BHUBANESWAR -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was inoculated with the first dose of a home-grown coronavirus vaccine on Monday, kicking off an expansion of the country’s immunisation campaign as infections rise in some big states. People above 60, and those who are 45 or more and suffering from certain medical conditions, are now eligible for the vaccinations. But some inoculation centres reported issues with the government’s Co-Win portal used to coordinate the drive, which could slow its progress. India, which has reported the highest number of COVID-19 cases after the United States, has so far vaccinated 12 million health and front-line workers since starting its immunisation programme in mid-January. It wants to cover 300 million of its 1.35 billion people by August. “I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine,” 70-year-old Modi said on Twitter, posting a picture of him getting the shot at a government hospital in New Delhi. “Together, let us make India … [Read more...] about Modi takes home-grown vaccine as India widens immunisation drive
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How a 10-second video clip sold for $6.6 million
LONDON -- In October 2020, Miami-based art collector Pablo Rodriguez-Fraile spent almost $67,000 on a 10-second video artwork that he could have watched for free online. Last week, he sold it for $6.6 million. The video by digital artist Beeple, whose real name is Mike Winkelmann, was authenticated by blockchain, which serves as a digital signature to certify who owns it and that it is the original work. It’s a new type of digital asset - known as a non-fungible token (NFT) - that has exploded in popularity during the pandemic as enthusiasts and investors scramble to spend enormous sums of money on items that only exist online. Blockchain technology allows the items to be publicly authenticated as one-of-a-kind, unlike traditional online objects which can be endlessly reproduced. “You can go in the Louvre and take a picture of the Mona Lisa and you can have it there, but it doesn’t have any value because it doesn’t have the provenance or the history of the work,” said … [Read more...] about How a 10-second video clip sold for $6.6 million
VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS MARCH 1
Vietnam Rubber Group to raise natural rubber output under its own brand A worker collects latex from a rubber tree (Illustrative photo: VNA) The rate is expected to hit 92 percent by 2022. The VRG has built a set of standards and introduced VRG-branded rubber products since 2018, bolstering consumption of its products along with Vietnam’s rubber brand in the international market. VRG-branded products reached 255,407 tonnes last year, accounting for 68 percent of the group's total output, from just 20,790 tonnes recorded in 2018. The VRG reported 21.17 trillion VND in revenue and 5.23 trillion VND in post-tax profit in 2020, year-on-year increases of 6.9 percent and 36.4 percent, respectively./. CPI in February highest in 8 years Vietnam’s consumer price index (CPI) in February was up 1.52 percent over the previous month and 0.7 percent year on year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO). This is the highest February CPI growth recorded in the … [Read more...] about VIETNAM BUSINESS NEWS MARCH 1
The Local Game: Time to put fans first
Passionate Bình Định FC supporters ahead of their match with Sài Gòn FC earlier this season. Photo laodong.vn Peter Cowan Legendary Celtic manager Jock Stein once said that football without fans is nothing, or something to that effect. Even my Rangers supporting friends would have say he hit the nail on the head with that one and most people the world over would agree that the beautiful game is best served in front of a pair of baying mobs chanting bloody murder at each other. While we’ve all gotten somewhat used to watching matches without a crowd due to the pandemic, even the money men in big-time football who normally couldn’t give a flying you-know-what about the punters are desperate to get the crowds (and their wallets) back in the grounds when it’s safe. Everyone is itching for fans to return, except it seems, the VPF. The organisers of domestic football recently announced that V.League 1 teams would return to action in two short weeks and also released … [Read more...] about The Local Game: Time to put fans first
Hanoi identifies 10 key missions to cope with Covid-19 pandemic
The Hanoitimes - The Hanoi Steering Committee for Prevention and Control of Covid-19 has required local departments to perform important tasks. The Hanoi ciy government has assessed that the city will face an intense period until April 3 as there will be more passengers arriving in the city from abroad and people in disease incubation period, thus it has called on subordinate agencies to proactively carry out 10 key missions in response to the pandemic, Kinhtedothi.vn reported. So far, the sources of transmission of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam have been clearly identified; however, in some cases, the identification has encountered difficulties due to the patients’ dishonest statements. Therefore, the number of infections related to insincere statement would rise. Hanoi's government calls on subordinate agencies to proactively carry out 10 key missions. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn Hanoi is at high risk of disease spread in the time ahead. The municipal Steering … [Read more...] about Hanoi identifies 10 key missions to cope with Covid-19 pandemic