Over the past few days, food and hygiene safety has become a hot issue as health agencies have detected violations in illegally imported frozen meat and foodstuffs and low-protein milk. There is now an urgent need for stricter laws to protect consumers’ health.

Many international organisations have confirmed that they will stand side by side with the Vietnam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) in their struggle for justice.

The World Bank (WB) has agreed to inject US$350 million into the 8th Poverty Reduction Support Credit (PRSC 8) for Vietnam.

The Japanese Government will grant non-refundable aid packages worth over US$170,000 in total to build primary schools in the central provinces of Thua Thien-Hue and Quang Ngai.

The Party and State always pay special attention to improving the spiritual and material life of victims of Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin, said Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has applauded humanitarian and charity organisations for taking care of disadvantaged people, especially handicapped children and orphans, helping them integrate into the community.

Health authorities on August 7 confirmed 35 new cases of A/H1N1 influenza and called on people to protect themselves and the community by strictly following preventive measures.

For low-income earners living in major cities with high costs of living, owning a house is just a dream.

Many events have been held across the country to celebrate Agent Orange (AO) Day and raise funds for AO victims and the poor.

The government always encourages vocational training establishments to link up with overseas training schools and create favourable conditions for prestigious investors to open schools in Vietnam, stated Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Policies on simplifying administration procedures for overseas Vietnamese topped the agenda at a teleconference held yesterday between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese embassies in Paris and Singapore.

The people of Can Tho city have been urged to help the local authorities to cope with climate change after a meeting between the UK-based Challenge to Change (CtC) organization, the US Rockefeller Foundation, and the local authorities on August 6.

A delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) paid a visit to the central province of Quang Tri on August 6 to study investment in the province’s socio-economic projects.

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) on August 6 presented nearly VND200 million to the Vietnamese General Association in Laos. 

The United Nations Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat) plans to grant US$400,000 to help Vietnam develop its housing policy from now until December 2010, according to the programme’s country director Nguyen Quang. 

The Electricity Group of Vietnam ’s Power Company No. 2 on August 6 launched a project to bring power to Khmer ethnic minority people in the Mekong delta province of Soc Trang.

Vietnamese health authorities on August 6 confirmed 39 new cases of A/H1N1 influenza and warned the public not to buy Tamiflu anti-viral medication without a doctor’s prescription.

The Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs is building a global communications network with a view to enhancing communications with its offices worldwide.

Vietnam aims to achieve a breakthrough in vocational training in the next 10 years to make some of its key sectors more competitive regionally and globally.  

Tropical storm Goni, the sixth of its kind to form in the East Sea this year, is moving towards the northern part of the Tonkin Gulf at a speed of 10km per hour, according to the National Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting Centre.

The Vietnam Blind Association (VBA) held a meeting in Hanoi on August 5 to review its poverty reduction campaign over the last 10 years and develop social policies for the handicapped.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a rural clean water supply and environmental hygiene project in the central region funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). 

Vietnam confirmed nine more cases of the A/H1N1 flu, bringing total infections to 1,004, with one fatal case, as of 5 pm on August 5.

Four Mekong delta localities, including An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau and Can Tho city, have jointly participated in a programme to develop the tourist industry in the next five years and through 2020. 

This was the theme of a seminar held in Hanoi on August 5 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

A seminar on increasing children’s awareness of global climate change was held in Hanoi on August 5 for 126 students from 21 cities and provinces nationwide.

The third Asia-Pacific Army Nursing Seminar, themed “Boosting the global military nursing cooperation”, opened in Hanoi on August 3. 

Trade unions should participate in diminishing the negative impact of globalization, said a Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) official at a seminar held in Hanoi on August 4 to discuss the role of trade unions and challenges from the globalization process.

Representatives of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) met with international labour experts on August 4 to solicit their ideas for the draft law on labour unions and the revised labour law.

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has pledged to provide the best possible conditions for children to take part in social activities and asked relevant agencies to consider children’s concerns and interests.