Việt Nam News

Colombia goes into lockdown, Chile extends schools closures

Countries across Latin America tightened measures on Wednesday to halt the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, with more lockdowns, border closings and school closures as well as increased aid to the region's poorest.

New Zealand mosque shooter changes plea to guilty

An Australian far-right extremist charged with murdering 51 Muslim worshippers in last year's mass shooting at two New Zealand mosques unexpectedly flipped his plea to guilty on Thursday.

Saudi chairs G20 crisis talks as virus threatens recession

Leaders of the G20 major economies will hold an online summit on Thursday in a bid to fend off a coronavirus-triggered recession, after criticism the group has been slow to address the crisis.

Virus death toll passes 20,000, three billion under lockdown

More than three billion people around the world were living under lockdown on Wednesday as governments stepped up their efforts against the coronavirus pandemic which has left more than 20,000 people dead.

Several dead in unrest in southern Guinea

Several people have been killed in southern Guinea, according to local officials, in an outbreak of violence after the country's contested constitutional referendum.

64 Ethiopians found dead in cargo container in Mozambique

Sixty-four migrants from Ethiopia were found dead on Tuesday, crammed inside a freight container in the northwestern Mozambican province of Tete, a senior hospital official said.

Boko Haram attack kills nearly 100 Chadian troops

Boko Haram jihadists have killed nearly 100 Chadian soldiers in a seven-hour attack on an island army base, in their deadliest assault yet on the country's armed forces. 

Billion-plus Indians under lockdown as virus delays Olympics

India ordered its billion-plus population on Tuesday to stay inside for three weeks, bringing a third of the world under lockdown as the coronavirus pandemic forced Japan to postpone the Olympics until next year.

Thailand to declare state of emergency to curb virus spread

Thailand will declare a state of emergency on Thursday to cope with the fast spreading novel coronavirus in the country, the government said on Tuesday.

Laos confirms first 2 COVID-19 cases

Laos has detected the first two confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country, the Lao Health Ministry officials told a press conference here Tuesday afternoon.

Mozambique insurgents attack troops, ring northern town

Suspected jihadists on Monday attacked military barracks and ringed a northern Mozambican town, hoisting their flag before retreating, local security sources said.

Pompeo slashes aid, meets Taliban on surprise Afghan mission

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday slashed aid to Afghanistan's government after a mission to Kabul failed to bridge a divide between feuding leaders as he moved forward with the Taliban on a deal to pull troops.

Israel right-wing parties boycott parliament re-opening

Israeli right-wing parties backing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu boycotted the re-opening of parliament Monday to protest what they called the "dictatorial" conduct of their centrist rivals.

Yemen war's 'devastating impact' on child mental health: charity

The long war in Yemen has had a "devastating impact" on the mental health of children, with more than half saying they feel sad and depressed, Save the Children said.

Britain orders lockdown as WHO warns pandemic 'accelerating'

Britain ordered a three-week lockdown on Monday in a bid to slow the spread of coronavirus as world health officials warned that the pandemic was "accelerating" around the globe.

US envoy says Kabul, Taliban in first prisoner exchange talks

The Afghan government and the Taliban on Sunday held their first discussion on arranging prisoner exchanges, a key step in a broader push for peace, the US special envoy for Afghanistan said on Twitter.

Coronavirus toll soars despite lockdowns as doctors overwhelmed

Coronavirus deaths soared across Europe and the United States on Sunday despite heightened restrictions, as Germany banned gatherings of more than two people and Chancellor Angela Merkel went into quarantine.

Riot in Colombia prison over virus fears leaves 23 dead

Rioting that swept through a crowded prison overnight in the Colombian capital Bogota left 23 inmates dead on Sunday amid rising tensions over the spread of the coronavirus in the penitentiary system.