BRUSSELS, June 5 - President Barack Obama said on Thursday he would make "no apologies" for agreeing to a deal that released Taliban detainee Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, despite controversy in Washington that Congress was not notified ahead of time. "I make absolutely no apologies for making sure that we get back a young man to his parents and that the American people understand that this is somebody's child," Obama said. "This is not some abstraction, this is not some political football," he told a news conference. "As Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, I am responsible for those kids." Bergdahl was captured in Afghanistan in 2009. Some soldiers have said he walked away from his unit, and have alleged at least six soldiers died trying to find him. He was freed last week in a controversial prisoner-swap deal that saw five Taliban militants released from the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and flown to Qatar. Republican members of the U.S. Congress have said President Barack Obama set a dangerous precedent with the swap for Bergdahl and might have broken the law. Obama called the uproar "par for the course" and said he is "never surprised by controversies that are whipped up in Washington"
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Ho Chi Minh City mulls connecting more public transport services to rail station
The city plans to use public bikes and four-wheeled electric vehicles to connect with the Saigon Railway Station
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Italy turns to Vietnam, Mexico for auto part exports to counter German weakness
"We are aware of the situation Germany is facing in the automotive industry," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday told reporters on the sidelines of the TEHA business forum
19 hours ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/03/1-1725334745.png)
New Zealand nearly triples levy on international tourists
The government said in a statement it would increase the international visitor and conservation and tourism fees starting on Oct. 1 to NZ$100 ($62.20) from NZ$35 to 'ensure visitors contribute to public services and high-quality experiences while visiting New Zealand'
4 days ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/06/kqty5zm2hfl7vldz3pu4xyf4ci-1725608347.jpg)
Toyota cuts 2026 global EV output plans by a third, Nikkei reports
The world's biggest automaker now plans to build one million EVs in 2026
1 day ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/06/https---cloudfront-us-east-2-images-arcpublishing-com-reuters-dvm6mxnqqzorfliivgfdhgevzm-1725595173.jpg)
Japan's Seven & i rejects Couche-Tard's $38.5 bln takeover offer
7-Eleven operator Seven & i said the takeover proposal was not in the best interest of shareholders
1 day ago![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/06/1-1725594862.png)
Trump says he will tap Musk to lead government efficiency commission if elected
Trump did not detail how such a commission would operate, besides saying it would develop a plan to eliminate "fraud and improper payments" within six months of being formed
1 day agoHighlights
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Super typhoon Yagi causes 4 deaths, injuries upon landfall in Vietnam
The typhoon has resulted in significant damage across northern Vietnam
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Super Typhoon Yagi makes landfall in Vietnam after casualties in China
Super Typhoon Yagi hit island districts of north Vietnam around 1300 local time (0600 GMT), generating winds of up to 160 kph (99 mph) near its centre
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Super typhoon Yagi causes 4 deaths, injuries upon landfall in Vietnam
The typhoon has resulted in significant damage across northern Vietnam
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/07/nguyen-thuy-hanh-tong-giam-doc-kiem-giam-doc-khoi-khach-hang-doanh-nghiep-va-dau-tu-1725696359.jpg)
StanChart Vietnam appoints first Vietnamese CEO
The new CEO joined Standard Chartered in 1997
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2 investors propose 7,000MW offshore wind power projects in Ho Chi Minh City’s island district
Both projects are currently in the proposal and potential evaluation stage
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Guinea-Bissau president hails Vietnam as role model for developing African countries
Vietnam is Guinea-Bissau’s third-largest export market
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/07/d4di6gsexbixvcy57gzgk7qrb4-1725686882.jpg)
Italy turns to Vietnam, Mexico for auto part exports to counter German weakness
"We are aware of the situation Germany is facing in the automotive industry," Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Friday told reporters on the sidelines of the TEHA business forum
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/07/nam-tran-bao-so-3-1725679934654896111904-1725683658.jpg)
Typhoon Yagi approaches Vietnam’s Quang Ninh-Hai Phong coastline
Yagi could make landfall in northern Vietnamese provinces today
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/07/spacex-1-17256339403711223363303-1725676390.jpg)
SpaceX’s Tim Hughes says firm ready to invest, offer services in Vietnam
Hughes confirmed SpaceX’s readiness to invest in and offer Starlink services in Vietnam, including for education, training, and disaster prevention
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Norwegian Seafood Council promotes strategic cooperation with Vietnamese businesses
Besides WinMart and Golden Gate Group, it expects to expand its partnership portfolio through collaborations with Royal Seafood, BRG Mart, FujiMart, GoFood, Vimexfood, and Kiwi Food
![](https://ttnfly.tuoitrenews.vn/185/0/ttnew/r/2024/09/06/00226mts00001621still001-1725599366687549944090-1725631997.jpg)
Over $35 mln earmarked for anti-erosion project in Vietnam’s southernmost province
The European Union will provide a non-refundable grant of 3.76 million euros and the French Development Agency will offer more than 19 million euros in loans