(VOVWORLD) - As COVID-19 keeps on devastating all countries around the globe, its impact can be felt in all economic sectors including education. Peter Mason, CEO of Cufa, an independent, secular, not-for-profit Australian development organisation, speaks with Dr. Michael Spann, lecturer at the University of Queensland and founding director of Square Circle about the impacts of COVID-19 in universities, as well as the abrupt political and economic changes occurring in Asia-Pacific.

(VOVWORLD) -Whilst there was more than one reason for China in late March 2020 to abandon setting a target for GDP growth-the most familiar indicator of development- for the first time in decades, it did foreground the role and importance of development in debates and sense making around Covid-19.

(VOVWORLD) - China has recently included the image of the controversial nine-dash line on T-shirts, lapel pins, globes, maps, digital maps, and in films and textbooks. This shows that China does not miss any opportunity to promote its baseless claims to the East Sea. The so-called nine-dash line was rejected by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016. Vietnam, other regional countries, and the international community should work closely with each other to fight Beijing’s false claims. In this week’s Q&A, we discuss the issue with Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor at the University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy.

(VOVWORLD) - Chinese President Xi Jinping will begin a two-day visit to India on Friday, which will be followed by a visit to Nepal. VOV interviewed Mr. Lekhanath Pandey, an assistant professor at Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu, Nepal.

(VOVWORLD) - Maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of navigation and aviation, respect for the rule of law, sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction as defined in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are shared interests and a joint responsibility of the international community. Professor Dr. Pham Quang Minh, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, has more to say about the issue.

(VOVWORLD) - This year marks the 25th anniversary of the entry into force of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as the ratification and deposit of the instrument of ratification by Viet Nam to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Its active participation to and implementation of the Convention shows Viet Nam’s good faith, respect and hope for an equitable legal order for the seas and oceans.

(VOVWORLD) - Russia in the 1950’s and 1960’s launched the first artificial Earth satellite in 1957 and Yuri Gagarin became the first astronaut to orbit the Earth in 1961.

(VOVWORLD) - In the escalating trade war between the USA and China, ‘critical minerals’ and especially rare earth minerals (REM) have again become a prominent issue. This is because trace quantities of these minerals are used in products and applications across the petrochemical, electronics, clean energy and defence sectors.

(VOVWORLD) - The establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015 is a milestone in ASEAN's economic integration. One target of the AEC is the integration of financial markets in ASEAN. As a member of the AEC, Vietnam will enjoy opportunities and face challenges. Ketut Ariadi Kusuma, World Bank Senior Financial Sector Specialist, talks more about these issues.

(VOVWORLD) - Fanfare leading up to the February 27-28 Hanoi Summit promised to be one of the most significant diplomatic events in two decades: North Korea and the US would achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula, nuclear weapons would be dismantled and economic sanctions would be terminated, North Korea would become an economic miracle on par with Vietnam, and relations between North Korea and the US would begin anew.