SouthAsia

Traffickers remain adaptable and profit-driven. Yet for the first time in years, the region’s enforcement community is not merely reacting – it is organising, training and collaborating at a scale designed to outpace the criminals.

With the region still recovering from previous shocks, the latest ADB analysis serves as a timely reminder of the region’s exposure to distant geopolitical events.

The 2026 report, based on interviews with roughly 100,000 people across 140+ countries, reinforces that happiness is not solely about wealth. Social support and trust in institutions often outweigh raw GDP in explaining national differences. Costa Rica’s surge into the top four proves that strong community ties and life satisfaction can propel mid-income nations upward.

As South Asia pushes ahead with billions of dollars in LNG infrastructure, the unfolding crisis in the Gulf is a stark reminder that energy security in a volatile world remains deeply intertwined with geopolitics.

As the scientific community reflects on these findings, the report serves as both diagnosis and rallying cry. With global enrolment trends favouring women, the onus is on institutions to dismantle barriers and harness diverse perspectives.

The allocations promote regional stability, trade, and security, with India positioning itself as a reliable partner amid global uncertainties.

The Employment and Social Trends 2026 flagship report highlights deepening structural weaknesses in labour markets that threaten progress on sustainable development and social equity.

A groundbreaking new report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) reveals that the region requires approximately USD 12.065 trillion from 2020 to 2050 to adequately fund climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.