World Bank's Banga wants to make gains in tackling the effects of climate change, poverty and war
Read full article: World Bank's Banga wants to make gains in tackling the effects of climate change, poverty and warIt's a full agenda for Ajay Banga as he nears the end of his first year as World Bank president.
IMF expects continuing US support for Ukraine despite Congress dropping aid
Read full article: IMF expects continuing US support for Ukraine despite Congress dropping aidThe International Monetary Fund says it expects the U.S. to continue playing its key role in amassing multinational support that has helped keep Ukraine’s economy afloat during Russia’s invasion.
Ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga confirmed as World Bank leader
Read full article: Ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga confirmed as World Bank leaderFormer Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga, an Indian army officer’s son with decades of corporate experience, has been confirmed to lead the World Bank for a five-year term that starts next month.
Climate advocates urge World Bank overhaul as leader exits
Read full article: Climate advocates urge World Bank overhaul as leader exitsLeading climate figures are urging the Biden administration to use the early departure of the Trump-appointed head of the World Bank as an opening to overhaul the powerful financial institution.
World Bank dims outlook for global economy amid Russia war
Read full article: World Bank dims outlook for global economy amid Russia warThe World Bank has sharply downgraded its outlook for the global economy, pointing to Russia’s war against Ukraine, the prospect of widespread food shortages and concerns about the potential return of “stagflation” — a toxic mix of high inflation and sluggish growth unseen for more than four decades.
Yellen meets war refugees in Poland, pushes food crisis plan
Read full article: Yellen meets war refugees in Poland, pushes food crisis planU.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has met with Ukrainian refugees and urged the need to confront Russian brutality as she visited Poland ahead of a meeting of finance ministers for the Group of Seven leading economies.
IMF, World Bank chiefs warn of debt squeeze in poor nations
Read full article: IMF, World Bank chiefs warn of debt squeeze in poor nationsThe heads of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are warning that rising interest rates are squeezing the world’s poorest countries as they struggle with the coronavirus and soaring food prices.
Finance heads urged to boost fight against food insecurity
Read full article: Finance heads urged to boost fight against food insecurityTreasury Secretary Janet Yellen has urged world finance leaders to “get concrete” as they look for ways to combat a looming crisis over food insecurity around the globe that Russia’s war in Ukraine has made worse.
IMF head pledges renewed efforts to protect data integrity
Read full article: IMF head pledges renewed efforts to protect data integrityThe embattled head of the International Monetary Fund is pledging renewed efforts to bolster data integrity while focusing on the main job of helping countries recover from a devastating global pandemic.
Aid groups appeal to G-7 for cash to get shots into arms
Read full article: Aid groups appeal to G-7 for cash to get shots into armsPublic health experts and humanitarian groups are calling for money, increased vaccine production and logistical support to help developing countries where the virus is still raging.
World Bank sees 5.6% global growth in 2021, best since 1973
Read full article: World Bank sees 5.6% global growth in 2021, best since 1973The World Bank is upgrading the outlook for global growth this year, predicting that COVID-19 vaccinations and massive government stimulus in rich countries will power the fastest worldwide expansion in nearly five decades.
G-7 back steps to deter tax dodging by multinational firms
Read full article: G-7 back steps to deter tax dodging by multinational firmsThe Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to support a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15% to deter multinational companies from avoiding taxes by stashing profits in low-rate countries.
Cash-strapped Sudan clears overdue payments to World Bank
Read full article: Cash-strapped Sudan clears overdue payments to World BankThe Sudanese government says it cleared all of its past-due repayments to the World Bank. Sudan's cabinet said in a statement Friday, March 26, 2021, that the repayments allow Sudan to resume normal relations with the World Bank after nearly 30 years of suspension. This development allows Sudan to resume normal relations with the World Bank after nearly 30 years of suspension, according to a statement released by Sudan's Cabinet. The World Bank said that by clearing its debts, Sudan will have access to nearly $2 billion in grants for poverty reduction and sustainable development. The Sudanese government said that it shall soon discuss with the World Bank the schedule for the disbursement of total grants of $2 billion over the next two years.
World Bank sees subdued recovery in 2021 and plenty of risk
Read full article: World Bank sees subdued recovery in 2021 and plenty of riskFILE - In this Oct. 17, 2019 file photo, World Bank President David Malpass speaks during a news conference at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Washington. For 2020, the World Bank expects GDP in the United States to fall by 4.3% while it predicted a modest 2% increase in China. To combat the sharp downturn, the World Bank has made $160 billion available to help more than 100 countries protect the poor, support businesses and bolster the recovery. Malpass, in a briefing for reporters, said the World Bank was making available $12 billion to provide 1 billion COVID-19 vaccinations in poor countries. For all advanced economies, the World Bank predicted a drop of 5.4% in 2020 and a rise of 3.3% in 2021.
Industrial nations consider extending debt relief over virus
Read full article: Industrial nations consider extending debt relief over virusWASHINGTON – The world's major economies are considering a proposal to extend for six months a moratorium on debt payments by poor nations as a way to provide support during the worst global recession since the 1930s. The issue is being discussed at a virtual meeting Wednesday of the Group of 20 major industrial countries, which includes traditional economic powers such as the United States, Japan and Germany and emerging economies such as China. The virtual discussions are being held at the start of this week's meetings of the 189-nation International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, which are also being conducted virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mohammed al-Jaardan, the finance minister for Saudi Arabia, this year's chair of the G-20, said the suspension of debt payments, due to expire by year's end, should be extended into 2021. World Bank President David Malpass has told reporters that he expects the extension will be for six months.
World Bank approves $12B to finance virus vaccines, care
Read full article: World Bank approves $12B to finance virus vaccines, careThe World Bank said its COVID-19 emergency response programs are already reaching 111 countries. Citizens in developing countries also need access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, it said. The International Finance Corporation, the private sector lending arm of the World Bank is investing in vaccine manufacturers through a $4 billion Global Health Platform, the World Bank said. The World Bank said it will draw on expertise and experience from its involvement in many large-scale immunization programs and other public health efforts. The funding also is meant to help countries access tests and treatments and to support management of supply chains and other logistics for vaccinations in developing countries, the bank said.
Up to 150 million could join extreme poor, World Bank says
Read full article: Up to 150 million could join extreme poor, World Bank saysMiddle income-countries are expected to have 82% of the new extreme poor, including India, Nigeria and Indonesia. Most of the new extreme poor, more than 110 million even by the World Bank's baseline estimate, will be in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Roughly a third of the newly extreme poor are expected to be in sub-Saharan Africa, between 26 million and 40 million. The World Bank estimates between 88 million and 115 million people could slip into extreme poverty this year, with another 23 million to 35 million in 2021. The report "offers no simple answers to these major challenges currently confronting the world, because there are not any,” the World Bank authors write.