ASIA TODAY Sri Lanka agrees debt restructuring agreement with creditor countries

Today’s news: The long-awaited plenum of the Chinese Communist Party is set to begin on July 15. Another case of sexual assault by an American soldier on a minor in Okinawa. Modi prepares to travel to Moscow. The historic run of the Afghan national cricket team is halted in the semi-finals.

SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka has signed agreements with China and other creditor countries to restructure some $10 billion of bilateral debt. This brings the country closer to completing the debt restructuring process, which began in September 2022 after its reserves hit record lows and forced the island nation to default on its external debt. The agreements will allow Sri Lanka to delay payment to bilateral creditors until 2028 and extend the amortization period until 2043. Some $12.5 billion of international bonds still need to be restructured.

CHINA

The Politburo announced that the Chinese Communist Party will meet July 15-18 to hold its long-awaited third plenary session. This meeting will be a decisive moment in President Xi Jinping’s third five-year term. The debate will cover a wide range of objectives, from the economy to social development.

JAPAN-UNITED STATES

An American soldier has been charged with the kidnapping and rape of a teenager in Okinawa. The case is set to stoke longstanding opposition to the military presence in the Japanese archipelago, home to more than half of the 54,000 American soldiers serving in the country. The man, 25 years old and a member of the Air Force, allegedly attacked the girl on December 24 and was identified through security camera images after the victim’s family reported him.

RUSSIA-INDIA

Russian presidential advisor Jurij Ušakov announced that preparations were underway for the visit to Moscow from the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, the first since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. The bilateral summit with Putin will take place on July 8 and 9.

AFGHANISTAN

The historic trajectory of the Afghanistan national team at the World T20 Cricket Championship stopped in the semifinals. The team – which was founded in 1995 in the refugee camps and competes under the country’s flag canceled by the Taliban – was defeated by South Africa in Trinidad and Tobago after reaching the top four in the world for the first time. Their World Cup success represented a rare moment of joy and unity for the country.

ISRAEL

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s defense lawyers told the Jerusalem District Court that, due to his management of the war, the prime minister will only be able to testify in his corruption trial “in March 2025.” “to have sufficient time” so as not to compromise their rights and their defense. The trial began in May 2020.

TAJIKISTAN

New rules governing wedding and funeral ceremonies have come into force in Tajikistan. These include severe fines for not obtaining permission from the authorities, for scattering money during celebrations, for exceeding the permitted number of guests and for irregularly held children’s rites.