A isolated Monkeypox treatment ward at a hospital in Ahmedabad in India. (Photo: AFP/VNA) New Delhi (VNA) – Scientists at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune are training experts from Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka and Thailand to tackle monkeypox amidst escalating concerns over the disease. As part of India’s response to protecting its population from the new threat, NIV scientists are training their counterparts in these countries on testing, clinical symptoms, case definitions, sample collection, and equipment required for testing. NIV Pune has been conducting such training programmes for other countries from time to time, like it did during the COVID-19 pandemic and even before for biosafety and bio-risk mitigation, said Dr Pragya Yadav, a senior scientist at NIV Pune. If these countries develop the capacity to diagnose and detect monkeypox cases, that would … [Read more...] about Indian scientists helps build capacity for Vietnam on monkeypox control
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India nixes privacy bill that alarmed big tech companies, works on new law
NEW DELHI -- India's government on Wednesday withdrew a data protection and privacy bill which was first proposed in 2019 and had alarmed big technology companies such as Facebook and Google, announcing it was working on a new comprehensive law. The 2019 law had proposed stringent regulations on cross-border data flows and proposed giving the Indian government powers to seek user data from companies, seen as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's stricter regulation of tech giants. A government notice said the decision came as a parliamentary panel's review of the 2019 bill suggested many amendments, leading to the need for a new "comprehensive legal framework". The government will now "present a new bill", the notice added. IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Reuters the government has started drafting the new bill, "which is in good advanced stages", with a public release "very close". The government aims to get the new bill approved and made into law by early 2023 in the … [Read more...] about India nixes privacy bill that alarmed big tech companies, works on new law
Vandalizing paint on Ho Chi Minh City new bridge resists 14 solvents
The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transportation has used 14 types of solvent to remove vandalizing paint on the newly-opened Thu Thiem 2 Bridge but that effort has proved fruitless, its deputy director Bui Hoa An said at a meeting on Thursday. The bridge, officially opened to traffic on April 28, has been smeared with paint and graffiti. The vandalism is taking place at not only the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge but also many other structures across the city, including metro line No. 1 . In order to restore the new bridge to its original state, the municipal transport department used 14 types of solvent to remove the paint and graffiti. But the substances failed to dissolve them. The department is thus considering covering the bridge with a new coat of paint, according to An. The price of the paint the department intends to buy, however, is as expensive as VND300,000 (US$13) per square meter. The Thu Thiem 2 Bridge is smeared with vandalizing paint in Ho Chi … [Read more...] about Vandalizing paint on Ho Chi Minh City new bridge resists 14 solvents
Additional 1,705 new Covid-19 infections reported on Monday
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Monday reported an additional 1,705 Covid-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to over 11 million. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 11,349,223. On August 8, an additional 9,223 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.98 million. On Monday evening, no deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. The country's total fatalities stood at 43,094, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By August 8, the country had injected more than 248 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Vietnam is targeting the completion of Covid-19 inoculation for children aged between 5 - 11 in August, as well as the administration of the third shot for those aged 12 - 17, as well as the third and fourth doses to people aged 18 and above as soon as possible. … [Read more...] about Additional 1,705 new Covid-19 infections reported on Monday
Vietnam confirms additional 2,096 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Wednesday reported an additional 2,096 Covid-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to over 10.78 million. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 10,785,122. On August 3, an additional 7,750 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.94 million. On Wednesday evening, no deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. The country's total fatalities stood at 43,094, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By August 3, the country had injected more than 246 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Vietnam is targeting the completion of Covid-19 inoculation for children aged between 5 - 11 in August, as well as the administration of the third shot for those aged 12 - 17, as well as the third and fourth doses to people aged 18 and above as soon as possible. … [Read more...] about Vietnam confirms additional 2,096 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday
Vietnam to add notes on citizens’ birthplace in new passport form
Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has decided to add information on the holder's place of birth in the country’s new passport after three European countries announced they had temporarily stopped accepting the document. Answering reporters’ questions at the government’s regular press meeting on Wednesday, spokesperson of the Ministry of Public Security To An Xo stressed that Vietnam's new passport complies with the law on exit and entry of Vietnamese citizens as well as meets the conditions and standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). Many countries such as Japan, South Korea, Switzerland, Mongolia, and Saudi Arabia do not include the place of birth in their passports, Xo continued, adding that this is not mandatory. “Most countries in the world still recognize Vietnam's new passport,” he continued. “Only Germany, Spain, and the Czech Republic have temporarily stopped accepting the document due to some technical issues reported by these … [Read more...] about Vietnam to add notes on citizens’ birthplace in new passport form
Additional 2,074 new Covid-19 infections confirmed on Friday
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Friday reported an additional 2,074 Covid-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to over 11 million. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 11,192,043. On August 5, an additional 9,481 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.95 million. On Friday evening, no deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. The country's total fatalities stood at 43,094, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By August 5, the country had injected more than 247 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Vietnam is targeting the completion of Covid-19 inoculation for children aged between 5 - 11 in August, as well as the administration of the third shot for those aged 12 - 17, as well as the third and fourth doses to people aged 18 and above as soon as possible. More Headlines … [Read more...] about Additional 2,074 new Covid-19 infections confirmed on Friday
Additional 1,602 new Covid-19 infections confirmed on Saturday
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Saturday reported an additional 1,602 Covid-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to over 11 million. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 11,346,137. On August 6, an additional 6,878 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.96 million. On Saturday evening, no deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. The country's total fatalities stood at 43,094, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By August 6, the country had injected more than 248 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Vietnam is targeting the completion of Covid-19 inoculation for children aged between 5 - 11 in August, as well as the administration of the third shot for those aged 12 - 17, as well as the third and fourth doses to people aged 18 and above as soon as possible. … [Read more...] about Additional 1,602 new Covid-19 infections confirmed on Saturday
Vietnam confirms additional 1,381 new Covid-19 infections on Sunday
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health on Sunday reported an additional 1,381 Covid-19 infections, raising the country's total tally to over 11 million. Illustrative photo According to the ministry's report, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 11,347,518. On August 7, an additional 8,589 more patients recovered from the disease, raising the number of recoveries in the country to over 9.97 million. On Sunday evening, no deaths from Covid-19 were recorded. The country's total fatalities stood at 43,094, accounting for 0.4 per cent of total infections. By August 6, the country had injected more than 248 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. Vietnam is targeting the completion of Covid-19 inoculation for children aged between 5 - 11 in August, as well as the administration of the third shot for those aged 12 - 17, as well as the third and fourth doses to people aged 18 and above as soon as possible. … [Read more...] about Vietnam confirms additional 1,381 new Covid-19 infections on Sunday
Travel agencies on tenterhooks as 3 European nations stop accepting Vietnam’s new passport
Many Vietnamese travel agencies have expressed their concerns over slumping revenue after the Czech Republic, Spain, and Germany refused to issue visas to holders of new Vietnamese passports. Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, deputy director of Vietravel's marketing department, stated that about 10-20 percent of the customers who book the firm’s tours to Europe are using the new passport form. Travelers often choose countries in the Schengen area, including France, Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Italy, Khanh elaborated. If customers’ trip includes the Czech Republic, Spain, and Germany and their visas get rejected due to the new passport form, the travel agency needs to adjust the original itinerary, which can be troublesome. Tourists can either choose to exclude these nations from their journeys or travel to other European countries instead, such as Switzerland and France. Regarding tours that must include Germany, Vietravel will only offer them to customers who … [Read more...] about Travel agencies on tenterhooks as 3 European nations stop accepting Vietnam’s new passport