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British International Investment Pledges $1.6 Billion for Climate Finance in Southeast Asia

British International Investment Pledges $1.6 Billion for Climate Finance in Southeast Asia

British International Investment (BII), the UK's development finance institution, has announced a commitment to deploy and mobilize $1.6 billion in climate finance across Southeast Asia over the next five years. This initiative will focus on economies including Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Thailand. Approximately half of this capital, around $800 million, is expected to come directly from BII, with a similar amount mobilized from private investors. The strategy targets key sectors such as renewable energy, power transmission, electric vehicle infrastructure, waste management, and water infrastructure. BII's objective is to support cleaner economic growth and reduce emissions in a region characterized by rapidly growing electricity markets that still heavily rely on fossil fuels. This commitment marks a significant increase from the nearly $400 million BII invested in climate finance in Southeast Asia between 2023 and 2025.
ReutersReuters
IMF says AI investment keeps global growth around 3% but brings massive disruption

IMF says AI investment keeps global growth around 3% but brings massive disruption

By Andrea Shalal and Rae Wee BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Strong investment in AI infrastructure is keeping global growth at around 3% with major benefits for Asia, but also foreshadows a "slow-moving tsunami" that could massively disrupt labor markets, taxation and education, International Monetary
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Asian Development Bank to Host 2027 Finance in Common Summit in Thailand

Asian Development Bank to Host 2027 Finance in Common Summit in Thailand

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) will co-host the sixth Finance in Common Summit (FiCS) in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 31 to April 2, 2027. This marks the first time the summit will be held in Asia. The event will gather over 500 public development banks and their stakeholders, who collectively manage approximately $23 trillion in assets. The summit's theme is 'Delivering Sustainable Growth for a More Resilient Future.' ADB President Masato Kanda emphasized the critical role of public development banks in addressing global challenges, particularly in a fragmenting international system with rising needs. The summit aims to mobilize financial strength and resolve to shape the security and opportunity of billions of people. The Finance in Common initiative, launched in 2020, serves as a global forum for public development banks, coordinating investment, strengthening common practices, and advocating for these institutions in international economic discussions. Its members invest around $2.5 trillion annuall...
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Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser Leads Major Strategic Overhaul, Exiting Consumer Banking in Key Emerging Markets

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser Leads Major Strategic Overhaul, Exiting Consumer Banking in Key Emerging Markets

Citigroup CEO Jane Fraser Leads Major Strategic Overhaul, Exiting Consumer Banking in Key Emerging Markets
VarietyVariety
Studiocanal Boards Pan-Asian Survival Thriller ‘kiDnap Game’ Starring Kentaro Sakaguchi and Lee Joon-gi (EXCLUSIVE)

Studiocanal Boards Pan-Asian Survival Thriller ‘kiDnap Game’ Starring Kentaro Sakaguchi and Lee Joon-gi (EXCLUSIVE)

Studiocanal has boarded “kiDnap Game,” a survival thriller series created and directed by Japan’s Yusuke Kato (“Last Friends”) which unfolds across seven cities in Asia. Produced by Kato for Fuji Television, Hong Kong’s MakerVille and South Korea’s Simstory, the 11-part series will be presented to buyers at Mipcom in Cannes this week. Canal+ has also […]
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Philippine Farmer Embraces Digitalization to Boost Farm Productivity and Market Access

Philippine Farmer Embraces Digitalization to Boost Farm Productivity and Market Access

Edgar Villanueva, a 55-year-old farmer from Kiblawan, Davao del Sur, Philippines, has successfully transitioned from traditional farming methods to embracing digital tools, significantly enhancing his farm's productivity and market reach. Initially hesitant, Villanueva joined the Digital Farmers Program (DFP), an initiative by the Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Training Institute (DA-ATI) in partnership with PLDT and Smart. Through this program, he learned to utilize technology for checking market prices, connecting with buyers online, researching farming best practices, and monitoring conditions like weather patterns and soil health. This digital adoption has led to tangible results, with his coconut sales nearly doubling. Villanueva is now planning to acquire another laptop to manage inventory and sales tracking digitally, and his farm has become an accredited Learning Site for Agriculture, where he shares his knowledge with other farmers.
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China Advances Large-Scale Production of Cell-Cultured Meat to Address Food Security and Cost Bottlenecks

China Advances Large-Scale Production of Cell-Cultured Meat to Address Food Security and Cost Bottlenecks

China Advances Large-Scale Production of Cell-Cultured Meat to Address Food Security and Cost Bottlenecks
ReutersReuters
IMF says AI investment keeps global growth around 3%, with major Asia benefits

IMF says AI investment keeps global growth around 3%, with major Asia benefits

By Andrea Shalal and Rae Wee BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Strong investment in AI infrastructure is keeping global growth at around 3%, yielding major benefits for many Asian economies that supply the hardware, such as Thailand, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said
ReutersReuters
Productivity gains from AI could help offset Asia's ageing population problem, IMF says

Productivity gains from AI could help offset Asia's ageing population problem, IMF says

By Rae Wee BANGKOK, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Artificial intelligence could help offset Asia's shrinking workforce as some countries' populations age, provided its adoption is scaled evenly across the region instead of deepening existing disparities, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday.
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USDA Allocates $825 Million for Global Food Programs, Including Morocco's Agricultural Sector

USDA Allocates $825 Million for Global Food Programs, Including Morocco's Agricultural Sector

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has allocated $825 million across its Food for Progress, Food for Peace, and McGovern-Dole Food for Education programs. This significant funding aims to support agricultural development and food security initiatives globally. As part of this allocation, Morocco has been selected as one of seven countries to receive a five-year award under the Food for Progress program, totaling up to $33.1 million. This grant is specifically designed to enhance food safety and strengthen Morocco's livestock sector. The project will be financed through the sale of 33,000 metric tons of U.S.-grown soybean meal and wheat, with international development organization Counterpart International tasked with its implementation. The initiative is projected to benefit approximately 5,000 individuals in Morocco. Other countries joining Morocco in receiving support from this broader U.S. agricultural assistance package include Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Thaila...
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AI Enhances Livestock Monitoring and Agricultural Efficiency

AI Enhances Livestock Monitoring and Agricultural Efficiency

AI Enhances Livestock Monitoring and Agricultural Efficiency
TheStreetTheStreet
AMD CEO Su shares important supply news with stock market investors

AMD CEO Su shares important supply news with stock market investors

Lisa Su latest comments could change how investors view AMD's position in the AI race.