French dailies praise Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight

Major French dailies have spoken highly of Vietnam’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19, noting that the country is “an exception”.
French dailies praise Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight ảnh 1Banners on COVID-19 prevention measure in Vietnam (Photo: VNA)
Paris (VNA) - Major French dailies have spoken highly of Vietnam’s efforts in the fight against COVID-19, noting that the country is “an exception”.

The Ouest-France daily noted that Vietnam, with a population of 96 million and 1,000 km of shared border with China, reported 270 COVID-19 infections as of April 24, with no deaths. 

Vietnam was quick to take action, it said. Schools did not reopen after the Lunar New Year holiday in late January. The country’s border with China was closed from February 1, one week after the discovery of the first COVID-19 cases.

For each reported case, those who have been in direct or indirect contact with the patient will go into quarantine. 

Advanced technology also has a role to play as citizens are encouraged to make medical declarations on a health reporting app, it wrote. 

Wearing a mask has been made compulsory since the beginning of April and social distancing rules were put in place despite the low number of cases.  

Another daily Le Monde published an article titled “Vietnam's successful ‘spring offensive’ against COVID-19”, saying it is the result of an effective policy for identifying and monitoring infected and at-risk people and groups.

In addition, people closely followed social distancing rules, it noted. 

Refuting doubts on COVID-19 statistics in Vietnam, the daily quoted a Vietnamese-French tested positive for coronavirus and received treatment in Ho Chi Minh City as saying that since social networks are used widely in Vietnam, it is difficult for the Government to hide such a large-scale epidemic.

The Vietnamese Government recently offered 550,000 face masks for the five European nations of France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, along with 800,000 others for the two neighbours of Laos and Cambodia. 

Vietnam also handed over 450,000 Dupont protective suits to the US, it wrote.

Meanwhile, Les Echos noted that Vietnam does not apply costly large-scale screening tests, but carries out rapid identification and mandatory quarantine of infected people, as well as track of their contacts. 

A mobile application, NCOVI, was launched on March 10 to encourage everyone to report their health condition and to be followed in the event of contact with an infected person, it added./. 
VNA

See more

Around 18,000 units of illegal items were seized during a raid on March 21. (Photo: HSA)

Singapore seizes illegal health products

Under Singapore's law, individuals found guilty of importing, manufacturing or supplying illegal health products face a two-year jail term, a 50,000 SGD fine, or both.

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry (MTI) Gan Kim Yong. (Photo: Bernama)

Johor–Singapore SEZ set to strengthen supply chains

Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong noted that escalating tensions between the US and China have led to a volley of tit-for-tat tariffs, effectively choking off trade between the world’s two largest economies. These developments will have significant implications on businesses in Singapore and Malaysia, many of which are embedded within the production and supply chains of both the US and China.

 Indonesia urges universities to uphold local identity

Indonesia urges universities to uphold local identity

The Indonesian Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Kemdiktisaintek) has encouraged universities to develop based on the characteristics and potential of each locality, instead of applying policies uniformly.

Illustrative image (Source: nationthailand.com)

Thailand aims to become ASEAN's clean energy hub

BoI Secretary-General Narit Therdsteerasukdi revealed that there are currently 28 electric vehicle production projects by 22 companies in Thailand, with a total investment of approximately 78 billion THB and a combined production capacity of over 880,000 units.

Illustrative image (Photo: Jakarta Post)

Indonesia discovers new gas fields, eases reliance on imported energy

Djoko Siswanto, head of SKK Migas, revealed that the two fields are located offshore in the Northwest of Java and are expected to commence operations by the end of this year. With a daily production capacity of 200 tonnes at the Jambi Merang field and 180 tonnes at the ONWJ field, these are set to enhance Indonesia's energy security and reduce its reliance on imported energy sources.

Mount Marapi erupted again on April 19 (Photo: Xinhua)

Mount Marapi in Indonesia blasts ash 1,000 metres into sky

The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) reported that the eruption, from the nearly 3,900-metre-high volcano, produced seismic activity with a maximum amplitude of 30.3 millimetres and lasted 42 seconds.

The scene of the collapsed building in Bangkok, Thailand, caused by the earthquake in Myanmar. (Photo: Kyodo/VNA)

Thailand detains four suspects over collapsed skyscraper in earthquake

The 30-storey skyscraper, intended to be used as government agencies' offices, was the only major construction project to collapse in Bangkok due to the 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28. Thai authorities reported that 47 people were killed at the construction site, while 47 others remain missing.

Malaysia bans single-use plastic bags at public sites (Photo: Bernama)

Malaysia bans single-use plastic bags at public sites

Malaysia will ban the use of single-use plastic bags in forest reserves, national and state parks, marine parks, and geological heritage sites and geosites, as part of efforts to curb environmental pollution.

Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil (Photo: The Edge)

Malaysia develops space technology

Malaysia is ramping up efforts to develop its space technology, with a particular emphasis on the deployment of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.