Sleeping driver blamed for accident; Japan finalises port city strategy research; Bird flu returns to Dak Lak ducks; Paper manufacturer caught polluting land. Sleeping driver blamed for accident

A container truck collided head-on with a road tanker and then crashed into a house in HCM City early yesterday morning after the driver of the truck allegedly went to sleep at the wheel.

Both vehicles were extensively damaged and 15m of median-strip fence was demolished, but no one was injured, police said.

The accident happened on Ton Duc Thang Street after the container truck crashed through the fence, a police spokesman said.

Japan finalises port city strategy research

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on October 13 handed over the results of its final research on a development strategy for Da Nang city.

The project helps to build development strategies for the central port city that prioritize harmony in development between urban and rural areas, ensuring a sustainable future for Da Nang and its neighbouring provinces, including Thua Thien-Hue city, Quang Nam and Quang Ngai.

The research focuses on major targets of development strategies that promote regional connection in the key economic zone of the central region, a master plan on major city development till 2025 and short-term programmes of action till 2015 for Da Nang city.

The project also helps the central key economic zone avoid problems affecting the northern and southern key economic zones due to poor management of booming investment projects.

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are facing major traffic jams and traffic accidents, serious environmental pollution, dire shortages of dwelling houses, poor management of solid wastes, decrease in tree cover, a surge in crime and a widening gap between rich and poor.

The results of the JICA research were made public at the opening of an exhibition in Da Nang the same day to collect public opinion on a development strategy for the central key economic zone as well as a master plan for urban development in the city.

The exhibition, scheduled to last until October 19, is also expected to help ordinary people further understand urban issues related to the city and the region as whole.

Bird flu returns to Dak Lak ducks

Bird flu has re-appeared in Dak Lak Province’s Krong Bong District.

The lethal H5N1 virus was found in 500 ducks owned by a local farmer, according to the provincial Animal Health Department.

To prevent the epidemic from spreading, agencies sprayed chemicals and disinfected the breeding farm area.

It was the first reported case of bird flu since July.

Paper manufacturer caught polluting land

Southern Tay Ninh Province’s Natural Resources and Environment Department found a paper-manufacturing factory violating environment regulations in Linh Trung Export Processing Zone in Trang Bang District on Tuesday.

An inspection revealed the wastewater treatment system at the factory, owned by of Max Fortune Co Ltd, was not functioning. Untreated liquids were released directly onto empty land.

Police seize vehicles in violations crackdown

On Tuesday, Ha Noi Road and Railway Traffic Police Department ordered police teams to strictly deal with violations after the city’s birthday.

Police will deal with traffic violators after rush hours to prevent traffic jams.

The main violations include parking vehicles in the wrong place and failing to stop at a red light.

Alleged illegal loggers brought to account

Nhu Xuan District’s Forest Protection Department in central Thanh Hoa Province has prosecuted 70 suspects for logging trees in protected forest.

The suspects reportedly cut down more than 70 cu.m of timber in a forest area handed to a local household for management.

A poor understanding of forestry protection laws and lax management by local authorities are blamed for the situation.

Farmers’ Day celebrated in HCM City

The Ho Chi Minh City Farmers’ Association has made great contributions to the nation’s defence and construction, said Nguyen Van Dua, Deputy Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City party Committee.

Dua made the statement at a ceremony to celebrate the 80^th anniversary of the Vietnam Farmers’ Union in Ho Chi Minh City on October 14. He reviewed the association’s glorious tradition and asked members to continue contributing to Vietnam’s socialist-oriented modernisation and industrialisation process.

Also at the ceremony, 15 farmer families were honoured for their outstanding response to the campaign “learning and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example”.

** The same day, the Union’s anniversary was also celebrated in the southern provinces of Ca Mau and Ben Tre.

ASEAN labour inspection conference identifies new challenges

The first ASEAN Labour Inspection Conference concluded in Quang Ninh on October 14, further strengthening labour inspection cooperation among ASEAN member countries.

The host Vietnam recognizes that labour inspection plays an important role in enforcing labour law, ensuring healthy labour relations, raising productivity, and developing jobs in a sustainable manner, said Bui Hong Linh, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Conference participants discussed emerging challenges such as worker immigration, inspection in small- and medium-sized enterprises, and inspection in agriculture. Obstacles faced by most of labour inspectors from ASEAN countries include shortage of trained personnel, insufficient funding of inspection capacity, and ineffective inspector training.

The conference released a declaration on boosting labour inspection cooperation within the bloc.

VNN/VOV/VNS