Numerous activities mark 70th anniversary of first election
A wide variety of activities were held in many provinces and cities around the country to mark the 70th anniversary of Vietnam’s first General Election Day (January 6).
A grand ceremony was held in Hanoi on January 6 to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first general election of the Vietnamese National Assembly.
A special television programme themed “Representative” was also broadcast live on Vietnam Television on January 4, recalling the nation’s proud history and looking back at the development of the National Assembly over the last seven decades.
More than 1,000 documents on the National Assembly’s birth, role, power and general elections as well as Constitutions ratified by the legislature over the past 70 years, are being displayed at an exhibition that opened at the Hanoi National Library. Visitors will have a chance to gain an insight into the legislative body’s contributions to national liberation and reunification in the past, and the present cause of reform.
On January 6, 1946, Vietnamese nationals cast their ballots to elect the first NA deputies. The success of the general election opened a new period in the country’s history, with a National Assembly, a unified Government and a government system with full legal status to represent the people in external and internal affairs.
Traffic Safety Year 2016 launched
The Traffic Safety Year 2016 was officially launched in Hanoi on January 9. themed ‘Life First’ aiming to raise awareness of organisations, businesses and individuals in following the State’s regulations on transportation and traffic safety.
The Traffic Safety Year has set targets of lowering the number of traffic accidents and related fatalities in 2016 by 5-10%, reducing the number of serious traffic accidents on road, railways and inland waterways, as well as easing traffic congestions in major cities including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
Outstanding artists honoured with People’s Artist and Meritorious Artist titles
President Truong Tan Sang presented the People’s Artist titles to 102 artists at a ceremony held at the Hanoi Opera House on January 10. (Credit: VNA)
President Truong Tan Sang presented the People’s Artist titles to 102 artists at a ceremony held at the Hanoi Opera House on January 10 by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
A total of 377 others were bestowed the Meritorious Artist title at the ceremony.
The professional board received 114 submissions for People’s Artist nominees and 416 submissions for Meritorious Artist nominees. The submissions were judged at the grassroots, ministerial and State level.
The artists come from seven ethnic groups - Kinh, Thai, E De, Tay, Nung, Khmer, and Co Tu - and are in different age groups working in various fields of the cultural sector.
Vietnam Television launches national education TV channel
The national education television channel (VTV7) officially made its debut in Hanoi on January 8,
VTV7 joined the national television network of Vietnam on January 1 under the joint coordination of Vietnam Television, the Ministry of Education and Training and the Advancement International JS Company.
VTV7 offers students another tool for learning, while contributing to furthering equality in enjoyment of educational services, especially among needy students in remote, isolated, border and island areas.
18 defendants jailed over Agribank financial loss
Thirty-year prison sentences were handed out at a trial in Hanoi on a corruption case involving over VND2.425 trillion (US$107.57 million) at a branch of the State-owned Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank).
The sentences will be served by former Director of the South Hanoi branch Pham Thi Bich Luong and former Deputy Director Chu Thi Kim Hien who were prosecuted for violating lending regulations in the credit organisations’ operation, and for abusing their positions and authority while performing duties.
Thirteen of the 18 defendants are former Agribank officials while the four others are former customs officers, and one is a former company director.
The 13 bank officials were sentenced to 2-16 years in prison for various irresponsible banking practices, some of which caused serious consequences.
The indictment at the trial read that the ‘Enzo Viet Joint Stock Company’, founded in June 2007, registered an investment in a weaving & dyeing garment factory, worth nearly VND530 billion (US$23.5 million) in northern Ninh Binh province. After changing investment certificates and shareholders three times, Enzo Viet was renamed ‘Lifepro Viet Nam Joint Venture Company’ and the weaving & dyeing garment project renamed the ‘Luxfashion’ project in early 2011.
Five foreigners, including a Chinese national, three Canadians, and one Italian at ‘Lifepro Viet Nam’, are charged with misappropriating assets of Agribank’s South Hanoi branch.
Through changing the legal entity, and renaming the weaving & dyeing garment project, they then compiled dossiers to seek loans at the branch to buy machinery, equipment and materials and to buy six fashion brands. The total misappropriated money exceeded VND2.425 trillion.
The Ministry of Public Security issued a decision prosecuting the five foreigners for embezzlement of assets. However, they fled Vietnam and police had to suspend the investigation.
Hanoi opens two major tunnels to ease traffic congestion
Thanh Xuan tunnel
Two tunnels on major routes connecting central Hanoi with outlying suburbs opened to traffic on January 8, expected to ease congestion during rush hours.
The 980-metre Thanh Xuan tunnel is located at the junction of Nguyen Trai Street and Hanoi’s third ring road. It is also where the Cat Linh-Ha Dong metro line traverses, making it the most complex junction in Hanoi with four levels of traffic.
Construction of the tunnel began in June 2014 and cost an estimated VND551 billion (US$24.2 million) funded by Japanese official development assistance.
The same day, the Trung Hoa tunnel, at 614 metres long, including the approach road, was also inaugurated. The tunnel is located where Thang Long Boulevard meets Hanoi’s third ring road.
Vietnam protests China’s flights to East Sea again
Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh has once again expressed Vietnam’s strong protest against a pair of Chinese civilian jet airliners that landed at an illegally-built airport on Chu Thap (Fiery Cross) island in Vietnam’s Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago on January 6.
He said the action has seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty, threatened peace and stability in the region, as well as maritime and aviation security, safety, and freedom in the East Sea.
Vietnam resolutely asks China to immediately stop similar actions that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa archipelago, respect relevant international law and refrain from escalating and complicating the dispute, Binh said.
Vietnam will firmly safeguard its sovereignty, sovereign and jurisdictional rights in the East Sea by peaceful means in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law, he added.
Vietnam IT Sao Khue awards kick off
The Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) officially kicked off the 2016 Sao Khue Awards on January 6.
The annual event, which was first organised in 2003 under the patronage of the Ministry of Information and Communications, has become the most prestigious award of the country's software and IT services.
To date, the programme has given 735 awards for outstanding IT products and services.
VINASA said March 1 will be the deadline for applicants, and the awards ceremony will be held in Hanoi at the end of April.
Anh Duc, Minh Nguyet honoured with 2015 Vietnamese Golden Ball awards
Anh Duc of Becamex Binh Duong wins the Vietnamese Golden Ball awards for the first time. (Credit: thanhnien.com.vn)
Nguyen Anh Duc of Becamex Binh Duong and Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet of Hanoi were announced as the winners of the 2015 Vietnamese Golden Ball awards at a ceremony held in Ho Chi Minh City on the night of January 6.
With 336 points, striker Anh Duc, the most outstanding player of the 2015 V-League, beat the remaining four candidates to become the best male footballer of the year for the first time.
Strikers Nguyen Van Quyet of Hanoi T&T and Le Cong Vinh of Becamex Binh Duong won the men’s Silver and Bronze Ball awards with 237 and 83 points, respectively.
Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet claimed the women’s top prize for the first time with 247 points, 28 and 94 points more than Silver and Bronze Ball winners Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung of Ha Nam and Huynh Nhu of Ho Chi Minh City.
Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong from Hoang Anh Gia Lai won the ‘best young male player’ award, while the women’s title went to Chuong Thi Kieu from Ho Chi Minh City.
Becamex Binh Duong’s striker Abass Cheikh Dieng was honoured with the ‘best foreign player’ prize for the second consecutive time. Meanwhile, Tran Van Vu of Thai Son Nam was voted as the best futsal player of the year.
