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☆ HSBC exec says there's a lot of AI 'success theater' happening in finance
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-09 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

Jaap Arriens | NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLONDON — Increasingly many financial services firms are touting the benefits of artificial intelligence when it comes to boosting productivity and overall operational efficiency. Despite bold statements, a lot of companies are failing to produce tangible results, according to Edward J Achtner, the head of generative AI for U.K. banking giant HSBC . One example he gave was a partnership that HSBC has in place with internet search titan Google on the use of AI technology anti-money laundering and fraud mitigation. Boteju stressed that Lloyds is "proceeding with caution" when it comes to exposing the bank's customers to generative AI tools. Generative AI, on the other hand, is a more nascent technology, according to the Lloyds exec.

Persons: Jaap Arriens, Edward J Achtner, Achtner, Ranil Boteju —, Nathalie Oestmann, ChatGPT, Klarna, headcount, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Siemiatkowski, Oestmann, Boteju, Banks, we've, Bahadir Yilmaz, Yilmaz, It's, Johan Tjarnberg Organizations: NurPhoto, Getty, HSBC, Leadership, Lloyds Banking Group, NV Ltd, Royal Albert Hall, Microsoft, Google, BBC, NV, CNBC, Lloyds, ING Locations: London

☆ Marxist-leaning president takes power in Sri Lanka, a country long led by dynasties
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-23 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO — Sri Lanka’s leftist leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake took office as president on Monday, promising change in the island nation long led by powerful political families which is emerging from its worst economic crisis in more than seven decades. Supporters of Sri Lanka's newly elected President Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, celebrate in Colombo. Before Monday’s swearing-in, Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena resigned to make way for the new prime minister and his cabinet. Sri Lanka’s sovereign dollar bonds shed 2.88 to 3.28 cents on the dollar in early trade on Monday to bid between 49.14 and 49.77 cents. Sri Lanka’s close neighbors India, Pakistan, and the Maldives also congratulated Dissanayake on his win, along with China, the largest bilateral creditor.

Persons: Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Lankans, “, ” Dissanayake, Sri Lanka's, Anura Kumara Dissanayaka, Ishara, Ranil Wickremesinghe, ”, beautician, Dinesh Gunawardena, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Dissanayake, Sri Lanka’s Organizations: Sri, Kodikara, Getty, International Monetary Fund Locations: COLOMBO, Colombo, AFP, India, Pakistan, Maldives, China

☆ Marxist lawmaker leads the vote count in Sri Lanka's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

This is Sri Lanka’s first election since the Indian Ocean nation’s economy buckled in 2022 under a severe foreign exchange shortage, leaving it unable to pay for imports of essentials including fuel, medicine and cooking gas. Marxist-leaning Anura Kumara Dissanayake leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo on Saturday. Grinding poverty for millionsButtressed by the IMF deal, Sri Lanka’s economy has posted a tentative recovery. The younger Premadasa polled 42% of the votes in 2019 to finish second, behind Rajapaksa, in the last presidential election. Support from farming communities in north and central Sri Lanka helped him close the gap on Dissanayake as counting progressed.

Persons: Kumara Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Sri Lanka’s, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Dissanayake, Premadasa, Lanka’s, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ”, Pradeep Peiris, ” Dissanayake, Eranga, Ranasinghe Premadasa, Rajapaksa Organizations: Sri, Sunday, University of Colombo, Monetary Fund, Marxist, IMF, National People’s Power, JVP Locations: “, Sri Lanka's, Colombo, Sri, Sri Lankans, Premadasa’s, Sri Lanka

☆ Sri Lankans elect Marxist-leaning Dissanayake as president to fix economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

For me this is not a position, it is a responsibility,” Dissanayake told reporters after his victory which was confirmed after a second tally of votes. Dissanayake polled 5.6 million or 42.3% of the votes, a massive boost to the 3% he managed in the last presidential election in 2019. Anura Kumara Dissanayake of the National People's Power party leaves a polling station after casting his vote in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sept. 21, 2024. Grinding poverty for millionsButtressed by the IMF deal, Sri Lanka’s economy has managed a tentative recovery. Dissanayake ran as a candidate for the National People’s Power alliance, which includes his Marxist-leaning Janatha Vimukthi Peremuna party.

Persons: Kumara Dissanayake, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, “, ” Dissanayake, “ Mr, ” Wickremesinghe, Dissanayake, Premadasa, Eranga, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, ”, Pradeep Peiris, Dissanayake’s, Janak Dias Organizations: COLOMBO Reuters, Marxist, National People's, Monetary Fund, University of Colombo, IMF, National People’s Power, JVP Locations: Lankans, Sri Lanka, Colombo, “, Sri

☆ Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning Dissanayake in early lead to become president
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-22 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A man waves Sri Lanka's national flag after climbing a tower near presidential secretariat in Colombo on July 11, 2022, after it was overrun by anti-government protestors. (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images)Sri Lanka's Marxist-leaning leader, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, grabbed a commanding early lead on Sunday in his bid to become the next president of the debt-ridden country seeking to elect a leader to bolster its fragile economic recovery. Dissanayake won about 53% of a million votes counted so far in the election, Sri Lanka's Election Commission data showed. "Though I heavily campaigned for President Ranil Wickremasinghe, the people of Sri Lanka have made their decision, and I fully respect their mandate for Anura Kumara Dissanayake." This was Sri Lanka's first election since the economy buckled in 2022 under a severe foreign exchange shortage, leaving the country unable to pay for imports of essentials including fuel, medicine and cooking gas.

Persons: ARUN SANKAR, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, Dissanayake, Sajith Premadasa, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Peremuna, Ali Sabry, Ranil Wickremasinghe, Kumara Dissanayake, Lanka's, Gotabaya Rajapaksa Organizations: Getty Images, Marxist, Sri, National, Power, JVP, International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka's, Saturday's, Sri Lanka

☆ Heavily indebted Sri Lanka votes in election to decide economic future
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A man waves Sri Lanka's national flag after climbing a tower near presidential secretariat in Colombo on July 11, 2022, after it was overrun by anti-government protestors. Rathnayake, the head of Sri Lanka's election commission, told Reuters. Buttressed by a $2.9 billion bailout programme from the International Monetary Fund, Sri Lanka's economy has posted a tentative recovery but the high cost of living remains a core issue for many voters. "Use your vote wisely so Sri Lanka can continue its recovery and move forward towards a sustainable and prosperous future." Sri Lanka's ranked voting system allows voters to cast three preferential votes for their chosen candidates.

Persons: ARUN SANKAR, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sajith Premadasa, Kumara Dissanayake, Sri, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Ali Sabry, Lanka's Organizations: Getty, Citizens, R.M.L, Reuters, International Monetary Fund, IMF Locations: Colombo, Lanka's, Sri Lanka's, Sri, Sri Lanka

☆ Sri Lanka reaches deal on debt restructuring with bilateral creditors including China and France
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Sri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced a debt restructuring deal with countries including India, France, Japan and China in a televised address to the nation Wednesday. Sri Lanka President Media Division / Handout | Anadolu Agency | Getty ImagesSri Lanka's President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced a debt restructuring deal with countries including India, France, Japan and China in a televised address to the nation Wednesday. Furthermore, Sri Lanka will be able to repay all the loans on concessional terms, with an extended period until 2043. By 2022, Sri Lanka had to repay about $6 billion in foreign debt every year, amounting to about 9.2% of gross domestic product. The agreement would enable Sri Lanka to maintain debt payments at less than 4.5% of GDP between 2027 and 2032.

Persons: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Sri Lanka, Wickremesinghe Organizations: Sri, Sri Lanka President Media, Anadolu Agency, Getty, International Monetary Fund, China's Exim Bank Locations: India, France, Japan, China, Sri Lanka, Paris, Beijing, Sri Lankans

☆ Modi is sworn in for a rare third term as India’s prime minister
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he arrives at Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) headquarters in New Delhi, India, June 4, 2024. NEW DELHI — Narendra Modi was sworn in Sunday for a rare third consecutive term as India's prime minister, relying on his coalition partners after his party failed to win a parliamentary majority in a surprise outcome. The 73-year-old popular but polarizing leader is only the second Indian prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for a third five-year term. An avowed Hindu nationalist, the prime minister is considered a champion of the country's Hindu majority, who make up 80% of India's 1.4 billion population. Several South Asian leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony Sunday, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Droupadi Murmu, Jawaharlal Nehru, he's, Sheikh Hasina, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Mohamed Muizzu, Muizzu Organizations: Indian, Bharatiya Janata Party, BJP, NEW, Modi's National Democratic Alliance, Modi's BJP, Telugu Desam Party, Janata Dal, INDIA, Bangladesh Locations: New Delhi, India, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Sri, Maldives, China

☆ Sri Lanka targets debt restructuring framework in first 6 months of 2024, says president
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Anti-government protesters gather to demonstrate outside the president's office in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Wednesday, July 13, 2022. Sri Lanka expects to implement a debt restructuring framework within the first six months of 2024, the country's president said on Wednesday, expressing confidence that the nation was recovering from its worst financial crisis in decades. Sri Lanka's economy is estimated by the World Bank to have contracted by 3.8% last year but is expected to grow by 1.7% in 2024. Sri Lanka's central bank has projected a more optimistic growth of 3% for this year. There are no short-term solutions," he said, adding that Sri Lanka's overall debt at the end of September was at $91 billion.

Persons: Ranil Wickremesinghe Organizations: International Monetary Fund, World Bank Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka's

☆ Sri Lanka passes controversial bill to regulate online content
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Rhea Mogul | Morayo Ogunbayo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Sri Lanka’s lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday regulating internet use among its citizens, in a move that has sparked fears among rights groups of a free speech crackdown. “Sri Lanka is still reeling from an economic crisis partly caused by misgovernment and failures of accountability,” said Human Rights Watch Deputy Asia Director Meenakshi Ganguly in a statement Tuesday. Then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was forced to flee the country after angry protesters, who blamed him for the financial situation, stormed his residence. But rights groups have accused him of cracking down on dissent and silencing protesters. “Sri Lanka’s repressive laws have facilitated widespread human rights violations for decades and contributed to economic and political crises,” said Ganguly.

Persons: ”, Lanka’s, Meenakshi Ganguly, “, Wickremesinghe, Jeff Paine, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Rajapaksa, Ganguly Organizations: CNN, Safety, Rights Watch, Asia Internet Coalition, United Nations Human Rights Locations: Lanka’s, Sri Lanka, Lankans

☆ Sri Lanka Votes on New Law to Regulate Online Content
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By Uditha JayasingheCOLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's lawmakers are set to vote on a social media regulation bill on Wednesday which opposition politicians and activists allege will muzzle free speech. The Online Safety Bill proposes jail terms for content that a five-member commission considers illegal and make social media platforms such as Google, Facebook and X, formerly known as Twitter, liable for those posted on their platforms. President Ranil Wickremesinghe's government says the bill is aimed at battling cyber crimes including child abuse, data theft and online fraud. This is why we are bringing this law," Public Security Minister Tiran Alles said on Tuesday while introducing the bill. "We unequivocally stand by our position that the Online Safety Bill, in its current form, is unworkable and would undermine potential growth and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka's digital economy," the AIC said in a statement.

Persons: Uditha Jayasinghe, Bill, Ranil Wickremesinghe's, Wickremesinghe, Tiran Alles, Eran Wickramaratne, Jana Balawegaya, Sudipto Ganguly, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Reuters, Google, Facebook, Twitter, Public, Asian Internet Coalition, AIC, Yahoo, Sri, Wednesday Locations: Uditha Jayasinghe COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Lanka's

☆ Africa unlikely to follow East Asia's manufacturing growth path -study
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The study's authors say that China will continue to dominate global manufacturing, moving into higher-value segments. The study projects global growth through the year 2050 and models changes in the economies of 59 countries accounting for about three quarters of the world’s GDP and population. Across all low-income countries, manufacturing jobs are projected to hold steady at below 8% of total employment, the study finds. It projects the share of manufacturing jobs in high-income countries will continue to fall, to 8.3% by 2050 from 11.4% currently. It said that private service sector jobs will make up roughly 37% of global jobs by 2050, and 26% in today’s low-income countries, up from about 12% currently.

Persons: CGD, Charles Kenny, Ranil, that’s, Kenny, David Lawder, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Center for Global Development, Thomson Locations: China, Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Agriculture, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Asia

☆ China's Xi offers to help Sri Lanka; buy more of its exports
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBEIJING, Oct 20 (Reuters) - China is willing to offer assistance to Sri Lanka without political conditions and buy more of its exports, President Xi Jinping told his Sri Lankan counterpart on Friday in Beijing, state media said. Wickremesinghe was in the Chinese capital for the Belt and Road Forum that ended on Wednesday as well as talks on restructuring debt. "China is willing to continue to provide assistance to Sri Lanka without attaching political conditions, to help it cope with the difficulties it faces," Xi added. Last May Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt as dollar reserves fell to a point where it was unable to pay for essential imports such as fuel and medicine. "China is willing to expand the import of Sri Lanka's ... products and will encourage Chinese enterprises to invest," Xi said.

Persons: Xi Jinping, Edgar Su, Xi, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Wickremesinghe, Lanka, Joe Cash, Clarence Fernandez Organizations: Initiative, of, People, REUTERS, Rights, Sri, Export, Import Bank of China, Forum, Thomson Locations: Beijing, Rights BEIJING, China, Sri Lanka, Colombo, Hambantota, Sri Lanka's

☆ Sri Lanka president to visit China as debt talks progress - source
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCOLOMBO, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe will visit China next week as the crisis-hit country makes progress on debt restructuring talks with its biggest lender, a source in his office told Reuters on Friday. The Sri Lankan leader could also meet China's finance and foreign ministers, the source added. The president's media office and Sri Lankan foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Sri Lanka owes Chinese lenders - bilateral and commercial - around $7 billion. Sri Lanka needs to reach agreements with creditors to push forward its first review of the IMF programme, which will release a second tranche of about $334 million.

Persons: Ranil Wickremesinghe, Brendan McDermid, Wickremesinghe, Xi Jinping, Xi, Uditha Jayasinghe, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Sri, General Assembly, REUTERS, Rights, Monetary Fund, Forum, China's, Export, Import Bank of China, IMF, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Sri, China, Beijing, Lankan, Sri Lanka, Japan, India

☆ Sri Lanka lifts import ban on trucks, heavy vehicles
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-15 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte/File PhotoCOLOMBO, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka on Tuesday lifted a ban on imports of trucks and other heavy vehicles for the first time since March 2020, according to a gazette notification. Sri Lanka has been gradually easing import restrictions, which were imposed as the country's economy tottered from a financial crisis caused by a severe shortage of dollars. Heavy vehicles including buses, trucks and tankers can now be imported, according to a government notification issued by President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is also the finance minister. However, import bans on passenger vehicles including cars will remain in place. Sri Lanka's economy is expected to shrink about 2% this year, according to central bank estimates, after a 7.8% contraction last year.

Persons: Dinuka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, Uditha Jayashinghe, Jacqueline Wong, Ed Osmond Organizations: REUTERS, International Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sri

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

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

☆ IMF official says Sri Lanka reforms critical, evaluating progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-15 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

COLOMBO, May 15 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission in Sri Lanka will evaluate progress made on reforms so far and complete an exercise to improve governance in key areas of the economy, an IMF official said on Monday. An IMF team is in Colombo until May 23 as part of regular consultations ahead of the first review mission later this year. "It is now essential to continue the reform momentum," said Krishna Srinivasan, Director of Asia Pacific Department at IMF. Sri Lanka, with the help of a $2.9 billion bailout from the global lender, is trying to recover from its worst financial crisis since gaining independence in 1948 and turn around its battered economy. Peter Breuer, IMF Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, Asia and Pacific Department said the lender will be looking at whether the government's macro framework is still appropriate or whether it requires revisions.

☆ Sri Lanka trying to reduce overall debt by $17 bln, president says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Asiri Fernando | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

COLOMBO, April 26 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka is trying to reduce its overall debt by $17 billion through restructuring, its president told the parliament on Wednesday as he sought support of opposition parties for a nearly $3 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. President Ranil Wickremesinghe also said the country would discuss debt restructuring with India and the Paris Club of creditors on one platform and with China separately. Sri Lanka owes $7.1 billion to bilateral creditors, according to official government data, with $3 billion owed to China, $2.4 billion to the Paris Club and $1.6 billion to India. Wickremesinghe said no final decision had been taken yet on domestic debt restructuring. Sri Lanka needs to accelerate growth to 6% or higher by 2028 or 2029 to repay debt and develop, he added.

☆ New BOJ chief's message to world: We're staying the course - for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Under YCC, the BOJ guides short-term rates at -0.1% and the 10-year Japan government bond yield around zero with an implicit cap of 0.5%. "We're in an economy where we're going to be hit more by supply shocks, and monetary policy will face more serious trade-offs," she said on Friday. Ranil Salgado, the IMF's Japan mission chief, sees scope for the BOJ to modify the long-term yield target this year, given heightening prospects of durable wage growth. As long as the short-term rates remain zero or slightly negative, the BOJ can keep monetary policy accommodative even if it tweaks the yield target, he said. "We are advising (the BOJ) to pretty much already be thinking about it," Salgado said on the idea of tweaking YCC.

☆ Analysis: New BOJ head's message to world: We're staying the course - for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

☆ IMF sees scope for BOJ to tweak yield target this year
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-15 | by ( Leika Kihara | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Salgado said the BOJ must keep monetary policy ultra-loose as sustainable achievement of 2% inflation is not yet in sight. Once the BOJ has confidence that Japan will see inflation and wage growth durably accelerate, it can tweak its long-term interest rate target, he said. Under its yield curve control (YCC) policy, the BOJ guides short-term interest rates at the -0.1% level and the 10-year bond yield around zero with an implicit cap of 0.5%. As long as the short-term rates remain zero or slightly negative, the BOJ can keep monetary policy accommodative even if it tweaks the yield target, Salgado said. "Our personal view is, yes," he said, when asked whether conditions could fall in place for the BOJ to tweak the 10-year yield target this year.

☆ World Bank cuts Pakistan's GDP f'cast on rising rates, limited fiscal space
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW DELHI, April 4 (Reuters) - The World Bank sharply lowered Pakistan's current year growth forecast, saying the country's economic growth prospects have weakened due to tighter financial conditions and limited fiscal space. The World Bank now expects Pakistan's economy to grow 0.4% in the current year, from its October forecast of 2% growth. Pakistan expects its economy to grow 2% in FY23, however, the country's central bank chief said in January the growth forecast could face downward pressure. The World Bank lowered its 2023 regional growth forecast to 5.6% from 6.1% in October. Inflation in South Asia is set to fall to 8.9% this year, and to below 7% in 2024, the World Bank said.

☆ Japan unveils fresh childcare plan but funding unclear
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-31 | by ( Tetsushi Kajimoto | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Under the plan, the government will take steps such as expansion of child allowances to be given without income limits. While the government has earmarked 6.1 trillion yen ($45.90 billion) for steps to arrest the declining number of children, a senior ruling party lawmaker was quoted by media as demanding an additional 8 trillion yen to fund the new measures. "A boost to child allowances alone could cost 2-3 trillion yen. "Everyone acknowledges childcare support is important given Japan's need to boost the growth rate. "Opposition parties also have no objection to boost childcare spending," said political analyst Atsuo Ito.

☆ Sri Lanka receives first tranche of IMF bailout
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-22 | by ( Uditha Jayasinghe | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Dinuka LiyanawatteCOLOMBO, March 22 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka has received the first tranche of an IMF bailout programme, President Ranil Wickremesinghe told parliament on Wednesday. "This sets the stage for Sri Lanka to have better fiscal discipline and improved governance," Wickremesinghe said. It clears the way for Sri Lanka to rework a substantial part of its $84 billion worth of public debt. State finance minister Shehan Semasinghe said in an interview that Sri Lanka is ready to engage in restructuring talks with bilateral and private creditors to recover debt sustainability as "soon as possible." This was the 17th IMF bailout for Sri Lanka and the third since the country's decades-long civil war ended in 2009.

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