In Briefs

(08-12-2007)

ADB helps ease traffic jams in HCM City

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is providing a $10 million loan to help develop an expressway that will ease traffic congestion in and around HCM City.

The technical assistance project for the HCM City-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway will help the Vietnamese government to complete pre-construction activities for the proposed expressway, according to the ADB.

Total costs of the technical assistance is $11.22 million, with Viet Nam covering the remainder.

High quality buses ready for the streets

HA NOI — The capital’s Department of Tourism recently proposed that high quality buses should be used for domestic and foreign tourists visiting the city.

According to the proposal, high quality buses will service routes to tourist attractions such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature), Tran Quoc Pagoda, Sword Lake and West Lake.

These buses will be equipped with automatic informative videos in different languages to introduce tourists to the country’s history, culture and tourist spots.

Electricity supply may fall short in December

HA NOI — Demand for electricity in December is predicted to exceed the supply capacity of Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) by 1,600MW, and may cause shortages of electricity during times of peak power-use, according to EVN.

The problem stems from a reduction in the amount of water flowing to irrigation lakes. In addition, some irrigation centres such as Uong Bi and Phu My 2 were not operating at optimal efficiency.

EVN has called on consumers to use electricity economically, especially during peak times.

State-owned office sale funds new centre

DA NANG — A State-owned office building was put on auction last week by Da Nang City’s Bid Council to raise funds for the construction of the city’s administration centre.

The former headquarters of the Department of Fisheries, Agriculture and Forestry located on an area of more than 1,000sq.m, was the first State-owned office building to be put up for auction.

Bach Khoa Construction and Consultancy Company bought the office for VND52 billion (US$3.2 million), twice the starting price.

Australian soldier’s remains found

HA NOI — An Australian team has found the remains of John Gillespie, a missing Australian who died in the Viet Nam war in 1971, The Age newspaper reported on Thursday.

Operation Aussies Home, led by Jim Bourke, found the remains of Lance Corporal Gillespie in South Viet Nam.

Australian Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin was cited by The Age as saying on Wednesday that forensic testing had confirmed that remains found at the crash site were those of the missing soldier.

Whale washed up dead on Quang Tri shores

QUANG TRI — A large whale was found dead after beaching itself on Con Co Island in central Quang Tri Province on Wednesday.

The whale was 15m in length and weighed 10 tonnes.

Local officials and inhabitants used cable, stone and stakes to pull the whale ashore. The marine mammal’s bones will be kept for future research and exhibition.

Orthopaedic surgeons gather in HCM City

HCM City — The 27th ASEAN Orthopaedic Conference opened in HCM City on Wednesday.

Speaking at the conference, Dr Vo Van Thanh, vice president of the ASEAN Orthopaedic Association and president of HCM City Spine Association, said the conference was an ideal opportunity for medical professionals to exchange experiences and to boost regional co-operation.

The conference focused on training programmes for orthopaedic surgeons in Southeast Asia.

More than 145 reports covering limb and spinal surgery are discussed at the conference, which is attended by 350 delegates from Asia, Europe and America.

Singapore childcare centre opens doors

HA NOI — Singapore’s Cherie Hearts Group International has opened its first childcare centre in Viet Nam.s.

Located in Tay Ho District of the capital, the centre will cater for children aged nine-months to six-years old, divided into four grades: baby club, playgroup, nursery and kindergarten.

Children will be taught in Vietnamese, English and Chinese together with other creative and dynamic activities. — VNS