Laos is poised to enter a de facto lockdown as borders, entry and exit points begin to close across the country, with Lao citizens prohibited from leaving.
Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation Donate Medical Supplies to 10 More Asian Nations
The Jack Ma Foundation and Alibaba Foundation today announced plans to donate much-needed medical supplies to 10 more countries in Asia to help the global fight against COVID-19.
The governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Laos, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka will receive from the two foundations a donation totaling 1.8 million masks, 210,000 COVID-19 test kits, 36,000 pieces of protective clothing, as well as essential medical equipment and supplies that include ventilators and forehead thermometers.
“Go Asia! We will donate emergency supplies to 10 more countries across Asia,” said Jack Ma, who announced the latest foundation pledges through his Twitter account. “Delivering fast is not easy, but we’ll get it done!”
Delivery of the donations will leverage the robust capabilities of the Electronic World Trade Platform (eWTP) to overcome the significant logistical and transportation challenge presented by the vast number of countries and their geographical remoteness.
“The epidemic outbreak has brought about challenges to global logistics. With the help of eWTP, we’re trying our best to ensure speedy transport and delivery to move the supplies to remote communities where they are most needed,” said Juntao Song, Secretary-General of eWTP.
Earlier this week, the two foundations announced donations of medical supplies to Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines that also leveraged eWTP’s strong logistics capability for speedy and reliable transportation and delivery. eWTP has a mandate to empower global SMEs to realize their full economic potential through reducing trade barriers and making it easier for them to participate in global trade.
Thai News Anchor Apologizes to Laos For Deep Offense
Thai news anchor Judd Thima of Channel One31 of Thailand publically apologized to the government and people of Laos for having insulted the country and tarnished the reputation of its health system on public television.
Laos to Punish Opportunists who Stockpile Goods under New Covid-19 Measures
Laos is to take “strict action” against any opportunist who withholds or stockpiles goods, especially basic necessities, in an effort to tackle social disturbances during the global Covid-19 outbreak.
Visa Extensions Available at Immigration for Foreigners Trapped in Laos
Visa extensions are being made available to foreigners finding themselves trapped in Laos due to the closure of borders or cancellation of flights.
Laos to Import Face Masks Amid National Shortage
The Ministry of Health has stated that Laos is to import face masks from neighboring countries, including Vietnam, China, and Thailand amid a national shortage.
Japanese Children Design Official Uniform for Lao Para Athletics Team
Elementary school students in the Japanese city of Ise have designed the official uniform for the Lao Para Athletics team for the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Paralympics scheduled between August and September.
