20 fishing boats chased by Chinese ships100 Vietnamese fishermen on 20 boats were chased by Chinese boats while seeking shelter from strong waves in the Paracel Islands on Monday. Illustrative photo. Vietnamese fishing boatsThe National Committee for Search and Rescue on June 18 said that they had received calls for support from the fishermen at 11am the same day. The committee has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to contact with Chinese authorities to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese fishermen to work in the East Sea and Paracel Islands area. Vietnamese naval rescue forces have been informed to keep close contact with the fishermen to provide support.

Hanoi $4-billion suburban district developmentA project to build a USD4-billion so-called smart city in Hanoi will start in the outlying district of Dong Anh in October this year. The smart city project will be started in October this yearThe project was among those which were recently granted investment licenses by municipal authorities. The smart city project to be designed by Japan’s Nikken Sekkei Company will be jointly invested by Vietnam’s BRG Group and Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation Group. Chairwoman of BRG Group Nguyen Thi Nga said that legal procedures and finance have been ready for the project implementation. The city will use solar energy and is connected to Hanoi’s city centre as well as other localities by a modern transport network.

World Cup 2018: Saudi Arabia land safely after plane firePlayers and officials of Saudi Arabia have arrived safely in Rostov-on-Don for their match with Uruguay on Wednesday after an engine on their plane caught fire. The team tweeted pictures of their safe landingSaudi Arabia were beaten heavily by hosts Russia in the opening game of the tournament last week. A Saudi Arabia statement said: "All the Saudi national team players have arrived safely and currently are staying in their residence. "The fire was merely an accident." Images on social media showed a fire in the plane's enginesSource: BBC

Japanese prosecutors seek death penalty for Vietnamese girl's murderProsecutors have demanded the death penalty for a man accused of killing a 9-year-old Vietnamese girl in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. Prosecutors seek death penalty for girl's murderYasumasa Shibuya, who is 47, is charged with killing Le Thi Nhat Linh in March last year after kidnapping her on her way to school in Matsudo City. Prosecutors told the Chiba District Court on Monday that there is plenty of evidence to substantiate the suspicion that Shibuya killed the girl. The prosecutors also said it is clear that Shibuya strangled the girl to death after kidnapping and molesting her. The defense counsel said the accused is not the culprit, and the prosecutors have failed to fully prove their case.

Vietnam’s aviation market heats upVietNamNet Bridge - Sixty-three foreign airlines from 25 countries and territories will have 105 international air routes to Vietnam by October 2018, a sharp increase compared with 2016 when there were 78 air routes. Vietnam air carriers have been expanding their air route networks and flight frequency. As for the international market, 63 foreign airlines provide flights to Vietnam. Vietnam air carriers have been expanding their air route networks and flight frequency. RELATED NEWSVietnam Airlines launches Nha Trang-Seoul air routeIndia’s largest airline plans new air route to VietnamKim Chi

Dien Bien police seize 1kg of heroin from drug dealerPolice in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien caught red handed a man trafficking three bricks of heroin (equivalent to 1 kilogramme) to the locality on June 14. Dieu Chinh Kien was seized by Dien Bien police while trafficking three bricks of heroin on June 14. He said he bought the drugs in the border area and transported them to Dien Bien province for selling. Dien Bien, sharing the border with Laos and China, is a complicated locality in terms of drug trafficking. Earlier in January 2018, the drugs squad of Dien Bien brought to light a large drug trafficking ring involving a Lao national and 21 bricks of heroin (about 7.5kg), seizing two suspects.-VNA

Vietnam’s adoption of cyber security law essential: Russian academicThe adoption of the Law on Cyber Security at the recent fifth sitting of the 14th National Assembly of Vietnam is essential, according to Professor Vladimir Kolotov, director of Ho Chi Minh Institute under the St Petersburg University. Professor Vladimir Kolotov, director of Ho Chi Minh Institute under the St Petersburg UniversityIn an interview with Sputnik news agency, Vladimir Kolotov said cyberspace is the sovereignty domain of any country like territorial sovereignty, airspace sovereignty and territorial waters sovereignty. He warned that many terrorists are better equipped with knowledge about cyber security than some countries in Southeast Asia. While evaluating cyber security in Vietnam, Professor Kolotov said Vietnam was ranked 100th in the global cyber security index. The adoption of the Law on Cyber Security does not violate or interfere with free speech, he said, adding that the law covers different things which are related to the infrastructure of the internet and the management of metadata.

Hanoi to change mobile phone operator codes from September 15The capital city of Hanoi will change the 11-digit telephone numbers to 10-digit ones from September 15, stated the municipal Department of Information and Communications on June 14. The capital city of Hanoi will change the 11-digit telephone numbers to 10-digit ones from September 15Accordingly, the first 0 and the last seven numbers of the 11-digit mobile phone numbers will remain unchanged, only the middle three numbers will be changed. All 11-digit numbers with prefixes 120, 121, 122, 126 and 128 of MobiFone will be converted to 70, 79, 77, 76 and 78. Besides, the last seven digits of VSAT satellite phone number will remain unchanged, only the operator code 99 will be changed to 67. To minimise the impact on users during the conversion process, the service providers must give a notice about the change to subscribers through mass media from June 15 to September 15.

Pho high on list of world’s best cheap eatsUK-based travel site Rough Guides has named Viet Nam’s iconic noodle soup, phở, among the world’s 15 best foods that are easy on a globetrotter’s pocket. Pho, which came in sixth on the list, contains flat, soft rice noodles dipped in a fragrant beef or chicken broth flavored with different condiments. Pho, which came in sixth on the list, contains flat, soft rice noodles dipped in a fragrant beef or chicken broth flavored with different condiments. Pho has been getting rave reviews from all quarters for decades, and no visitor to Viet Nam fails to mention the dish. International broadcaster CNN also included pho on the list of 50 tastiest dishes on earth after polling its Facebook readers last year.

IMF: US tariffs could undermine global tradeThe Trump administration's trade policies are likely to hurt the US economy and undermine the world's trade system, the IMF has warned. IMF head Christine Lagarde has already warned that the US and China trade row threatens global confidence and investment -- Photo: EPAIMF Director Christine Lagarde said a trade war would lead to "losers on both sides" and could have "serious" impact. Those tariffs have already prompted Europe, Mexico, Canada and China to introduce or announce plans for counter-measures in retaliation. The IMF said the White House, which has also threatened to withdraw from the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), is responding to rising concerns about the side-effects of free trade. Opposing outlooksThe IMF outlined the risks in its annual review of the US economy, which offered a bright near-term outlook.

A code of conduct proposed for Chinese travelersVietNamNet Bridge - Some experts believe that a specific code of conduct for Chinese travelers can help better manage problems that have existed in recent years. He said that agencies should develop shopping centers meeting certain standards and sell products and services Chinese travelers want. An expert has suggested releasing a code of conduct specifically designed for Chinese travelers. The expert said in September 2017 Chinese travelers to Singapore were given handbooks of tips when touring Singapore. RELATED NEWSTourism sector poised to earn big money from Chinese travelersMore Chinese travelers visiting Vietnam via chartered flightsKim Chi

Cyber security law not hamper VN's realisation of int’l treatiesThe Law on Cyber Security is in conformity with the Constitution and does not hamper the implementation of the international treaties to which Vietnam is a party, said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang. Cyber security is an important issue that greatly affects national security, Hang said, noting that it has become a special concern of many countries and international and regional organisations in recent years. Meanwhile, efforts to improve security on the cyber environment still face numerous difficulties, especially due to the shortage of legal regulations and capacity of ensuring cyber security. Therefore, the building of the Law on Cyber Security is critically necessary in the current context, the spokeswoman stressed. The National Assembly passed the Law on Cyber Security with 86.86 percent of votes.

VN Prime Minister leaves for 8th ACMECS, 9th CLMV in ThailandPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and a Vietnamese delegation left Hanoi on June 15 noon for the 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and the 9th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 9) in Bangkok, Thailand. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan PhucThe attendance is made at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techno Hun Sen. PM Phuc’s participation in the events is a vivid illustration for Vietnam’s appreciation of Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong and Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar economic cooperation mechanisms. It also helps enhance Vietnam’s role in the mechanisms while stepping up cooperation across the fields of regional connectivity, water resources cooperation, trade and investment. ACMECS, CLMV cooperation promotes integration, development in Mekong basinA Vietnamese delegation led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will attend the eighth Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and the ninth Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 9) in Bangkok, Thailand from June 15-16.

HCM City police deal with 310 extremistsHo Chi Minh City Police said on June 14 that they are consolidating dossiers to deal with 310 people who caused public disorder in recent days. The people are suspected of violating laws at different levels, from harming national security to affecting social order and safety. Police and other forces have made efforts to control the situation in hotspots like Hoang Van Thu Park, PouYuen Company and the centre of the city. At a working session with police forces from southern cities and provinces on June 13, Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. At the same time, they should join hands in communication work to help people understand guidelines of the Party and the State, the officer said.-VNA

Law on special economic units aims to create new momentumThe draft law on special administrative-economic units was built with the aim of creating breakthroughs and new development momentum for the economy and capitalizing on advantages of localities, said Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang. A view of Van Don, which is set to become a special administrative-economic zone, in Quang Ninh provinceShe fielded a question about the purpose of the draft law on special administrative-economic units at the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference on June 14. The draft law on special administrative-economic units is part of the law and ordinance making programme of the National Assembly (NA) in 2018. Vietnam plans to build the three special administrative-economic zones of Van Don in northern Quang Ninh province, Bac Van Phong in central Khanh Hoa province, and Phu Quoc in southern Kien Giang province. According to NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, the building of the draft law is a major policy of the Party and State.