Thai authorities are mulling over easing COVID-19 restriction measures in Bangkok capital and some provinces as daily new cases were less than 20,000 for the fifth consecutive day.
A person receives COVID-19 shot in Samutprakran, Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Thai authorities are mulling over easing COVID-19 restriction measures in Bangkok capital and some provinces as daily new cases were less than 20,000 for the fifth consecutive day.
The country reported 18,501 new COVID-19 cases on August 26.
The national count reached more than 1.12 million, with a death toll of 10,314.
The decrease in new cases and a continuing surplus of daily recoveries over new infections are driving the government's consideration to ease some lockdown measures, assistant spokeswoman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration Apisamai Srirangsan said.
In a bid to curb the spread of new variants, the Thai government has set a target to administer about 15 million doses of vaccine per month, up 10 million doses from the previous goal.
As of August 25, the Southeast Asian nation had administered 28.8 million doses of vaccine and nearly 10 percent of its population has been fully vaccinated.
It aims to have 70 percent of the population inoculated by year’s end to reach herd immunity.
Meanwhile, the Philippines logged 16,313 new infections on August 26, raising the total to nearly 1.9 million, according to the Department of Health.
As many as 236 fatalities were recorded on the day, bringing the death toll to 32,728.
The number of new cases and fatalities have been on the increase, warned Alethea De Guzman from the Health Department’s Epidemiology Bureau.
In Metro Manila alone, new cases surged 16 percent from the previous week, she said, adding that the Delta variant was found in 16 out of 17 regions./.
Chuan Leekpai, President of the National Assembly of Thailand, highlighted the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)’s role in applying digital technologies while delivering a speech at the first plenary session of the 42nd General Assembly of the AIPA via videoconference on August 23.
Thailand will receive 61 million vaccine doses from AstraZeneca by the end of this year, raising the number of doses it has procured to 120 million, a Government spokesperson has said.
Global credit rating agency Moody's on August 24 maintained Thailand's credit rating at Baa1 with stable outlook, saying that the country still has sufficient economic activity to balance challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cabinet of Thailand has given green light to 7 percent VAT for another two years in a bid to lessen the financial burden businesses and consumers affected the COVID-19 pandemic.
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.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The new framework is designed to ensure that incoming investments deliver tangible national benefits, such as the creation of high-quality jobs for Malaysians and the development of local company ecosystems and technologies.
Singapore led with a total of 8.8 billion USD in realised investment, followed by Hong Kong and mainland China, Malaysia, and Japan with 8 billion USD, 1.7 billion USD and 1.6 billion USD, respectively.
Thai Acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai on August 7 outlined his strategy for tackling drug problems in Thailand, aiming for a "Zero Drugs Thailand" within three months.
The US has described Malaysia's role as Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as vital in helping ease tension between Thailand and Cambodia.
A person receives COVID-19 shot in Samutprakran, Thailand (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
