Read what is in the news today, August 19!

Politics

-- A Vietnamese delegation attended the Vietnam – Laos conference for the mutual development of the industry-trade, energy and mining sectors in the Lao capital of Vientiane from August 16 to 18, where both sides worked to clear hurdles and reach agreements on solutions to boost their cooperation.

Society

-- The Ministry of Construction has green-lighted suspension of a master plan to develop the Phu Quoc Island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang into a special administrative-economic zone (SEZ) due to lack of legislation.

-- French and Spanish experts are designing a US$240 million wastewater treatment plant capable of treating up to 480,000 cubic meters of water daily - the largest such plant in Vietnam in terms of capacity - for Ho Chi Minh City’s iconic Nhieu Loc - Thi Nghe Canal.

-- To Cong Ly, 35, a famously rich construction magnate in the Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau, was arrested on Sunday for allegedly “appropriating property through swindling” related to his construction projects in the province.

Business

-- Indian low-cost carrier IndiGo - the country’s largest airline - has announced it will start operating direct flights between Vietnam and the Indian city of Kolkata from October, with the first Kolkata-Hanoi flight taking off on October 3 and the first Kolkata-Ho Chi Minh City flight launching on October 20.

Lifestyle

-- Staff of the embassies of ASEAN member states in Hanoi and their families joined a host of activities in the Vietnamese capital city on Sunday to celebrate the 2019 ASEAN Family Day, including a ten-kilometer cycle to demonstrate their concerted strength, determination and mutual support.

-- Traditional cultural values of ethnic communities in the northwestern region of Vietnam are being introduced at a festival which opened in Son La Province on Sunday, attracting more than 1,000 artisans, artists, amateur athletes and people of ethnic groups from seven northwestern provinces.

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