Slideshow what your nails say about your health

A child gets vaccinated at a centre in HCM City (Photo: VNA)   HCM City (VNA) - A combination of various public health and preventive medicine specialties should be paid attention to at the domestic and international levels to protect people’s health amid emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases globally, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son told a recent conference at the Pasteur Institute in HCM City. Problems in one country could affect other countries easier than in the past since pathogens and vectors now move further and faster than ever before through the global transportation network, he pointed out. The incidence of non-communicable diseases too has increased, including in Vietnam where they cause 70 percent of deaths, he said. “So the health sector in the country has expanded co-operation with other countries and adopted global scientific advances for the prevention and treatment of diseases.” The Government has invested in … [Read more...] about Domestic, global focus needed to address public health issues

Saudi Arabia will develop nuclear weapons if its arch-rival Iran does so, the kingdom's crown prince said in remarks released on Thursday, raising the prospect of a nuclear arms race in a region already riven with conflict. "Saudi Arabia does not want to acquire any nuclear bomb, but without a doubt if Iran developed a nuclear bomb, we will follow suit as soon as possible," Prince Mohammed bin Salman told CBS in an interview that will air in full on Sunday. The Sunni Muslim kingdom has been at loggerheads with revolutionary Shi'ite Iran for decades. The countries have fought a long-running proxy war in the Middle East and beyond, backing rival sides in armed conflicts and political crises including in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen. He downplayed Iran's power during the interview, saying that Iran was far from being a rival to Saudi Arabia. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi reacted harshly, saying the Saudi crown prince was a "delusional naive person" who has no idea of … [Read more...] about Saudi crown prince says will develop nuclear bomb if Iran does: CBS TV

The act came as it seeks to temper a global backlash led by celebrities such as George Clooney and Elton John. The small Southeast Asian country sparked an outcry when it rolled out its interpretation of Islamic laws, or sharia, on April 3, punishing sodomy, adultery and rape with death, including by stoning. Brunei has consistently defended its right to implement the laws, elements of which were first adopted in 2014 and which have been rolled out in phases since then. However, in a rare response to criticism aimed at the oil-rich state, the sultan said the death penalty would not be imposed in the implementation of the Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO). Some crimes already command the death penalty in Brunei, including premeditated murder and drug trafficking, but no executions have been carried out since 1957. "I am aware that there are many questions and misperceptions with regard to the implementation of the SPCO. However, we believe that once these have been cleared, the merit of … [Read more...] about Brunei says it won’t enforce gay death penalty after backlash

Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kyle Nunas (L) and Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh (Photo: VNA)   Can Tho (VNA) – Canadian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Kyle Nunas and authorities of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on December 9 committed to bolstering bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially agriculture, health care and environment. During a working session in the city, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh said it is developing high-tech, eco-friendly and sustainable agriculture, as well as high-quality health care, which are also Canada’s strengths. She added that the city calls on foreign investors to provide modern equipment for a local cardiovascular hospital project. According to her, Can Tho also plans to establish a disease control centre to improve forecast and prevention of diseases for local residents. Nunas, for his part, said Canada is … [Read more...] about Canada vows to help Can Tho in agriculture, health care, environment

Truong Van Long is Vietnamese in name only. He was born in Cambodia and has lived there for decades, including many years in a floating house on the Tonle Sap lake where he still lives. But his days on the water are numbered. Citing concerns over pollution and overfishing last year, Cambodian authorities have moved hundreds of ethnic Vietnamese families in the central province of Kampong Chhnang to land. More than 1,000 ethnic Vietnamese families, including Truong Van Long’s, who are still on the water will be relocated to land in the coming months, provincial authorities have said. "Why move us from the water? We are not in anyone’s way, and there is nowhere else for us to go," said Troung Van Long, seated on the floor of his blue-colored houseboat. "The officials say we are polluting the water, but it is industries and city people who do that. We just want to make a living from fishing - we will starve if we are moved," he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Ethnic … [Read more...] about No room on water, no home on land for Cambodia’s ethnic Vietnamese