News in Brief

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.