Environment

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization alerts that the war in Ukraine could severely impact food security in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Ukraine and Russia, responsible for one-third of global grain exports, face potential agricultural disruptions that may escalate international food prices and shortages.

Britain and Singapore begin talks on a digital trade agreement aimed at removing barriers for tech companies and expanding economic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region, supporting post-COVID economic recovery and global tech ambitions.

Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) has chosen Ericsson to deploy Malaysia's nationwide 5G network, investing RM11 billion in critical infrastructure. The project aims to accelerate the country's digital economy transition, with Ericsson's technology expected to provide comprehensive network coverage across the nation.

Nestle S.A. plans to plant 3 million trees in Mexico and Brazil by next year, collaborating with environmental charities to restore ecosystems. This initiative is the first phase of their strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with the first million trees expected to offset emissions from a coffee-processing plant in Veracruz.

Norwegian multinational Equinor has canceled its plans to drill for oil in the Great Australian Bight after determining the project was not economically competitive. Despite receiving environmental approval in December, the company concluded that exploration costs were prohibitively expensive, leading to the withdrawal of its drilling initiative.

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) calls on Malaysian companies to reduce single-use plastics after revealing the country's significant contribution to ocean pollution. A study showed Malaysians are top plastic packaging consumers, with each citizen using approximately 16.8 kg of plastic annually.

Following the Taal Volcano eruption, Philippine authorities have permitted 59 businesses in Tagaytay to reopen after securing necessary safety permits. Restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and the city's amusement park are among the establishments that have resumed operations, marking a gradual return to normalcy in the affected region.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) assures that Taal Volcano's eruption will not significantly slow down the country's economic growth. Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia stated that the economic losses are less than 1 percent of the Philippines' total GDP for 2018.

Largest asset manager suggests environmental sustainability will become critical in future investment decisions, comparing climate crisis impact to 1970s inflation transformation

Amid catastrophic bushfires, Australia launches emergency food aid for wildlife, dropping thousands of pounds of vegetables to help endangered species survive habitat destruction and food scarcity.