AI-enabled exports are transforming EAP economies, with Malaysia, Thailand, and Viet Nam at the forefront of a transition towards higher-value production based on technology.
By reprioritizing expenditures rather than taking on new debt, they approved a slight and short-term reduction of the non-oil fiscal deficit for 2026.If the shock worsens, Saudi Arabia will remain on a solid fiscal foundation.
South Asian businesses are patching over climate risk with fans and ACs, not fixing it. Basic upgrades won’t cut it without financing and technology to match; adaptation stays surface deep while climate threats keep falling underneath.
Flaring has grown from 2013 to 2016, burning more than 167 billion cubic meters of gases over the course of three years. Society can create a climate of job creation in engineering and technology, all while making the process of cooking much easier for women.
A new UNESCO report ahead of International Day for Countering Hate Speech on June 18 finds almost two-thirds of people worldwide are regularly exposed to online hate speech. The UN day marks the 2019 UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech anniversary.
Over 1 billion young people in developing countries will seek work in the coming decade. With nearly every job requiring digital tools, closing the digital divide through affordable connectivity and digital skills training.
World Bank Group’s AgriConnect in Uttar Pradesh is transforming farming for 240 million people. Direct-seeded rice trials show yield rising from 4 to 9 tonnes/hectare, costs down $120/hectare, huge water savings.
In 2025, 24.2% of EU residents aged 15-29 were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, up 3.3 percentage points, with 19.6% at risk of poverty and 5.8% facing severe material and social deprivation. Romania 15.1%, Greece 14.7%, and Bulgaria 14.0% recorded the highest youth deprivation rates, while 10 member states were below 3.0% in 2019.
European Commission notes youth use internet 4.5 hours on school days and 6+ hours on weekends, with 14% exceeding 10 hours daily. 34% of young people feel anxious, unhappy, or socially excluded due to platforms. 1 in 4 children see harmful content. Flash Eurobarometer May 2026 shows 3 in 4 parents are “truly worried”. Urgent need for digital literacy, platform regulation, family dialogue.
The World Bank Group is increasing its commitment to eradicating extreme poverty through financial resources, policy knowledge, and data-driven strategies. Its new model focuses on strengthening governance, improving public sector efficiency, creating future jobs, and aligning growth with environmental sustainability via the International Development Association.
