Chad is currently in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis due to persisting armed conflict, mass displacement, widespread hunger, natural disasters, and an overall lack of essential services. Due to security challenges from the Boko Haram militant group, millions of Chadians have faced decreased mobility as well as human rights violations including imprisonment, beatings, […]

What started as a broad attempt to allow women to live a more dignified life, an indigenous women’s organization, Masehual Siuamej Mosenyolchicauani, now aims to solve environmental and climate problems that others have created.

Imagine living with water up to your knees for half of the year, where homes are flooded, and people constantly fear that the sea might one day engulf the town and everyone in it. This is the reality for the sinking islands in the Philippines—a cluster of four island barangays in Tubigon located in the […]

  More durable than bronze, higher than Pharaoh’s pyramids is the monument I have made, a shape that angry wind or hungry rain cannot demolish, nor the innumerable ranks of the years that march in centuries. I shall not wholly die: some part of me will cheat the goddess of death. Thus wrote, not without […]

“Farming is in my blood, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Mahim Mazumder, a farmer from Assam. “Even though the past three to five years have seen drastic changes—with temperatures rising so much that even sitting under a tree no longer offers relief—I will keep farming, even if it only yields a small […]

Scientists warn of vastly higher impacts on billions of people’s livelihood and cost to the global economy by the accelerating losses in the world’s snow and ice regions, aka the cryosphere. Over 50 leading cryosphere scientists released an annual report on the status of the world’s ice stores on Tuesday (November 12) at the UN […]

So, the worst has happened. American voters have apparently just elected the most chaotic and kleptocratic individual in their country’s political history as their president. (We say ‘apparently’, because these days nothing can be certain about the integrity of the US political or electoral system – as is the case with far too many other […]

Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said Tehran will not be able to ignore its arch-foe the United States and needs to “handle its enemies with forbearance”, state media reported on Tuesday, a week after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election. “Whether we like it or not, we will have to deal with the U.S. in […]

The town planning department on Tuesday signed a contract for the demolition of two apartment buildings in the government housing settlement of Platy in Aglandja, Nicosia, as part of the government’s Ktizo plan, which aims atimproving living conditions in refugee estates. According to a statement released by the interior ministry, the agreed cost for the […]

The energy regulator said on Tuesday it will review data purporting to show how the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) could “trim the fat” and cut costs by up to 15 per cent, translating into lower utility bills for consumers. The EAC’s “fat” has become a buzzword after Michalis Persianis, head of the Fiscal Council, […]

What they are, why we should care and what we can do about the problems they cause The term invasive alien species (IAS) is used to describe organisms that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, and which have severe negative consequences for their new environment. Alien […]

Wall Street firms are expected to pay heftier bonuses for this year, the first increase since a bumper year in 2021, according to a report by compensation consultancy Johnson Associates. Payouts will probably rise after financiers benefited from several factors in recent months: a recovery in dealmaking, the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates and equity […]

The Bank of Cyprus (BoC) on Tuesday reported a profit after tax of €401 million for the first nine months of 2024, representing a 15 per cent increase year-on-year. According to the bank’s latest financial results, €131 million of this amount was generated during the third quarter. “We continue to generate strong financial and operational […]

Police on Wednesday are investigating the theft of a large number of gold items after a search at a Nicosia gold shop. The owner of the property, aged 78, has been arrested and taken into custody for questioning. According to the police, the search happened as part of an ongoing investigation into a spate of […]

By Danielle Broadway Actor and director John Krasinski was named People magazine’s “sexiest man alive” for 2024 on Wednesday, taking over the mantle from “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Patrick Dempsey. “Just immediate blackout, actually. Zero thoughts,” Krasinski told People in reaction to the news. The actor is perhaps best known for his sardonic nice guy role […]

Opening remarks by Scott Morris, ADB Vice-President (East Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific), at the East Asia Forum 2024, 19 September, Beijing, People’s Republic of China

Uncovering crucial gaps in climate change data systems reveals how these deficiencies hamper our understanding of climate impacts on vulnerable populations in developing Asia. How can we empower national statistical systems in collecting and analyzing data they need to effectively tackle climate change?

Opening remarks by Roberta Casali, ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, at the 2024 Asian Regional Forum on Investment Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves, 25 September 2024, Japan

Understanding the roots and complexities of fragility helps ADB meet the challenges facing many countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Decision makers need to analyze, exchange, and disseminate statistical information effectively in today’s data-driven world. See how Statistical Data and Metadata eXchange (SDMX) standards are helping create robust data links across the globe.

ADB sought to understand what improving transport meant for the community. Prior to project design, consultations were conducted with residents in Ulaanbaatar’s ger areas. Design decisions were tested back to ensure that mobility pain points were addressed.

The Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific, or IF-CAP, is a multi-donor financing partnership facility with the goal of scaling-up finance for accelerated action against climate change in Asia and the Pacific.

Developing Asia’s outlook remains upbeat, with falling inflation and solid growth driven by strong domestic demand and exports. But risks remain, including geopolitical tensions and rising protectionism. How can the region remain resilient?

Mongolia's nomadic herders, reliant on fragile ecosystems, are facing increasing challenges from climate change. The Asian Development Bank is empowering these communities with small grants and targeted initiatives to build climate resilience.

Remarks by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the 8th Greater Mekong Subregion Summit, Plenary Session, 7 November 2024

Keynote address by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the 23rd Ministerial Conference of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program, 8 November 2024

Bamboo value chain can be developed and scaled up to support climate action, create green jobs, resilient businesses, and financial health, especially for the region's rural communities.

With ADB’s support, Azerbaijan is investing heavily in renewable energy to encourage sustainable growth and diversify the country’s energy supply.

Remarks by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific Kick-Off Event, 12 November 2024

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy has become increasingly data-dependent, with inflation and employment figures driving the nascent easing cycle. What does this mean for Asia’s financial markets?

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior Secretariat Assistant in the Office of the Secretary. The deadline for submitting applications is on 18-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior Financial Control Assistant in the Controller's Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 21-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior Administration and Communications Assistant in the Strategy, Policy and Partnerships Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 26-NOV-2024.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided loans to financial intermediaries to support projects “whose individual financing requirements are not large enough to warrant the direct supervision of ADB.”

Public financial management systems in Asia and the Pacific face significant challenges, with many indicators falling short of international standards. Fixing these issues requires a strategic, transparent, and carefully timed approach to reform.

Public financial management systems in Asia and the Pacific face significant challenges, with many indicators falling short of international standards. Fixing these issues requires a strategic, transparent, and carefully timed approach to reform.

To support e-commerce, public-private collaboration must prioritize closing the digital divide, supporting small businesses, and promoting environmental sustainability. Strengthening data governance, competition, and tax frameworks are also key to resilient and equitable e-commerce.

In Maldives, youth disengagement and gang violence have emerged as a significant issue, driven by socio-economic factors and limited opportunities for employment and vocational education.

World Mental Health Day is a timely reminder that integrating mental health care into schools, workplaces, and communities is critical for improving health outcomes and reducing costs. Expanding digital interventions and peer-support systems are also crucial, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

As a landlocked country, Uzbekistan’s roads carried 1.24 billion tons, or 90.6% of all freight, in 2020 (rail 5.2%, pipelines 4.2%).

Climate change financing is a key part of green finance, essential for driving investment towards climate action and achieving the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) carbon peaking and neutrality goals.

Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace initiative offers a vision of peace and stability through improved infrastructure and trade. It is also a great opportunity to build sustainable infrastructure, improve customs clearance, and promote green trade. Key reforms in road safety and foreign direct investment are essential for long-term success, positioning Armenia as a strategic hub for regional trade.

Armenia's data center industry offers significant opportunities for economic growth, with strategic reforms in regulation, financing, and technological innovation playing crucial roles. Addressing infrastructure challenges and fostering public-private partnerships will help position Armenia as a regional digital hub.

Climate change poses an increasing threat to people and their livelihoods. Record heat waves, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and other extreme weather events in Asia and the Pacific are becoming more frequent.

Building intellectual capacity and fostering learning partnerships enhance long-term capabilities in organizations and communities. Localized solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge and governance reforms empower societies to achieve resilient, sustainable development.

Cities are engines of economic growth, generating over 80% of the global gross domestic product. As centers of innovation and technological development, they play a crucial role in creating jobs, driving commerce, and providing social services.

Lead exposure remains a significant public health threat in Asia and the Pacific, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The global effort to address lead poisoning must focus on stricter regulations, enhanced healthcare capacity, and coordinated international action to protect vulnerable populations.

Extreme heat is an invisible but increasingly tangible climate risk. It varies by time and place and has wide-reaching but unequal impacts, particularly to women and vulnerable people. As global temperatures rise, extreme heat events (heat waves) are becoming more frequent and severe.

Overcoming poor market depth and liquidity is crucial for Asia's capital markets to grow and remain attractive to investors. A coordinated approach addressing regulatory frameworks, market infrastructure, and risk management is essential for building resilient, diverse, and efficient markets.