Asia Pacific

Trump’s crackdown on international drug pricing is poised to have far-reaching consequences for developing nations, where access to affordable medicines has historically relied on such price disparities.

Government sources, however, said trade and export expansion – including talks on the stalled Free Trade Agreement between Sri Lanka and China – is likely to be high on the agenda.

As birth rates fall and rural migration slows, cities are aging and – in some cases – beginning to shrink.

Deliberations at the session are informed by findings of a new ESCAP study Urban Transformation in Asia and the Pacific: From Growth to Resilience which offers policy solutions and showcases cities in the region that are already pioneering change.

Addressing the nation on Tuesday evening, Yunus expressed optimism about the visit, emphasizing its potential to deepen relations between Dhaka and Beijing.

India still faces significant hurdles in addressing climate change, pollution, and inequality. While India has made significant progress in reducing extreme poverty (Goal 1) and improving infrastructure (Goal 9), it lags behind in areas such as quality education (Goal 4), gender equality (Goal 5), and environmental sustainability (Goals 13, 14, and 15).

Nearly half of PM2.5 pollution in the worst-affected countries comes from the burning of fossil fuels, biomass, and agricultural waste – also major contributors to climate change. As extreme weather events worsen due to climate change, air pollution is expected to become an even greater threat, UNICEF warned.

The sogo shoshas have played a crucial role in Japan’s industrial and economic development. However, the environmental advocacy group, Market Forces, says that these corporations continued investment in liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals and gas power plants contradicts global decarbonisation efforts.