Laos logs 207 new cases of COVID-19, 15 more provinces in Cambodia apply social distancing
Laos has confirmed 207 new cases of COVID-19 on August 17, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 10,648, according to the Ministry of Health.
Vientiane (VNA) – Laos has confirmed 207 new cases of COVID-19 on August 17, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 10,648, according to the Ministry of Health.
Of the new cases, 23 are community infections and the rest are imported ones.
The same day, the ministry said that the two cases of Delta plus variant of COVID-19 were detected among workers returning from neighbouring countries.
Laos' Central Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control said that the country will continue to strictly implement preventive measures that were issued previously while studying other solutions suitable to the actual situation.
The committee has requested relevant agencies to mobilise human resources, especially health workers, to support provinces with many new infections.
The Ministry of Technology and Communication was asked to study the feasibility of applying home quarantine monitoring and scanning QR codes to verify vaccinations in accordance with actual conditions.
Meanwhile, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng issued a public health notice requiring people in 15 provinces to wear masks and follow social distancing measures from August 16 until further notice due to the emergence of community infections.
He requested the authorities at all levels take measures to ensure strict mask requirements in public and social distancing are observed to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
According to Cambodia’s Ministry of Health, in the past 24 hours, the country recorded 14 more deaths and 556 cases of COVID-19, including 167 imported cases and 389 community infections. As of August 17, Cambod⭕ia detected a total of 86,597 c𓆉ases of COVID-19, of which 81,918 have recovered and 1,718 have died./.
Thailand on August 16 downgraded its economic growth forecast for 2021 as the country is battling its worst COVID-19 wave, which has brought record numbers of new infections and deaths.
The authorities in Laos’ capital Vientiane has announced the extension of its school closure order to prevent COVID-19 spread, while Cambodia has posted increases in its number of infections for the third consecutive day after reopening its border with Thailand.
Thailand needs a further 1 trillion THB (29.9 billion USD) to ensure jobs and incomes for residents, the country’s central bank governor said on August 16, as the Southeast Asian nation struggles with its most severe COVID-19 outbreak to date.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on August 16 underlined that there was a need to strike a balance between health and economic interests amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Southeast Asia's largest country, Reuters reported.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Illustrative photo (Source: AFP/VNA) 
