Here are today’s leading news stories:

Politics

-- Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan convened a meeting with a delegation of ambassadors and representatives from European Union member nations on Thursday evening, calling on further support and investment from the organization.

Society

-- Frost has hit Sa Pa, a famous tourist town, and Bat Xat District in the northern Vietnamese province of Lao Cai on Thursday as a cold spell caused temperatures to drop to about 1.9 degrees Celsius.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has ordered authorities in 24 districts to end the operations of all parking lots that were established on local sidewalks.

-- The Government Inspectorate has requested competent authorities to deal with multiple violations of the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (AVC), related to a combined VND3.6 trillion (US$158.6 million).

-- The Hanoi People’s Procuracy on Thursday suggested that Dinh La Thang, former Politburo member and ex-chairman of the management board of PetroVietnam (PVN), be sentenced to 14 to 15 years in prison for his violation that resulted in the loss of VND119 billion ($5.24 million).

-- Vuong Dinh Trung, secretary of the Party Committee in Tam Loc Commune, located in the central province of Quang Nam, has been dismissed from his position for beating his wife.

-- Doctors from the Children’s Hospital 1 in Ho Chi Minh City have been treating two young boys, a one-year-old and a four-year-old, who had suffered severe injuries after being bitten by dogs raised at their houses.

Business

-- Leflair, on online shopping website in Vietnam, has received an investment worth $3 million from the Seychelles-based Capital Management Group.

-- The Green Expo 2018, the first fair promoting products with food safety certificates in Ho Chi Minh City, is scheduled to take place at the 7th Region Stadium from January 25 to 28.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!