HA NOI Images, documents and films about training Vietnamese journalists were shown at an exhibition organised in Ha Noi by the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Swedish Embassy on Thursday.
In the past five years, about 3,000 Vietnamese journalists have taken part in nearly 200 training activities under a project supported by Sweden.
Two jam factories suspended
HA NOI Two jam factories in Tu Liem District s Xuan Dinh village were suspended on Thursday for failing to show documents about the origin of the ingredients and substandard production conditions.
This followed a city Health Department inspection. Previously, inspectors in the district fined four out of 20 local jam factories because they left produce for the jam on the road to dry.
Moves against free advertising
HA NOI Action has been taken against the illegal painting of trade and business phone numbers on walls in Hoan Kiem District.
The Ha Noi Department of Information and Communications said it had collected the numbers and would warn subscribers not to repeat the offence, said Pham Quoc Bao, director of the department.
On early Thursday, two men were found painting illegal advertisements at intersection of Thai Ha-Trung Liet. The violators and their employer were fined and asked to clean up their mess.
$1m for typhoon victims
HA NOI The French Red Cross has funded a US$1 million project to help the Viet Nam Red Cross provide relief to victims of Ketsana and Mirinae typhoons in the central provinces of Quang Binh, Binh Dinh, Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Phu Yen.
The project was outlined here yesterday at a meeting between the chairman of the Viet Nam Red Cross, Tran Ngoc Tang, and the president of the French Red Cross, Jean Francois Mattei.
The society will provide rice, boxes of basic necessities, fertiliser and livestock.
First graduates from Sunderland scheme
HA NOI Thirty Vietnamese students on Thursday were granted international certificates by Britain s Sunderland University.
This was the first batch of students to graduate from the four-year undergraduate degree programme organised by Sunderland University and the National Economics University in Ha Noi. VNS
VN swine-flu kit on sale
HA NOI A kit to test for swine-flu virus has been produced by HCM City Pasteur and Biotechnology Institute funded by a project worth VND1.6 billion (US$86,600).
Le Minh Sat, deputy director of the Ministry of Science and Technology s Department of Science and Technology, said the kit could identify A/H1N1 virus within three to four hours.
The kit, which will sell for less than half the price of its imported competitor, will be registered with the Ministry of Health after Tet.
Fuel stations fined
TAY NINH Fines worth VND100 million (US$5,400) have been imposed on seven out of 67 gas stations found to be selling substandard petroleum in southern Tay Ninh Province, said Vo Thanh Phong, head of the provincial Market Watch Division.
The gas station owners are alleged to have cheated their customers by adjusting pump meters or selling poor-quality petroleum, Phong said.
Ban on small houses
HA NOI Construction licences are being denied for houses on an area of less than 15sq.m, under new rules by Ha Noi People s Committee.
For other projects, licences will be granted 15-20 days after authorities have received documentation on land use and ownership rights.
Licences will not be granted for construction in areas used for public facilities.
Curbing traffic jams
HA NOI Ha Noi s Road and Railway Traffic Division plans to tighten inspection and punishment of traffic violations to curb massive traffic jams.
Coach-related violations, such as driving in the wrong lane, making unscheduled stops to pick up passengers, and carrying more than the permitted number of passengers will be strictly punished.
According to the division, in the past two weeks, police have fined nearly 18,000 law breakers with fines totalling VND2 billion ($108,300).
Police have also impounded 56 cars, 248 motorbikes and 32 cycloes, and confiscated nearly 4,000 driving licences. VNS
This story (and the original) needs rechecking. John)
New fee for pavement parking
HA NOI From February 5, people will have to pay a new fee for using pavements and sidewalks to park their vehicles, according to Ha Noi People s Committee.
A monthly fee of VND45,000 (US$ 2.4) per sq.m will be imposed for keeping sites at 17 routes in the city centre; VND25,000 ($1.3) for other routes.
The city s Department of Transport and Hoan Kiem District s People s Committee would collect the fee. The district is allowed to spend collected fee on maintaining social security.