Indochina capital

The U.S. Peace Corps turns 60 Monday. Since its establishment through executive order by President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961, the Peace Corps has sent more than 240,000 volunteers to 141 countries. The organization quickly became an icon of the idealistic 1960s. The goal was to foster peace and understanding by sending mostly young, college-educated or otherwise experienced Americans to developing countries for two-year stints, helping with education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. The idea for the Peace Corps came during the 1960 presidential campaign when Kennedy gave an impromptu speech on the steps of the University of Michigan’s student union on Oct. 14. During the speech, he asked students if they would be willing to serve their country and the cause of peace by volunteering to work in the developing world. "How many of you who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians … [Read more...] about Peace Corps Marks 60 Years of Global Volunteerism

The Peace Corps will establish operations in Vietnam for the first time, thanks to an overture by President Barack Obama to the Southeast Asian nation. During his visit to Vietnam, Obama extended an invitation to the Vietnamese government for the volunteer organization to launch a program there with an emphasis on teaching English. The Vietnamese government accepted the invitation, culminating a years-long effort by the Peace Corps to gain entry into the country. In 2012, then-Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams visited Vietnam for three days to explore the possibility of establishing the program. "I'm very pleased that for the first time the Peace Corps will come to Vietnam," Obama said at news conference Monday in the capital city of Hanoi. "Our Peace Corps volunteers will focus on teaching English, and the friendship that our people forged will bring us closer together for decades to come." The Peace Corps told VOA it is already working with the Vietnamese government "to … [Read more...] about First Peace Corps Program to Launch in Vietnam

President Barack Obama left Washington on Saturday for a weeklong visit to Vietnam and Japan, his 10th trip to Asia since taking office. Air Force One, the U.S. presidential jet, lifted off shortly after 1 p.m. local time for the long flight to Hanoi. After his jet makes two refueling stops along the way, Obama is due to touch down in the Vietnamese capital early Monday local time, or early Sunday afternoon in the U.S. capital. A White House statement said the president's visit to Vietnam and Japan is intended to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to "rebalancing" relations with the nations of Asia and the Pacific region. His travel also is expected to increase U.S. diplomatic, economic and security engagement with those countries and peoples. During his time in Japan, next Thursday and Friday, the president will stop at Hiroshima, where the world's first atomic bomb was detonated in combat, shortly before Japan surrendered to the United States to end World War II. Obama will be … [Read more...] about Obama Leaves for Weeklong Visit to Vietnam, Japan

President Barack Obama's three-day visit to Vietnam, starting Monday, is expected to be a watershed in the growing economic and strategic relationship between the two countries, which were engaged in battle for more than a decade. Obama leaves Washington Saturday to start his trip. There have already been significant economic breakthroughs for the two former enemies since diplomatic ties were established between Hanoi and Washington in 1995. Vietnam’s exports to the United States now exceed the level of other ASEAN members, while U.S. exports to Vietnam have grown dramatically. Vietnam is one of the dozen signatories to the U.S.-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), giving it a boost over other nations in Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia and Thailand, which are not part of the pact. “The Trans-Pacific Partnership is the key to helping Vietnam begin a new chapter and move away from China’s orbit,” said Tuong Lai, a former prime ministerial adviser. But the TPP faces … [Read more...] about Vietnam Trade, Human Rights Vie for Discussion During Obama Visit

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE AND ALEXANDRA JAFFE WASHINGTON — Vice President Kamala Harris broke the barrier Wednesday that has kept men at the top ranks of American power for more than two centuries when she took the oath to hold the nation’s second-highest office. Harris was sworn in as the nation’s first female vice president — and the first Black woman and person of South Asian descent to hold the role — in front of the U.S. Capitol by Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The moment was steeped in history and significance in more ways than one. She was escorted to the podium by Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, the officer who single-handedly took on a mob of Trump supporters as they tried to breach the Senate floor during the Capitol insurrection that sought to overturn the election results. Harris was wearing clothes from two young, emerging Black designers — a deep purple dress and coat. After taking the oath of office, a beaming Harris hugged her husband, Douglas … [Read more...] about Kamala Harris sworn in as vice president, breaking historic gender and racial barriers in American politics