Cars wait for the traffic lights at a junction approaching the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur on Jul 14, 2004. (Photo: AFP) Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke has emphasized the need to amend the country’s Road Transport Act to ensure that drivers responsible for causing deaths are banned from driving for life. Anthony pointed out that Section 41 of the Act states that a driver guilty of causing death by reckless driving cannot hold or obtain a driving licence for at least three years, stressing that this punishment is not strict enough. According to the minister, drivers who cause fatal accidents must be banned from driving for the rest of their lives. As for the amendment to the Act, Loke said such a change would take some time because it needed to be studied and brought to the Attorney General’s Chambers before being tabled in Parliament. Chairman of the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) Lee Lam … [Read more...] about Malaysia considers life bans on drivers in fatal accidents
Road safety act
Experts call for arrest of drunk drivers
HÀ NỘI — Drunk drivers whose alcohol content exceeds 100mg for every 100ml of blood, or 0.5mg for every litre of breath, should be pressed with criminal charges instead of fines, experts suggested. According to Government’s Decree on fines for traffic violations issued last year, car drivers with alcohol exceeding 80mg for every 100ml of blood or 0.4mg for every litre of breath will be fined VNĐ10-15 million, and bikers will be fined VNĐ2-3 million. Violators will also have their driving licences revoked for two months. Nguyễn Văn Huyện, head of Directorate for Roads of Việt Nam, said the directorate had proposed criminal charges against drunk drivers in the amended Criminal Code in 2015. Huyện pointed out that in other countries, drunk drivers with excessive alcohol levels could face imprisonment in addition to fines and revoked driving licences, Giao thông ( Transport) newspaper reported. “In Việt Nam, … [Read more...] about Experts call for arrest of drunk drivers
18 dead, 254 injured as South Africa train slams into truck
KROONSTAD, South Africa: A passenger train smashed into a truck at a level crossing in South Africa on Thursday (Jan 4), killing at least 18 people, injuring 254 and throwing several carriages off the rails.Flames ripped through the twisted wreckage and choking black smoke rose into the air as desperate passengers clambered out of the train travelling from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg to escape the inferno.Tiaan Esterhuizen, who was travelling on the train as he returned from holiday, attempted to rescue three women who were trapped in a burning passenger wagon."I saw around 12 cars on their side and one was already burning. We heard some women screaming when we came closer' so a few of us climbed over the cars," he told the Times LIVE news site."Two of the women were sort of on top of each other. Another was further back. Her legs were trapped. One of the women was shouting that there was a baby inside also."We searched but could not find the child ... I am quite sure those … [Read more...] about 18 dead, 254 injured as South Africa train slams into truck
Social News 3/1
Bình Thuan opens administrative centre Representatives cut ribbons to open the Bình Thuận Public Administration Centre for public use. — Photo vov.vnBình Thuận Province People’s Committee on Tuesday opened the provincial Public Administration Centre for public use.The centre is located on No 24 Nguyễn Tất Thành Road in Phan Thiết City.The centre has two main functions -- receiving queries and giving back results related to administrative procedures and providing guidance to organisations and individuals on investment and procedures to set up investment projects using the State and provincial budgets.Nguyễn Ngọc Hai, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the centre would enhance the efficiency in resolving administrative procedures, support investment procedures, reduce time spent working on documents and save residents’ time and efforts.Võ Thành Huy, director of the centre, … [Read more...] about Social News 3/1
Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but can’t escape bad reputation
2017 has been another record breaking year for tourism as foreign visitors to Vietnam surged 29.1 percent over the previous year, reaching an all-time high of 12.9 million, according to the General Statistics Office. The country consistently makes it into “world’s top 10 lists” by reputable travel sites and newspapers like The Guardian, CNN, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor and Rough Guides. But just as it is famous for pristine beaches, misty mountains, buzzing cities, mouth watering food and friendly people, the “rough side" of the country hasn’t escaped its global image either. Visa issues aside, robbery, petty crimes, traffic accidents and service quality continue to put visitors off one year after Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue asked tourism agencies to solve them. There have been some improvements but Vietnam still has a long way to go, said Nguyen Quoc Ky, CEO of travel company Vietravel. Many hotlines set up to resolve tourism incidents don't … [Read more...] about Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but can’t escape bad reputation
Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation
2017 has been another record breaking year for tourism as foreign visitors to Vietnam surged 29.1 percent over the previous year, reaching an all-time high of 12.9 million, according to the General Statistics Office. The country consistently makes it into “world’s top 10 lists” by reputable travel sites and newspapers like The Guardian, CNN, Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor and Rough Guides. But just as it is famous for pristine beaches, misty mountains, buzzing cities, mouth watering food and friendly people, the “rough side" of the country hasn’t escaped its global image either. Visa issues aside, robbery, petty crimes, traffic accidents and service quality continue to put visitors off one year after Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue asked tourism agencies to solve them. There have been some improvements but Vietnam still has a long way to go, said Nguyen Quoc Ky, CEO of travel company Vietravel. Many hotlines set up to resolve tourism incidents don't … [Read more...] about Vietnam attracts record tourist numbers in 2017 but still can’t escape bad reputation
Social News 26/12
WB funds water supply projects in Red River Delta Three out of water supply projects using loans from the World Bank (WB) have been put into operation in Hanoi (Illustrative image. Source: VNA)Three out of water supply projects using loans from the World Bank (WB) have been put into operation in Hanoi.The waterworks are built in Co Do and Phong Van communes (Ba Vi district), Hiep Thuan and Lien Hiep communes (Phuc Tho district), and Huong Son commune (My Duc district).The remaining projects in Tam Hung and Thanh Thuy communes (Thanh Oai district) Lien Phuong, Van Tao, Ha Hoi, Hong Van and Thu Phu communes (Thuong Tin district), Trung Hoa and Truong Yen communes (Chuong My district) are expected to be put into operation soon.The facilities have also supplied water to more than 22,000 households of communes adjacent to the targeted localities.The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has coordinated with the WB to carry out a programme on clean water and rural sanitation in … [Read more...] about Social News 26/12
7 uplifting stories from Vietnam to realize 2017 was not such a bad year after all
Shoe cleaning boy receives warm gift for winter An 18-year-old girl from the central province of Nghe An gave a shoe cleaning boy a leather coat after spotting him shivering on a street corner in temperatures of 16 degrees Celcius (61 degrees Fahrenheit) in November. “He did not have many clothes on,” said Phan Minh Anh. She said she had given him VND20,000 (nearly $1) but she realized it was not enough, so she went away and bought him a coat. She also found out that the boy was an orphan and was fending for himself. “He reminded me of my younger brother, who has parents to give him full meals and warm clothes,” Anh said. A passer-by captured the act and shared the video on Facebook. Men save Saigon’s flood victims with free bike repair As high tides flooded Le Van Luong Street in southern Saigon on a recent evening, a 42-year-old man with a deformed leg put up a sign on the corner of the street, saying: “Free repair for broken bikes.” He was … [Read more...] about 7 uplifting stories from Vietnam to realize 2017 was not such a bad year after all
The Government’s regular meeting in November 2017
THE GOVERNMENT SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAMIndependence - Freedom - Happiness No. 131/NQ-CP Ha Noi, December 06, 2017 RESOLUTION THE GOVERNMENT’S REGULAR MEETING – NOVEMBER 2017 THE GOVERNMENT Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government dated June 19, 2015; Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 138/2016/ND-CP dated October 01, 2016 promulgating the working regulation of the Government; Based on the discussion of the Cabinet members and the conclusion of the Prime Minister at the Government’s regular meeting in August 2017, held on August 30 DECIDES 1. Regarding the socio-economic situation in November and the first 11 months of 2017, the implementation of Resolution No. 01/NQ-CP dated January 1, 2017 The Government unanimously agreed that the socio-economic situation in November and the first 11 months of 2017 continued positive improvements. Macro-economy remained stable. Inflation was kept under control. Major … [Read more...] about The Government’s regular meeting in November 2017
BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/12
Vietnam, Cambodia to develop cashew farming areaThe Vietnam Cashew Association (VINACAS) is working with the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to establish a cashew farming area in Cambodia that is able to produce 1 million tonnes of material cashew annually.VINACAS President Nguyen Duc Thanh unveiled the information at the association’s seminar in HCM City on December 7 to seek ways to support foreign trade of cashew between 2018 and 2019.Addressing the event, Thanh said Vietnam has remained the world’s largest exporter of cashew and seen a robust growth of the cashew processing industry in recent years. However, the domestic supplies of cashew nuts have only satisfied about 20-35 percent of the firms’ demand for materials while imports of cashew face risks from quality control and payment, he noted.Cambodia is able to produce high-quality cashew nuts thanks to good varieties and favourable weather conditions, Thanh stated, adding that … [Read more...] about BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/12