Nation

Derailment incident disrupts North-South rail transport The Saigon Times Daily A freight car runs off its rails – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – A freight train, called AH2, derailed at Suoi Kiet Station in the south-central coastal province of Binh Thuan this morning, February 19, bringing the North-South rail line to a temporary halt. Pham Nguyen Chien, head of the railway safety and security department at the Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR), told the Vietnam News Agency that the incident occurred at 8 a.m., pushing a freight car off the tracks. No injuries were reported. “The derailment incident has disrupted the operations of North-South trains. The VNR will try to handle the incident as soon as possible to clear the North-South railway line. Fortunately, this time of day sees a low number of passenger trains,” he said. The VNR has asked local units to mobilize their employees and rescue equipment, such as road and rail cranes, to handle the aftermath of the … [Read more...] about Derailment incident disrupts North-South rail transport

Vietnam faces high risk of African hog choleraThe Saigon Times Daily A pig farm in Vietnam - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – An African hog cholera outbreak might sweep the country, the local media has reported, citing the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) said that between 2017 and February 14 this year, the disease struck 20 countries and territories, and an estimated 1.1 million infected pigs were culled. Pigs in Vietnam are at risk of being infected by those from neighboring China. From August last year to February 14, China saw 25 of its provinces suffering from 105 pig cholera outbreaks, with over 950,000 pigs culled. Concerns over the risk of infection in Vietnam come from poultry and cattle smuggling activities and the illegal trade of processed and live pigs mainly by the northern provinces through the border crossings of the neighboring country. Meanwhile, large numbers of tourists travel to Vietnam daily by road, … [Read more...] about Vietnam faces high risk of African hog cholera

U.S., North Korean delegations arrive in Hanoi for summit preparationsThe Saigon Times Daily South Korean reporters stand in front of the North Korean Embassy in Vietnam - PHOTO: THUY DUNG HCMC – A U.S. delegation arrived in Hanoi on Monday to work with the competent Vietnamese agencies on security for the upcoming summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, while Kim’s delegation has been present in Hanoi since February 16, the local media reported. The U.S. delegation and the Vietnamese agencies have finalized plans to welcome U.S. President Trump and his entourage at Noi Bai International Airport. When welcoming the U.S. delegation, the airport will be at its highest security level, with 800 security officers. Over the last few days, the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs have surveyed the airport and surrounding areas. Meanwhile, a delegation from North Korea, led by Kim Chang-son, chief … [Read more...] about U.S., North Korean delegations arrive in Hanoi for summit preparations

Employees to take eight days off for upcoming holidaysThe Saigon Times Daily People in tradtiional costumes perform a ritual to mark Hung Kings’ death anniversary in HCMC in this file photo. Public employees and workers will have a total of eight days off during the upcoming holidays this year – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – State employees and workers will have eight days off in total during the upcoming holidays such as the Hung Kings’ death anniversary, Reunification Day and International Labor Day, Nguoi Lao Dong Online reported, citing an announcement by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. On the occasion of the Hung Kings’ death anniversary, public officials, employees working in State agencies and for civil service providers with the Vietnam Communist Party or the Government and state-funded social and political organizations will be given three days off from April 13 to April 15. As for this year’s Reunification Day and … [Read more...] about Employees to take eight days off for upcoming holidays

Collision near Hai Van Pass Tunnel leaves dozen Koreans injuredThe Saigon Times Daily The front of a passenger coach is badly damaged due to a crash between it and a container truck on February 18 on a road leading to Hai Van Pass Tunnel – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – A serious collision between a passenger coach and a container truck this afternoon on a route leading to Hai Van Pass Tunnel, which links Danang with Thua Thien-Hue, injured 11 people, mostly South Korean tourists, the local media reported. The accident occurred at around 12:10 p.m. today, February 18, on the road south of the tunnel in Hoa Hiep Bac Ward, Lien Chieu District, in the central coastal city of Danang. The passenger coach, driven by Nguyen Van Thai, 45, a resident of the city’s Hai Chau District, encroached onto the opposite lane and crashed into the container truck, whose driver was identified as Dang Quang Thanh, 58, from Binh Dinh District. Aside from leaving 11 people on the coach injured, … [Read more...] about Collision near Hai Van Pass Tunnel leaves dozen Koreans injured

Procuracy appeals verdict of court in Vu Nhom caseThe Saigon Times Daily Phan Van Anh Vu, ex-chairman of Bac Nam 79 Construction JSC, stands at the court - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - The Hanoi People’s Procuracy has lodged an appeal over part of the municipal court’s first-instance verdict against Danang-based business tycoon Phan Van Anh Vu, alias Vu Nhom, and his accomplices. Specifically, the procuracy argued that the calculation of the State budget losses were, in fact, VND135 billion, not VND1.16 trillion, and the revocation of seven misappropriated property projects are not in line with the law, the local media reported. Vu and his accomplices had abused their position and power while on duty to acquire land lots and land-attached properties of the State at concessional prices, without going through the due process of bidding, and received other preferential treatment. Thus, the handover of these seven projects violated the law and resulted in losses for the State. … [Read more...] about Procuracy appeals verdict of court in Vu Nhom case

Drug trafficking suspect surrenders after hours-long standoff with policeThe Saigon Times Daily Nguyen Thanh Trung (C) is captured by police after locking himself into a car with gun and refusing to surrender – PHOTO: POLICE OF HA TINH PROVINCE HCMC - Police in Ha Tinh Province have broken up a transnational drug trafficking ring in the province’s Huong Son District after arresting Nguyen Thanh Trung, the last suspect who surrendered after an hours-long standoff with police yesterday. Trung, wielding a gun, stood his ground inside a locked car after being cornered late yesterday, the local media reported. Yesterday afternoon, police discovered that Trung, 34, residing in Son Tay Commune, Huong Son District, and two accomplices were en route from Duc Tho District to Huong Son in two pickup trucks on National Highway 8C. The police reportedly followed the trucks, prior to capturing the suspects. One suspect was arrested at around 15:00, while Trung and the remaining … [Read more...] about Drug trafficking suspect surrenders after hours-long standoff with police

Smuggled poultry risk spread of diseasesBy Thuy Dung A conference on the control of epidemics involving terrestrial animals in the northern region – PHOTO: THUY DUNG HANOI – Poultry and cattle smuggled into Vietnam can potentially trigger an outbreak of infectious diseases, such as H5N1 and H7N9 bird flu and African hog cholera, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien. At a conference today, February 15, on the prevention and control of epidemics involving terrestrial animals in the northern region, Tien said that bird flu has been reported in 31 countries and territories, while African hog cholera has been found in 21 countries. In neighboring China, up to 105 outbreaks in 25 provinces have been detected. Meanwhile, more than 10,000 people in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh Province travel daily between the two countries. They can bring home with them dangerous viruses that can spread diseases. According to the Department of Animal … [Read more...] about Smuggled poultry risk spread of diseases

VEC must lift ban on vehicle circulation on expressways by February 28The Saigon Times Daily A section of HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway - PHOTO: LE ANH HCMC - The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam has asked Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) to abolish its practice of banning vehicles from traveling on its expressways by February 28 as it does not have the mandate to issue such rules, the local media reported. VEC must eliminate unreasonable regulations in its Decision 13/2019, issued on January 10, such as temporarily banning drivers who park their vehicles or leave litter on expressways, for one to seven days, and banning those passing through tollgates without paying toll fees or hindering the work of the tollgates’ staff, for 30-60 days. On February 11, the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam asked VEC to report on the fact that its subsidiary, Vietnam Expressway Services Engineering JSC (VECE), had announced a permanent ban on two cars with number plates … [Read more...] about VEC must lift ban on vehicle circulation on expressways by February 28

Former top cop appeals jail sentenceThe Saigon Times Daily Bui Van Thanh, former deputy minister of public security, speaks in court in January 2019 while Phan Van Anh Vu (L) looks on – PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Bui Van Thanh, former deputy minister of public security, has filed an appeal seeking probation, instead of a prison term of 2-1/2 years, for his role in the illegal sale of State-owned properties in Danang and HCMC. The Hanoi People’s Court received the appeal for the 60-year-old former lieutenant general about three weeks after the court issued its ruling on the case, reported the Vietnam News Agency. The case involves former property magnate and intelligence officer Phan Van Anh Vu, 44, alias Vu Nhom. In his appeal, Thanh proposed that the court of appeals consider the nature and extent of his offense, as well as the causes and circumstances surrounding the case. During his three-day trial in late January, Thanh admitted his guilt and took responsibility … [Read more...] about Former top cop appeals jail sentence