Press awards on AO disaster attract large number of entries
More than 500 entries have been sent to the first press awards on the Agent Orange (AO) disaster and the settlement of consequences of the toxic chemicals used by the US during the war in Vietnam.
US aircraft spray chemicals during the war in Vietnam (File photo)
Hanoi (VNA) – More than 500 entries havebeen sent to the first press awards on the Agent Orange (AO) disaster and thesettlement of consequences of the toxic chemicals used by the US during the warin Vietnam.
The awards were launched by the VietnamAssociation for Victims of AO (VAVA) in early 2020.
Entries were submitted by both professional andamateur writers such as reporters from press agencies, members of the armedforces, and overseas Vietnamese.
The eldest contestant is an 81-year-old man inThanh Xuan district of Hanoi.
Eighty outstanding entries have been chosen forthe final round, which will select three first-place prizes, five second-placeprizes, 10 third-place prizes, 15 consolation prizes, and some supplementaryones.
The award presentation ceremony is scheduled totake place around the 60th Vietnam AO/Dioxin Disaster Day (August 10).
From 1961-1971, the US troops sprayed more than80 million litres of herbicides - 44 million litres of which were AO containingnearly 370 kilograms of dioxin - over southern Vietnam.
As a result, around 4.8 million Vietnamese wereexposed to the toxic chemical. Many of the victims have died, while millions oftheir descendants are living with deformities and diseases as a direct resultof the chemical’s effects./.
The German Communist Party (DKP) on May 10 issued a statement expressing its support for the lawsuit lodged by Vietnamese French Tran To Nga and Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims against 14 multinational chemical groups.
Many newspapers of German have run stories highlighting the lawsuit lodged by Vietnamese French Tran To Nga against 14 multinational chemical companies that produced the toxic chemicals sprayed by the US army in Vietnam during the war, affirming that the plaintiff and her supporters are not deterred by the ruling of a French court that the case fell outside its jurisdiction.
VA) on May 12 issued a statement regarding the Crown Court of Evry City in France’s May 10 ruling on Vietnamese-French citizen Tran To Nga’s lawsuit against US firms that manufactured the toxic AO defoliant used by US forces during the war in Vietnam.
US companies that manufactured the toxic Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin defoliant used by US forces during the war in Vietnam must take responsibility for dealing with the consequences, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang said on May 13.
The Central Committee of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin (VAVA) held a press conference in Hanoi on June 24 to announce a series of activities to be held to mark the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam AO/Dioxin disaster day (August 10, 1961-2021).
A master plan on implementation of recommendations accepted by Vietnam under the fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) took effect on June 17.
Running until June 21, the festival brings together more than 80 central and local media organisations, featuring nearly 130 exhibition booths that cover the full spectrum of national life, encompassing economy, politics, culture, society, defence, security, and foreign affairs.
As of June 17, Ca Mau province had achieved its target of supporting the construction and renovation of 4,400 homes, with a total budget of over 235 billion VND (about 9 million USD).
Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh has called for technology to be leveraged not to replace identity, but to enhance it—allowing Vietnamese journalism to reach both local and global audiences.
In recent years, with strong support from the Party and State, and building on its tradition as a heroic news agency, the VNA has not only actively participated in OANA but also proactively proposed various ideas for cooperation, helping shape a fresh image of effective media collaboration in the digital era, said VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang.
The education sector has been one of the foundations playing a vital role in deepening Vietnam – New Zealand ties, said Prof. Damon Salesa, Vice-Chancellor of the Auckland University of Technology (AUT).
Tien Giang province has addressed the housing needs of 608 poor, near-poor, and policy-beneficiary families facing housing difficulties. Of these, 370 houses were newly constructed while 238 underwent major renovations.
Dr Pham Minh Hung from the University of Economics and Business under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, said the fixed-term contract mechanism is a correct step, liberating the entire system from traditional constraints which have long stood in the way of innovation.
The partnership will focus on studying and recommending LRT routes that connect the city’s transport network with urban development zones, industrial parks, and TOD areas. The research will cover Thu Dau Mot city and surrounding areas, with completion scheduled before August 15, 2025.
Media must not only serve as a channel for information but also act as a vanguard in shaping public opinion, combating misinformation, upholding the Party’s ideological principles, and reinforcing unity between Vietnam and Laos.
In Vietnam, the voluntary blood donation movement was first launched on January 24, 1994. In 2008, the Prime Minister established the National Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation.
Currently, 20 Vietnamese citizens remain in Iran, including embassy staff and personnel. All are safe, mentally stable, and in regular contact with the embassy.
A VietnamPlus survey of 764 young people shows that 83.9% of Gen Z use smartphones to read news, only 12% use computers, and the rest access content via tablets.
GVB Startup 2025 attracted the participation of nearly 150 individuals and organisations from across Vietnam. The event seeks to promote bold and ambitious startup ideas and projects, contributing to the future of global innovation, and supporting startups through the provision of resources, networking opportunities, and market insights.
AI could not replace human judgment in verifying information and sensitive political events, and that humans remain the final gatekeepers of content, said Leonid Kovachich, head of the Asian department at Sputnik's international broadcasting division.
A veteran journalist of Argentina has praised the modern evolution of Vietnam’s press, which now serves a dual purpose: introducing Vietnam to the world while bringing global perspectives to domestic audiences.
The court announced that Quyet had submitted a written request to be tried in absentia, citing serious health issues. According to an official statement from Hospital 19/8, the defendant is suffering from multiple illnesses, experiencing fatigue and shortness of breath, with doctors warning of a “very high risk of death.”
A senior Party official highlighted the VNA’s consistent role over the past eight decades, noting that it remains a mainstream, uninterrupted, timely, accurate, and authoritative source of news that helps shape public opinion, strengthen public trust, and safeguard the ideological foundation of the Party.
US aircraft spray chemicals during the war in Vietnam (File photo) 
