Vietnam backs efforts to stabilize East Ukraine situation; Vietnam, the Netherlands ratchet up defence connection; NA Vice Chairwoman to visit Argentina, Chile; Vietnam, Philippines enter into cruise partnership

 President Truong Tan Sang has emphasized Vietnam’s determination to realise the target of not being dependent on any country at a meeting with HCM City’s Fatherland Front Committee and voters in HCM City on June 26.

 Vietnam has adequate evidence to prove and confirm that Chinese ships had intentionally rammed and damaged its vessels, heard a regular press conference of the Foreign Ministry on June 26.

 US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel has said China needs to clarify its sovereignty claims in accordance with international law.

 Chinese ships of various kinds on June 26 formed a line coming threateningly close to restrain Vietnamese ships from undertaking their normal law enforcement missions in Vietnam’s waters, reported the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Department.

 Taking legal action is one of peaceful measures that is receiving support from the international community, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mr. Hoang Van Cuong, dubbed the "king of antiques" in HCM City, has said he will donate his collection worth dozens of millions of US dollars to the foundation for marine sovereignty defence.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Summer is the best time for tourists to go to Ninh Thuan to visit vineyards and taste grapes.

 VietNamNet Bridge – There are so many English curriculums being applied at primary schools that parents often are in a quandary as to which curriculums to choose for their children.

About 300-500 tons of medical waste, including 45 tons of hazardous medical waste, is discharged to the environment everyday. Only about 50 percent of hospitals have medical wastewater treatment systems.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The amended Law on Medical Insurance will assure that all people, especially poor people, have access to qualified health care services, said Minister of Health Nguyen Kim Tien last week.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many Chinese ancient documents show that China’s southeastern frontier ends at Hainan Island and Hoang Sa and Truong Sa belong to Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Viet Nam's Governor, Nguyen Van Binh, has said that he would continue monitoring credit institutions in the coming months.

Many lawyers, scholars and reporters in Sri Lanka have expressed their concerns over the ongoing East Sea tension, sparked by China’s dispatch of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou - 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone,

 FDI inflows drop in first half of the year; Formosa proposes special steel zone in Vung Ang; Petrol prices reach record highs in Vietnam; HCM City revokes licenses for real estate projects

 Researchers say that "immediate protection" is required for the waters around the remote Pitcairn Islands in the Pacific, home to one of the world's rarest and most valuable collections of marine species.

Media tablets continue to be in strong demand across the Southeast Asia countries in 2014 as consumers bought over 3.6 million of the popular gadget in the first four months of 2014.

 Australia announced on Thursday a new search area for the missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been flowing back into the pockets of foreign ship owners since the port operators in the Hai Phong City area have been scrambling for clients by dramatically reducing container handling fees.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of hectares of rubber trees in the eastern and central regions have been eliminated since the price of latex rubber, once described as “white gold”, has plummeted on the world market.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The second Vietnam Mountain Marathon will kick off in September expecting to attract a large number of global participants.

 Vietnam welcomed more than 4.28 million foreign tourists in the first half of this year, a year-on-year hike of 21.11 percent, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said on June 25.

The Global Times recently had a commentary slandering Vietnam, which said that Vietnam wants to use Cam Ranh port as "bait" in exchange for Russia’s support against China in the East Sea territorial dispute.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Russian scientists recently announced the discovery of two spotted toad species in Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong, in central Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s two most modern rocket-class versatile ships were introduced in HCM City on Wednesday. They will be handed over to the Navy to defend the country’s marine sovereignty.