Human rights

A Chinese spy balloon has been flying over the United States for a couple of days, U.S. officials said on Thursday, in what would be a brazen act just days ahead of a planned trip to Beijing by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Fighter jets were mobilized, but military leaders advised President Joe Biden against shooting the balloon out of the sky for fear debris could pose a safety threat, advice Biden accepted, U.S. officials said. The United States took "custody" of the balloon when it entered U.S. airspace and had observed it with piloted U.S. military aircraft, one of the officials told reporters on condition of anonymity. Separately, Canada's defense ministry said a "high-altitude surveillance balloon" was detected and that it was monitoring a "potential second incident", without giving further details, adding that it was in frequent contact with the United States. The news initially broke as CIA Director William Burns was speaking at an event at Washington’s … [Read more...] about Chinese spy balloon flies over the United States, Pentagon says

Workers at Phuong Nam Garment Trading Import Export Joint Stocks Company in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City ’s Index of Industrial Production (IIP) in January reduced by 21.4% compared to the previous month, according to the city’s Department of Industry and Trade. This year’s week-long Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival that falls in January was blamed for the decreased production as the production time in the month was less than the previous month’s. Some industries in the city also saw lower production indexes, for example, the processing and manufacturing industry down 22%, electricity generation and distribution down 12.8%, water supply and waste treatment down 8.4%. Besides, all 30/30 secondary industries decreased compared to the previous month and 15 out of the 30 industries dropped by over 20%. To meet people’s demand in the city in January 2023, especially during the Tet celebrations, the city's industry and trade sector … [Read more...] about HCM City’s industrial production falls over 21% in January

A petrol station in HCM City (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to take measures to ensure the supply of all key commodities, especially fuel, and to stabilise the country's distribution channels for the economy after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. Vietnam Electricity (EVN) was told to speed up the construction and implementation of major power projects, including renewable energy, to ensure enough power for the country's crucial industries. In addition, priority should be given to connecting isolated and remote communes to the national power and telecommunication networks. MoIT, the ministry in charge of Vietnam's power sector, was told to quickly finish and submit the country's Power Planning VIII to the central government for review. The PM said the country's top priority in the short term is to focus on boosting exports, especially agriculture products to China and neighbouring … [Read more...] about MoIT proposes adjusting fuel prices every Thursday

UK Minister of International Trade Greg Hands visited Vietnam on Wednesday to explore trade cooperation opportunities between the two countries. His visit came amidst the UK’s pursuit of full membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2023. Vietnam is the first stop on the minister’s three-day trip to three Southeast Asian countries, all of which are founding members of the partnership. During an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre News , Hands emphasized what the UK can offer the CPTPP, as well as discussed the UK’s strong strategic partnership with Vietnam. In a speech at Lancaster House on January 23, UK Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch outlined five priorities for trade. What are your priorities as the Minister of State for Trade Policy? My personal priorities are, first, to get the UK into the CPTPP. Vietnam will play a crucial role in that progress. My second priority is to do a free trade agreement with India this … [Read more...] about UK joining CPTPP a fundamental change to the bloc: minister