Ha Tinh evacuates flooded areas

On October 14-15 provinces from Nghe An to Quang Ngai experienced heavy rains, averaging 100-200mm.  

Rivers from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai province are at very high levels. Lowland and delta areas in these provinces are in danger of  flash floods and landslides.

Ha Tinh province on October 15 evacuated 1,000 families in Huong Son district to safe areas.

The provincial People’s Committee has directed local authorities and border guard soldiers to evacuate people from hazardous areas.

Two days ago, the province asked all districts and towns to implement emergency measures to minimise property and human losses.

Australian broadcaster to help boost media links   

A memorandum of understanding to facilitate bilateral co-operation in multimedia between the Vietnam News Agency and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation was signed in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday.

Under the document, the two sides agreed to study co-operation methods such as sharing development experiences, multimedia information exchange, programme production, consulting and management sharing, as well as exchanging reporters.

Also on Wednesday, VNA general director Tran Mai Huong discussed specific measures to realise the potential for co-operation with Chief Executive of Australia Network Bruce Dover, Chief Executive Officer of Radio Australia Mike McCluskey and ABC's corporate strategy and international co-operation director Julia Thoener.

During his five-day working visit to Australia, which will end on Sunday, Huong will also visit and discuss co-operation possibilities with the Australian Associated Press (AAP) news agency.

Police bust 3 illegal pig fat-processors   

The HCM City environment police on Wednesday discovered three facilities illegally processing pig fat and skin following surprise raids in District 6.

The units, owned by Mai Thanh Hang, Dieu Hoang Vu, and Nguyen Huu Tuan, were in the same alley.

The fat and skin used for food processing were not certified for safety, of unclear origins, and stored in unhygienic conditions.

Tests on other products also revealed a lack of hygiene, the police said.

Rock slide kills 2 men, injures one   

A huge rock killed two men and injured one after it slid down the side of a quarry on Vuc Mountain on Wednesday afternoon.

Local authorities in central Thanh Hoa Province's Dong Son District mobilised a crane to move the rock in an attempt to rescue the victims. The quarry reportedly belongs to a local private company.

On Tuesday morning, a quarry collapse killed four workers in Lai Xuan Commune, northern Hai Phong City's Thuy Nguyen District. At present, five enterprises and two co-operatives with about 3,000 workers are exploiting stone in the commune.

150-kg bomb found in Quang Ninh

Ha Long City's Military Command defused a 150-kg bomb which was found by a local resident in the city in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh on Tuesday.

US firm to open petrol stations, truck stops

The Acro BP AM/PM Group, one of the top developers and franchisers of gas stations and travel centres in the US, plan to open 50 gas stations and 10 truck-stops in Vietnam.

Moody M.Brickett, the group’s business consultant, said it will seek co-operation with local businesses or franchise partners to carry out its investment plan. 

Truck stops will be located on well-traveled streets or expressways, providing gasoline, hot meals and other conveniences.  

Gas stations will be coupled with small convenience stores.

Cam Ranh to receive flights from Russia

Two new routes from the Russian cities of Khabarovsk and Vladivostok to Cam Ranh international airport in the south central city of Nha Trang will be launched this winter.

According to a Vladivostok Air representative, 14 flights are scheduled on these routes from mid-December through to March, with two flights to Nha Trang every two weeks. 

Cam Ranh Airport’s authorities pledged to halve the cost of landing charges and services and stated that the airport has all the facilities, equipment and staff to cater for international flights. 

Ten four and five star hotels and resorts in Nha Trang have also agreed to reduce their charges for Russian tourists flying to Nha Trang on the new routes by between 20-50 percent. 

Cam Ranh Airport became an international airport in December 2009 and has recorded an average annual growth rate in passenger numbers of 21 percent, the highest rate in Vietnam, but had not yet introduced any international routes.

VNN/VNS/VOV