VIETNAM TODAY

The Taliban claimed responsibility on Wednesday for a deadly overnight attack on Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, just hours after the US announced plans to enter into peace talks with the insurgent group.

Scientists and managers from leading institutes and development organisations in France, the UK, US, Australia, Japan, China and Vietnam have gathered at the 6th Vietnam Economist Annual Meeting in the central city of Hue on June 18-19.

Wastefulness is as serious as corruption but it seems to be not easy to deal with it, several NA deputies have said.

The 15th Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition will be held at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre in HCM City from June 25-27.

Asia News Network has set up an advertising office in Singapore to represent the 22 members from 19 Asian countries.

More than 32,000 Vietnamese were recruited as guest workers, mostly for Taiwan (China), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Libya, Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates in the first five months of this year.

Senior US officials said on Tuesday that they will enter peace talks with the Taliban at a new office in Doha "within the coming days", in what may be a significant step towards an end to the long-running war.

Ca Mau province is facing a serious depression due to underground water exploitation and deforestation.

The Vietnam-Korea Times – Vietnam's first Korean language newspaper made its debut in Hanoi yesterday.

Experts representing Japanese and Vietnamese financial institutions and banks met in HCM City on June 18 discussing how to prevent money laundering in Vietnam.

Vietnamese mothers are favouring Caesarean section deliveries as many parents believe that their children's birthday will affect their fortune.

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam has proposal to use VND100 billion (USD4.8 billion) to replace traffic signboards.

President Truong Tan Sang granted an exclusive interview to Chinese journalists based in Hanoi before paying a State-level visit to China from June 19 to 21.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism says it is working with relevant Thai agencies to bring home Vietnamese stranded tourists.

Representatives of the Ministry of Communications and Information and 23 businesses of Vietnam are participating in information and communications technology conferences and exhibitions in Singapore from June 18-21.

The European Union has committed EUR743 million (US$965 million) in official development assistance for Vietnam in 2013, making it the country’s largest aid donor.

An extraordinary row between South Korea and Iran highlights the tensions in Asia's World Cup qualifying ahead of Tuesday's final group matches, with Australia also urging caution before trying to book their ticket to Brazil.

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has said her country is committed to working with Vietnam to combat emerging epidemics, especially infectious diseases, and to promote the transfer of technology to fight HIV/AIDS.

Vietnam should participate in the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Use of International Watercourses, said experts.