New COVID-19 cases rapidly increase in Indonesia, Philippines
The Indonesian Health Ministry on March 21 confirmed 81 new cases positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and six more deaths, bringing the total number of infection cases to 450 and deaths to 38.
A medical worker pulls a stretcher from an ambulance to the quarantine room for COVID-19 patients at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (Photo: Reuters)
Hanoi (VNA) – The Indonesian Health Ministry onMarch 21 confirmed 81 new cases positive for the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 andsix more deaths, bringing the total number of infection cases to 450 and deathsto 38.
This comes a day after the Jakarta authorities declared a state of emergency for the next two weeks overthe virus outbreak as the death toll in the country climbed to the highest inSoutheast Asia.
On the same day, the Philippines reported 77 new COVID-19 cases, bringing thetotal cases in the country to 307. The disease has killed 19 persons in the Philippinesso far.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry of Timor Leste confirmed the first case ofCOVID-19 on March 21/.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing is planning to turn Wisma Atlet Kemayoran, a former athlete village in Central Jakarta, into an emergency hospital to treat people infected with COVID-19, according to an official.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on March 20 that he would use "all state power" to tackle health and economic problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Governor of Jakarta Anies Baswedan on March 20 declared a state of emergency in the Indonesian capital city for the next two week in a bid to curb the spread of the acute respiratory disease caused by novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
Singaporean Health Minister Gan Kim Yong on March 21 confirmed two persons died from the acute respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in the country due to complications.
A participant in the Malaysia Economic Forum 2025 said despite challenges, there are significant opportunities in AI, digital transformation, and green technologies, requiring the country to balance both risk and potential thoughtfully.
Themed “emerging trends in terrorism and violent extremism”, the event drew over 200 participants from domestic and international agencies, discussing the rapid evolution of terrorism and the need for stronger regional and global cooperation.
Indonesia aims to start nuclear power generation by 2034, with a government roadmap already in place to develop small modular reactors (SMRs) with capacities ranging from 300 to 500 megawatts.
The package, endorsed on June 24, comprises 481 projects designed to boost GDP by an additional 0.4% and generate temporary employment for about 7.4 million people nationwide.
An Indonesian official emphasised that energy security is extremely essential amid global geopolitical and economic fragmentation, highlighting the need for the energy industry to strengthen resilience and responsiveness in the face of fluctuating oil prices and the shift to clean energy.
ASEAN must deepen collaboration through platforms such as the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) to ensure regional responses keep pace with the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape.
Speaking at the launch of the Indonesia Economic Prospects June 2025 edition on June 23 in Jakarta, Turk noted that Indonesia’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded 4.9% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the same period last year.
Anti-dumping duties will continue to be imposed on producers from China and Japan while those on relevant exporters from the RoK and Vietnam will be terminated, starting from June 23.
A specialist police unit has acquired a fleet of off-road vehicles to help officers navigate rough, unpaved terrain – and flood waters – to respond more quickly to public security incidents.
The pact covers goods, services, investments, intellectual property rights, customs facilitation, competition policy, sanitary and phytosanitary, trade and sustainable development, government procurement and economic cooperation.
The talent programmes mark another milestone in the technical partnership between PETRONAS and the Energy Institute, which focuses on three pillars: promoting decarbonisation and operational excellence through innovative solutions, enabling informed decision-making with expert advice, and nurturing the next generation of energy professionals.
The firefighters found an active blaze at the lorry depot located in the city of Pasir Gudang near the state capital of Johor Bahru, with flames spreading quickly due to strong winds and igniting a neighboring disused oil storage area.
Investigators believe the operation is part of a broader scam network involving romance scams, where victims are lured into fake relationships and persuaded to transfer money.
Ambassadors, Consuls General, along with staff and their families, joined traditional sports and cultural activities of Southeast Asia and performances bearing regional identity, thus contributing to strengthening unity and the ASEAN community spirit in New York.
In his post on social media the same day, Hun Manet said energy companies would be able to import sufficiently from other sources to meet domestic fuel and gas demands in the country.
A medical worker pulls a stretcher from an ambulance to the quarantine room for COVID-19 patients at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia (Photo: Reuters) 
