Viet Nam News GENEVA — Former UN chief and Nobel peace laureate Kofi Annan died Saturday at the age of 80, prompting a barrage of tributes and condolences from around the world for the "diplomatic rock star". The Ghanaian national, who lived in Switzerland, was a career diplomat who projected quiet charisma and was widely credited for raising the world body’s profile in global politics during his two terms as UN chief from 1997 to 2006. The first secretary general from sub-Saharan Africa, Annan led the UN through the divisive years of the Iraq war and was later accused of corruption in the oil-for-food scandal, one of the most trying times of his tenure. "It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness," the foundation said in a statement. "His wife Nane and their children … [Read more...] about Former UN chief and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan dies
Flash floods leave 8 dead in north-central Vietnam and northern highlands
Nghe An Province and its neighbor Thanh Hoa were hardest hit by the impacts of tropical storm Bebinca which weakened into a tropical depression on Friday morning. Local authorities in Nghe An confirmed five deaths and reported many villages and towns were isolated by the prolonged rain. Hundreds of houses were inundated. Many districts in Nghe An have suffered heavy rainfall of between 180 to 250 millimeters since Thursday night, leaving many mountainous villages submerged under as much as three meters of water. Nghe An's Ky Son District near the Laos border was submerged in flooded waters. Torrential rain also flooded many national highways and paralyzed traffic leading to Nghia Dan and Quy Hop districts in the central province. Local residents in Nghe An row a boat to wade through a flooded area triggered by heavy rains. Many houses in Con Cuong District of Nghe An were submerged under three to four meters of water, prompting … [Read more...] about Flash floods leave 8 dead in north-central Vietnam and northern highlands
Asian Games declared open in Jakarta
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Viet Nam News ASIAD JAKARTA — The Asian Games (ASIAD) was declared open by Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo late on Saturday during a colourful opening ceremony in Jakarta dominated by the joint march of North and South Korea. A burst of fireworks followed the announcement, marking the start of the two-week tournament to be held in Jakarta and Palembang in Sumatra. North and South Korea marched together in a stirring display of unity as the Games, one of the world’s biggest sports events, opened in a blaze of colour. South Korean women’s basketball player Lim Yung-hui and North Korean footballer Ju Kyong-chol jointly held the Korean Unification flag aloft as they led the athletes out to an ovation from the packed crowd. It is the second such symbolic gesture this year by the two Koreas, who also walked together at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics opening ceremony – an event that heralded an unprecedented warming of ties. The … [Read more...] about Asian Games declared open in Jakarta
Flash floods leave 8 dead, two missing in north-central Vietnam
Nghe An Province and its neighbor Thanh Hoa were hardest hit by the impacts of tropical storm Bebinca which weakened into a tropical depression on Friday morning. Local authorities in Nghe An confirmed five deaths and reported many villages and towns were isolated by the prolonged rain. Hundreds of houses were inundated. Many districts in Nghe An have suffered heavy rainfall of between 180 to 250 millimeters since Thursday night, leaving many mountainous villages submerged under as much as three meters of water. Nghe An's Ky Son District near the Laos border was submerged in flooded waters. Torrential rain also flooded many national highways and paralyzed traffic leading to Nghia Dan and Quy Hop districts in the central province. Local residents in Nghe An row a boat to wade through a flooded area triggered by heavy rains. Many houses in Con Cuong District of Nghe An were submerged under three to four meters of water, prompting … [Read more...] about Flash floods leave 8 dead, two missing in north-central Vietnam
BSR to improve management of Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant
BSR General Director Tran Ngoc Nguyen speaking at the event. (Photo: CPV) In his speech at the event, Mr. Tran Ngoc Nguyen, BSR General Director, said the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant now meets 40% of Vietnam’s total petrol and oil demand, while the Nghi Son Oil Refinery Plant officially launched products in May 2018. The two plants meet about 90% of the country’s total demand. He hoped BSR would link the Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant with an array of oil refinery plants from India, Singapore and the Republic of Korea to support each other in operation, maintenance, technique, commerce and crude oil supply. According to assessment of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Minh Khuong, a member of the Advisory Group of the Government leader, enterprises in particular and the country in general still lack the “strategic strength” which is the target, driving force, desire for height; in which steps must be strong, fast and far ahead of the era. He stressed BSR should establish a … [Read more...] about BSR to improve management of Dung Quat Oil Refinery Plant