Essay: Vietnam’s accelerating crackdown on minority communities should disqualify it from a place on the UN Human Rights Council
ELLIS HEASLEY, of UK-based religious freedom advocacy CSW, says international community must hold Vietnam to the highest standards of international human rights given its role on the council…
Vatican foreign minister travels to Vietnam in unprecedented visit
Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters The Vatican’s foreign minister Paul Richard Gallagher began an unprecedented six-day visit to Communist-ruled Vietnam on Tuesday as the two sides work on closer relations. Gallagher’s trip, the first to Vietnam for a Vatican foreign minister, could be followed by other top-level visits, including Pope Francis, who the Vatican has said is […]
Mums ban outdoor fun as air pollution worsens in Vietnam capital
Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters Nga Trang has nearly stopped going out in the evening and forbids her kids to play outdoors after school because air pollution from burning trash gets worse in her neighbourhood in Hanoi in the late afternoon. A Hanoian by birth, Nga, 44, is one of many residents of Vietnam’s capital whose daily […]
Vietnamese capital Hanoi tops list of most polluted cities
Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters The streets of Vietnam’s capital city Hanoi were enveloped in thick smog on Monday which dramatically reduced visibility due to air pollution caused by high levels of particulates from vehicle emissions and construction-linked fine dust. Levels of hazardous small particles known as PM2.5 in the air in Hanoi were at 187 micrograms […]
Essay: Israel now ranks among the world’s leading jailers of journalists. We don’t know why they’re behind bars
PETER GRESTE, Professor of Journalism and Communications at Australia’s Macquarie University, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation – at the latest annual report from the Committee to Protect Journalists…
Pope meets Vietnam political delegation, wants to visit the country
Vatican City Reuters Pope Francis met a delegation from Vietnam’s Communist Party on Thursday and the Vatican’s foreign minister said the pontiff was keen to visit the South-East Asian country in the wake of upgraded relations. The meeting followed a private audience between the Pope and Vietnamese President Vo Van Thuong in July, when both […]
Vietnam to have first post-war resident papal representative
Reuters The Vatican and Vietnam have agreed to have a Resident Papal Representative in Hanoi, they said on Thursday, a step years in the making that could lead to full diplomatic relations with the communist-run country and provide a model for ties with China. The move, first reported by Reuters on 16th July, was announced […]
Vatican and Vietnam to take major step forward in relations
Vatican City/Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters The Vatican and Vietnam are due to take a major step towards improving their long strained relations by finalising a deal in which Hanoi will allow the Holy See to have a resident representative in the communist-run country, sources say. The deal will likely be announced during a visit to the […]
Vietnam arrests 16 suspects in deadly police station shooting
Hanoi, VietnamReuters Vietnamese police have arrested 16 suspects in a police station shooting in which several policemen and civilians were killed or injured, police said on Sunday. A group of people shot at Ea Tieu and Ea Ktur police stations in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak early on Sunday, the Ministry of Public […]
World’s first vaccine against deadly swine fever nears approval in Vietnam
Hanoi, Vietnam Reuters Vaccines against African swine fever being tested in Vietnam are close to approval, global and US veterinary officials said, in what would be a major breakthrough to tackle the deadly animal disease that regularly ravages pig farms worldwide. African swine fever has for years disrupted the $US250 billion global pork market. In […]