Read what is in the news today, June 19!

Politics

-- Vietnam always pays attention to strengthening friendship and cooperation with the Ivory Coast, its second biggest trade partner in Africa, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at talks with the West African country’s foreign minister Marcel Amon-Tanoh in Hanoi on Tuesday.

-- Vietnamese Minister of Public Security General To Lam called for concerted efforts by all countries to ensure national security and sustainable socio-economic development in the context of growing security threats as he spoke at the tenth international meeting of high-ranking officials responsible for security matters in Russia on Tuesday.

-- Sen. Lt. Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Defense Minister, lauded the partnership between the Vietnam People’s Navy and the Royal Thai Navy as he hosted a reception for visiting Admiral Luechai Ruddit, Commander in Chief of the Royal Thai Navy in Hanoi on Tuesday.

Business

-- The South Korea’s Chuncheon Bioindustry Foundation inked a deal with the departments of science and technology of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and provinces of Soc Trang and Ben Tre to promote research and extraction of local medicinal plants for the creation of healthcare products on the sidelines of a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

-- Vietnamese startups are forecast to soon reach ‘unicorn’ status, a term referring to startups that are valued US$1 billion or more, as Vietnam remains one of the hottest startup hubs in the world, according to industry insiders.

Society

-- The Mekong Delta region of Vietnam should aim not to fight against climate change but adapt to it, turning challenges into opportunities for restructuring toward sustainable production, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at a conference in Ho Chi Minh City on Tuesday.

-- Vietnamese archaeologists on Tuesday unearthed ancient artefacts dating back 8,000-9,000 years on karst mountains in Ba Be district in the northern province of Bac Kan. The artifacts include nearly 100 stone and bone objects indicating traces of early people.

-- Over 300 pharmacies in Ho Chi Minh City are set to be closed down by authorities as they have failed to connect their database to a government network for drug sales monitoring after the deadline of March 31, 2019.

Lifestyle

-- The southern coastal province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau has been announced host of the upcoming 21st Vietnam Film Festival, which will take place from November 23 to 27 with a wide range of activities, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Sports

-- South Korean Park Hang Seo, the head coach of Vietnam’s national men’s football team, was warmly received by residents in Quang Ngai as he visited the central province on Tuesday for activities aimed to promote football development in the area.

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