HANOI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam is estimated to consume 2.5 million motorbikes this year, up from 2.2 million units last year, a local industry association said Monday.

Foreign-invested motorbike firms in the country, Honda Vietnam, Yamaha Vietnam, Suzuki Vietnam and SYM, recorde d total domestic sales of 174,000 motorbikes in January and 128,000 units in February, posting respective year-on-year rises of 29 percent and 28 percent, according to the latest statistics from the Vietnam Motorbike and Bicycle Association.

Vietnam spent 572 million U.S. dollars importing motorbikes, components and spare parts in the first 10 months of this year, up 34.6 percent, according to the country's General Statistics Office. Specifically, it imported 105,000 motorbikes worth 111 million dollars, seeing respective year-on-year surges of 124.2 percent and 87.7 percent.

Two perish in plane crash in Moshi

At least two people died and four others were seriously injured when a small plane, a Cessna with registration number 172 5H-FUN, crashed in Moshi, Kilimanjaro Region, yesterday.

Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander Lucas Ng`hoboko told PST yesterday that the plane crashed at around 2.40 p.m at the industrial area in Moshi municipality after its engine failed, causing it to lose direction.

``The pilot found out that the plane had some technical faults and decided to fly it to the Kilimanjaro International Airport. However, it crashed before it could land at the airport,`` said the RPC.

According to eyewitnesses, the pilot, Baraka Rutwaza (36), died on the spot.

Those injured and whose condition are said to be critical were identified as Hyden Rowan (26) from New Zealand, Isack Johanes (28) from South Africa and a sky guide master of the plane, Sylan Borton.

Coastal Post Online

The West Marin Medical Center in Point Reyes Station is one of the things that makes present West Marin what it is for the rest of us. Dr. Molly Bourne has been one of the best things around West Marin. Not just because she is a really nice lady, but because she embodies what is good and true here in West Marin. She IS what medicine SHOULD be all about. She was always open to new ideas and added her creativeness to our need for health care. She cares and takes more than the proscribed 10 minutes allowed by Managed Care, per patient. She seemed to actually know each of us as a human being. She is/was a gift to West Marin. One we are losing.
Molly Bourne got broad-sided by Managed Care and the crazy reality of our nation's for-big-profit-to-stockholders health system. An excellent and caring physician is leaving us because the overall system of health care in this county is a travesty of unfairness to doctor and patient alike.

Borough initiative must include trust

When Gov. Ed Rendell approved a state budget that included a $1.7 million transportation revitalization plan, many wondered where the money would come from.

The program lets PennDOT turn over control and responsibility of certain roads to smaller municipalities.

100-year-old cinema closure fight

In Barry in the Vale of Glamorgan, 4,000 people have already signed a petition to prevent the Theatre Royal closing in April.

Managers who have been told the lease has run out are hoping the discovery of an old Edwardian theatre on the site will help keep the cinema open.

The cinema leaseholder Brian Bull has refused to comment.

Wendy Marsh, a part-time duty manager at the cinema, said they were told just over two weeks ago that the cinema is to close its doors on 10 April.

Ms Marsh said she understood two shops and four offices next to the cinema had also been told they would have to leave because their lease expired, although they would be able to stay for longer.

She said they had been unable to get information on who actually owned the land on which the cinema stands, but she also believed there were plans to develop it.