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Font size: A - | A + 1 This is the Friday, February 26, 2021 edition of Today in Slovakia . Learn about politics, business, and other notable events of the day in Slovakia in less than five minutes. If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription . Thank you. Check out our tips for outings and news from the Slovak culture in the latest Spectacular Slovakia roundup. Spectacular Slovakia roundup Spectacular Slovakia roundup Slovakia has one of the most beautiful national parks in Europe Read more Not all foreigners have access to the vaccine The Covid-19 vaccination is not accessible to everyone in Slovakia. A 75-year-old Iranian who has been residing in Slovakia since 2016 has learned this the hard way. Soon after his age group, 75+, became eligible for the Covid-19 jab in January, he registered for vaccination. Since the appointments for vaccinations … [Read more...] about News digest: State of emergency continues, vaccine denied to some foreigners

Buddhists pray online due to COVID-19 outbreak Blood shortage warned as donations postponed due to COVID-19 outbreaks The resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic in many cities and provinces in recent weeks has seriously affected the blood supply for medical treatment. Although many people and organisations responded to the call of blood donation by the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) on February 19, the amount of blood received per day was still only a few hundred units while the average need for treatment each day is from 1,200 to 1,500 units. There is usually a shortage of blood during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday as the holiday lasts long while blood has a short shelf life and many patients still need blood transfusions during Tết. This year, the pandemic's resurgence has made the shortage after Tết even worse. Before Tết, 30 entities requested to postpone or cancel blood donation plans which meant the NIHBT missed out on … [Read more...] about VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEB. 25

Cesar Conde , the new chairman of NBCUniversal News Group, outlined a workforce goal of 50% diversity on Tuesday, telling employees that as “a news organization we have a unique responsibility to reflect the country and all of the communities we serve.” “The NBCUniversal News Group is not going to wait for change to happen and just react to it.  We’re going to lead,” he said in a video to employees on Tuesday. “As a news organization, we have a unique responsibility to look like and reflect all of the people of the country we serve.” He said that the goal is for 50% of the news organization employees to be women and 50% of their total workforce be people of color, with plans to boost recruitment and education programs and to invest in more documentaries and investigative content focusing on communities of color. The 50% goal is long term, with no exact date set to reach it, but he said that progress would be reported publicly every year. Related Story NBCU To … [Read more...] about NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde Sets Goal Of 50% Diverse Workforce

CANBERRA: Australia’s government said on Tuesday (Feb 16) that it will amend draft laws that would make Google and Facebook pay for news to clarify that publishers would be paid in lump sums rather than per click on news article links. The legislative changes described in a government statement as “clarifications and technical amendments” follow Australian ministers’ weekend discussions with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai, chief executive of Alphabet Inc and its subsidiary Google. The conservative government hopes to enact the so-called News Media Bargaining Code before the current session of Parliament ends on Feb 25. The amendment to be introduced to Parliament on Wednesday will “improve the workability of the code while retaining its overall effect”, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg and Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said in a joint statement. The opposition centre-left Labor Party agreed at a meeting of lawmakers on Tuesday to support the bill, … [Read more...] about Australia to amend proposed laws that would make Google and Facebook pay for news

Hanoi reports case of COVID-19 relapse A patient has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 again after being given the all-clear, the Hanoi Centre of Disease Control (CDC Hanoi) said on February 25. The 48-year-old patient, who resides in Dich Vong ward in Cau Giay district, has been taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for further quarantine and treatment. The case does not pose any risk of community transmission, Deputy Director of CDC Hanoi Khong Minh Tuan said. Hanoi had reported 36 COVID-19 cases between January 27 and 12pm on February 25, according to the municipal Department of Health. Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung said relevant agencies have been asked to assess infection risks and put forward solutions to reach the “new normal”./. Citizen protection provided to Vietnamese affected by record cold in Texas The Vietnamese Consulate General in Texas and Vietnamese representative offices in the US are keeping a close watch on … [Read more...] about VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES FEB. 26