Vietnam

Illegal foreign vessels yet to be destroyed

The destruction of the vessels was ordered by the Bomana District Court after the boats were caught fishing illegally off Budibidi Island, Milne Bay Province, on December 22.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is in charge of the destruction operation, planned to be carried out by the PNGDF Navy's explosive ordinance and diving team.

It’s been over a week since the initial destruction operation failed to push through due to bad weather.

Locals delay destruction of foreign vessels

The destruction was organised by the National Fisheries Authority and planned to be carried out by the PNGDF Navy's explosive ordinance and diving team.

They were towed out of Fairfax Harbour on Monday by the PNG Defence Force Navy vessel, HMPNGS Buna, to a sinking site outside Port Moresby.

However, due to bad weather, they were left on a reef off the coast of Fisherman Island.

A team consisting of naval personnel, fisheries officers and external clients, Pacific Towing service, was sent out the next day to do a preliminary assessment of the situation.

Illegal fishing vessels yet to be destroyed

A team was sent out on Tuesday and today to continue assessment of the situation.

The vessels were towed out of Fairfax Harbour on Monday by the PNG Defence Force Navy vessel HMPNGS Buna to a sinking site outside Port Moresby. 

However, due to bad weather, they were left on a reef off the coast of Fisherman Island.

The destruction was organised by the National Fisheries Authority and planned to be carried out by the PNGDF Navy's explosive ordinance and diving team.

​Illegal fishing vessels to be destroyed

A judicial official will be present to witness the destruction.

The HMPNGS Buna will tow the two illegal vessel to their sinking site outside Port Moresby.

The vessels were used by 50 Vietnamese fishermen that had been fishing in PNG waters off Budibidi Island in Milne Bay Province on December 22, 2016.

They were apprehended by the PNG Defence Force naval ship HPNGS Seadler.

A total of 77 drums of beche-de-mer (sea cucumbers) were found on board the foreign vessels.

PNG, Vietnam to fight illegal fishing

Mao Zeming said the agreement between the two countries strengthens ongoing efforts in the region to combat illegal and unregulated fishing.

He added that the NFA would continue its collaborative efforts with Police, PNG Defence Force and Customs to prevent illegal fishing in the waters of PNG.

Vietnam’s Deputy Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Vu Van Tam, was in Port Moresby last week to hold talks with National Fisheries Authority and other government officials.

Vietnam keeper and defender in hilarious blunder

Defender Dinh Dong Tran botched his clearance of a cross, knocking it onto the post, which confused goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Tran enough to allow Stefano Lilipaly to prod home for the opening goal in the second leg of their AFF Suzuki Cup encounter.

The keeper's game got even worse as he later saw a straight red card and, despite Vietnam forcing extra time, his side ultimately lost out.

 

Prime Minister congratulates Vietnam’s new President

PM O’Neill has offered to work closely with Vietnam when it hosts APEC in 2017, which is immediately before Papua New Guinea hosts APEC in 2018, and Vietnam’s President has confirmed he will attend the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Port Moresby.

The two leaders met as part of the APEC Leaders Week in Lima, Peru, last weekend where they further discussed co-operation in agricultural skills and development, and the prospect of establishing a Papua New Guinea Embassy in Hanoi.

Russia 'considering military bases in Cuba and Vietnam'

Nikolai Pankov announced a review of the decision to close the two bases more than a decade ago.

The two served as pivots of Soviet military power during the Cold War.

It comes amid growing tensions between the US and Russia, and as Russia's parliament approved a longer term military presence at a Syrian airbase.

Mr Pankov told the Russian parliament on Friday they were "dealing with the issue" of the two bases, Russian news agencies reported.

He declined to go into detail.

Rio Olympics 2016: Vietnam win first ever Games gold

Hoang scored 202.5 points to edge out home favourite Felipe Wu who recorded 202.1 points to clinch silver and Brazil's first medal of the Games.

Wu took the lead after the penultimate shot but Hoang denied him with a brilliant final effort.

Pang Wei scored 180.4 to win bronze for China, while South Korea's defending champion Jin Jongoh came in fifth.