ASEAN and the world

An earthquake measuring 5.6 on Richter scale on August 15th shook buildings in Tokyo, Japan.

Popular Vietnamese designer Vo Viet Chung has been honoured as the Fashion International Designer of the Year and most Excellent International Designer by the Fashion Forward program, of the US.

On August 15th, the Japanese Government celebrated the 71st anniversary of the end of World War II and offered prayers for the more than three million war-dead.

Following are seven World Heritage Sites recognied by UNESCO in Brazil.

Vietnamese cuisines and agricultural products have been introduced at the 17th ASEAN Food Carnival in Macao, China.

Torrential rainfall has inundated Louisiana State of the US, killing at least four people and flooding thousands of homes.

Representatives of the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) resumed negotiations on implementing peace agreements at their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 13th.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered law enforcers to arrest Caucasian-looking people who were allegedly involved in indoctrinating Filipinos in the south of the country with teachings of the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS).

Japan and the Philippines have started talks on Tokyo’s transfer of two coast guard ships to Manila, deputy spokesperson of Japan’s foreign minister Masato Ohtaka said on August 12th.

Nationwide flooding in Myanmar has killed at least six people and affected the lives of more than 420,000 others.

The Council of Representatives of French and Vietnamese Associations (CRAFV) has issued a petition calling on China to respect the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) ruling on the Philippines lawsuit against China’s claims in the East Sea.

Thousands have been evacuated as forest fires rage in France on August 10th, with the worst in almost two decades burning around Marseille.

Cuba’s former leader Fidel Castro celebrates his 90th birthday on August 13th.

Philippine Foreign Minister Perfecto Yasay on August 11th called on China to respect maritime law and security as well as the rule of law to resolve disputes in both the East Sea and the East China Sea.

The Mercosur-ASEAN research center has been established under the Catholic University of Uruguay.

Singapore’s Minister of Home Affairs K. Shanmugam and Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had a bilateral meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on August 10th to discuss counter-terrorism measures.

An international conference on the ASEAN Mutual Recognition Agreement for Tourism Professionals (MRA-TP) took place in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 8th-9th, focusing on strengthening intra-bloc links in travel, tourism and hospitality.

Former CIA agent Evan McMullin has announced an independent Presidential bid as an alternative to Republican nominee Donald Trump.

Singapore on August 9th organized a ceremony to mark its 51st Independence Day with the annual National Day Parade (NDP).

On August 9th, the 71st anniversary of the atomic bombing was remembered in Nagasaki city, Japan.

Thailand shipped about 5 million tonnes of rice abroad in the first half of 2016, a year on year increase of 12.1 percent, making it the world’s largest rice exporter.

An ASEAN Study Centre was inaugurated in North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) in Shillong, the capital city of India’s Meghalaya State on August 8th.

(CPV) - Climate finance totaling USD81 billion was mobilized for projects funded by the world’s six largest multilateral development banks (MDBs) in 2015. This included USD25 billion of MDBs’ direct climate finance, combined with a further USD56 billion from other investors.

Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anifah Aman on August 8th affirmed that ASEAN’s unity and central role in the region is of more importance than ever to the bloc right now.

The 28th and 29th ASEAN Summits and related meetings are scheduled to take place from September 6th-8th in Vientiane, Laos, with 42 documents expected to be passed.

Democrat Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Republican rival Donald Trump to eight points after both parties' nominating conventions, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll out on August 7th.

As of August 8th, at least 40 people have been killed by landslides in the Mexican states of Puebla and Veracruz after Tropical Storm Earl hit eastern Mexico.

ASEAN economic ministers and the Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry held a consultation in Vientiane, Laos on August 6th.

Malaysia and Thailand have agreed to intensify cooperation to address several cross-border security issues in both nations during Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s two-day visit to Thailand.

The 48th ASEAN Economic Ministers’ Meeting (AEM-48) and related events wound up in Vientiane, Laos in the afternoon of August 6th, finishing heavy agenda and reaping fruitful outcomes.