Bangkok (VNA) – Thai authorities on May 24 confirmeda new COVID-19 outbreak related to a MRT construction site in Bangkok’sbordering province of Nonthaburi.
On May 22, samples of 900 workers in the camp were tested,of whom 519 were confirmed positive for COVID-19 on May 24.
The authorities said most of the workers at the camp weremigrants and will be quarantined in the camp, while Thai fellow workers will besent to field hospitals. The camp has been ordered closed from May 24 evening.
In recent days, many COVID-19 cases have been found among construction workersin Bangkok, including 36 exposing to the SARS-CoV-2 variant of B.1.617.2detected in India.
Death toll in Thailand exceeded 800, including 30 recordedin the past 24 hours. The country has seen a total of 132,213 infections so far.
Meanwhile, Malaysia and the Philippines continued to report thousands of newCOVID-19 cases.
On May 24, Malaysia confirmed 6,509 new cases, short belowthe record number of 6,976 cases announced one day earlier, together with 61deaths. So far, the country has seen more than 500,000 infections, including 2,309 deaths.
The same day, the Philippines’ Department of Heath also reported 4,973 newCOVID-19 cases, raising the national count to more than 1.18 million.Additional 39 deaths were also reported, pushing the country’s COVID-19 deathtoll to 19,938.
The Philippines has given 4 million COVID-19 vaccine shots to locals. As of May22, nearly 1 million out of the more than 110 million-strong population of the country hadreceived full COVID-19 vaccination. The country aims to vaccinate 70 millionpeople against COVID-19 this year./.
The Lao Ministry of Health confirmed on May 24 that the country has recorded additional 21 COVID-19 cases over the past 24 hours, including 10 domestically-transmitted cases.
Singapore authorities have provisionally approved a COVID-19 breathalyzer test that aims to show whether someone is infected with the coronavirus in under a minute, according to the local start-up that developed the product.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered localities and ministries and competent agencies to expeditiously work to contain COVID-19 in more than 300 industrial parks nationwide so as to prevent the disruption of the supply chain.
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.
COVID-19 testing in Bangkok (Photo: VNA) 
