14:48' 09/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Bird flu has been recorded in the southern province of Tien Giang and the central province of Quang Nam, announced Bui Quang Anh, Head of the Veterinary Agency.
In Tien Giang, the disease was found in a flock of 1,500 ducks in Phuoc Lap commune, Tan Phuoc district. These ducks had received the first vaccination on March 1.
In Quang Nam, bird flu attacked poultry in Nui Thanh and Tien Phuoc district, where 428 ducks, which were not vaccinated, died.
According to Bui Quang Anh, bird flu could appear on a small scale in other provinces where poultry is not vaccinated.
As blue ear epidemic is spreading very quickly, the Veterinary Agency on April 8 asked related provinces and cities to address their supervision and control of transport of livestock.
So far, nearly 70,000 pigs in the central region have caught blue ear and a record high number of nearly 54,000 pigs have been culled, strongly affecting the animal husbandry sector of the four provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Nam.
“The total number of ill pigs is approximately 70,000, equivalent to the figure of last July, when the blue ear epidemic boomed. However, the loss this time is three times more than last year because only 20,000 pigs were culled last July while it is 56,000 at present,” said Bui Quang Anh.
Wednesday, 9 April 2008
Fire concerns rage through southern national parks
16:21' 09/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of hectares of forest in the southern provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau are now at dangerous and extremely dangerous risk of fire. Forest protection agencies and management boards of national parks are at high vigilance.
At U Minh Ha National Park, thousands of hectares of forest have been exhausted of water for a long time. Under fierce sunbeams, fires can break out anytime in this forest. Fire concerns, therefore, are currently high in the national park.
Nguyen Ham Chau, an official of the Forest Protection Agency who is assigned to supervise anti-fire tasks in U Minh Ha National Park during the dry season, said: “The forest protection forces are now at high alert. We have been here for nearly three weeks with sufficient equipment.”
The director of the national park, Nguyen Van The, directly checked all 21 fire supervision stations set up along the 50km boundary of the park on Sunday. He said the 8,527ha national park has up to 6,500ha at extremely dangerous risk of fire so the forest protection team of nearly 200 members has been in the park for the whole week.
The director said if a fire occurred the consequences would be immeasurable. In near-by communes of Tran Hoi, Khanh An, Khanh Lam and Khanh Binh Tay Bac, local authorities have set up a reserve force of 4,000 people in case fires occur.
In another national park, U Minh Thuong, many areas are out of water. The park’s Director Nguyen Van Huong said U Minh Thuong is a huge peat area so it would be terrible if a fire happened. The management board, thus, has also been at high alert.
All national parks have closed their doors to tourists but they still worry about fires caused by local residents who get into the parks to catch fish and get honey. Most forest fires in Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Dong Thap in the past were caused by people going into the forest for these reasons.
According to Director of U Minh Ha National Park Nguyen Van The, around 4,000 households are living in the buffer zone and many of them live on fish and honey from the park. The park’s guards can’t completely control the whole area and deal with these people.
VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of hectares of forest in the southern provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, Kien Giang and Ca Mau are now at dangerous and extremely dangerous risk of fire. Forest protection agencies and management boards of national parks are at high vigilance.
At U Minh Ha National Park, thousands of hectares of forest have been exhausted of water for a long time. Under fierce sunbeams, fires can break out anytime in this forest. Fire concerns, therefore, are currently high in the national park.
Nguyen Ham Chau, an official of the Forest Protection Agency who is assigned to supervise anti-fire tasks in U Minh Ha National Park during the dry season, said: “The forest protection forces are now at high alert. We have been here for nearly three weeks with sufficient equipment.”
The director of the national park, Nguyen Van The, directly checked all 21 fire supervision stations set up along the 50km boundary of the park on Sunday. He said the 8,527ha national park has up to 6,500ha at extremely dangerous risk of fire so the forest protection team of nearly 200 members has been in the park for the whole week.
The director said if a fire occurred the consequences would be immeasurable. In near-by communes of Tran Hoi, Khanh An, Khanh Lam and Khanh Binh Tay Bac, local authorities have set up a reserve force of 4,000 people in case fires occur.
In another national park, U Minh Thuong, many areas are out of water. The park’s Director Nguyen Van Huong said U Minh Thuong is a huge peat area so it would be terrible if a fire happened. The management board, thus, has also been at high alert.
All national parks have closed their doors to tourists but they still worry about fires caused by local residents who get into the parks to catch fish and get honey. Most forest fires in Ca Mau, Kien Giang and Dong Thap in the past were caused by people going into the forest for these reasons.
According to Director of U Minh Ha National Park Nguyen Van The, around 4,000 households are living in the buffer zone and many of them live on fish and honey from the park. The park’s guards can’t completely control the whole area and deal with these people.
Tuesday, 8 April 2008
Lack of awareness spreads acute diarrhea, ministry says
23:15' 08/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Contaminated water, high-risk food and low public awareness are some of the reasons for the continued spread of acute diarrhea in the North, said Dr. Tran Dang, head of the Vietnam Food Administration and a spokesman for the Ministry of Health.
Farmers in Ha Noi, Ha Tay, Vinh Phuc still spread night soil mixed with water on their vegetable fields, according to a survey carried out by the ministry. Even after cleaning with water, coliforms, including E. coli, and the Vibrio cholera virus are still found on vegetables.
Shrimp paste, considered the primary cause of the diarrhea outbreak at the end of 2007, is made in the northern province of Thanh Hoa.
Shrimp paste is contaminated during the dilution procedure before being put on the market.
Due to low public awareness, some people eat raw food such as duck pudding, vegetables, shrimp paste, dog meat and ice water.
More critically, people do not wash their hands before eating and after going to toilet. Only 12 percent of residents wash their hands with soap, according to the survey.
Vendors at roadside eateries do not wear gloves or wash their hands and 80 percent have the E. coli bacteria on their hands.
The acute diarrhea epidemic has hit 12 provinces and cities nationwide, according to the ministry. This includes Ha Noi; Hai Phong; the northern provinces of Ha Tay, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Phu Tho, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Vinh Phuc and Hai Duong; and the central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Quang Binh.
(Source: SGGP)
Forbes magazine selects Vietnamese-Korean as top philanthropist
23:38' 08/04/2008 (GMT+7)
VietNamNet Bridge - Ly Tuong Tuan, a Republic of Korea (RoK) resident of Vietnamese origin, has been named as one of the top 48 philanthropists in Asia by the US-based Forbes magazine.
Mr Tuan, a 36th generation descendant of Vietnamese King Ly Thai To, was recognized for his contributions to charity activities in Vietnam.
The man, who is known as President Ly Sang Joon of the RoK-based Golden Bridge Group, donated US$2.6 million last year to help establish the RoK-Vietnam Cultural Fund, which provides scholarships to Vietnamese students and helps improve the living conditions of poor Vietnamese.
Mr Tuan has also sought business opportunities in Vietnam and hopes to contribute to the development of the country by applying his operation experience in various sectors, ranging from finance and infrastructure construction to investment and real estate.
In September 2006, the Golden Bridge Group opened a representative office in Vietnam.
(Source: VOV)
VietNamNet Bridge - Ly Tuong Tuan, a Republic of Korea (RoK) resident of Vietnamese origin, has been named as one of the top 48 philanthropists in Asia by the US-based Forbes magazine.
Mr Tuan, a 36th generation descendant of Vietnamese King Ly Thai To, was recognized for his contributions to charity activities in Vietnam.
The man, who is known as President Ly Sang Joon of the RoK-based Golden Bridge Group, donated US$2.6 million last year to help establish the RoK-Vietnam Cultural Fund, which provides scholarships to Vietnamese students and helps improve the living conditions of poor Vietnamese.
Mr Tuan has also sought business opportunities in Vietnam and hopes to contribute to the development of the country by applying his operation experience in various sectors, ranging from finance and infrastructure construction to investment and real estate.
In September 2006, the Golden Bridge Group opened a representative office in Vietnam.
(Source: VOV)
Three subversives deported after arrest
Three members of the Viet Tan (Vietnam Reform) Party, a US-based anti-government group whose operations in Vietnam were busted last November, were sent packing Monday following their arrest in Ho Chi Minh City last week.
Vietnamese-Australian Nguyen Tan Anh, Vietnamese-Swiss Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, and Vietnamese-American Mai Huu Bao, all between 28 and 39 years old, were nabbed on April 3.
The police caught them photographing and filming restricted areas belonging to the southern headquarters of the Ministry of Public Security in HCMC’s District 1.
Investigators also seized cell phones and camera equipment used for clandestine activities.
From interrogation, the three admitted they had been dispatched to Vietnam earlier this month by the Viet Tan Party.
Last December, Vietnamese police also deported two other Viet Tan members who had plotted to distribute subversive materials against the government.
The Viet Tan Party was set up in 1982 in Thailand by Hoang Co Minh, a former senior colonel in the US-backed government in South Vietnam before 1975.
It has since established branches in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Vietnamese-Australian Nguyen Tan Anh, Vietnamese-Swiss Nguyen Thi Xuan Trang, and Vietnamese-American Mai Huu Bao, all between 28 and 39 years old, were nabbed on April 3.
The police caught them photographing and filming restricted areas belonging to the southern headquarters of the Ministry of Public Security in HCMC’s District 1.
Investigators also seized cell phones and camera equipment used for clandestine activities.
From interrogation, the three admitted they had been dispatched to Vietnam earlier this month by the Viet Tan Party.
Last December, Vietnamese police also deported two other Viet Tan members who had plotted to distribute subversive materials against the government.
The Viet Tan Party was set up in 1982 in Thailand by Hoang Co Minh, a former senior colonel in the US-backed government in South Vietnam before 1975.
It has since established branches in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.
Hai Phong company workers demand more pay, stop work
Nearly 500 workers at Tan Vinh Hung Company in Hai Phong City went on strike Monday demanding higher wages and fewer working hours.
Some of the workers said their monthly basic salary was as low as VND560,000 but still had to work under high pressure and clean the factory and machines after work.
Before striking the workers had submitted a petition to the company to increase their wages.
The company had agreed to increase their basic salary to VND620,000 per month but asked them to work an extra hour, and the workers were unhappy with the outcome.
Tan Vinh Hung, which is a clothing subcontractor for a Taiwanese company, is situated in Nam Son Commune in An Duong District.
Some of the workers said their monthly basic salary was as low as VND560,000 but still had to work under high pressure and clean the factory and machines after work.
Before striking the workers had submitted a petition to the company to increase their wages.
The company had agreed to increase their basic salary to VND620,000 per month but asked them to work an extra hour, and the workers were unhappy with the outcome.
Tan Vinh Hung, which is a clothing subcontractor for a Taiwanese company, is situated in Nam Son Commune in An Duong District.
Hanoi police nab street robbery gang red-handed
The Hanoi police Monday arrested six members of a gang that robbed people by grabbing their belongings on the street from motorbikes.
The police reported that the six, all aged 15 to 19 years, admitted to seven robberies in recent days.
They were caught red-handed while snatching a woman’s handbag Monday.
The police announced the names of the arrested as Nguyen Manh Tuan, Pham Thanh Tu, Nguyen Hong Quan, Nguyen Dinh Khanh, Nguyen Thanh Duc and Pham Minh Linh, all from Hanoi.
The police are looking for other members of the gang though it is not known how many exist.
Reported by Pham Hai Sam
The police reported that the six, all aged 15 to 19 years, admitted to seven robberies in recent days.
They were caught red-handed while snatching a woman’s handbag Monday.
The police announced the names of the arrested as Nguyen Manh Tuan, Pham Thanh Tu, Nguyen Hong Quan, Nguyen Dinh Khanh, Nguyen Thanh Duc and Pham Minh Linh, all from Hanoi.
The police are looking for other members of the gang though it is not known how many exist.
Reported by Pham Hai Sam
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