ASEAN and the world

Challenges to the rescue of the 12 young footballers and their coach trapped inside the Tham Luang Nang Non cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand, exceeded what officials and experts had projected, rescue operation chief Narongsak Osoththanakorn said on July 7th.

New US ambassador to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Harry Harris will take up the post on July 7th.

Twenty-four people were killed and at least forty-nine injured in a series of explosions at fireworks workshops in Tultepec town, outside Mexico city.

(CPV) - Bangladesh is to receive a USD20 million loan from an ADB Power System Efficiency Improvement Project together with an additional USD25.44 million in grant financing to spur off-grid solar photovoltaic (SPV) pumping for agricultural irrigation.

South Sudan’s government has proposed a bill to extend the presidential and parliamentary terms for three years.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov to discuss the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting, the US State Department said in a statement.

The White House has announced that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo would travel to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on July 5th, seeking agreement on a plan for the country’s denuclearization.

An official of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Red Cross on July 3rd said the RoK and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have agreed to hold reunions of families who were separated during the Korean War.

The ASEAN Ankara Committee (AAC) recently had a working session with Secretary General of the Ankara Development Agency (ADA) Arif Sayik, aiming to boost investment and business partnerships between ASEAN countries and the capital city of Turkey.

On July 2nd, the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s presidential office said President Moon Jae-in will make state visits to India and Singapore from July 8th – 13th.

Austria will take over the EU Council Presidency for 6 months, from July 1st to December 31st, 2018, following the Bulgarian Presidency.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a USD60 million loan to help improve and rehabilitate 311 kilometers (km) of road corridors in Mongolia, which will help facilitate economic cooperation and trade, as well as inclusive growth, in the country.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Authority on July 1st organized a flag-raising ceremony to mark the 21st anniversary of the return of Hong Kong to China (1/7/1997 - 1/7/2018).

Mr. Andres Lopez Obrador on July 1st has declared victory in Mexico’s presidential election.

The trade spat intensified by the US protectionism has prompted analysts to cut forecast on Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year by 0.1 percentage point to 5.2 percent.

Thailand's Vice Minister for Commerce, Dr. Sakon Varanyuwatana, has said the Thailand-Myanmar Border Economic Partnership Conference will boost border trade and relations between the two countries.

At least 15 people were killed and 70 injured after a fire tore through one of Nairobi’s largest open-air markets in Kenya on June 28th.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has reportedly invited the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s President Moon Jae-in and the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong-un to the Asian Games, creating a chance for the two leaders to meet.

(CPV) - Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) will support 10 innovative travel and hospitality companies in 2018.The two-year-old innovation program aims to identify and support high-growth travel and hospitality businesses that have potential to contribute positively to local communities, economies, and the environment.

(CPV) - Developing countries constantly face the destabilizing effects of climate change, with women and children facing disproportionate challenges.

At least three people were killed and other 37 injured due to a huge fire which engulfed an underground parking garage of an apartment building under construction in the central region of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on June 26th.

UK Prince William on June 26th embarked on his first ever official royal visit to Israel and Palestine territories.

(CPV) - E-commerce is enabling small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of Asia and the Pacific to reach global markets and compete on an international scale, creating many jobs in the process, according to a report launched jointly by ADB and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific at an international conference in Tashkent on June 27th 2018.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a USD300 million policy-based loan to help improve economic management in Uzbekistan, which will help support macroeconomic stability and sustain high growth in the country.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis on June 26th began his first visit to China, set to continue through June 28th.

US Secretary of Defense James Mattis has said the UN Command in the Republic of Korea (RoK) would receive as many as 200 sets of remains of US soldiers fallen during the Korean War, from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

On June 24th, incumbent President Tayyip Erdogan won the majority of votes in the Turkish presidential election.

US President Donald Trump is set to visit Australia in November.

Indonesian authorities on June 22nd used sonar technology in the search for victims going missing during a boat accident in Lake Toba, one of the world’s deepest lakes.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on June 22nd kicked off Red Cross talks to discuss humanitarian issues, including a planned reunion event for families separated by the Korean War.