According to reports, the hailstones damaged the roofs of 900 houses in the district of Pac Nam, 150 houses in Ba Be district and five others in Cho Don district. Local troops repairing damaged roofs Each hailstone had an average diameter of 1-3cm. Senior Colonel Trieu Van Thap, Deputy-Commander of the Bac Kan provincial Military Command, said that the unit mobilized local forces including over 200 militiamen and nearly 100 soldiers with automobiles, canvas, power generators and knives to support local people to overcome the consequences of natural disasters. The troops urgently helped people repair their houses and evacuated them to safer places. In addition, local authorities and many agencies also took drastic measures to help local residents deal with the aftermath of the hailstorm. Translated by Lam Anh … [Read more...] about Troops support hailstorm-hit people in Bac Kan province
Troop support
Troops stand side by side with flood-hit victims
According to Senior Colonel Huynh Hai, Deputy Political Commissar of the brigade, since December 17, the unit has tidied up two schools in the town. “We will continue this effort until local schools could welcome their pupils back,” Hai confirmed. For her part, teacher Tran Linh Nha from Nhon Hoa Secondary School said that without the troops’ support, it will take the teachers and pupils more weeks to resume their study.Meanwhile, Artillery Brigade 572 promptly removed dozens of cubic meters of soil and stone that were hindering traffic in Binh Dinh province’s districts of Hoai An, Phu My and Phu Cat. It also distributed 500 instant noodle boxes to people isolated by the floods.The same day, Regiment 925 of Division 372 under the Air Defense-Air Force Service transported 1,500 sets of clothing, 1,500 notebooks, 1,100 ball-point pens, 80 textbooks to people in Phu Cat district, An Nhon town.In Quang Nam province, more than 100 troops from … [Read more...] about Troops stand side by side with flood-hit victims
More troops support flood victims
The same day, the Military Region 4 Command added more troops to the search for the two missing border officers, who had been previously swept away by the floodwater, in the area of Lang Chanh district, Thanh Hoa province.Likewise, the Nghe An provincial authorities sent 500 troops, including policemen, militiamen and civil self-defense forces to help reinforce the local dike system and evacuate households to safe places.* From October 11 to 13, as many as 230 troops of Artillery Brigade 368 of Military Corps 1 helped evacuate people and their properties out of the danger area of seven communes in Ha Trung district and Bim Son town, Thanh Hoa province. Translated by Trung Thanh … [Read more...] about More troops support flood victims
VN asks UN for East Sea support
The head of Viet Nam's mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung. NEW YORK (VNS)— The head of Viet Nam's mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, has asked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for help in presenting its argument against China's incursion into its exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.Specifically, Trung wants the UN to circulate two documents clarifying Viet Nam's position on China's placement of an oil rig in Viet Nam's waters in the East Sea.Ambassador Trung said the documents also clarified Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago and exposed the fallacies of China's claims.In the first document, Viet Nam presents legal arguments for its opposition to China's illegal placement of the oil rig, Haiyang Shiyou-981.The arguments counter all the allegations China puts forward in its notes dated May 22 and June 9 to the UN Secretary General. Viet Nam hypothesises that China is wilfully and … [Read more...] about VN asks UN for East Sea support
Obama sends more troops to Baghdad as Iraq battles to stop offensive
BAGHDAD — President Barack Obama has deployed more troops to Baghdad to protect the US embassy as Iraq's parliament was set to convene on Tuesday to seek a solution to the country's sectarian crisis. "In light of the security situation in Baghdad, I have ordered up to approximately 200 additional US Armed Forces personnel to Iraq to reinforce security at the US Embassy, its support facilities, and the Baghdad International Airport," Obama said in a letter to Congress released on Monday. "This force is deploying for the purpose of protecting US citizens and property, if necessary, and is equipped for combat." The latest deployment which the Pentagon said had arrived in Iraq on Sunday brings the number of US troops and embassy security forces to 800, following the sudden advance of the Sunni militants that has left nearly 2,000 people dead this month. Iraqi forces meanwhile pressed a counter-offensive Monday against executed dictator Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, one of a … [Read more...] about Obama sends more troops to Baghdad as Iraq battles to stop offensive
Kerry in Philippines to propel troop deal
MANILA – Secretary of State John Kerry is due to arrive in the Philippines on Tuesday for a two-day trip that could fast-track a deal on expanding the US military presence. Kerry will also visit areas devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan last month, highlighting a massive US humanitarian response to the disaster. "Kerry's visit can be expected to act as a catalyst for change," said John Blaxland, a security and defence analyst at Australia National University's College of Asia and the Pacific. Washington and Manila are in the final stages of hammering out a deal allowing more US troops, aircraft and ships to temporarily pass through the Philippines, where the last US bases closed in 1992. "He will be eager to leverage the visit to speed up and finalise arrangements and assure the Philippines and other regional powers that the US is not just a fair-weather friend," Blaxland said. The United States, the former colonial power in the Philippines, has been the greatest contributor of … [Read more...] about Kerry in Philippines to propel troop deal
Ban says up to 9,000 troops needed for Central Africa
UNITED NATIONS, United States – UN leader Ban Ki-moon has warned that anarchy in Central African Republic risks spiralling further out of control and could need up to 9,000 peacekeepers. Ban expressed on Monday alarm about increasing retaliatory attacks between Muslim and Christian groups in a report which calls on the UN Security Council to act urgently on the crisis. Rebels overthrew Central African Republic's president in March but a transitional government has lost all grip on the country of 4.5 million people. "The population lives in fear," Ban said in the report ahead of a Security Council meeting on the crisis next Monday. Ban suggests five ways in which the international community can act. Four involve providing various forms of financing and logistical support for an African force already in the country. The fifth option is a UN peacekeeping force of between 6,000 and 9,000 troops, plus 1,700 police. While Ban does not opt for any of the options, the report makes it … [Read more...] about Ban says up to 9,000 troops needed for Central Africa
Kenya troops ‘in control’ of mall after three-day bloodbath
NAIROBI – Kenyan troops are in "control" of Nairobi's Westgate shopping mall three days after a deadly siege by Islamists, who, according to Kenya's foreign minister, include "two to three Americans" and a British woman. As the interior ministry said early on Tuesday that all hostages trapped by the militants are believed to have been freed, Kenyan Foreign Minister Amina Mohamed underlined the global scope of the attack. Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents have claimed the attack, which began midday on Saturday when the armed militants marched into the complex, tossed grenades and fired automatic weapons and sent panicked shoppers fleeing. A government spokesman said the siege, in which the attackers massacred at least 62 shoppers and staff, was close to being declared over. He said special forces combing the building were no longer encountering any resistance. "Our special forces are inside the building checking the rooms. We think that everyone, the hostages, have been … [Read more...] about Kenya troops ‘in control’ of mall after three-day bloodbath
HCM City raises funds to help support AO victims
Hanoi-- The Ho Chi Minh City Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin has raised over VND2.7 billion (US$128,000) to help AO victims in the city since last year. At the ceremony to commemorate 51 years since AO/dioxin was first sprayed over Viet Nam on August 5, the association has called on organisations and businesses at home and abroad to continue supporting AO victims across the country. The event saw participants again call on the US to take responsibility for the consequences of AO, which was sprayed across large parts of Viet Nam by US troops during the American war in Viet Nam. On the occasion, the association also honoured 10 outstanding individuals who overcome challenges in their lives and donated 102 gifts worth over VND127 million ($60,400) to disadvantaged people. According to preliminary statistics, HCM City now has 20,000 people who are suffering from exposure to AO/dioxin. The city plans to kick off construction of a centre to provide care, treatment, … [Read more...] about HCM City raises funds to help support AO victims
US to withdraw more than 11,000 troops from Europe
WASHINGTON – The United States vowed on Thursday to retain close military ties to its European allies after unveiling plans to withdraw more than 11,000 troops from Germany and Italy as part of a strategic shift to Asia. "No one should equate lower numbers of US troops permanently stationed in Europe with declining engagement with our European partners," Pentagon press secretary George Little told reporters. The details of the troop reduction, which include two Army brigades and two air squadrons, were announced as Defence Secretary Leon Panetta hosted his German counterpart, Thomas de Maiziere, for talks at the Pentagon. Both men endorsed the drawdown at a joint press conference, with Panetta promising the move would not alter Washington's commitment to the NATO alliance. The Pentagon chief said over 40,000 American troops would remain in Germany and that "the new US defence strategy reaffirms the lasting strategic importance of the trans-Atlantic partnership with NATO … [Read more...] about US to withdraw more than 11,000 troops from Europe