social and politics Flynn dismissal a surprise? AG Barr in sync with Trump By article.wn.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:56 GMT WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he didn’t know the Justice Department was planning to drop its case against his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn. But it didn't really matter. The extraordinary action underscored the extent to which Trump and Attorney General William Barr have been in sync in their views on the federal Trump-Russia investigation — with or without communicating about it. Barr himself has openly challenged the decisions of predecessors and his own prosecutors. He's launched internal probes to investigate the investigators. Trump is emphatically welcoming the Flynn action. He has relentlessly railed against the special counsel's... Full Article
social and politics Report: Gas tax revenue drop could delay road, rail projects By article.wn.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:59 GMT Gas tax revenue in Illinois could plummet by hundreds of millions of dollars this year because coronavirus restrictions are keeping drivers off the road, possibly delaying some major road and ...... Full Article
social and politics NY’s Cuomo criticized over highest nursing home death toll By article.wn.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:59 GMT New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has won bipartisan praise for rallying supplies for his ravaged hospitals and helping slow the coronavirus, is coming under increasing criticism for not bringing ...... Full Article
social and politics Centre Proposing to Do Away with Interstate Migrant Workmen Act, Alleges Congress By article.wn.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:59 GMT Congress said Parliament... Full Article
social and politics Obama in private call says Trump's coronavirus response has been an 'absolute chaotic disaster': CNN By article.wn.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 16:59 GMT Former President Obama during a private call on Friday night with his former aides tore into the Trump administration’s response to the coronavirus crisis, calling it an “absolute chaotic disaster.” The blistering assessment, confirmed to CNN by three former Obama administration officials, came on a call intended to encourage members of the Obama Alumni Association to engage with former Vice President Joe BidenJoe... Full Article
social and politics GOP in power grab to rein in Dem governors on virus response By article.wn.com Published On :: Sat, 09 May 2020 17:01 GMT MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican-controlled... Full Article
social and politics Quality development projects, guaranteed -- by Donald Lambert By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Sun, 16 Jun 2019 20:29:57 +0800 Guarantees are one of government’s most powerful financing tools for mobilizing private sector participation in development projects. Full Article
social and politics Artificial intelligence, and human education, needed to advance energy efficiency -- by Yongping Zhai (翟永平), Yoonah Lee, Dan Millison By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Wed, 19 Jun 2019 13:19:43 +0800 To get energy efficiency programs back on track, governments need to focus on education, incentives and improved regulations, as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning. Full Article
social and politics How do you like them apples? Central Asia gets ready to help feed the world -- by Dorothea Lazaro, Loreli de Dios By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 21 Jun 2019 09:29:08 +0800 Central Asia is improving food safety measures to share with the world some of the more than 8000 plant species, as well as livestock, from the region. Full Article
social and politics Taking ownership: Better data is needed on women’s assets in Asia -- by Kaushal Joshi, Mildred Addawe, Arturo Martinez By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Mon, 24 Jun 2019 15:33:49 +0800 Collecting sex-disaggregated data on asset ownership is an important step in achieving gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in Asia and the Pacific. Full Article
social and politics My surprising discovery about women’s opportunities in Armenia -- by Saleha Waseem By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 27 Jun 2019 10:02:45 +0800 Underserved businesses run by women in Armenia need help to create a reliable client base and convince skeptical banks that their enterprises are a good investment. Full Article
social and politics The time has come for universal health coverage -- by Patrick L. Osewe By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 28 Jun 2019 15:34:24 +0800 Investments in universal health coverage are investments in economic growth. They play a critical role in leveraging opportunities, anticipating challenges, and delivering the knowledge, expertise, and financing countries need to achieve universal health coverage. Full Article
social and politics Disasters put people on the move, for better or for worse -- by Kayly Ober By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 02 Jul 2019 16:37:12 +0800 Disaster-related displacement is often negative, but can result in more resilient communities under the right circumstances. This can include better management of remittances sent to family members in the disaster zone. Full Article
social and politics Here’s a surprising way to achieve most of the SDGs -- by Martin Lemoine By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 04 Jul 2019 14:23:20 +0800 There is one sector that contributes up to a third of gross domestic product, and is an important source of foreign currency, in many of Asia’s developing countries. It could be deployed to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Full Article
social and politics Rethinking the design of rural roads -- by Rika Idei By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 09 Jul 2019 15:46:28 +0800 Re-examining the design of rural road projects will make them more effective in improving the lives of the people living nearby. Full Article
social and politics What is governance? -- by Bruno Carrasco By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 09 Jul 2019 15:57:34 +0800 Governance can be a complex, broad topic but its basic underlying definition is deceptively simple. Full Article
social and politics Get smart to avoid a global water crisis -- by Stephane Y. Bessadi By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 11 Jul 2019 15:18:23 +0800 Technology is a critical aspect of improving the availability and accessibility of clean water around the world. Full Article
social and politics Working for the public good -- by Sri Wening Handayani By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 18 Jul 2019 15:03:47 +0800 Public work programs can build much-needed infrastructure while helping lift people out of poverty and shield them from the effects of natural disasters and economic crises Full Article
social and politics Why it matters that one of the region’s biggest trade deals is being upgraded -- by Jayant Menon, Anna Cassandra Melendez By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Mon, 22 Jul 2019 10:30:28 +0800 Important changes are underway for Southeast Asia’s relationship with its biggest trading partner, the People’s Republic of China. Full Article
social and politics In Asia, young people are key to achieving national development goals -- by Chris Morris By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Wed, 24 Jul 2019 17:18:25 +0800 Skills training, civic engagement and youth forums will help young people become active players in society’s shared efforts to grow and improve. Full Article
social and politics What makes a city livable? -- by Sonia Chand Sandhu, Jingmin Huang By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 30 Jul 2019 11:50:55 +0800 Total asset management brings together all aspects of what it takes to make a city vibrant and livable. Full Article
social and politics Good governance by design -- by Bob Babajanian By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 01 Aug 2019 12:08:20 +0800 Carefully designed social programs offer the best chance to avoid corruption, inefficiency and other governance problems. Full Article
social and politics Papua New Guinea is spending more on health. How can it get value for its money? -- by Inez Mikkelsen-Lopez, Alan Cairns By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 06 Aug 2019 09:04:24 +0800 Better information and a willingness to tackle difficult issues are necessary to ensure a fit-for-purpose and accountable health system in Papua New Guinea. Full Article
social and politics Inside the camps in Cox’s Bazar, lives are gradually being rebuilt -- by Manmohan Parkash By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 08 Aug 2019 09:37:53 +0800 At Camp No 5, in Cox's Bazar, there are about 632,000 displaced people still living in terrible conditions. But an international humanitarian effort is helping people in the community in southern Bangladesh live a better life. Full Article
social and politics Global renewable energy investment is slowing down. Should we worry? -- by Yongping Zhai (翟永平), Yoonah Lee By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:26:30 +0800 Investment in renewable energy around the world is entering a new phase that will require governments and the private sector to re-think the way they develop projects. Full Article
social and politics Data on climate change an effective weapon in fighting India’s coastal erosion -- by Rajesh Yadav By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 08 Aug 2019 11:55:19 +0800 Effective and planned shoreline management would trigger activities for tourism, and support development of ocean and beach landscape, conserve biodiversity along with coastal people’s livelihood. Full Article
social and politics For sale—cheap: farms, buildings, cinemas, kindergartens and more -- by Rafael Abbasov By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 09 Aug 2019 12:09:49 +0800 State-owned enterprises, including power utilities, in many countries have collected a menagerie of assets unrelated to their core business. And they are selling cheap. Full Article
social and politics Why I’m optimistic we can achieve SDG #1—ending poverty in all its forms, everywhere -- by Alessandra Heinemann By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 13 Aug 2019 15:51:36 +0800 The graduation approach provides a sequenced intervention designed to overcome multiple barriers that prevent the extreme poor from breaking out of poverty. Full Article
social and politics Why we need to act fast on international trade laws and standards -- by Steven Beck By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:06:31 +0800 There’s one big element missing before we can create a truly transparent, seamless and open international trading framework. Full Article
social and politics Pension extension: Bringing informal workers into the retirement social safety net -- by Sri Wening Handayani By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Wed, 21 Aug 2019 08:52:05 +0800 Millions of Asia’s informal workers – such as vendors, day laborers, and others – are left out of national pension systems. Here’s what we can do to help them in their later years. Full Article
social and politics In Wenchuan, they really did build back better -- by Ilan Noy, Benno Ferrarini, Donghyun Park By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 23 Aug 2019 14:24:11 +0800 ‘Build back better’ is often easier said than done after a disaster, but one example from the People’s Republic of China shows that it can be done well. Full Article
social and politics Resettlement isn’t easy. Here are four ways to improve outcomes for all parties involved -- by Rebekah Beatrice Ramsay By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Sun, 25 Aug 2019 11:46:52 +0800 Involuntary resettlement can improve the lives of the resettled while reducing poverty and delivering results for development projects Full Article
social and politics 全球可再生能源投资放缓的现状堪忧? -- by Yongping Zhai (翟永平), Yoonah Lee By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Mon, 26 Aug 2019 15:34:09 +0800 全球可再生能源投资正在迈入新阶段,政府和私营部门需要重新思考其项目开发方式。 Full Article
social and politics Promoting skilled labor mobility and migration in Southeast Asia -- by Aiko Kikkawa Takenaka, Eric Suan By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Wed, 28 Aug 2019 09:35:34 +0800 Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are working together to encourage the free flow of skilled labor within their countries. Full Article
social and politics Ten thousand years in a lifetime: Fragility and resilience in Papua New Guinea -- by Artur Andrysiak, Henrik Lindroth By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 30 Aug 2019 09:51:48 +0800 To understand fragility and resilience in Papua New Guinea, look to history and the people living in the country’s most vulnerable areas. Full Article
social and politics Why Southeast Asia shouldn’t worry about “brain drain” -- by Elisabetta Gentile By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Wed, 04 Sep 2019 10:34:26 +0800 Here’s why the perception that skilled migration damages the source country is wrong. Full Article
social and politics Tại sao Đông Nam Á không nên lo lắng về việc “chảy máu chất xám” -- by Elisabetta Gentile By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2019 11:04:28 +0800 Bài viết giải thích tại sao nhận thức cho rằng sự di cư của lao động có kỹ năng nghề làm tổn hại nguồn lực quốc gia là sai lầm. Full Article
social and politics Five disaster resilience lessons we can learn from India -- by Dr. Archana Patankar By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 05 Sep 2019 19:01:35 +0800 India is one of the world’s most vulnerable countries to disasters and it has a lot to share when it comes to preparing for them. Full Article
social and politics Тогтвортой хөгжлийн зорилтуудыг хангах нэгэн гайхалтай боломж -- by Martin Lemoine By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:04:53 +0800 Ази тивийн хөгжиж буй улс орнуудын дотоодын нийт бүтээгдэхүүний гуравны нэг хүртэл хувийг бүрдүүлж, гадаад валютын нөөцийнх нь чухал эх үүсвэр болдог нэгэн салбар бий. Энэ салбарыг Тогтвортой Хөгжлийн Зорилтуудыг хангахад ашиглах бүрэн боломжтой. Full Article
social and politics Job safety does not happen by accident -- by Kristy Harrison By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 10 Sep 2019 10:46:05 +0800 Health and safety on the jobsite involves more than simply enforcing rules and regulations. A culture of prevention, as well as innovative digital solutions, are needed to keep workers alive and healthy. Full Article
social and politics Taking the quantum leap in international development -- by Arun Ramamurthy By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:42:11 +0800 Quantum computing could change the face of many international development programs, including those involving transport, financial services and health care. Full Article
social and politics What surfing taught me about reforming state-owned enterprises -- by Rafael Abbasov By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 19 Sep 2019 10:56:47 +0800 Reforming state-owned enterprises can be an extraordinarily complex activity but it is underpinned by a single clear goal. Full Article
social and politics The impact of financial innovation on monetary policy -- by Irfan A. Qureshi By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 19 Sep 2019 16:25:14 +0800 Central banks have powerful tools to affect national economies but they are being challenged by innovative financial practices Full Article
social and politics Building credit: How state-owned enterprises can get foreign financing for infrastructure -- by Donald Lambert By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 20 Sep 2019 08:33:45 +0800 State-owned enterprises face unique challenges when it comes to attracting foreign financing for infrastructure projects. But there are solutions. Full Article
social and politics Hồi chuông cảnh tỉnh: Làm thế nào các doanh nghiệp nhà nước có thể huy động tài trợ nước ngoài cho cơ sở hạ tầng -- by Donald Lambert By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 20 Sep 2019 08:38:42 +0800 Các doanh nghiệp nhà nước phải đối mặt với những thách thức riêng khi mời gọi tài chính nước ngoài cho các dự án cơ sở hạ tầng. Nhưng không phải không có giải pháp. Full Article
social and politics 汶川灾后重建得更好 -- by Ilan Noy, Benno Ferrarini, Donghyun Park By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Fri, 20 Sep 2019 09:17:34 +0800 灾后“重建得更好”通常说起来容易,做起来难,但中华人民共和国的例子表明,这是可以实现的。 Full Article
social and politics Getting it right on railways -- by Naoyuki Yoshino, Grant Stillman By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 24 Sep 2019 16:59:34 +0800 Lining up rights-of-way for megaprojects, such as railways and highways, in crowded places is challenging but it can be done with an imaginative and respectful plan. Full Article
social and politics Will robots take our jobs? It’s an age-old question. -- by Jayant Menon By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Thu, 26 Sep 2019 11:53:59 +0800 The discussions around the impact of artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs could result in improved skills and greater adaptations by the world’s work force. Full Article
social and politics It’s time to stand up for happier workplaces. Here’s how. -- by Haidy Ear-Dupuy By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Tue, 01 Oct 2019 13:49:55 +0800 A landmark international agreement designed to eliminate violence and harassment in the workplace has been passed. Now comes the hard part. Full Article
social and politics Strengthening the chains that helped pull Asia out of poverty -- by Bambang Susantono By blogs.adb.org Published On :: Wed, 02 Oct 2019 15:56:29 +0800 The global value chains that help drive Asia’s export-driven economic miracle have widespread development impacts. We need to understand them better to maximize the benefits. Full Article