Vietnam's ambitions to modernize its military and diversify international partnerships were on full display at the 2024 Vietnam International Defense Expo, an exhibition that concluded with defense enterprises signing 16 contracts worth over $286 million, along with 17 strategic cooperation agreements with international defense firms. The exhibition, which took place from Dec. 19-22 in Hanoi, featured more than 240 defense industry companies and represented 49 countries. Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said the expo was “an affirmation of Vietnam's role and contribution in international defense cooperation” and a “symbol of trust, respect and goodwill in cooperation between nations for a world of peace, stability and prosperity.” Experts noted that the vast number of international companies at the exhibition reflected Vietnam’s long-term approach to diversifying its foreign partners. "If you look at the list of invited firms and defense firms and companies at the expo, you can see there’s a wide range of companies from many different countries,” said Hanh Nguyen, a research fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies based in Japan. “This decision reflects Vietnam's long-standing foreign policy approach, which is to strive to build partnerships with every country regardless of their political system or ideology," he added. Bich Tran, a postdoctoral fellow at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore, shared a similar sentiment, explaining to VOA that the presence of Chinese, Russian and Western countries at the expo showed that Vietnam is committed to the principle of diversifying its foreign relations. “Vietnam has talked about diversifying its arms supplies for many years, but I think Russia’s invasion of Ukraine forced Vietnam to facilitate the process. So with this expo, [Vietnam] has the opportunity to talk with many different partners, to look around to see what will work,” Tran said. American firms Boeing and Lockheed Martin, French company Airbus, and Chinese state-owned China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) attended the expo. NORINCO's participation marked the first time for a Chinese company. Concurrently, Vietnam’s general-secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam, met with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun. Despite the active participation and discussion between Beijing and Hanoi officials, Nguyen said the expo is unlikely to become a breakthrough point for arms sales between the two countries, noting that Vietnam has concerns over the transparency performance of Chinese military equipment. Nguyen The Phuong, a doctoral candidate in maritime security at the University of New South Wales, told VOA that “Vietnam will never, ever buy any lethal weapons from China,” adding that Vietnam’s reluctance to buy weapons from China is a “long-standing principle dating back to the ‘70s and '80s.” Phuong said Vietnam is preparing to advance and upgrade its outdated systems, “focusing on the modernization of the Vietnamese army and maritime defense needs.” “Vietnam is trying to modernize its navy and air force and trying to turn them into modernized and capable services after 2030. So, there are a lot of things that the Vietnamese military wants to improve from buying more aircraft for its air force, building more warships for its navy, and especially the capability to monitor.” Contributing to Hanoi’s need to modernize is the potential for conflict in the South China Sea, a geopolitically disputed territory that is both a critical maritime route for global trade and a region rich in resources, including oil, natural gas and fish stock. On Dec. 10, the South China Morning Post reported that Vietnam is actively building military facilities on several islands and reefs in the Spratly Islands — key territories in the South China Sea. "Vietnam's military strategy in the South China Sea can be summed up in one word: deterrence. Or more precisely, deterrence by denial," said Phuong, explaining that Vietnam’s decisions at the expo reflect an ambition to increase its coastal military capabilities. Another takeaway from the expo is Hanoi’s cooperation with the United States. Speaking at the expo, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Napper said the United States' goal is to ensure that Vietnam "has everything it needs to defend its interests at sea, in the air, on the ground and in cyberspace.” Tran said this goal demonstrates that the U.S.-Vietnam defense cooperation is shifting from a single arms assistance model to a broader multilateral cooperation framework.None
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has described 2024 as the most challenging for workers in the country. Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, said this at the 2024 “Harmattan School” on Monday in Abuja, with theme “Trade unions and the Quest for a New Social Contract”. The Harmattan School, an annual event organised by the NLC, serves as a platform for capacity-building, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning. He said that 2024 for workers in the country was filled with harrowing hardship. “I welcome you a year that we have witnessed one of the greatest turbulence in our history as a movement. “It was a period where we were invaded, ransacked, and subjected to the highest level of threats, intimidation,” he said. Ajaero charged workers participating in the harmattan school to actively engage in the training which according to him, was aimed at preparing workers for the engagement and negotiation for the new social contract. According to him, this year’s harmattan school affords the opportunity to dissect all that has happened to the NLC during the year, assess their dynamics, and initiate actionable steps to make ourselves stronger and better. “We believe that in those events, we have emerged stronger, more resilient and better position to deliver on the expectations of Nigerian workers and people,” he said. He said that those events were attempts to weaken and undermine the capacity of the NLC as a movement to deliver on the job to its primary and secondary constituencies. “The articulation and protection of workers rights is our primary responsibility, and anything we do that does not approximate to that amounts to failure. “We are, therefore, left with no other choice than to focus with greater determination and zeal on this mission of making our working places and our nation, to yield better results,,’”he said. Dr Vanessa Phala, the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Country Director to Nigeria, charged trade unions to unite and engage governments to find solutions to some of the harrowing challenges workers were grappling with. She said that the ILO expected a new social contract based on rebuilding trust in institutions. “It must be inclusive, and it must protect and ensure participation of all those that are involved. “We know that inspite of the newly negotiated minimum wage that was approved, the rising cost of goods and services is really not making it to have the impact that we want to see. “I charge the conversation in the harmattan school to focus on identifying the kind of social contract that will take Nigeria forward,” she said. She said that the concept of social contract was important, adding that it gives opportunity to take stock. “I expect that the conclusion of this school will identify the priorities of the NLC and how it will engage on policy discussions with the leadership of the country,”she said. NANAnalog Devices Inc. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitors despite daily gainsNone
Lowe's Cos. stock underperforms Monday when compared to competitorsHOUSTON (AP) — An elaborate parody appears to be behind an effort to resurrect Enron, the Houston-based energy company that exemplified the worst in American corporate fraud and greed after it went bankrupt in 2001. If its return is comedic, some former employees who lost everything in Enron’s collapse aren’t laughing. “It’s a pretty sick joke and it disparages the people that did work there. And why would you want to even bring it back up again?” said former Enron employee Diana Peters, who represented workers in the company’s bankruptcy proceedings. Here’s what to know about the history of Enron and the purported effort to bring it back. What happened at Enron? Once the nation’s seventh-largest company, Enron filed for bankruptcy protection on Dec. 2, 2001, after years of accounting tricks could no longer hide billions of dollars in debt or make failing ventures appear profitable. The energy company’s collapse put more than 5,000 people out of work, wiped out more than $2 billion in employee pensions and rendered $60 billion in Enron stock worthless. Its aftershocks were felt throughout the energy sector. Twenty-four Enron executives, including former CEO Jeffrey Skilling, were eventually convicted for their roles in the fraud. Enron founder Key Lay’s convictions were vacated after he died of heart disease following his 2006 trial. Is Enron coming back? On Monday — the 23rd anniversary of the bankruptcy filing — a company representing itself as Enron announced in a news release that it was relaunching as a “company dedicated to solving the global energy crisis.” It also posted a video on social media, advertised on at least one Houston billboard and a took out a full-page ad in the Houston Chronicle In the minute-long video that was full of generic corporate jargon, the company talks about “growth” and “rebirth.” It ends with the words, “We’re back. Can we talk?” Enron’s new website features a company store, where various items featuring the brand’s tilted “E” logo are for sale, including a $118 hoodie. In an email, company spokesperson Will Chabot said the new Enron was not doing any interviews yet, but that “We’ll have more to share soon.” Signs point to the comeback being a joke. In the “terms of use and conditions of sale” on the company’s website, it says “the information on the website about Enron is First Amendment protected parody, represents performance art, and is for entertainment purposes only.” Documents filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that College Company, an Arkansas-based LLC, owns the Enron trademark. The co-founder of College Company is Connor Gaydos, who helped create a joke conspiracy theory that claims all birds are actually surveillance drones for the government. What do former Enron employees think of the company’s return? Peters said that since learning about the “relaunch” of Enron, she has spoken with several other former employees and they are also upset by it. She said the apparent stunt was “in poor taste.” “If it’s a joke, it’s rude, extremely rude. And I hope that they realize it and apologize to all of the Enron employees,” Peters said. Peters, who is 74 years old, said she is still working in information technology because “I lost everything in Enron, and so my Social Security doesn’t always take care of things I need done.” “Enron’s downfall taught us critical lessons about corporate ethics, accountability, and the consequences of unchecked ambition. Enron’s legacy was the employees in the trenches. Leave Enron buried,” she said. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on X at https://x.com/juanlozano70
Injured cornerback Riley Moss could return to Denver's lineup at CincinnatiAthleisure Market to expand by USD 176.3 Billion from 2024-2028, driven by the rise of online shopping, with AI powering market evolution - Technavio
- In its continued support of those experiencing food insecurity, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles helps launch the holidays with its 4th Annual Turkey Drive - LOS ANGELES, Calif., Dec. 3, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The bright yellow tents of the Volunteer Ministers of the Church of Scientology Los Angeles had something special at their weekly food drive on the Saturday before Thanksgiving: 300 turkeys for local families. The economic impact of the pandemic in 2020 marked the beginning of widespread unemployment and financial hardship. Although lockdowns have been over for several years, and many people have regained or found new employment, food insecurity remains a growing concern. A 2023 study by USC Dornsife Public Exchange revealed that nearly one-third of Los Angeles County residents experience food insecurity. According to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank , more than half of the parents surveyed in May 2024 reported difficulty accessing food, particularly as pandemic-era benefits phased out. It also reported that L.A. County has more food-insecure children than any other county in the U.S. In response to this urgent need, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles began providing a weekly food drive in 2020 and has continued to offer this service, helping hundreds of families each week. The Church of Scientology Volunteer Ministers program is a religious social service created in the mid-1970s by L. Ron Hubbard. It constitutes one of the world’s largest independent relief forces. A Volunteer Minister’s mandate is to be “a person who helps his fellow man on a volunteer basis by restoring purpose, truth and spiritual values to the lives of others.” Their creed: “A Volunteer Minister does not shut his eyes to the pain, evil and injustice of existence. Rather, he is trained to handle these things and help others achieve relief from them and new personal strength as well.” Their motto is no matter the circumstances, “Something can be done about it.” For more information on the technology used by the Volunteer Minister, watch Scientology Tools for Life and the documentary Operation: Do Something About It on the Scientology Network on DIRECTV 320 or at www.Scientology.tv . LEARN MORE: https://www.scientologynews.org/press-releases/ https://www.scientology-losangeles.org VIDEO: https://youtu.be/B0xMnowNCYo?si=DDYMrYdRbb-XAG-1 https://www.scientology.tv/watch/series/inside-scientology/inside-a-church.html PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/24-1203-s2p-COS-TurkeyDrive-300dpi.jpg PHOTO CAPTION: Cars line up at the Church of Scientology Los Angeles for a special addition to its weekly food drive. TAGS: #ChurchOfScientologyLosAngeles #TurkeyDrive #FoodDrive #Thanksgiving #ScientologyVolunteerMinisters NEWS SOURCE: Church of Scientology International Keywords: Religion and Churches, Church Of Scientology Los Angeles, Turkey Drive, Food Drive, Thanksgiving, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Church of Scientology International) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire . Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P122625 APDF15TBLLI To view the original version, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/church-of-scientology-food-drive-makes-thanksgiving-special-for-300-local-families/ © 2024 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Stock market today: Rising tech stocks pull Wall Street to another record
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