KOENIGSWINTER, Germany (Reuters) -Group of Seven financial leaders are likely to agree on Thursday and Friday on around $15 billion to help Ukraine pay its bills in coming months, but surging inflation, climate change, supply chains and the impending food crisis are also on the agenda. Finance ministers and central bank governors of the United States, Japan, Canada, Britain, … [Read more...] about Money for Ukraine tops G7 agenda; inflation, food a concern
Squandered public funds
Why Does the US-ASEAN Special Summit Lack Substantial Value?
During US-ASEAN Special Summit, the US pledged US$150 million to tackle several key topics ranging from maritime security to pandemic preparedness to clean energy. Despite hitting the right notes, the summit lacked the concrete trade and investment commitments that ASEAN members were seeking. Access to the prized US market for ASEAN will be vital if Washington wants to balance … [Read more...] about Why Does the US-ASEAN Special Summit Lack Substantial Value?
Indonesia lifts palm oil export ban in relief to global market; govt makes decision after improvements in local supply and prices
JAKARTA, May 19 (Bloomberg): Indonesia, the world’s biggest shipper of edible oils, lifted a ban on palm oil exports in a move that will bring relief to the global market after the war in Ukraine choked off critical supplies. Palm oil exports can resume from May 23, President Joko Widodo said in an online briefing on Thursday. This is after considering improvements in local … [Read more...] about Indonesia lifts palm oil export ban in relief to global market; govt makes decision after improvements in local supply and prices
Vietnam banks raise interest rates amid inflation
HANOI (Xinhua): Many banks in Vietnam have increased deposit interest rates by 0.1 to 0.6 percentage points amid the growing demand for funds and inflationary pressure, local media reported on Wednesday (May 18). The rates have increased sharply since the beginning of this month, with the peak at 6.5 per cent to 7.4 per cent, the daily newspaper Vietnam News reported. … [Read more...] about Vietnam banks raise interest rates amid inflation
East African real estate executives hopeful of recovery amid COVID-19 shocks
NAIROBI, May 18 (Xinhua) -- East African real estate executives on Wednesday said that they remain hopeful that the sector will recover from the COVID-19 shocks. Speaking at a forum in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, Tilda Mwai, research lead of pan-African real estate research firm, Estate Intel, said that the regional economic recovery has prompted a lot of interest in the sector … [Read more...] about East African real estate executives hopeful of recovery amid COVID-19 shocks