Blog

  • Is the world going to end? NASA supercomputer warns Earth could become lifeless soon |

    Is the world going to end? NASA supercomputer warns Earth could become lifeless soon |

    Research conducted by NASA, in partnership with Toho University in Japan, has yielded alarming insights into the future of Earth. Leveraging state-of-the-art supercomputer simulations, scientists have found that the planet may become…

    Continue Reading

  • Marta Suffered—But No More Babies Have To: Malaria Vaccine Brings New Hope to Ethiopia’s Children | WHO

    In Turmi Woreda, Southern Ethiopia, Bethelhem Kuma vividly remembers the terrifying moment her baby girl, Marta, fell gravely ill. At just eight months old, Marta was scorching with fever, had vomiting, became restless, and unable to sleep….

    Continue Reading

  • FIF – Agri Finance Loan – Khan Bank

    Understanding transition

    Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

    Business opportunities

    For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

    For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 7168

    Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

    For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 6794

    Email: procurement@ebrd.com

    General enquiries

    Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

    Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

    The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”.  The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

    More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

    Integrity and compliance

    The EBRD’s Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank’s activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

    OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank’s countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

    Access to Information Policy (AIP)

    The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

    Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

    Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

    If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

    IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

    Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

    Continue Reading

  • Scientists question the safety and efficacy of the diet for metabolic health

    Scientists question the safety and efficacy of the diet for metabolic health

    A study published in Science Advances by University of Utah Health researchers sheds light on the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet, raising important questions about its safety and efficacy for improving metabolic…

    Continue Reading

  • As the Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance, IRC scales up humanitarian response and calls for sustained peace efforts – ReliefWeb

    1. As the Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance, IRC scales up humanitarian response and calls for sustained peace efforts  ReliefWeb
    2. WFP says food supplies to Gaza below targets, urges more crossings to open  Al Jazeera
    3. Sustaining Gaza ceasefire…

    Continue Reading

  • A giant wave is rippling through the Milky Way, and scientists don’t know why

    A giant wave is rippling through the Milky Way, and scientists don’t know why

    Our Milky Way is constantly in motion: it spins, it tilts, and, as new observations reveal, it ripples. Data collected by the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope show that our galaxy is not only rotating and wobbling but also sending out…

    Continue Reading

  • Study links child behavior stress and lower self-regulation in parents

    Study links child behavior stress and lower self-regulation in parents

    Any parent will tell you that raising a child isn’t easy. While the experience can be filled with joy and love and fulfillment, emotional, financial, and marital stress will present challenges to any family.

    This can be especially…

    Continue Reading

  • Completion of New Production Building in the Philippines

    Completion of New Production Building in the Philippines

    22/10/2025

    Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    President: Norio Nakajima


    Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc. (Batangas, Philippines), a manufacturing subsidiary of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., has completed a new production building that had been under construction since August 2023, and a ceremony to celebrate its completion was held on Wednesday, October 22. The completion of the new building strengthens our global production capabilities as we respond to the medium to long term increase in demand for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) driven by the expected future growth of the mobility market.

    Scene from the completion ceremony (October 22, 2025)

     

     

    Overview of the completion ceremony

    Date & Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
    Location: Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc.
    Lot 2A Phase 1B First Philippine Industrial Park Barangay Pantay Bata, Tanauan City Batangas, Philippines
    Guests: Tereso O. Panga, Director General of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Kazuya Endo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines, and others
    Company representatives:

    Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. President Norio Nakajima, Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc. President Masayoshi Koda, and others 

    Overview of the new production building

    Structure and scale: Reinforced concrete construction; two stories above ground
    Total floor area: 77,981 square meters
    Building area: 32,454 square meters
    Purpose: Manufacturing of multilayer ceramic capacitors
    Total investment: Approx. 11.2 billion yen (building only)

    Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc.

    Location:  Lot 2A Phase 1B First Philippine Industrial Park Barangay Pantay Bata, Tanauan City Batangas, Philippines 
    Established: September 2011
    Capital: 17 billion yen
    Representative: Masayoshi Koda
    Number of employees: 4,395 (as of the end of September 2025)
    Business description: Manufacturing of multilayer ceramic capacitors

    We are building a framework that enables us to respond flexibly to market changes and demand growth by distributing MLCC production bases across Japan, ASEAN, and China to ensure balanced capacity expansion. Below is the schedule for the construction of MLCC-related buildings that were completed, or are planned to be completed, in 2023 and thereafter.

    Subsidiary Purpose Start of work Completion
    Murata Electronics (Thailand), Ltd. Production July 2021 March 2023
    Izumo Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Iwami Plant (Hane) Production March 2022 April 2023
    Wuxi Murata Electronics Co., Ltd. Production November 2022 April 2024
    Fukui Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. R&D December 2023 February 2026 (tentative)
    Izumo Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Production March 2024 March 2026 (tentative)
    Murata Electronics (India) Private Limited Packaging and shipping (Leased building) *Signed a lease agreement for the factory space in February 2025 *Aiming for full-scale operation in FY2026

     


    Murata in Brief

    Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

    For more information, visit Murata’s website

    Continue Reading

  • Carla Sison And Fernando Manotoc’s Ponza Wedding

    Carla Sison And Fernando Manotoc’s Ponza Wedding

    Image credit: Native Birds

    In 2009, on a visit to the Philippines from Australia during her university break, Carla Sison met Fernando ‘Borgy’ Manotoc. Their chance encounter blossomed into a long distance relationship, and a beautiful yet…

    Continue Reading

  • GSK announces positive pivotal phase III data for next-generation low carbon version of Ventolin (salbutamol) metered dose inhaler

    GSK announces positive pivotal phase III data for next-generation low carbon version of Ventolin (salbutamol) metered dose inhaler

    GSK plc (LSE/NYSE: GSK) today announced positive phase III data from its clinical programme to develop a next-generation version of its metered dose inhaler (MDI), Ventolin (salbutamol). Data confirm that the formulation of salbutamol MDI containing an innovative low carbon propellant HFA-152a shows therapeutic equivalence and is comparable in safety to salbutamol MDI containing the current propellant, HFA-134a.

    The findings will support regulatory submissions for the next-generation version, with launch expected from 2026, an important advance to bringing a more sustainable option to patients with respiratory disease.

    Nearly half a billion people are affected by asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) around the world4 and approximately 300 million salbutamol MDIs are sold globally every year1,2. Used during an exacerbation, or “attack”, salbutamol in an MDI can help by immediately treating a sudden onset of respiratory symptoms, such as breathlessness.

    Kaivan Khavandi, SVP, Global Head, Respiratory, Immunology & Inflammation R&D, GSK, said: “Healthy air is essential for healthy lungs, and our next-generation salbutamol has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 92%3 per inhaler. Almost six decades after its first development, this medicine remains highly valued by patients and healthcare professionals and is a key component of our respiratory portfolio. Today, we are one step closer to a reliever MDI that we believe will continue to help patients for many decades to come.”

    Due to the scale of volume and worldwide use, GSK’s salbutamol MDI currently accounts for close to half (45%)5 of the company’s total global carbon footprint. GSK has partnered to use cutting-edge propellant technologies to develop a next-generation low-carbon version and has added advanced manufacturing technologies to support launch of this inhaler.

    Prof. Ashley Woodcock, Professor of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Manchester, said: “While low carbon alternatives already exist, such as dry powder and soft mist inhalers, we know that many patients worldwide with both asthma and COPD prefer a salbutamol MDI to relieve their symptoms. These data should enable patients to use their preferred inhaler choice. This is a crucial advance to help global healthcare systems meet their climate targets at the same time as optimising the care of patients.”

    About inhaled medicines

    Inhaled medicines are administered to the lungs using an inhaler device. There are two main types of devices, metered dose inhalers (MDIs) and dry power inhalers (DPIs). All MDIs use a propellant to administer the medicine from the inhaler into the patient’s lungs. DPIs are propellant free, as the medicine is administered by the patients breathing in the powder, and therefore have a lower carbon impact compared to MDIs still using high global warming potential (GWP) propellants.

    Continue Reading