Domestic news highlights last week

1.General Secretary attends national conference on Party building

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

On the morning of January 19, in Hanoi, the Central Organizing Committee held a National Conference to review Party building and organization work in 2017 and deploy tasks for 2018.

The conference sought delegates' opinions on the draft topic: "Controlling power, preventing the abuse of power and position in personnel organization work".General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended and delivered a speech at the conference.

2.Solemn opening of APPF-26

Overview of the APPF-26 opening session.

At exactly 6:00 p.m. on January 18, at the Dien Hong Meeting Room, National Assembly House, the opening session of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) took place solemnly.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of APPF-26, National Assembly Chairwoman and APPF-26 Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan welcomed delegations of APPF member and observer parliaments, and invited guests attending APPF-26; and expressed her honor that Vietnam was chosen as the host country of the APPF conference for the second time.

3.Defendant Dinh La Thang had the final say,facing up to 15 years in prison

Defendant Dinh La Thang in court. Photo: VNA

On the morning of January 17, the first-instance trial of Mr. Dinh La Thang (former Chairman of the Oil and Gas Group - PVN) and 21 defendants entered its 10th working day. At 11:00 a.m. the same day, the court finished working and deliberating. The panel of judges will announce the verdict at 8:00 a.m. on January 22.

During the 25 minutes, the former Chairman of PVN thanked the panel of judges for conducting the trial in a democratic, open, and objective manner, in accordance with the spirit of judicial reform and the new law. He also thanked the lawyers for participating in the trial with high responsibility.

4. Dismissal of Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee Ngo Van Tuan

Mr. Ngo Van Tuan was removed from the position of Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee.

The Prime Minister has just signed Decision 80/QD-TTg on disciplinary action against Mr. Ngo Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, term 2016-2021.

Specifically, the Prime Minister decided to discipline Mr. Ngo Van Tuan by removing him from the position of Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thanh Hoa province for the 2016-2021 term, due to Party discipline under Decision No. 651-QDNS/TW dated December 26, 2017 of the Central Party Secretariat.This Decision takes effect from the date of signing (January 18, 2018).

5.Da Nang disciplined and reprimanded 5 key officials

Head of the Organizing Committee of the Da Nang City Party Committee Tran Dinh Hong received a disciplinary warning. Photo: Viettimes

The Standing Committee of the City Party Committee decided to discipline the organizations and individuals responsible for advising on shortcomings and violations of the Standing Committee for the 2015-2020 term and key leaders of the City Party Committee.

The Standing Committee of the City Party Committee has disciplined the Party Committee of the City People's Committee for violations of working regulations, personnel, and construction order management.

Disciplinary measures for key leaders of the city: Head of the Organizing Committee, Head of the Internal Affairs Committee of the Da Nang City Party Committee received a warning. Directors of the Department of Construction and the Department of Natural Resources and Environment received a reprimand.

Overview of the scaffolding collapse scene.

The incident occurred on the night of January 16 and early morning of January 17 at a high-rise construction site at the intersection of To Huu and Mo Lao streets (Nam Tu Liem district, Hanoi).

Initial information, the incident left 3 people dead, 3 others injured were taken out of the scene by rescue forces and given emergency care immediately afterwards.