China penalises US acid imports in retaliatory move as trade relations grow caustic

China announced on Friday it would levy anti-dumping penalties of over 40 per cent on imports of a chemical from the United States used in foods, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and drug intermediates – a retaliation against similar action from Washington as tensions build in bilateral trade. Starting from Saturday, operators will be required to provide corresponding … Read more

IMF says global debt levels face ‘Great Election Year’ risk

The path towards sustainable government debt levels around the world is under threat this year from the sheer number of elections taking place, the IMF said Wednesday in a new report. “History suggests, and empirical evidence confirms, that governments tend to spend more and or tax less in election year,” Vitor Gaspar, the head of … Read more

Kristalina Georgieva selected for second term as IMF managing director

The International Monetary Fund’s executive board on Friday selected Bulgarian economist Kristalina Georgieva to serve as managing director for a second five-year term, starting on Oct. 1 this year, the global lender said. “The Board commended Ms. Georgieva’s strong and agile leadership during her term, navigating a series of major global shocks,” it said in … Read more

Israel-Gaza ceasefire talks to resume in Cairo: Egyptian media

Talks aimed at brokering a truce between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip will resume in Cairo on Sunday, Egyptian outlet Al-Qahera reported, days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave the green light for fresh negotiations. “An Egyptian security source confirmed to Al-Qahera News the resumption of negotiations on a truce between Israel and … Read more

Putin is set to win election, 6 more years in power

By The Associated Press Vladimir Putin is poised to sweep to another six-year term in this week’s presidential election, even though Russians are dying in Ukraine in a war grinding through its third year and his country is more isolated than ever from the rest of the world. The all-but-certain outcome comes through his rigid … Read more

Egypt hikes interest rates by 600 basis points, pound crumbles to record low

Yousef Gamal El-Din | CNBC Egypt’s pound hit a record low against the dollar on Wednesday after its central bank hiked interest rates by 600 points and devalued the currency. The steps were meant to facilitate an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which is expected to confirm the extension of its current $3 billion … Read more

sri lanka: Bankrupt Sri Lanka to seek debt moratorium until 2028

Colombo: Sri Lanka’s president said Wednesday he was seeking a moratorium on foreign debt repayments until 2028, following a government default during the island nation’s unprecedented economic crisis two years ago. A collapse in foreign exchange reserves saw months of food and fuel shortages along with street protests that forced the ouster of President Ranil … Read more

Treating China as ‘un-investable’ would be the wrong call: strategist

Visitors near Yuyuan Bazaar in Shanghai, China, on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024. Raul Ariano | Bloomberg | Getty Images Even as China’s economy is facing difficulties, treating it as un-investable like some analysts have suggested would not be the right call, John Bilton, head of global multi-asset strategy at JPMorgan Asset Management, told CNBC’s “Squawk … Read more

IMF warns AI to hit almost 40% of global employment, worsen inequality

A pedestrian walks past the TATA pop up store with a poster reading ‘The Future is AI’ ahead of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024. The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives and celebrities runs from January 15 to 19. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images … Read more

Pakistan: Pakistan likely to get $700 million from IMF as next tranche of bailout this month: Report

Cash-strapped Pakistan is expected to get USD 700 million as the next tranche of the bailout from the IMF as the Executive Board of the global lender meets on January 11, according to a media report on Tuesday. The board of the Washington-based International Monetary Fund is set to deliberate and potentially grant final approval … Read more