PARIS // The world needs a co-ordinated framework for capital controls in which the IMF can act as a global referee, says Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister.
Leaders of the Group of 20 (G20) leading and emerging economies should also explore the possibility of giving a more important role to Special Drawing Rights (SDR) as they try to find ways to reform the international monetary system, Mrs Lagardesaid yesterday at a conference organised by the Reinventing Bretton Woods think tank. SDR is an international reserve asset, created by the IMF in 1969 to supplement its member countries' official reserves
Even as she warned capital controls should be used only in extraordinary circumstances, Mrs Lagarde said they should be co-ordinated and suggested the role of co-ordinator could be given to the IMF.
"Controlling capital flows is not necessarily a good solution, as capital will go to other places … It should only be done sporadically, in case of a surge in capital flows, and in a co-ordinated fashion. There needs to be a referee", which could be the IMF, she said.
France took over the presidency of the G20 last month and has vowed to explore ways to overhaul the international monetary system to make it less reliant on the US dollar and to reduce currency volatility that it says is undermining global growth.
Several emerging countries, including Brazil, have imposed levies on capital flows going through their borders in a bid to limit the appreciation of their currencies. Because of interest rates close to zero in developed economies, emerging nations have recently faced rising capital inflows in search of higher yields.
They have also blamed bond purchasing measures announced by the US Federal Reserve, which have pushed rates down in the US, for accelerating capital inflows directed at them.
Mrs Lagarde also said a world with a single reserve currency would be vulnerable to economic crises, underlining the need for more global policy co-ordination in the face of trade imbalances.
"The fact that there is only one reserve asset but several economic areas is a source of vulnerability," she said. "It leaves us exposed to financial turmoil in the event of fast depreciation."
The dollar's role as the linchpin of the global monetary system has come under attack from some policymakers since the 2008 financial crisis. Zhou Xiaochuan, the governor of the People's Bank of China, has proposed that the IMF take over leadership of the global monetary system from the US.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian president, has also questioned the role of the dollar and his government aims to diversify its reserves, the world's third-largest, and promote the use of regional currencies in international trade and finance to reduce risks posed by the dominance of the dollar. Mrs Lagarde's remarks reflect French thinking at a time when Nicolas Sarkozy, the president, holds the chairmanship of the G20 economies that are trying to set global economic policy in the wake of the financial crisis.
France is aiming to foster discussion about the monetary system rather than impose a specific vision, Mrs Lagarde said.
"France does not have the ambition to provide ready-made solutions," she said. "We don't have a magic wand, we don't have a philosopher's stone. You are going to participate in that decision," she told the audience of central bankers, economists, academics and government officials from around the world.
Reducing trade imbalances that are blamed in part for the 2008 financial crisis, together with setting out a new framework for a global monetary system, are among the top priorities of the G20. The existence of one reserve currency would not be a problem if that currency remained stable, Mrs Lagarde said. In recent years, however, increasingly volatile foreign exchange markets have undermined global economic growth and proved a growing challenge for companies trying to trade beyond their own borders.
The minister also repeated France's view that one possible way to address trade imbalances would be to offer a financial safety net to developing countries.
The volatility of exchange rates and capital flows has disproportionately threatened emerging market economies, Mrs Lagarde said, prompting them to accumulate huge reserves, distorting trade patterns and the global economy.
* with agencies
HOSTS
T20 WORLD CUP
2024: US and West Indies; 2026: India and Sri Lanka; 2028: Australia and New Zealand; 2030: England, Ireland and Scotland
ODI WORLD CUP
2027: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia; 2031: India and
Bangladesh
CHAMPIONS TROPHY
2025: Pakistan; 2029: India
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EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
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How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The specs
Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder
Power: 220 and 280 horsepower
Torque: 350 and 360Nm
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT
On sale: now
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Greatest of All Time
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RACECARD
6pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (PA) $50,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
6.35pm: Festival City Stakes – Conditions (TB) $60,000 (D) 1,200m
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8.20pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (D) 1,600m
8.55pm: Cape Verdi – Group 2 (TB) $180,000 (T) 1,600m
9.30pm: Dubai Dash – Listed (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,000m
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The Perfect Couple
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Where to buy
Limited-edition art prints of The Sofa Series: Sultani can be acquired from Reem El Mutwalli at www.reemelmutwalli.com
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Israel Palestine on Swedish TV 1958-1989
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Rating: 5/5
LUKA CHUPPI
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
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The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
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The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
