Singaporeans wear face masks to protect themselves from COVID-19. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Health Ministry of Malaysia reported 31 new COVID-19cases on May 20, bringing the country’s total infections to 7009.
No new deaths were recorded, leaving the total number of fatalities at 114.
Meanwhile, Indonesia reported 693 new cases, taking the country’s total to19,189.
The country recorded 21 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,242. A totalof 4,575 people have recovered.
ThePhilippine health department reported on May 20 that 279 more people contractedthe COVID-19, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to13,221. It also reported five deaths, bringing the death toll to 842.
As many as 89 more patients have recovered from the disease, bringing thenumber of recoveries to 2,932.
In Singapore, the number of COVID-19 cases crossed the 29,000 mark on May 20,with 570 new infections reported as of noon. No new deaths were recorded, keepingthe total number of fatalities at 22. As many as 10,365 people have recoveredfrom the disease./.
Singapore’s Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat and his Malaysian counterpart Tengku Zafrul Aziz on May 19 discussed economic recovery measures via a video conference as COVID-19 restrictions are gradually eased.
Vietnam has no new case of COVID-19 to report on May 20 afternoon, which means the country has gone through 34 straight days without any community transmission as of 6pm on the day.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has coped with COVID-19 quite well with Vietnam serving as the ASEAN Chair 2020, heard an online seminar held by the Centre for International Law (CIL) under the National University of Singapore on May 20.
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.
Singaporeans wear face masks to protect themselves from COVID-19. (Photo: VNA) 
