ASEAN and the world

More than 30 people were killed and many others were injured in India as severe storms accompanied by heavy rain, lightning and gusty winds swept through the country.

Malaysia’s new Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on May 11th announced 10 core ministries of the new government, the first move of Mahathir and his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) to set up the cabinet after their victory in the general elections two days ago.

(CPV) - In 2015, the international community committed to the Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 4, which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all. That same year, in Addis Ababa, multilateral development banks committed to work together to assist countries to generate the needed financial resources.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)’s Minister of Health Oly Ilunga on May 10th announced the first confirmed death in a new outbreak of Ebola virus, and said 11 other people were confirmed to be infected.

Chairman of Fidesz Party Viktor Orban on May 10th took the oath as Prime Minister of Hungary for his 4th term.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has nominated Stephane Perrault as the new chief electoral officer.

(CPV) - ADB, through its Trade Finance Program (TFP), has signed a USD100 million agreement with Citi to share risk on a funded basis on underlying trade finance transactions to further support trade in developing markets across Asia. Citi has been working with ADB on trade finance since 2009.

(CPV) - ADB and the Government of Afghanistan inaugurated on May 7th a new power distribution network, which will help provide efficient and reliable electricity to around 200,000 people, who previously did not have access to electricity, in the southwest of Kabul.

The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s leader Kim Jong-un has expressed optimism about his upcoming meeting with US President Donald Trump, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said on May 9th.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced its Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would meet his German counterpart Heiko Maas on May 10th in Moscow.

The Government of Singapore will reinforce defence and domestic security and work closely with citizens and neighbouring nations to cope with new threats.

The 37th session of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) on May 8th took place in Havana, Cuba.

Panama has set its next general election for next May 5th, the country’s election tribunal announced.

Leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on May 9th have met in ToKyo for a trilateral summit since 2015.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 7th proposed Mr. Dmitry Medvedev for the Prime Minister postition.

Cambodia’s economic growth is expected to reach about 6.9 percent this year, according to a report recently released by the World Bank (WB).

On May 6th, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang left Beijing for official visits to Indonesia and Japan at the invitation by Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

On May 7th, Vmir Putin was sworn in for his foladiurth term as Russian President, after winning the election in March.

Sixteen miners on May 5th were killed and nine others were wounded when a coal mine collapsed due to a gas explosion in southwestern Pakistan, officials said.

(CPV) - Strategy 2030, the new long-term strategy of ADB to be released this year, will renew ADB’s strong commitment to eradicate extreme poverty in Asia and the Pacific and expand the bank’s vision to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable region, ADB President Mr. Takehiko Nakao said in his opening address at the 51st Annual Meeting of ADB’s Board of Governors.

Finance ministers and central bank governors of member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and East Asian countries on May 4th discussed the threat of trade frictions and rising protectionism and pledged to stay vigilant and work harder to avert threats to the global economy.

Thailand is hosting ASEAN Beauty 2018 at Bangkok's BITEC Bang Na, the largest exhibition of health and beauty products in the region.

A severe sandstorm has killed at least 77 people and injured 143 in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh in northern India, according to the authorities.

US President Donald Trump has nominated White House Chief of Staff John Kelly as Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on May 3rd met with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s supreme leader Kim Jong-un during a rare visit to Pyongyang.

Cambodia produced 10.5 million tonnes of paddy rice in 2017, up 5.7 percent year-on-year, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on May 2nd.

On May 2nd, Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe met with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, finishing his official 5-day visit to the Middle East.

Poland on May 1st took over the monthly rotating presidency of the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

On May 1st, French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Australia for his official two-day visit.

Leaders of Japan, China and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will meet in ToKyo on May 9th for first trilateral talks between the three countries since 2015.