ASEAN and the world

(CPV) - ADB has appointed Samuel Tumiwa as new Country Director for Afghanistan.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has stressed the need to boost road, waterways and aviation connectivity in order to fully tap cooperation potential between Mekong nations and India.

The Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) is holding the Thailand Investment Fest 2017 to share innovations by a new generation of investors.

Japan on August 6th marked the 72nd anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

On August 6th, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Manila.

Malaysia’s Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has forced online sellers to display all necessary information that buyers would want to know before making any transactions.

(CPV) - On August 3rd 2017, ADB released the third edition of its annual publication, Together We Deliver: 50 Stories of Partnerships in Asia and the Pacific, celebrating the role of partnerships and showcasing specific ADB support in aiding the region's rise from poverty to a new era of prosperity.

A new road for freight between China's southwestern metropolis of Chongqing and Thailand’s Bangkok opened on August 5th.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung led a Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM) and related meetings held in Manila, the Philippines on August 3rd-4th.

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) has played a significant role in building the ASEAN Community, which was born on December 31st, 2015.

Malaysia, host of the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, has adopted new measure to boost security against terrorism.

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh highlighted the bloc’s milestones during its 50 years of existence in an interview with Vietnam News Agency.

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani on August 3rd was sworn in for his second term at a ceremony overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.

Floods in Thailand’s northern and eastern regions have killed at least 23 people and left two missing.

Japanese Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe has announced his new cabinet.

Former Minister for Administrative Reform Taro Kono has been appointed as Japanese Foreign Minister.

Dengue fever outbreaks are occurring across Asia, causing thousands cases of infections.

Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop began her six-day visit to Thailand and the Philippines on August 2nd to enhance the bilateral relations and promote Australia’s economic and security benefits in Southeast Asia.

(CPV) - ADB has raised USD1.25 billion to help finance climate change mitigation and adaptation projects with the issue of dual-tranche 5-year and 10-year green bonds.

Bangladesh signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia on August 2nd to buy 1 million tonnes of rice within the next five years.

The US Senate on August 1st confirmed Christopher A. Wray as the next FBI Director.

Mr. Shahid Khagan Abbasi on August 1st was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Pakistan after securing 221 votes.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will visit the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia from August 5th to 9th, the State Department said on August 2nd.

The cabinet of Thailand has decided to allocate THB1.8 billion (USD54 million) from the central fund to promote the use of rubber by various government bodies.

Philippine police on August 1st said there is no sight of the Maute insurgent group, which pledged allegiance to the self-claimed Islamic State (IS), in the capital city of Manila as the 50th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) will be held this week.

Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and Brunei have agreed to intensify cooperation in combating terrorism following the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militants’ attacks in the southern Philippines, said a senior Indonesian official.

Tropical storm Nesat has hit Taiwan (China), leaving 81 people injured and destroying hundreds of buildings.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on July 31st declared victory in the elections for a new Constituent Assembly.

Pakistan’s Parliament will meet on August 1st to elect a new Prime Minister after the resignation of Mr. Nawaz Sharif.

The Government of Australia has provided AUD1 million (USD750,000) in additional financing to the ongoing Samoa Agribusiness Support Project designed to boost the south Pacific nation’s economic performance by addressing challenges hindering increased trade and export.