Positives of animal testing

Customers buying MEATDeli, a product of Masan MEATLife, at a Vinmart+ store. — Photo thitmatmeatdeli.com Higher animal feed prices have eroded livestock companies’ profits in the first quarter of 2022. VNDirect Securities Corporation said that the Russia-Ukraine conflict had a negative impact on the animal feed industry as supplies of raw materials for animal feed production like corn, soybeans and wheat, are disrupted, causing prices to rise sharply. The two countries are respectively the world's leading and third largest wheat exporter, accounting for one-third of the total trade of this commodity. Besides, Ukraine is the second largest corn exporter, accounting for 22 per cent of the world turnover. As of early April, the price of imported corn at Cai Lan port, Quang Ninh Province, reached VND9,200-9,500 per kg (US$0.4-0.41 per kg), an increase of 20-25 per cent compared to the end of 2021 and up 50 per cent over the same period last year. The average price of imported … [Read more...] about Livestock companies profit hit by rising animal feed prices

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tested positive for COVID-19 with moderate symptoms, her office said in a statement on Saturday. She will not be in Parliament for the government's Emissions Reduction Plan on Monday and the coming Budget on Thursday. "Travel arrangements for her trade mission to the United States are unaffected at this stage," the statement added. Ardern had been symptomatic since Friday evening, returning a weak positive at night and a clear positive on Saturday morning on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), the statement said. At this stage her symptoms are moderate and she has been in isolation since May 8 when her partner Clarke Gayford tested positive, it said. Due to the positive RAT, Ardern will be required to isolate until the morning of May 21, and undertake what duties she can remotely this week. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson will address media in her place on Monday. "This is a milestone week for the Government and I'm gutted I can't … [Read more...] about New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tests positive for COVID

Accordingly, troops of Company 3 (Battalion 1) and Company 10 (Battalion 3) of the regiment took part in the three AK shooting positions: standing, kneeling and prone. All troops were highly determined and felt confident thanks to good preparation in all fields. As a result, the shooting event was run with good results and absolute safety, affirming the training quality of Regiment 48. Reportedly, the unit has taken effective measures to raise training quality. It has renovated training fields as well as purchased new training equipment while encouraging troops to contribute initiatives to raising training quality. The unit has also applied many creative measures to heightening training quality, promoting troops’ competence, and keeping the environment clean, among others. As scheduled, the regiment will continue organizing AK lesson 1 shooting tests for its affiliated units in the coming days. Translated by Minh Anh … [Read more...] about Live fire shooting test held for new recruits

Johan van den Ban, CEO of De Heus Vietnam De Heus and Hung Nhon teamed up to build high-tech agricultural complexes in Vietnam. How do the two parties take advantage of each other to meet targets? By combining the best of both worlds and sharing the same vision to improve and modernise the livestock sector, we are contributing to a competitive independent farming sector, enhancing productivity, and improving the livelihood of farmers. De Heus and Hung Nhon are well coordinated and benefit from each other. De Heus has more than 110 years of experience in animal nutrition and supporting farmers around the world with on-the-farm support solutions. On the other hand, Hung Nhon Group offers strong local knowledge and experience in the Vietnamese livestock sector and has a good track record of applying high-tech solutions in livestock farming. Furthermore, both companies have a good combination of young, energetic, and experienced employees and dedicated senior specialists … [Read more...] about Journey of thriving sustainability by De Heus and Hung Nhon

Giving and taking kickbacks in procuring coronavirus test kits during the COVID-19 pandemic has been uncovered across Vietnam, with dozens of health officials arrested for involvement in price gouging for illegitimate profit by a supplier discovered five months ago. So far, more than 30 health officials, including three seniors from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Science and Technology, and eight directors of provincial centers for disease control (CDC), have been arrested for receiving 'commissions' as kickbacks from Viet A Technology Corporation (Viet A Corp.), which had illegally raised prices of test kits to earn huge profits. The latest arrest took place on May 11, when Ha Giang Province CDC director Nguyen Tran Tuan and his two subordinates were apprehended on charges of taking bribes. They were found to have taken bribes of billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$43,000) from Viet A Corp. which they had handed in to police after their offense was uncovered. … [Read more...] about Kickbacks in medical equipment procurement exposed in Vietnam

Viet Nam will rise to the second position in Asia in terms of pork consumption this year. — Photo laodong.vn The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) forecasts that Viet Nam will rise to the second position in Asia, after China, in pork consumption this year. Accordingly, pork consumption in the country is forecasted to reach 3.4 million tonnes this year, with an annual growth rate of 3.1 per cent in 2022-30. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said that the reopening of restaurants, schools, and factories was driving up demand for meat consumption. Live hog prices have grown slightly in some areas. Currently, the average cost of live hogs across the country fluctuates in the range of VND53,000-58,000 (US$2.3-$2.5) per kg, an increase of VND1,000-3,000 per kg compared to the end of March. The price of live pigs will likely continue to rise when the cost of livestock and petrol is high, but it is unlikely to increase dramatically … [Read more...] about VN pork consumption forecast as second largest in Asia

Shanghai announced its first new COVID-19 cases outside quarantined areas in five days on Friday, triggering stricter curbs and mass testing in one district but plans to end a prolonged city-wide lockdown on June 1 appeared on track. The commercial hub of 25 million found three new cases in the same family in Qingpu district. All had taken three doses of vaccine and their infections were discovered during regular testing, authorities said. The three had not left their district town over the past 14 days but had visited at least four places, including a supermarket, all of which were sealed off and were being disinfected, authorities said. The area's more than 200,000 people had been re-tested and all results were negative. "Our district will follow the precise prevention and control measures, do a good job in epidemic prevention and control and achieve dynamic clearing as soon as possible," Zhang Yan, deputy head of Qingpu district, told an online news conference. Other … [Read more...] about Shanghai finds cases after five days of ‘zero COVID’ but end of lockdown on track

Facilities of PetroVietnam Gas JSC (GAS). GAS increased by 4.5 per cent last week. — Photo pvgas.com.vn Although the rally in recent sessions was quite positive, with the temporary cautious state of cash flow, it is likely that the market will need a step back to re-test supply and demand, said brokerages. The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange declined 0.07 per cent to close the week at 1.240,71 points. The index had risen 4.9 per cent last week. An average of 547.2 million shares were traded on the southern exchange during each session last week, worth VND13.6 trillion (US$587 million). “Markets ended the last session of the week in a state of hesitation below the reference level. After a strong reversal on May 17, selling pressure at the end of the session still took place on the low base,” said VDSC Securities Co. “Movements in industry groups are also diverging. The caution is still covering investors’ sentiment. Therefore, it is likely that the market will … [Read more...] about Shares to correct further on cautious sentiment of investors

North Korea said on Sunday a total of 42 people had died as the country began its fourth day under a nationwide lockdown aimed at stopping the country's first confirmed COVID-19 outbreak. North Korea's admission on Thursday that it is battling an "explosive" COVID-19 outbreak has raised concerns that the virus could devastate a country with an under-resourced health system, limited testing capabilities and no vaccine programme. State news agency KCNA said the country was taking "swift state emergency measures" to control the epidemic, but there is no sign that Pyongyang was moving to accept international offers of vaccines. "All provinces, cities and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted," KCNA reported on Sunday. A day earlier North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the spread of … [Read more...] about North Korea reports more deaths, says taking ‘swift measures’ against COVID outbreak

North Korea's admission on Thursday that it is battling an "explosive" Covid-19 outbreak has raised concerns that the virus could devastate a country with an under-resourced health system, limited testing capabilities and no vaccine programme. State news agency KCNA said the country was taking "swift state emergency measures" to control the epidemic, but there is no sign that Pyongyang was moving to accept international offers of vaccines. "All provinces, cities and counties of the country have been totally locked down and working units, production units and residential units closed from each other since the morning of May 12 and strict and intensive examination of all the people is being conducted," KCNA reported on Sunday. A day earlier North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the spread of Covid-19 had thrust his country into "great turmoil" and called for an all-out battle to overcome the outbreak. Despite the lockdowns, Kim and other senior officials on Saturday attended … [Read more...] about North Korea reports more deaths, says taking ‘swift measures’ against Covid outbreak