News in Brief

Middle East oil is a key resource for Southeast Asia. 60% of its crude imports come from there. Nearly half of its daily fuel - 5.2 million barrels - comes from Middle East crude. But if Hormuz shuts down, it means a big fuel shortage in the region.

The transport operators and traders, passengers and goods across the CAREC region will benefit from regional transport connectivity and economic growth with a $400 million facility approved by ADB to modernize border crossings in Central Asia, to reduce transport costs, delays, safety risks, and to enhance trade and movement of people and goods across the region.

Life expectancy varies by 33 years worldwide, from just 52 years in lowest countries to 85 years in highest, UN data reveals. Significant disparity emphasizes inequitable access to health care. For the Global Goals to be achieved without discrimination, health for all is key to fulfill life.

More than 15,000 chemicals are used in the textile sector, many of which are toxic to people, consumers, and the environment. The InTex programme developed by UNEP is supporting small enterprises to reduce hazardous substances and switch to cleaner production to #BeatPollution. The fashion industry is making a turn to non-toxic ways.

WFP is scaling back food assistance in the West Bank because of a lack of financial resources. Some 900,000 Palestinians today live in a food crisis due to settler violence and displacement, which is impairing access to food for people already struggling to feed themselves.Today, around 900,000 Palestinians are living in a food crisis, caused by settler aggression and displacement, which is not allowing people to access food they already need.

The Middle East conflict and rising energy costs pose a risk to the momentum in South Asia, the fastest growing region. The South Asia Economic Update by the World Bank projects a 7.6% GDP growth for India in 2025 and inflation, remittances and welfare to be at risk. The G-7 growth rate comes in at 1.3%.Growth in south Asia excluding India is 4.9% in the year 2027.

According to ILO, almost half of the world's workforce is employed in informal sector. Global supply chains offer a way to path to formality and decent employment, new brief says. Innovative working approaches for workers' rights, protection and formal jobs can be used by multinational enterprises to promote transition.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) Board approved an additional amount of €9.2 billion for new financing for European businesses, to boost Europe's energy autonomy and for Global Gateway partnerships around the world. The investment is supposed to strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and strategic partnerships of the EU, for sustainable growth, innovation and energy security in Europe and future prosperity.

The creative industry is a source of $2.3 trillion in annual revenues and is a source of jobs for more than 200 million people globally; however, it is only getting less than 1% of global financing in emerging markets. The creative economy is an effective avenue for employment, particularly for young people and women, at scale.

In 2025, electricity usage in data centres grew at a rapid pace, especially in response to the rise in AI services. The conventional centres have seen a growth of 6% in 2025, while the AI centres have seen a growth of 50%. The need for electricity is set to nearly double to 945 TWh by 2030, driven by threefold increases in power consumption by AI facilities, according to IEA.

Operational, not material, is the real net cost of rare earth magnet stockpiling, IEA analysis reveals. The cost of materials to IEA members is $950 million up front and recovered on resale, with only around $80 million left to fund the stockpiling of materials, discounting and logistics.

Agricultural water management is not solely about canals and hectares, it has to be suited to water realities and food security objectives of each country, says world bank report. The integration of Water and Food systems contributes to improved food security, increased and improved employment opportunities and enhanced economic growth.

Global material use jumped 25% from 92.1 to 115.1 billion tonnes between 2015-2022 per SDG Report 2026. 80% of resources used by higher income countries, half of the world's population. SDG 12 responsible consumption and production is a pressing alarming global challenge of inequality.

According to UNDRR, there is no such thing as natural disasters, rather disasters are the result of a mix of unmanaged risks. Loss, injury, destruction are caused by hazard, exposure and vulnerability, which make up disaster risk. Understand the interactions of physical, social and economic factors that can increase the effects of disaster on people, infrastructure, housing and production capacity worldwide.

OECD household wealth report 2025 reveals parental homeownership boosts your chances of owning a home by up to 37% in Finland, 18% OECD average. The housing status of the youth is influenced by being raised in a home they own, which contributes to increasing inequality between generations across EU and OECD countries.

The vast majority of Europeans are favouring more unity to meet global challenges. In 26 countries, there is above 80% agreement, and 97% in Denmark, Luxembourg, Malta and Portugal. Eurobarometer 105.3 reveals citizens' requirement for EU unity to act on the world stage.

Unemployment among the youth is increasing on a worldwide scale. The ILO's Global Employment Trends for Youth 2026 reveals a slowdown in youth labour market developments. Millions are facing more and less secure and stable access to decent jobs than they did before.

Unemployment among the world's youth is on the increase. The ILO 2026 report reveals a road to decent work that is increasingly difficult and uncertain for a generation of young people. Failing to make progress means millions of people are delayed in having secure employment and income.

Extreme weather is escalating and the poorest bear the brunt. Of the global population, almost 20% is vulnerable to climate risks. The World Bank Group Scorecard is a tool to identify the World Bank Group and its capacity to provide resilience.

Since Dec 2017, 10,400+ attacks reported on health care in 29 countries and territories, according to WHO. The violence resulted in 5,700 deaths and 8,500 injuries, causing urgent care to be cut off. On World Humanitarian Day, WHO calls on everyone to #ActForHumanity, and halt attacks on health care.

The EU has allocated €3.47 billion for urgent defence needs in Ukraine. The money will be used to buy drones, air defence, missiles and fighter jets. Despite the conflict, Ukraine's security is Europe's security, officials say.

There are still millions of women who are deprived of the opportunity to work. They are more likely to have insecure work and to earn less and do the majority of unpaid care work. These obstacles are still hindering efforts towards achieving gender equality in the workplace.

Each garment has a significant water and energy cost. Textile industry consumes 93 billion m³ water annually. Better design and data can reduce both impacts and boost business – a plus for both planet and profit.

This week, the #BWC Working Group is meeting in Geneva, UN. Delegates are to build up the Biological Weapons Convention. The new BWC Brochure clarifies the importance of the treaty for global security and to stop biological threats. #BWCRevCon @ODA_Geneva

Enough food is produced in the world to feed everyone. However, 600 million people-7% of the global population are expected to suffer food insecurity by 2030. The #GlobalGoals are designed to help end hunger – yet availability is not the primary concern, it's access.

New data shows economic growth alone doesn’t tell the full story. From 2016–2021, the poorest 40% saw incomes rise faster than the national average in 3 out of 4 economies. It signals more inclusive progress, but gains remain uneven across regions.

According to ADB, subsidy reform in South Asia succeeds only with three pillars: better targeting to cut waste, stronger institutions for delivery, and social protection for vulnerable groups. This approach reduces fiscal strain while shielding low-income households from price shocks.

With AI driving increased trading and lending, machine-learning models responding to the same signals simultaneously may result in synchronized, quick flash crashes. To mitigate the systemic instability caused by AI, central banks need to increase transparency, identify correlations, and update stress testing.

Growth can be achieved through commodity windfalls but economic busts, inflation and debt can be the result of broken growth management. Commodity price shocks are more than 20% more severe in exporting countries when their fiscal policies are procyclical. A sound fiscal management is essential to provide long term stability and sustainable prosperity.

The General Assembly of Japan officially joins Horizon Europe, further strengthening the science partnership between Europe and Japan. Japanese scientists can now participate in the world's largest publicly funded research program, sharing the opportunities of collaboration, innovation funding and cutting-edge breakthroughs with European researchers to propel science forward and progress together.

After animal studies revealed that Ervebo Ebola vaccine protects against death, the WHO has recommended that it be prioritized for a ring vaccination trial in DRC during the Bundibugyo outbreak. WHO and partners expedite needed expanded vaccine use policy due to no safety concerns.

The EU has completed the talks for a 348-satellite constellation called IRIS². It will provide secure and sovereign broadband services for emergency services and defense by 2029. The network is designed to boost Europe's crisis response from space and enhance its strategic autonomy and resilience by decreasing dependency on foreign systems.

As of 2070, 520 million people in South Asia will experience dangerous heat, for a minimum of one month each year. Only if cities are able to construct heat resilience will they continue to drive growth. It is essential or else economies, jobs and livability will be capped.

AI and geospatial data can help monitor congestion, optimise freight transport and boost trade corridors in Africa, says new @WorldBankGroup research. Smarter trade is about identifying the impediments in real-time, which will lead to faster goods, lower costs and stronger regional economies.

Climate adaptation is about safeguarding lives and jobs now and in the future. In Afghanistan, a climate opportunity is a chance to be seized from climate threat, with the support of @UNDP. Local solutions are helping us to be more resilient, have better livelihoods and become a more climate-resilient future.

The RBI has made the reporting of FCNR(B) deposits, External Commercial Borrowings and Overseas Foreign Currency Borrowings mobilised under their Swap Facility with appropriate Authority more stringent. The action is meant to increase transparency of dollar inflows, track a foreign exchange position and better regulate liquidity and systemic risk in the banking system in the face of the volatile global environment.

MSMEs makes up over 90% of firms globally and provides 70% of jobs and 50% of GDP. They drive growth but face a trillion-dollar finance gap. The World Bank Group and IFC are expanding support through banks, digital lenders, cooperatives, technology, and direct investment in high-growth enterprises.