Vietnam

Amid pandemic, SE Asian nations warn of 'alarming' South China Sea incidents

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam and the Philippines warned of growing insecurity in Southeast Asia at a regional summit on Friday amid concerns that China was stepping up its activity in the disputed South China Sea during the coronavirus pandemic.

Both Hanoi and Manila lodged protests with China in April after Beijing unilaterally declared the creation of new administrative districts on islands in the troubled waterways to which Vietnam and the Philippines also have competing claims.

Vietnam: ASEAN virus fund, sea feud in spotlight in virtual summit

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders are holding an annual summit Friday by video to show unity and discuss a regional emergency fund to tame the immense crisis wrought by the coronavirus pandemic. The long-divisive South China Sea conflicts are also in the spotlight.

The leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations linked up online due to regional travel restrictions and health risks, which have delayed dozens of meetings and shut out the ceremonial spectacles, group handshakes and photo-ops that have been the trademark of the 10-nation bloc’s annual summits.

Vietnam Records No New COVID-19 Cases

HANOI, June 22 (NNN-VNA) – Vietnam reported no new cases of COVID-19 infection on Sunday, with its total confirmed cases remaining at 349 with zero deaths so far, according to its Ministry of Health.

Meanwhile as many as 327 patients have recovered from the disease, according to the ministry.

Vietnam has recorded no local transmission for 66 straight days, while there are over 5,700 people being quarantined and monitored in the country, said the ministry.

36th ASEAN Summit To Be Held Via Video Conference On June 26

HANOI, June 22 (NNN-VNA) – The 36th ASEAN Summit will be held via video conference on June 26, Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was quoted as saying, on Sunday.

As ASEAN’s chair in 2020, Vietnamese Prime Minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, will chair the opening session, plenary session and special sessions on women’s empowerment in digital era, as well as, dialogue between leaders of ASEAN and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), among others.

2 dead, 1 missing as boat capsizes in northern Vietnam

HANOI, June 8 (Xinhua) -- A boat carrying seven people capsized in Vietnam's northern Lao Cai province, leaving two dead and one missing, Vietnam News Agency reported on Monday.

Bodies of the two men aged 26 and 31 each were found Monday morning while a 35-year-old man was still missing as the boat capsized midnight Sunday in a section of Chay river in Bac Ha District, the news agency reported.

Among seven on board, only four successfully swam back to the shore, according to the report.

Vietnam ratifies significant trade deal with European Union

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Monday ratified a significant trade deal with the European Union, which is expected to boost the country’s manufacturing sector and exports, as it recovers from a dip caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawmakers approved the agreement as they met in the National Assembly for the first time since the pandemic began. The deal was signed in Hanoi last June and was ratified by the European Parliament in February.

Vietnam says to suspend public transport to curb coronavirus spread

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday ordered the suspension to public transport services to curb the spread of the coronavirus, which is known to have infected 203 people in the country.

Phuc also called for a limit on the use of private vehicles and encouraged state officials to work from home, according to a statement posted on the government website.

Rights groups condemn 10-year jail term for Vietnam blogger

10 March 2020; AFP: The jailing of a Vietnamese blogger for 10 years was condemned by rights groups Tuesday as "unacceptable" and an attack on free speech.

Truong Duy Nhat, a regular contributor to Radio Free Asia, was found guilty in a brief trial Monday of defrauding the public of $560,000 when he worked for a state-owned newspaper in the central city of Danang in 2004, state media said.

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