ASEAN and the world

China’s claims to historic rights over waters within the nine-dash line are contrary to the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague, the Netherlands, said.

On July 11th, the Conservative Party confirmed that Theresa May, the UK’s Home Secretary, will be the country’s next Prime Minister.

The US Geological Survey on July 11th reported that two powerful quakes, measuring 5.9 and 6.4 on the Richter scale, struck the coast of Ecuador.

The Airports Council International (ACI) has released its list of the busiest airports in the world in 2015.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party has claimed victory in an election for the Upper House of Parliament, according to media exit polls.

Peru's newly-elected President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski confirmed that Fernando Zavala, the outgoing chief executive of the country's biggest beer company, will be his Prime Minister on July 28th.

A meeting of armed ethnic groups in Myanmar will be held in the northern state of Kachin on July 26th in preparation for the 21st Century Panglong Peace Conference scheduled for late August in Nay Pyi Taw, local media reported on July 10th.

Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce said on July 9th that it will open bidding on July 25th for 3.7 million tonnes of rice.

(CPV) - ADB President Takehiko Nakao met with Philippine Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia on July 8th 2016 to congratulate them on their appointments.

Malaysian terrorists in the Philippines have established a new battalion, called the Katibah Al-Muhajir or Battalion of Migrants, to persuade supporters to join the Islamic State (IS).

Ethnic armed groups in Myanmar gathered in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai on July 8th to reach a common stance in order to prepare for their official meeting to be held ahead of the 21st Century Palong Peace Conference slated for late August.

The Border Affairs Ministry of Myanmar and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed on a plan on the voluntary repatriation of Myanmar nationals living in refugee camps in Thailand.

On July 8th, super Typhoon Nepartak came ashore near Taitung City in southeastern Taiwan, lashing it with powerful winds and torrential rain.

Home Secretary Theresa May and Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom are the two candidates who will battle to become Britain's next Prime Minister and lead the country out of the EU.

One month after US President Barack Obama’s visit to Vietnam, journalists Ninh Hong Nga and Nguyen Ha Ngoc from Tin Tuc (News) Newspaper under Vietnam News Agency have made public a book titled “US President Obama - Three days in Vietnam”.

Singapore does not take sides with any country but adopts a principle-based and independent foreign policy driven by its own interests.

The fourth Africa – Singapore Business Forum is scheduled to take place in the Asian nation from August 24th – 25th, touching upon Africa’s economic issues, Singapore’s competitive edge and bilateral cooperation.

(CPV) - ADB is updating its Anticorruption Policy to address tax secrecy, tax evasion, and aggressive forms of tax planning—collectively referred to as “tax integrity issues”—in the wake of recent global developments.

The Malaysian authorities have called for people’s calmness and cooperation with the government in the fight against terrorism following the first attack carried out by the so-called Islamic State on the Malaysian territory.

Thailand’s export in the first five months shrank by 1.9 percent to USD86.99 billion, according to Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC).

(CPV) - ADB has raised GEL64 million (approximately USD30 million) from a Georgian lari denominated bond sale to support development of the local capital market and microenterprises in Georgia.

Islamist militant group Abu Sayyaf has released a Filipino hostage after about one year in captivity in the southern Philippine province of Sulu, the country’s military said on July 6th.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 7th left for a four-nation tour of African countries, aiming at further strengthening bilateral ties with the African partners.

The National Geographic Travel Photographer of the Year has been named. The winning images were selected from three categories: People, Cities and Nature.

More than 180 people have been killed by flooding along the Yangtze river in China, following torrential rains.

Egypt’s Aircraft Accident Investigation Committee said data retrieved from the damaged flight data recorder of ill-fated EgyptAir Flight MS804 has confirmed there was a fire in the cockpit before the crash.

(CPV) - The latest UNICEF annual flagship report The State Of the World’s Children 2016 - A Fair Chance for Every Child points to evidence that investing in the most vulnerable children can yield immediate and long-term benefits for the country.

Malaysian police confirmed on July 4th that the self-proclaimed Islamic State Group was involved in a hand grenade attack on a restaurant earlier last week.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has launched a campaign to make Thai silk more popular in the global market.

(CPV) - ADB President Takehiko Nakao and New Development Bank (NDB) President K.V. Kamath signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on cooperation here on July 4th 2016.