Briefs of some of the leading news stories published Wednesday (May 28) in Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper:

Politics

-- Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Wednesday welcomed a delegation led by U.S. Senator John McCain in Hanoi. Senator McCain and other senators in the delegation said that they are willing to welcome the Vietnamese General Secretary to the U.S., adding it would be a trip of historic significance to the countries’ diplomatic relations.

Society

-- Police on Monday arrested Doan Ngoc Minh, 25, residing in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 5, on suspicion of prostitution brokerage in association with a prostitution ring having the involvement of many local models and beauty pageant contestants.

-- During the last days, the central and northern regions of Vietnam have been hit by a severe heat wave with temperatures ranging from 38 to over 40 degrees Celsius. Weather forecasters said that temperatures will remain the same in the next 4-5 days.

-- A person who smokes shisha for around 40 minutes to an hour could breathe an amount of nicotine 70 percent higher than what a cigarette smoker does at the same time, Associate Professor Chu Thi Hanh, deputy director of the respiratory center of Hanoi’s Bach Mai Hospital, said on Wednesday on the sidelines of a workshop on the launch of a smoking rehab project.

Business

-- Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung asked competent agencies to strengthen the development of tourism, one of the spearhead sectors of the country, at a meeting on Wednesday with his cabinet. During the meeting, the participants discussed solutions for clearing obstacles and ways to develop the tourist industry, including simplifying visa procedures and the establishment of a foundation for tourism development.

Education

-- One hundred and thirty-one students from the 10th grade of the Lawrence S.Ting School in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City have joined a project titled “Song Xanh” (Living Green). The students have to use their knowledge of chemistry and English to research air pollution in the city and then organize activities meant to protect the environment.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has recently asked competent agencies to examine and secure traffic safety around city schools.

Lifestyle

-- Many publishers in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are running special programs for children on the occasion of the International’s Children Day (June 1), including book fairs, children’s book month, and discounts for the little readers.