Thailand’s economy returned to growth in the fourth quarter, expanding faster than expected, but the 2021 pace was one of the slowest in Southeast Asia and the recovery this year is likely to be modest as tourism remains well below pre-pandemic levels. The government maintained its gross domestic product (GDP) …
Read More »Cold keeps northern Vietnam students at home
Kindergartners and primary school students in several northern Vietnam localities stayed home Monday amid the coldest spell Vietnam has faced since winter began. Current policies issued by the Hanoi Department of Education and Training state that primary schools would switch to online studying if temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius, …
Read More »Ministry wants Covid test kits brought under price stabilization norms
Covid-19 test kits should be among products governed by price stabilization policies to preclude a sudden increase in their prices, the Ministry of Health said. It called on the Ministry of Finance to cap the cost of testing at private medical facilities and the General Department of Customs to fix …
Read More »Northern Vietnam in coldest spell since winter begins
A cold spell has seeped into every corner of northern Vietnam regions, plunging temperatures in Hanoi to 8 degrees Celsius and certain areas to below zero. While the rains have subsided and the sky has been clearer, the ongoing presence of a mass of cold air still kept temperatures in …
Read More »Biden agrees in principle to Ukraine summit with Putin
U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the U.S. and French leaders said, offering a possible path out of one of the most dangerous European crises in decades. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement …
Read More »Oil jumps on fresh warnings over Ukraine-Russia conflict
Oil prices gained more than $1 in early trade on Monday on rising jitters over potential conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with the United States and European Union making clear Russia would face sanctions if it invaded its neighbor. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Russia would be …
Read More »Australia fully reopens borders shut by Covid pandemic, welcomes back tourists
Australia on Monday fully reopened its international borders to travellers vaccinated against the coronavirus after nearly two years of pandemic-related closings as tourists returned and hundreds of people were reunited with family and friends. More than 50 international flights will reach the country through the day, including 27 touching down …
Read More »Northern peaks get frosty, icy and pretty
The cold spell freezing northern Vietnam transformed the landscape in several mountainous provinces including Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lang Son and Lao Cai with a frosty, icy beauty Sunday morning. Ice formed on leafless plants on the Phia Oac Mountain in Cao Bang Province at around 2 a.m. The ice …
Read More »Vietnam confirms 47,192 new local Covid-19 cases
The Health Ministry announced 47,192 new domestic Covid-19 patients in 63 cities and provinces Sunday, marking a new high in single-day tally. Hanoi continues to lead the number of infections with 5,102 cases, followed by the northern provinces Bac Ninh with 2,360 and Phu Tho with 1,981. The Ministry of …
Read More »Hanoi prepares to treat rising number of Covid patients
With nearly 250 critical Covid patients, Hanoi has adjusted the treatment system to be ready for the situation of 100-500 critical cases per day. On Feb. 19, Hanoi recorded more than 4,800 new infections, with more than 800 critical cases. This is the highest number of new and critical cases …
Read More »