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Citizen protection provided to Vietnamese affected by record cold in Texas

February 25, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Snow storm in Texas (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Consulate General in Texas and Vietnamese representative offices in the US are keeping a close watch on the record cold temperatures in Texas, have appointed staff on-duty around the clock, and are coordinating with host authorities to conduct necessary citizen protection measures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on February 25.

Hang told reporters that a majority of the 300,000 or so Vietnamese people in Texas have been seriously affected by the record-breaking snow storm and cold spell, which cut power and water supplies.

According to official information from Texas authorities, four Vietnamese Americans were killed in a fire in the state, Hang said, adding that the Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston has contacted Vietnamese people and students in the local area to offer support.

People seeking help are advised to contact the citizen protection hotlines of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston, or the Citizen Protection Call Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Department./.

VNA

Vietnam cancels 400 small hydropower projects

October 25, 2020 by hanoitimes.vn

The Hanoitimes – Vietnam’s environmental ministry is not encouraging development at all costs of small hydropower projects.

The National Assembly has disapproved more than 400 small hydropower projects which fail to meet regulations on preventing flood and water, according to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) Tran Hong Ha.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha. Photo: toquoc

Minister Ha told local media on October 24 that the large-scale hydropower plants are well complying with the flood prevention and water regulations for the dry season. Therefore, the MoNRE is not encouraging the development at all costs of small hydropower projects.

The minister stressed that the historic flood in the central region has been caused by climate change. This is a combination of several natural disasters at the same time with the scale unseen for decades.

The ministry has considered that development of small hydropower plants should not be continued. Wherever a small hydropower plant is necessary, its construction should take into consideration environmental issues, life of aquatic animals and sediment maintenance to ensure harmony with the environment.

He hoped that the management tools for environmental impact assessment and environment regulations will gradually restore the environment. “Human beings must live in harmony with and respect nature”, he said.

The draft revised Law on Environmental Protection has also identified projects dumping large amount of waste and causing severe impact on the environment for centralized management. It also removed unnecessary administrative procedures for environmentally-friendly projects that will contribute to socio-economic development.

The draft law was submitted to the National Assembly in mid-2020 and is expected to be approved on November 11.

Vietnam’s economy to be Southeast Asia’s growth leader in 2021: Nikkei

February 24, 2021 by en.nhandan.org.vn

In its article, the leading financial newspaper of Japanese media giants Nikkei Inc., said Vietnam is targeting a growth rate of 6.5% this year.

The agency stated Vietnam’s exports will likely continue to be supported by US tariffs on Chinese goods and that in order to avoid US tariffs, importers have shifted demand from China to alternative suppliers, with this trend likely to continue.

According to the agency, before the pandemic, Southeast Asia achieved collective annual growth of about 5% for many years, making it one of the world’s best-performing regions.

The region also became an attractive investment destination, with a relatively young population driving demand and providing plenty of labour. These advantages remain in place, but first the region needs to stamp out COVID-19.

Nikkei also reported that Southeast Asian economies are aiming to this year regain the growth momentum they had before the COVID-19 pandemic caused historic declines in 2020. A look at early forecasts around the region, however, shows a wide range of scenarios as risk continues to lurk.

The agency said that Singapore hopes to achieve its forecast of gross domestic product growth of 4% to 6% for 2021, Indonesia expects GDP to grow by between 4.5% and 5.5% this year, the Philippines projects a growth range of 6.5% to 7.5%, while Thailand has lowered its targets, revising its 2021 forecast down to between 2.5% to 3.5% growth.

Hanoi launches city decoration and lighting campaign

February 25, 2021 by vietnamnet.vn

A campaign seeking ideas for Hanoi’s street decoration and lighting for this year has been launched by the municipal Department of Culture and Sports.

Hanoi launches city decoration and lighting campaign

Children and their parents play at Ly Thai To Square in Hoan Kiem Lake. — VNA/VNS Photo Hoang Hieu

According to the organisers, the campaign aims to create a joyful and exciting atmosphere for citizens on national holidays and major anniversaries of the nation, in addition to aiding the political and decorative tasks of the city.

It is also set to contribute to preserving and promoting the national cultural identity and typical values of Hanoi as a thousand-year-old capital, creative city and city for peace, as well as meet the increasing demands of cultural enjoyment of citizens.

Themed ‘Hanoi — Creative City’ and ‘Hanoi Congratulates the Party and Celebrates a New Spring’, designs must be of high aesthetic, suitable to surrounding landscape, lightning systems and architecture. They are also expected to contain elements of creativity and follow modern decoration trends.

Entries with the use of new technologies, appropriate materials, elegant colours and safety insurance will be prioritised.

The winning designs will be used for decoration of major streets in Hanoi’s downtown such as Trang Tien, Trang Thi, Ba Trieu, Hai Ba Trung, Ly Thuong Kiet and Tran Hung Dao, among others, at the celebration of the new year of 2022.

The contest is open for contestants of any nationality who can submit unlimited designing plans for various places, provided that they comply with copyright protection law.

Trang Tien Street is among those in Hanoi to be decorated with designs submitted to the city decoration and lighting campaign 2021. — Photo kinhtedothi.vn

The works qualified for the competition must be those which have not been submitted to other contests or introduced to the public in any form.

One special prize, one first prize, two-second prizes, third prizes and five consolation prizes will be given to the best entries.

The submitted designs for street decoration and lighting must be drawn on the A4-sized paper, and then sent to Hanoi’s Department of Culture and Sports at 47 Hang Dau Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi, from August 24 to 31. VNS

Vietnam concerned about use of force in international relations

February 25, 2021 by en.vietnamplus.vn

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy , Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN (Photo: VNA)

New York (VNA) – Vietnam is concerned about cases of using or threatening to use force in international relations, which go against the UN Charter and harm international peace and security, Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has said.

Quy was addressing an UN Security Council (UNSC)’s videoconference Arria-formula meeting on February 24 themed “Upholding the collective security system of the UN Charter: the use of force in international law, non-state actors and legitimate self-defense” with the participants of nearly 30 member countries of the UN Security Council and the UN.

He stressed that all countries are obliged to build friendship relations and form a culture of upholding the UN Charter and international law as well as abiding by principles in sovereignty and territorial integrity, not interfering into internal affairs of other states, not using or threatening to use force, and dealing with disputes peacefully.

The diplomat said that the UNSC should work to enhance the observance of international law and promote the role of international law and UN Charter as a vital tool in maintaining international peace and security, while increasing its coordination with regional organisations and international legal agencies in coping with disputes, maintaining peace and preventing conflicts.

He underlined the need to avoid the abuse and re-explanation of the UN Charter, suggesting the UNSC continue to creating favourable conditions for countries to get access to affairs and documents of the council to promote open and transparent discussions in the field.

Noting that this topic has been mostly discussed among scholars, Naz Modirzadeh, Director of the Harvard Law School Programme on International Law and Armed Conflict, said that all countries are authorised and responsible in building international law, including the responsibility in protecting the principle of not using force.

She proposed that all countries should actively engage in open discussions on the theory of the rights to self-defence and improve the capacity to get access to announcements and discussions at the UNSC in the field.

Participants at the event underlined the principle of not using or threatening to use force, which is a foundation for the collective security system in line with the UN Charter and the UNSC’s function in maintaining international peace and security.

They affirmed that the only exception is the case that is allowed by the UNSC or to implement the right to self-defence. They called for the upholding of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and stability, while exchanging ideas on the explanation and application of Article 51 of the UN Charter on the legal basis for the use of force as a means of self-defence, as well as on the situation in specific countries and regions./.

VNA

New cold spell to hit northern region next week

January 22, 2021 by vov.vn

According to the forecast, northern localities will experience spells of rain from January 25 to January 27, with temperatures hovering between 16 – 24 degrees Celsius, before the arrival of a fresh cold spell on January 28.

As the new cold snap hits, temperatures will rapidly plunge by up to six degrees Celsius to a low of 10 degrees Celsius in the plain and less than 10 in the mountainous areas.

The cold spell is scheduled to last through to February 2.

In anticipation of these harsh falls in temperature, citizens living in many northern localities, especially the elderly and children, are advised to don warm clothes in order to protect their health. In addition, local authorities are taking swift measures aimed at helping residents in rural areas to protect their plants and animals.

In Hanoi, the cold spell will likely cause temperatures to tumble to between 11 – 13 degrees Celsius from January 28.