Domestic news highlights last week

(Baonghean.vn) - President Tran Dai Quang's official visit to Russia; Surprise inspection of the family assets of the director of Yen Bai Department of Natural Resources; Ministry of Public Security's information on the arrest of journalist Duy Phong; Miss Phuong Nga's case;... are prominent events in the country last week.

1. President Tran Dai Quang pays official visit to Russia

President Tran Dai Quang (right) holds talks with Russian President Putin. Photo: Reuters

At the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Tran Dai Quang and his wife paid an official visit to the Russian Federation on June 28.

The visit is of great significance, affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to continuously strengthen bilateral relations with the Russian Federation, creating momentum to promote comprehensive cooperation in all fields.

The visit aims to contribute to continuing to implement the foreign policy of diversification and multilateralization, consolidating and strengthening relations with traditional friendly countries, creating momentum to promote cooperation in many fields.

2. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the Military-Political Conference of the entire army

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gave a speech at the Military-Political Conference of the entire army on the morning of June 27.

On the morning of June 27, in Hanoi, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defense held a Military-Political Conference for the entire army to evaluate the results of leadership, direction, and implementation of military and defense tasks in the first 6 months of the year, and to deploy tasks for the last 6 months of 2017. Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended and delivered a speech at the conference.

Emphasizing the slogan “Discipline is the strength of the army”, the Prime Minister requested the Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defense, and affiliated units to focus on leading the entire army to comprehensively and effectively carry out the assigned tasks, focusing on key and central contents, while conducting timely inspection, supervision, and urging. We must act resolutely and thoroughly to complete the assigned tasks.

3. Surprise inspection of the family assets of the director of Yen Bai Department of Natural Resources

The villa of Mr. Pham Sy Quy's family is located next to the lake. Photo: Lao Dong

Mr. Pham Trong Dat - Director of the Anti-Corruption Department, Government Inspectorate, said that on June 27, the agency's working group came to Yen Bai to announce the decision to conduct a surprise inspection of information related to the assets and land of Mr. Pham Sy Quy's family (Director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment of Yen Bai).

According to Mr. Dat, Mr. Pham Sy Quy is the brother of Ms. Pham Thi Thanh Tra - Secretary of Yen Bai Provincial Party Committee, so to ensure objectivity, the leaders of this province have requested the Central agencies to intervene and clarify.

"The inspection team will work with Mr. Pham Sy Quy and related departments on issues such as land use planning, policies, regimes, asset declaration... to see if related work is done in accordance with the law," said Mr. Dat.

4. Hanoi 1 department has 8 deputy directors

Hanoi Department of Home Affairs, which has 8 Deputy Directors, "inflated" 4 Deputy Directors compared to the regulations in Decree 24/2014.

The Hanoi Department of Home Affairs is the unit with the largest number of deputy directors in Hanoi with 8 deputy directors, 4 more than the Government's decree. Notably, the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs is the unit that helps Hanoi City manage the payroll apparatus and streamline the payroll, but at this department, through many periods, there has been an "inflation" of deputy directors.

In 2008, implementing the National Assembly's resolution to merge Ha Tay with Hanoi, after merging the two agencies, the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs at that time also had 7 deputy directors. According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Lieu - Chief of Office of the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs, when implementing the National Assembly's resolution on expanding administrative boundaries, there was a transitional provision on maintaining the same number of deputy directors for the units after the merger.

However, before the Hanoi Party Congress in November 2015, the number of deputy directors at the Hanoi Department of Home Affairs continuously increased and there are currently 8 deputy directors.

5. Prosecution of journalist Le Duy Phong

Journalist Le Duy Phong was caught red-handed receiving money from a business.

On June 23, 2017, Colonel Vu Viet Thoai, Head of the Investigation Police Agency - Yen Bai City Police, issued Decision No. 52 to prosecute the criminal case: Abuse of position and power to appropriate property, which occurred on June 22, at Group 66, Nguyen Thai Hoc Ward, Yen Bai City, Yen Bai Province.

Previously, Yen Bai City Police said they had received reports from a number of units and businesses in the area that they were threatened by some individuals claiming to be journalists to write articles, demanding that they pay money, otherwise they would write news and articles that would affect the reputation and operations of the businesses.

After receiving the news, Yen Bai City Police arrested Mr. Phong, claiming that he was receiving money from a business at a restaurant.

6. Miss Phuong Nga was released on bail, further investigation of the case

Phuong Nga out of prison.

On June 28, after 5 days of trial, Phuong Nga’s lawyers sent a petition to the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court stating that, with the evidence provided and the results of the interrogation in court, there is reason to believe that the case has signs of a miscarriage of justice. Meanwhile, Nga has been detained (since March 19, 2015) for more than 2 years. She has shown no signs of escaping or obstructing the investigation or trial. Therefore, continued detention of Nga is unnecessary.

From there, the lawyer recommended that the panel of judges release Nga on bail or replace the temporary detention measure with a measure of "prohibition from leaving the place of residence". This would limit the damage to her health, spirit and honor if she was truly wronged.

7. Many activities on Vietnamese Family Day (June 28)

June 28 is Vietnamese Family Day (Illustration photo).

On the occasion of Vietnamese Family Day June 28 and National Action Month to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence 2017, many cultural and artistic activities... took place in Hanoi and many provinces and cities.

Accordingly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism continues to promote the theme "Warm and loving family meals" and launch "Warm and loving family meals" nationwide on Vietnamese Family Day with the meaning of cherishing the reunion moments of every Vietnamese family with a happy and warm family meal.

Thereby promoting family values, which are the affection between grandparents, parents, children, husband and wife, siblings, respect for parents, love and care for children, concern, sharing and emotional connection between members to build a progressive and happy family together.

Peace

(Synthetic)