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New Zealand's military will embark on a risky dawn mission to retrieve eight bodies from the still-active White Island volcano, officials said Thursday, as pressure from distraught victims' families mounted. A satellite photo of the White Island (Whakaari) volcano one day after erupting in New Zealand. Photograph: Maxar/EPA Teams will move in "shortly after first light" on Friday, deputy police commissioner Mike Clement said, despite volcanologists warning that the chances of another significant eruption in the next 24 hours had risen to 50-60 percent. "They will go on to the island and they will make every effort to recover all of the bodies" and transport them to military frigate HMNZS Wellington anchored off the coast, he said. With the help of drone flights and helicopter pilots who were near the volcano immediately after the eruption, authorities have located six of the eight bodies on the island. Recovering the six will be a priority, Clement said. A geologist will … [Read more...] about NZ military set for risky mission to retrieve bodies from volcano

Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chi Dung and President of Vietnam Red Cross Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. (Photo: VNA) Geneva (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chi Dung highlighted what Vietnam has done to contribute to international humanitarian aid efforts while delivering a remark at the 33rd International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in Geneva, Switzerland from December 9 – 12. Despite facing difficulties during wartime in 1960s and 1970s, Vietnam had strived hard to fulfill the country’s obligations in accordance to the Geneva Convention, said Ambassador Dung, who is head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the United Nations. The country ensured sufficient provision of medical aid, food supplies, shelters and clean water for ill and injured people, and returned prisoners, he said. In peacetime, Vietnam has also worked to provide help for war victims, particularly those affected … [Read more...] about Vietnamese Ambassador delivers speech at int’l Red Cross conference

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross presents gift packages to poor people in Gia Lai province in 2018. (Illustrative image. Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) said the VRC aims to mobilise at least 1.5 million gifts to the needy on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet). The organization’s chapters across the country have been working towards the goal since as early as October 30 this year. Beneficiaries will be households living below or just above the poverty line, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, families affected by natural disasters in 2019 and other vulnerable groups. Besides gifts of cash and kinds, the VRC will also give support in other forms such as repairing houses, giving free medical checks and treatment, and presenting health insurance cards, scholarships and assistance in livelihood. Last year, the VRC presented nearly 2.7 million Tet gifts worth more than 1 trillion VND (over 45.2 … [Read more...] about Vietnam Red Cross aims to provide 1.5 million Tet gifts to the needy

  Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who leads the Conservative Party, is fighting to re-establish a parliamentary majority. — AFP Photo LONDON — Britain goes to the polls on Thursday to determine the immediate future of Brexit, in a vote described as the most important in a generation. More than 4,000 polling venues across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including a windmill, several pubs, a hair salon and a chip shop, open their doors at 0700 GMT for a day of voting until 2200 GMT. All eyes will be on the winter weather, with forecasts of near-freezing temperatures, rain and even snow that could affect turn-out in the first December election in nearly a century. Up for grabs are all 650 seats in the British parliament, which has been deadlocked since the 2016 referendum on EU membership that saw a majority vote to leave. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who took over from Theresa May in July after she was unable to get parliament to approve her EU … [Read more...] about Britain votes in ‘Brexit election’

Rhino horns seized as exhibits of a trafficking case in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)   Vinh Phuc (VNA) – A refresher course for journalists on reporting about the conservation and rescue of wild animals began in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on May 21. The two-day event aims to popularise the reality of and reasons for wildlife trafficking, as well as share experiences of reporters and experts and expand the network of journalists reporting on the issue. It is organised by PanNature, a Vietnamese non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting and conserving diversity of life. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), over the years, Vietnam has become a “hotspot” of wildlife poaching and trafficking. The country is home to various endangered animals, including more than 400 species being listed in Vietnam’s Red Book. Vietnam should set up policies protecting wildlife creatures, said Nguyen Van Thai from Save Vietnam’s Wildlife. He said the … [Read more...] about Workshop looks to expand network of wildlife reporters in Vietnam