Domestic news highlights last week

(Baonghean.vn) - The Government's online conference with localities; the 2017 national press conference; the Prime Minister chairing the regular Government meeting in December; the trial of defendant Dinh La Thang and his accomplices on January 8, 2018;... are the outstanding domestic news of the past week.

1. Government's online conference with localities

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended and gave a speech at the Government's online conference with localities. Photo: Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper

On the morning of December 28, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Government held an online conference with localities, focusing on discussing solutions to implement socio-economic tasks and state budget estimates for 2018. General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended and delivered a speech.

This is considered the first Government meeting to welcome the General Secretary. The conference took place over two days (December 28-29). The draft Resolution proposed 9 groups of key tasks and solutions with 59 specific tasks and solutions. At the same time, the Government assigned ministries, branches and localities to implement 242 specific tasks in the appendix attached to the draft Resolution.

At the Conference, localities, ministries and branches focused on discussing and giving comments to complete the draft Resolution, thereby unifying and joining hands to successfully implement the set goals and tasks.

2. National Press Conference 2017

Delegates exchange on the sidelines of the National Press Conference.

On the morning of December 26, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Central Propaganda Department coordinated with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Vietnam Journalists Association to organize a National Press Conference to summarize the tasks of 2017 and deploy the tasks of 2018.

The country currently has 849 press agencies and printed magazines, including 86 central newspapers, 99 local newspapers, 664 magazines and 67 central and local radio and television stations, five television units with a total of 281 licensed domestic radio and television channels; 195 licensed electronic press agencies, including 171 press agencies, radio stations and magazines implementing electronic journalism; 178 licenses to establish general electronic information websites have been granted to print, radio and television press agencies to exploit the strengths of modern information forms, meeting information needs in the new situation, especially when information on social networks increasingly affects society.

3. Prime Minister chairs regular Government meeting in December

The Prime Minister chaired the regular Government meeting in December.

This afternoon, December 29, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, the Government held its last regular meeting of 2017.

This regular meeting focused mainly on institutional development. The Government listened to the Minister of Justice report on the implementation of the Government's Law and Ordinance Development Program and the issuance of documents detailing the implementation of laws and ordinances in 2017; and a summary report on proposals for the development of draft laws amending and supplementing laws related to land, construction, housing, environment, business investment, specialized inspection and planning.

The Government listened to and discussed the draft Law on Vietnam Coast Guard, the proposal to develop the following draft laws: Law on Militia and Self-Defense Forces (amended), Law on People's Public Security (amended), and the proposal to amend and supplement the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents 2015.

At the meeting, the Minister of Planning and Investment reported on the implementation of the Economic Restructuring Plan for the 2016-2020 period. The Minister of Industry and Trade reported on asking for opinions from Government members on adjusting some contents of the draft Decree on multi-level business./.

4. Trial of defendant Dinh La Thang and accomplices on January 8, 2018

Mr. Dinh La Thang and Trinh Xuan Thanh are about to appear in court.

On the morning of December 27, the People's Court of Hanoi issued Decision No. 464/2017/HSST-QD on bringing defendant Dinh La Thang to trial., Trinh Xuan Thanh and his accomplices in the case that occurred at Vietnam Oil and Gas Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC) on January 8, 2018.

The trial is scheduled to take place from January 8-21, 2018. The trial panel consists of 5 people, chaired by Judge Nguyen Ngoc Huan and Judge Truong Viet Toan.

Three prosecutors: Dao Thinh Cuong (Deputy Chief Prosecutor of Hanoi People's Procuracy), Nguyen Minh Dong (senior prosecutor), Nguyen Manh Thuong (senior prosecutor) exercised the right to prosecute and supervise criminal trials at the trial.

In addition, the Hanoi People's Procuracy also arranged two alternate prosecutors to attend the trial.

5. The Prime Minister appointed Mr. Tran Sy Thanh as Chairman of PVN.

Mr. Tran Sy Thanh holds the position of Chairman of the Board of Members of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group - PVN

The Prime Minister has just officially appointed Mr. Tran Sy Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, to hold the position of Chairman of the Board of Members of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group - PVN.

Specifically, in Decision No. 2111/QD-TTg, the Prime Minister appointed Mr. Tran Sy Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, to hold the position of Chairman of the Board of Members of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group - PVN.

Previously, in Decision No. 642-QD/TW dated December 22, 2017, the Politburo assigned Mr. Tran Sy Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Head of the 14th National Assembly Delegation of Lang Son province to cease participating in the Executive Committee, Standing Committee and Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee, term 2015-2020 to hold the position of Deputy Head of the Central Economic Commission and Chairman of the Board of Members of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group.

6. Husband suspected of being high on drugs, murdered his wife and 2 young children

Shocked locals gathered in front of the victim's house.

On the evening of December 28, in Nga An commune, Nga Son district, Thanh Hoa province, a particularly serious murder case occurred when a husband used a knife to hack his wife and two young children to death.

Initial information from the authorities said that on the evening of December 28, suspect Nguyen Van Hung (37 years old, residing in village 8, Nga An commune, Nga Son district) used a knife to kill his wife, Pham Thi Theu, and two children (11 years old and 5 years old).

After committing the crime, suspect Hung called the village 8 officials to report the incident and then requested the police to come and arrest him. Initial information said that the suspect was on drugs at the time of the crime.

Peace

(Synthetic)