Read what is in the news today, January 23!

Politics

-- Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh asked the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam and Singapore’s Office of Attorney-General to step up coordination in criminal justice assistance and criminal asset recovery at a reception for Singaporean Attorney-General Lucien Wong in Hanoi on Tuesday.

-- A get-together was held in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday to celebrate the 231st anniversary of Australia Day, cementing the friendship and solidarity between the city’s people and their Australian counterparts.

Society

-- The Department of Traffic Police under Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security said on Tuesday increased measures will be taken to detect and punish drivers of trucks and passenger vehicles who abuse heroin and alcohol while driving, following multiple accidents caused by intoxicated drivers in recent months.

-- Two Filipino fishermen who were rescued off Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam on January 3 have been safely returned to the Embassy of the Philippines in Hanoi after recovering from the traumatic experience.

-- An official in District 6, Ho Chi Minh City has been found to have abused her position to appropriate over VND7 billion (US$302,000) worth of money intended to be loaned to poor families as part of a poverty relief program.

-- Hanoi is looking to pilot an ‘urban administration’ scheme in 12 of its urban districts to strengthen rural administration in towns, communes and districts while renewing decentralization mechanisms at commune and district levels.

-- VND10,668 billion ($460 million) will be needed to build the Ho Chi Minh City – Moc Bai Expressway, which connects the southern metropolis with neighboring Tay Ninh Province, according to a prefeasibility report submitted by the transport ministry to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc for consideration.

Business

-- Some luxury hotels in Vietnam have jumped into the Tet gift bag market by releasing their own designs for the seasonal presents, with prices ranging from VND400,000 ($17) to VND4.5 million ($195) per bag, typically containing a bottle of wine, some fruit jams and nut seeds traditionally eaten during the Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam.

-- Budget airline Vietjet has announced it would add 2,500 flights, equal to more than 500,000 additional seats, to its regular schedule during the Lunar New Year travel rush between January 20 and February 19 to meet increased air travel demand during this period.

Lifestyle

-- A fireworks show will be performed on the Cham Islands off Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam on Lunar New Year’s Eve, using VND300 million ($13,000) sponsored by the administration of Hoi An City.

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