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As negotiations towards a new pandemic treaty pick up pace, observers warn of watered-down efforts to ensure equitable access to the medical products needed to battle future COVID-like threats. Shaken by the pandemic, the World Health Organization's 194 member states are negotiating an international accord aimed at ensuring countries are better equipped to deal with the next catastrophe, or even prevent it altogether. The process is still in the early stages, with the aim of reaching an agreement by May 2024. But critics warn that revisions being made to the preliminary negotiating text are weakening the language -- notably in a key area aimed at preventing the rampant inequity seen in access to vaccines and other medical products during the COVID pandemic. "I think it is a real step backwards," Suerie Moon, co-director of the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, told AFP . If poorer nations do not see solid language ensuring they will be better protected … [Read more...] about Critics say pandemic treaty text is ‘step backwards’

Hooi Ling, who co-founded Grab with CEO Anthony Tan in 2012, will transition into an advisory role, the company said. Her succession plan has been in place for a while, Tan wrote in an internal memo to employees, adding that Hooi Ling will also give up her board directorship. "People who know me well know that I am an adventurer at heart, and there are many other personal passions that I have put aside to build Grab with Anthony," Hooi Ling said in a statement. "With the strong leadership bench we currently have, I believe now is the right time for me to pass on the baton to our next generation of leaders, and to pursue these other passions." Tan and Hooi Ling developed Southeast Asia's biggest ride-hailing and food delivery firm from an idea for a Harvard Business School venture competition in 2011. In the memo, CEO Tan said that Hooi Ling will not be replaced immediately. The nominating committee will consider candidates to supplement the board only later this year. … [Read more...] about Grab co-founder Tan Hooi Ling to step down from operational roles

But they warned President Xi Jinping's ability to raise the stakes will be limited as he battles to re-energise the world's number two economy while it struggles to recover from years of zero-Covid-imposed inertia. China on Sunday banned the use of Micron's chips in critical infrastructure projects, which Beijing said posed "major network security risks" that could affect "national security". Washington expressed "serious concerns" over the ruling that came just as leaders of the world's seven richest nations (G7) signed a statement urging Beijing to end "economic coercion." The move marked a significant shift in China's response to U.S. measures that have targeted the country's technology sector, with Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis who specialises in the global chip trade, calling it "a landmark case." He emphasised it was China's first cybersecurity probe into a foreign company since tighter rules were announced in 2021, and a rare instance when the scope of such … [Read more...] about China steps up response to US chip moves but economic reality limits how far

PM Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of the results of the talks between the Slovenian official and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, and her meeting with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, as well as the Vietnam-Slovenia business in Ho Chi Minh City. The PM noted his belief that Fajon’s official visit to Vietnam from May 22-23 will contribute to advancing the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries across spheres. Vietnam always attaches importance and wishes to enhance the multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia, one of its traditional friends in Central-Eastern Europe, he affirmed. For her part, Fajon expressed her impression for Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, and stressed that Slovenia wants to foster its cooperation and traditional friendship with Vietnam, a leading important partner of Slovenia in the region. PM Pham Minh Chinh rejoiced at the positive development of the bilateral ties over the past time, and … [Read more...] about Vietnam wants to step up multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) hosts a reception in Hanoi on May 23 for Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon . Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 23 for Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon. PM Chinh spoke highly of the results of the talks between the Slovenian official and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son , and her meeting with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien , as well as the Vietnam-Slovenia business in Ho Chi Minh City. The PM noted his belief that Fajon’s official visit to Vietnam from May 22-23 will contribute to advancing the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries across spheres. Vietnam always attaches importance and wishes to enhance the multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia, one of its traditional friends in Central-Eastern Europe, he … [Read more...] about Vietnam wants to step up multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia: PM

Illustrative image (Source: balitravelnewspaper) Jakarta (VNA) – Garuda Indonesia , the national flag carrier of Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines plan to enter into a joint venture (JV) to increase passenger capacity between the two countries as post-COVID tourism in Southeast Asia ramps up. The proposed JV would allow the carriers to potentially synchronise schedules, improving passengers' connectivity and convenience, and explore new initiatives, including joint fare products and an alignment of corporate programmes, Indonesian Vice Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Kartika Wirjoatmodjo said on May 29. The plan will cover routes between Singapore and Denpasar, Jakarta, and Surabaya, and deepen the existing cooperation between the two carriers./. VNA … [Read more...] about Indonesia, Singapore cooperate in stepping up aviation services post COVID-19

The event attracted the participation of more than 100 people from large Korean investment funds, conglomerates, and small- and medium-sized enterprises operating in banking, green energy, green industry, smart city – urban area building and development, 4.0 industry, science and technology, high-tech agriculture, and manufacturing fields. Deputy head of the ministry’s Consular Department Trinh Thi Mai Phuong said that the forum is a highlight of the program to promote Vietnamese localities in the RoK lasting from May 29 to June 1 to foster cooperation and connectivity between Vietnamese localities and RoK localities and businesses. At the forum, VKBIA President Tran Hai Linh stated that the collaboration between Vietnamese and RoK localities plays an important role in fostering economy, trade, and investment between the two countries. Leaders of Can Tho, Bac Lieu, Kon Tum, and Thua Thien Hue informed the forum on their localities’ potential, strength, and socio-economic … [Read more...] about Vietnam, RoK localities step up cooperation

Through international experience and collaboration among key stakeholders, Vietnam aims to become a regional leader in vaccine production. A roadmap to establish Vietnam as a regional vaccine production hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was highlighted at a workshop organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI) under the Vietnamese Ministry of Health in Hanoi on May 22. The roadmap outlines the steps and actions needed to strengthen Vietnam's vaccine production capacity and contribute to regional health security. At the workshop, expected to shape future strategies and actions related to vaccine production and access in Vietnam, a report was presented on the introductory package on mRNA Covid-19 vaccine production for laboratory-scale processes, which was introduced at the first R&D training in South Africa. This report provided valuable insights into the technical aspects … [Read more...] about Vietnam aims to be ASEAN’s vaccine production hub

The second-ever private mission to the International Space Station (ISS), organized by Axiom Space, blasted off from the southern US state of Florida Sunday, carrying the first two Saudi astronauts to travel to the orbiting laboratory. Rayyanah Barnawi, a breast cancer researcher, is the first Saudi woman to voyage into space and is joined on the mission by fellow Saudi Ali Al-Qarni, a fighter pilot. The Axiom Mission 2 (Ax-2) crew took off aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral at 5:37 pm (2137 GMT). The team also includes Peggy Whitson, a former NASA astronaut, who will be making her fourth flight to the ISS, and John Shoffner, a businessman from Tennessee, who is piloting. "Thanks for putting your trust in the Falcon 9 team," SpaceX chief engineer Bill Gerstenmaier told the crew minutes after lift-off. "Hope you enjoyed the ride to space. Have a great trip on Dragon," he added, referring to the spacecraft. "Welcome home to … [Read more...] about Private mission carrying Saudi astronauts launches to ISS

Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam addresses the workshop (Photo:congthuong.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is seeing a great opportunity to access the mRNA technology for vaccine production, said Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam, at a workshop held by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI) under the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on May 22. Haverman underlined the need for Vietnam to carefully consider the steps and timelines, the scale and sources of the required investment of funds, and the development of expertise to ensure this technology transfer's effectiveness and financial sustainability. The collaboration among the key departments, institutes, enterprises, senior experts, and partners at the workshop will contribute to developing an effective national strategy to improve vaccine access in Vietnam and the broader region in the coming time. The … [Read more...] about Vietnam sees great opportunity to access mRNA vaccine production technology: UNDP official