Legal framework for SEZs nearly readyVietNamNet Bridge - The three special economic zones (SEZs) are on the horizon as Vietnam is setting a legal framework, preparing for the establishment of the zones. First, he wanted to know how many SEZs Vietnam planned to build and where the SEZs would be. Three SEZs are being drawn up, while the legal framework for SEZs is scheduled to be ratified at the upcoming National Assembly’s fifth session. And the transport infrastructure connecting Van Don and developed economic zones is ready. This means that from early July, it will take people less than three hours to reach Van Don, instead of five hours.

Investors in education sector discouraged because of policiesVietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam is a promising market for education investors, but it is difficult to invest in the sector because of unreasonable policies. Vietnam is a promising market for education investorsThere are more than 110,000 overseas Vietnamese students in 47 countries, according to a report. However, Decree 73 on international cooperation and foreign investment in the education sector sets a limitation on the number of Vietnamese students that foreign education establishments can receive. To build a school, investors have to obtain three kinds of licenses, including investment , establishment and operation licenses. To build a school, investors have to obtain three kinds of licenses, including investment , establishment and operation licenses.

From math-loving student to Microsoft security engineer and big bossVietNamNet Bridge - After earning a bachelor's degree in computer science from one of the best universities in Australia, the University of New South Wales, Nguyen Duy Lan received a doctorate in cryptography at the University of Wollongong. As the project was later canceled, he found another position at Microsoft Research after attending international recruitment campaigns. VeramineAfter eight years of working for Microsoft, Lan and other colleagues at Microsoft established Veramine which includes one American, two Polish and two Vietnamese. Its clients include big names such as the US Air Forces, US Department of Homeland Security and Singaporean Ministry of Defense. According to Lan, Veramine is still focusing on developing products.

Slender, rare primate species protected in Da NangVietNamNet Bridge - The red shanked douc langur became the symbol of the APEC meeting last year in Da Nang, where langurs live in certain areas. Rare & precious langurs need protectionA report by PanNature and GreenViet presented at a workshop discussing solutions to develop Son Tra Peninsula showed that the biggest threats for langurs are from development projects, under which SUF (special-use forest) will shrink. Son Tra Peninsula is not only a "green lung" of Da Nang, a shield to prevent storms, and an ideal ecotourism address, but also a kingdom of a rare primate species: red-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nemaeus).This species is listed in 1B, the endangered category in Vietnam’s Red Book. RELATED NEWSHow many doucs live in Son Tra? Red-shanked doucs protected by locals in Quang Nam forestThien Nhien

Vietnam condemns China’s violations of national sovereignty at seaForeign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang condemned Taiwan (China)’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago during a press conference in Hanoi on May 31. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu HangAll activities of Taiwan in Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago, including its live-fire drill on Ba Binh island from May 23-25, seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, threatened peace, stability and maritime safety and security, caused tensions and complicated the situation in the East Sea, she stressed. Hang underscored that Vietnam resolutely protests the activities and requests Taiwan not to repeat such acts again. The acts have complicated the situation in the East Sea, and affected negotiations on the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) between ASEAN and China as well as the maintenance of peace, stability and cooperation in the waters, she added. “Vietnam has sufficient legal foundations and historical evidence proving its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos,” she declared.-VNA

Vietnam welcomes efforts for peace in Korean PeninsulaVietnam welcomes and supports related parties to continue promoting recent positive outcomes regarding the Korean Peninsula, and strengthening cooperation in building a nuclear-free area, laying firm foundation for peace, stability, cooperation and development on the peninsula and in the region and the world, said Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu HangHang made the statement in reply to reporters’ queries on Vietnam’s view on recent developments on the Korean Peninsula during a regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry in Hanoi on May 31. Recently, the media reported that US President Donald Trump and leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un are expected to have a meeting in Singapore on June 12. It is expected to create a breakthrough for the DPRK’s nuclear issue and bring everlasting peace to the Korean Peninsula.-VNA

Vietnamese youngsters gear up for Football for Friendship Programme in RussiaNguyen Trong Tuan and Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung, the selected 12 year old ambassadors from Vietnam, will be on their way to Russia on June 8th to participate in the 6th Gazprom Football for Friendship International Programme. Nguyen Trong Tuan They will be joined by kids from over 210 countries around the world, in Moscow. Nguyen Trong Tuan selected in the role of a defender will be a part of the 32 International Teams of Friendship that play against each other in the Gazprom Football for Friendship International Championship. Each International Team of Friendship will be trained by 14-16 year old young coaches from different countries.The young footballers will also participate in workshops and sessions, conducted by renowned celebrities. The young ambassadors will also participate in the Nine Values School programme, where they will be taught about the 9 key values of the F4F programme (friendship, equality, fairness, health, peace, devotion, victory, traditions and honour) under the guidance of young coaches and the supervision of famous players.

President: Vietnam – Japan ties at the bestVietnam-Japan relations are at their best point since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 45 years ago, President Tran Dai Quang told Chairman of the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) Kazuo Shii during a reception in Tokyo on May 31. Shii, for his part, expressed his delight at the development of Vietnam – Japan ties over the past 45 years. The host hoped for tighter bonds between the two parties via visits and theoretical exchanges as well as their close coordination in celebrating the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. President Quang expressed his delight at strongly developing relations in all fields, 45 years after the two countries established diplomatic ties. President Quang thanked the party for supporting Vietnam’s nation building cause and developing Vietnam-Japan relations.

Saigon Heat aim to develop young playersVietNamNet Bridge – Saigon Heat’s focus in the upcoming Viet Nam Basketball Association (VBA) League is to develop young players, according to their CEO Connor Nguyen. Saigon Heat will face Cantho Catfish in preseason game today. — Photo courtesy of Saigon Heat“VBA 2018 will be the chance for Saigon Heat young players. But our key goal is to develop our young players,” said Nguyen. “Looking at the player list of Saigon Heat this season, you can see that most of them are coming from the Jr Heat.

VN lose to Kazakhstan in international volleyball eventVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam lost to Kazakhstan 1-3 in the last qualifying round of the LienVietPostBank International Men’s Volleyball Tournament on May 29. Vietnam’s volleyballers perform at the LienVietPostBank International Men’s Volleyball Tournament on May 29. Vietnam won the first set 25-19 by playing flexibly. In the decisive set, Kazakhstan scored points continuously to beat Vietnam 25-19. With this loss, Vietnam will face arch rival Thailand in the semi-final, while Indonesia will meet Kazakhstan in the other semi-final match.

Tiki continues taking losses, e-commerce firms ‘burning’ moneyVietNamNet Bridge - Despite big losses, e-commerce firms area still continue to pump money into e-commerce websites. Tiki continues taking lossThe annual finance report of VNG showed that Tiki, its e-commerce website, incurred a loss of VND282 billion in 2017. Tiki, together with Lazada and Shopee, is among the websites which have a large share in the e-commerce market. According to the Vietnam E-commerce Association (Vecom), the e-commerce market grew by 25 percent in 2017, and the high growth rate would be maintained through 2020. US$1=VND22,000RELATED NEWSLocal e-commerce market now a playing field for Chinese businessesE-commerce market: big players follow hard on each other’s heelsTran Thuy

New-born buried by suffering motherA woman in the southern province of Binh Thuan has admitted burying her new-born child alive. The baby was found with an injury in his faceA 40-year-old woman in Tan Thang Commune, Ham Tan District who is married with two children, one aged 13 and the other aged 9, confessed she attempted to bury her new-born baby. After that, she brought the baby to a nearby garden to bury him and then returned home. According to some local residents, the mother has suffered from epilepsy since she was small, which has resulted in mental problems. The boy was rescued by Nguyen Thi Truc who is his mother’s sister-in-law on the morning of May 26.

Switzerland’s largest airline opens new route to VietnamOn May 30, Edelweiss, Switzerland's leading leisure airline, announced it will open a direct air route between HCM City and Zurich this November, serving two flights per week as part of the carrier’s plan to expand its flight network in Asia. This is the first direct air route between Vietnam and Switzerland, aiming to reduce travel times, stimulate tourism demands, and trade between the two countries. The new air route helps to bring tourists from Switzerland and Europe closer to Vietnam and provides a wide range of options for connecting flights from Zurich to other famous tourist attractions through the Swiss airline. At present, Edelweiss are working with major travel operators in Vietnam to design tour packages for the new route between Vietnam and Switzerland. According to the General Statistics Office, in the first five months of the year, more than 16,500 Swiss passengers arrived in Vietnam, up 4.2% against the same period last year.

100 smokers die a day, could double by 2030VietNamNet Bridge – Smoking now claims over 100 lives in Vietnam every day and the number is expected to nearly double in 2030. Medical experts said tobacco smoking is a leading factor causing an increasing risk of contracting heart-related diseases. Smoking can cause problems with the placenta—the source of the baby’s food and oxygen during pregnancy. In addition to raising tobacco tax to reduce the number of smokers in the country, authorised agencies have also launched supporting programmes to help smokers in quitting tobacco. In another movement, the health ministry organised a meeting to mark the World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and National No Tobacco Week in Da Nang (May 25-31) in Da Nang City last week.

HCM City sign Huynh Kesley AlvesV.League 1 side HCM City have signed a six-month contract with AFC Cup 2009 top goal-scorer Huynh Kesley Alves to prepare for the event’s second leg. Striker Huynh Kesley Alves. — Photo zing.vnThe Brazilian-born Vietnamese striker Alves has played for Thai Division 2 Regional League side Kasetsart FC for the last two two years. Alves obtained Vietnamese citizenship and played for the national once in 2009. Alves, 36, is expected to boost HCM City’s attack, something desperately needed for a club in 11th position.