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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016821

Open to the public from May 10, the Blue House has drawn more than 770,000 visitors in a month, all curious for a glimpse into the life of their former leaders.

For seven decades, South Koreans could see only the iconic blue tiled roof of their president’s office from afar.

Cheong Wa Dae, also named the Blue House because of its distinctive roof, was a heavily-guarded place shrouded from view by lush trees.

But last month, it was vacated and “returned to the people” as newly-inaugurated South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol promised.

The sprawling 250,000 sq m compound is now getting a new lease of life as a concert venue and tourist hot spot.

K-pop star Rain staged a solo concert there last Friday (June 17) as part of a new Netflix show, becoming the first to do so.

A new “Visit Korean Heritage” campaign lists the Blue House as one of 10 must-visit sites for tourists and has planned promotional activities such as a concert in August and a digital media art show in October.

Open to the public from May 10, the Blue House has drawn more than 770,000 visitors in a month, all curious for a glimpse into the life of their former leaders.

Key attractions include the main office building, the official residence inside a hanok (Korean traditional house), the state guest house, and a garden boasting 120 species of trees, many of them planted by former presidents.

Blogger Kim Min-so was one of those who witnessed the “opening of the Blue House in a moment of history”.

“I’ve only seen the Blue House on television before,” she wrote on her blog. “Seeing it in real life for the first time, I could feel how majestic it is.”

Another blogger who goes by the name Moonlight noted that the inside of the main office building looks like a palace and “there’s a lot of old-fashioned charms everywhere”.

Situated at the foot of Mount Bugak, the Blue House site was once the private rear garden of Joseon dynasty (1392-1910) kings who lived in the main palace Gyeongbokgung.

The Japanese colonial era saw the construction of a blue-roofed official residence for its highest-ranking official in 1939, after which it was occupied by generations of South Korean presidents post-independence, from 1948.

The current main office building was completed in 1991, designed to look like palaces of the Joseon dynasty. About 150,000 blue tiles were created specially for the roof.

The opening of the Blue House to the public marks the end of an era of presidents who lived and worked in such seclusion that they were criticised for being out of touch with the people.

President Yoon, who called the Blue House a symbol of “imperialistic power”, has shifted his office to a more accessible location in Yongsan.

No decision has been made yet regarding the future of the compound. The Cultural Heritage Administration, which is now managing the compound, has said it will draw up a plan to “make the Blue House a symbolic historical and cultural space of the country where history and the future can coexist”.

Officials said it could be turned into a park or museum, while scholars put forth ideas such as turning it into a library, a venue for cultural festivals, and a K-pop concert hall aimed at drawing foreign visitors.

Experts have urged against hasty decisions, warning that the landmark should not be reduced to a mere space for entertainment.

Mr Choi Jong-deok, former director of the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage, called for a thorough study of the Blue House compound to help determine the best ways to conserve and utilise the space.

“The Blue House must be reborn as a place where you can meet the history and culture from Joseon to Korea,” he said. “We must find the right balance between conservation and use.”

Noting that some visitors have damaged items inside the Blue House, Professor Choi Jong-ho of the Korea National University of Culture Heritage urged “more active measures to protect and preserve our cultural heritage”, rather than to “just focus on utilisation of the space”.

Singaporean Chen Huiqi, 38, who visited the Blue House in May, said it was an eye-opening experience that she would recommend to friends and relatives who are touring South Korea.

“It’s not an everyday affair – that’s why I found it interesting, especially with the history in it,” she told The Straits Times.

“Usually commoners only see the Blue House in the news. To actually step foot in it is really ‘wow’, cool!”

The Blue House is closed on Tuesdays. On other days, visitors can just queue outside the main entrance Shinmumun for free entry on a first come, first served basis.

Up to 49,000 people are allowed to enter on any day.

The Straits Times

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Published : June 20, 2022

By : The Straits Times

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016820

The South Korean government on Sunday decided to further extend tax cuts on fuel consumption as part of efforts to ease inflationary pressure from surging energy costs.

Starting next month, the legal cap of fuel tax cuts will be increased to 37 percent from the current 30 percent. The tentative measure will be effective until the end of this year.

“The government will immediately implement measures to ease the burden from high oil prices,” Finance Minister Choo Kyung-ho told reporters in a briefing.

Following the measure, taxes on petrol and diesel will be reduced by 37 won ($0.029) and 38 won per liter, respectively.

The latest decision comes as gas prices have surged to record highs in recent weeks. On Saturday, diesel prices hit a record of 2,112 won per liter, while petrol prices rose to 2,104 won on the same day, according to the Korea National Oil Corp.

Amid fears of an oil price spike this summer, critics say the heightened tax cuts could have a limited impact in improving consumer sentiment.

The nation’s consumer prices jumped 5.4 percent on-year in May, the fastest rise in almost 14 years and a pickup from a 4.8 percent spike in April.

As part of efforts to ease inflation-related concerns, the government also plans to double income tax deduction rates for public transit use to 80 percent from the second half of this year.

On Sunday, the government also said it would minimize rate hikes for energy costs, although the nation’s state-run energy companies are calling for rate hikes, citing rising prices of raw materials.

The Korea Electric Power Corporation has called on the government to allow it to raise the electricity rate by 3 won per kilowatt hour from the third quarter of this year.

“The government will make its best efforts to minimize the pace of hikes in electricity and gas rates, which are under upward pressure due to soaring global energy costs,” Choo added.

The Korea Herald

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Published : June 20, 2022

By : The Korea Herald

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016819

Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Sunday afternoon broke tradition by holding her inauguration as vice president in advance, or 11 days ahead of the oathtaking of President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Under Article VII, Section 4 of the 1987 Constitution, the new president and vice president are to assume office at noon on June 30.

Thousands packed the entire stretch of San Pedro Street in Davao City to witness the oathtaking of President Rodrigo Duterte’s daughter and their three-time mayor as the country’s 15th vice president.

She would still be addressed as vice president-elect since the incumbent, Leni Robredo, remains in office until noon on June 30, according to Foreign Assistant Secretary Ed Meñez.

People cheered upon seeing her father arrive at San Pedro Square for the ceremony. Further applause greeted Marcos Jr. when he came up on stage later to shake the hand of the outgoing chief executive and be photographed with him, Sara, and her mother Elizabeth Zimmerman at the end of the program.

The 44-year-old vice president-elect, who wore an emerald-green chiffon gown designed by her longtime fashion consultant Silverio Anglacer, took her oath before Supreme Court Associate Justice Ramon Paul Hernando, whom her father appointed to the Supreme Court in 2018. She earlier said the associate justice was her teacher at San Beda and a close family friend.

Life lessons

The oathtaking was preceded by a Mass officiated by Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles, who praised the mayor for her humility.

In her inaugural speech, Sara said one of the most important lessons she learned in life was to commit to heart three priorities: God, country, and family.

“My life is a testament to the power of a God, whom we know by many names. My younger self was consumed by a dream to become a doctor. I pursued a pathway that I thought could help me realize that dream, but I was directed toward another way. And now I am a lawyer,” she said.

The days ahead would be full of challenges that call for the people to be more united as a nation, she added.

“But let me reiterate this — we can never go wrong if we are a people dedicated to honoring the will of God, to serving our country and our fellowmen, and protecting the integrity of our families and the future of our children,” she said.

The voice of the 32.2 million Filipinos who voted for her “was loud and clear with the message to serve our motherland.”

“And this message has been reiterated in my oath: to consecrate myself to the service of the nation,” she stressed.

Sara, who served as Davao City mayor in three separate terms, said she chose her hometown as the site of her inauguration to pay tribute to its people and thank them for the many things they taught her as a public servant.

“They taught me how to be more patient,” she said.

The Davao politician first caught national attention in 2011, a year into her first mayoral term, when she punched a court sheriff in a tense exchange during a demolition.

A lawyer and a colonel in the Philippine Army Reserve Command, Sara entered politics in 2007 when she ran for vice mayor in tandem with her father, who was then going for his third term as mayor. In 2010, Sara ran for mayor for the first time and won, this time with her father as the vice mayor.

Three years later, Mr. Duterte was back as mayor and his daughter went into private law practice. In 2016, she again ran for mayor as her father sought and won the presidency.

Last year, she first filed a certificate of candidacy for reelection as mayor but later decided to run for vice president in the May 9 polls.

She is the third vice president to be inaugurated outside Luzon. Reelected Vice President Sergio Osmeña was sworn to office on Corregidor Island during World War II on Dec. 30, 1941, while Vice President Noli de Castro took his oath in Cebu City on June 30, 2004.

Fulfill father’s promise

Malacañang on Sunday welcomed the inauguration of Sara as vice president.

“We are one with the whole Filipino nation in witnessing with excitement the inauguration ceremony of outgoing Mayor Duterte as the 15th Vice President. We once again express our deep gratitude to the Filipino people for the trust and support they have given to the vice president-elect,” Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, the acting presidential spokesperson, said in a statement.

As Sara, who is also the incoming education secretary, took her oath on Sunday, a progressive teachers group urged her to fulfill the promises that her father failed to deliver.

Mr. Duterte vowed a substantial increase in teachers’ salaries during his presidential campaign in 2016.

But while the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) has been calling for an entry-level salary of P30,000 for teachers, only the pay of cops and soldiers doubled to at least P29,668 compared to the teachers’ P23,877 monthly salary in 2021 under Mr. Duterte’s term.

ACT called on the next education chief for a significant increase in the salary of teachers and to “correct the distortion in the government salary scheme where teacher’s pay lag behind those of uniformed personnel and nurses.”

“She can also support the demands of teachers as well as other sectors to suspend the PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.) premium increase,” Vladimer Quetua, ACT spokesperson, said in a statement.

The group also pointed out the ongoing educational crisis, which Sara could rectify through the safe reopening of schools and implementation of an evidence-based education recovery program.

Philippine Daily Inquirer

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Published : June 20, 2022

By : Philippine Daily Inquirer

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016805

Mini Thailand Week – the first of its kind – was held in Vietnam’s northern province of Quang Ninh to showcase unique Thai products.

The four-day event, which wrapped up on Sunday, was organised by Thailand’s Department of International Trade Promotion, the Thai embassy’s Trade Office and the Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising JSC.

Mini Thailand Week is different from the famous trade fair held annually in Hanoi and Hai Phong over the past two decades. This trade fair has received positive feedback not only from businesses looking for opportunities to strengthen their networks but also from Vietnamese customers wishing to access quality Thai products and services.

The event in Quang Ninh features more than 60 booths run by Thai companies, representative offices and distribution agents in Vietnam.

On display are outstanding Thai products and services such as food and beverages, home appliances, electrical appliances, textiles, jewellery, cosmetics and beauty products, and tourism services.

The event is expected to help boost bilateral trade and strengthen mutual understanding between the two countries.

Vietnam News

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Published : June 19, 2022

By : Vietnam News

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016802

North Korea’s new suspected Covid-19 cases dropped below 20,000, Korean Central News Agency, its state media said on Sunday.

More than 19,310 people developed a fever over a 24-hour period until 6pm on Saturday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said, citing data from the state emergency epidemic prevention headquarters.

It did not provide information on whether additional deaths have been reported. As of Wednesday, the death toll stood at 73, with a fatality rate of 0.002 per cent.

The total number of fever cases since late April came to over 4.62 million as of 6pm on Saturday, of which more than 4.58 million have recovered, and at least 33,780 are being treated, it added.

The secretive Kim Jong-un regime announced a Covid-19 outbreak on May 12. The country’s daily fever count has been on a downward trend after peaking at over 392,920 on May 15. It has stayed under 100,000 since May 30.

The KCNA also claimed progress in efforts to curb the spread of an “acute enteric epidemic” reported in the southwestern area last week.

“The public health crisis is being defused in the DPRK [the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea],” it said in an English-language article.

“The central emergency epidemic prevention sector launched a campaign for treating patients by dispatching relevant officials and rapid collective diagnosis teams of the national hygienic and anti-epidemic centre to the areas in South Hwanghae Province, where an acute enteric epidemic occurred, and making an epidemiological survey of inhabitants and checking up persons with fever.”

The Korea Herald

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Published : June 19, 2022

By : The Korea Herald

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016801

The market for sleep aids is expanding rapidly as more people have difficulty getting to sleep due to disruptions in the rhythm of their daily lives amid the Covid-19 pandemic, which has sparked both worries about the future and new circumstances such as the rise of teleworking.

The popularity of food and beverage products that claim to improve the quality of sleep has grown, while an increasing number of companies are offering IT-based services called “sleep tech”.

“It’s always sold out. Where can I buy it?” read a message on social media, referring to one such product, the Yakult 1000 beverage.

Numerous posts have appeared on social media regarding the effectiveness of the lactobacillus drink designed to promote sleep quality and the locations where the product is purchasable.

Yakult 1000, containing a considerable amount of the Shirota strain of lactobacillus casei bacteria, helps reduce stress and enhance sleep quality, according to Yakult Honsha Co. It had primarily been a product for home delivery but has been sold at convenience stores and other shops since October. As the product has been in short supply, the company plans to increase production in stages from July.

Yakult 1000 is among products described as “foods with function”. If applications are submitted along with scientific evidence and approved by the Consumer Affairs Agency, food business operators can call the products “foods with function claims” and label them to indicate their effectiveness.

According to research firm Fuji Keizai Co, the market for food and beverage products designed to relieve stress and support sleep has expanded from ¥1.1 billion in 2013, when a relevant survey began, to ¥16.1 billion in 2020, a 15-fold increase. It is expected to grow further to ¥33.1 billion in 2022.

Sleep analysis at hotel

Last December, Nine Hours, Inc, which operates capsule hotels, started a service that assesses guests’ sleep quality using infrared cameras and mattresses equipped with sensors to measure body movements.

The guests are offered data such as heart rate, snoring and the length of pauses in breathing or sleep apnea. They can use the service for no additional fee. This service has enabled such data to be collected from about 200 people a day, and food and beverage companies have asked the hotel operator for cooperation to develop products.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey conducted by the Health, Labour and Welfare Ministry in 2019, about 30 per cent of respondents aged 20 to 59 said they were not satisfied with their sleep quality at least three times a week. The pandemic may have caused sleeping problems in more people.

In March this year, an organisation was established to set quality standards for products and services that support sleep. Long-established bedding manufacturer Nishikawa Co, the University of Tsukuba, Itochu Corp, Nippon Life Insurance Co and Asics Corp are among its members.

“The boom in the sleep aid market is welcome, but the products and services are a mixed bag,” said Takuto Nonomura, head of Nishikawa’s Japan Research Laboratory of Sleep Science. “We want to contribute to society to help people sleep better through such efforts as establishing quality standards across industry boundaries.”

The Japan News

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Published : June 19, 2022

By : Reuters

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Chinese scientists found two genes in rice that can make the staple crop more heat-resistant, providing a new way for breeding highly thermotolerant crops.

The researchers from the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Shanghai Jiao Tong University revealed the mechanism by which the rice’s cell membrane senses external heat-stress signals before communicating with chloroplasts. It is the organ where photosynthesis takes place to orchestrate heat tolerance.

Too much heat can damage a plant’s chloroplasts. When temperatures exceed a crop’s usual tolerance, its yields tend to drop.

The researchers identified a locus with two genes, Thermo-tolerance 3.1 (TT3.1) and Thermo-tolerance 3.2 (TT3.2). They interact in concert to enhance rice thermotolerance and reduce grain-yield losses caused by heat stress.

The researchers found that accumulated TT3.2 triggers chloroplast damage regarding heat stress, but, in that scenario, TT3.1 can serve as a remedy.

Upon heat stress, TT3.1, a potential thermosensor, will remove the cell membrane from the cell to degrade the mature TT3.2 proteins, according to the study published on Friday in the journal Science.

“The study elucidates a fresh molecular mechanism that links plant cell membranes with the chloroplast in responding to heating signals,” said the paper’s co-corresponding author Lin Hongxuan with the Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology.

Then, the researchers used hybridization to translate the TT3 locus of African rice into Asian species.

The field test has shown that the new species is more heat tolerant. It can withstand heat at 38 degrees Celsius without crop failure, while the output of normal species would be reduced above 35 degrees Celsius, said the researchers.

The newly-found gene might also be used in other plants, including wheat, maize, bean, and vegetables, to cultivate heat-tolerant strains, according to the researchers.

China Daily

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Published : June 19, 2022

By : China Daily

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016795

The Ministry of Justice issued a statement to explain the legal and factual bases for Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision to sentence 42 defendants, including Cambodian-American lawyer Seng Chan Theary, to between five and eight years in prison for plotting and incitement.

The statement comes following international criticism in the aftermath of the arrest and jailing of Seng Chan Theary, also known as Seng Theary, who was sentenced to six years in prison on June 14, along with former opposition figures, such as Sam Rainsy who was hit with eight years.

In a two-page statement, the ministry underscored that the cases stemmed from what it termed an “attempted coup” led by former opposition party leader Rainsy, who it said had proclaimed that he would return to Cambodia on November 9, 2019 to “arrest” Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had been democratically elected a year earlier.

The statement said Rainsy had incited and appealed to the armed forces and civil servants as well as the general public to “rise up” against the government, and raised funds to “illegally provide” to armed forces to commit to executing the plan.

“There are clear and strong pieces of evidence for the aforementioned actions, some of which could easily be used to convict Sam Rainsy and his group of using Facebook and other social media platforms as a means to commit incitement and to serve their nefarious plan,” it said, adding that the court has compiled the results of the investigation and associated proceedings over the past three years.

It continued with a rhetorical question: “From a legal perspective, is there any country in the world that would not regard an ‘attempted coup’ or a ‘plan to violently topple the government’ as illegal, and see it instead as an exercise of freedom?”

The ministry told any involved party who may believe any of the court’s decisions to be erroneous to – within the confines of the law and legal procedures – hire a team of lawyers, gather and prepare sufficient supporting evidence demonstrating why a verdict should be overturned, and file an appeal to a higher court for review.

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Published : June 19, 2022

By : The Phnom Penh Post

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016770

The removal of the value-added tax (VAT) on electricity is “one of the most viable options for Congress” in providing economic relief to Filipinos amid the unabated hikes in prices of goods.

This is as House assistant minority leader and ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro countered Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III’s statement against a proposal to scrap the VAT on electricity.

“We need to stop this overtaxation of consumers of electricity and we will refile House Bill No. 249 in the 19th Congress to exempt electricity from VAT,” Castro said on Friday.

In a statement, the Makabayan lawmaker called the 12- percent VAT on electricity as “another burden on the already overtaxed shoulders of our people, especially those whose incomes are barely enough to cover their basic needs.”

“In time of unabated price increases of fuel, food and other commodities, it is the duty of Congress to provide economic relief to the Filipino people. The removal of VAT on electricity is one of the most viable options for Congress to immediately act on,” she said.

She was responding to Dominguez’s rejection of the proposal to scrap the 12-percent VAT on generation charge to bring down the cost of electricity.

The proposal was first raised by Energy Regulatory Commission chair Agnes Devanadera, who claimed that consumers are taxed twice when paying their electricity bill.

The finance secretary said there was no double taxation in the electricity bill and that it only carries a single VAT of 12 percent.

Castro pointed out that the Philippines has one of the highest electricity costs in Southeast Asia.

“In Dominguez’s framework, he wants to tax everything, even the air we breathe,” she said. “What is worse, VAT is not only imposed on the generation of consumed power, but also on system loss charges. Thus, clearly making the Filipino people suffer twice over.”

By: Julie M. Aurelio

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Published : June 18, 2022

By : Philippine Daily Inquirer

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https://www.nationthailand.com/international/40016769

HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese automaker VinFast is continuing its planned expansion into the US with a $2-billion plant in North Carolina and shifting its legal and financial headquarters to Singapore ahead of a potential public listing.

Such moves represent a significant step into the international market for Vietnamese EV technology. However, questions remain over how to conquer the domestic market of roughly 50 million motorbikes, among which petrol still reigns supreme.

A transition to electric for the country’s predominant mode of transport would be a major victory in meeting Việt Nam’s bold commitments at COP26, centering on a pledge to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Despite VinFast’s efforts in producing electric bikes for the domestic market, EVs have not yet seen the widespread adoption expected, with challenges ranging from high costs to sparse charging facilities.

A lesser-known name in the EV arena, Đạt Bike, is forging ahead with its own ambitions to encourage the transition, mainly by offering equivalent performance to a petrol-powered bike in an attractive two-wheeler.

“We have seen that consumers are becoming more interested in electric bikes, with big companies also gradually researching to switch partially or completely to producing electric bikes,” said Đạt Bike CEO Nguyễn Sơn.

“Therefore, the Vietnamese electric bike market is now more active. However, it will take more time for Vietnamese consumers to choose electric bikes over petrol-powered vehicles, from educating customers to researching and producing electric bike models to meet customer demand.”

In a country that has long relied on petrol vehicles that are easily accessible and cheap to maintain, companies like VinFast and Đạt Bike face an uphill battle in convincing consumers to make the switch.

“At the moment, the difference in operation between electric bikes and petrol ones is still quite large, while there is a lack of strong electric bikes that can satisfy the daily commutes of customers. Therefore, the electric bike market in Việt Nam has not yet grown strongly,” the young CEO said. 

Undaunted, companies still see the huge potential, especially with Việt Nam’s overall efforts to go ‘green’.

“After Việt Nam attended the COP26 conference and pledged to reduce emissions to zero by 2050, the electric vehicle market and the electric scooter market experienced strong growth,” said Lê Hoàng Long, Deputy Chief General Manager of E-Scooter Business Operations at VinFast.

“In addition to the Government’s encouragement, electric vehicle manufacturers have launched many new models, with breakthroughs in technology, quality and class to bring diversity to users.

“Public awareness also has seen positive improvements as the trend to switch to electric vehicles is becoming more popular. Especially after petrol prices surged recently, electric vehicles are considered an optimal choice for many families.

“Electric scooters have been in the Vietnamese market for more than 10 years, but the old products were poor quality, easily damaged, and without genuine warranties, so people only considered electric bikes as transport for students or short distances.”

Changing this perception is key to tapping that huge transport market and eventually seeing success in adopting electric bikes.

“The biggest challenge of electric bikes today is to change that prejudice of customers, persuade them to choose electric vehicles instead of petrol ones to contribute to the common goal of protecting the environment and improving the quality of people’s lives,” Long said.

In addition to avoiding soaring fuel prices, consumers could be encouraged to choose electric for their next purchase if offered incentives regarding taxes and fees, as they are in Taiwan, Indonesia and India.

The integration of technology is a centrepiece of VinFast’s strategy, with a deal signed recently with chip giant Intel to develop driver assistance systems, in-car infotainment, and internet-of-things devices for factories making EVs and batteries.

Lê Hoàng Long explained that VinFast’s ultimate goal was not to compete against or beat other electric vehicle manufacturers but to encourage “consumers to switch from petrol to electric vehicles to contribute to reducing emissions… [and] to jointly promote the gradual replacement of petrol vehicles.”

For many drivers, the biggest hurdle remains the high cost of EVs.

Đào Quang Thắng, a designer in Hà Nội, said: “I used an electric bike when I was in high school because it did not require a driving license. The model I used was made in China because it was cheap, and I just used it to travel to school, not far from home. I drive a petrol-powered bike now. There are more types of Vietnamese electric bikes at the moment, but they are quite expensive and even more costly than my current motorbike.”

However, the limited number of manufacturers offering models in the Vietnamese market means consumers are not exactly spoilt for choice when it comes to environmentally-friendly driving.

Securing US$10 million in funding since its founding in 2019, Đạt Bike is pushing ahead with attempts to combine electric tech and classic bike style. Its latest model, the Weaver 200, builds on the Weaver with upgraded performance and range, delivering a top speed of 90 km/h and a range of 200 km on a single charge. 

There is clearly enthusiasm for electric bikes in Việt Nam, but the market has plenty of road left to run before we see a full-scale adoption of EVs. However, a combination of concern over rising prices and increasing climate compassion could see the switch coming sooner rather than later, especially if incentives are offered along the way. VNS

By Ly Ly Cao and Ollie Arci

Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily,  Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia,  Dawn (Pakistan),  The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).

Published : June 18, 2022

By : Vietnam News