A round-up of public finance news stories from Asia Pacific you might have missed this week (June 24-28).
Pakistan repays $260 million to IMF
The Pakistan government on Friday paid $260m to the International Monetary Fund as a part of a loan repayment. The fresh payment was made to return money Pakistan borrowed under a bailout package signed in November 2008. (Express Tribune)
Moody's keeps ‘Aa3' long-term rating on Macau
In April Macau’s fiscal reserve contained 165.68 billion patacas (US$20.7bn) official data released earlier this month showed. The income from gaming tax last year was 129.50 billion patacas. It seems highly unlikely that in the near-to medium-term the city’s government will need to go to the financial markets to borrow money. (Macau Business Daily)
US sanctions North Korea bank as it targets weapons programme
The United States Obama administration said this week it was sanctioning North Korea's Daedong Credit Bank for its role in supporting Pyongyang's weapons of mass destruction programme. (Reuters)
Baird tweaks NSW pay rules to circumvent super increase
The New South Wales treasurer has changed regulations to circumvent a recent Industrial Relations Commission ruling on the inclusion of compulsory superannuation increases in wage rises. From July, compulsory employer superannuation contributions will rise from 9 per cent to 9.25 per cent, and will continue to rise incrementally until they reach 12 per cent in 2019. (ABC)
Bangladesh anger at US trade privilege suspension
Bangladesh has criticised Washington's decision to suspend trade privileges over concerns about dangerous working conditions and labour rights. This decision comes after a year-long review of labour practices and workplace safety in Bangladesh (BBC).
Violations found in state-owned Chinese banks' lending
China’s National Audit Office (NAO) on Thursday said it has found that some state-owned financial institutions have violated lending regulations. (Xinhua)
