More Flooding in Central Viet Nam –It hasn’t been very long since the severe flooding brought by Typhoon Lekima wreaked havoc in Viet Nam, yet there was more flooding last week. The Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue provinces were among those hit this time. Human lives were lost in the most recent flooding as well as rice paddies and fields. The Vietnamese government is predicting that the provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai and Kontum (all in the Central Highland area of Viet Nam) may experience flash flooding due to the heavy volumes of rain. Luckily, the wet flood and storm season is expected to end later this month. For the large numbers of Vietnamese who have lost their homes, loved ones or have been evacuated numerous times, the end to this season couldn’t come soon enough.

UN Security Council – For the first time, Viet Nam has been elected to a council seat at the United Nations Security Council, a move that the country is celebrating. Viet Nam’s seat is non-permanent and will be held for two years starting this January. The powerful UN Security Council is able to impose sanctions and send peacekeeping missions globally. Viet Nam is viewing their new seat as a nod from Western nations that the small country is beginning to gain a global presence.

Viet Nam Airlines – Viet Nam Airline’s plan to add more planes and more routes around Viet Nam is coming to fruition. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told Viet Nam Airlines to go ahead and finalize their deal with Boeing and Airbus in order to purchase over fifty new aircrafts (over the next ten to fifteen years or so.) Air travel is becoming more and more popular in Viet Nam, and the airline has plans to offer direct flights to Los Angeles by the end of 2008.



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