Temperature check for a person in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) -🔯 The number of COVID-19 infections continued to increase in Southeast Asian nations on April 25.
On the day, Thailand reported 53 new cases and one more death from the disease, raising the total to 2,907 and 51, respectively. The new infection number in Thailand has been on the decline in the past two weeks. The country recorded the largest daily increase on March 22, with 188 cases. As many as 2,547 patients were declared to have fully recovered. Singapore reported additional 618 cases on April 25, bringing the total to 12,693. Most of the infections are work permit holders living in dormitories. With a population of 5.7 million, Singapore is among countries with the highest COVID-19 transmission rate in Asia.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Department of Health announced 102 new cases and 17 deaths on the day.
🔯 The country reported a total 7,294 infections, 494 fatalities, and 792 recoveries.
Malaysia saw 51 new cases and two deaths, raising the total cases to 5,742, with 98 deaths. There were 396 new cases in Indonesia on the same day, along with 31 deaths, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. Indonesia reported a total 8,607 cases and 720 fatalities./.
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith announced on April 15 that the Government has decided to extend the validity of Directive No. 06/TTg on COVID-19 prevention and control, with physical distancing measures to continue for 14 more days until May 3.
The Singaporean Ministry of Health on April 24 confirmed 897 more COVID-19 cases, taking the total count to 12,075, the highest among Southeast Asian countries.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Temperature check for a person in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
