Protecting beehives from bears

Vietnam has banned swimming and scuba diving at a popular central tourist spot in an attempt to revive its damaged coral reef, officials said Monday. The Southeast Asian nation boasts more than 3,200 kilometres of coastline with crystal clear waters, vibrant sea life and sandy beaches that are a huge tourism draw. Coral reefs across Southeast Asia have been badly hit by global warming, with scientists warning their degradation could have devasting environmental and economic knock-on effects. Recent photos taken off Hon Mun island -- about 14 kilometres from the city of Nha Trang and popular with divers thanks to its diverse ecosystem -- showed the reef bleached and damaged. "The Nha Trang bay management authority decided to halt swimming and scuba diving activities in areas around Hon Mun island," officials said. In a statement they said the ban was to "evaluate the condition of sensitive area so that an appropriate plan to enact the sea conservation area" could be made. … [Read more...] about Vietnam halts scuba diving off popular island to protect coral

The event was jointly organized by the Naval Region 2 Command, the Military Youth Advisory Board, the Political Department of the Navy, the provincial Youth Union Chapter. During the program, Deputy Political Chief of the Naval Region 2 Command Senior Captain Vu Duy Luu launched a campaign, themed “Naval youth join hands to clean up the sea and fight against plastic waste.” During the campaign, troops from units under the Naval Region 2 Command, in collaboration with local youths, conducted information dissemination activities to raise public awareness of environmental protection, plastic waste prevention, and the sorting, collection and recycling of plastic wastes, contributing to protecting beaches in particular and marine environment in general. After the launching ceremony, more than 100 troops from military units in the province and youths of Vung Tau city collected garbage along the beach near Quang Trung park and Dau beach. On the occasion, the Military Youth Advisory … [Read more...] about Naval troops’ festive program to protect marine environment

Foreign nationals living in Vietnam will be granted an electronic identification account to perform public administrative procedures. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is considering issuing identification (ID) cards for long-term foreign residents. Accordingly, people of Vietnamese origin who were born in Vietnam or abroad but have returned to Vietnam and lived permanently for more than five years will be eligible to receive ID cards. Currently, citizens in Vietnam have to carry too many paper documents such as citizen identification card, health insurance card, social insurance book, birth certificate, driver's license, student identification card, social insurance card, among others. Identity card with barcode is currently the most modern form in Vietnam. Photo: The Hanoi Times The fact that there are too many different types of papers issued by competent authorities causes numerous inconveniences for citizens in storing … [Read more...] about Vietnam to issue ID cards for non-Vietnamese nationals

During the talks, participants evaluated that the effective coordination among parties has contributed to well maintaining political security and public order, firmly protecting national sovereignty in each country and consolidating the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos. In realizing their inked memorandum of understanding, the Ha Tinh provincial Border Guard Command and the Borikhamxay and Khammuane provincial Public Security Departments have regularly exchanged information and situational developments and promoted information dissemination to mobilize people along the shared borderline to strictly observe the Protocol on the borderline and border markers and the Agreement on the regulations managing the land border and border gate system signed by the two governments. In addition, the two sides have well managed the import and export activities through border gates and sub-border gates. Over the past years, Cau Treo International Border Gate in Ha Tinh province and … [Read more...] about Ha Tinh’s border guard holds talks with Laos’ public security units

The ministry said it is collecting opinions from other ministries and departments on a draft report on measures to combat Covid-19 in the "new normal" situation for submission to the government. The latest assessment comes more than two months after the PM had asked the health ministry to work on declaring Covid-19 an endemic. The ministry said that from March until now, the number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths has "stably decreased," and the number officially registered with the national database has stayed at fewer than 1,000 cases each day in recent times while the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses; and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. Despite this, the ministry said it was not the right time for Vietnam to consider Covid-19 endemic because the novel coronavirus is constantly changing and it is … [Read more...] about Not time yet to declare end of Covid-19: health ministry

They "will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. A new call between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies has been long expected amid tensions over trade, China's sabre rattling around Taiwan, and pressure on Beijing not to help Russia get around Western sanctions over the Ukraine invasion. A week ago, Biden said he planned on "having a conversation with President Xi." "We haven't set a time yet," he said, while a few days earlier he'd said the call could be "soon". The last video conference between the two leaders was on March 18, when Biden warned Xi against assisting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. A key item in the next discussion will be Biden's possible decision to lift some of the trade tariffs imposed under Donald Trump, with billions of dollars of Chinese imports facing 25 percent duties. The penalties were aimed at punishing what the United States says are China's … [Read more...] about Biden, Xi to contact each other in ‘next few weeks’: US official

Peter Bernhardt, team leader of the ARISE+ Vietnam project Since coming into force in August 2021, the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become an effective tool for boosting trade ties between the EU and Vietnam. What should Vietnam pay attention to in order to benefit more from this deal? I agree that the overall picture of EVFTA performance in this starting period, where exporters and government authorities from both sides have to adapt to the new situation, looks definitely promising. The EVFTA is the most ambitious FTA that the EU has ever signed with a developing country. The deal will mutually lift about 99 per cent of the tariffs within 10 years. Duty was lifted from 65 per cent of EU exports to Vietnam and 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU, immediately after the EVFTA came into effect. As most Vietnamese exporting products are consumer products, the real challenge Vietnam exporters will face to comply with EU consumer protection regulations is … [Read more...] about EU supporting comprehensive implementation of the EVFTA

Headquarters of the Hung Yen Department of Agriculture and Rural Development The department’s remit includes agriculture, forestry, fisheries, irrigation and rural development, flood and storm control, agro-forestry-fishery product safety management, and public services in the field of agriculture and rural development. For over 72 years, under the leadership of the provincial communist party committee and people’s committee, the provincial agriculture and rural development sector has contributed significantly to Hung Yen Province’s socioeconomic development. In recent years, the sector has achieved significant results in agricultural restructuring for higher added value and sustainable development, helping improve livelihoods and the rural face of Hung Yen Province. In 2022, the sector continues accelerating agricultural restructuring along with building new rural areas to contribute to local economic growth, increase incomes, ensure social security, national defense and … [Read more...] about Offering valuable advice

Stateless people living in Vietnam will likely be granted an electronic identification account to perform public administrative procedures. The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) is considering the issuance of identification (ID) cards for long-term stateless residents. Accordingly, people of Vietnamese origin who were born in Vietnam or abroad but have returned to Vietnam and lived permanently for more than five years will be eligible to receive ID cards, according to the ministry's suggestions for the draft revision of Law on ID Card. Currently, citizens in Vietnam have to carry too many paper documents such as citizen identification card, health insurance card, social insurance book, birth certificate, driver's license, student identification card, social insurance card, among others. Identity card with barcode is currently the most modern form in Vietnam. Photo: The Hanoi Times The fact that there are too many different types … [Read more...] about Vietnam considers issuing ID cards for stateless nationals

Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng held phone talks with President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng holds phone talks with President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Monday on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the founding of the CPP and the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Party leader Trọng congratulated the Cambodian Party for leading the Cambodian people to reap great and important achievements in many fields over the past 71 years. He also congratulated Cambodia for successfully organising the 2022 communal elections, in which the CPP gained victory, demonstrating the role and position of the CPP under the leadership of President Hun Sen. He expressed his belief that under the wise reign of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the Senate, the National Assembly, and the … [Read more...] about Party chief holds phone talks with his Cambodia counterpart