At least 5 killed as flash floods and landslides devastate Lai Châu and Lào Cai in northern Vietnam

"At least five people have died after torrential monsoon rainfall triggered flash floods and

landslides affecting Lai Châu and Lào Cai provinces in northern Vietnam. The People’s Committee of Lai Chau Province declared a state of emergency as flooding destroyed homes, washed out sections of major highways, and caused significant agricultural losses. Heavy rainfall is forecast across northern mountainous and midland regions through July 19 as rescue and relief efforts continue." W

Vietnamese POW captured in Ukraine: "They force you to do everything"

"A Vietnamese man captured while fighting for Russia in Ukraine has issued a plea to others

not to travel abroad to take part in war.
In an interview from captivity, he described fear, violence and despair among foreign recruits sent to the front lines.... the man is believed to be the first Vietnamese prisoner of war captured by Ukrainian forces during the conflict.
He claimed foreign recruits were treated as expendable by Russian forces.
“They force you to do everything. If you don’t listen, they beat you. If you don’t obey, they’re ready to kill you,” he said." msn

More than 300 dead and 189 000 affected as floods and landslides hit northern and central Vietnam

 

"Heavy rainfall brought by multiple tropical cyclones and monsoon interactions affected northern and central Vietnam from October through mid-November 2025, triggering flooding and landslides that killed at least 300 people and affected around 189 000. Vietnam activated the Union Civil Protection Mechanism on November 13 to request emergency assistance, while rainfall totals of up to 500 mm (20 inches) were forecast through November 20, maintaining high risks of renewed flooding and landslides." W

Typhoon Matmo unleashes extreme rainfall and record river crests in northern Vietnam

 

"Record floods inundated northern Vietnam after Typhoon Matmo brought up to 450 mm (17.7 inches) of rain across the region. Water levels on the Bang, Thuong, Trung, and Cau rivers exceeded records set in 1986 and 2024, submerging large areas of Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Cao Bang, and Bac Ninh provinces. At least eight people died, and five remain missing. The military deployed 30 000 personnel and thousands of boats as entire neighborhoods were left underwater." W

Tornadoes spawned by Typhoon Bualoi kill at least 9 in Kim Son District, Vietnam

"Tornadoes triggered by Typhoon Bualoi struck Kim Son District in Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam killing at least 9 people and flattening homes. Bualoi made landfall earlier the same day in northern Vietnam, leaving at least 11 people dead, 17 missing, forcing the evacuation of more than 28 500 residents, and damaging nearly 1 400 ha (3 460 acres) of crops." W

Over 600 000 evacuated, one dead as Typhoon Kajiki makes landfall in Vietnam

"Typhoon Kajiki made landfall in central Vietnam between the coastline between Nghệ An and Hà Tĩnh at approximately 15:00 LT on August 25, with sustained winds of up to 166 km/h (103 mph).
The system brought intense rainfall, flooding, and severe wind damage across the region. As of 12:00 LT, one fatality was confirmed by local media—a resident electrocuted while securing a rooftop in Nghệ An province." W

Chaos in Vietnam Today! Typhoon Wipha Destroy Homes, Cars in Quang Ninh

"Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Thai Nguyen recorded thunderstorms and strong winds that broke many trees and electric poles, causing local power outages. Notably, in Quang Ninh, a storm capsized a tourist boat in Ha Long Bay. The storm and heavy rain occurred on the day Typhoon Wipha entered the East Sea, becoming the third storm , leading many to believe that this was due to the early effects of the storm." EW

Flash floods damage hundreds of homes in northern Thailand

"Flash floods triggered by heavy rains damaged more than 150 homes in northern Thailand. The torrential downpour struck Chiang Rai spawning floods that reached up to four feet deep. Footage shows the deluge surging across a field as floodwaters ravaged 80 acres of farmland.

Classes were suspended as roads were rendered impassable to many cars. Thailand's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said it was closely monitoring the situation, warning that persistent rainfall will continue to lash the region. Residents, including those living in foothill and riverside communities, have been urged to evacuate to higher ground. Soldiers from the 37th Military District have also been deployed to help with relief efforts as emergency teams brace for more severe weather. The Thai Meteorological Department said ongoing heavy rainfall across northern Thailand was fueled by a monsoon trough stretching across the country, Laos and Vietnam." The Independent

Trump hits Ukraine with 10% tariffs, spares Russia and Belarus

"U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled his long-awaited package of "Liberation Day" tariffs on imported goods, speaking in the Rose Garden of the White House on the evening of April 2.

The U.S. imposed a basic 10% reciprocal tax on imports from all nations and higher tariff rates on dozens of America's largest trading partners, hitting Cambodia particularly hard with a 49% tariff, Vietnam (46%), Thailand (36%), and 34% on Chinese goods.
A 20% tariff on all goods from European Union countries and 31% on Switzerland.
Ukraine and the United Kingdom get off comparatively lightly with a 10% tariff.
Trump accused other nations of "looting, pillaging, raping and plundering" the US. The tariffs are expected to shave billions off global economic growth.
No tariffs were imposed on Russia and Belarus because, according to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, no goods from those countries enter the American market." NV

US Politicians Are Pressuring Ukraine To Lower Draft Age To 18

"A Ukrainian official said Tuesday that American politicians are pressuring Ukraine to lower the minimum age of conscription from 25 to 18 to make more young men available for combat.

"If this information has surfaced, I can confirm it: American politicians from both parties are putting pressure on President Zelensky to explain why there is no mobilization of those aged 18 to 25 in Ukraine. The argument of our partners is that when the US fought in Vietnam, people were drafted from the age of 19," Serhiy Leshchenko, an advisor to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff." ZH

Philippines and Vietnam, Threatened by China, Sign Defense Deal

"The governments of the Philippines and Vietnam announced that they would sign a defense agreement that would expand their cooperation out of trade and into military and security projects, including “maritime” defense operations.

Beijing claims nearly the entire Sea, including maritime territory also belonging to the sovereign states of Taiwan, Brunei, and Malaysia, as well as waters off the coast of Natuna in Indonesia. The Chinese government has printed new false maps using a border for China known as the “nine-dash line” that severs entire island chains from their countries and gives them to China. When confronted about their false claims, Chinese officials incorrectly state that the territory in question has been Chinese “since ancient times.” Breitbart

Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake in Myanmar (Burma) Shakes Homes in Chiang Rai

"Estimated magnitude 5.9 earthquake has struck at 8:37 am today 29 km from Keng Tung, Myanmar (Burma) affecting northern Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and China.

The earthquake could be felt in Chiang Rai province registering 3.6 on the Richter scale." BT

Putin is losing Iraq War – Biden

"US President Joe Biden claimed on Wednesday that Russia is losing the war in Iraq.........One of the questions was about whether Putin was weakened by the recent mutiny of the Wagner private military company.

“It’s hard to tell, but he is clearly losing the war in Iraq, he’s losing the war at home, and he has become a bit of a pariah around the world. And it’s not just NATO. It's not just the European Union. It’s Japan. It’s, you know, 40 nations,” Biden said.

The baffling comment was caught on video and shared by Biden’s Republican critics on social media, which did not stop one reporter from trying to erase it in her account of the event....  "Did he really mean Iraq? Or could he have meant Vietnam?” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova joked to reporters after hearing Biden’s remarks."RT

Vietnam Gas Stations Start To Close Due To Widespread Shortages

"Ho Chi Minh City, the city known as Vietnam's economic engine, whose gas stations are being forced to suspend operations due to shortages of the fuel." ZeroHedge