Europe

LONDON -- The World Health Organization was holding an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after over 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe. In what Germany described as the largest outbreak in Europe ever, cases have been reported in at least nine countries – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - as well as the United States, Canada and Australia. Spain reported 24 new cases on Friday, mainly in the Madrid region where the regional government closed a sauna linked to the majority of infections. A hospital in Israel was treating a man in his 30s who is displaying symptoms consistent with the disease after recently arriving from Western Europe. First identified in monkeys, the disease typically spreads through close contact and has rarely spread outside Africa, so this series of cases has triggered concern. … [Read more...] about WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases top 100 in Europe

A handful of cases of monkeypox have now been reported or are suspected in the United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain. The outbreaks are raising alarm because the disease mostly occurs in west and central Africa, and only very occasionally spreads elsewhere. Here's what scientists know so far. 'Highly unusual' Monkeypox is a virus that causes fever symptoms as well as a distinctive bumpy rash. It is usually mild, although there are two main strains: the Congo strain, which is more severe – with up to 10% mortality – and the West African strain, which has a fatality rate of more like 1% of cases. The UK cases are least have been reported as the West African strain. "Historically, there have been very few cases exported. It has only happened eight times in the past before this year," said Jimmy Whitworth, a professor of international public health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who said it was "highly unusual". Portugal has logged five confirmed cases, … [Read more...] about Explainer: Why monkeypox cases are rising in Europe

The confrontation between Nato and Russia in Europe will reach new heights. At first glance, it was the military crash in Ukraine between Russia and Ukraine the last straw that breaks the camel's back for Sweden and Finland to finally decide to join the Nato. Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine, which started on 24th February of this year, has of its serious and far-reaching consequences for Nato and these two Scandinavian states, for Russia and Europe's security. Source: nato.int In reality, Sweden and Finland have taken the unique chance and occasion given to them to finish the journey they started a long time ago first to approach the Nato and then to become members of this military alliance and to justify the abandonment of their policy of neutrality. Despite Turkey's seemingly resolute opposition, Nato will surely soon wrap up its new - and another - round of extension. The confrontation between Nato and Russia in Europe will reach new … [Read more...] about The Other Game

The top legislator of Vietnam will pay an official visit to Laos from May 15 to 17 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Xaysomphone Phomvihane. In the article on the front page, the newspaper said this is the first official visit to Laos by a key leader of Vietnam in the Laos - Vietnam Year of Solidarity and Friendship 2022, and also the first by Hue as Chairman of the Vietnamese N.A. Hue is also the first foreign parliamentary leader to visit Laos since the country’s 11th National Party Congress and the 9th-tenure N.A.’s first session. The visit takes place amid a number of important activities being held in the Solidarity and Friendship Year to mark the 60th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years since the signing of the Laos - Vietnam Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation. PathetLao Daily noted the visit not only affirms the two countries’ consistent foreign policy of treasuring and unceasingly developing their great friendship, special solidarity, … [Read more...] about N.A. Chairman’s visit reflects Vietnam’s special political trust with Laos: Lao newspaper

The inauguration of the first Joins Pro professional laundry shop in HCM City’s Binh Thanh District on May 12. — Photo courtesy of Masan Joins Pro Professional Laundry Co., Ltd, a subsidiary of Masan Group, opened its first shop in HCM City’s Binh Thanh District, marking a milestone in its parent’s goal of becoming the leading laundry chain in Viet Nam. It offers services ranging from basic (washing and drying, and washing and ironing) to higher (dry cleaning, expensive cloth cleaning, bleaching, and fabric softening), along with home pickup and delivery. It said it uses European machinery to optimise energy usage and fabric protection, and environment-friendly Joins detergents. It uses wet cleaning machines in place of the traditional dry laundry. Tran Thi Thanh Van of Joins Pro laundry said: "With the positive signals from the market and an increasing demand from people, we believe that this is the perfect time to enter the laundry service market that does not yet have a … [Read more...] about Masan opens first Joins Pro professional laundry shop

Visitors learn about promotional tours at  HCMC Tourism Festival 2022. Currently, Saigontourist Group is offering a promotional package of up to VND20 million (US$867) for visitors traveling to the United States, and up to VND15 million (US$650) for visitors departing to Europe. Besides, Fiditour – Vietluxtour travel agency is also offering hundreds of diversified domestic and oversea tours from full service, free and easy, on-demand, MICE tours, airline tickets, hotels, automobiles, tour guides, events, and so on, especially the sightseeing helicopter tour in the city. As for Vietravel, the travel agency has introduced preferential domestic and foreign tours with discounts from VND900,000 (US$39) and VND1.5 million (US$65), respectively. The 18th Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival takes place from May 14 to May 17 at Le Van Tam Park, District 1 organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism in collaboration with the Municipal Tourism Association. It is expected … [Read more...] about Visitors excited with HCMC Tourism Festival 2022

HÀ NỘI — Automaker VinFast on January 4 announced it will receive pre-orders for its electric SUV models VF e35 and VF e36 in Việt Nam and the US during the VinFast Global EV Day within the framework of the technology exhibition CES 2022 in Las Vegas, the US. Accordingly, pre-orders for the vehicles will open at 5pm on January 5 (Las Vegas time), or 8am of January 6 (Hanoi time). Special offers from VinFirst programme will be given to those who book the two models within the first three months. In Việt Nam, customers who will have to pay VNĐ15 million (US$659) in advance for VF e35 and VNĐ20 million for VF e36 will receive gift vouchers worth VNĐ150 million and VNĐ250 million,  respectively. Meanwhile, customers in the US who pay $200 in advance will get an e-voucher worth $3,000 for VF e35 and $5,000 for VF e36. In both markets, the pre-orders are refundable. During the event, VinFast will introduce blockchain application in the process of ordering ownership verification as well … [Read more...] about VinFast announces opening of pre-orders for electric vehicles in Việt Nam, US

Spraying sterilised substances at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases No 2 to prevent SARS-CoV-2 virus from spreading (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases has discovered two new variants of SARS-CoV-2 , namely B.1.222 and B.1.619, after gene sequencing of patient samples. Van Dinh Trang, Head of the Microbiology and Molecular Biology Ward under the hospital, told the Suc khoe & Doi song (Health and Life) newspaper that the B.1.222 variant had appeared in 11 countries, but was most common in the UK and particularly Scotland. This strain has many mutations on the spike protein different from the Indian strain B.1.617.2. Variant B.1.222 was discovered when the hospital’s COVID-19 research team sequenced the SARS-CoV-2 gene from the oropharyngeal specimen of a 29-year-old patient, a Ukrainian expert. The patient was quarantined immediately after entering Vietnam. Variant B.1.619 has spike protein similar to Indian strain … [Read more...] about Vietnam discovers two new strains of SARS-CoV-2 from imported cases

Hardy Diec, Managing Director of FedEx Express Indochina. Photo by FedEx Express What’s the status quo with the logistics industry? Supply chains have never been more important. More than that, reliability and accuracy in these supply chains have now become even more paramount. During this pandemic, the logistics industry has proven to be vital, whether in delivering critical healthcare shipments including vaccines and medicine, or delivering huge volumes of e-commerce shipments to end consumers. The pandemic has shifted consumer behavior greatly. The boom in e-commerce will continue to be a powerful engine of the global economy. We’re witnessing how essential supply chains are to business survival, success and growth - they are not just an opportunity to reduce cost. Businesses are rethinking their supply chains, moving to a "just in case" approach for inventory management to counter unplanned scenarios. Being able to receive products and critical components either by … [Read more...] about Innovative logistics models in great demand: FedEx director

The local aviation market experienced a strong recovery in April. — VNA/VNS Photo The aviation market in Viet Nam is vibrant and recovering with the number of international visitors increasing five-fold, according to experts. According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV), in April, Viet Nam's airports handled 6.6 million passengers, down 14.3 per cent compared to the same time last year but the number of foreign visitors reached more than 230,000 in April, an impressive increase of 502 per cent over the same period last year when COVID-19 was developing in a complex fashion. CAAV said Vietnamese airlines transported 3.28 million passengers, including 80,000 foreigners. Compared to the same period last year, the number of international passengers choosing services of Vietnamese airlines rose 214.7 per cent, while the number of domestic passengers dropped 18.2 per cent. As for cargo transport, in April, 140,700 tonnes of cargo were transported through Viet … [Read more...] about Local aviation market sees strong recovery