The World Bank last week confirmed that there is no new financial support pending for Sri Lanka, but discussions with the new Government have commenced to outline future plans for collaboration. World…
Yes Minister! Palm oil drives GDP growth, rural wealth creation
Sarawak holds the record for being the state with the largest land areas planted with oil palm. In 2023, the size of the planted area for oil palm in Sarawak was approximately 1.62 million hectares, a…
World Food Day: A call to action for a resilient and equitable global food system
As we mark World Food Day, it is imperative to confront the critical challenges facing our global food system. The combined impacts of the climate crisis and ongoing conflicts are undermining agricult…
Bangladesh’s Startup revolution: creating jobs, driving innovation, and securing the future
Bangladesh’s startup ecosystem has become a driving force for economic growth, job creation, and innovation over the past decade. Startups are solving local challenges, building infrastructure, and ge…
China’s Strategic Dilemma in Bangladesh: Navigating Uncertainty Amid Political Turmoil
China’s growing influence in South Asia has been one of the most notable shifts in regional geopolitics over the past decade. Through a mix of ambitious infrastructure projects, strategic alliances, a…
ASEAN continues to emerge as a winner of U.S.-China trade tensions, IMF says
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has continued to emerge as an economic winner of increasing geopolitical tensions between China and the United States, though risks from fragmentatio…
$5 billion road, rail link between India and Sri Lanka in closing stages
Discussions are in the final stages for a $5 billion road-and-rail link between India and Sri Lanka with India set to bear the cost of the strategic project, said the island-nation’s environment secre…
Philippines implements new guidelines to accelerate renewable energy projects
The Philippines’ Department of Energy (DOE) has introduced new monitoring protocols and guidelines aimed at accelerating the development of renewable energy projects. These updates will streamline adm…
Climate change threatens water and sanitation facilities in Nepal
Water supply, sanitation and hygiene facilities (WASH) are bearing the brunt of climate-induced extreme weather events in Nepal. The rain which inundated central Nepal in September 2024 caused disrupt…
ASEAN power grid could drive economic growth, halve air pollution, study finds
A study by the U.S. Department of Energy highlights that the ASEAN power grid not only has the potential to address green energy shortages but can also create job opportunities, attract investments, a…