Nation

Settlement of assets with unclear origins yet to be regulatedBy Minh Duc Le Thi Nga, head of the NA’s Justice Committee, reads out the amended AntiCorruption Law to the NA - PHOTO: QUOCHOI.VN HANOI – The National Assembly (NA) today, November 20, passed the amended AntiCorruption Law, which includes no regulations on the disposition of those assets and incomes of unclear origins that are owned by officials. With 93.2% of approval votes, the law will come into force from July 1 next year. Le Thi Nga, head of the NA’s Justice Committee, said the assets and incomes of residents, State employees and officials have yet to be closely controlled. In addition, there are no regulations on taxing assets, so it is complicated to tax or confiscate suspicious assets and incomes held by officials as earlier proposed. Further, the handling of these assets relates to the asset ownership right of citizens, stipulated in the Constitution, so it should be considered carefully, … [Read more...] about Settlement of assets with unclear origins yet to be regulated

Law-making body wraps up sixth sittingThe Saigon Times Daily National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan addresses the closing ceremony of the sixth sitting in Hanoi on November 20 – PHOTO: VNA HANOI – The National Assembly (NA) has passed the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), nine laws and the socioeconomic development and budget plans for 2019 during its sixth sitting that came to an end in Hanoi today, November 20. Addressing the closing ceremony, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan noted that the sitting completed the set agenda covering many important topics, reported the Vietnam News Agency. During the sitting, legislators elected Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as the new State President of Vietnam. They also approved the proposal of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to install Nguyen Manh Hung as new Minister of Information and Communications. The NA adopted nine laws and debated six other bills. Most importantly, … [Read more...] about Law-making body wraps up sixth sitting

Strong storm forecast to hit south-central regionThe Saigon Times Daily Landslides destroy houses in Phuoc Dong Commune, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province. The province is forecast to suffer another storm this weekend - PHOTO: VNA HCMC - A tropical low in the East Sea is forecast to strengthen into a storm this weekend and strike south-central provinces, with the eye of the storm spotted in the waters off Khanh Hoa Province. It may be even stronger than Storm No. 8, which hit the central coastal province days ago, the local media reported, citing Nguyen Truong Son, deputy head of the office of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control. At a press briefing on November 19 to provide information on losses brought on by flash floods and landslides during Storm No. 8, internationally known as Toraji, Son ordered thorough preparations for the upcoming storm to cope with any impacts on the region that is still in recovery. The National Center for … [Read more...] about Strong storm forecast to hit south-central region

Oman to boost bilateral relations with VietnamBy Minh Duc Ambassador of Oman in Vietnam delivers a speech at the 48th anniversary of the National Day of Oman in Hanoi on November 19 – PHOTO: MINH DUC HANOI - The Embassy of Oman in Vietnam celebrated the 48th anniversary of the National Day of Oman on November 19, noting that Oman is looking to make further investments in Vietnam in the years to come. Bilateral relations between Vietnam and Oman have improved significantly after the third meeting of the Joint Economic and Technical Cooperation Committee in Hanoi on March 22 this year, marking 26 years of Vietnam-Oman diplomatic relations. The two sides agreed on a number of measures to promote bilateral cooperation. As part of these, logistics, energy, infrastructure and agriculture, among other potential sectors of the two countries, will continue to be invested in by the government and enterprises. "One of the measures to promote bilateral investment cooperation is … [Read more...] about Oman to boost bilateral relations with Vietnam

Indian President visits Danang museumThe Saigon Times Daily Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, his wife and representatives look at a sculpture at the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture on November 19 - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and his wife visited the Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture on November 19 during his three-day State visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of President Nguyen Phu Trong, VietnamPlus news site reported. After visiting the Danang Museum of Cham Sculpture, the Indian President, accompanied by his delegation, also visited the UNESCO world heritage My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam Province, which is considered a business gateway for many countries. At a meeting with the Indian President, Nguyen Ngoc Quang, Secretary of the Party Committee of Quang Nam Province, expressed the province’s hope for continuing to receive support from the Indian Government for protecting and renovating cultural relics, alongside a wish for a good trip … [Read more...] about Indian President visits Danang museum

Two Dutch visitors drowned at Lang Co BeachThe Saigon Times Daily Lang Co Beach in Lang Co Town, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien-Hue Province - PHOTO: VNA HCMC – Two Dutch tourists drowned at the central coastal area of Lang Co Beach in Lang Co Town, Phu Loc District, Thua Thien-Hue Province on November 18, Thanh Nien newspaper reported. The two male tourists were identified as Dirk Wapstra and Amoldus Cornelis Joannes Goedhart. They were part of a group of 21 Dutch visitors who had traveled to Hue City for sightseeing on Sunday, November 18, from Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, according to an initial investigation by the Thua Thien-Hue Investigative Police agency. The two men apparently drowned at Lang Co Beach, having arrived there at around 11:15a.m. on the same day. Goedhart was washed ashore on the beach, but had died, while Wapstra was carried away by strong waves and his body was later pulled out of the sea by local fishermen. The two victims were dead due to … [Read more...] about Two Dutch visitors drowned at Lang Co Beach

Former HCMC vice chairman detainedThe Saigon Times Daily L-R: Nguyen Huu Tin, Truong Van Ut, Dao Anh Kiet - PHOTO: MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY HCMC – The Ministry of Public Security (MPS) issued a decision on November 19 to prosecute and detain Nguyen Huu Tin, 61, former vice chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee, and other individuals for their alleged wrongdoing in a case related to business tycoon Phan Van Anh Vu, alias Vu Nhom, local media reported. The ministry's Investigation Police Office (C01) has expanded its investigation into cases called “Violations of the regulations on the management and use of State assets, causing losses and wastefulness” under Article 219 of the 2015 Penal Code, and “Violations of the regulations on the management and use of land,” in line with Article 229 of the Penal Code. These cases are related to Danang-based Vu Nhom and a prime location at No.2-4-6 Hai Ba Trung Street in HCMC’s District 1. … [Read more...] about Former HCMC vice chairman detained

Landslides, floods kill 14 in Nha TrangBy Le Anh An army soldier carries an old lady on his back to go through a flooded road in Nha Trang City - PHOTO: VGP HCMC - The death toll due to flash floods and landslides has now reached 14 in the central coastal city of Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, besides 25 injured and two people reported missing. Hundreds of troops were dispatched to affected areas to cope with the aftermath, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper reported, citing Nguyen Sy Khanh, vice chairman of the city’s government. The city has been suffering major losses and damages over the past two days as Storm No.8, internationally known as Toraji, has brought torrential rains to coastal areas in Vietnam. As confirmed by local officials, most of the deaths and injuries in the wards of Vinh Truong, Vinh Tho, and Phuoc Dong Commune have been due to the landslides, collapsed houses and walls. Local officials added that one of the two missing may have been swept away due to a … [Read more...] about Landslides, floods kill 14 in Nha Trang

Institutional conflictsThe Saigon Times Daily HCMC - The National Assembly in its ongoing session in Hanoi is examining a draft law on preventing and fighting adverse impacts of the consumption of alcoholic drinks, and expects to make it the law next year. As stated – first and foremost – in the general provisions of the latest draft, the key aims are to introduce “measures to reduce consumption of spirits, beer and alcoholic drinks; measures to control the supply of spirit and beer; measures to reduce damages caused by spirits and beer”. Apparently, the key aim is to reduce the consumption of alcoholic drinks, and if so, such a law when passed will set up conflicts with existing regulations governing the industry. Alcohol consumption has been rising rapidly over the years, making Vietnam the third largest consumer of such drinks in Asia in terms of per capita volume. Specifically, beer consumption alone last year already exceeded four billion liters, already … [Read more...] about Institutional conflicts

Former minister faces disciplinary action in MobiFone-AVG caseBy Thanh Thom Former Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh is subject to disciplinary action for his involvement in an illegal pay TV purchase deal – PHOTO: TU HOANG HCMC – The Inspection Commission of the Party Central Committee proposed the Party’s Secretariat take disciplinary action against Bui Quang Vinh, former member of the Party Central Committee and former Minister of Planning and Investment, for his involvement in a now-cancelled deal in which mobile carrier MobiFone illegally acquired a 95% stake in private pay TV firm AVG. At a working meeting in Hanoi City earlier this week, the commission said in a statement on November 15 that it had also decided to issue a warning to Nguyen Trong Dung, deputy head of the Enterprise Innovation Division, under the Government Office’s Department of Enterprise Reform. Meanwhile, former Vice Chairman of the Government Office Le Manh Ha … [Read more...] about Former minister faces disciplinary action in MobiFone-AVG case