COVID-19 shows signs of abating in some SEA countries
Malaysia’s Ministry of Health reported 5,745 new cases of COVID-19 on October 19, the lowest in over 100 days and the second consecutive day that the number of new cases have stayed under 6,000.
COVID-19 testing sample collection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Malaysia’s Ministry of Healthreported 5,745 new cases of COVID-19 on October 19, the lowest in over 100 daysand the second consecutive day that the number of new cases have stayed under6,000.
The daily cases of COVID-19 in Malaysia has droppedcontinuously since October 3, while the recovery rate has increased to 92.6percent and up to 98.2 percent of new cases have mild symptoms.
The vaccine coverage in the country has expanded with about95 percent of adults fully inoculated with two shots of vaccine, while 78.2percent of under-18 people have received at least one shot.
In the Philippines, the number of new COVID-19 cases onOctober 19 was 4,496 while 211 people succumbed to the corona disease, both thelowest daily since July 28.
However, COVID-19 cases in Laos has increased again with 657cases recorded in the past 24 hours, the Lao Health Ministry announced onOctober 19.
The total caseload in Laos rose to 32,971.
The country also reported an additional five deaths, bringingthe death toll to 45./.
The Cambodian government decided to shorten the quarantine period from October 18. However, the absence of regular commercial flights to Cambodia from the main tourist hubs and people traveling for business purposes is raising concerns about a lack of international visitors.
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.
The forum, which involves global experts and creative leaders from across 14 cultural sectors, aims to expand Thailand’s presence on the world stage through innovation and cultural exchange.
In his article, Oscar Sanchez Serra highlighted President Ho Chi Minh’s founding of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper on June 21, 1925, which marked the birth of Vietnam's revolutionary press rooted in a bold and far-sighted vision.
Several ASEAN meetings are scheduled to take place in Port Dickson this September, including the Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) for ASEAN Plus Three (APT), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the 15th ASEAN Maritime Forum, and the 13th Expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum.
Thailand's Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has ordered the urgent implementation of a national policy to crack down on all forms of call centre scams, online fraud, and illegal gambling, which are now considered threats to national security.
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto and EAEU Trade Minister Andrey Slepnev jointly declared the conclusion of FTA talks on the sidelines of the 28th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF 2025), according to the statement.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
COVID-19 testing sample collection in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Source: AFP/VNA) 
