Vietnam's military court has sentenced four years imprisonment to a former deputy defence minister who was accused of allowing three plots of land to be illegally transferred to private investors from the navy in the city of Ho Chi Minh.&nbsp;

According to the state media, Navy's admiral Nguyen Van Hien was found guilty of "lack of responsibility", transferred nearly 7,300 sq meters plots for 45-49 years. The plots were transferred to construct office buildings.&nbsp;

Vietnam's Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong urged a probe against corruption that has led several high-ranking ministers and politicians to jails. One among the jailed is a member of the one-party state's ruling Politburo.

"Hien's activity meant the Navy lost the use of the plots for 49 years, causing losses of nearly 940 billion dong ($40 million) to the state," the Ministry of Public Security said.

The court has also sentenced four other military officers for the scandal. Their punishment varies from four to nine years based on their involvement in the case.&nbsp;

In April, Hied was stripped of his party credentials despite being a deputy defence minister from 2009 to 2016.

Vietnam's military court has sentenced four years imprisonment to a former deputy defence minister who was accused of allowing three plots of land to be illegally transferred to private investors from the navy in the city of Ho Chi Minh.

Vietnam's military court has sentenced four years imprisonment to a former deputy defence minister who was accused of allowing three plots of land to be illegally transferred to private investors from the navy in the city of Ho Chi Minh. According to the state media, Navy's admiral Nguyen Van Hien was found guilty of "lack of responsibility", transferred nearly 7,300 sq meters plots for 45-49 years. The plots were transferred to construct office buildings. Vietnam's Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong urged a probe against corruption that has led several high-ranking ministers and politicians to jails. One among the jailed is a member of the one-party state's ruling Politburo. "Hien's activity meant the Navy lost the use of the plots for 49 years, causing losses of nearly 940 billion dong ($40 million) to the state," the Ministry of Public Security said. The court has also sentenced four other military officers for the scandal. Their punishment varies from four to nine years based on their involvement in the case. In April, Hied was stripped of his party credentials despite being a deputy defence minister from 2009 to 2016.

Vietnam: Military court announces imprisonment to ex-deputy defence minister over land scandal

Smaller countries are challenging the might of China. Vietnam may sue China on the South China Sea. Indonesia summoned China's ambassador after the deaths of four Indonesian crew from two Chinese-flagged vessels. Taiwan - which China claims as its own - is challenging the dragon too. WION's Palki Sharma tells you how smaller players are taking on China.

Gravitas: Vietnam stands up to China

Vietnam appreciates the "enormity and scale of action taken in India to enforce social distancing through the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus," says Indian envoy to Vietnam Pranay Verma. In an exclusive conversation from Hanoi with WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said both India and Vietnam have shared best practices on dealing with the crisis.

WION exclusive conversation with Indian Envoy to Vietnam

Vietnam appreciates "enormity and scale of action taken in India to enforce social distancing through the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus," says Indian envoy to Vietnam Pranay Verma.

In an exclusive conversation from Hanoi with WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said both India and Vietnam have shared best practices on dealing with the crisis.

Verma further said that no Indian COVID-19 case in Vietnam even as the mission reaches out to stranded Indians.&nbsp;

Most of the stranded Indians in the country are tourist, business travellers, short term visitors, he said.

India engagement on pharmaceuticals with Vietnam continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said and added, both India and Vietnam have witnessed among the lowest per capita incidents of infections.

Vietnam appreciates "enormity and scale of action taken in India to enforce social distancing through the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus," says Indian envoy to Vietnam Pranay Verma.

Vietnam appreciates "enormity and scale of action taken in India to enforce social distancing through the lockdown to contain the spread of novel coronavirus," says Indian envoy to Vietnam Pranay Verma. In an exclusive conversation from Hanoi with WION's diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibal, he said both India and Vietnam have shared best practices on dealing with the crisis. Verma further said that no Indian COVID-19 case in Vietnam even as the mission reaches out to stranded Indians. Most of the stranded Indians in the country are tourist, business travellers, short term visitors, he said. India engagement on pharmaceuticals with Vietnam continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, he said and added, both India and Vietnam have witnessed among the lowest per capita incidents of infections.

India, Vietnam witnessed among lowest per capita incidents of infections: Indian envoy to Vietnam 

April 21 in history: First movie projector demonstrated, swine flu vaccine trial begins and more

Perfectly-glazed buns melt-in-your-mouth cakes. The oozing chocolate and an Instagram-able dinner table. Is this the story of your lockdown? Or does it look more like this?

Perfectly-glazed buns melt-in-your-mouth cakes. The oozing chocolate and an Instagram-able dinner table. Is this the story of your lockdown? Or does it look more like this? Sponge cakes too hard for human-teeth? Eggs that look more like a pufferfish? And royal plating disasters! If the lockdown is all about finding your inner chef-- then why fake it till you make it? Those jaw-dropping lemon cakes and the gorgeous cookies don't happen overnight. While the picture-perfect food makes it to Instagram. The numerous trials and errors end up in the dustbin or worse, in the stomachs of blackmailed family members. But not anymore! Thousands in Vietnam are ready to reverse this trend. They are coming out with the grain of truth and posting their culinary disasters online! From alien-looking cakes to charred food. It's all out there for the world to see. It all started in the second week of April. A 37-year-old, Dinh Duc Thanh is a Vietnamese videographer created a Facebook page for culinary catastrophes. Dinh Duc Thanh, administrator of the Facebook group 'Hating kitchen, not addicting to houses'. "I think when there are groups on attractive, delicious dishes and a nice house, we should also have someplace where people can share their failure, so that people may feel more comfortable, being able to share themselves." Within days, thousands were sharing their stories. One netizen laughed at his disastrous ripe cakes. Another woman complained about how her husband thought her banana cream was cat vomit! One mother shared a video of her daughter refusing to eat her sad-looking cake! Another shared photos of burnt potatoes and charred pans. The ash is finally out of the bag. Apart from the smoked flavour, this has given rise to good laughter online and no one is complaining! As everyone knows, cooking and baking isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Discovering real inner chef: Vietnamese post culinary disasters online

16 March in history: First liquid-fuelled rocket, Treaty of Versailles and more!

Vietnam will deny entry and stop issuing tourist visas to citizens from Europe's Schengen visa-free area and Britain starting from Sunday, amid concerns over the spreading coronavirus, its foreign ministry said.

The restriction will start from midday March 15 following a proposal from the country's prime minister, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

Visas on arrival for all foreign nationals are also temporarily halted, it added.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/airline-crisis-worsens-as-us-puts-europeans-in-coronavirus-quarantine-285968">Airline crisis worsens as US puts Europeans in coronavirus quarantine</a>

The British embassy in Hanoi updated its travel advice on a UK government website.

"From noon Vietnam time, March 15, all foreign nationals will be refused entry to Vietnam if in the previous 14 days they have been to the UK, or any Schengen country, even in transit," said the statement.

"This restriction will be in place for 30 days."

Also see: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-embassy-in-us-seeks-to-address-travel-advisory-concerns-issue-multiple-helplines-285993">Indian Embassy in US seeks to address travel advisory concerns, issue multiple helplines</a>

The Schengen Area is a border control-free travel zone comprising 26 European countries.

Vietnam earlier halted visa-free travel for citizens of eight European countries.

Following the government's restriction, the national carrier Vietnam Airlines said it would stop carrying passengers from Paris, London and Frankfurt to Vietnam from March 15, while flights from Vietnam to those destinations would still be operated as normal.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/coronavirus-chaos-spreads-globally-trump-declares-us-emergency-286308">Coronavirus chaos spreads globally, Trump declares US emergency</a>

Three weeks after Vietnam declared that all 16 of its coronavirus cases had recovered, the number of infected patients is on the rise after the authorities said a spate of new infections was traced to a flight from Britain.

Vietnam has confirmed 49 cases of the coronavirus. There have been no deaths in the country.

Vietnam will deny entry and stop issuing tourist visas to citizens from Europe's Schengen visa-free area and Britain starting from Sunday, amid concerns over the spreading coronavirus, its foreign ministry said.

Vietnam will deny entry and stop issuing tourist visas to citizens from Europe's Schengen visa-free area and Britain starting from Sunday, amid concerns over the spreading coronavirus, its foreign ministry said. The restriction will start from midday March 15 following a proposal from the country's prime minister, the ministry said in a statement on its website. Visas on arrival for all foreign nationals are also temporarily halted, it added. Also read: Airline crisis worsens as US puts Europeans in coronavirus quarantine The British embassy in Hanoi updated its travel advice on a UK government website. "From noon Vietnam time, March 15, all foreign nationals will be refused entry to Vietnam if in the previous 14 days they have been to the UK, or any Schengen country, even in transit," said the statement. "This restriction will be in place for 30 days." Also see: Indian Embassy in US seeks to address travel advisory concerns, issue multiple helplines The Schengen Area is a border control-free travel zone comprising 26 European countries. Vietnam earlier halted visa-free travel for citizens of eight European countries. Following the government's restriction, the national carrier Vietnam Airlines said it would stop carrying passengers from Paris, London and Frankfurt to Vietnam from March 15, while flights from Vietnam to those destinations would still be operated as normal. Also read: Coronavirus chaos spreads globally, Trump declares US emergency Three weeks after Vietnam declared that all 16 of its coronavirus cases had recovered, the number of infected patients is on the rise after the authorities said a spate of new infections was traced to a flight from Britain. Vietnam has confirmed 49 cases of the coronavirus. There have been no deaths in the country.

Vietnam to refuse visitors from UK, Schengen countries

Two petite women in protective gear walk slowly down an empty field in north-central Vietnam, carrying a large metal detector that clicks and whirrs, searching for unexploded ordnance (UXO) buried beneath the sand and grass.

Today Tonight: 'Landmine Girls' of Vietnam!

Shipments of around 250,000 bales of Indian cotton to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-china-to-account-for-nearly-35-of-global-gdp-in-2060-study-278393">China </a>have been delayed by nearly two weeks as a virus outbreak and factory closures dampen demand from the world's biggest consumer of the fibre, industry officials told said.

The delay in shipments could pressure local prices and force the state-run <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-%26-economy/indias-cotton-exports-could-hit-four-year-high-on-price-rally-weak-rupee-139689?amp">Cotton Corporation of India</a> (CCI) to increase purchases from farmers to ensure domestic prices stay above government-mandated levels.

"As the holiday is extended in China, shipments are getting delayed," said Chirag Patel, chief executive at Jaydeep Cotton Fibers Pvt Ltd, an exporter.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-january-manufacturing-activity-hits-nearly-8-year-high-278375">India's January manufacturing activity hits nearly 8-year high&nbsp;</a>

Most Chinese firms scale back operations or close for long periods around the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/paris-cancels-lunar-new-year-parade-due-to-chinas-viral-outbreak-276669">Lunar New Year</a> holidays, which began on January&nbsp;24 this year.

But China's government has extended the holidays, announced widespread transport restrictions and told many businesses to stay closed longer to limit the spread of the virus. It is not clear when millions of migrant workers will be able to return to factories or when ports will resume normal operations.

The epidemic has killed nearly 500 people in China and infected more than 24,000 so far.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-china-to-account-for-nearly-35-of-global-gdp-in-2060-study-278393">India, China to account for nearly 35% of global GDP in 2060: Study</a>

Indian sellers had contracted around 650,000 bales to China for prompt shipment.

Around 400,000 bales have already been shipped, but the remaining 250,000 bales have been delayed, three exporters and two dealers with global trading houses told Reuters.

"Exporters are a bit worried. So far buyers haven't cancelled contracts, but some might be if this virus outbreak remains there for few more weeks," said Vinay Kotak, a director at Kotak Commodities, a Mumbai-based brokerage.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-china-to-account-for-nearly-35-of-global-gdp-in-2060-study-278393">China</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-china-to-account-for-nearly-35-of-global-gdp-in-2060-study-278393">Bangladesh</a>, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/as-trump-visits-vietnam-melania-walks-alone-at-great-wall-543">Vietnam </a>and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-indonesias-mt-sinabung-erupts-696">Indonesia </a>are among key buyers of India cotton.

Exporters have an option of diverting cotton meant for China to other destinations such as Bangladesh and Vietnam if shipments are delayed further, Kotak said.

India has shipped 2 million cotton bales since the 2019-20 marketing year started on October&nbsp;1 and another 1 million bales have been contracted for shipment in February and March, said Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India.

"We are hopeful that very soon Chinese buying will return to normal," said Ganatra.

Local cotton prices are already under pressure due to surplus production, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm.

"Chinese buying was supporting local prices. In the absence of China, Cotton Corporation of India will have to raise purchases," the dealer said.

Shipments of around 250,000 bales of Indian cotton to China have been delayed by nearly two weeks as a virus outbreak and factory closures dampen demand from the world's biggest consumer of the fibre, industry officials told said.

Shipments of around 250,000 bales of Indian cotton to China have been delayed by nearly two weeks as a virus outbreak and factory closures dampen demand from the world's biggest consumer of the fibre, industry officials told said. The delay in shipments could pressure local prices and force the state-run Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to increase purchases from farmers to ensure domestic prices stay above government-mandated levels. "As the holiday is extended in China, shipments are getting delayed," said Chirag Patel, chief executive at Jaydeep Cotton Fibers Pvt Ltd, an exporter. Also read: India's January manufacturing activity hits nearly 8-year high Most Chinese firms scale back operations or close for long periods around the Lunar New Year holidays, which began on January 24 this year. But China's government has extended the holidays, announced widespread transport restrictions and told many businesses to stay closed longer to limit the spread of the virus. It is not clear when millions of migrant workers will be able to return to factories or when ports will resume normal operations. The epidemic has killed nearly 500 people in China and infected more than 24,000 so far. Also read: India, China to account for nearly 35% of global GDP in 2060: Study Indian sellers had contracted around 650,000 bales to China for prompt shipment. Around 400,000 bales have already been shipped, but the remaining 250,000 bales have been delayed, three exporters and two dealers with global trading houses told Reuters. "Exporters are a bit worried. So far buyers haven't cancelled contracts, but some might be if this virus outbreak remains there for few more weeks," said Vinay Kotak, a director at Kotak Commodities, a Mumbai-based brokerage. China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia are among key buyers of India cotton. Exporters have an option of diverting cotton meant for China to other destinations such as Bangladesh and Vietnam if shipments are delayed further, Kotak said. India has shipped 2 million cotton bales since the 2019-20 marketing year started on October 1 and another 1 million bales have been contracted for shipment in February and March, said Atul Ganatra, president of the Cotton Association of India. "We are hopeful that very soon Chinese buying will return to normal," said Ganatra. Local cotton prices are already under pressure due to surplus production, said a Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm. "Chinese buying was supporting local prices. In the absence of China, Cotton Corporation of India will have to raise purchases," the dealer said.

Virus outbreak delays India's cotton exports to China

January 18 in history: WW-1 peace conference, recognition of Vietnam, and a lot more!

In Vietnam's "incense village", workers are busy preparing the fragrant sticks ahead of the early arrival of the busy lunar new year holiday. #WION #Vietnam #Lunaryear

Vietnam's 'incense village' prepares for lunar new year

A court in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delegation-of-foreign-envoys-arrive-in-srinagar-briefed-by-army-on-security-situation-273155">Vietnam</a> handed lengthy jail terms on Monday to two former chairmen of Danang city, accused of economic mismanagement, state media reported on Monday.

Tran Van Minh and Van Huu Chien were sentenced to 17 and 12 years in prison, respectively, by Hanoi People's Court, reported Tuoi Tre newspaper. Minh was the chairman of Danang, Vietnam's top tourism destination, from 2006 to 2011, while Chien was chairman from 2011 to 2014.

The pair were accused of violating regulations on state asset and land management to illegally sell several state-owned land slots to businessman Phan Van Anh Vu, causing losses of up to 22 trillion dong ($949.38 million) to the state budget, the report said.

Vu, who fled to Singapore seeking passage to Germany but was arrested in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/americans-back-in-vietnam-this-time-armed-with-pension-funds-272568">Vietnam</a> two years ago, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday for violating state regulations on land management, according to the report.

Vu, also known as "Aluminium Vu", had earlier been sentenced to decades in prison at other trials for deliberate disclosure of state secrets and abusing power to appropriate property.

The court also sentenced 18 other people on Monday to between 1.5 and 6 years for their involvement in the case, the report said.

A court in Vietnam handed lengthy jail terms on Monday to two former chairmen of Danang city, accused of economic mismanagement, state media reported on Monday. Tran Van Minh and Van Huu Chien were sentenced to 17 and 12 years in prison, respectively, by Hanoi People's Court, reported Tuoi Tre newspaper.

A court in Vietnam handed lengthy jail terms on Monday to two former chairmen of Danang city, accused of economic mismanagement, state media reported on Monday. Tran Van Minh and Van Huu Chien were sentenced to 17 and 12 years in prison, respectively, by Hanoi People's Court, reported Tuoi Tre newspaper. Minh was the chairman of Danang, Vietnam's top tourism destination, from 2006 to 2011, while Chien was chairman from 2011 to 2014. The pair were accused of violating regulations on state asset and land management to illegally sell several state-owned land slots to businessman Phan Van Anh Vu, causing losses of up to 22 trillion dong ($949.38 million) to the state budget, the report said. Vu, who fled to Singapore seeking passage to Germany but was arrested in Vietnam two years ago, was sentenced to 25 years in prison on Monday for violating state regulations on land management, according to the report. Vu, also known as "Aluminium Vu", had earlier been sentenced to decades in prison at other trials for deliberate disclosure of state secrets and abusing power to appropriate property. The court also sentenced 18 other people on Monday to between 1.5 and 6 years for their involvement in the case, the report said.

Vietnam: Hanoi People's Court jails Danang ex-chairmen over economic mismanagement

It has been around four decades since 'the war in the jungle' ended in the favour of the Vietnamese, with American troops on the retreat. So many years on, it seems that the Americans are back in the jungle.

But this time, it's not fresh troops right out of boot camp, but the same soldiers who fought so many years ago. They're back as senior citizens armed, not with M16s, but with their pension funds.

<img alt="Vietnam" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="78ced9a9-1fd2-4b77-98e8-bcaa1fcfe3de" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%281%29_39.jpg" />

A man installs a Christmas decoration featuring Santa Claus in a pond outside the Phu My church in Hanoi on December 24, 2019. (AFP Photo)

Washington DC had decided to fight their ideological enemy which was embodied in the communist dictator - Ho Chi Minh, ruling in Hanoi. The socialist system in Vietnam back then encompassed everything that the capitalist system in America despised.

However, data shows that more and more American war veterans and pensioners are deciding to settle offshores, with the main reason being the cost of living. The socialist system in such countries ensures healthcare at minimal or reasonable costs, and their increasing standard of living suits the comfort that the pensioners would seek in America.

<img alt="Vietnam" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4c97c5a4-d853-4962-8a37-2c899aa9291b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%284%29_13.jpg" /> 
 
A resident poses with a flower installation ahead of the 2020 new year, in Hanoi on December 30, 2019. &nbsp;(AFP Photo)

With "high-quality healthcare, good roads, and modern conveniences", Vietnam was rated among the top-10 nations to retire abroad by an international magazine in its annual global retirement index.

The low cost of living also added to Vietnam's charm with friendly people and affordable luxuries. The survey found the country to be a great travel hub with several international flights connecting with the country. 
 
<img alt="Vietnam" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f985014c-7df1-4095-b093-951ae93a44b0" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%283%29_26.jpg" />

A woman takes a selfie outside the late 19th-century St. Joseph's cathedral in the old quarters of Hanoi during Christmas eve on December 24, 2019. (AFP Photo)

There are 'humane' reasons as well which explain why so many pensioners are deciding to shift their lives abroad. While some come for the adventure and the fun element of living in another part of the world, others come for the emotional attachment they may have developed.

Many US war veterans felt a certain degree of emotional attachment to the land and the jungles in which they fought, which had a huge impact on their lives. This feeling was motivated by the benefits they would gain by simply settling down.

The many war veterans who have returned to Vietnam have settled down to live happy lives here. Some say that the people of Vietnam have accepted them, and pay more respect to the veterans than their American citizens ever did.

"Here I found, more or less, peace with myself. Sometimes I go to a place where we used to fight. What was chaos and destruction at the time, is now a hopeful place full of life" said on veteran, who now lives in Vietnam.

It has been around four decades since 'the war in the jungle' ended in the favour of the Vietnamese, with American troops on the retreat. So many years on, it seems that the Americans are back in the jungle.

It has been around four decades since 'the war in the jungle' ended in the favour of the Vietnamese, with American troops on the retreat. So many years on, it seems that the Americans are back in the jungle. But this time, it's not fresh troops right out of boot camp, but the same soldiers who fought so many years ago. They're back as senior citizens armed, not with M16s, but with their pension funds. A man installs a Christmas decoration featuring Santa Claus in a pond outside the Phu My church in Hanoi on December 24, 2019. (AFP Photo) Washington DC had decided to fight their ideological enemy which was embodied in the communist dictator - Ho Chi Minh, ruling in Hanoi. The socialist system in Vietnam back then encompassed everything that the capitalist system in America despised. However, data shows that more and more American war veterans and pensioners are deciding to settle offshores, with the main reason being the cost of living. The socialist system in such countries ensures healthcare at minimal or reasonable costs, and their increasing standard of living suits the comfort that the pensioners would seek in America. A resident poses with a flower installation ahead of the 2020 new year, in Hanoi on December 30, 2019. (AFP Photo) With "high-quality healthcare, good roads, and modern conveniences", Vietnam was rated among the top-10 nations to retire abroad by an international magazine in its annual global retirement index. The low cost of living also added to Vietnam's charm with friendly people and affordable luxuries. The survey found the country to be a great travel hub with several international flights connecting with the country. A woman takes a selfie outside the late 19th-century St. Joseph's cathedral in the old quarters of Hanoi during Christmas eve on December 24, 2019. (AFP Photo) There are 'humane' reasons as well which explain why so many pensioners are deciding to shift their lives abroad. While some come for the adventure and the fun element of living in another part of the world, others come for the emotional attachment they may have developed. Many US war veterans felt a certain degree of emotional attachment to the land and the jungles in which they fought, which had a huge impact on their lives. This feeling was motivated by the benefits they would gain by simply settling down. The many war veterans who have returned to Vietnam have settled down to live happy lives here. Some say that the people of Vietnam have accepted them, and pay more respect to the veterans than their American citizens ever did. "Here I found, more or less, peace with myself. Sometimes I go to a place where we used to fight. What was chaos and destruction at the time, is now a hopeful place full of life" said on veteran, who now lives in Vietnam.

Americans back in Vietnam — this time armed with pension funds

An international magazine in its annual global retirement index has rated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/malaysia-offers-to-buy-more-imports-from-india-after-threat-of-palm-oil-curbs-256078">Malaysia</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-says-deeply-concerned-about-developments-in-south-china-sea-244942">Vietnam</a> in Asia among the top-10 nations to retire abroad.

The International Living magazine rated Portugal as the top country to retire citing pleasant climate with an "affordable lifestyle" along with quality healthcare, safety rate and "excellent food and wine". The survey also pointed out that "Portugal is the second least expensive country in Europe" making it an ideal country to finally retire.

The magazine ranked Malaysia in number seven due to its "idyllic beaches" with the language being an easy mechanism of communication since English was the "unofficial" first language. Cheap food and low living costs counted in Malaysia's favour with affordable medical care being another factor that helped the country to rank among the best retirement destinations in the world.

Vietnam was last in the list of top-10 with "high-quality healthcare, good roads, and modern conveniences". The low cost of living also added to Vietnam's charm with friendly people and affordable luxuries. The survey found the country to be a great travel hub with several international flights connecting with the country.

Not surprisingly <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/venezuela-france-wests-duplicity-196078">France</a> and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-ambassador-to-spain-hurt-in-barcelona-mugging-244352">Spain</a> were picked at ninth and eighth places respectively with Ecuador being a surprise sixth choice in the list due to its weather and fertile valleys. Interestingly, Columbia in Latin America finished among the top-5 with access to an easy retirement visa.

Mexico was ranked number four with Costa Rica with its low cost of living and "top-notch medical care" in no-3 slot.

The survey put Panama which is close to the US with "sunny weather" and exciting food options with benefits and discounts for retirees as the no-2 country to retire.

An international magazine in its annual global retirement index has rated Malaysia and Vietnam in Asia among the top-10 nations to retire abroad. The International Living magazine rated Portugal as the top country to retire citing pleasant climate with an "affordable lifestyle" along with quality healthcare, safety rate and "excellent food and wine".

An international magazine in its annual global retirement index has rated Malaysia and Vietnam in Asia among the top-10 nations to retire abroad. The International Living magazine rated Portugal as the top country to retire citing pleasant climate with an "affordable lifestyle" along with quality healthcare, safety rate and "excellent food and wine". The survey also pointed out that "Portugal is the second least expensive country in Europe" making it an ideal country to finally retire. The magazine ranked Malaysia in number seven due to its "idyllic beaches" with the language being an easy mechanism of communication since English was the "unofficial" first language. Cheap food and low living costs counted in Malaysia's favour with affordable medical care being another factor that helped the country to rank among the best retirement destinations in the world. Vietnam was last in the list of top-10 with "high-quality healthcare, good roads, and modern conveniences". The low cost of living also added to Vietnam's charm with friendly people and affordable luxuries. The survey found the country to be a great travel hub with several international flights connecting with the country. Not surprisingly France and Spain were picked at ninth and eighth places respectively with Ecuador being a surprise sixth choice in the list due to its weather and fertile valleys. Interestingly, Columbia in Latin America finished among the top-5 with access to an easy retirement visa. Mexico was ranked number four with Costa Rica with its low cost of living and "top-notch medical care" in no-3 slot. The survey put Panama which is close to the US with "sunny weather" and exciting food options with benefits and discounts for retirees as the no-2 country to retire.

Portugal best country to retire; Malaysia, Vietnam top in Asia: Study

Vietnam said it hoped China would show restraint in the South China Sea next year after a Chinese <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-says-deeply-concerned-about-developments-in-south-china-sea-244942">oil survey vessel</a> and its escorts spent months within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in what Hanoi called a blatant violation of its sovereignty.

Vietnam, the region's most forceful challenger of China's extensive maritime claims to the busy waterway, will take on the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020.

"I hope that during our chairmanship China will show restraint and refrain from these activities," Vietnam's deputy <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-govt-denies-reports-of-sale-of-brahmos-missile-to-vietnam-19191">foreign minister</a>, Nguyen Quoc Dung, said at a lecture at The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore.

"What China did is very alarming and also kind of threatening not only Vietnam but also other countries that see the potential of being <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-to-provide-ship-to-vietnam-to-boost-south-china-sea-patrols-263403">threatened </a>in the future," he said.

China's claims within its so-called "Nine-Dash Line" in the South China Sea are a source of friction with ASEAN members Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei as well as with the United States.

But China's closest allies within the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-east-asia/southeast-asian-leaders-meet-expected-to-discuss-rohingyas-south-china-sea-229680">Southeast Asian bloc</a> have historically opposed taking tougher words or action against China, which is nonetheless negotiating a code of conduct with regional states.

The Vietnamese minister said it wasn't that other ASEAN countries supported China's actions, but that they did not protest in the same way.

More than $3 trillion a year in trade pass through the waterway, which also has oil and gas reserves and historic fishing grounds for the surrounding countries.

The Chinese oil survey vessel <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-ship-at-vanguard-bank-a-threat-need-to-address-it-collectively-vietnam-ambassador-at-wion-world-order-238428">Haiyang Dizhi 8</a> left Vietnam's extended economic zone in late October after more than three months there. Beijing said it had been carrying out a scientific survey in Chinese-controlled waters.

Vietnam said it hoped China would show restraint in the South China Sea next year after a Chinese oil survey vessel and its escorts spent months within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in what Hanoi called a blatant violation of its sovereignty.

Vietnam said it hoped China would show restraint in the South China Sea next year after a Chinese oil survey vessel and its escorts spent months within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in what Hanoi called a blatant violation of its sovereignty. Vietnam, the region's most forceful challenger of China's extensive maritime claims to the busy waterway, will take on the rotating chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2020. "I hope that during our chairmanship China will show restraint and refrain from these activities," Vietnam's deputy foreign minister, Nguyen Quoc Dung, said at a lecture at The Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore. "What China did is very alarming and also kind of threatening not only Vietnam but also other countries that see the potential of being threatened in the future," he said. China's claims within its so-called "Nine-Dash Line" in the South China Sea are a source of friction with ASEAN members Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei as well as with the United States. But China's closest allies within the Southeast Asian bloc have historically opposed taking tougher words or action against China, which is nonetheless negotiating a code of conduct with regional states. The Vietnamese minister said it wasn't that other ASEAN countries supported China's actions, but that they did not protest in the same way. More than $3 trillion a year in trade pass through the waterway, which also has oil and gas reserves and historic fishing grounds for the surrounding countries. The Chinese oil survey vessel Haiyang Dizhi 8 left Vietnam's extended economic zone in late October after more than three months there. Beijing said it had been carrying out a scientific survey in Chinese-controlled waters.

Vietnam hopes for Chinese restraint in South China Sea in 2020

The&nbsp;first&nbsp;remains&nbsp;of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/driver-charged-as-more-vietnamese-feared-dead-among-39-uk-truck-victims-261361">39 people found dead</a> in a&nbsp;truck&nbsp;in Britain last month arrived in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;early Wednesday, an airport security source said.

The bodies arrived on a commercial&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;Airlines flight from London to Hanoi, where ambulances and security personnel waited at the airport.

"The plane landed with 16 bodies on board... we are waiting to transfer the bodies to local authorities," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

An official letter seen by AFP confirmed that 16 bodies would&nbsp;arrive&nbsp;in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;Wednesday. The 16&nbsp;victims&nbsp;came from three provinces in central&nbsp;Vietnam.

The other&nbsp;remains&nbsp;are expected to&nbsp;arrive&nbsp;in the coming days, though officials have not confirmed the date publicly.

Families have been frozen in grief for weeks waiting for their relatives' return, and many have taken out hefty loans from the government to cover the cost of repatriation.

The&nbsp;remains&nbsp;were expected to be delivered later Wednesday to relatives in three central provinces,&nbsp;Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh,&nbsp;so families could hold funerals and burial ceremonies.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-strongly-condemns-human-trafficking-after-uk-truck-tragedy-259460">The bodies of 31 men and eight women</a> were discovered in a refrigerated lorry in an industrial state in Essex east of London on October 23.

Police initially identified the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;as Chinese but families in&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;later came forward with fears their relatives were on the&nbsp;truck.

The United Kingdom is a top destination for Vietnamese illegal migrants.

Many arrange trips through brokers who promise them well-paid jobs and end up working in nail bars or on cannabis farms, deep in debt for their dangerous trips over.

'VIP route'&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-arrests-eight-in-connection-with-uk-truck-deaths-259812">Several families of the 39&nbsp;victims</a>&nbsp;told AFP they borrowed thousands of dollars to pay for their relatives' trips to Europe.

They are now further in debt having taken loans from the government to bring their relatives back.

Families were given two options for repatriation: $1,774 to bring back ashes, or $2,858 for the cost of a coffin carrying the body.

Though relatives were encouraged by authorities to opt for ashes "to ensure speed, low cost and sanitation safety", many paid more for the bodies to carry out traditional burials.

Cremation is rare in the&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;countryside, where many of the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;were from.

Most hailed from just a handful of central&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;provinces, which are among the poorest in the country and where well-entrenched networks of illegal brokers can easily facilitate risky trips abroad.

Ten of the&nbsp;victims&nbsp;were teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, and 30 of the group came from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces.

They paid thousands of dollars to brokers who promised the&nbsp;truck&nbsp;was the safer option,&nbsp;billed as the 'VIP route',&nbsp;their families told AFP.

On Monday, the Northern Irish driver of the&nbsp;truck, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assist illegal immigration.

He also admitted to acquiring the cash that came from criminal conduct but did not plead guilty to 41 other charges levelled against him.

Several other people have been arrested in the&nbsp;UK&nbsp;over the incident while&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;has held at least 10 people, though none have been formally charged.

The first remains of the 39 people found dead in a truck in Britain last month arrived in Vietnam early Wednesday, an airport security source said. The bodies arrived on a commercial Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi, where ambulances and security personnel waited at the airport.

The first remains of the 39 people found dead in a truck in Britain last month arrived in Vietnam early Wednesday, an airport security source said. The bodies arrived on a commercial Vietnam Airlines flight from London to Hanoi, where ambulances and security personnel waited at the airport. "The plane landed with 16 bodies on board... we are waiting to transfer the bodies to local authorities," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity. An official letter seen by AFP confirmed that 16 bodies would arrive in Vietnam Wednesday. The 16 victims came from three provinces in central Vietnam. The other remains are expected to arrive in the coming days, though officials have not confirmed the date publicly. Families have been frozen in grief for weeks waiting for their relatives' return, and many have taken out hefty loans from the government to cover the cost of repatriation. The remains were expected to be delivered later Wednesday to relatives in three central provinces, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh, so families could hold funerals and burial ceremonies. The bodies of 31 men and eight women were discovered in a refrigerated lorry in an industrial state in Essex east of London on October 23. Police initially identified the victims as Chinese but families in Vietnam later came forward with fears their relatives were on the truck. The United Kingdom is a top destination for Vietnamese illegal migrants. Many arrange trips through brokers who promise them well-paid jobs and end up working in nail bars or on cannabis farms, deep in debt for their dangerous trips over. 'VIP route' Several families of the 39 victims told AFP they borrowed thousands of dollars to pay for their relatives' trips to Europe. They are now further in debt having taken loans from the government to bring their relatives back. Families were given two options for repatriation: $1,774 to bring back ashes, or $2,858 for the cost of a coffin carrying the body. Though relatives were encouraged by authorities to opt for ashes "to ensure speed, low cost and sanitation safety", many paid more for the bodies to carry out traditional burials. Cremation is rare in the Vietnam countryside, where many of the victims were from. Most hailed from just a handful of central Vietnam provinces, which are among the poorest in the country and where well-entrenched networks of illegal brokers can easily facilitate risky trips abroad. Ten of the victims were teenagers, including two 15-year-old boys, and 30 of the group came from Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces. They paid thousands of dollars to brokers who promised the truck was the safer option, billed as the 'VIP route', their families told AFP. On Monday, the Northern Irish driver of the truck, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson, pleaded guilty to conspiring to assist illegal immigration. He also admitted to acquiring the cash that came from criminal conduct but did not plead guilty to 41 other charges levelled against him. Several other people have been arrested in the UK over the incident while Vietnam has held at least 10 people, though none have been formally charged.

Remains of United Kingdom lorry victims arrive in Vietnam

A Northern Irish&nbsp;man, who is charged with the&nbsp;manslaughter of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-in-lorry-in-essex-were-vietnam-nationals-uk-police-260616">39 Vietnamese nationals found dead</a> in a&nbsp;truck&nbsp;near London last month, pleaded&nbsp;guilty&nbsp;on Monday to assisting unlawful&nbsp;immigration&nbsp;and to acquiring criminal&nbsp;property.

Appearing by video link from Belmarsh Prison in east London, Maurice Robinson, 25, was not asked to enter a plea to 41 other charges, including 39 counts of&nbsp;manslaughter.

No trial date was set and Robinson is next due in court on December&nbsp;13.

The victims, 31 men and boys and eight women, were found on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, not far from docks on the River Thames, on Oct. 23. The oldest of the victims was 44 while three were aged under 18.

Another 23-year-old&nbsp;man&nbsp;from Northern Ireland was separately charged on Sunday with charges of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of&nbsp;UK&nbsp;immigration&nbsp;law.

He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in England on Monday.

A Northern Irish man, who is charged with the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese nationals found dead in a truck near London last month, pleaded guilty on Monday to assisting unlawful immigration and to acquiring criminal property.

A Northern Irish man, who is charged with the manslaughter of 39 Vietnamese nationals found dead in a truck near London last month, pleaded guilty on Monday to assisting unlawful immigration and to acquiring criminal property. Appearing by video link from Belmarsh Prison in east London, Maurice Robinson, 25, was not asked to enter a plea to 41 other charges, including 39 counts of manslaughter. No trial date was set and Robinson is next due in court on December 13. The victims, 31 men and boys and eight women, were found on an industrial estate in Grays, Essex, not far from docks on the River Thames, on Oct. 23. The oldest of the victims was 44 while three were aged under 18. Another 23-year-old man from Northern Ireland was separately charged on Sunday with charges of conspiracy to arrange or facilitate the travel of people with a view to exploitation and conspiracy to facilitate the commission of a breach of UK immigration law. He is due to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court in England on Monday.

UK man pleads guilty to immigration, property offences in truck deaths case

&nbsp;The United States announced on Wednesday it will provide Vietnam with another coast guard cutter for its growing fleet of ships, boosting Hanoi's ability to patrol the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../china-calls-on-us-to-stop-flexing-muscles-in- south-china-sea-262942">South China Sea</a> amid tensions with China.

US&nbsp;Defense Secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../us-cuts-short-meeting-with-south-korea-on- military-costs-263118">Mark Esper</a> disclosed the decision during an address in Vietnam, which has emerged as the most vocal opponent in Asia of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea.

In his speech, Esper took aim at China, which he accused of "bullying" neighbours, like Vietnam.

"China's unilateral efforts to assert illegitimate maritime claims threaten other nations' access to vital natural resources, undermine the stability of regional energy markets, and increase the risk of conflict," Esper told students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.

The vessel will be Vietnam's second cutter from the US&nbsp;Coast Guard, which just two years ago transferred a Hamilton-class cutter to Vietnam. By providing the ships, the US&nbsp;hopes to enable Vietnam to assert its sovereignty and deter China.

More than four decades after the Vietnam War ended, ties between the United States and Vietnam are increasingly focused on shared concerns over Chinese expansion.

China claims 90 per cent&nbsp;of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of it, through which about $3 trillion of trade passes each year.

Beijing in July sent a ship for a months-long seismic survey to an area internationally designated as Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but also claimed by China.

Vietnam said earlier this month it could explore legal action in the dispute, a move previously taken by the Philippines - where Esper visited earlier this week.

In 2016, the Philippines won a ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China's claim over most of the South China Sea.

Speaking earlier at Vietnam's defence ministry, Esper said the international rules-based order “has come under duress."

"Collectively, we must stand up against coercion and intimidation, protect the rights of all nations, big and small," Esper said.

The United States accuses China of militarising the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves.

In April, the United States delivered six patrol boats worth $12 million to Vietnam's Coast Guard. Those vessels were in addition to another twelve "Metal Shark" patrol boats it provided to Vietnam in the last two years.

The United States announced on Wednesday it will provide Vietnam with another coast guard cutter for its growing fleet of ships, boosting Hanoi's ability to patrol the South China Sea amid tensions with China.

The United States announced on Wednesday it will provide Vietnam with another coast guard cutter for its growing fleet of ships, boosting Hanoi's ability to patrol the South China Sea amid tensions with China. US Defense Secretary Mark Esper disclosed the decision during an address in Vietnam, which has emerged as the most vocal opponent in Asia of China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. In his speech, Esper took aim at China, which he accused of "bullying" neighbours, like Vietnam. "China's unilateral efforts to assert illegitimate maritime claims threaten other nations' access to vital natural resources, undermine the stability of regional energy markets, and increase the risk of conflict," Esper told students at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam. The vessel will be Vietnam's second cutter from the US Coast Guard, which just two years ago transferred a Hamilton-class cutter to Vietnam. By providing the ships, the US hopes to enable Vietnam to assert its sovereignty and deter China. More than four decades after the Vietnam War ended, ties between the United States and Vietnam are increasingly focused on shared concerns over Chinese expansion. China claims 90 per cent of the potentially energy-rich South China Sea, but Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also lay claim to parts of it, through which about $3 trillion of trade passes each year. Beijing in July sent a ship for a months-long seismic survey to an area internationally designated as Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) but also claimed by China. Vietnam said earlier this month it could explore legal action in the dispute, a move previously taken by the Philippines - where Esper visited earlier this week. In 2016, the Philippines won a ruling from the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that invalidated China's claim over most of the South China Sea. Speaking earlier at Vietnam's defence ministry, Esper said the international rules-based order “has come under duress." "Collectively, we must stand up against coercion and intimidation, protect the rights of all nations, big and small," Esper said. The United States accuses China of militarising the South China Sea and trying to intimidate Asian neighbours who might want to exploit its extensive oil and gas reserves. In April, the United States delivered six patrol boats worth $12 million to Vietnam's Coast Guard. Those vessels were in addition to another twelve "Metal Shark" patrol boats it provided to Vietnam in the last two years.

US to provide ship to Vietnam to boost South China Sea patrols

Vietnam sentenced a music teacher to 11 years in prison on Friday for Facebook posts that allegedly undermined the one-party state, which has been accused of tightening the noose on online dissent.

Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire recently for targeting users on Facebook, a popular forum for activists in the country where all independent media is banned.

Nguyen Nang Tinh is the latest activist jailed for his Facebook comments, including posts about police brutality, land rights, and a Taiwanese steel firm that dumped toxic sludge into the ocean, killing masses of fish off the coast of Vietnam.

Authorities accused the college music teacher of posting "hostile thoughts" and "profound anti-government material" on social media.

The 42-year-old was sentenced to 11 years for "producing, disseminating or spreading information and documents aimed at undermining" Vietnam, his lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng told AFP from central Nghe An province.

He got another five years probation.

The jail term was "too harsh", Mieng told AFP, arguing that prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence.

Tinh's father Nguyen Ngoc Dinh insisted his son was innocent, saying he "only raised his voice against injustice in society".

Missing activist

Tinh's conviction Friday came as another activist was held for eight hours at Hanoi's airport as she arrived from Thailand.&nbsp;

Dinh Thao is a pro-democracy campaigner and vocal critic of Vietnam's communist regime who lived abroad and worked for a Vietnamese civil society organisation.

Her husband Phillip said she came back to help fellow activists in the country, but he lost touch soon after her arrival on Friday.

Security officials asked Thao about her work and confiscated her passport before releasing her in Vietnam, he told AFP, providing his name only as Phillip.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International earlier decried her detention, while immigration police refused to comment to AFP. &nbsp;

The news came just days after a dissident with Australian citizenship was jailed for 12 years in Vietnam on terrorism charges, along with two other Vietnamese nationals who got 10 and 11 years.

Vietnam is accused of cracking down on activists since a conservative leadership came to power in 2016.

A cybersecurity bill passed last year -- and not yet implemented -- requires sites like Facebook and YouTube to remove content if asked by the government to do so. The controversial law would also require companies to hand over user data and host servers in the country.

Amnesty International says there are at least 128 political prisoners behind bars in Vietnam, 10 percent it estimates were jailed for Facebook posts.

Other rights groups put the number of jailed dissidents as far higher, but no official data is available.

Vietnam sentenced a music teacher to 11 years in prison on Friday for Facebook posts that allegedly undermined the one-party state, which has been accused of tightening the noose on online dissent.

Vietnam sentenced a music teacher to 11 years in prison on Friday for Facebook posts that allegedly undermined the one-party state, which has been accused of tightening the noose on online dissent. Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire recently for targeting users on Facebook, a popular forum for activists in the country where all independent media is banned. Nguyen Nang Tinh is the latest activist jailed for his Facebook comments, including posts about police brutality, land rights, and a Taiwanese steel firm that dumped toxic sludge into the ocean, killing masses of fish off the coast of Vietnam. Authorities accused the college music teacher of posting "hostile thoughts" and "profound anti-government material" on social media. The 42-year-old was sentenced to 11 years for "producing, disseminating or spreading information and documents aimed at undermining" Vietnam, his lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng told AFP from central Nghe An province. He got another five years probation. The jail term was "too harsh", Mieng told AFP, arguing that prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence. Tinh's father Nguyen Ngoc Dinh insisted his son was innocent, saying he "only raised his voice against injustice in society". Missing activist Tinh's conviction Friday came as another activist was held for eight hours at Hanoi's airport as she arrived from Thailand. Dinh Thao is a pro-democracy campaigner and vocal critic of Vietnam's communist regime who lived abroad and worked for a Vietnamese civil society organisation. Her husband Phillip said she came back to help fellow activists in the country, but he lost touch soon after her arrival on Friday. Security officials asked Thao about her work and confiscated her passport before releasing her in Vietnam, he told AFP, providing his name only as Phillip. Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International earlier decried her detention, while immigration police refused to comment to AFP. The news came just days after a dissident with Australian citizenship was jailed for 12 years in Vietnam on terrorism charges, along with two other Vietnamese nationals who got 10 and 11 years. Vietnam is accused of cracking down on activists since a conservative leadership came to power in 2016. A cybersecurity bill passed last year -- and not yet implemented -- requires sites like Facebook and YouTube to remove content if asked by the government to do so. The controversial law would also require companies to hand over user data and host servers in the country. Amnesty International says there are at least 128 political prisoners behind bars in Vietnam, 10 percent it estimates were jailed for Facebook posts. Other rights groups put the number of jailed dissidents as far higher, but no official data is available.

Vietnam jails music teacher for 'undermining' state

Vietnam sentenced a music teacher to 11 years in prison on Friday for Facebook posts that allegedly undermined the one-party state, which has been accused of tightening the noose on online dissent.

Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire recently for targeting users on Facebook, a popular forum for activists in the country where all independent media is banned.

Nguyen Nang Tinh is the latest activist jailed for his Facebook comments, including posts about a Taiwanese steel firm that dumped toxic sludge into the ocean, killing masses of fish in central Vietnam.

He also wrote about police brutality and land rights,&nbsp;both flashpoint issues in Vietnam.

Authorities accused the college music teacher of posting "hostile thoughts" and "profound anti-government material" on social media.

The 42-year-old was sentenced to 11 years for "producing, disseminating or spreading information and documents aimed at undermining" Vietnam, his lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng told AFP from central Nghe An province.

He got another five years probation.

The jail term was "too harsh", Mieng told AFP, arguing that prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to link the offending Facebook account to his client.

Tinh's father Nguyen Ngoc Dinh insisted his son was innocent, saying he "only raised his voice against injustice in society".

"My son was very strong in court. He didn't admit the charges," he added, calling the trial "ridiculous".

Tinh was bundled into a car by police in May after taking his two young sons for breakfast.

His conviction comes just days after a dissident with Australian citizenship was jailed for 12 years in Vietnam on terrorism charges, along with two other Vietnamese nationals who got 10 and 11 years.

Vietnam has come under fire for cracking down on activists since a conservative leadership came to power in 2016.

Last year, the government passed a controversial cybersecurity law that critics say is designed to scrub online dissent.

The bill -- which is not yet implemented -- requires sites like Facebook and YouTube to remove content if asked by the government to do so. The law would also require companies to hand over user data and host servers in the country.

Amnesty International says there are at least 128 political prisoners behind bars in Vietnam, 10 per cent it estimates were jailed for Facebook posts.

Other rights group put the number of jailed dissidents as far higher, but no official data is available.

Vietnam sentenced a music teacher to 11 years in prison on Friday for Facebook posts that allegedly undermined the one-party state, which has been accused of tightening the noose on online dissent. Communist Vietnam has long jailed its critics but has come under fire recently for targeting users on Facebook, a popular forum for activists in the country where all independent media is banned. Nguyen Nang Tinh is the latest activist jailed for his Facebook comments, including posts about a Taiwanese steel firm that dumped toxic sludge into the ocean, killing masses of fish in central Vietnam. He also wrote about police brutality and land rights, both flashpoint issues in Vietnam. Authorities accused the college music teacher of posting "hostile thoughts" and "profound anti-government material" on social media. The 42-year-old was sentenced to 11 years for "producing, disseminating or spreading information and documents aimed at undermining" Vietnam, his lawyer Nguyen Van Mieng told AFP from central Nghe An province. He got another five years probation. The jail term was "too harsh", Mieng told AFP, arguing that prosecutors did not have sufficient evidence to link the offending Facebook account to his client. Tinh's father Nguyen Ngoc Dinh insisted his son was innocent, saying he "only raised his voice against injustice in society". "My son was very strong in court. He didn't admit the charges," he added, calling the trial "ridiculous". Tinh was bundled into a car by police in May after taking his two young sons for breakfast. His conviction comes just days after a dissident with Australian citizenship was jailed for 12 years in Vietnam on terrorism charges, along with two other Vietnamese nationals who got 10 and 11 years. Vietnam has come under fire for cracking down on activists since a conservative leadership came to power in 2016. Last year, the government passed a controversial cybersecurity law that critics say is designed to scrub online dissent. The bill -- which is not yet implemented -- requires sites like Facebook and YouTube to remove content if asked by the government to do so. The law would also require companies to hand over user data and host servers in the country. Amnesty International says there are at least 128 political prisoners behind bars in Vietnam, 10 per cent it estimates were jailed for Facebook posts. Other rights group put the number of jailed dissidents as far higher, but no official data is available.

Washington and Beijing traded tit-for-tat barbs over the disputed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-says-ready-to-work-with-asean-for-south-china-sea-peace-259624">South China Sea</a> at a regional summit in Bangkok on Monday, with the US accusing the fellow superpower of intimidating claimants in the resource-rich waterway.

China hit back with a veiled criticism of the US, accusing it of ratcheting up tensions in the waters, a key global shipping route.

Beijing lays claim to huge swathes of the sea where it is accused of building military <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-warship-sails-in-disputed-south-china-sea-amid-trade-tensions-246250">installations and fake islands</a>, and ramming fishing vessels.

The US has long accused it of bullying fellow claimants - Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei - calling for freedom of navigation in the area.

US national security adviser Robert O'Brien doubled down on America's rhetoric against China on Monday, speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit.&nbsp;

"Beijing has used intimidation to try and stop ASEAN nations from exploiting their offshore resources," he said, addressing an ASEAN meeting Monday.

"Big countries should not bully other countries," he later told reporters.

China's deputy foreign minister Le Yucheng meanwhile accused some outside countries of "meddling" in the sea, answering a question on US comments about the waters.

"Some non-regional countries cannot live with calm waters in the South China Sea and have come all this way to make waves," he said in an apparent jab at the US.

In return, O'Brien later said "we don't think we're meddlers".

"We always come when we're invited, unlike other countries," he said after Le's comments emerged.

Tensions have flared in the flashpoint waterway in recent weeks after China deployed a survey ship to waters claimed by Hanoi.

Though the communist neighbours have long feuded over the sea, Hanoi fought back with fiery language after the most recent incursion.

The ship left after a few weeks, but Vietnam could seek tougher language in the final ASEAN communique expected to be delivered later on Monday.

Vietnam is pushing for mention of "specific incidents" in the document, "while the other sides rather want a general statement", Philippines' finance secretary Sonny Dominguez told reporters earlier.

China's premier Li Keqiang said Sunday Beijing was committed to progress on a Code of Conduct agreement, which it has repeatedly delayed since talks first started in 2002 while carrying out its expansionist strategy in the sea.&nbsp;

Washington and Beijing traded tit-for-tat barbs over the disputed South China Sea at a regional summit in Bangkok on Monday, with the US accusing the fellow superpower of intimidating claimants in the resource-rich waterway.

Washington and Beijing traded tit-for-tat barbs over the disputed South China Sea at a regional summit in Bangkok on Monday, with the US accusing the fellow superpower of intimidating claimants in the resource-rich waterway. China hit back with a veiled criticism of the US, accusing it of ratcheting up tensions in the waters, a key global shipping route. Beijing lays claim to huge swathes of the sea where it is accused of building military installations and fake islands, and ramming fishing vessels. The US has long accused it of bullying fellow claimants - Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei - calling for freedom of navigation in the area. US national security adviser Robert O'Brien doubled down on America's rhetoric against China on Monday, speaking at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit. "Beijing has used intimidation to try and stop ASEAN nations from exploiting their offshore resources," he said, addressing an ASEAN meeting Monday. "Big countries should not bully other countries," he later told reporters. China's deputy foreign minister Le Yucheng meanwhile accused some outside countries of "meddling" in the sea, answering a question on US comments about the waters. "Some non-regional countries cannot live with calm waters in the South China Sea and have come all this way to make waves," he said in an apparent jab at the US. In return, O'Brien later said "we don't think we're meddlers". "We always come when we're invited, unlike other countries," he said after Le's comments emerged. Tensions have flared in the flashpoint waterway in recent weeks after China deployed a survey ship to waters claimed by Hanoi. Though the communist neighbours have long feuded over the sea, Hanoi fought back with fiery language after the most recent incursion. The ship left after a few weeks, but Vietnam could seek tougher language in the final ASEAN communique expected to be delivered later on Monday. Vietnam is pushing for mention of "specific incidents" in the document, "while the other sides rather want a general statement", Philippines' finance secretary Sonny Dominguez told reporters earlier. China's premier Li Keqiang said Sunday Beijing was committed to progress on a Code of Conduct agreement, which it has repeatedly delayed since talks first started in 2002 while carrying out its expansionist strategy in the sea.

US, China face-off over South China Sea at ASEAN summit

Vietnam said Saturday that it "strongly condemns" <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-lorry-victims-believed-to-be-vietnamese-uk-police-259383">human trafficking</a>, after British police confirmed 39 people found dead in a truck last week are believed to be Vietnamese.&nbsp;

Most of the victims are thought to come from central Vietnam, where easy-to-find brokers help to arrange trips to Europe -- often via Russia -- for migrants hoping to earn money overseas.&nbsp;

The extreme risks of the journeys were laid bare after eight women and 31 men were found dead in a refrigerated container in Essex, east of London, on October 23.&nbsp;

Two people were arrested in central Ha Tinh province for human trafficking on Friday, as British police sought more suspects.&nbsp;

Vietnam said Saturday it "strongly condemns human trafficking and considers it a serious crime," according to a statement from foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang.

She called the incident a "serious humanitarian tragedy", urging help to tackle the scourge of trafficking.

"Vietnam calls upon countries in the region and around the world to step up cooperation in combating human trafficking in order to prevent the recurrence of such tragedy," she added.

Officials are now working to identify the victims after DNA samples were collected from families in Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces in central Vietnam. &nbsp;

"I think my son could be among the 39 dead," Nguyen Dinh Gia told AFP Saturday from Ha Tinh province where he has been anxiously waiting for news about his child Nguyen Dinh Luong.&nbsp;

The grim case has shocked Britain and plunged families in remote Vietnamese villages into grief.&nbsp;

It has also cast a light on sophisticated transnational trafficking networks helping to smuggle migrants into Britain.

The 25-year-old Northern Irish driver of the refrigerated lorry has been charged with manslaughter, money laundering and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

In Dublin, another Northern Irishman appeared at Ireland's High Court for the start of extradition proceedings to bring him to Britain in connection with the incident.&nbsp;

British police have also said they want to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes, two brothers in the haulage business from Northern Ireland.

Three other people have been arrested and released on police bail.

Vietnam said Saturday that it "strongly condemns" human trafficking, after British police confirmed 39 people found dead in a truck last week are believed to be Vietnamese.

Vietnam said Saturday that it "strongly condemns" human trafficking, after British police confirmed 39 people found dead in a truck last week are believed to be Vietnamese. Most of the victims are thought to come from central Vietnam, where easy-to-find brokers help to arrange trips to Europe -- often via Russia -- for migrants hoping to earn money overseas. The extreme risks of the journeys were laid bare after eight women and 31 men were found dead in a refrigerated container in Essex, east of London, on October 23. Two people were arrested in central Ha Tinh province for human trafficking on Friday, as British police sought more suspects. Vietnam said Saturday it "strongly condemns human trafficking and considers it a serious crime," according to a statement from foreign ministry spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang. She called the incident a "serious humanitarian tragedy", urging help to tackle the scourge of trafficking. "Vietnam calls upon countries in the region and around the world to step up cooperation in combating human trafficking in order to prevent the recurrence of such tragedy," she added. Officials are now working to identify the victims after DNA samples were collected from families in Ha Tinh and Nghe An provinces in central Vietnam. "I think my son could be among the 39 dead," Nguyen Dinh Gia told AFP Saturday from Ha Tinh province where he has been anxiously waiting for news about his child Nguyen Dinh Luong. The grim case has shocked Britain and plunged families in remote Vietnamese villages into grief. It has also cast a light on sophisticated transnational trafficking networks helping to smuggle migrants into Britain. The 25-year-old Northern Irish driver of the refrigerated lorry has been charged with manslaughter, money laundering and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. In Dublin, another Northern Irishman appeared at Ireland's High Court for the start of extradition proceedings to bring him to Britain in connection with the incident. British police have also said they want to speak to Ronan and Christopher Hughes, two brothers in the haulage business from Northern Ireland. Three other people have been arrested and released on police bail.

Vietnam 'strongly condemns' human trafficking after UK truck tragedy

Britain has sent dossiers to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/majority-of-39-uk-truck-victims-likely-from-vietnam-priest-258278">Vietnam</a>, seeking its assistance in identifying four of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-near-london-in-truck-container-uk-police-257701">39 people found dead</a> in a truck container outside London last week, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Monday.

Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, is set to appear in court charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences, including conspiracy to traffic people, after the bodies were found last week in Grays, about 32 km (20 miles) east of London.

British police have said very few of the victims were carrying official identification and that they hope to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photographs from friends and relatives.

Vietnam`s government website quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son as saying the Ministry of Public Security had received files for four people from Britain, seeking "verification coordination".

Son told reporters, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing dossiers of possible victims, but until now there have been no grounds to confirm Vietnamese nationals are among the victims."

Police had initially said the dead were believed to be Chinese, but it later emerged that many were from Vietnam, where communities have been plunged into despair in the belief their missing loved ones are dead.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China`s embassy in Vietnam was in close contact with the Vietnamese government about the case, but did not elaborate.

China is also asking Britain to provide more information so as to ascertain the victims` identities, he added.

In Britain, police said a man was arrested in Dublin on Saturday. 
"A man arrested by the Garda at Dublin port on Saturday, 26 October, is a person of interest in our murder investigation," Essex Police said.

Three people arrested in connection with the investigation had been released on bail, British police said on Sunday. All three had been questioned on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.

About 70 per cent of Vietnamese trafficking cases in Britain between 2009 and 2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail salons, the British government said last year.

The suspected victims in the most recent incident hail from Vietnam`s northern rice-growing areas of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, two of the communist-ruled nation`s poorest provinces.

Nghe An was identified as home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a US-based anti-trafficking organisation.

The other province, Ha Tinh, was ravaged by one of Vietnam`s worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan`s Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating fishing and tourism there.

Britain has sent dossiers to Vietnam, seeking its assistance in identifying four of the 39 people found dead in a truck container outside London last week, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Monday.

Britain has sent dossiers to Vietnam, seeking its assistance in identifying four of the 39 people found dead in a truck container outside London last week, the government of the southeast Asian nation said on Monday. Lorry driver Maurice Robinson, 25, is set to appear in court charged with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences, including conspiracy to traffic people, after the bodies were found last week in Grays, about 32 km (20 miles) east of London. British police have said very few of the victims were carrying official identification and that they hope to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photographs from friends and relatives. Vietnam`s government website quoted Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son as saying the Ministry of Public Security had received files for four people from Britain, seeking "verification coordination". Son told reporters, "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is developing dossiers of possible victims, but until now there have been no grounds to confirm Vietnamese nationals are among the victims." Police had initially said the dead were believed to be Chinese, but it later emerged that many were from Vietnam, where communities have been plunged into despair in the belief their missing loved ones are dead. In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China`s embassy in Vietnam was in close contact with the Vietnamese government about the case, but did not elaborate. China is also asking Britain to provide more information so as to ascertain the victims` identities, he added. In Britain, police said a man was arrested in Dublin on Saturday. "A man arrested by the Garda at Dublin port on Saturday, 26 October, is a person of interest in our murder investigation," Essex Police said. Three people arrested in connection with the investigation had been released on bail, British police said on Sunday. All three had been questioned on suspicion of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people. About 70 per cent of Vietnamese trafficking cases in Britain between 2009 and 2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail salons, the British government said last year. The suspected victims in the most recent incident hail from Vietnam`s northern rice-growing areas of Nghe An and Ha Tinh, two of the communist-ruled nation`s poorest provinces. Nghe An was identified as home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a US-based anti-trafficking organisation. The other province, Ha Tinh, was ravaged by one of Vietnam`s worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan`s Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating fishing and tourism there.

Vietnam says UK seeks help to identify four truck victims

Several townships in rural Vietnam sank into mourning on Saturday, with communities believing that many of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/39-bodies-found-near-london-in-truck-container-uk-police-257701">39 people found dead</a> in the back of a truck near London this week came from poor, rice-growing areas of the country.

The bodies were discovered on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32 km&nbsp;east of central London.

British police said on Saturday that they had charged one man, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences including conspiracy to traffic people.

Police initially believed the dead were Chinese, but Beijing said the nationalities had not been confirmed and on Saturday a senior British police officer in charge of identification asked for help from Britain's Vietnamese community.

Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, the two countries' embassies have said. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered government officials to help establish the identities of the victims and look into cases of Vietnamese citizens sent abroad illegally.

Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a Catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300 km&nbsp;south of Hanoi, said he believed most of the dead were likely from Vietnam. He told Reuters he was liaising with family members.

"The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "This is a catastrophe for our community."

On Saturday evening, Nam led around 500 worshippers in prayers for the dead as they held lit candles in the modest, white-walled church in Yen Thanh.

"We are here to pray for justice and peace, and for the victims of society. We pray for the 39 people who lost their lives on the way to the UK. They are people coming from central Vietnam, our land," Nam said.

Nam said families had told him they knew relatives were travelling to Britain at the time the container truck was travelling, and had been unable to contact their loved ones.

The British police officer in charge of identifying the victims, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, said very few were carrying official identification and that he hoped to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photos from friends and relatives.

Police have found more than 500 items within the truck including bags, clothing and mobile phones that need to be assessed. Once a preliminary identification has been made, liaison officers will be deployed to support families.

Apart from the man charged, who will appear in court on Monday for an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-chinas-embassy-urges-uk-police-to-find-out-the-truth-about-39-bodies-discovered-in-truck-258039">initial hearing</a>, three other people are under arrest in Britain on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking. A fourth person is under arrest in Dublin.

Watch - Essex: 39 bodies found in a lorry, police interrogate 25-year-old driver

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/essex39-bodies-found-in-a-tanker-police-interrogate-25-year-old-driver-257991/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

 
'Beautiful day'

&nbsp;

In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her distraught mother has been unable to rise from her bed.

"She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh.

"We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group".

In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going.

"Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination.

Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on October 18.

"Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted.

Another person who may have died is Nguyen Dinh Tu, who had been working illegally in Romania, and Germany, where he lost his job.

A few months ago, he asked his wife Hoang Thi Thuong to help him raise 11,000 pounds to cover the cost of an illicit trip from Germany to the United Kingdom.

"I lost contact with him on October 21," Thuong told Reuters. "I have a big debt to pay, no hope, and no energy to do anything".

Tu's father said relatives in the United Kingdom had told him that Tu was inside the truck, and had been planning to pick him up.

"They were supposed to pick him up at the drop-off point but they called and said Tu was in that truck," Tu's father, Nguyen Dinh Sat, told Reuters.

"I haven't heard anything from my son". 
 
Parents 'can't breathe'

How the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/majority-of-39-uk-truck-victims-likely-from-vietnam-priest-258278">victims came to be in the truck</a> is not yet known.

Some 70 per cent&nbsp;of Vietnamese trafficking cases in the United Kingdom between 2009-2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail bars, according to a British government report last year.

"Women and girls from rural areas are also considered more susceptible to trafficking," the report said.

British police sought to reassure anyone living in Britain illegally that they would not be investigated if they came forward to help with the identification.

"If you come to us, we will do all we can to put our arm around you and take you through this process, and establish as quickly as possible whether or not we have your loved involved in this tragic incident, and try and reunite you," Pasmore said.

Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation.

Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Father Nam said. In the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left Ha Tinh looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media.

The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries.

Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain.

"That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Several townships in rural Vietnam sank into mourning on Saturday, with communities believing that many of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London this week came from poor, rice-growing areas of the country.

Several townships in rural Vietnam sank into mourning on Saturday, with communities believing that many of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London this week came from poor, rice-growing areas of the country. The bodies were discovered on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32 km east of central London. British police said on Saturday that they had charged one man, 25-year-old Maurice Robinson of Craigavon in Northern Ireland, with 39 counts of manslaughter and other offences including conspiracy to traffic people. Police initially believed the dead were Chinese, but Beijing said the nationalities had not been confirmed and on Saturday a senior British police officer in charge of identification asked for help from Britain's Vietnamese community. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, the two countries' embassies have said. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered government officials to help establish the identities of the victims and look into cases of Vietnamese citizens sent abroad illegally. Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a Catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300 km south of Hanoi, said he believed most of the dead were likely from Vietnam. He told Reuters he was liaising with family members. "The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "This is a catastrophe for our community." On Saturday evening, Nam led around 500 worshippers in prayers for the dead as they held lit candles in the modest, white-walled church in Yen Thanh. "We are here to pray for justice and peace, and for the victims of society. We pray for the 39 people who lost their lives on the way to the UK. They are people coming from central Vietnam, our land," Nam said. Nam said families had told him they knew relatives were travelling to Britain at the time the container truck was travelling, and had been unable to contact their loved ones. The British police officer in charge of identifying the victims, Detective Chief Inspector Martin Pasmore, said very few were carrying official identification and that he hoped to identify the dead through fingerprints, dental records and DNA, as well as photos from friends and relatives. Police have found more than 500 items within the truck including bags, clothing and mobile phones that need to be assessed. Once a preliminary identification has been made, liaison officers will be deployed to support families. Apart from the man charged, who will appear in court on Monday for an initial hearing, three other people are under arrest in Britain on suspicion of manslaughter and human trafficking. A fourth person is under arrest in Dublin. Watch - Essex: 39 bodies found in a lorry, police interrogate 25-year-old driver 'Beautiful day' In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her distraught mother has been unable to rise from her bed. "She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh. "We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group". In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going. "Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination. Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on October 18. "Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted. Another person who may have died is Nguyen Dinh Tu, who had been working illegally in Romania, and Germany, where he lost his job. A few months ago, he asked his wife Hoang Thi Thuong to help him raise 11,000 pounds to cover the cost of an illicit trip from Germany to the United Kingdom. "I lost contact with him on October 21," Thuong told Reuters. "I have a big debt to pay, no hope, and no energy to do anything". Tu's father said relatives in the United Kingdom had told him that Tu was inside the truck, and had been planning to pick him up. "They were supposed to pick him up at the drop-off point but they called and said Tu was in that truck," Tu's father, Nguyen Dinh Sat, told Reuters. "I haven't heard anything from my son". Parents 'can't breathe' How the victims came to be in the truck is not yet known. Some 70 per cent of Vietnamese trafficking cases in the United Kingdom between 2009-2016 were for labour exploitation, including cannabis production and work in nail bars, according to a British government report last year. "Women and girls from rural areas are also considered more susceptible to trafficking," the report said. British police sought to reassure anyone living in Britain illegally that they would not be investigated if they came forward to help with the identification. "If you come to us, we will do all we can to put our arm around you and take you through this process, and establish as quickly as possible whether or not we have your loved involved in this tragic incident, and try and reunite you," Pasmore said. Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation. Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Father Nam said. In the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left Ha Tinh looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media. The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries. Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Rural Vietnamese mourn loved ones feared dead in back of British truck

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-police-arrest-man-and-woman-for-human-trafficking-over-truck-deaths-258160">had arrested three more suspects</a> on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be&nbsp;Vietnamese.

As forensic experts began the process of identifying the victims, the&nbsp;Vietnamese embassy in London said families from the southeast Asian country had got in touch about missing relatives. There were growing concerns at least 10 of the victims could have been from&nbsp;Vietnam.

Hoa Nghiem from Human Rights Space, a civic network based in&nbsp;Vietnam, said that Pham Thi Tra My, 26, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain.

"I’m sorry, mum and dad. My path abroad was not a success. I love you both so much. I can’t breathe. I'm from Nghen Town, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh,&nbsp;Vietnam&nbsp;... I am sorry, Mom," the message said, according to Hoa who told Reuters it had come from Tra My's family.

She said Tra My had gone to China and was planning to reach England via France and that the organisation was getting more alerts about possible&nbsp;Vietnamese victims in the refrigerated trunk, which was found in the early hours of Wednesday.

Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and&nbsp;Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies said.

"We owe it to those who have died to get this investigation right and speculation is not helpful," Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters. "It may in fact hinder our investigation and its progress."

She said they would not give any more details about the identities or nationalities of the victims until the formal identification process was complete.

Her officers were still questioning the 25-year-old truck driver on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies in the back of his truck.

He has not been formally identified but a source familiar with the investigation named him as Mo Robinson from the Portadown area of Northern Ireland.

On Friday, police also arrested a man and woman, both aged 38, in Warrington, northwest England, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland at London's Stansted Airport. They are suspected of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter.

The victims - 31 men and eight women - are being moved to a hospital mortuary from a secure location at docks near the industrial estate in Grays about 20 miles (30 km) east of London where the bodies were found.

Post-mortem examinations were beginning to determine how exactly they died while the lengthy process of identifying the deceased was underway.

VietHome, an organisation for the&nbsp;Vietnamese community in Britain, said it had received news from 10 families that their relatives were missing.

For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. 
 
Watch: Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/essex-lorry-death-case-3-more-suspects-in-uk-police-custody-258215/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Britain 'has not fulfilled responsibility'

"We hope that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/essex-lorry-deaths-uk-points-to-belgium-258064">British side</a> can as soon as possible confirm and verify the identities of the victims, ascertain what happened and severely punish criminals involved in the case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

China's Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in a Friday editorial that Britain should bear some responsibility for the deaths.

"It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death," the widely read tabloid said.

It added that Britain appeared not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago.

The police investigation is focussed on the movement of the trailer prior to its arrival at Purfleet docks near Grays little more than an hour before the bodies were found, and on who was behind the suspected human trafficking.

Irish company Global Trailer Rentals said it owned the trailer and had rented it out on October&nbsp;15. The firm said it was unaware of what it was to be used for.

The refrigeration unit had travelled to Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the town's chairman, Dirk de Fauw, said he believed the victims died in the trailer before it arrived in the Belgian port.

The Times newspaper reported that GPS data showed the container had arrived at the Belgian port at 2.49 p.m. local time on Tuesday before later making the 10-hour sea crossing to Britain.

Police said the cab unit of the truck was driven over from Dublin on Sunday, crossing the Irish Sea by ship and entering Britain in North Wales. It picked up the trailer in Purfleet shortly after midnight on Wednesday.

Figures last year from the UK's National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime, showed&nbsp;Vietnamese nationals were the third most commonly reported victims of modern slavery or trafficking in Britain, although it did not have statistics about those entering the country illegally.

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they had arrested three more suspects on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be Vietnamese.

Police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a truck near London said they had arrested three more suspects on Friday on suspicion of human trafficking amid signs that some of the dead may be Vietnamese. As forensic experts began the process of identifying the victims, the Vietnamese embassy in London said families from the southeast Asian country had got in touch about missing relatives. There were growing concerns at least 10 of the victims could have been from Vietnam. Hoa Nghiem from Human Rights Space, a civic network based in Vietnam, said that Pham Thi Tra My, 26, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "I’m sorry, mum and dad. My path abroad was not a success. I love you both so much. I can’t breathe. I'm from Nghen Town, Can Loc District, Ha Tinh, Vietnam ... I am sorry, Mom," the message said, according to Hoa who told Reuters it had come from Tra My's family. She said Tra My had gone to China and was planning to reach England via France and that the organisation was getting more alerts about possible Vietnamese victims in the refrigerated trunk, which was found in the early hours of Wednesday. Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies said. "We owe it to those who have died to get this investigation right and speculation is not helpful," Essex Police's Deputy Chief Constable Pippa Mills told reporters. "It may in fact hinder our investigation and its progress." She said they would not give any more details about the identities or nationalities of the victims until the formal identification process was complete. Her officers were still questioning the 25-year-old truck driver on suspicion of murder following the discovery of the bodies in the back of his truck. He has not been formally identified but a source familiar with the investigation named him as Mo Robinson from the Portadown area of Northern Ireland. On Friday, police also arrested a man and woman, both aged 38, in Warrington, northwest England, and a 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland at London's Stansted Airport. They are suspected of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter. The victims - 31 men and eight women - are being moved to a hospital mortuary from a secure location at docks near the industrial estate in Grays about 20 miles (30 km) east of London where the bodies were found. Post-mortem examinations were beginning to determine how exactly they died while the lengthy process of identifying the deceased was underway. VietHome, an organisation for the Vietnamese community in Britain, said it had received news from 10 families that their relatives were missing. For years, illegal immigrants have attempted to reach Britain stowed away in trucks, often from the European mainland. In 2000, 58 Chinese were found dead in a tomato truck at the port of Dover. Watch: Essex Lorry death case: 3 more suspects in UK police custody Britain 'has not fulfilled responsibility' "We hope that the British side can as soon as possible confirm and verify the identities of the victims, ascertain what happened and severely punish criminals involved in the case," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing. China's Global Times, which is published by the ruling Communist Party's official People's Daily, said in a Friday editorial that Britain should bear some responsibility for the deaths. "It is clear that Britain and relevant European countries have not fulfilled their responsibility to protect these people from such a death," the widely read tabloid said. It added that Britain appeared not to have learned its lesson from the Dover incident two decades ago. The police investigation is focussed on the movement of the trailer prior to its arrival at Purfleet docks near Grays little more than an hour before the bodies were found, and on who was behind the suspected human trafficking. Irish company Global Trailer Rentals said it owned the trailer and had rented it out on October 15. The firm said it was unaware of what it was to be used for. The refrigeration unit had travelled to Britain from Zeebrugge in Belgium and the town's chairman, Dirk de Fauw, said he believed the victims died in the trailer before it arrived in the Belgian port. The Times newspaper reported that GPS data showed the container had arrived at the Belgian port at 2.49 p.m. local time on Tuesday before later making the 10-hour sea crossing to Britain. Police said the cab unit of the truck was driven over from Dublin on Sunday, crossing the Irish Sea by ship and entering Britain in North Wales. It picked up the trailer in Purfleet shortly after midnight on Wednesday. Figures last year from the UK's National Crime Agency, which targets serious and organised crime, showed Vietnamese nationals were the third most commonly reported victims of modern slavery or trafficking in Britain, although it did not have statistics about those entering the country illegally.

Vietnamese may be among who were found dead in lorry, UK police make three more arrests

British police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a refrigerated truck said Saturday they had charged a driver arrested at the scene with manslaughter and people trafficking.

British police investigating the deaths of 39 people in a refrigerated truck said Saturday they had charged a driver arrested at the scene with manslaughter and people trafficking. Maurice Robinson, 25, from Northern Ireland, faces "39 counts of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people, conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration and money laundering", police said. Robinson was arrested shortly after the bodies were discovered in the truck at Purfleet on the River Thames estuary, after arriving on a ferry from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge early on Wednesday. He will appear in court on Monday, Essex police said. Three other people have been arrested in Britain in connection with the investigation, on suspicion of conspiracy to traffic people and manslaughter. They remain in custody. They include a 38-year-old man and a 38-year-old woman from Warrington in northwest England, reportedly a couple. She is said to be the legal owner of the truck. A 48-year-old man from Northern Ireland is also being held. On Saturday, Irish police announced another arrest at Dublin port, of a man in his early 20s from Northern Ireland.

Driver charged over deaths of 39 people in UK lorry, say police

The majority of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London were likely from Vietnam, a community leader from the rural, rice-growing community where many of the victims are believed to have come from told on Saturday.

The majority of the 39 people found dead in the back of a truck near London were likely from Vietnam, a community leader from the rural, rice-growing community where many of the victims are believed to have come from told on Saturday. The discovery of the bodies - 38 adults and one teenager - was made on Wednesday after emergency services were alerted to people in a truck container on an industrial site in Grays, about 32km (20 miles) east of central London. Police have said they believe the dead were Chinese but Beijing said the nationalities had not yet been confirmed. Chinese and Vietnamese officials are now both working closely with British police, their respective embassies have said. Father Anthony Dang Huu Nam, a catholic priest in the remote town of Yen Thanh in northern-central Vietnam's Nghe An province, 300km (180 miles) south of Hanoi, said he was liaising with family members of the victims. "The whole district is covered in sorrow," Nam said, as prayers for the dead rang out over loudspeakers throughout the misty, rain-soaked town on Saturday. "I'm still collecting contact details for all the victim's families, and will hold a ceremony to pray for them tonight." "This is a catastrophe for our community." Nam said families told him they knew relatives were travelling to the UK at the time and had been unable to contact their loved ones. Vietnam's foreign ministry said in a statement on Saturday that it had instructed its London embassy to assist British police with the identification of victims. The ministry did not respond to a request for further comment regarding the nationalities of the dead. Essex Police declined to elaborate as to how they first identified the dead as Chinese. 'Beautiful day' In Yen Thanh, Nghe An province, dozens of worried relatives of 19-year-old Bui Thi Nhung gathered in the family's small courtyard home where her worried mother has been unable to rise from her bed. "She said she was in France and on the way to the UK, where she has friends and relatives," said Nhung's cousin, Hoang Thi Linh. "We are waiting and hoping it's not her among the victims, but it's very likely. We pray for her every day. There were two people from my village travelling in that group". In comments under a photo uploaded to Nhung's Facebook account on Monday, two days before the doomed truck was discovered, one friend asked how her journey was going. "Not good," Nhung replied. "Almost spring," she said, using a term in Vietnamese meaning she had almost reached her destination. Other photos on her account show her sightseeing in Brussels on Oct. 18. "Such a beautiful day," Nhung posted. Nghe An is one of Vietnam's poorest provinces, and home to many victims of human trafficking who end up in Europe, according to a March report by the Pacific Links Foundation, a U.S.-based anti-trafficking organisation. Other victims are believed to come from the neighbouring province of Ha Tinh, Nam said, where in the first eight months of this year, 41,790 people left looking for work elsewhere, including overseas, according to state media. The province was ravaged by one of Vietnam's worst environmental disasters in 2016 when a steel mill owned by Taiwan's Formosa Plastics contaminated coastal waters, devastating local fishing and tourism industries and sparking widespread protests. Another suspected victim from Ha Tinh, 26-year-old Pham Thi Tra My, had sent a text message to her mother saying she could not breathe at about the time the truck container was en route from Belgium to Britain. "That girl who said in her message that she couldn't breathe in the truck? Her parents can't breathe here at home," Nam said.

Majority of 39 UK truck victims likely from Vietnam: Priest

Vietnam has pulled DreamWorks` animated film 'Abominable' from cinemas over a scene featuring a map which shows China`s unilaterally declared "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday. 
 
The U-shaped line is a feature used on Chinese maps to illustrate its claims over vast expanses of the resource-rich South China Sea, including large swathes of what Vietnam regards as its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions. 
 
Last week, sports network ESPN faced criticism of its coverage of a row between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and China after using a map that featured the line. 
 
China and Vietnam have been locked in a standoff since China dispatched a vessel to conduct an energy survey in waters controlled by Vietnam in early July. 
 
"We will revoke (the film`s licence)," Ta Quang Dong, deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism, was quoted as saying by the Thanh Nien newspaper. 
 
The ministry is in charge of licensing and censoring foreign films. 
 
'Abominable', about a Chinese girl who discovers a yeti living on her roof, was jointly produced by Shanghai-based Pearl Studio and Comcast-owned DreamWorks Animation and was first shown in Vietnamese cinemas on October&nbsp;4. 
 
The film, which was being marketed in Vietnam as 'Everest: The Little Yeti'&nbsp;was removed from cinemas on Sunday after images of the scene with the offending map were shared widely on social media. 
 
A spokeswoman for CJ CGV Vietnam, Vietnam`s largest cinema chain and a unit of South Korea`s CJ CGV, declined to comment. 
A receptionist at the state-run National Cinema Center in Hanoi said the culture ministry had issued an order requiring all cinemas to stop showing the film because of the map scene. 
 
Calls to Nguyen Thu Ha, the head of the culture ministry`s cinema department, went unanswered on Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

At the National Cinema Center in Hanoi, workers could be seen taking down posters of the film late on Monday.&nbsp;In August, police broke up a brief protest outside the Chinese embassy in Hanoi over the survey vessel. 
 
Vietnam has repeatedly accused the vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty and has demanded that China remove its ships from the area.

Vietnam has pulled DreamWorks` animated film 'Abominable' from cinemas over a scene featuring a map which shows China`s unilaterally declared "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday.

Vietnam has pulled DreamWorks` animated film 'Abominable' from cinemas over a scene featuring a map which shows China`s unilaterally declared "nine-dash line" in the South China Sea, state media reported on Monday. The U-shaped line is a feature used on Chinese maps to illustrate its claims over vast expanses of the resource-rich South China Sea, including large swathes of what Vietnam regards as its continental shelf, where it has awarded oil concessions. Last week, sports network ESPN faced criticism of its coverage of a row between the National Basketball Association (NBA) and China after using a map that featured the line. China and Vietnam have been locked in a standoff since China dispatched a vessel to conduct an energy survey in waters controlled by Vietnam in early July. "We will revoke (the film`s licence)," Ta Quang Dong, deputy minister of culture, sports and tourism, was quoted as saying by the Thanh Nien newspaper. The ministry is in charge of licensing and censoring foreign films. 'Abominable', about a Chinese girl who discovers a yeti living on her roof, was jointly produced by Shanghai-based Pearl Studio and Comcast-owned DreamWorks Animation and was first shown in Vietnamese cinemas on October 4. The film, which was being marketed in Vietnam as 'Everest: The Little Yeti' was removed from cinemas on Sunday after images of the scene with the offending map were shared widely on social media. A spokeswoman for CJ CGV Vietnam, Vietnam`s largest cinema chain and a unit of South Korea`s CJ CGV, declined to comment. A receptionist at the state-run National Cinema Center in Hanoi said the culture ministry had issued an order requiring all cinemas to stop showing the film because of the map scene. Calls to Nguyen Thu Ha, the head of the culture ministry`s cinema department, went unanswered on Monday. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment. At the National Cinema Center in Hanoi, workers could be seen taking down posters of the film late on Monday. In August, police broke up a brief protest outside the Chinese embassy in Hanoi over the survey vessel. Vietnam has repeatedly accused the vessel and its escorts of violating its sovereignty and has demanded that China remove its ships from the area.

Vietnam pulls DreamWorks' 'Abominable' film over South China Sea map

&nbsp;North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defence, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States.

The launch on Wednesday was the most provocative by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-launches-missiles-ahead-of-nuclear-talks-253157">North Korea</a> since it resumed dialogue with the United States in 2018 and a reminder by Pyongyang of the weapons capability it has been aggressively developing, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, analysts said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "sent warm congratulations" to the defence scientists who conducted the test, state news agency KCNA said, indicating he did not attend the launch as he has at previous tests of new weapons systems.

The new type of SLBM, called Pukguksong-3, was "fired in vertical mode" in the waters of the eastern city of Wonsan, KCNA said, confirming an assessment by South Korea's military on Wednesday that the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory.

"The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defence," KCNA said.

DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

The test "had no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries," KCNA said but gave no other details about the launch.

Photos released in the North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, whose front two pages featured the test, showed a black-and-white painted missile clearing the surface of the water, then the rocket engine igniting to propel it into the sky.

A State Department spokeswoman called on Pyongyang to "refrain from provocations" and to remain committed to nuclear negotiations.

South Korea expressed strong concern and the Japanese condemned&nbsp;the launch, saying it was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions.

North Korea rejects U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology, saying they are an infringement of its right to self-defence.

Talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes have been stalled since a second summit between Kim and US&nbsp;President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-president-donald-trump-slams-impeachment-probe-as-hoax-as-democrats-seek-white-house-documents-253356">Donald Trump</a> in Vietnam in February broke down in disagreement over nuclear disarmament.

Watch Video: North Korea says successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile

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'Nuclear-Capable'

The Pukguksong-3 appeared to be a new design that has enhanced range and stability compared with a version tested in 2016, three analysts said.

It was probably launched from a test platform and not a submarine, which would be the final stage of testing, said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul.

State news agency KCNA released photos and a report in July of leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a large, newly built submarine, but an unnamed South Korean military source said on Thursday that the submarine appears to be still incomplete, Yonhap news agency reported.

Leader Kim Jong Un's absence at the test is "extremely unusual," Kyungnam University's Kim said, probably meant to contain the political fallout that could result in the upcoming talks falling apart before they even start.

On Wednesday, South Korea's military said the missile flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 910 km (565 miles). It was likely a Pukguksong-class weapon, as the North's earlier submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) under development were known.

South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said the Pukguksong, or Pole Star in Korean, would have had a range of about 1,300 km (910 miles) on a standard trajectory.

North Korea had been developing SLBM technology before it suspended long-range missile and nuclear tests and began talks with the United States that led to the first summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore on June 2018.

The latest version of the Pukguksong may be the longest-range North Korean missile that uses solid fuel and the first nuclear-capable missile to be tested since November 2017, Ankit Panda of the US-based Federation of American Scientists said.

North Korea has been developing rocket engines that burn solid fuel, which has advantages in military use compared with liquid fuel because it is stable and versatile, allowing it to be stored in missiles until they are ready for launch.

North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defence, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States.

North Korea said on Thursday it had successfully test-fired a new submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) from the sea to contain external threats and bolster self-defence, ahead of fresh nuclear talks with the United States. The launch on Wednesday was the most provocative by North Korea since it resumed dialogue with the United States in 2018 and a reminder by Pyongyang of the weapons capability it has been aggressively developing, including intercontinental ballistic missiles, analysts said. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un "sent warm congratulations" to the defence scientists who conducted the test, state news agency KCNA said, indicating he did not attend the launch as he has at previous tests of new weapons systems. The new type of SLBM, called Pukguksong-3, was "fired in vertical mode" in the waters of the eastern city of Wonsan, KCNA said, confirming an assessment by South Korea's military on Wednesday that the missile was launched on a lofted trajectory. "The successful new-type SLBM test-firing comes to be of great significance as it ushered in a new phase in containing the outside forces' threat to the DPRK and further bolstering its military muscle for self-defence," KCNA said. DPRK is short for the North's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The test "had no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries," KCNA said but gave no other details about the launch. Photos released in the North's official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, whose front two pages featured the test, showed a black-and-white painted missile clearing the surface of the water, then the rocket engine igniting to propel it into the sky. A State Department spokeswoman called on Pyongyang to "refrain from provocations" and to remain committed to nuclear negotiations. South Korea expressed strong concern and the Japanese condemned the launch, saying it was a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions. North Korea rejects U.N. Security Council resolutions that ban Pyongyang from using ballistic missile technology, saying they are an infringement of its right to self-defence. Talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes have been stalled since a second summit between Kim and US President Donald Trump in Vietnam in February broke down in disagreement over nuclear disarmament. Watch Video: North Korea says successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile × 'Nuclear-Capable' The Pukguksong-3 appeared to be a new design that has enhanced range and stability compared with a version tested in 2016, three analysts said. It was probably launched from a test platform and not a submarine, which would be the final stage of testing, said Kim Dong-yub, a military expert at Kyungnam University's Institute of Far Eastern Studies in Seoul. State news agency KCNA released photos and a report in July of leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a large, newly built submarine, but an unnamed South Korean military source said on Thursday that the submarine appears to be still incomplete, Yonhap news agency reported. Leader Kim Jong Un's absence at the test is "extremely unusual," Kyungnam University's Kim said, probably meant to contain the political fallout that could result in the upcoming talks falling apart before they even start. On Wednesday, South Korea's military said the missile flew 450 km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 910 km (565 miles). It was likely a Pukguksong-class weapon, as the North's earlier submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) under development were known. South Korean Defence Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said the Pukguksong, or Pole Star in Korean, would have had a range of about 1,300 km (910 miles) on a standard trajectory. North Korea had been developing SLBM technology before it suspended long-range missile and nuclear tests and began talks with the United States that led to the first summit between Kim and Trump in Singapore on June 2018. The latest version of the Pukguksong may be the longest-range North Korean missile that uses solid fuel and the first nuclear-capable missile to be tested since November 2017, Ankit Panda of the US-based Federation of American Scientists said. North Korea has been developing rocket engines that burn solid fuel, which has advantages in military use compared with liquid fuel because it is stable and versatile, allowing it to be stored in missiles until they are ready for launch.

Successfully tested new submarine-launched ballistic missile: North Korea

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