Vietnam attends Interpol General Assembly

A Vietnamese delegation headed by Colonel Dang Xuan Khang, Chief of the Interpol Vietnam Office, is attending the 81st Interpol General Assembly in Rome.

In a report sent to the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation the country has tried its best to complete the legal system, improve law education, and fully implement a national program on crime prevention, with a focus on breaking up criminal gangs.

Vietnam considers criminal violence, especially relating to terrorism, drug and human trafficking, as a transnational issue, which threatens security of countries across the world, the report said.

It proposed closer cooperation in line with international treaties, and bilateral agreements on extradition and judicial assistance to lay a firm foundation for preventing and combating criminal violence.

This year’s November 5-8 conference has attracted the participation of security, interior and judicial ministers from 106 countries around the world to adopt a joint declaration in this connection.

Interpol is the world’s largest international police organisation with 190 members. Vietnam became its 166th member on November 4 1991.

Da Nang focuses on sustainability

The central city plans to plough ahead next year with its US$272.3 million Sustainable City Development Project after securing substantial backing from the World Bank.

The global finance institution will contribute $203 million, accounting for nearly three quarters of the total cost.

The project, which has completed a two-year pre-feasibility study, will implement sewage drainage systems, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) routes, resettlement and two key urban roads – Nguyen Tat Thanh and Hoa Phuoc-Hoa Khuong, as well as bridges for the city's future development, Da Nang vice chairman Nguyen Ngoc Tuan said.

Tuan said the project will also improve environmental infrastructure through schemes such as wastewater collection and treatment, water-storm drainage, flood prevention and climate change adaptability.

In a meeting with the city's administration, the project's team leader Dang Duc Cuong said the city had prepared the project's pre-feasibility study and its assessment will now begin on December 10.

The project aims to help Da Nang become a more sustainable city by improving the urban environment and increasing urban mobility in a clean, safe, inclusive, and energy efficient manner.

Capital city to re-arrange gas stations

The Ha Noi People's Committee has approved a plan to re-arrange the gas station system in the city to ensure that urban dwellers have enough fuel.

Under the plan, 56 stations that do not fit in with the city's general development planning or violate safety regulations will be relocated.

More than 300 new gas stations will also be built by 2020, and 50 will be added in the 2020-2030 period.

Structures to be built in the next three years include five 60-150cu.m stations, 48 16-60cu.m stations and 65 stations with capacity under 16cu.m., all equipped with advanced technology and safe facilities. This stage of the project will cost VND900 billion (US$42.9 million), with another VND630 billion ($30 million) investment for the 2016-2020 period. The capital is expected to be provided by petrol traders.

Illegal coal miners given jail sentences

Seven members of a group that illegally mined coal were sentenced to six to 12 months in jail by the People's Court of Quang Ninh on Monday.

The team leader, Nguyen Van Man, 46, received the longest sentence.

Man and his accomplices hired six miners to procure 17 tonnes of coal, estimated to be worth VND29.7 million (US$1,400), from a forbidden mine in Dong Trieu District between March 25-27, according to the indictment.

During the excavation process, the coal mine suddenly collapsed, killing two miners and injuring a third.

Man was also fined VND22 million ($1,050).

Illegal loggers strike for a third time

One hectare of forest containing 60 cubic metres of timber has been felled in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai's Krong Cho District.

The timber included two species for making furniture, cam xe (Xylia xylocarpa), ca chit (Shorea roxburghii C. Don).
This was the third case of trees being chopped down and stolen for their timber within one week in the district.

On the last two days of October, 160 similar trees were chopped down, equal to 95 cubic metres of timber.
Local authorities are continuing their investigations.

Vietnamese ship goes to aid of sick sailor

A Filipino sailor who came down with a serious stomachache on a Liberian ship 173 nautical miles from southern Vung Tau City was taken to the city's hospital for treatment by a Vietnamese ship yesterday.

According to the National Centre of Search and Rescue, the ship contacted it for emergency help on Monday night when the sailor first felt sick to his stomach.

Bretagne-Vietnam Association builds school in Thua Thien-Hue

A kindergarten was inaugurated in Phu Xuan village, Phu Vang district, Thua Thien-Hue province on November 6.
The two-storey kindergarten was built at a cost of VND1.55 billion, sourced from Bretagne Vietnam Association in France. It is home to more than 70 children and can be used as a shelter for local people during the flood season.

Earlier, the association presented 50 bicycles to disadvantaged pupils in the village.

In recent times, it has supported other localities in Thua Thien-Hue province to implement humanitarian projects worth VND3 billion in total.

Since May 2012, the Bretagne-Vietnam Association has provided learning and working facilities for disabled pupils at the provincial vocational training centre and built bio-gas projects for 30 families in Quang Dien district.

VNN/VOV/VNS