I. UN News

1. 2016 Highlights of Security Council Practice
https://unite.un.org/sites/unite.un.org/files/app-schighlights/index.html  
In 2016, the Security Council held 256 meetings, adopted 77 resolutions and issued 19 presidential statements. It considered 48 agenda items, including 1 new agenda item relating to Colombia. The Council dispatched 5 missions to the field, all of them to Africa. The Council further established 1 political mission, the United Nations Mission in Colombia, and terminated 3 subsidiary bodies, namely the 1521 Committee concerning Liberia (including its Panel of Experts), the 1572 Committee concerning Cote d'Ivoire (including its Group of Experts) and the 1737 Committee concerning the Iranian nuclear issue (including its Panel of Experts). In addition, in 2016, the Council issued 1140 documents, the highest number of documents issued by the Council since 2012.

2. 2017 International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development
http://www.tourism4development2017.org/  
The United Nations 70th General Assembly has designated 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (A/RES/70/193 ). This is a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the contribution of sustainable tourism to development among public and private sector decision-makers and the public, while mobilizing all stakeholders to work together in making tourism a catalyst for positive change. In the context of the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the International Year aims to support a change in policies, business practices and consumer behaviour towards a more sustainable tourism sector than can contribute to the SDGs.

3. The Ocean Action Hub
http://www.oceanactionhub.org/  
On 20 December 2016, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a knowledge hub to generate momentum in anticipation of the United Nations Conference to Support Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 (the Ocean Conference) to be held 5 to 9 June 2017, and its 15-16 February Preparatory Meeting, both at UN HQ in New York. The Ocean Action Hub will facilitate multi-stakeholder engagement in the Ocean Conference by bringing together governments, the UN system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, NGOs, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, private sector, philanthropic organizations and other ocean actors to assess challenges and opportunities related to achieving SDG 14. The Hub will host active dialogues on ocean issues, facilitate co-development and sharing of solutions and voluntary commitments by multi-stakeholders, and provide a space for connecting and sharing ideas and experience.

4. New counter-terrorism office to build partnership with member states on countering transnational threats, Secretary-General tells General Assembly
UN Secretary-General António Guterres remarks to the General Assembly on the informal suggestion to create a new office for counter-terrorism, in New York on 22 February 2017
Press Release SG/SM/18453-GA/11891: http://www.un.org/press/en/2017/sgsm18453.doc.htm  

II. The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA)

1. Southeast Asia expected to grow by 4.6 percent in 2017
Despite the global volatility and the slowdown in trade, Southeast Asia is expected to grow by 4.6 percent in 2017, which is among the highest growth rates in the world. Asia as a whole is expected to see slower growth of 4 percent in 2017 and 3.5 percent in 2018 as the Chinese economy, which contributes about 45 percent of Asia's GDP, is expected to grow much more slowly, at 6.2 percent in 2017 and 4.2 percent in 2018

2. China: Trade and Political Dynamic 2017
With the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China to be held in the autumn of 2017, speculation has been rife as five out of the seven main figures in China's Politburo Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China will be retiring next year, leaving only Mr. Xi Jinping, the President, and Mr. Li Keqiang, the Prime Minister, in the Committee. On the trade side, China will be amongst the countries most affected by President-elect Trump's America-First Policy (alongside Canada, Mexico, Japan, and Korea).

3. Asia Facing Anti-Globalisation Trend
After almost a decade of weak growth and persistent high employment in the Eurozone, the world is entering 2017 set to retreat from the globalisation process that has been underway since the end of World War II. The increasing negative sentiment towards globalisation may have negative consequences for East Asia's economies. One of the possible channel of disruption: Asian exports to the US market may be hit as a result of growing protectionism given President Trump's determination to implement his 'America-First' policy, which has so far manifested itself through the formal withdrawal of the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Faced with anti-globalisation sentiments, Southeast Asian and East Asian economies need to embrace the benefits of global trade and free movement of capital and skilled labour as it has pulled hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and has significantly increased living standards.

4. Oil Price Update 2017
After a historical deal between the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and non-OPEC oil producing countries was reached on 10 December 2016 to cut a total of 1.758 million barrels per day (bpd) starting from 1 January 2017 for six months, the price of oil increased to over $55 a barrel - the highest price in over a year and a half.

5. Structure Reform across Asia - Prospect for 2017
Asian countries - especially China, Indonesia, India, the Philippines, and Viet Nam - have the potential to improve their productivity levels to catch up with the developed economies. This is due to several factors including their favourable demographic conditions, tolerable levels of debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratios, and strong commitment to structural reform while China is expected to continue its role as the main driver of the region's growth. To improve their productivity levels and maintain their growth momentum, Asian economies need to intensify efforts to reform their economies to increase their competitiveness on the global stage while continuing to implement sound macroeconomic policies.

III. IMF Publications

1. Challenges for Central Banking: Perspectives from Latin America
The IMF and the central banks of Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru have worked together to identify the critical challenges for central banks in Latin America. This volume offers a panoramic overview of the considerable progress made and the challenges that remain.

For more information

To read an excerpt
2. Financial Integration in Latin America: A New Strategy for a New Normal
Many factors indicate that now may be the time for Latin American economies to work toward greater regional financial integration. This book examines the financial landscape of seven Latin American economies (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Panama, Peru, and Uruguay) and makes the case for them to pursue regional financial integration.

For more information 

To read an excerpt