Regional nations report thousands of new COVID-19 cases
The number of COVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 4,952 within one day to 1,609,300, with the death toll increasing by 143 to 43,567, the Health Ministry said on April 19.
Hanoi (VNA) – The number ofCOVID-19 cases in Indonesia rose by 4,952 within one day to 1,609,300, with thedeath toll increasing by 143 to 43,567, the Health Ministry said on April 19.
According to the ministry, 6,349 more people were discharged from hospitals,bringing the total number of recovered patients to 1,461,414.
The pandemic has spread to all 34 provinces of Indonesia.
The same day, the Philippine Department ofHealth (DOH) reported 9,628 new COVID-19infections, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asiancountry to 945,745.
The death toll climbed to 16,048 after 88 more patients died from the viraldisease, the DOH said.
The Philippines, which has a population of about 110 million, has tested over10 million people since the outbreak in January 2020.
Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the World Health Organization (WHO) countryrepresentative to the Philippines, urged high-income countries to share theCOVID-19 vaccines with developing countries like the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry of Malaysia reported 2,078 new COVID-19infections on April 19, bringing the national total to 377,132.
Eight more deaths were reported,bringing the death toll to 1,386.
Another 1,402 patients were released after recovery, bringing the total numberof cured and discharged to 355,224 or 94.2 percent of all cases./.
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.
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
