VND740 billion disbursed for low-income housing projects


Photo: VOV
Vietnam has so far had 25 housing projects with a total investment capital of VND2.800 billion, helping to provide accommodation for nearly 129,000 workers.

According to the Ministry of Construction, five housing projects for workers have got loans worth VND740 billion in total for the first time. These projects will be implemented in Hanoi, Hai Phong port city, Thanh Hoa City, Hue city and Long An Province.

At the same time, 37 low-income projects have been implemented with a total investment capital of VND3,600 billion, providing 750,000 housing square metres and generating accommodation for 64,000 people.

Especially, 1,653 flats had been completed and 728 flats had been sold to low-income earners nationwide late this year.

To provide loans for investors, the Ministry of Construction has asked the Vietnam Development Bank (VDB) to make it easy for the signing of credit contracts and accelerate disbursement of capital for priority projects.


Papal envoy may improve relations


Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli as non-resident envoy to Viet Nam, a move that could lead to better relations between the Vatican and Viet Nam.

The Foreign Ministry said last Friday that this could enhance exchanges between the two sides.

Archbishop Girelli, until now apostolic nuncio (envoy) to Indonesia, was born on March 13, 1953, in Bergamo Province, Italy. He was ordained in 1978 and obtained his doctorate in pastoral theology in 1987.

The archbishop has previously served in Cameroon, New Zealand, the United States and the Vatican Secretariat of State.

Cardinal Ivan Dias, Prefect of the Congregation of the Evangelisation of Peoples - and Ambassador to the Pope, attended a ceremony for the Catholic Church of Viet Nam's Jubilee Year in La Vang parish and met Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Ha Noi last week.


Another case of A/H1N1 discovered in HCM City


Another case of A/H1N1 influenza has been detected in district 3, Ho Chi Minh City, said the city Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

The patient is a 24 year-old woman who has just returned from Malaysia. After having a high fever for two days, she was admitted to the hospital for treatment on January 8 and tested positive for the A/H1N1 virus.

Doctors said that the patient had travelled to Malaysia before she started developing flu symptoms. The tourist guide had been coughing and sneezing continuously.

The patient’s relatives have been closely monitored for any abnormal health problems. At present, she is in stable condition.  


Viet Nam's first baby born in aeroplane


A baby boy was born in an aeroplane in Viet Nam yesterday on a Jetstar Pacific flight from HCM City to Vinh.

Nguyen Thi Lap, 27, went into labour while the aeroplane was on the Tan Son Nhat's runway before take off.

She gave birth to her first-born 2.5-kilo son with support from stewardesses and passengers on the flight.

The mother and child were taken to a hospital for additional care.


Oxy-fuel welding kills two and injures three


Two people died and three others were serious injured when an oxy-fuel welding pot exploded at a private workshop in central Da Nang City's Cam Le District.

Tran Ngoc Long, 55, and Ly Thanh Tho, 43, were reportedly killed.

The blast also injured three others and they have been under emergency care in the city's hospital. The explosion is under investigation.


Tickets to northern provinces sold out


Da Nang Railway Station had sold out train tickets for northern provinces for Tet (Lunar New Year), said Do Thai Lam, the station's deputy head.
Train tickets to southern provinces were also almost sold out.

The station is planning to run two more 500-seat trains after Tet to meet increased demand.


Text books given to flood-hit schools


Free text books will be given to about 170 flood-hit secondary schools in five central provinces by Ministry of Education and Training this year.

The donation, worth US$300,000, used loans from the Asian Development Bank.


Charity launched to help Ha Noi's AO victims


The Ha Noi Fund for Agent Orange/ Dioxin (AO) Victims was launched yesterday.

The fund, established by the municipal Association of AO Victims, is expected to mobilise funds from home and abroad to help improve the living conditions of AO victims in the city.

At the launch ceremony, the fund received VND815 million (US$41,565) from donors.

There are around 35,000 AO/dioxin victims in the city but only 16,000 of them receive a State allowance.


Ethnic midwives receive training


Medical and nursing staff from Tu Du Hospital in HCM City provided training to 728 midwives of ethnic minority groups in 20 cities and provinces under a village midwife training programme between 2004 and 2010.

The programme aimed to reduce childbirth complications and newborn fatalities among ethnic minorities in rural villages in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, Central Highlands and central region.

This year, it will provide practical knowledge of maternal and child healthcare to nearly 500 midwives.


Three jailed for dumping rubbish in cemetery


Three men have been sentenced to between one year and 20 months' imprisonment for filling up graves with waste at Ha Noi's Dong Trua Cemetery last August.

Two of them were security guards working on Le Van Luong Street, where the cemetery is located.

The men received VND7.3 million (US$350) for disposing of 49 truckloads of waste, which they dumped over 35 graves.

Ha Dong District People's Court also ordered them to pay compensation of VND389 million($19,450) to the families whose graves had been desecrated.


Books donated to flood-hit schools


Free text books will be given to about 170 flood-hit secondary schools in five central provinces by the Ministry of Education and Training this year.

The donation, worth US$300,000, used loans from the Asian Development Bank.


VNN/VOV/VNS