si

The right policies can help manage foreign debt in Asia -- by Irfan A. Qureshi

A high level of external debt is linked with decreased economic growth but there are policy options that can help economies keep growing.




si

How can Asia avoid fallout if COVID-19 triggers a debt crunch? -- by Cyn-Young Park (朴信永)

Asia’s economies have generally maintained sound macroeconomic policies that can help the region withstand this latest challenge and emerge even stronger.




si

In the Pacific, urgent action is the key to addressing COVID-19 -- by Emma Veve

Pacific nations, led by the smallest and least well-off, moved decisively to restrict travel from a fast-growing list of COVID-19 affected countries.




si

Asia and the Pacific can overcome COVID-19 by working together -- by Arjun Goswami

The Asia Pacific region is standing together to cooperate regionally to address the transnational threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.




si

Even with borders closing, we need to keep trade flowing -- by Steven Beck

The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the need to support trade to not only move medical supplies but also to bolster economies




si

Pandemic highlights the need to manage Asia’s debt problem -- by Bambang Susantono

Bank-held nonperforming loans in some Asian economies have risen in recent years. Policy makers should address this growing risk now.




si

Lessons learned from the massive shift to online learning due to COVID-19 -- by Jeffrey Jian Xu , Sungsup Ra, Brajesh Panth

The surge in online learning in the People’s Republic of China during the coronavirus outbreak highlights the importance of infrastructure, platforms and the preparedness of teachers, students and parents.




si

Three ways to support businesses and their workers during a pandemic -- by Paul Vandenberg, Matthias Helble

Many workers will be displaced and many businesses will close as a result of the slowdown caused by COVID-19. Providing support to those affected gives them a fighting chance.




si

How to protect Asia’s rapidly aging population from COVID-19 -- by Meredith Wyse

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need to strengthen programs and policies affecting older persons both in times of crisis and afterward.




si

To survive the pandemic, Indonesia’s urban poor need economic support and help with basic services -- by Joris van Etten, Tiffany M. Tran

For many of Indonesia’s urban poor who work in the informal sector, social distancing is nearly impossible if they want to maintain their income. Two key policies can help.




si

COVID-19 highlights Asian banks’ vulnerability to U.S. dollar debt -- by Cyn-Young Park (朴信永), Peter Rosenkranz

The pandemic provides an opportunity for regional financial cooperation on reforms to make Asian banks more resilient to crises.




si

The response to COVID-19 should also be a response to the climate crisis -- by Preety Bhandari, Arghya Sinha Roy

Now is the time to ramp up actions on resilience so that society can beat the COVID-19 crisis while reducing the impact of climate threats.




si

Asia should lead the way in producing a novel coronavirus vaccine -- by Matthias Helble, Susann Roth

The Asia-Pacific region has the expertise and resources to take a leadership role in not only developing a COVID-19 vaccine but distributing it to those who need it most.




si

It’s time for Central Asia to do whatever it takes to minimize the pandemic’s economic impact -- by Lilia Aleksanyan, Werner E. Liepach

Bold action is required by policymakers and central bankers to keep the region’s economies afloat and contain the pandemic.




si

COVID-19 highlights the need for safe, nutritious, and affordable food -- by Akmal Siddiq

Hunger and malnutrition were an increasing problem worldwide before the pandemic. Restrictions imposed to curb disease spread have disrupted local and international food supply chains, making the problem even more urgent.




si

COVID-19 подчеркивает необходимость безопасной, питательной и доступной еды -- by Akmal Siddiq

До начала пандемии голод и неправильное питание становились все более серьезной проблемой во всем мире. Ограничения, введенные для обуздания распространения болезни, разрушили местные и международные цепочки поставок продовольствия, что делает проблему еще более актуальной.




si

Small business solutions for pandemic challenges -- by Lotte Schou-Zibell

Crafting small business support efforts to specific country circumstances could help save millions of livelihoods in poor communities and fortify economies against future shocks.




si

Mapping Asia’s epidemics -- by Ilan Noy, Benno Ferrarini, Donghyun Park

Countries can minimize the economic risk of epidemics by investing in the tools needed to predict disease emergence.




si

Central Asian countries are moving forward together to beat COVID-19 -- by Xinglan Hu, Kirthi Ramesh, Mariya Khatiwada Savchuk

A forward-looking, regional approach is needed for countries in Central Asia to respond to the pandemic and prepare for future public health threats.




si

Youth involvement key to keeping Asia’s skies clear -- by Emma Marsden, Bulganmurun Tsevegjav , William Lucht, Muskaan Chopra

To reduce air pollution, national and city government policy makers, their development partners, academe, and the private sector need to work with young people. 




si

A new era of clean energy cooperation along the old Silk Road -- by Ashok Bhargava

The historic spirit of cross-border trade in Central Asia is being revived in the energy sector.




si

Builders hunt for cheaper land & technology to offer affordable housing

NEW DELHI: Builders are scrambling to acquire cheap land and technology for low-cost housing after the government and central bank announced incentives for affordable housing, including cheaper loans to developers and buyers. Real estate companies including Tata Housing, ATS Infrastructure, Bhartiya Group and Anantraj Industries are busy sewing up land deals for projects in the Rs 5-20 lakh home segment. There is unlimited demand for homes in this segment, say experts. “There is a large market for such homes but a big supply constraint as well,” said Shailesh Pathak, executive director of the Bhartiya Group, which is planning to build 10,000 low-cost homes over the next two-three years on a […]




si

PMAY progress report: Centre approves 93 percent of total housing units

The Central Government has approved around 93 percent of the total planned housing units under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Urban (PMAY-U). By far, as many as 1.03 crore housing units have been sanctioned across the country under the said scheme. To provide affordable pucca houses to the homeless population of the country, the Central Government has approved over 1 crore houses in urban parts of the country under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U). Against the humongous target of 1.2 crore units, the Government has sanctioned nearly 1.03 crore units across the States and Union Territories (UTs). Of the approved units, approximately 61 lakh units are under-construction and nearly […]



  • Real Estate India

si

Unification Minister Visits Truce Village Days After Shooting

Unification Minister Kim Yeon-chul visited the border truce village of Panmunjom on Wednesday, just three days after North Korea fired at a South Korean guard post in the demilitarized zone.Kim also visited the site of a guard post in the border town of Paju, Gyeonggi Province that was dismantl...




si

N.Korea Building Missile Hangar Near Pyongyang

North Korea is close to completing a missile storage facility near Pyongyang Sunan International Airport. The facility is "almost certainly related to North Korea's expanding ballistic missile program," the Beyond Parallel website at the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported Tuesda...




si

Samsung Chief Apologizes for Succession Fiddle

Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong apologized on Wednesday for a massive fiddle that allowed him to take over leadership of the publicly traded conglomerate from his ailing father.Without offering to surrender his own position, Lee promised to end the hereditary transfer of leadership at some point in the f...




si

Mercedes-Benz Slapped with Record Fine for Emissions Cheating

The Environment Ministry is fining Mercedes-Benz W77.6 billion for illegally tampering with emissions tests, the biggest fine ever for a carmaker here (US$1=W1,225). The ministry on Wednesday said Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Porsche tampered with the emissions of around 40,000 diesel cars sold in Kore...




si

White House Defends Decision to Shelve Coronavirus Reopening Plan

The Trump administration is defending its decision not to release a detailed coronavirus reopening plan for the U.S., maintaining they would have been too narrowly-focused for the country's 50 states.The administration's defense comes in response to an Associated Press report that it shelved a repor...




si

IU's Collaboration Single with Bangtan Boys' Suga Sweeps Music Charts

"Eight," the new single by singer IU and Suga, a member of boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, swept many global music charts shortly after its release on Wednesday."Eight" reached No. 1 on major music-streaming sites here including Melon. It also topped iTunes charts in some 59 countries.The ...




si

KLPGA Raises Purse for 1st Tour Championship Since COVID-19 Hit

The KLPGA Tour has raised the total purse for its first major championship of the season, which resumes next week after a break of several months due to the coronavirus epidemic.The KLPGA said Thursday that it decided to raise the prize money for the KLPGA Championship from W2.3 billion to W3 billio...




si

Trump Still Demands Massive Hike for USFK Upkeep

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly demanding US$1.3 billion a year to maintain American troops in Korea. That is a whopping 53.3 percent higher than the W1.4 trillion Korea had to pay last year. A senior U.S. official told the Chosun Ilbo on Thursday, "The U.S. faces many difficulties, includ...




si

Japan's Health Ministry Gives Fast-Track Approval for Remdesivir

Japan has fast-tracked the approval of the anti-viral drug remdesivir to be used to treat COVID-19 patients in that country.Speaking to reporters Friday in Tokyo, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga confirmed the rare fast-track, four-day approval of remdesivir by the Ministry of Health,...





si

Corona signifies importance of insurance

Islamabad: Chairman of the United International Group, Mian Shahid said Friday that the current economic meltdown because of coronavirus may impact the business volumes of the industry, which are yet to be ascertained.Speaking on the development, Mian Shahid said that we have planned to generate...




si

Covid-19 a reminder for the need of transgenders inclusion in society

Islamabad : The coronavirus pandemic has increased the transgender persons' socioeconomic vulnerability and isolation, so short and long-term measures, especially by the government, are imperative to support them and ensure alternate means of livelihood in the changing environment.This was the...




si

President visits National Assembly to review arrangements for session

Islamabad : President Arif Alvi on Friday directed that social distancing should be maintained in the upcoming session of the National Assembly for the safety of the parliamentarians and staff against the threat of coronavirus.During a visit to the National Assembly, the president was apprised by...




si

Pakistan among countries with most corona cases in Asia Pacific

Islamabad : Iran, China, India, Pakistan, Indonesia and the Philippines have the most cases of COVID-19 and related deaths in the Asia Pacific region.The COVID-19 situation of Asia Pacific was highlighted in the Second COVID-19 Situation Report Asia Pacific released by United Nations Population...




si

Confusion about exams to be cleared on Monday

Islamabad: The cancellation of educational board exams over the coronavirus pandemic has caused confusion for candidates, Federal Minister of Education and Professional Training Shafqat Mahmood has promised to respond to questions early next week.In multiple tweets, the minister said Class 9 exam...




si

'Federal, Sindh govts fueling sense of deprivation among people of Karachi'

There is a growing perception among the people of Karachi that they are being intentionally deprived of their fundamental rights by both the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf -led federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party -led Sindh government.Pak Sarzameen Party Chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal said...




si

Sindh Bar Council seeks Rs70 million for financial support for lawyers affected by lockdown

The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the federal and provincial law ministries on a petition of the Sindh Bar Council seeking direction to the federal and Sindh governments for the provision of an annual grant in aid to the lawyers’ top provincial regulatory body and at least...




si

Yaum-e-Ali procession will be organised, insists MWM

Criticising the Sindh government for “playing politics” over the holding of mourning religious congregations by issuing a notification to ban such congregations, the Majlis-e-Wahdat Muslimeen announced on Friday that the Yaum-e-Ali procession would be organised on Ramazan 21 after...




si

Five more fall prey to coronavirus in Sindh

With more five people falling victim to the novel coronavirus in a day, the death toll rose to 176 in Sindh on Friday. Four out of the deceased diagnosed with the COVID-9 belonged to Karachi. The new coronavirus cases which emerged in the province on Friday were 598.“Today is another...




si

Microchip Simplifies Functional Safety Requirements with MPLAB TÜV SÜD-certified Tools

Microchip Simplifies Functional Safety Requirements with MPLAB TÜV SÜD-certified Tools




si

Next-Generation Miniaturized Rubidium Atomic Clock Improves Performance and adds Features without Increasing Size

Next-Generation Miniaturized Rubidium Atomic Clock Improves Performance and adds Features without Increasing Size




si

Microchip Expands Silicon Carbide (SiC) Family of Power Electronics to Provide System Level Improvements in Efficiency, Size and Reliability

Microchip Expands Silicon Carbide (SiC) Family of Power Electronics to Provide System Level Improvements in Efficiency, Size and Reliability




si

Microchip Releases Version 2.1 of TimeProvider 4100 Timing Grandmaster

Microchip Releases Version 2.1 of TimeProvider 4100 Timing Grandmaster




si

Microchip Announces the 53100A Phase Noise Analyzer for Precision Oscillator Characterization

Microchip Announces the 53100A Phase Noise Analyzer for Precision Oscillator Characterization




si

Loan Agreement (Ordinary Operations [Concessional]) for Loan 3914-BHU: COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program

Loan agreements outline the terms of an agreement for a loan. This document dated 6 May 2020 is provided for the ADB project 54183-001 in Bhutan.




si

Senior Operations Assistant

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior Operations Assistant in the Pacific Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 21 May 2020.




si

How are Countries in Asia and the Pacific Responding to COVID-19?

To better understand how ADB’s developing members are weathering the COVID-19 crisis, the Economic Research and Regional Cooperation Department launched the ADB COVID-19 Policy Database.