorities will continue controlling and penalizing the similar cases. Large bomb found in Lam Dong Province A large bomb has just been found by a family in the central highlands province of Lam Dong when constructing the foundation of their house. The MK82 bomb which was left from the American war weighs around 340 kilos, measures 1.18 metres and 40 centimetres in diameter. The bomb damage radius can reach 500-700 metres. The bomb was found by a family in Ngo Quyen District in Da Lat City while constructing the foundation of their house. Local authorities have removed the bomb out of the community area and will deactivate it on Wednesday. It is the largest bomb ever found in the area according to local officials. Working groups likely formed to inspect realization of ministers’ conclusions: PM Chairpersons of the municipal and provincial People’s Committees and ministers could establish working groups to inspect the enforcement of their conclusions, aiming to ensure these contents be strictly realized in reality. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the statement at the ongoing regular cabinet meeting for September in Ha Noi on October 4. Cabinet members heard a report by the PM’s working group on the situation of implementing the tasks, conclusions and directions of the government and the government leader. Ministries, sectors and localities have seen positive changes and increasing efficiency in fulfilling the conclusions and instructions made by the PM and deputy PMs in the past month, with more than 3,300 tasks completed, up 45% against the previous month and 14% year on year, PM Phuc said. Concerning the issuance of documents detailing laws and ordinances, the delays in promulgating documents have been basically addressed, with 50 out of the 75 documents issued so far, accounting for 67% of the documents that need to be issued in the year, he added. The PM spoke highly of the government’s law building outcomes, insisting that localities, ministers and heads of sectors continue to see institution building as a task of prime importance in their management and monitoring work. Following institutional building topic, the cabinet members began discussing the nation’s socio-economic situation in September and in the first nine months of the year.   VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri/VNE