BTS’s Suga has been fined for driving an electric scooter while drunk. He previously apologised twice over the August incident. AFP/VNA Photo

SEOUL Suga of K-pop boy band BTS was fined 15 million won (US$11,468) for driving an electric scooter under the influence of alcohol.

Judge Lee Yoo-seop of the Seoul Western District Court has imposed the fine on Friday in a summary judgement –- a legal decision made by a judge without a full trial, usually applied to cases deemed relatively minor allowing for a quicker resolution. The amount is identical to the penalty previously requested by prosecutors.

Suga has the right to request a formal trial within seven days of the court’s decision if he disagrees with the ruling.

Suga, whose real name is Min Yoon-gi, was caught by police on August 6 at around 11.15 p.m. while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol near his home in Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu. His blood alcohol concentration was at 0.227 per cent, far exceeding the 0.08 threshold for license revocation.

Seventeen days after the incident, the singer appeared at Yongsan Police Station and underwent a three-hour interrogation and confessed to the crime. Police later sent the case to the Seoul Western District Prosecutor’s Office without detention.

He is currently serving as a social service agent since September 2023, an alternative form of the mandatory military service in Korea.

On Aug. 25, Suga issued a handwritten apology in Korean to BTS’ members and fans over the incident via the Weverse platform. “I feel deeply sorry and painful for causing harm to my team and my members,” he wrote. “I apologize to our fans who have always shown me more love than I deserve,” Suga said, adding he has been reflecting on his action with a heavy heart. The Korea Herald/ANN

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

In Jakarta, Indonesia. The country aims to reduce emissions through its construction sector. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is encouraging the development of green buildings and increasing energy efficiency through the use of modern technology, including rooftop solar power plants.

The ministry’s Director of Settlement and Housing Engineering Development Dian Irawati said that the ministry has prepared a roadmap for the implementation of green building which will serve as a reference for implementation for all policymakers in implementing building construction.

The ministry is also encouraging the implementation of passive design concepts in buildings which prioritise the efficient use of natural resources and the application of new renewable energy, he added.

The ministry is targeting a reduction in GHG emissions by 1.91 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent from this sector by 2030.

According to the ministry, there have so far been 10 buildings, one zone, and five housing complexes which have received green building certification across the country. — VNA/VNS

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

Logo designed by the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Hà Nội to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia each year celebrates its National Day on September 23, to commemorate the unification of the Kingdom and its founding by His Majesty King Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Rahman Al-Saud in 1932, as well as to recall achievements of the Kingdom under the leadership of the founding father and his sons til the current reign of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This year, the Embassy celebrates the Saudi 94th National Day alongside the 25th anniversary of its diplomatic relations with the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, marking a significant milestone in the history of the two nations’ relationship. This occasion provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on the quarter-century of cooperation and friendship that has flourished between us.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Phạm Minh Chính, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, during a bilateral meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on the sidelines of the GCC-ASEAN Summit in October 2023 in Saudi Arabia. Photo Courtesy of the embassy

On this momentous anniversary, it is essential to acknowledge the shared values and goals that have brought our nations closer. Both Saudi Arabia and Việt Nam are dynamic, rapidly advancing countries that hold increasingly significant positions in their respective regions and on the international stage. The two countries share a common aim to promote peace, stability and coexistence throughout the world.

On October 21, 1999, diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Việt Nam were officially established, laying the groundwork for a robust partnership built on mutual respect and shared interests. The opening of the Embassy of Việt Nam in Riyadh in 2007 and the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Hà Nội in 2008 further consolidated this relationship, facilitating closer interactions between the two countries across all spheres.

Since then, our relations have grown stronger and stronger. Over the years, Saudi Arabia and Việt Nam have cultivated a multifaceted relationship, marked by significant achievements in politics, diplomacy, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

In political and diplomatic ties, the two countries have witnessed positive developments, as demonstrated by more frequent exchanges of delegations at all levels, particularly high-ranking visits, underscoring the importance both countries attach to their bilateral ties. Of those, the most recent prominent occasion was the meeting between His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and His Excellency Phạm Minh Chính, Prime Minister of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, during the visit of His Excellency to Saudi Arabia to attend the GCC-ASEAN Summit last October. This fruitful visit witnessed the signing of several memoranda of understanding and an agreement between the two governments in the fields of crime prevention, the judicial system, tourism and commerce.

Previously, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, and His Excellency Ahmed Aqeel Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, also paid visits to Việt Nam in March 2022 and August 2023 respectively. These visits reflect the keenness of our two countries to boost bilateral cooperation and deepen connectivity between the two peoples.

The two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2021, also fruitfully held the first political consultation in February 2023 in Saudi Arabia to exchange views and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.

In international and multilateral forums, the two countries also have close cooperation and coordination, frequently exchanging support and endorsements to enhance each other’s positions in different organisations. Additionally, both countries are committed to fostering a robust and distinctive relationship between GCC and ASEAN.

In the economic domain, Saudi Arabia has become one of Việt Nam’s largest partners in the Middle East. Bilateral trade between the two countries has experienced robust growth over the years, reaching US$2.68 billion in 2023 — an increase of approximately 43 per cent from $1.87 billion in 2014. Exchanges between the business sectors of both countries are being further promoted, as evidenced by the two-way trade turnover of $1.42 billion in the first half of 2024, marking a 7.6 per cent increase year-on-year. We look forward to enhanced trade engagements in the coming years, given the significant opportunities for economic and commercial cooperation between the Kingdom and Việt Nam, particularly in light of both countries’ efforts to expand markets, attract investments and implement economic reforms.

Recently, more Saudi enterprises are focusing on the Vietnamese market, while more Vietnamese firms are exploring opportunities to expand their business to Saudi Arabia. Last year, two Saudi Arabia-Việt Nam Business Forums were successfully organised in both countries, illustrating our commitment to fostering economic cooperation. Notably, the forum held last September in Hà Nội hosted the largest Saudi business delegation to Việt Nam and attracted the participation of a record number of enterprises from both sides, paving the way for stronger cooperation between the two countries’ business communities.

In addition, the two countries are also accelerating negotiations to finalise agreements and memoranda of understanding, aiming to expand existing economic and investment opportunities.

Beyond economic ties, cultural exchanges have played a vital role in strengthening the friendship between Saudi Arabia and Việt Nam. Both nations have recognised the importance of fostering mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s rich cultural heritage. Vibrant cultural exchanges, art exhibitions and cultural events organised to mark this 25th anniversary are testaments to our shared commitment to deepening people-to-people connections. These activities not only celebrate our rich cultural diversity but also strengthen the bonds of friendship between our peoples.

Contributing to growing exchanges between the two peoples, in October 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Việt Nam and the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia signed an action programme to boost bilateral tourism cooperation and bolster two-way tourist flows.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Việt Nam, it is evident that the relationship between the two nations has grown onwards and upwards. The achievements in diplomacy, economic cooperation and cultural exchanges are a testament to the enduring friendship and shared vision of Saudi Arabia and Việt Nam.

Taking this opportunity, I am pleased to extend my sincere thanks to the friendly government and people of the Socialist Republic of Việt Nam, for their good sentiments towards the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people.

Finally, I extend my best wishes for further success and greater accomplishments to the government and people of Việt Nam. May the Saudi-Vietnamese relationship continue to thrive and reach new heights in the years ahead. VNS

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

An employee tests LED lights at a technology company in Ruichang, Jiangxi province. WEI DONGSHENG / FOR CHINA DAILY

Drawn by efforts to ensure that cross-border investments are profitable as well as safe amid global uncertainty, Agustin Pedroni, an Argentine who is president of Bridgestone (China) Investment, has been busy in recent months travelling across China to meet with clients and business partners.

The Japanese tyre manufacturer plans to invest 562 million yuan ($78 million) in China over the next three years, focusing on building production bases and increasing the output of high-performance car tyres.

Bridgestone’s decision to expand investment in China reflects the country’s consumption upgrade and the Chinese government’s ongoing efforts to promote high-level opening-up and enhance the efficiency of a unified national market, experts and officials said.

Addressing the third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, which concluded last month, Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, highlighted the crucial role of reform and opening-up in different periods of China’s development. He said that on the new journey in the new era, the nation still needs to rely on reform and opening-up to create new prospects for Chinese modernisation.

“Economic structural reform will remain our priority in further deepening reform comprehensively,” Xi said. “The main tasks in this regard include improving the systems and mechanisms for enabling high-quality development, fostering new growth drivers and strengths, upholding and fulfilling the commitments to the public and nonpublic sectors, building a unified national market, and refining the systems underpinning the market economy.”

Pedroni, emphasising China’s fast-growing, technology-intensive green industries, lucrative market potential and high-level openness to international engagement, said these factors will continue to boost confidence among multinational corporations.

As the plenum outlined China’s long-term road map, Li Yongjie, deputy international trade representative of the Ministry of Commerce, said that building a high-standard open economy is a key aspect of the reform-themed resolution adopted at the third plenary session.

Zhu Bing, director of the ministry’s department of foreign investment administration, said the government will ensure that foreign companies receive national treatment in areas such as access to resources, qualifications and licences, setting of standards and government procurement, allowing them to share in the benefits of China’s opening-up measures.

Denis Depoux, global managing director with management consultancy Roland Berger, said that China aims to transform its vast market into a significant opportunity for the global community.

Global companies’ confidence in China has continued to grow in the second quarter, with more than 40 per cent of respondents in a survey expressing increasing confidence in the Chinese market, according to a report released in late July by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

The study, which gathered responses from over 400 foreign companies, highlighted positive ratings for key indicators, such as infrastructure services, market access and taxation.

The resolution adopted by the third plenary session placed great emphasis on building a unified national market and pursuing high-standard opening-up.

China will expand the catalogue of encouraged industries for foreign investment, appropriately shorten the negative list for foreign investment, remove all market access restrictions in the manufacturing sector, and promote wider opening with regard to telecommunications, the internet, education, culture, medical services and other sectors in a well-conceived way, according to the resolution.

Lu Jinyong, a professor specialising in cross-border investment at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that China’s latest economic reforms are set to strengthen the global supply chain network and enhance the integration of foreign investment with the nation’s economic growth.

For global manufacturers, automobile makers, retailers and service providers, the Chinese market has become a “fitness centre” for growth and innovation, Lu said.

“Operating in China allows them to learn from local businesses and consumers, as well as make necessary adjustments and improvements. These insights can then be applied to their operations in other parts of the world,” he added.

For instance, Schneider Electric, a French industrial and technology group, will put the second phase of an innovation base in Shanghai into operation in September to provide advanced testing services for research and development in China and will develop more green, low-carbon intelligent electrical products for Chinese users.— China Daily

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

The pavilion at the centre of Small Park historical area in Shantou, Guangdong province, is a memorial to the revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen. Photos provided to China Daily.

A century ago nostalgia brought successful overseas Chinese business owners back to their hometown of Shantou, Guangdong province, where they invested in its thriving downtown area.

The neatly planned old town they helped create, with row upon row of exquisite qilou (arcade buildings), is known today as the Small Park historical area and bears witness to the city’s past.

After the city, also known as Swatow, became a treaty port for foreign trade in 1860, Small Park was a commercial centre known for its modern lifestyle. After New China was founded in 1949 the city thrived, and from 1978 commerce began to revive as a result of reform and opening-up.

With the passage of time, the old town’s prosperity faded as Shantou extended eastward, but many of those who grew up there and have cherished memories of the area do not want to leave it behind.

Instead, they strive to keep its memory alive — some through words, others through pictures — to ensure that its former glory is told to both the city’s young and to a growing number of visitors.

“The creation of the Small Park area is a reflection of the city’s historical development,” said Zhang Yaohui, deputy director of the culture, radio, television, tourism and sports bureau of Jinping district, where the qilou neighbourhood is located.

Because of Shantou’s natural harbour, it became one of the cities forced to grant foreign powers access to trade under the unequal Treaties of Tianjin, signed following imperial China’s defeat in the Second Opium War (1856-60).

As a result, foreign diplomats, merchants, sailors and missionaries, overseas Chinese and business owners from other parts of China flooded into the commercial port.

As a trading centre it was connected to Southeast Asia, as well as to coastal cities including Shanghai, Tianjin and Qingdao, Shandong province. Overland trade from the port reached other parts of present-day Guangdong, Fujian, Jiangxi and Hunan provinces.

Customs records suggest that between 1864 and 1911 alone, nearly 3 million people from the Chaoshan region — the Guangdong cities of Chaozhou, Shantou and Jieyang — sailed south from Shantou to earn a living in Southeast Asia.

Tianhou Temple in Shantou old town, dedicated to the sea goddess Mazu, and neighbouring Guandi Temple, celebrating the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) general Guan Yu, renowned for his courage and faith, were their last stops before setting sail. There they would pray for safety and fortune and take a handful of incense ash with them. When they returned, the temples were the first, welcoming glimpses of home, Zhang said.

Yingge dance performances brighten up Spring Festival in February.

The intricate decor of both temples, built in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and rebuilt in the early 1990s, indicates the place they occupy in peoples’ hearts.

The roofs are decorated with qianci, brightly coloured porcelain shards assembled into the shape of auspicious figures such as the dragon and the phoenix, martial figures from local Teochew Opera and flowers. The figures carry iron weapons in their hands, which also serve as lightning rods, Zhang said.

Apart from stone carvings on the facades, there are wood carvings covered in lacquer and gold leaf on the beams. Many depict scenes from Teochew Opera, such as stories adapted from the classical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, which helped make General Guan a household name.

In the past, on festival days and when successful overseas Chinese returned, Teochew Opera performances were held in the open space between the two temples to express gratitude to the deities, Zhang said.

A night view of the Small Park neighbourhood.

The area was used as a marketplace the rest of the year. The old town originated there and gradually expanded. Finally, after the local government began an integrated urban planning and road construction programme in the 1920s, a business district with a small circular park at its core and roads radiating outward was built. It remains intact.

This was a period when many overseas Chinese returned to invest in business and real estate. For example, across from the park is Nansheng Department Store, which originally belonged to Li Bohuan, a Hakka businessman who made his fortune in Indonesia, and his business partners.

The grand seven-storey building was completed in 1932 and included a department store, local and Western restaurants, and a hotel. It was lit with electric lamps every night, had flowers on each floor, and was home to the city’s first lift, which remained in use for 60 years.

In the two years after it was completed Li worked with neighbouring business owners to fund and build a pavilion in the small park in memory of the revolutionary leader Sun Yat-sen (1866-1925), which has since become a symbol of the old town area.

Numerous qilou were built at the time, using imported materials such as cement and iron bars. Today a stroll through the historical neighbourhood with arcade buildings lining its streets reminds visitors of an era marked by the pursuit of wealth and utility, aesthetics and creativity, as well as the mix of modern and traditional. — China Daily

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

US President Joe Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris watching the Independence Day fireworks display at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 4. US President Biden announced on Sunday his intention to drop out of the presidential race. — XINHUA/VNA Photo

WASHINGTON — Joe Biden on Sunday dropped out of the US presidential election and endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party’s new nominee, in a political earthquake that upends the already extraordinary race for the White House.

Biden, 81, said he was acting in the “best interest of my party and the country” by bowing to weeks of pressure after a disastrous June debate against Donald Trump stoked worries about his age and mental fitness.

The stunning move throws Democrats into fresh turmoil ahead of the November 5 election. But it could also reenergise the demoralised party, with Harris swiftly confirming her goal to become America’s first woman president and to “defeat Donald Trump.”

Trump reacted with a stream of posts on his Truth Social network, saying that because Biden is not “fit to run” for president, he is also not “fit to serve.”

However, the dramatic shift will wrong-foot Republicans, whose campaign was solely focused on Biden and will now instead feature 78-year-old Trump – the oldest presidential nominee in US history – up against a far younger opponent.

The move also transforms what had been a highly unpopular and dragging Trump-Biden rematch into one of the most compelling presidential campaigns in modern American politics.

Biden’s withdrawal had been widely expected at some point. The announcement finally came with no warning as he recovered from COVID at his Delaware beach house.

In a letter posted on X, Biden said it had been the “greatest honor of my life” to be president. He said he would address the nation later this week. The White House later said he had no public events scheduled for Monday.

“While it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term,” he wrote.

Shortly after, he offered his “full support and endorsement” for Harris, with his campaign filing official notice to change its name to “Harris for President.”

Endorsements began streaming in for Harris almost immediately from Democratic big shots as well as those seen as potential rivals for the nomination, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Democratic fundraising group ActBlue meanwhile reported that Harris received US$46.7 million in small-donor contributions in the hours just after announcing her campaign – its “biggest fundraising day of the 2024 cycle.”

– ‘Unite our nation’ –

Democrats must now scramble to confirm a new candidate at their party convention in Chicago on August 19.

Harris, the first Black and South Asian woman vice president in US history, praised Biden for his “selfless and patriotic act” and vowed to “earn and win” the nomination.

Still highly influential former Democratic president Barack Obama cautioned that “uncharted waters” lie ahead.

Biden’s decision came after a period of enforced isolation, with only a few family members and aides around him to consult at his Rehoboth Beach home, as he nursed a COVID infection.

First Lady Jill Biden reacted by simply reposting his statement, along with two hearts.

In a clear sign of how Republicans will try to frame Harris’s image, Trump’s new running mate J.D. Vance underlined that she had been “every step of the way” with Biden, “the worst president in my lifetime.”

– ‘Mental decline’ –

Biden’s decision to exit caps a tense and chaotic period in the US election, with Trump having survived an assassination attempt at a campaign rally on July 13, and Democrats tearing themselves apart for weeks over whether Biden should quit.

The Democrat is the first president in US history to drop out so late in an election race.

Biden spent more than three weeks resisting calls to step down following the shock of the June 27 debate, during which he often lost his train of thought and stood with mouth agape.

Harris meanwhile struggled to make an impact in her first years in the White House, but performed strongly on the campaign trail on key issues such as abortion.

In recent weeks, the Biden campaign has reportedly been quietly carrying out a head-to-head survey of voters measuring how the former California prosecutor matched up against convicted felon Trump.

Biden took office in January 2021 pledging to heal the “soul of America” after four turbulent years under Trump and the shock of the January 6, 2021 Capitol assault by his supporters.

Overcoming a reputation for verbal flubs, Obama’s former vice president gave strong backing to Ukraine’s battle against Russia’s 2022 military operation, pushed through a massive COVID recovery plan and historic green industry subsidies.

But he faced criticism over the catastrophic US withdrawal from Afghanistan, high inflation, and his support for Israel’s war in Gaza – while concerns over his age only mounted. — AFP

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

Republican candidate Donald Trump is seen with what appears to be blood on his face surrounded by secret service agents in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday. — AFP Photo

PENNSYLVANIA — Former US president Donald Trump was rushed off stage by Secret Service agents on Saturday after a series of loud bangs that sounded like possible gunshots were heard at the start of a campaign rally in Pennsylvania.

As the bangs ran out, Trump clearly grimaced and clutched a hand to his right ear, on which blood could later be seen.

Agents swarmed onto the podium, surrounded the Republican candidate and escorted him roughly off the stage, as Trump raised a fist to the crowd in a gesture of defiance.

The shocking incident will fuel anxiety in a country already concerned about the prospect of unrest and political harassment in the run-up to the November election battle between Trump and President Joe Biden.

“The former president is safe,” the Secret Service said in a post on X.

His campaign said he was “fine” and being checked at a medical facility.

“President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act. He is fine and is being checked out at a local medical facility. More details will follow,” said spokesman Steven Cheung in a statement.

The incident took place shortly after Trump took the stage at his final campaign rally before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week.

The rally in Butler, Pennsylvania descended into scenes of chaos as bangs were heard and screams and shouts rang out.

“Let me get my shoes,” Trump was heard saying on microphone, as security agents helped him back to his feet.

Agents later bundled the 78-year-old tycoon into an SUV, as he once more raised his fist to the crowd.

“This is an active crime scene,” Secret Service officers told reporters, ordering them out of the area.

‘Horrified’ 

“We saw a lot of people go down, looking confused. I heard the shots,” said John Yeykal from Franklin, Pennsylvania, who was attending his first Trump rally.

Biden has received an initial briefing on the incident, the White House said.

He was briefed by the head of the Secret Service and the Secretary of Homeland Security, it said.

US politicians reacted with shock to the incident.

Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “horrified by what happened at the Trump rally in Pennsylvania and relieved that former President Trump is safe.”

“Political violence has no place in our country,” he added.

Republican minority leader Mitch McConnell added: “Tonight, all Americans are grateful that President Trump appears to be fine after a despicable attack on a peaceful rally. Violence has no place in our politics.” — AFP

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

EU Representative in Việt Nam Julien Guerrier. VNA/VNS Photo

The European Parliament elections will officially take place from June 6-9th. So how has the preparation for the election been carried out?

First, let me thank the National Assembly TV for having me for this interview. The European elections are a free and democratic process in which all EU citizens have the right to vote. The rules for voting and the voting process itself are determined and carried out by each member state. And we estimate that the total amount of people eligible to vote in these elections is 360 million. So, as for the final turnout, we will have to wait until after the elections. But that’s a lot of people. The EU cooperates with the member states to ensure that we have a secure, free and transparent election process. This includes fighting disinformation and foreign interference, with the Council of the European Union approving this month the “Conclusions on democratic resilience and safeguarding electoral processes from all forms of foreign interference” which informs on how we strengthen democratic resilience.

There have been several attacks on European Parliament members in Germany recently, raising security concerns. There are suggestions that these attacks were politically motivated. What effect do they have on the election? What is your opinion on this issue?

Well, the European Union and its member states obviously take security during elections and during the election campaign very seriously. We need to ensure that our citizens can freely make their decisions on voting without any fear or intimidation, coercion or repercussions for their choices. But I have to say that the incidents that you mentioned are rare, isolated, and do not reflect the reality on the ground where the campaigns can take place in a very free and secure manner.

What are voters’ expectations for the new European Parliament term? What is your assessment of the role of young voters in this election?

Well, of course, each voter may have its own topic of importance to them, so it’s difficult for us to decide what their expectations are. Some are interested in the economy, some in the defense of the European territory, others in migration. We will see what parties are voted for by the people and they will reflect, of course, the main concerns that the voters have. Young voters are a very important element of the democratic life because it will be for several of them, the first time that their voice can be heard as adults and as participants in the life of the city.

So what is your assessment of this year’s election, given recent shifts and conflicts in the geopolitical landscape worldwide?

Well, we will see again after the elections. It’s early to anticipate the outcome, but of course we are in a particular context where there is war in Europe, around Europe, and certainly this will influence the topics of importance for our citizens and in particular as regards defence and security of the European Union.

There is an opinion that the two main “themes” of the 2024 European Parliament elections are immigration, and inflation. Furthermore, the rise of far-right ideology is also an issue for this important election. What do you think about this opinion?

Well, there are many themes of interest for Europeans. We’ve just mentioned defence and security, certainly immigration and the cost of life, I would say, because inflation has been reduced in the latest months, are important topics for many voters. We will see what the parties are that mostly reflect their concerns and opinions and propose solutions to address those concerns. All parties have the right to participate in the elections and again, it is a free and democratic process. So we will take stock after the election to see which are the ones that gather most votes from our citizens.

What is your assessment on the prospects of relations between Việt Nam and the EU in the new European Parliament term?

Well, that I can anticipate a bit better, because there is a consensus in Europe that Việt Nam is a very important partner for us. Europe wants to be more present in the Indo Pacific. And in this context, Việt Nam is a special partner with which we have a large number of agreements and already very broad and deep relations with an FTA, strong trade and investment relations. Việt Nam is our first trading partner in the region with defence and security and a common objective to ensure security, peace and freedom of navigation in the East Sea. With the action against climate change and our mutual objective both in Europe and in Việt Nam, to be climate neutral by 2050, we are cooperating in all these fields and I can only see reinforcement, a further reinforcement of the already excellent, broad and deep relations that we have between the EU and Việt Nam, whatever the results of the election at the European Parliament are. VNS

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

A file picture of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi chairing a cabinet meeting in Tehran on April 2. — AFP/VNA Photo

The Iranian government will continue to operate “without the slightest disruption” following the death of president Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, said a cabinet statement on Monday.

“We assure the loyal nation that the path of service will continue with the tireless spirit of Ayatollah Raisi,” said the statement, stressing that government’s work will continue “without the slightest disruption”.

Iranian state media said President Ebrahim Raisi died on Monday after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous region of the country.

Rescue teams had been scouring the area since Sunday afternoon after a helicopter carrying Raisi, the foreign minister and other officials had gone missing.

Early Monday, relief workers located the missing helicopter, with state TV saying the president had died.

“The servant of Iranian nation, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi has achieved the highest level of martyrdom whilst serving the people,” state television said Monday, with Mehr news agency also saying he was dead.

State television broadcast photos of Raisi, with the voice of a man reciting the Koran playing in the background.

Iran’s vice president for executive affairs Mohsen Mansouri posted on X a Koranic verse used to express condolences.

Fears had been growing for the 63-year-old leader after contact was lost with the helicopter carrying him as well as Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others in East Azerbaijan province on Sunday.

A total of nine people were on board the aircraft, according to Tasnim news agency.

Iran’s Red Crescent chief Pirhossein Koolivand said rescue teams headed towards the site of the crash after locating the aircraft.

“The helicopter has been found. Now, we are moving toward the helicopter,” said Koolivand. “We are seeing the helicopter. The situation is not good.”

“Upon finding the helicopter, there was no sign of the helicopter passengers being alive as of yet,” state TV reported about 15 hours after the aircraft went missing.

Iranian media including Fars news agency shared drone images of what appeared to be the wreckage of the helicopter.

State TV first reported on Sunday afternoon that “an accident happened to the helicopter carrying the president” in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the helicopter “made a hard landing” in bad weather.

Raisi’s convoy had included three helicopters, and the other two had “reached their destination safely”, said the Tasnim news agency.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urged Iranians to “not worry” about the leadership of the Islamic republic, saying “there will be no disruption in the country’s work”.

Expressions of concern and offers of help came from abroad, including Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Russia, China and Turkey, as well as from the European Union which activated its rapid response mapping service to aid in the search effort.

Massive search effort

Iran’s cabinet held an emergency meeting led by Vice President Mohammad Mokhber after the incident, the IRNA news agency reported.

Army, Revolutionary Guard and police officers were involved in the search, authorities said, as TV stations showed pictures of Red Crescent teams walking up a hill in the mist, while rows of emergency response vehicles waited.

Raisi had visited the northwestern province to inaugurate a dam project together with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, on their common border.

Aliyev said in a post on X that “we were profoundly troubled by the news of a helicopter carrying the top delegation crash-landing in Iran”.

Foreign countries were closely following the search at a time of high regional tensions over the Gaza war between Israel and Hamas since October 7 that has drawn in other armed groups in the Middle East.

A US State Department spokesman said: “We are closely following reports of a possible hard landing of a helicopter in Iran carrying the Iranian president and foreign minister”, adding that “we have no further comment at this time”. AFP

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider

The State of World Population 2024. — Photo courtesy of the UNFPA

GENEVA — Sweeping global gains in sexual and reproductive health rights over the last thirty years are marred by an ugly truth – millions of women and girls have not benefited because of who they are or where they were born, according to the 2024 State of World Population report.

The report was released on Wednesday by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN sexual and reproductive health agency. 

Entitled “Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending inequalities in sexual and reproductive health and rights”, the report highlights the role racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination continue to play in blocking broad gains in sexual and reproductive health for women and girls.

The data are damning. Women and girls who are poor, belong to ethnic, racial and indigenous minority groups, or are trapped in conflict settings, are more likely to die because they lack access to timely health care.

 Typically, an African woman who experiences pregnancy and childbirth complications is around 130 times more likely to die from them than a woman in Europe and Northern America.

Over half of all preventable maternal deaths are estimated to occur in countries with humanitarian crises and conflicts – that’s nearly 500 deaths per day.

Women of African descent across the Americas are more likely to die when giving birth than white women. In the United States, the rate is three times higher than the national average. 

Women from indigenous ethnic groups are more likely to die of causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Women with disabilities are up to 10 times more likely to experience gender-based violence than their peers without disabilities.

People of diverse sexual orientation and gender expression face rampant violence and steep barriers to care.

This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo – a landmark moment in which 179 governments committed to placing sexual and reproductive health and rights at the core of sustainable development.

But progress is in danger.

Millions of women and girls remain far behind, and progress is slowing or stalled on key measures: 800 women die every day giving birth, unchanged since 2016; a quarter of women cannot say no to sex with their partner and nearly one in 10 women cannot make their own decisions about contraception. In 40 per cent of countries with data, women’s bodily autonomy is diminishing.

“In the space of a generation, we have reduced the unintended pregnancy rate by nearly one fifth, lowered the maternal death rate by one third, and secured laws against domestic violence in more than 160 countries,” said Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director.

“Despite this progress, inequalities within our societies and health systems are widening, and we have not adequately prioritized reaching those furthest behind. Our work is incomplete but not impossible with sustained investment and global solidarity.”

Pockets of inequality persist within countries

The evidence outlined in the report points to a troubling reality – access to contraceptives, safe birth services, respectful maternity care, and other essential sexual and reproductive health services is unreachable for too many women and girls.

In Madagascar, the richest women are five times more likely than the poorest to have skilled assistance in childbirth.

And in Albania, over 90 per cent of Roma women from the most marginalised socioeconomic groups had serious problems in accessing health care compared with only five per cent of ethnic Albanian women from the most privileged socioeconomic groups.

Improvements in health care access have primarily benefited wealthier women, and those who belong to ethnic groups that already had better access to health care.

Women and girls with disabilities, migrants and refugees, ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA+ people, people living with HIV and disadvantaged castes all face greater sexual and reproductive health risks and also unequal access to sexual and reproductive health care.

Their vulnerability is further compounded by powerful forces such as climate change, humanitarian crises and mass migration, which often have a disproportionate impact on women at the margins of society.

The need for investment, solidarity and tailored solutions

The report highlights the importance of tailoring programmes to the needs of communities – instead of large-scale, one-size-fits-all approaches – and empowering women and girls to craft and implement innovative solutions.

It also calculates that if we spent an additional $79 billion in low- and middle-income countries by 2030, we would avert 400 million unplanned pregnancies, save 1 million lives and generate $660 billion in economic benefits. — VNS

Source: Vietnam News/ Vietnam Insider