ASEAN and the world

On May 1st, the United Nations Security Council strongly condemned the bombings in both Kabul and Kandahar that claimed at least 41 lives and injured 45 people on April 30th.

The 32nd summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) officially opened in Singapore on April 28th morning.

Tthe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s leader Kim Jong-un on April 27th officially stepped over a cracked slab of concrete, the world’s most heavily armed border to greet the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s President Moon Jae-in.

The US Senate on April 26th officially confirmed Mr. Mike Pompeo as the new Secretary of State.

The British Prime Minister’s spokesman on April 25th said US President Donald Trump is planning on visiting the UK this summer.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on April 25th appointed Swiss Ambassador to Germany, Ms. Christine Schraner Burgener, as his new special envoy to Myanmar.

ASEAN Foreign Ministers on April 24th issued a statement on the situation in Syria, in which they urged all involved parties to work towards a sustainable political solution through dialogue and negotiation.

Conservative candidate Mario Abdo Benitez of Paraguay’s ruling Colorado Party has narrowly defeated his opposition in the country’s presidential elections.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 23rd confirmed Mr. Pompeo, who is now the CIA Director, as the next US Secretary of State, replacing Mr. Rex Tillerson.

Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland on April 22nd said her nation and the EU will co-host the World’s female Foreign Ministers.

Cambodia’s Senate, the fourth tenure, held its first plenary session in Phnom Penh on April 23rd under the chair of King Norodom Sihamoni, during which Vice President of the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Samdech Say Chhum was elected as President of the Senate in the fourth tenure.

(CPV) - ADB's Board of Directors has approved a USD30 million policy-based grant to help the Government of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) expand healthcare coverage and improve health services in the country.

Germany’s Social Democrats (SPD) on April 22nd elected Ms. Andrea Nahles, by 66.35% of delegates, as their first ever female leader in the party’s 155-year history.

At least 20 people were killed on April 21st after two dragon boats capsized in Zhuang Autonomous Region in southern China.

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on April 22nd met her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to discuss a host of bilateral issues and ways to step up the peace of high-level interactions to improve the relationship.

(CPV) - The World Bank Group’s shareholders have endorsed an ambitious package of measures that include a USD13 billion paid-in capital increase, a series of internal reforms, and a set of policy measures that greatly strengthen the global poverty fighting institution’s ability.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and UK Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May on April 19th spoke together over the phone.

The National Assembly of People's Power on April 19th voted on First Deputy Chairman of the State Council of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez's nomination as President of Cuba’s Council of State and Council of Ministers.

A helicopter crashed on April 20th in Marowali Regency of Indonesia's Central Sulawesi province, leaving one dead and nine injured, including six Chinese citizens, said spokesman for the Ministry of Transport Bambang Ervan.

Parts exports of the Republic of Korea grew at a solid pace in the first quarter of this year on the back of strong demand for electronics parts and petrochemical products, according to Yonhap news agency.

(CPV) - ADB has received USD12.6 million of funding for 2018 to 2020 from the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi) to generate more resources for Sri Lankan women-led businesses.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on April 18th announced a general election would be held on June 24th.

New grand coalition government in Germany on April 19th appointed a number of new ambassadors to major global capitals.

Cambodia plans to deploy a total of 80,000 security personnel to ensure security and public order during the general election in July, a senior officer said on April 18th.

Barbara Bush, the former US first lady, wife to 41st President George H.W Bush and mother of 43rd President George W. Bush, has died at the age of 92.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 17th left for a three day official visit to the US for talks with President Donald Trump.

Myanmar’s new President U Win Myint has pledged to promote changes for the stronger development of the country, believing that the objective could be realised through the pursuit of united strength.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on April 16th appointed Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Angus Campbell, who was formerly the commander of Operation Sovereign Borders, as Chief of Defence Force.

The Japan - China High Level Economic Dialogue was organized for the first time in eight years in Tokyo, Japan, on April 16th.

China’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ma Zhaoxu called on parties concerned to remain calm and exercise restraint over the situation in Syria.