(VOVWORLD) - On November 24, 2021, scientists in South Africa reported a new coronavirus variant with 32 mutations in the spike protein, much higher than the number of mutations found in other variants. Two days later, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the new variant, dubbed Omicron, is a variant of concern. Scientists are racing to gather data on the new variant, its capabilities and — perhaps most important — how effective the current vaccines are against it.

(VOVWORLD) - During an official visit to Switzerland last Sunday, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited WHO headquarters in Geneva and met with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The WHO Director-General said the WHO backs Vietnam’s proposal of becoming a regional hub of vaccine manufacturing.

(VOVWORLD) - Iran and the P5 (the UK, China, France, Russia, and Germany) returned to the negotiating table in Vienna on Monday after a 6-month hiatus to try to salvage the 2015 nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Analysts say that Iran's acceptance to return to the negotiating table is a hopeful sign for the future.

(VOVWORLD) - A Vietnam Airlines regular non-stop flight from Ho Chi Minh city landed on San Francisco on Monday morning, the first operated by a Vietnamese carrier to the US.

(VOVWORLD) - President Nguyen Xuan Phuc began an official visit to Russia on Monday, The visit marks a milestone in the 71 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Russia, 20 years of the Joint Statement on Strategic Partnership, and nearly 10 years of the Joint Statement on Further Strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

(VOVWORLD) - Leaders of Asian and European countries have discussed the future of their cooperation for shared prosperity at an online meeting which concluded on Friday. This year’s 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) was themed “Strengthening multilateralism for shared growth.”

(VOVWORLD) - The 4th Industrial Revolution and the COVID-19 pandemic have changed consumers’ habits from in-person transactions to online shopping and bill payment. The government has aided this trend by implementing policies to encourage cashless payment.

(VOVWORLD) - Vietnamese pangasius is now dominating the Australian market. According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Vietnam’s tra and basa fish held a 97.5% market share in Australia with an export value of nearly 18 million USD last year. The Vietnamese Embassy and Trade Office in Australia have launched a program of branding and market development for Vietnamese pangasius in Australia.

(VOVWORLD) - Over the past few years, the Vietnamese Party and State have paid much attention to building an advanced culture embracing strong national identity. 2021 marked an important milestone in Vietnam’s development with the 13th National Party Congress identifying major orientations for the coming years focusing on the role of culture. The National Culture Conference on Wednesday was a step in enhancing culture development in the 2021-2025 period.

(VOVWORLD) - Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will pay official visits to Switzerland and Russia from November 25 to December 2 at the invitation of these countries’ Presidents. The visits are designed to foster bilateral relations and lay a foundation for a new cooperative phase between Vietnam and Switzerland and Russia.