Chebi is a strong and unpredictable storm. Therefore, ministries, sectors and localities need to keep a close watch on its new developments to devise emergency plans and mobilise possible means to cope with the tropical storm.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Procuracy issued an acceptance document and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court made a decision on Nguyen Thuong Cuc’s commutted sentence on November 11.

Vietnam has fulfilled the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) on poverty reduction 10 years ahead of schedule, with the rate of poor people dropping by 60 percent in 2004 against 1993, a Vietnamese representative to the United Nations said on November 11.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung on November 12 presided over a meeting to discuss measures against Typhoon Chebi which is expected to hit the Paracel area in the East Sea.

According to the Central Hydro- Meteorology Forecasting Centre, Typhoon Chebi will pass the Philippine archipelago into the East Sea on the late afternoon of November 11. This is a fast-moving and complicated storm.

Seven defendants involved in a terrorist plot were sentenced to 15 months each in prison by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Court on November 10, in accordance with Article 84 of Vietnam's Criminal Code.

Vietnam has hailed a UN report that ranks the nation 109th out of 177 countries in human development, higher than that of many more affluent countries throughout the world.

The international relief and development organisation World Vision has spent nearly VND27 billion helping thousands of households in rural Hoa Vang district of central Da Nang City overcome poverty and improve their living standards over the past ten years.

The Vietnamese State will give priority to investment in establishing additional universities in the northwestern and northeastern regions, the Central Highlands and the Mekong delta with the aim of raising universities and colleges’ enrolment to 1.8 million by 2010.

The provincial People’s Committee is the first place to manage labourers. Therefore, it is very important to raise local authorities’ awareness of the role of labour export activities, says NA deputy from Tay Ninh province Tran Huu Lap.

The Global Community Service Foundation of the US and the Vietnamese embassy in Washington D.C on November 8 co-launched a fund-raising campaign for humanitarian projects in Vietnam in 2007.

A delegation from the Commission for Science and Education of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee is on a working visit to Laos between November 6-11.

The Compassionate fund (TYM) of the Vietnam Women's Union, on November 9, signed a contract for a US$300,000 loan from the Cordaid foundation based in the Netherlands. The five-year loan will be used to provide credit for poor women in rural areas.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will launch a communication campaign on bird flu prevention and control from November 2006 till December 2007 in Vietnam.

Vietnam Television on November 8 broadcast live a programme entitled “The Night of Integration” from Hanoi, HCM City and Geneva in Switzerland to mark Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The 12th conference of the Asia-Pacific Labour Network (APLN) opened in Hanoi on November 9 to discuss and make recommendations on labour-related issues to APEC leaders at their summit in Hanoi next week.

APEC-2006 has turned the spotlight on Vietnam’s initiatives and proposals to develop more effective cooperation among the largest economic forum in the Asian-Pacific region.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Korea Labour Welfare Corporation (WELCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to boost bilateral cooperation in insurance and labour welfare services.

A delegation from Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) headed by its general director Vu Van Hien has attended the 43rd General Assembly of the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) which officially opened in Beijing, China on November 7.

A US veteran was presented with an insignia "For peace and Friendship among Nations" in recognition of her contributions to boosting the friendly ties between Vietnamese and US people.

A solemn ceremony was held at Pho Quang Pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City on November 7 to celebrate the 25th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS).

The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee held a meeting in Hanoi on November 7 to review the results of providing consultancy on reproductive health on air.

The Hanoi-based Central Pediatrics Hospital is preparing for the second bone marrow transplant at the end of November.

More than 80 volunteers from US teaching institutions and children hospitals have visited Hanoi, HCM City and Nha Trang City to conduct clinical practice and training seminars.

Vietnam has won a golden cup at the sixth Asia-Pacific Information and Communication Technology Awards (APICTA) for its Non Standard Security Portal (NSSP) product.

Nguyen Thuong Cuc and her accomplices will stand trial at the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on November 10 on the charge of terror, the court’s chief judge Bui Hoang Danh announced at a press briefing in the city on November 6.

Vice Minister of Post and Telematics Le Nam Thang said the 10th conference on Radio and Electronics will offer a good opportunity for Vietnamese and foreign scientists to strengthen cooperation with a view to boost the application of information and communication technology into daily life.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on November 3 decided to extract VND100 billion from central budget for 2006 to help localities overcome the consequences of typhoon Xangsane.

Orbis International, a US-based non-governmental organisation, has pledged VND835 million (about US$52,000) for a children's eye-sight care project in the Mekong delta.

A delegation of municipal leaders led by Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Dua on November 3 visited the Vietnam Buddhist Shanga (VBS) central committee to mark the 25th founding anniversary of the VBS.