A butcher's shop in a mall of Thailand (Photo: VNA)
Bangkok (VNA)- The Thai government has approved the second phase of the easing of lockdownmeasures from May 17 to help lift the economy, but mainly in the evening.
Taweesin Visanuyothin, spokesman of the government’s Centre for COVID-19Situation Administration, said on May 15 that malls and food courts, conventioncentres, wholesale markets and pools can re-open.
There are no changes in the measures on transportation. There is still noregular international transport, and strict screening of inter-provincialtransport remains. Curfew timings will be relaxed by one hour, from 11pm to 4amcompared to from 10pm at present.
The Thai government devised a four-phase plan to restart the economy whilecontaining the disease as daily infections continued to fall. The first onebegan on May 3.
On May 16, Thailand saw no new infections along with zero death. This is thesecond time since March 9 the country has recorded no infection during aday.
The tally in the Southeast Asian now stands at 3,025, with 2,854 recoveries and56 deaths./.
People in Bangkok communities, whose jobs and incomes have been affected by the COVID-19 situation, but have yet to register with the government, are advised to contact the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security for immediate assistance.
Thailand’s Energy Ministry has ordered the Energy Business Department to discuss with domestic oil traders the prospect of using blockchain to facilitate palm oil trade.
Thailand’s Tourism and Sports Ministry is aiming high for 100 million domestic trips this year as the international travel market will not be likely to return to normal soon because of the COVID-19.
The Thai Government will launch a new mobile phone app named “Thai Chana” to facilitate the disease-control tracking of customers when shops are allowed to reopen with the easing of the coronavirus lockdown.
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.
A butcher's shop in a mall of Thailand (Photo: VNA) 
