Here is a list of the main news items published in Vietnamese media today:  

Politics

-- Diplomacy must take the lead in defending the country, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said at a seminar in Hanoi on Wednesday.

Society

-- Hospital in the southern province of Tra Vinh will get VND57.6 billion (US$2.65 million) in funds provided by the World Bank for processing hospital waste after local authorities gave the green light to them.   

-- Officials have discovered a pirated book warehouse in Hanoi, considered the country’s biggest ever, with more than 50,000 illegally copied books and notebooks.

-- Many chemical producers have posed potential risk of explosion to residential areas in Ho Chi Minh City but competent agencies seem to be confused in managing and relocating them.

-- The Viet Duc Hospital in Hanoi has recently put into operation a modern surgery room built at a cost of VND30 billion ($1.38 million). Business

-- On Wednesday, the PTSC Mechanical & Construction Co. Ltd. in the southern city of Vung Tau exported the topside of its MLJ3 oil and gas exploration rig to Total Brunei Company under the French multinational group Total. The total investment of MLJ3 is $100 million.

Lifestyle

-- An exhibition featuring photos depicting 70 years of development of the Vietnam People's Public Security will be organized in Ho Chi Minh City from August 14 to September 2. The event held by the General Security Department under the Ministry of Public Security will showcase 500 photos of the historical periods of the Vietnam People's Public Security.

-- About 30,000 people are expected to join a parade during the celebration of National Day in Hanoi on September 2.