Aston Villa 1 - 0 WestHam (Gardner 24 ')

Aston Villa earned a hard fought 1-0 win over West Ham in Saturday's only 3 O'clock Premier League kick-off.

A 24th minute Craig Gardner free-kick was enough to steer Villa to their fourth successive victory at Villa Park.
Meanwhile, West Ham slumped to their third straight league defeat as they failed to consistently threaten Scott Carson in the Villa goal.
West Ham had the ball in the back of the net, but Henri Camara's effort was disallowed for a blatant handball and this was to be as close as they came.
Villa then struck on 24 minutes when Gardner blasted home a free-kick from 18 yards, which took a late deflection off Daniel Gabbidon to deceive Robert Green in the Hammers goal.
West Ham then enjoyed the majority of possession and were unfortunate not to be awarded a second half penalty when Zat Knight hauled down Carlton Cole in the 18-yard box, but they looked blunt in attack and failed to muster an equaliser.

Villa had chances to seal the points in the first half, despite an improved performance from West Ham in the second 45 minutes.
The pace of Ashley Young caused problems for the Hammers down the left flank and he must have impressed watching England coach Steve McClaren.
Another member of McClaren's latest England squad, Dean Ashton, had a quiet afternoon and picked up a knee injury which could rule him out of the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Estonia and Russia.
The first decent opening fell to the home side after five minutes when Young turned past Gabbidon and sent over an inviting low cross, but Luke Moore failed to connect with a volley.
Green was called into meaningful action for the first time when he parried a low drive from Moore after good play by skipper Gareth Barry.
The home side then looked to have strong claims for a penalty after 13 minutes when Lucas Neill appeared to tug at the shirt of Young as he burst into the Hammers box, but it was turned down by referee Steve Tanner.

Villa were looking threatening and an inviting cross from Young picked out Gabriel Agbonlahor whose glancing header was saved by Green.
It was no surprise when Gardner struck for the second time in five days to put Villa ahead after Agbonlahor was brought down right on the edge of the Hammers box by Gabbidon.
West Ham tried to retaliate and Freddie Ljungberg ran at full tilt to meet a deep centre by Matthew Etherington but his flying header was well saved by Carson who was perfectly positioned.
Villa looked dangerous every time the likes of Young and Agbonlahor ran at the West Ham defence.
The visitors were forced to make a substitution when Camara limped out of the action with a hamstring problem to be replaced by Cole.
Villa were soon back on the offensive as they attacked a packed Holte End in the second half and Agbonlahor had a header blocked by Matthew Upson from Young's cross.

Reo-Coker, who was giving the West Ham players little room to manoeuvre in midfield, was yellow-carded for a challenge on Bowyer.
Villa, though, almost gifted West Ham an equaliser after 55 minutes when a poor clearing header by Mellberg went straight to Cole just outside the six-yard box, but he failed to make proper contact and Carson was able to save.
The pace of Villa's game had dropped considerably compared to the opening 45 minutes and O'Neill brought on Shaun Maloney for Moore.
Young appealed in vain for a penalty when Neill appeared to deflect his cross past the post via his right arm.
However, Villa comfortably held on to secure the points and move up to fifth in the league.

-BBC Sport-

PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY: Man Utd 4-0 Wigan

Manchester United's attacking trio of Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney put their side top of the table for the first time this season.


Initially United were stymied by Wigan but Tevez's darting run and then his strength and composure to drill into the net gave them a second-half lead.
Soon after Ronaldo headed in from close range following a United corner.
United confirmed their dominance when Rooney set up Ronaldo, before the England striker headed in the fourth.


Wigan rarely tested Tomasz Kuszczak, though the United keeper did well to palm away a Luis Antonio Valencia shot after Ronaldo's first goal.
So three more points for United, though this was a win that came at a cost, with Louis Saha pulling out of the game through injury after hurting himself in the pre-match warm-up.


United suffered two more injuries in the first half when Nemanja Vidic and John O'Shea had to go off, two substitutions that disrupted the champions' impressive early rhythm.


But the disruption proved only temporary and two goals in the space of four minutes early in the second half ended Wigan's resistance at Old Trafford.
The champions should have been ahead long before Sir Alex Ferguson was forced to reshuffle his side.
Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland had to react quickly to palm away Salomon Olembe's attempted clearance following a Tevez cross as United began their seige of the visitors' goal.
Ronaldo gathered up the loose ball and looked to be clearly fouled by Michael Brown, but referee Mike Riley waved play on.
Towards the end of the first half United recaptured their early momentum, Ronaldo forcing a save from Kirkland, while Tevez wrong-footed Mario Melchiot before curling the ball over the bar.
United began the second half in ominous mood with Ryan Giggs striking the crossbar with a well-executed half-volley.


Tevez's goal provided ample demonstration why Ferguson was so keen to bring the Argentine to Old Trafford.
The former West Ham forward had the speed and strength to hold off Kevin Kilbane, before drilling a shot into the corner of the net.
Four minutes later Ronaldo headed in from close range after a United corner and the Portuguese forward capped a fine performance with a cool finish after he had been set up by Rooney.
The England international completed the scoring with a header after Danny Simpson had crossed from the right.
Wigan deployed a five-man midfield and Marcus Bent as a lone striker, a formation that rarely tested United's rejigged defence.
Josip Skoko went close with a shot, while Patrice Evra reacted quickly to hook the ball away from Paul Scharner as the Austrian prepared to shoot.
During the second half Jason Koumas's left-footed shoot went narrowly wide, before Kuszczak saved from Valencia.

-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson on his team's ability to cope with the Vidic/O'Shea injuries:"Considering all the things that happened I think we've done fantastically well.
"I was very pleased with the football in the second half.
"We had 10 players missing but great credit to the players who played today.
"We speeded the game up in the second half, the flow of the game was much better. It's coming together."

-Wigan manager Chris Hutchings:"We had a game plan which worked well in the first half.
"But as as soon as they scored the first goal they upped the tempo and they could have scored a couple more.
"It's always difficult but while it's 1-0 you have always got a chance. I'm disappointed that we lost our shape."

Man Utd:
Kuszczak, Pique, Ferdinand, Vidic (Anderson 21), Evra, Ronaldo, O'Shea (Simpson 30), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez (Nani 81).Subs Not Used: Heaton, Eagles.
Booked: Rooney.
Goals: Tevez 54, Ronaldo 59, 76, Rooney 82.

Wigan:

Kirkland, Melchiot (Hall 50), Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane, Scharner, Brown, Skoko, Koumas, Olembe (Valencia 66), Bent.Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Landzaat, Aghahowa.
Booked: Skoko.
Att: 75,300
Ref: Mike Riley (Yorkshire).

(BBC SPORT)

Background in Vietnam today.

WHO helps promote traffic safety in Vietnam


The World Health Organization (WHO) announced Wednesday that it will dole out US$860,000 for Vietnam to use on public's awareness programs centering on traffic safety.


Courses that encourage the use of helmets and seat belts, drunk driving and road safety techniques would all be on offer, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) quoted Jean-Marc Olive, WHO Resident Representative, as saying in a press release.
The drive would also focus on improving the capability of law makers and public health workers, the WHO official said.
The release quoted Trinh Quan Huan, Deputy Minister of Health, as saying that on average more than 11,000 deaths and tens of thousands more injuries were reported annually from road traffic accidents.
“Vietnamese youth in the age group of 15-24 accounts for 20 percent of the total national population, yet they account for 40 percent of total severe road traffic crashes," Huan said.
The Asian Development Bank estimated a staggering yearly economic loss of $885 million from road traffic accidents in Vietnam, said the release.
A survey on casualties conducted at the Viet-Duc Hospital in Hanoi found out that 79.18 percent of victims of traffic accidents did not wear helmets, fasten safety belts or use other safety equipment while traveling on roads.
"Wearing a high-quality helmet is in fact the single most effective way of reducing head injuries and fatalities resulting from motorcycle and bicycle crashes,” Jean-Marc Olive said.
“Effective enforcement of traffic laws, however, needs to be sustained over a long period of time in order to bring about the necessary change in people's behavior and drastically reduce the needless loss of life on Vietnam's roads," he added.
Hospitals also voiced an alarm on the provision of inadequate first aid to traffic accident victims, reporting that 55 percent of the sufferers have not yet been administered by on-the-spot treatment.

THANHNIEN NEWS

News Sport: Kaka wins world players' accolade

AC Milan forward Kaka has been named FIFPro world player of the year.
The 25-year-old Brazilian claimed the accolade after 45,000 members of the players' union voted in the awards, which are in their third year.
He said: "I am humbled to receive such an honour. To follow my good friend and such a great player as Ronaldinho makes this a very special award."
England's John Terry and Steven Gerrard, were in the World XI with Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Kaka was instrumental in Milan's Champions League triumph, sealed with a victory over Liverpool in Athens in May, ending as top scorer with 10 goals including three in the semi-final win over Manchester United.
It was the seventh time the Italian giants had claimed the crown.
He was the subject of an unsuccessful bid from Real Madrid in the close season, and was also a driving force in helping Milan to finish fourth in Serie A last term despite an eight-point deduction for match-fixing.
Kaka missed Brazil's Copa America victory in July because he opted out of the tournament to rest.

FIFPro World XI: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus); Alessandro Nesta (Italy/AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/Real Madrid), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Carles Puyol (Spain/Barcelona). Steven Gerrard (England/Liverpool), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United), Kaka (Brazil/AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina/Barcelona), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast/Chelsea), Ronaldinho (Brazil/Barcelona)

(BBC)

Confirmed Miss Universe 2008 in Vietnam

Khanh Hoa province has officially given CIAT and Viet CEO approval to host Miss Universe 2008 in Nha Trang city next May,
said Vo Lam Phi, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee. According to Mr. Phi, the People’s Committee will ask the Prime Minister to instruct related ministries including the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Culture,
Sports and Tourism to cooperate with Khanh Hoa province in its efforts to upgrade infrastructure, especially Cam Ranh International airport, pior to the event.

At present, Nha Trang city has 6,000 hotel rooms rated from one to five stars, in addition to luxury hotels like Vinpearl, Sun Rise, Ana Mandara, and Evason Hideaway, basically meeting Miss Universe Organisation’s requirement for hotels.

The 5,000-seat water Vinpearl Stage, however, will need to be expanded and upgraded into a 7,500-seat one.
Mr. Phi said whether the 2008 Miss Universe contest would actually take place in Nha Trang or not would ultimately depend on involved parties’ financial abilities.
The initial amount requested by Miss Universe Organisation, US$15million,
will be paid by units other than Khanh Hoa province itself, said he. Miss Universe is the second-biggest international beauty pageant after Miss World.
Chairwoman Paula Mary Shugart conducted an investigation tour of Vietnam in August,
and shortly after responded with a letter saying Vietnam would be chosen to host the event after it fulfilled certain requirements.

Khánh Hòa sẽ đăng cai Hoa Hậu Hoàn vũ 2008

Ban Thường vụ Tỉnh ủy Khánh Hòa vừa chính thức có ý kiến đồng ý về mặt chủ trương, cho phép Cty cổ phần Quảng cáo và Hội chợ thương mại CIAT liên doanh với Cty cổ phần Việt CEO, đăng cai tổ chức cuộc thi Hoa hậu Hoàn vũ (Miss Universe) tại Khu Du lịch và giải trí Vinpearl, Nha Trang vào thánG 5/2008.
Kinh phí tổ chức cuộc thi hoàn toàn từ nguồn xã hội hóa, do các doanh nghiệp trên huy động, bảo đảm tự cân đối, trang trải. UBND tỉnh sẽ lập tờ trình Thủ tướng Chính phủ, xin ý kiến về mặt chủ trương và đề nghị Thủ tướng Chính phủ chỉ đạo các Bộ: GTVT, Văn hóa –Thể thao và Du lịch cũng như các ngành liên quan hỗ trợ, tạo điều kiện thuận lợi cho tỉnh, nhất là việc xúc tiến đầu tư nâng cấp sân bay Cam Ranh và các cơ sở hạ tầng thiết yếu về du lịch, dịch vụ trên địa bàn nhằm bảo đảm phục vụ thành công cuộc thi Hoa hậu Hoàn vũ.
Miss Universe là cuộc thi sắc đẹp hàng năm lớn thứ nhì thế giới, sau cuộc thi Hoa hậu Thế giới (Miss World). Được biết, trong chuyến khảo sát tại Việt Nam đầu tháng 8-2007, bà Paula Mary Shugart - Chủ tịch tổ chức Miss Universe đã đưa ra một số điều kiện cho phía đăng cai.
Chi phí cho Miss Universe 2008 tối thiểu là 15 triệu USD, trong đó tiền bản quyền cuộc thi là 7 triệu USD và phía đăng cai phải đặt cọc 1,5 triệu USD; chung kết cuộc thi phải được tổ chức vào buổi tối theo giờ Bắc Mỹ, tức là buổi sáng giờ Việt Nam; phải có sân khấu kín có sức chứa 7.500 người, 4.000 – 5.000 phòng khách sạn loại sang, trong đó có 300 phòng VIP…
Bên cạnh những điều kiện phải đáp ứng, phía đăng cai cũng được một số quyền lợi đáng kể. Đó là 9 phút phát hình quảng cáo trên kênh truyền hình lớn nhất nước Mỹ là NBC, bán vé xem trên toàn cầu, bán bản quyền truyền hình tại khu vực châu Á.
Theo thông tin từ phía tỉnh Khánh Hòa, hiện tại ở Nha Trang có 6.000 phòng khách sạn từ 1 đến 5 sao, riêng khách sạn 5 sao Vinpearl đã có 485 phòng, chưa kể các khách sạn và khu resort 4 – 5 sao như Sun Rise, Ana Mandara, Evason Hideaway At Ana Mandara.
Sân khấu nhạc nước Vinpearl hiện có sức chứa hơn 5.000 chỗ ngồi, sẽ được khẩn trương cải tạo để đáp ứng yêu cầu của nhà tổ chức. Về điều kiện đưa đón khách, Thủ tướng Chính phủ đã quyết định, Cảng Hàng không Cam Ranh là cảng quốc tế.
Bộ GTVT cũng đã giao cho Cảng Hàng không Cam Ranh triển khai dự án xây dựng, lắp đặt hệ thống đèn đêm tại đường băng cất hạ cánh, trị giá 26 tỷ đồng và nhà ga hành khách trị giá 200 tỷ đồng.
Trở thành cảng hàng không quốc tế và có hệ thống đèn đêm, khả năng đưa đón hành khách của Cảng Hàng không Cam Ranh sẽ tăng lên nhiều so với con số hơn 1.000 người/ngày hiện nay.
Trao đổi với Tiền phong, ông Võ Lâm Phi - Phó Bí thư Tỉnh ủy, Chủ tịch UBND tỉnh Khánh Hòa nói, lãnh đạo tỉnh rất ủng hộ việc đăng cai tổ chức Miss Universe 2008 tại Nha Trang.
Tuy nhiên, ông nhấn mạnh, đây mới là sự đồng ý về mặt chủ trương. Doanh nghiệp hoặc nhóm doanh nghiệp, tổ chức muốn đăng cai phải chứng minh được khả năng tài chính, năng lực tổ chức và cam kết thực hiện tốt vai trò của nhà đăng cai.
Ngược lại, Ban tổ chức Miss Universe 2008 cũng phải có những cam kết về trách nhiệm của họ. Chỉ khi đó, UBND tỉnh Khánh Hòa mới lập tờ trình xin ý kiến Thủ tướng Chính phủ.
Nếu Miss Universe 2008 được tổ chức tại Nha Trang, tỉnh sẽ hỗ trợ, tạo điều kiện thuận lợi về giao thông, dịch vụ du lịch, bảo vệ an ninh…, nhưng không có nghĩa là dùng ngân sách phục vụ trực tiếp cho cuộc thi.

Source : Tiền Phong

HEALTH: Viet Nam gets tougher on disease prevention

Ha Noi (VNA) – The National Steering Committee for Bird Flu Prevention and Control has urged localities to hasten measures to prevent diseases on poultry and animals. The committee pointed to a severe lack of public awareness, subjectivity of local authorities and inefficient supervision and detection systems as the main reasons behind the complex development of several kinds of diseases. A number of localities have not taken appropriate measures quickly in order to prevent the further spreading of the diseases when they occur. In an attempt to better the prevention and control of diseases on animals and poultry in the last few months of the year, the committee also asked the chairmen of provincial and municipal People’s Committees nationwide to speed up awareness programmes and take preventive measures to mitigate the losses of farmers, ensure sustainable husbandry development and protect public health.