Suchergebnisse

After more than half a year of apparent success at controlling Covid-19 infections, Thailand registered a shocking spike in numbers in the second half of December 2020. The first batch of infections emerged in the province of Samut Sakhon, just southwest of Bangkok, at a major shrimp market when up to 1,300 persons were detected with the feared coronavirus in a matter of days. And after barely two weeks, infections were seen in up to 33 provinces throughout Thailand. Although four provinces including Samut Sakhon were placed on regional lockdown, this was unable to slow the spread of Covid-19. By the first week of 2021, 28 provinces throughout the country were declared 'red zones' and subjected to lockdown measures in varying degrees of severity. Going into the second half of January 2021, daily infections were numbering more than 200. The Thai government, however, has resisted calls to impose blanket lockdowns nationwide, so far placing only 6 provinces under provincial lockdown. By the start of February 2021, the 7-day average of infections number was more than 850, with the majority of cases found in Samut Sakhon through what the authorities have referred to as 'active testing'.

This independent evaluation aims to investigate the implementation of the 2020 State Budget of Azerbaijan. The pandemic, which has lasted since 2020, has brought significant changes in the world. The changes in terms of both quality and quantity were reflected in the economic environment and individual's livelihood. Because of the requirement for long-term quarantine conditions to battle the pandemic, both developed and developing countries have experienced economic downturns. The research comprises forecast indicators defined by the appropriate executive authority during the year, as well as the draft legislation on 2020 state budget implementation, in addition to the forecast indicators represented in the material provided with the original and updated draft state budget for 2020. The basic order is as follows; introduction, revenues, expenditures, fiscal sustainability, sequestration of costs, cost reduction, receipt of subsidies from the budget, optimization of receivables, distribution of expenditures, and debts. The results included graphical and tabular descriptions.

Marine plastic pollution has worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nuclear technology provides a sustainable and scientific approach to tackling this environmental problem. Can it help Southeast Asian countries battle plastic pollution?

Attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into its resource sectors has been integral to the Lao government's goal to leave the ranks of "Least Developed Countries" (Menon and Warr 2013). Having sustained average growth at more than 6% until the pandemic kicked in – with foreign grants and loans accounting for more than 20% of GDP – its socioeconomic development has been largely based on the extraction and export of the country's rich natural resources. The state generates revenue through the export of hydropower, minerals, timber, and cash crops such as rubber and bananas. The mining sector, for instance, constitutes an estimated 20% of merchandise exports (World Bank 2020: 17). However, the social and environmental costs of resource extraction constitute a key challenge to sustainable economic growth. This is particularly true for the Lao mining sector. As elsewhere in the world, extractive practices shape physical and social landscapes, altering local economies and human environment relations. In Laos, the important large-scale mining (LSM) areas are located in upland regions inhabited by peoples whose occupations are traditionally based on agriculture and forest products – livelihoods that are particularly vulnerable to the environmental impact of mining. Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM), while providing local income opportunities, sometimes contribute to land degradation and pollution, which in turn negatively affect these communities' livelihoods (farming, fishing and livestock). Resource governance is thus a major concern for Lao state authorities. However, lack of human and financial capacities, as well as institutional disconnect and internal struggles, hamper effective control of extractive industries, especially in Laos' rapidly changing mining sector. This article gives an overview of Lao mining and discusses the social and environmental impacts of both ASM and LSM activities, with a particular focus on legal issues and local livelihood challenges.

This study shows the energy saving potential of BAU and APS. BAU was developed for each EAS country, outlining future sector and economy-wide energy consumption, assuming no significant changes to government policies. The APS was set to examine the potential impacts if additional energy-efficiency goals, action plans, or policies being or likely to be considered were developed. The difference between BAU and APS in final and primary energy supply represents potential energy saving. The difference in the two scenarios' CO2 emissions represents the potential to reduce them. The outlook's analysis covers EAS17. Underlying the EAS energy cooperation initiative is the Energy Research Institutes Network, of which the US is a member. Therefore, the outlook's analysis includes the US. The study's findings shed light on the policy implications for decision-making to ensure that the region can enjoy economic growth and investment without compromising energy security and producing harmful CO2 emissions.

This policy notes outlines recommendations for the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021–2025) for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China that highlights high-quality green development. The plan emphasizes innovation as the core of modern development, relying on the dual circulation strategy as the growth paradigm coupled with reforms to increase living standards. Building on the achievements of the 13th Plan, it aims to reduce the carbon intensity of the economy and peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030. This policy note's recommendations focus on innovation-driven growth, low-carbon development, integration of urban–rural areas with deeper social inclusion, and population aging as priorities.

NTS Bulletin is a monthly periodical that discusses current issues concerning Climate change, Energy, food, water and Health security; Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

This year's AADC dialogue discussed the changing landscape of development cooperation amidst and beyond COVID-19 in Asia. The discussion included the new demands and dynamics of official development assistance and/or south-south cooperation in developing Asian countries on COVID-19, the growing roles of non-state actors in response to COVID-19, and Asia's multilateralism beyond COVID-19. The dialogue was held as a public webinar. This report covers the proceedings and outcomes of that public webinar, featuring presentations and discussions by government, academic, NGO personnel, and multilateral organizations across Asia.

In November 2020, the fully amended Framework Act on International Development Cooperation came into force. Since its first enactment in 2010, the Framework Act has functioned as a legal basis for the Korean ODA system, with this revision coming 10 years into its operation. The core contents of the revised Framework Act aim to further strengthen the authority and role of two major implementing ministries, that is, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Ministry of Economy and Finance (MOEF), and embassies in partner countries, centering on the Committee for International Development Cooperation (CIDC).

This report explores how expenditure on public sector pension is endangering fiscal sustainability for the Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, a problem that is common among national and subnational governments within and outside of Pakistan.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, its effects have been seen across society the past year. What had started as an emergency response to curb the deadly disease has emerged into protracted crisis management straddling the boundaries of humanitarian and development actors, with significant implications for governments and non-state actors. The global reach and consequences of COVID-19 has highlighted the need to move beyond individual sector responses towards more comprehensive and systemic thinking. A nexus approach that bridges sectoral divides is therefore essential for how states and societies respond to emerging security threats.

Decarbonisation is not happening in a vacuum but on a planet already replete with ecological challenges. The material-intensive requirement of low-carbon technologies means more mining, and the currently inadequate recycling capacity means more waste. Existing pressures point to an urgent need to reduce consumption to avert climate and ecological crises.

NTS Bulletin is a monthly periodical that discusses current issues concerning Climate change, Energy, food, water and Health security; Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

While Japan has the highest percentage of elderly citizens in the world, its dependence on foreign care workers has been negligible compared to other countries facing a similar issue. In recent years, the country has implemented several foreign care worker schemes set to alleviate the worsening shortage. In this report, we focus on the student pathway for foreign care workers (kaigoryugaku) that is an offshoot of the addition of 'care work (kaigo)' in the visa categories in the Revised Immigration Law (2017). We describe the care work student scheme and its emerging trends in detail and explain the differences between the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) schemes, particularly in terms of regulation and the role of the public sector. We also discuss how private intermediaries or facilitators are involved and collaborate to recruit, train, and hire international students. In the final section, we summarise the discussion and make suggestions on how the government, both at the national and local levels, can complement the efforts of the private sector to make the scheme work to meet the current and future demands for labour in the care sector.

Maritime trade is an essential lifeline for the remote island nations of the Pacific, which rely almost entirely on imports for essential goods. This study aims to foster dialogue among governments and development partners on how to leverage smart ports to support trade, resilience, and more inclusive economic growth across the region. It examines practical applications of smart ports in the Pacific context and explores options to align international best practices with unique local features such as relatively small trade volumes, geographic isolation, and vulnerability to extreme weather events. The study makes recommendations on how to achieve short-term "wins" by implementing technology and business process solutions, and provides a strategic framework for developing more robust smart port ecosystems over time.