The Latest Breaking News from the World Bank

When you think of modern, oil-rich Gulf states like Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), you may picture a life of luxury. But beneath the shots of towering skyscrapers and splendid grand malls, there is a concerning reality: women are frequently missing from the economic picture.

World Bank president Ajay Banga is in Canberra this week. It’s the first time a World Bank president has visited Australia in seven years.

The small Southeast Asian nation of East Timor is at an energy development crossroads

Beijing’s detractors claim it lures in African countries with big loans, but the continent’s leaders also have a choice.

Everyday people understandably rely on information quoted by scientists. But when that information turns out to be incorrect, things get complicated.

Ethiopia said it has more than doubled electricity production from its controversial mega-dam on the Blue Nile after two more turbines started operations.

Many commentators believe that the world should move away from measuring economic success in terms of GDP growth. Yes, growth has brought prosperity and untold riches, but it has had significant negative side effects for the planet, including climate change, pollution and species extinction. None of these are captured in…

I see looming political and environmental threats – and too few willing to address them. Where is the urgency, asks former UK prime minister Gordon Brown

Hauling garbage in Mali’s capital, Bamako, can be grim

Ethiopia’s recent macroeconomic reforms, supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, could have profound implications for the country and the region. The key reforms include the use of a floating exchange rate system and of interest rates as a policy tool.

Plastic waste is piling up at a daunting pace around the world. The World Bank estimates that every person on the planet generates an average of 1.6 pounds (0.74 kilograms) of plastic waste daily.