ASEAN and the world

The 2016 Man Booker International Prize has announced 13 books on this year's long-list, which were chosen from 155 top entries coming from 12 nations written in 9 different languages.

President Obama will plan a visit to Cuba on March 21st – 22nd, marking the first visit to the country in more than 80 years by a sitting US President.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton won the Northern Mariana Islands' Democratic presidential caucus, winning 54 percent of the vote to Bernie Sanders 34 percent.

Japan might need to recruit 30,000 foreign Information Technology (IT) engineers, especially from India and Vietnam, in the next four years to work in the country.

(CPV) - ADB has returned to the US dollar bond market with the pricing of a USD3 billion 5-year global benchmark bond, proceeds of which will be part of ADB’s ordinary capital resources and used in its non-concessional operations.

Heavy floods in Indonesia’s West Java province have killed two people, left three others missing and forced more than 3,000 others to evacuate, local authorities said on March 13th.

(CPV) - ADB President Takehiko Nakao today met India’s Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley, and praised India’s strong economic performance in the face of weak global growth and turmoil in commodity and financial markets.

(CPV) - The EU is committed to maintaining a legal order for the seas and oceans based upon the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen started his two-day working visit to Laos on March 12th to foster ties with the neighbouring country.

Htin Kyaw from the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi has become one of the three final candidates in Myanmar’s presidental race, the country’s lower house of parliament confirmed on March 11th.

Indonesia’s rubber exporters have agreed to cut their exports from March to August 2016 to realise the International Tripartite Rubber Council (ITRC)’s Agreed Export Tonnage Scheme (AETS).

Indonesia and India will conduct a joint military exercise called “Garuda Shakti” to enhance the ability of the two countries’ armies to undertake joint tactical-level operations.

(CPV) - The Mongolian Parliament has ratified a loan agreement with ADB for a project to improve the credit guarantee system.

The 14th Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Ministerial Meeting took place in Bangkok, Thailand on March 10th, focusing on ways to enhance connection among Asian nations in the future. Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy led a Vietnamese delegation to the event.

The Arab League has approved the appointment of Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, Egypt's former Foreign Minister, to be the Arab League General Secretary.

On March 9th, Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton easily won the Democratic primary in Mississippi, according to AFP.

Thailand will host the 14th Asia Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting, scheduled from March 9th-10th, as a Chairman and Coordinator for the year of 2016.

Thailand’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell for the 14th straight month from a year ago, by 0.5 percent in February, due to continued drop in energy and electricity prices, according to the Commerce Ministry.

(CPV) - ADB and Timor-Leste have signed an agreement for an additional USD76.2 million loan for an ongoing project which is helping to create a national network of reliable, safe roads.

Vietnam joined several ASEAN countries in organising an ASEAN Economic Forum to promote economic cooperation between the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Mexico.

(CPV) - On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the Australian Government has launched its Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Strategy, reaffirming that it will continue to be an active part of the global fight for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

The Lao government plans to export one million tonnes of rice this year and ensure 2.1 million tonnes for domestic consumption.

Malaysia will try to woo tourists from Cambodia, with the goal of attracting 80,000 visitors from this new market this year.

(CPV) - ADB has signed a USD1 billion framework agreement with the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) to expand their cofinancing activities in Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan.

A total of 71 passengers have been saved from a ferry accident in the strait between the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java, but four are still unaccounted for, local officials said on March 4th.

Singapore’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) in February 2016 was at 48.5, the lowest rate since December 2012.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) will boost Malaysia’s furniture exports as trade among member states, especially the US, increases, according to the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).

The Cambodian government approved smoking ban in workplaces and public areas during the weekly cabinet meeting held on March 4th.

The 22nd ASEAN Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat wrapped up in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province on late March 3rd, agreeing on ways to boost the regional and inter-regional economic connectivity.

(CPV) - An ADB-supported solar-diesel hybrid power generation system today began providing round-the-clock electricity for the first time to all 244 households on the island of Cobrador in Romblon province in the central Philippines.