A doctor takes care of an infant at a hospital in HCMC. The European Union has carried out a number of projects to help Vietnam reduce the maternal and infant mortality ratios - PHOTO: VNA Over the past two decades, the country has made considerable efforts in reducing MMR and IMR and gained significant achievements. However, it is still facing discrepancies in MMR and IMR between major cities and remote regions. To assist Vietnam in overcoming this problem, the European Union has supported to improve the professional skills for ethnic village birth attendants and midwives, upgraded or renovated health stations in disadvantaged regions, and raised the awareness of pregnant women and women of reproductive ages within ethnic minorities. As part of the support, 400 midwives are being trained to improve their knowledge and clinical skills following the ASEAN-UNFPA regional guidelines for minimum requirement for training and accreditation of skilled birth attendants. Koen Duchateau, … [Read more...] about European Union helps Vietnam reduce maternal, infant mortality ratios
European union
Vietnam’s labor issues likely hamper trade pact with European Union
The Hanoitimes - Vietnam needs to take its revised Labor Code into account as the revision aims to align the law with the ILO’s standards, particularly on issues concerning collective bargaining and freedom of association. EVFTA is “once-in-a-decade” opportunity for Vietnam to integrate into global value chain No major barriers remain for EVFTA: Ambassador UK backs early signing of EVFTA in 2018 Europe businesses back early implementation of EVFTA EVFTA gives advantages to Vietnamese agricultural products EVFTA has legal review completed The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) may not be ratified as soon as expected if Vietnam makes no progress in addressing key labor issues, experts warned. The EVFTA has strict requirements on labor standards Under the labor chapters of the EVFTA, Vietnam is obliged to reform both its legal system and its institutions and practices to ensure the realization of the fundamental principles and rights at … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s labor issues likely hamper trade pact with European Union
European Union diplomatic communications ‘targeted by hackers’
Hackers successfully targeted the European Union's diplomatic communications over a period of several years, The New York Times reports. Thousands of messages were intercepted in which diplomats referenced a range of subjects from US President Donald Trump to global trade. The breach was reportedly discovered by the cyber-security company Area 1. European officials say that information marked as confidential and secret was not affected by the three-year hack. One expert told the New York Times that the methods used by the hackers were similar to those previously used by the Chinese military. "After over a decade of experience countering Chinese cyber-operations... there is no doubt this campaign is connected to the Chinese government," he said. The intercepted messages, known as diplomatic cables, reveal one exchange in which diplomats describe July's meeting between Mr Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as "successful (at least for Putin)". Another message gives details … [Read more...] about European Union diplomatic communications ‘targeted by hackers’
Hanoians get a taste of European cultures
The Europe Days 2018 is underway in Hanoi with a wide range of cultural activities. (Photo: VNA) The event, jointly held by the Delegation of the European Union (EU), Embassies of the union’s member states and European cultural centres, offers a string of various activities that demonstrate the diversity of European culture from art and cuisine to lifestyle. CPV/VNA … [Read more...] about Hanoians get a taste of European cultures
Facebook CEO says no plans to extend all of European privacy law globally
Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said on Tuesday the social network had no immediate plans to apply a strict new European Union law on data privacy in its entirety to the rest of the world, as the company reels from a scandal over its handling of personal information of millions of its users. Zuckerberg told Reuters in a phone interview that Facebook already complies with many parts of the law ahead of its implementation in May. He said the company wanted to extend privacy guarantees worldwide in spirit, but would make exceptions, which he declined to describe. “We’re still nailing down details on this, but it should directionally be, in spirit, the whole thing,” said Zuckerberg. He did not elaborate. His comments signal that U.S. Facebook users, many of them still angry over the company’s admission that political consultancy Cambridge Analytica got hold of Facebook data on 50 million members, may soon find themselves in a worse position than … [Read more...] about Facebook CEO says no plans to extend all of European privacy law globally