New COVID-19 infections logged in Laos, Thailand, Philippines
Laos, Thailand and the Philippines recorded new cases of COVID-19 on April 22, with the highest number of infections posted in the Philippines, at 8,767.
People wait for their turns to take the test for COVID-19 in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Laos, Thailand and thePhilippines recorded new cases of COVID-19 on April 22, with the highest numberof infections posted in the Philippines, at 8,767.
Laos logged six new cases, raising its total tally to 94,according to the Lao Ministry of Health on April 22.
Of the new cases, four were detected in Vientiane and one each inSavannakhet and Bokeo province. All patients except for the one in Savannakhet had complicated travel history andinteracted with many people.
The same day, Thailand confirmed 1,470 new COVID-19 casesand seven fatalities. All the new cases were local infections reported in 66provinces, with the capital Bangkok leading the case increase with 446 newcases, according to the Center for COVID-19 Situation Administration spokesmanTaweesin Visanuyothin.
To date, the country's total caseload and death toll have reached48,113 and 117, respectively.
The new wave of COVID-19 hitting Thailand, which reportedlyoriginated from entertainment venues in Bangkok early this month, has spread tomore than 70 provinces of the country and infected more than 10,000 people,some of them with the fast-spreading COVID-19 variant first detected inBritain.
Meanwhile, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in thePhilippines surged to 971,049 after the nation’s Department of Health reported8,767 new cases on April 22. The department said that 105 more patients diedfrom the coronavirus epidemic, bringing the death toll to 16,370.
Metro Manila, home to nearly 14 million people, is still theepicenter of the outbreak, accounting for most of the active and new casesreported in the Philippines./.
The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines made by Johnson & Johnson of the US and India's Bharat Biotech, it said on April 20.
Local authorities in Laos are stepping up border controls to prevent people entering the country illegally from Thailand and avoiding screening for COVID-19.
Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh has ordered a lockdown on the capital of Vientiane since 6am on April 22 in the wake of increasing COVID-19 cases.
Thailand reported seven new deaths from COVID-19 over the last 24 hours, the highest number of fatalities in a single day since the start of the pandemic in the country early last year, the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced on April 22.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
People wait for their turns to take the test for COVID-19 in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
