Illustration by Trịnh Lập by Nguyễn Mỹ Hà Local residents and environmentalists have been spreading the news that UNESCO Việt Nam has opposed an official letter from the Đồng Nai People's Committee consulting on a contractor's proposal to build a 40km highway with a bridge across the core zone of the Đồng Nai Biosphere Reserve. VnExpress news website reported that UNESCO Việt Nam, in response to the letter, strongly suggested not building a road across the world biosphere for fear the damage would impact flora and fauna in reserve. It added that the full biodiverse ecological corridor would be affected. Vehicles moving on the road could accidentally kill animals crossing it, and the construction process would pollute the soil, air and groundwater. If this happens, the criteria for a world biosphere would not be met, and Đồng Nai Reserve could be crossed off the list of world biospheres. It also cited that building a bridge and a national highway failed to meet Việt Nam's … [Read more...] about Đồng Nai Biosphere Reserve must not be spoilt
Forests protection
“For the Green” Viet Stamp Exhibition kicks off in Ho Chi Minh City
A stamp exhibition, under the theme “For the Green” took place at Ho Chi Minh Museum, Number 2 Le Duan Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on November 20 th in response to environmental protection in Vietnam, the UN International Forest Year, the wild life and ecosystem protection campaign and sustainable use of biodiversity. On display are 38 sets of stamps of 30 collectors, reflecting nature, environment, flora and fauna species as well as the culture, people and history of Vietnam and countries in the world. The event aims to mobilise people to take active part in protecting flora and fauna species, ecosystems and the biodiversity. Dinh Duc Tuan, the winner of the fifth Viet Stamp Exhibition confided that he decided to introduce set of stamps about environment, especially about polar ice melting, to raise people’s awareness and responsibility on protection of the environment. Source: SGGP Translated by Tran Hoai … [Read more...] about “For the Green” Viet Stamp Exhibition kicks off in Ho Chi Minh City
N.A. Chairman’s visit to deepen ties with Hungary in post-pandemic period: Ambassador
She said that Vietnam and Hungary have shared a 72-year partnership and traditional cooperation in all fields including education-training, law and justice, culture, sports, and people-to-people exchanges. The diplomat noted that Hungary considers Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia, and the two countries lifted their ties to a comprehensive partnership in September 2018. The parliaments of the two countries have also kept a good relationship with regular meetings and exchanges at all levels, while showing close and effective cooperation and mutual support at multilateral parliamentarian forums, she said. According to Ambassador Thao, the Vietnamese top legislator's visit will be a chance for senior leaders of Vietnam and Hungary to reaffirm their political commitments in continuing to promote the bilateral partnership, contributing to the economic recovery and sustainable development after COVID-19 in each country, while strengthening collaboration in global issues … [Read more...] about N.A. Chairman’s visit to deepen ties with Hungary in post-pandemic period: Ambassador
Two leading press agencies boost cooperation
Le Quoc Minh, Editor-in-Chief of the Nhan Dan Newspaper, and Major General Doan Xuan Bo, Editor-in-Chief of the People’s Army Newspaper, co-chaired the event. At the meeting the two press agencies discussed their collaboration in completing the projects to build the two newspapers into major modern multimedia agencies, in fighting against wrongful and inimical viewpoints of reactionaries, in protecting the Party’s ideological foundation, and in spreading good models and deeds in society. They also spent time sharing experience in disseminating information about the military’s performance of defense and security, military-building duties, and other training and combat readiness tasks, the military’s assistance to local people in socio-economic development, search and rescue operation, and defense diplomacy to beautify bright images and good values of Uncle Ho’s soldiers. At the event, the two sides agreed to continue to keep a close relationship in information dissemination work, … [Read more...] about Two leading press agencies boost cooperation
River pollution: Large discharge facilities to be strictly controlled
According to a report of the Vietnam Environment Administration (VEA), the monitoring results in 2021 showed that the quality of most river water of large basins including the Red, Thai Binh, Ma Chu, Ca La, Vu Gia, and Thu Bon rivers and the Mekong Delta are maintained well. At many river sections, the water is used for domestic, aquaculture and other purposes. The To Lich River has always been one of Hanoi's pollution hotspots The average monitoring results have not thrown up unusual signals. However, local pollution is still recorded in some river sections flowing through densely populated areas, craft villages, and industrial production areas, like the Cau River before flowing into Thai Nguyen City or the Nhue River section through Hanoi City. River basin pollution is mainly of organic and nutrient sources. Most monitoring stations have not recorded any signs of metal pollution and pesticides. Deputy VEA Director Hoang Van Thuc said the agency will continue to … [Read more...] about River pollution: Large discharge facilities to be strictly controlled
Military Women’s Sports Festival 2022 concludes
Major General Nguyen Van Gau, Deputy Director of the General Department of Political Affairs, chaired the event. After three-days of competition with spirit of solidarity, honesty, nobility, exchange and learning, the festival and a clip contest themed “Care for and protection of children and domestic violence prevention and control” concluded, achieving all set targets and plans. The volleyball competition saw 18 interesting and dramatic matches with a high sense of responsible and high resolve of players. In the folk dance competition, competitors made thorough preparations in contents, were creative and flexible in performance, and harmonized in music and dance. For the clip competition, the organizer received 167 clips from 49 out of 60 units under the Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defense. Attentively, this year, the organizers opened an online vote for clips, attracting over 27,000 comments, 53,000 views, and over 182,000 shares. In the final round, … [Read more...] about Military Women’s Sports Festival 2022 concludes
General Department II’s affiliate receives noble order
At the event, delegates reminisced about the glorious tradition of Department 11 over the past four decades. Under the close leadership and direction of the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, and the General Department II, Department 11 has over the past time consolidated personnel organization, and developed an elite, compact, strong and effective force. Its cadres and employees have upheld the qualities of Uncle Ho's soldiers, been brave, clever, creative, and gained various outstanding feats-of-arms, contributing to the national liberation, reunification, construction and defense cause. With great achievements, the department and its staff have been honored with a number of noble orders and the Hero of the People’s Armed Forces title. This year, the department has been awarded with the first-class Fatherland Protection Order. On behalf of the Ministry of National Defense’s leadership, Lt. Gen. Nguyen Trong Binh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of … [Read more...] about General Department II’s affiliate receives noble order
Part 3: Upholding VNLOS is upholding international law
Reporter: The adoption of VNLOS could be considered the localization of the UNCLOS in Vietnam. Could you please elaborate more about the policy and principles of Vietnam when applying the above two legal documents to the demarcation of waters and dealing with arising issues at sea in reality, sir? Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh: First, There are two basic legal documents that we rely on when exploiting resources, protecting and operating in Vietnamese waters. They are UNCLOS internationally and VNLOS domestically. At present, there are a lot of conventions, international laws or legal documents. They are not issued by any courts, but built based on the commitments of coastal and island states. Due to the characteristics of UNCLOS, each country needs to devise its own law of the sea, but basically all of those laws must comply with and be based on UNCLOS. Generally, international conventions or laws at large, not only on the sea, are loose to some extents, but first … [Read more...] about Part 3: Upholding VNLOS is upholding international law
Protesters at U.S. Supreme Court decry abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
The sweeping ruling by the court, with a 6-3 conservative majority, was set to alter American life, with nearly half the states considered certain or likely to ban abortion. Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the court's reasoning could also lead it to reconsider past rulings protecting the right to contraception, legalizing gay marriage nationwide, and invalidating state laws banning gay sex. As the day progressed, the number of demonstrators outside the Supreme Court increased substantially. The fenced-off area in front of the high court was filled largely with those demanding abortion rights. Crowds carried posters with slogans such as "Abort SCOTUS." One protester carried a placard that said "limit guns, not women" in reference to another Supreme Court decision this week expanding gun rights. Earlier in the afternoon, a supporter of Friday's ruling said: "The thing that 'my body, my choice' advocates don't get is that the aborted baby never had a choice." The … [Read more...] about Protesters at U.S. Supreme Court decry abortion ruling overturning Roe v. Wade
Investment ready for Hà Nội’s relic restoration
Cổ Loa Temple is one of the relics that has attracted the city's attention to invest in its preservation. Photo nhandan.vn Hà Nội's recent decision to mobilise vast financial sources to protect its heritage sites is promising to blow a new breath of life into hundreds of historical and cultural monuments after many years of effort without success. The capital city's authorities have pledged to boost the public investment plan for 2021 - 2025 by pouring over VNĐ14 trillion (US$602 million) into restoring and embellishing a total of 579 relic sites in the area. According to the municipal People's Council, the sum is a significant part of its financial supplementation plans for a five-year term and the allocation for 2022, including investment plans in building and renovating public schools, upgrading the health system, as well as restoring and upgrading heritage sites from 2022 to 2025 and the following years. Vice Chairman of the Hà Nội People's Committee Chử Xuân … [Read more...] about Investment ready for Hà Nội’s relic restoration