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☆ ‘We Must Go Faster.’ Yellen Says Rich Nations Must Speed Debt Relief
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Alan Rappeport | More About Alan Rappeport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen called on Sunday for international creditors to speed up their efforts to provide debt relief to developing countries facing default, arguing that shoring up their deteriorating finances would benefit the global economy. Speaking in Gandhinagar, India, ahead of a gathering of finance ministers from the Group of 20 nations, Ms. Yellen cited a recent agreement among international creditors, including China, to help Zambia pay its debts. “We should apply the common principles we agreed to in Zambia’s case in other cases rather than starting at zero every time,” Ms. Yellen said. “And we must go faster.”The Treasury secretary noted that more than half of low-income countries are in or near debt distress — double the total from 2015. These nations face a vicious cycle, because heavy public debt levels make it hard to attract public and private investment.

Persons: Janet L, Yellen, ” Ms Locations: Gandhinagar, India, China, Zambia, Ghana, Sri Lanka

☆ Women React to News About an Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pill
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Alisha Haridasani Gupta | More About Alisha Haridasani Gupta | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

An over-the-counter pill would eliminate a lot of barriers, she said. For young people, accessing birth control can be “really challenging,” she said. The New York Times interviewed 18 women and girls about the F.D.A. “My mom does not approve of birth control” because of her more conservative Sri Lankan heritage, said Tharushi Samarasinghe, a 19-year-old student at Hunter College. “I took birth control once for hormonal issues as I was going through puberty.

Persons: greenlight, Elise Berlan, ”, KFF, Tharushi Samarasinghe, “, ’ ” Elizabeth, I’m Organizations: Nationwide Children’s Hospital, New York Times, Hunter College Locations: United States, Columbus , Ohio, Sri Lankan

☆ US trade group blasts Canada for refusal to extend digital services tax freeze
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - The U.S.-based National Foreign Trade Council on Thursday blasted Canada for its refusal to back a global agreement to hold off on implementing digital services taxes for at least another year, and said the move could invite retaliation. NFTC President Jake Colvin said he welcomed news from the OECD that most countries with digital services taxes had agreed to extend the moratorium on implementation. He also said the move would allow countries to keep working a global tax deal in good faith. "Canada joined Belarus, Russia and a small handful of others in not joining because they seem to want to move forward quickly with their digital services tax," Colvin said. Colvin said Washington could retaliate under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement if Canada went ahead and implemented the new tax.

Persons: Jake Colvin, Colvin, We're, Chrystia Freeland, Washington, Katherine Tai, Mary Ng, Andrea Shalal, Anna Driver Organizations: Foreign Trade, OECD, Canadian Finance, U.S, . Trade, Canadian Trade, Thomson Locations: U.S, Canada, Belarus, Russia, Mexico, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

☆ Countries agree to extend digital services tax freeze through 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, July 12 (Reuters) - With the exception of Canada, countries with digital services taxes have agreed to hold off applying them for at least another year as a global multinationals tax deal to replace them was pushed back, the OECD said on Wednesday. More than 140 countries were supposed to start implementing next year a 2021 deal overhauling decades-old rules on how governments tax multinationals that are widely considered to be outdated as digital giants like Apple or Amazon can book profits in low-tax countries. If at least 30 countries sign, then the freeze on national digital taxing rights will be extended through 2024 with an option to further extend through 2025 if needed, the OECD said. "Canada was not in agreement with the standstill," Corwin told journalists, citing the only country among the five holdouts with a digital services tax. But even once governments sign the treaty, ratification will be no easy task, especially in the United States where a two-thirds majority in the Senate is needed.

Persons: Corwin, Leigh Thomas, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, OECD, Thomson Locations: Canada, Paris, Belarus, Pakistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, United States

July 11 (Reuters) - China's foreign minister Qin Gang will not attend a diplomatic gathering in Indonesia this week for health reasons, a spokesman for his ministry said on Tuesday. Foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China are scheduled to meet on Thursday, before Friday's East Asia Summit and ASEAN Regional Forum. "State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang cannot attend this ASEAN ministerial meeting because of health reasons," spokesman Wang Wenbin said. Qin, 57, took over from Wang as foreign minister in December and was last seen in public on June 25 in Beijing after meeting officials from Sri Lanka, Russia and Vietnam. Wang Yi, who is the foreign policy chief for the Chinese Communist Party, ranks above Qin, who as the foreign minister is the government's foreign policy chief.

Persons: Qin Gang, Wang Yi, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Qin, Josep Borrell, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Yew Lun Tian, Karen Lema, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty, John Geddie, Robert Birsel Organizations: Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, Friday's East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional, Politico, European Union, EU, U.S, Chinese Communist Party, Thomson Locations: Indonesia, China, Jakarta, Wang, Beijing, Sri Lanka, Russia, Vietnam, Washington, Manila

"We first need to see Zambia's updated macroeconomic package, which is in part why we have to get restricted," one of the sources said. There will be a restriction period of two weeks, with the option to extend it if both sides agree, two sources added. Amia Capital, Amundi, BlueBay Asset Management, Farallon Capital Management, Greylock Capital and T. Rowe Price comprise the steering committee. Besides net present value (NPV) reductions, talks will focus on how to incorporate the impact of a potential improvement of Zambia's debt carrying capacity, or its ability to handle debt payments. Including in the overhaul a mechanism that would allow for higher payments through coupon payments, debt maturities or a combination of both if Zambia's debt capacity improves was "sacrosanct", one of the sources said.

Persons: Weil, Rowe Price, Jorgelina, Rodrigo Campos, Karin Strohecker Organizations: Paris Club, Newstate Partners, BlueBay Asset Management, Farallon Capital Management, Greylock, Monetary Fund, Bank, IMF, World Bank, Thomson Locations: China, Ghana, Sri Lanka, Zambia, U.S, Amia, Rosario, London, New York, Lincoln

☆ China's economic downturn is more shocking than outsiders realize, says former Chinese property mogul
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

China's economic conditions are worse than thought, Desmond Shum told The New York Times. This will result in tighter control of the firms by Beijing, as it become less secure. These factors have already caused Beijing to acro, with the People's Bank of China implementing interest rate cuts to reignite economic activity. But in Shum's view, conditions are also making the country's top brass insecure, resulting in tighter control of the nation's business landscape, especially among foreign firms. "People talk about 'deglobalization,' but the proper term is 'reglobalization minus China,'" Shum said.

Persons: Desmond Shum, Desmond Shum —, I've, Shum Organizations: New York Times, Service, People's Bank of China Locations: Beijing, Wall, Silicon, China, acro, Vietnam, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India

☆ Biden nominates China specialist to be ambassador to strategic Marshall Islands
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - President Joe Biden on Tuesday nominated a senior career diplomat to be U.S. ambassador to the Marshall Islands, a strategic Pacific territory that has become a focus for competition with China. A Chinese speaker, Stone also worked previously as coordinator of efforts to counter Chinese malign economic influence and as acting deputy assistant secretary for China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Mongolia. Meanwhile, Chinese diplomats have been courting the region and China's construction and mining companies have expanded their business in Pacific island nations. In May, the U.S. said it had renewed COFA terms with Micronesia and Palau and its chief negotiator told Reuters then he hoped to finalize a deal with the Marshall Islands, whose COFA is due to expire this year, in coming weeks. Last year, more than 100 arms-control, environmental and other activist groups urged the Biden administration to formally apologize to the Marshall Islands and provide fair compensation.

Persons: Joe Biden, Laura Stone, Stone, China's, Biden, David Brunnstrom, Sandra Maler Organizations: State Department's Office, Free Association, Washington, Marshall, Reuters, Marshall Islanders, U.S, Thomson Locations: Marshall, China, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, U.S, Pacific, Micronesia, Palau, Bikini

☆ Netherlands to return nearly 500 looted objects to Indonesia and Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Senay Boztas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The Dutch government is returning 478 objects looted during colonial times to Indonesia and Sri Lanka. “It’s the first time we’re following recommendations… to give back objects that should never have been brought to the Netherlands. A collection of jewels, precious stones and silver, the "Lombok treasure" was taken from the Indonesian island of Lombok in 1894. “But what changed is our viewpoint: these objects are to tell the stories of our countries, of our shared history of peoples. A ceremonial handover of objects to the National Museum of Indonesia in Jakarta will take place at the Museum Volkenkunde Leiden on July 10.

Persons: Gunay Uslu, Cannon, ” Uslu, “, …, We’re, we’re, Lilian Gonçalves, Ho Kang, William V , Prince of Orange, Smeulders, ”, ” Smeulders, Gert, Jan van den Bergh, Bergh, Sanders, Van den Bergh Organizations: The Art, CNN, State for Culture, Dutch Council for Culture, National Museum of, Netherlands ’, East India Company, Nazi, Naturalis Biodiversity, Guardian, Art Newspaper, Museum Volkenkunde Leiden Locations: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Dutch, Lombok, Bali, Kandy, Netherlands, Indonesian, Europe, Leiden, National Museum of Indonesia, Jakarta

☆ Sri Lanka's central bank says more rate cuts are needed for economy to 'bounce back'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Jihye Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

watch nowDebt-ridden Sri Lanka may need to cut interest rates again to further boost growth in its economy, according to the head of its central bank. Nandalal Weerasinghe, governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, told CNBC Friday that there will be more rate cuts to come, even after the central bank lowered its policy rate for a second consecutive month from 12% to 11% on Thursday. Asked if additional rate cuts will be needed, the governor answered: "Of course." He pointed to falling inflation rates in the Sri Lankan economy. Sri Lanka's total debt has exceeded $83 billion, the Associated Press reported, including foreign debt of $41.5 billion and $42.1 billion of domestic debt.

Persons: Nandalal Weerasinghe, Weerasinghe, CNBC's, Ishara, Kodikara, Stocks Organizations: Central Bank of Sri, CNBC, Afp, Getty, Sri, International Monetary Fund, Colombo, Associated Press Locations: Sri Lanka, Central Bank of Sri Lanka, Sri, Colombo

☆ Sri Lanka's central bank governor expects economic recovery to begin in second half
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailSri Lanka's central bank governor expects economic recovery to begin in second halfNandalal Weerasinghe, governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka, explained that consumer confidence is coming back and the currency is appreciating. He also discussed the implementation of new reforms.

Persons: Weerasinghe Organizations: Central Bank of Sri Locations: Central Bank of Sri Lanka

☆ SPECIAL REPORT-Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping America take on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Joe Brock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Reuters is revealing details of the Diego Garcia project and SubCom’s deepening ties with the Pentagon. SubCom’s loyalty is especially important because it is the only major U.S. subsea cable company. Rather, they carefully obscured the U.S. military component within a larger private-sector cable project, according to four subsea cable industry sources with knowledge of the arrangement. That project, known as the Oman Australia Cable, was spearheaded by SUBCO, a Brisbane-based subsea cable investment company owned by Australian entrepreneur Bevan Slattery. Once the Navy project was complete, AT&T’s submarine cable project morphed into a commercial business, the former employees said.

Persons: Diego Garcia, SubCom, Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, Donald Trump, Feinberg, Joe Biden, Biden, Eckhard Bruckschen, They’ve, ” Bruckschen, Trump, Brad Smith, –, Mao Ning, ”, Jacob Helberg, Bevan Slattery, SUBCO’s, Richard Payne, Payne, “ We’re, ” Payne, Alex Kerska, Catherine Creese, Creese, David Coughlan, Coughlan, Slattery, SubCom’s Coughlan, Rich, Australia West Express –, John Mariano, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Caesar, Kellee Wicker, ” Wicker Organizations: CS, SubCom, Google, Microsoft, Meta, ., U.S, Navy, Cerberus Capital Management, U.S . Navy, President’s Intelligence, Board, U.S . Navy’s Pacific Fleet, U.S . Pacific Fleet, U.S ., Pentagon, America Inc, Cable Consultancy, Reuters, Japan’s NEC Corporation, France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, China’s HMN, U.S . Department of Defense, White, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Oracle, China Economic, Security, Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, government’s, Cable Security Fleet, Oman Australia Cable, SUBCO, The, The U.S . Pacific Fleet, SUBCO’s Oman Australia Cable, Facebook, Defense, Intelligence, SubCom’s, London Stock Exchange Group, U.S . Coast Guard, Naval, Cable, Office, Tyco Telecommunications, Australian, Financial, Australia West Express, GoTo Networks, couldn’t, Netflix, AT, Tyco International, Tyco, New, Washington, Science, Technology, Wilson, “ Cables Locations: Diego, Indian, China, New Jersey, United States, U.S, Soviet, Washington, New York, Philippine, South China, Beijing, America, American, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Eatontown , New Jersey, British, Britain, Australian, Australia, Oman, Brisbane, Southeast Asia, The U.S, SUBCO’s Oman, Perth, SubCom, Guam, U.S . Pacific, Republic of Djibouti, of Africa, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Newfoundland

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) cut its standing deposit facility rate and standing lending facility rate to 11% and 12%, respectively, from 13% and 14% previously. This follows a 250 bps cut at its last policy meeting in June. The central bank raised rates by a record 950 bps last year to tame inflation and by 100 bps on March 3. Sri Lanka's key inflation index peaked at 70% year-on-year in September and has come down gradually. "Now that they are bringing down rates fast, they will issue very long-term bonds and reduce borrowing costs for the government.

Persons: Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, CBSL, Sri, Dimantha Mathew, Uditha Jayasinghe, Swati Bhat, Sudipto Ganguly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Central Bank of Sri, First, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Lanka's, Central Bank of Sri Lanka

☆ Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping American take on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +24 min

Persons: Diego Garcia, SubCom, Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, Donald Trump, Feinberg, Joe Biden, Biden, Eckhard Bruckschen, They’ve, ” Bruckschen, Trump, Brad Smith, –, Mao Ning, ”, Jacob Helberg, Bevan Slattery, SUBCO’s, Richard Payne, Payne, “ We're, ” Payne, Alex Kerska, Catherine Creese, Creese, David Coughlan, Coughlan, Slattery, SubCom’s Coughlan, Rich, Australia West Express –, John Mariano, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Caesar, Kellee Wicker, ” Wicker, Joe Brock, Mohammad Kawoosa, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Marla Dickerson Organizations: CS, SubCom, Google, Microsoft, Meta, ., U.S, Navy, Cerberus Capital Management, U.S . Navy, President’s Intelligence, Board, U.S . Navy’s Pacific Fleet, U.S . Pacific Fleet, U.S ., Pentagon, America Inc, Cable Consultancy, Reuters, Japan’s NEC Corporation, France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, China’s HMN, U.S . Department of Defense, White, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Oracle, China Economic, Security, Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, government’s, Cable Security Fleet, Oman Australia Cable, SUBCO, The, The U.S . Pacific Fleet, SUBCO’s Oman Australia Cable, Facebook, Defense, Intelligence, SubCom’s, London Stock Exchange Group, U.S . Coast Guard, Naval, Cable, Office, Tyco Telecommunications, Australian, Financial, Australia West Express, GoTo Networks, couldn’t, Netflix, AT, Tyco International, Tyco, New, Washington, Science, Technology, Wilson, “ Cables Locations: Diego, Indian, China, New Jersey, United States, U.S, Soviet, Washington, New York, Philippine, South China, Beijing, America, American, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Eatontown , New Jersey, British, Britain, Australian, Australia, Oman, Brisbane, Southeast Asia, The U.S, SUBCO’s Oman, Perth, SubCom, Guam, U.S . Pacific, Republic of Djibouti, of Africa, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Newfoundland

The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) cut its standing deposit facility rate (SDFR) and standing lending facility rate (SLFR) to 11% and 12%, respectively, from 13% and 14% previously, in line with expectations. The 200 basis point cut follows a 250 bps cut at its last policy meeting in June. The central bank raised rates by a record 950 bps last year to tame inflation and by 100 bps on March 3. Sri Lanka's key inflation index peaked at 70% year-on-year in September and has come down gradually. Analysts expect more rate cuts in coming months to aid economic recovery and reduce borrowing costs for corporates and the government.

Persons: Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, CBSL, Sri, Dimantha Mathew, Thilina Panduwawala, Sudipto Ganguly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Central Bank of Sri, First, corporates, Frontier Research, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Central Bank of Sri Lanka

☆ Post-Ashes beers off as England coach McCullum incensed by Bairstow stumping
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Hugh Lawson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The dismissal triggered long and loud booing from the Lord's crowd and saw Australian players verbally abused by MCC members in the stadium's usually staid Long Room. With England eventually losing by 43 runs to trail 2-0 in the five-test series, McCullum made it clear the stumping had strained relations. 'NO SNEAKINESS'Disgruntled MCC members verbally abused Australia players as they walked through the pavilion at the lunch interval, prompting opener Usman Khawaja to remonstrate with several of them. You see Jonny (Bairstow) do it all the time, he did it on day one to David Warner, he did it in 2019 to Steve (Smith)," Cummins told reporters. England captain Ben Stokes was keen to move on from the incident but added he would not want to win in such a fashion at the end of an over.

Persons: Alex Carey, Jonny Bairstow, Matthew Childs LONDON, Brendon McCullum, Jonny, Alex Carey underarmed, Bairstow, McCullum, you've, might've, Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lankan, Kumar Sangakkara, Paul Collingwood, Daniel Vettori, Usman Khawaja, Khawaja, Pat Cummins, David Warner, Steve, Smith, Cummins, Carey, Ben Stokes, Hugh Lawson, Ian Ransom, Toby Davis, Peter Rutherford Organizations: England, Australia, MCC, BBC, New Zealand, Collingwood, Thomson Locations: Australia, London, Britain, Christchurch, Sri, New, England, Melbourne

☆ Sri Lanka parliament approves domestic debt restructuring plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, July 1 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's parliament approved a domestic debt restructuring plan on Saturday that is crucial to continue a $2.9 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). To put its debt on a sustainable footing and pass an IMF review, Sri Lanka unveiled a much-anticipated domestic debt restructuring framework last Thursday that seeks to rework part of the island nation's $42 billion domestic debt. "This debt restructuring plan is essential for Sri Lanka to meet the target set by the IMF agreement to reduce debt from the current 128% of GDP to 95% of GDP by 2023," State Minister of Finance Shehan Semasinghe told parliament. Implementing the domestic debt plan is also crucial to push forward negotiations with bondholders and key bilateral creditors China, Japan and India. Sri Lanka aims to finalise debt restructuring talks by September.

Persons: Finance Shehan Semasinghe, Sajith Premadasa, Shivangi Acharya, Andrew Cawthorne Organizations: International Monetary Fund, Sri, Finance, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, India, New Delhi

☆ Global markets in H1: Banks vs the machines
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Marc Jones | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Linking it all has been the relentless rise in interest rates, which was exactly what battered markets in 2022. But just that this time has been different due to an unshakeable view that the end of the cycle is near. A 12%, or $6 trillion, rally in value of world stocks (.MIWD00000PUS), (.FTAWORLDSR) although it has been ominously top heavy. Thanks largely to ChatGPT, the AI boom has seen the 'Big Tech' giants enjoy a combined surge of 70%. There have also been around a total of 90 interest rate hikes this year by central banks globally versus just 17 cuts.

Persons: Andrew Kelly, Lehman, Trevor Greetham, Gold, Viktor Szabo, Tayyip Erdogan's, haven't, bitcoin, Binance, Milla Savova, Dhara Ranasinghe, Tom Wilson, Rashmi Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Nikkei, LONDON, Big Tech, Apple, Microsoft, Google, Netflix, Meta, Nvidia, Royal London Asset Management, Japan's Nikkei, U.S . Federal Reserve, European Central Bank, Bank of Japan's, Silicon Valley Bank, behemoth, UBS, Treasury, Wall, BlackRock, Commodities, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, El Salvador, Sri, Zambia, Ukraine, Pakistan, Argentina, Japan, Egypt, Nigeria, London

☆ Sri Lanka targets 30% haircut for international, domestic dollar bonds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The government also aims to rework its foreign debt with bondholders and bilateral creditors including China, Japan and India. Under the domestic debt revamp, holders of locally issued dollar-denominated bonds, such as Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDBs), will be given three options, Weerasinghe said. "We are asking foreign debt holders for a 30% haircut but that is still under discussion," Weerasinghe said. "Sri Lanka is under enormous pressure to restructure as quickly as possible and get its economy back on track, they need funds to import a lot of goods to reinvigorate their key tourism industry," Lutz Roehmeyer, fund manager at Capitulum Asset Management, who holds Sri Lanka international bonds. "A 30% haircut is too little given the shape the country's economy is in."

Persons: Nandalal Weerasinghe, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Weerasinghe, Lutz Roehmeyer, Uditha Jayasinghe, Rosario, Karin Strohecker, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Himani Sarkar, Kim Coghill, Simon Cameron, Moore, Toby Chopra Organizations: Saturday International, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Sri Lanka Development, Capitulum Asset Management, Sri Lanka, World Bank, Sri, Jorgelina, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Britain, China, Japan, India, United States

Kenyan shipments of tea - its major export - have fallen by a fifth over the last year, according to the local regulator. The spike in global interest rates has already tipped Sri Lanka and Ghana into defaulting. Reuters GraphicsBLACK MARKETAlthough the dollar's share as a global reserve currency has dropped to 59% from 70% over a decade, it continues to dominate global trade. Nigeria has long had a web of multiple exchange rates which it is now trying to untangle, having also devalued its naira currency again last week. A plunge of around 70% in Bolivia's reserves has spawned queues at banks and currency exchange shops as some merchants stopped accepting local currency.

Persons: Wilson Muthaura, KTDA, Charlie Robertson, Muthaura, David Willacy, Ojo, Chaucer, Ronal, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Kristalina Georgieva, William Ruto, Duncan Miriri, Marc Jones, Macdonald Dzirutwe, Monica Machicao, Mayela Armas, David Sherwood, Catherine Evans Organizations: Bank, FIM Partners, Reuters Graphics, Workers, REUTERS, La Paz, West, Reuters, JPMorgan, Monetary Fund, IMF, Fund, Thomson Locations: NAIROBI, LONDON, Pakistan, COVID, Russia, Ukraine, London, Islamabad, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Tunisia, teetering, Nigeria, Kenya, StoneX, Nigeria's, Lagos, British, Cuba, Venezuela, Githunguri, Kiambu County, United States, Lebanon, Turkey, Ethiopia, China, India, Johannesburg, Saudi Arabia, Africa, Argentina, Nairobi, La Paz, Caracas, Havana

☆ Factbox: Sri Lanka asks foreign investors for a 30% haircut in debt restructure
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The domestic debt restructure is needed to help the country reach the IMF programme goal of reducing overall debt to 95% of GDP by 2032. WHAT WILL THE DOMESTIC DEBT RESTRUCTURING INCLUDE? "We are asking foreign debt holders for a 30% haircut but that is still under discussion," Weerasinghe said. This will be implemented in Phase 2 of the domestic debt restructuring. Aiming to contain any potential market volatility, Sri Lanka declared a five-day holiday from June 29 to July 3.

Persons: Read, Nandalal Weerasinghe, Weerasinghe, Mahinda Siriwardana, CBSL, Uditha Jayasinghe, Shilpa Jamkhandikar, Kim Coghill, Emelia Organizations: International Monetary Fund, IMF, Sri Lanka Development, Bank of Sri, Treasury, Sri, Thomson Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Britain, Bank of Sri Lanka, China, Japan, India

☆ World Bank approves $700 mln for crisis-hit Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/2] People wait in line to buy domestic gas tanks near a distributor, amid the country's economic crisis, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, May 23, 2022. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File PhotoCOLOMBO, June 29 (Reuters) - The World Bank approved $700 million in budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka on Thursday, the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit island nation since an International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal in March. "Through a phased approach, the World Bank Group strategy focuses on early economic stabilization, structural reforms, and protection of the poor and vulnerable," the World Bank's country director for Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos, said in a statement. Sri Lanka is struggling with the worst financial crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948 after the country's foreign exchange hit record lows and triggered its first foreign debt default last year. The IMF approved a bailout of nearly $3 billion in March, which Sri Lanka expects will bring additional funding of up to $4 billion from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other multilateral agencies.

Persons: Dinuka, Faris Hadad, Zervos, Uditha Jayasinghe, Chris Reese, Sonali Paul Organizations: REUTERS, World Bank, Sri, Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, IMF, Asian Development Bank, Thomson Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Britain, China, Japan, India

☆ World Bank approves $700 million for crisis-hit Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Colombo CNN —The World Bank approved $700 million in budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka on Thursday, in the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit island nation since an International Monetary Fund (IMF) deal in March. About $500 million of the funds will be allocated for budgetary support while the remaining $200 million will be for welfare support earmarked for those worst hit by the crisis. “Through a phased approach, the World Bank Group strategy focuses on early economic stabilization, structural reforms, and protection of the poor and vulnerable,” the World Bank’s country director for Sri Lanka, Faris Hadad-Zervos, said in a statement. Sri Lanka is struggling with the worst financial crisis since its independence from Britain in 1948 after the country’s foreign exchange hit record lows and triggered its first foreign debt default last year. The IMF approved a bailout of nearly $3 billion in March, which Sri Lanka expects will bring additional funding of up to $4 billion from the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and other multilateral agencies.

Persons: Faris Hadad, Zervos, ” Zervos Organizations: Colombo CNN, Bank, Sri, Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, IMF, World Bank, Asian Development Bank Locations: Sri Lanka, Britain, China, Japan, India

☆ World Bank to provide $500 mln budget support to Sri Lanka
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COLOMBO, June 27 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka will enter into an agreement with the World Bank for $500 million in budgetary support after the cabinet approved it on Tuesday, the biggest funding tranche for the crisis-hit nation since an International Monetary Fund deal in March. The island nation of 22 million is emerging out of its worst economic crisis in seven decades and its economy is expected to shrink 2% this year before returning to growth next year, following last year's record contraction of 7.8%. Reuters reported last week that the World Bank is likely to approve $700 million in budgetary and welfare support for Sri Lanka at its board meeting on June 28, out of which $200 million will be for welfare programmes. The government said on Tuesday that funding from the lender will come in two tranches. Reporting by Uditha Jayasinghe; Writing by Shivam Patel; Editing by Edmund KlamannOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Uditha Jayasinghe, Shivam Patel, Edmund Klamann Organizations: World Bank, Monetary Fund, Reuters, Sri, Thomson Locations: COLOMBO, Sri Lanka

☆ China will continue to support Sri Lanka in debt restructuring, Sri Lanka minister says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailChina will continue to support Sri Lanka in debt restructuring, Sri Lanka minister saysAli Sabry, Sri Lanka's foreign affairs minister, says conversations between China and Sri Lanka have been "very, very fruitful" and cordial.

Persons: Ali Sabry Organizations: China, Sri Locations: Sri Lanka, China

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