People in Singapore wear face masks to prevent spread of COVID-19 (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Singapore and the Philippines are easing restriction measures but they warn people to follow safety measures.
Singaporeis taking first steps to reopen its economy. Businesses such as foodmanufacturers, barbers, specific food retail outlets and laundry services are nowable to resume operations with strict medical supervision measures.
According to the Ministry of Health, thecountry recorded 884 more COVID-19 cases on May 12, bringing the total in thestate city to 24,671, including 21 deaths.
Close to 90 percent of of infections in Singaporerelate to dormitories for foreign workers.
Alsoon May 12, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte announced to ease restrictionsagainst COVID-19 from May 16.
Some manufacturingcompanies in Manila capital will be allowed to resume operations with 50percent capacity.
ThePresident warned people to follow safety measures when coming back to work.
Todate, the Philippines has confirmed 11,086 COVID-19 cases, including 726fatalities./.
Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has announced that both public and private sectors should strictly apply social-distancing measures once the lockdown is lifted or restrictions will be applied again.
Faced with the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on regional and global economies, including interruptions to supply chains, ASEAN countries are making greater efforts to recover and improve their responsiveness to future risks, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has said.
From Facebook groups to hyper-local delivery services, street food chefs in Southeast Asia are cooking up creative ways to sell their wares as they struggle to survive during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bangkok Post reported.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
People in Singapore wear face masks to prevent spread of COVID-19 (Source: AFP/VNA) 
