The remains of an Israel F-16 fighter jet in Harduf (Photo: AFP) UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement that Guterres is following closely the alarming military escalation throughout Syria and the dangerous spillover across its borders. On Saturday, Israel conducted airstrikes against Iranian facilities in Syria, claiming an Iranian drone had entered the Israeli airspace from Syria. Israel said the Syrian missiles shot down an F-16 fighter jet of the Israeli Air Force. The incident was the most serious confrontation between Iran and Israel since Syria’s war began in 2011.
The increase in retail fuel costs in Vietnam, the second in three consecutive months, has evoked deep concerns over the inevitable surges in the costs of transportation and buying goods. Three days ago, the government raised the retail prices of gas, diesel and kerosene by roughly 10% in an attempt to cope with rising costs of crude oil and curb petrol smuggling. The increase is triggering a chain reaction as fuel is the input of almost every industry, according to economic experts. It is pushing up the costs of purchasing goods and transport, leading to rises in the country's consumer…... [read more]
International concern mounted as world oil prices edged closer to 120 dollars a barrel Wednesday and the world's top producer called for calm. Analysts said a weakening US dollar, supply worries in Nigeria and the OPEC cartel's reluctance to increase output have all contributed to the price surge. New York's main oil futures contract, light sweet crude for delivery in June, rose four cents to 118.11 dollars per barrel. The May contract expired on Tuesday after closing at a record 119.37 dollars per barrel at the New York Mercantile Exchange, where it earlier hit an all-time intraday peak of 119.90…... [read more]
Concern mounts over coal-fired power plants in Mekong Delta Trung Chanh CAN THO - Experts have expressed concern that thermal power plants in the Duyen Hai Power Center in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh would put the environment and the livelihoods of farmers at risk though the center has given assurances. Nguyen Thien Nhan, president of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, toured the center in Duyen Hai District last Saturday for an inspection in response to a proposal of local people who are worried about air and water pollution in the province. Duyen Hai Thermal Power Company…... [read more]
The foreign ministers of Southeast Asian countries expressed their concerns over tensions caused by China's illegal deployment of a giant oil rig to Vietnamese waters in the East Vietnam Sea in a joint statement issued on Saturday. Myanmar's Nay Pyi Taw where a two-day regional summit kicked off the same day. ASEAN foreign ministers were seriously concerned about the ongoing developments in the East Vietnam Sea, which have increased tensions in the area, the top diplomats said in the joint statement. They were referring to China's illicit operation of oil rig HD 981 in Vietnamese waters in the sea since…... [read more]
(VOVworld) – UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon on Thursday voiced his concerns over tensions on the Korean Peninsula, which he said can only be resolved through negotiations, at a press conference in Beijing, following a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss the current situation on the Korean Peninsula. Ban urged North Korea to stop its provocations and called on other parties to help ease the tensions. It is important to maintain negotiations to free the Korean Peninsula from nuclear weapons and as UN Secretary General, Ban is ready to help improve relations and resume talks between…... [read more]