Turkey and syria at war

VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang speaks at the get-together of the VNA's veteran war reporters. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Veteran war reporters of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) met in Hanoi on March 16 to mark 50 years since they joined the battlefield in the resistance war against the US (March 16, 1973). The former VNA reporters, technicians and telegraphers recalled the day when they left Hanoi for the battlefield, determining to ensure the unending flow of mainstream information . Veteran war reporters of the Vietnam News Agency meet in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) Prior to the meeting, they observed a minute’s silence in memory of their colleagues who laid down their lives while on duty in the war, and visited the VNA’s Hall of Tradition. In early 1972 when the war escalated, the 20th plenum of the third-tenure Party Central Committee called on the entire Party, people and army to stay persistent until the complete victory. The GP10 reporters, technicians … [Read more...] about Veteran war reporters – a “golden generation” of Vietnam News Agency

Xi will be the first national leader to shake Putin's hand since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for him on Friday over the deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia since its invasion. Russia is presenting Xi's trip, his first since securing an unprecedented third term this month, as evidence that it has a powerful friend prepared to stand with it against a hostile West that it accuses of trying to isolate and defeat Moscow. "We can feel the geopolitical landscape in the outside world undergoing drastic changes," Putin said in an article in China's People's Daily published on the Kremlin website, adding that he had high hopes for the visit from his "good old friend." For Xi, the visit is a diplomatic tightrope. China has released a 12-point proposal to solve the Ukraine crisis, but at the same time strengthened ties with Moscow. China has repeatedly dismissed Western accusations that it is planning to arm Russia but says it wants a closer … [Read more...] about China’s Xi arrives in Russia to meet Putin over Ukraine war

It was Xi's first trip abroad since he obtained an unprecedented third term last month. The Chinese leader has been trying to portray Beijing as a potential peacemaker in Ukraine, even as he deepens economic ties with his closest ally. Putin and Xi greeted one another as "dear friend" when they met in the Kremlin on Monday, and Russian state news agencies later reported they held informal talks for nearly 4-1/2 hours, with more official talks scheduled for Tuesday. In televised comments, Putin told Xi he viewed China's proposals for resolution of the Ukraine conflict with respect. He confessed to being "slightly envious" of China's "very effective system for developing the economy and strengthening the state". Xi, for his part, praised Putin and predicted Russians would re-elect him next year. Moscow has been publicly promoting plans for a visit by Xi for months. White House spokesman John Kirby said Xi should use his influence to press Putin to withdraw troops from … [Read more...] about Putin meets Xi in Kremlin as Ukraine war grinds on

PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the event (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a gathering in Hanoi on March 17 to honour collectives and individuals of working delegations from the ministries of Public Security and National Defence engaged in search and rescue in Turkey in wake of the 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Ministry of National Defence and 24 from the Ministry of Public Security (MoPS), to join in search and rescue in a foreign territory. Ministry of Public Security ’s Police Department of Fire Prevention and Fighting and Rescue, said the delegation coordinated to rescue one survivor and handed over 14 bodies of victims to medical units. VNA … [Read more...] about PM praises collectives, individuals for search, rescue in Turkey

The event was attended by Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang and Deputy Minister of Public Security Major General Nguyen Van Long, other leaders and representatives of the two ministries, and 100 troops engaged in overcoming earth quake’s aftermath in Turkey. Addressing the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held that in addition to participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations, Vietnam continued to send troops to perform the search and rescue mission in Turkey. It has contributed to realizing the sound foreign policy, the sense of responsibility and the international solidarity spirit of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, in which, Vietnam is willing to be a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, for the goal of peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. That Vietnam sent search and rescue forces to perform tasks overseas for the first time promoted the country’s potentials, capability and prestige in … [Read more...] about Vietnam’s search and rescue in Turkey affirms its responsibility for international service

A Turkish Airlines plane. The carrier is looking to increase the frequency of flights from Istanbul to Indonesia’s capital Jakarta and resort island Bali. (Photo: AA) Jakarta (VNA) – Turkish Airlines is looking to increase the frequency of flights from Istanbul to Indonesia’s capital Jakarta, resort island Bali, and other cities in order to develop tourism. Chairperson of the carrier Ahmet Bolat said it currently runs 14 flights per week to Indonesia, of which nine are to Jakarta and five to Bali. The occupancy rate on each flight is 90%. The airline wants to increase flights to Jakarta to twice a day, and raises the frequency to Bali and, if possible, to some other locations in Indonesia, he said. Nia Niscaya, a deputy director in charge of strategic policy at the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, said last year, the total number of visitors to Indonesia increased by 215% annually. The figure hit about 700,000 in January 2023, five times higher … [Read more...] about Indonesia, Turkey promote tourism development

These days, coming back to Phu Quoc Prison - known as “Hell on Earth,” former prisoners of war (POW) recalled dreadful and brutal tortures by jailers. Going along a small path leading to the gate of Phu Quoc Communist POWs’ Prison, many people got the shivers after witnessing a dozen layers of sharp barbed-wire fences and models of prisoner guards holding guns. The iron door creaked when we opened it slowly. The screeching noise made us partly feel the dark atmosphere of the ruthless prison during the colonial and imperialistic periods. Among groups of tourists nationwide visiting Phu Quoc Prison, we luckily met and talked with Mr. Phu Xi Khieu, a former Phu Quoc prisoner in the 1971-1973 period. Looking back on his memories, Mr. Khieu shared that returning to Phu Quoc after 50 years, he was delighted at the rapid development of Phu Quoc city. However, he could not hold back his tears as he remembered his fallen comrades. They together fought bravely till their last breath. Phu … [Read more...] about Memories of former war prisoners in Phu Quoc

The sons of Hanoi held their heads high and persevered in the cause of national liberation in the face of brutality and harassment. The lethal and brutal treatment and torture in Phu Quoc jail could not weaken the determination of the sons of Hanoi to survive and fight for the freedom and independence of their homeland. Former Hanoi imprisoned veterans attend a ceremony on March 22 that honors their sacrifices for national unity and liberation. Photo: Thanh Hai/The Hanoi Times Phu Quoc Prison was built in 1949-1950 under French colonial rule to detain political dissidents and national patriots. From 1963 to 1973, more than 40,000 Vietnamese patriots, soldiers, and communist activists who fought for the liberation of their country were incarcerated in the prison, which was run by the South Vietnamese regime. Located some 90 kilometers from the Vietnamese mainland, Phu Quoc prison was the site of the deaths of some 4,000 people who gave their lives in the … [Read more...] about Hanoi patriots recount memories of captivity

When peace was reestablished in Vietnam following the signing of the Paris Accords on January 27, 1973, one of the terms of the accords was prisoner exchanges. The United States and the Republic of Vietnam then formed a list of over 26,700 prisoners to be exchanged with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The sites for the exchange were located in different localities, including Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Dong Nai and Binh Phuoc provinces. Among them, Quang Tri was one of two major sites for the exchange, the other being Binh Phuoc. Fifty years ago, Luong Chi Hien, now 96, a political instructor at the Quang Tri military headquarters, received orders to become the head of Vietnam’s delegation for the prisoner exchanges. Another 19 people were also in the delegation, along with other units. The chosen site for the exchange was the northern bank of the Thach Han River, located about 0.5 km from National Highway 1. Hien remembers how the area was a field of reeds and weeds back then. … [Read more...] about Memories of the Paris Accords: The prisoner exchanges along river banks

BRUSSELS, March 24 - A "third man" seen with two Islamic State suicide bombers at Brussels Airport was the focus of a Belgian manhunt on Thursday after police identified three others, including two brothers, who killed at least 31 people at the airport and on a city metro train. Turkey's president criticised Belgium for failing to track Brahim El Bakraoui, a convicted Belgian armed robber whom it deported last year and who blew himself up at the airport on Tuesday an hour before his brother Khalid, a fellow convict, killed some 20 people at Maelbeek metro station in the city centre. The third bomber, security sources told Belgian media, was Najim Laachraoui, a veteran Belgian Islamist fighter in Syria suspected of making explosive belts for November's Paris attacks and who also detonated a suitcase bomb at the airport. The "third man", captured on airport security cameras pushing a baggage trolley into the departures hall alongside Laachraoui and Brahim El Bakraoui, is now the … [Read more...] about Belgians hunt ‘third man’ after Islamic State bombings