Podcasts about International Monetary Fund

Interview recorded - 19th of February, 2026On this episode of the WTFinance podcast I had the pleasure of welcoming on Barry Eichengreen. Barry is a renowned economist and Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1987. He is also the author of many books, including the upcoming book “Money Beyond Borders: Global Currencies from Croesus to Crypto”During our conversation we spoke about his thoughts on the economy, the K-shaped economy, geopolitical shift, move away from the US dollar, what it means for the future and more. I hope you enjoy!0:00 - Introduction1:08 - Overview of the economy2:18 - K-shaped economy3:41 - Geopolitical shift6:13 - Europe becoming a world power?9:23 - US currency12:53 - China be trusted?14:58 - Precious metals movements17:09 - Next reserve currencies?19:58 - US Dollar devaluing21:47 - Bifurcating currency world23:56 - Influence for writing the book?25:58 - Any surprises?28:00 - One message to takeaway?Barry Eichengreen is George C. Pardee & Helen N. Pardee Chair and Distinguished Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, where he has taught since 1987. He is a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research (Cambridge, Massachusetts) and Research Fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research (London, England). In 1997-98 he was Senior Policy Advisor at the International Monetary Fund. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (class of 1997). Professor Eichengreen is the convener of the Bellagio Group of academics and economic officials and chair of the Academic Advisory Committee of the Peterson Institute of International Economics. He has held Guggenheim and Fulbright Fellowships and has been a fellow of the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences (Palo Alto) and the Institute for Advanced Study (Berlin). He is a regular monthly columnist for Project Syndicate. His books include The Populist Temptation: Economic Grievance and Political Reaction in the Modern Era (2018), How Global Currencies Work: Past, Present, and Future, with Livia Chitu and Arnaud Mehl, (2017), The Korean Economy: From a Miraculous Past to a Sustainable Future (Harvard East Asian Monographs) with Wonhyuk Lim, Yung Chul Park and Dwight H. Perkins, (2015), Renminbi Internationalization: Achievements, Prospects, and Challenges, co-edited with Masahiro Kawai, (2015), Hall of Mirrors: The Great Depression, The Great Recession, and the Uses-and Misuses-of History, (2015). He was awarded the Economic History Association's Jonathan R.T. Hughes Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2002 and the University of California at Berkeley Social Science Division's Distinguished Teaching Award in 2004. He is also the recipient of a doctor honoris causa from the American University in Paris.Barry Eichengreen - Website - https://eml.berkeley.edu/~eichengr/X - https://x.com/B_EichengreenBook - https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691280530/money-beyond-borders?_glWTFinance - Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/wtfinancee/Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/67rpmjG92PNBW0doLyPvfniTunes - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wtfinance/id1554934665?uo=4Twitter - https://twitter.com/AnthonyFatseas

Ukraine will emerge from this war with enormous debt. The conventional wisdom treats that as an obstacle: investors weigh it before committing capital, and the burden slows the recovery before it starts. Yuriy Gorodnichenko and Maurice Obstfeld of UC Berkeley argue the opposite. A thorough restructuring of Ukraine's war debts – including, for sufficiently large obligations, outright forgiveness – is not just politically defensible but economically essential for attracting private investment. The bill for rebuilding and growing Ukraine, Gorodnichenko estimates, is $40 billion a year: $20 billion to replace destroyed capital, $10 billion to stop Ukraine falling behind its Eastern European peers, and $10 billion to start closing the gap. Put that figure next to what Poland absorbed in FDI during its post-communist transition, or the €200 billion of Russian state assets currently immobilised in Euroclear, or the budgetary support Ukraine has been receiving since 2022 – and it looks achievable. The harder challenge, they argue, is not raising $40 billion. It is directing it: towards investment rather than consumption. Ukraine didn't grow in the post-Soviet era at the rate that its neighbours achieved. EU accession momentum and secure borders can be a signal to investors that this time the trajectory will be different.The research behind this episode:Gorodnichenko, Yuriy, and Maurice Obstfeld. 2026. "You Only Live Twice: Financial Inflows and Growth in a Westward-Facing Ukraine." Economic Policy: Papers on European and Global Issues, special issue: "What's Next for Ukraine?"To cite this episode:Phillips, Tim. 2025. "You Only Live Twice: Financial Inflows and Growth in a Westward-Facing Ukraine." Economic Policy: Papers on European and Global Issues (podcast).Assign this as extra listening — the citation above is formatted and ready for a reading list or VLE.About the guestsYuriy Gorodnichenko is a CEPR Research Fellow and Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley, where he leads CEPR's Ukraine Initiative. His research spans monetary policy, fiscal policy, and the macroeconomics of growth and business cycles.Maurice Obstfeld is a CEPR Distinguished Fellow and Class of 1958 Professor of Economics at the University of California, Berkeley. He served as Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund from 2015 to 2018, and as a member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama from 2014 to 2015. He is also a Fellow of the Econometric Society and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.Research cited in this episodeThe discussion of debt overhang draws on a body of work from the 1980s developing-country debt crises, notably the insight that for sufficiently indebted countries, debt reduction can increase the expected value of what creditors recover. Gorodnichenko and Obstfeld apply this framework directly to Ukraine's war debts, arguing that deep restructuring – supported by bilateral official creditors, many of whom are European – is a prerequisite for private investment to follow.The €200 billion figure for immobilised Russian central bank assets held at Euroclear is the basis for Obstfeld's proposal of a reparations loan that would give Ukraine immediate access to large-scale resources, with repayment contingent on Russian reparations. This is discussed in more detail in the related reading below.More in the "What's Next for Ukraine?" seriesThis episode is the first in a three-part series based on papers presented at the inaugural Economic Policy winter conference, Paris, December 2025. Episodes 2 and 3, on rebuilding and the labour market, are forthcoming.Related reading on VoxEUYou only live twice: A growth strategy for Ukraine — Gorodnichenko and Obstfeld's own VoxEU column summarising the key arguments in this paper: why $40 billion a year is achievable, what the policy levers are, and why the window matters.Euroclear and the geopolitics of immobilised Russian assets — The legal and financial context behind the €200 billion of Russian central bank assets frozen at Euroclear, and what it would take to use them for a reparations loan to Ukraine.Using the returns of frozen Russian assets to finance the victory of Ukraine — A VoxEU proposal for channelling the interest income generated by frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine's needs, without requiring the more politically contested step of confiscating the assets themselves.Ukraine's recovery challenge — An earlier VoxEU overview of the reconstruction task: the scale of damage, the role of EU accession, and the two-phase approach to restoring growth.

In this episode of China Decode, Alice Han and James Kynge unpack the International Monetary Fund's blunt warning that China's export-led growth model is nearing its limits — just as the Supreme Court of the United States rolls back sweeping Trump-era emergency tariffs, reshaping the trade war at a pivotal moment. Then, China's hospitals are going viral. From Beijing to Hainan, foreign patients are seeking faster, cheaper treatment as part of Beijing's “Healthy China 2030” push to turn healthcare into a new growth engine — but could that spark domestic backlash? And finally, Seedance 2.0, the powerful new AI video model from ByteDance, is generating hyper-realistic celebrity deepfakes and rattling Hollywood. Is this the future of filmmaking — or the start of a new AI arms race? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 2 of our interview with Felipe Antunes de Oliveira on his recent book Dependency and Crisis in Brazil and Argentina: A Critique of Market and State Utopias (2024).   In this timely and theoretically rigorous work, Antunes de Oliveira examines why the two largest countries in South America fail to materialize the development they continually promise to achieve. Instead of approaching the topic from a policy-failure perspective, he focuses on what public debates reveal about "development" itself. Building on this, Antunes de Oliveira offers a theoretical and empirical critique of neoliberal and neodevelopmentalist ideas surrounding cycles of structural reform in Brazil and Argentina, drawing on dependency theory to propose an alternative political economic framework for analyzing development challenges. Felipe Antunes de Oliveira is a senior lecturer in International Relations at Queen Mary University of London and a coordinating editor at Latin American Perspectives. Outside the academy, he has served as a diplomat for the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as General Coordinator of International Financial Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Finance in 2024, and, since December 2024, as an Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund. Dependency and Crisis in Brazil and Argentina is available for purchase through the University of Pittsburgh Press: https://upittpress.org/books/9780822948100/  For more information about Latin American Perspectives, our podcasts, and guests, please contact latampodcasts@gmail.com

The International Monetary Fund has claimed the federal government may be forced to bail out some of our states and territories with eye watering debt. They have also urged a major review of spending and tax across the country.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Monetary Fund calls out federal government over-spending and warns it may need to bail out broke states including Victoria. Plus, we take you inside a boardroom drama worthy of a mini-series.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Economic policy in the second Trump administration continues to undergo significant change. Many of these changes have been enacted through executive orders. What effect have these policies had on economic growth, scientific research, and on American institutions thus far? How might they impact U.S. leadership over the long-term? Simon Johnson joins EconoFact Chats to discuss these questions, drawing on a new book he co-edited, 'The Economic Consequences of the Second Trump Administration: A Preliminary Assessment.' Simon is the Ronald A. Kurtz Professor of Entrepreneurship at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where he heads the Global Economics and Management Group. He served as Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund in 2007–2008 and was a co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2024.

How can leaders navigate a world roiled by a host of uncertainties, from the impact of AI to jobs and economies, to an ever-warming world and increasing geopolitical conflicts? They can start by asking the right questions. In this special episode, with interviews recorded in Davos, leaders share what's top of mind for 2026. They give their thoughts on how leaders can navigate the unknown, their strategies to focus on what matters most and the key questions they're looking to answer at the start the year.   Featured in this episode: Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund, the question to help navigate uncertainty Anne Walsh, Chief Investment Officer, Guggenheim Investment Management; Managing Partner, Guggenheim Partners on separating the signal from the noise Sunny Mann, Global Chair, Baker McKenzie, on tapping experts and building for resilience Nicholas Thompson, CEO, The Atlantic, on if we'll see the democratization of AI Jeremy Allaire, Founder and CEO, Circle, on how autonomous work will take shape Nikki Clifton, UPS Foundation, focusing on the right challenge Jonathan Haidt, author The Anxious Generation, on investing on habits for flourishing Suleika Jaouad, author and artist, on valuing meaning over momentum Adam Grant, Wharton Organizational Psychologist, on following the right leaders Jon Batiste, Grammy-winning musician, on making the future we imagine a reality About this epsiode:  Transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/questions-davos-leaders-are-asking-2026 Related story: Davos 2026: 10 questions on leaders' minds https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/02/davos-2026-10-questions-on-leaders-minds/ Related sessions: Davos 2026: Special address by Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission: https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-special-address-ursula-von-der-leyen/ Davos 2026: Special address by Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada https://www.weforum.org/stories/2026/01/davos-2026-special-address-by-mark-carney-prime-minister-of-canada/ Related epsiodes:  Meet The Leader: IMF's Kristalina Georgieva on what's next for AI, skills and the global economy https://tinyurl.com/4ptf5ewp Radio Davos: What just happened at Davos 2026 https://open.spotify.com/episode/3vB8W0ljH3VQeHAaf2sCuV

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/east-asian-studies

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/world-affairs

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/chinese-studies

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/economics

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

China and the Global Economic Order (Cambridge University Press, 2026) examines China's evolving relations with the Bretton Woods institutions (BWIs), specifically the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group from the 1980s through 2025. Using a combination of new qualitative findings and quantitative datasets, the authors observe that China has taken an evolving approach to the BWIs in order to achieve its multiple agendas, acting largely as a 'rule-taker' during its first two decades as a member, but, over time, also becoming a 'rule-shaker' inside the BWIs, and ultimately a new 'rule-maker' outside of the BWIs. The analysis highlights China's exercise of 'two-way countervailing power' with one foot inside the BWIs, and another outside, and pushing for changes in both directions. China's interventions have resulted in BWs reforms and the gradual transformation of the global order, while also generating counter-reactions especially from the United States. Gregory Chin is an Associate Professor of Political Economy in the Department of Politics, and Faculty of Graduate Studies at York University (Canada), with a focus on the political economy of international money and development finance, China, Asia, the BRICS, and global governance. Nomeh Anthony Kanayo, Ph.D. Candidate in International Relations at Florida International University, with research interest in Africa's diaspora relations, African-China relations, great power rivalry and IR theories. Check out my new article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02699 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/finance

The Bank of Canada holds rates. The Fed turns hawkish. Gold and commodities ripping higher as geopolitical risks intensify. The International Monetary Fund suggests Canada needs to fix its own internal trade barriers. US warship arrives in the Middle East. Start an investment portfolio that's built to perform with Neighbourhood Holdings! For Investors and Advisors: https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehourFor Mortgage Brokers:https://www.neighbourhood.com/looniehour-brokersPathways Alliance brings together six of Canada's largest oil sands companies working together to keep growing Canada's economy while providing the energy the world needs. Visit https://pathwaysalliance.ca/ to learn more!Units of Neighbourhood Holdings Income Trust I (“NHIT”) are sold primarily through third-party registered dealers. If you would like to learn more, please contact investors@neighbourhood.com.Check out the Saretsky Group Real Estate Services: https://www.saretskygroup.com/

The GZERO World Podcast heads to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum this week for a look at transatlantic relations and how President Trump's second term is reshaping the global order. Uncertainty and tensions were high this week as Trump doubled down on his desire to control Greenland—before announcing a deal with NATO over the Danish territory's future and walking back tariff threats. Ian Bremmer spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of Davos to discuss the future of the transatlantic relationship, Arctic security, the war in Ukraine and why, despite so many geopolitical challenges, Europe is more united than ever.Then, Bremmer sits down with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, for a look at the surprising resilience of the world economy. Georgieva says there are four key reasons why the IMF upgraded its global growth forecast for 2026. They also discuss the importance of independent central banks and Trump's push for more control over Fed policy.Host: Ian BremmerGuests: Alexander Stubb, Kristalina Georgieva Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The GZERO World Podcast heads to Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum this week for a look at transatlantic relations and how President Trump's second term is reshaping the global order. Uncertainty and tensions were high this week as Trump doubled down on his desire to control Greenland—before announcing a deal with NATO over the Danish territory's future and walking back tariff threats. Ian Bremmer spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb on the sidelines of Davos to discuss the future of the transatlantic relationship, Arctic security, the war in Ukraine and why, despite so many geopolitical challenges, Europe is more united than ever.Then, Bremmer sits down with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, for a look at the surprising resilience of the world economy. Georgieva says there are four key reasons why the IMF upgraded its global growth forecast for 2026. They also discuss the importance of independent central banks and Trump's push for more control over Fed policy.Host: Ian BremmerGuests: Alexander Stubb, Kristalina Georgieva Subscribe to the GZERO World with Ian Bremmer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform, to receive new episodes as soon as they're published. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What's ahead for the economy and how can leaders navigate economic uncertainty in 2026? Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva takes us through: the International Monetary Fund's new research on the surprising impacts AI could have on jobs and paychecks, which country's workers could be best poised for these new shifts, and why policymakers could play a make-or-break role in what plays out. She'll also share the organization's outlook for the year and what to expect as new changes for trade and geopolitical tensions take shape.  Recorded live from the Congress Centre the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland 2026 About this epsiode:  International Monetary Fund: IMF.org IMF Report link: Bridging Skill Gaps for the Future: New Jobs Creation in the AI Age: https://www.imf.org/en/publications/staff-discussion-notes/issues/2026/01/09/bridging-skill-gaps-for-the-future-new-jobs-creation-in-the-ai-age-572136?cid=bl-com-SDNEA2026001 IMF Report link: World Economic Outlook Update https://www.imf.org/en/publications/weo/issues/2026/01/19/world-economic-outlook-update-january-2026 Episode transcript: https://www.weforum.org/podcasts/meet-the-leader/episodes/ai-skills-global-economy-imf-kristalina-georgieva/ About the 2026 Annual Meeting in Davos:  https://www.weforum.org/meetings/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2026/ Radio Davos Daily Meet The Leader's sister podcast Radio Davos published live from the Annual Meeting in Davos. To listen to these episodes, follow Radio Davos here: https://open.spotify.com/show/36D1oLAmsRimw70XV19Cdf

OpenAI is introducing advertisements into ChatGPT for free and ChatGPT Go users, aiming to fund artificial general intelligence development. These ads will be clearly labeled and separate from AI responses, with OpenAI stating user conversations will remain private and data will not be sold. Ads will be excluded from sensitive topics. Users can avoid ads by upgrading to a paid subscription, such as the new $8/month ChatGPT Go tier, which offers increased limits and access to the latest model but also features advertisements. This move signifies a monetization strategy, with OpenAI reporting significant revenue growth for ChatGPT.The broader impact of AI on jobs is also discussed, with data suggesting job losses attributed to AI may be overstated. While some roles are affected, particularly entry-level positions, the overall employment impact appears limited. Reports indicate that AI is often used as a justification for layoffs driven by economic factors or overhiring, rather than being the sole cause. The analysis highlights that AI's productivity gains are currently modest, requiring substantial increases to drive large-scale job replacement. However, the International Monetary Fund estimates nearly 40% of global jobs are at risk due to AI, with a growing demand for new skills that offer a wage premium.Automation and platform integrations are accelerating, with ConnectWise acquiring ZofIQ to automate service desk operations within its PSA workflow. D&H is expanding its logistics capabilities by acquiring fulfillment.com, enhancing its supply chain services. Microsoft MVPs are collaborating to showcase free Intune management tools to help organizations manage their Intune environments more effectively. These developments indicate a trend towards deeper platform integration and automation within IT service delivery and logistics.For MSPs and IT service providers, these developments highlight several critical considerations. The introduction of ads in AI tools like ChatGPT raises questions about trust and governance, particularly when these tools are integrated into client-facing workflows. The slowdown in hiring, especially for junior roles, underscores the need for strategic talent development to avoid future capacity gaps. Furthermore, the increasing automation within platforms and services, while offering efficiency, necessitates careful management of counterparty risk, clear contractual definitions of authority, and redefined pricing models to account for shifting liability and decision-making. Vendors retreating from emerging technologies like Meta's VR business also underscore the importance of diligent vendor selection and managing the credibility cost associated with adopted technologies. Four things to know today 00:00 Jobless Claims Fall as Small Businesses Pull Back on Hiring, Especially Entry-Level Roles05:45 OpenAI Adds Ads to ChatGPT as It Scales Revenue, Expands Go Tier, and Deepens Enterprise and SMB Adoption09:17 Automation Moves From Tools to Authority as ConnectWise, D&H, and Intune Ecosystems Shift Control—and Risk13:05 Meta's Retreat from Business VR Leaves MSPs Managing Cleanup, Data Deletion, and Client Expectations This is the Business of Tech.    Supported by:  https://scalepad.com/dave/

131.The stories which you will read in this book deal with some of the many problems which face young people.你在这本书中读到的故事将涉及到年轻人面临的诸多问题中的某些问题。132.The three organizations are the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.这三个组织是国际货币基金组织、国际复兴与开发银行以及关税与贸易总协定。133.A mailbag from a single sender addressed to one recipient, as the name suggests,is for delivering a bag of printed matter.一个从一位寄件人到另一位收件人的邮包，如其名称所示，是用来递送一袋印刷品的。134.There was, however, a need for food to be carried from the bowl to the mouth, and chopsticks came along to meet that need.因而筷子满足了把食物从碗中夹进口中的这种需求。135.I'm going to Hawaii next week, so I have to go and exchange some yen for dollars at the bank.下周我要去夏威夷，所以我必须去银行用日元兑换一些美元。

This week, we're discussing the winner of our latest Patreon poll, Senegalese auteur Djibril Diop Mambéty's Hyenas. Adapting Swiss-German playwright Friedrich Dürrenmatt's 1956 satirical tragicomedy The Visit and transposing its story onto post-colonial Senegal, the film tells the story of Dramaan Drameh, a grocer in the poor town of Colobane, whose life is upended when a former flame, Linguère Ramatou, returns to the town after decades. Having amassed a large fortune in the intervening years, Ramatou makes the township a disquieting offer - she will bestow her fortune onto Colobane in exchange for the murder of Drameh as revenge for abandoning her following a pregnancy during their brief love affair. Gorgeously-lensed, blackly satirical, and ultimately tragic, Hyenas imbues its tense tale of vengenace and greed with resonances examining Senagal's (and the greater continet of Africa's) subjugation under western capitalism in the post-colonial period. We begin with a discussion of Senegal's cinema, its anti-colonial dimensions, and how the rhythms of Mambéty's film antagonize western modes of narrative and filmmaking. Then, we examine the film's exploration of the corrupting nature of capital, and how forces like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank acted as coercive mechanisms for privatization and neoliberal policy in Africa and throughout the developing world. Finally, we discuss the film's sexual politics, where we feel its metaphors break down in its exploration of the character of Ramatou, and where fidelity to source material occasionally muddles the film's incisive colonial critique. Get access to all of our premium episodes and bonus content by becoming a Hit Factory Patron for just $5/month.....Our theme song is "Mirror" by Chris Fish.

In the coming year, renewed attention should be made to explore how governments can shift from simply spending more to spending smarter. Drawing on new insights from the International Monetary Fund and fresh empirical work from OMFIF and EY, we examine why productive public investment remains elusive, what distinguishes high-performing public institutions and how fiscal policies can better support high-productive investment.   Mark MacDonald, global public finance management leader at EY, and Galen Sheer, senior economist, fiscal affairs at the IMF, join Andrea Correa, senior economist at OMFIF, to unpack the practical reforms finance ministries can take, from improving allocative and technical efficiency to building credible evaluation systems, and offer next steps that policy-makers can act on immediately to drive better long-term outcomes.

China's consumer inflation accelerated to its fastest pace in nearly three years in December, official data showed on Friday, signaling a stabilizing economy as recent stimulus measures continued to bolster domestic demand.Going forward, analysts said consumer inflation is expected to remain mild through 2026, leaving ample room for policymakers to step up macroeconomic adjustment to counter mounting uncertainties. Policy options include targeted measures to boost domestic demand and support innovation, as well as further cuts to the reserve requirement ratio and interest rates.The country's consumer price index, the main gauge of inflation, rose by 0.8 percent year-on-year in December, following a 0.7 percent rise in November, marking the highest level since February 2023, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Friday."China's latest consumer inflation data points to a continued strengthening in domestic demand, mainly driven by the impact of consumption-boosting policies and the release of demand ahead of the New Year holiday," said Tang Guang hua, an analyst at Shen yin & Wan guo Futures Co. "Meanwhile, the core CPI remained above 1 percent for four consecutive months in December, highlighting a steady improvement in consumption fundamentals."The improving inflation data has reflected the growing momentum of the Chinese economy, with the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank having raised their growth forecasts for China's economy.The IMF forecasts a 5 percent GDP expansion in 2025 and 4.5 percent for 2026, while Goldman Sachs said this week that it expects China's GDP to grow 4.8 percent in real terms in 2026, supported by a policy-backed investment rebound, the potential of service consumption, resilient export growth and a milder drag of the property sector.With economic momentum showing signs of improving, Chinese stocks moved higher on Friday, with the Shanghai Composite Index posting a solid gain of 0.92 percent to close at 4,120.43 points, topping the psychologically important 4,100 points to reach a decade high. Since the beginning of the year, the index has risen by 3.82 percent, indicating a continuous improvement in investor confidence.NBS data showed the core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices and is deemed a better gauge of supply-demand conditions, rose 1.2 percent year-on-year in December, unchanged from November.Meanwhile, China's producer price index — which measures factory-gate prices — fell by 1.9 percent year-on-year in December, narrowing from a 2.2 percent drop in November, the NBS said.Tang from Shenyin & Wanguo Futures Co said the narrowing decline in factory-gate prices showed strengthening recovery momentum, signaling both improving industrial fundamentals and deeper structural optimization.He expects consumer prices to rise steadily on the back of continued consumption recovery and policy support, while PPI recovery momentum is set to strengthen further given the progress in building a unified national market, industrial restructuring and rising demand from emerging industries as key drivers, particularly for high-end manufacturing.As the NBS is set to release the economic indicators for December and the fourth quarter later this month, Li Chao, chief economist at Zheshang Securities, said China's economic growth is expected to have remained resilient toward the end of 2025, fueled by relatively strong production and a gradual recovery in demand.He said that economic activity likely picked up in December, with both domestic and external demand gradually improving and companies pushing to meet year-end targets. "That will help support China to achieve its full-year growth target of around 5 percent in 2025, while laying the groundwork for a strong start in 2026."During the recently held 2026 work conference of the People's Bank of China, the country's central bank said it will continue to implement an appropriately accommodative monetary policy in 2026, underscoring its commitment to supporting high-quality economic development and promoting a reasonable rebound in prices.Li from Zheshang Securities said his team expects a 50 basis-point cut in the RRR and a 10 basis-point reduction in policy interest rates over the year.Li added that structural policy tools are expected to continue to play a key role, alongside stronger credit guidance to channel funding toward priority areas.Expanding domestic demand, advancing technological innovation and supporting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are likely to remain the main focus of policy support in 2026, he said.

A treasury company pioneer, Marco launched the very first altcoin treasury on the Nasdaq. Prior to joining Solmate as CEO he was a partner at Pantera Capital, where he helped to structure some of the industry's best-performing treasuries. A trained attorney, Marco was once dubbed the "Dean of Digital Currency Lawyers" by the Editor-in-Chief of American Banker. He was the Chief Legal Officer at Kraken, one of the world's largest digital asset exchanges, for five years.Prior to Kraken, Marco was the President of Blockchain.com, as well as a Partner at Cooley LLP, where he led the firm's global financial technology team. At Cooley, he invented the SAFT Framework and co-authored the SAFT Project Whitepaper, which became a market standard for crypto capital formation. He was an advisor to the International Monetary Fund and an IMF delegate speaker on financial technology in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.In this conversation, we discuss:- Inventing the SAFT Framework - Stories from being Chief Legal Officer at Kraken - Crypto in Abu Dhabi and UAE - The geographical importance of the UAE - Why Solana - Solana in 2026 - Raising $300 million - Planned Acquisition of RockawayX - The Infrastructure Flywheel Strategy SolmateX: @SolmateWebsite: www.solmate.comLinkedIn: Solmate $SLMTMarco SantoriX: @msantoriESQLinkedIn: Marco Santori---------------------------------------------------------------------------------This episode is brought to you by PrimeXBT.PrimeXBT offers a robust trading system for both beginners and professional traders that demand highly reliable market data and performance. Traders of all experience levels can easily design and customize layouts and widgets to best fit their trading style. PrimeXBT is always offering innovative products and professional trading conditions to all customers.  PrimeXBT is running an exclusive promotion for listeners of the podcast. After making your first deposit, 50% of that first deposit will be credited to your account as a bonus that can be used as additional collateral to open positions. Code: CRYPTONEWS50 This promotion is available for a month after activation. Click the link below: PrimeXBT x CRYPTONEWS50FollowApple PodcastsSpotifyAmazon MusicRSS FeedSee All

"What's your sense of where this goes?" Ali Velshi asks the former Deputy Director of the International Monetary Fund. It all depends on which of two courses the U.S. takes next, he replies.

Since 2023, a series of global AI summits has brought together world leaders to advance international dialogue and cooperation on artificial intelligence. Building on this momentum, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the India AI Impact Summit, which will take place in New Delhi in February 2026. As the first summit in the series to be hosted in a Global South country, the AI Impact Summit aims to amplify Global South perspectives and advance concrete action to address both the opportunities and risks of AI. On December 8, 2025, the CSIS Wadhwani AI Center will host S. Krishnan, Secretary of India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), for a livestreamed fireside chat with Wadhwani AI Center Senior Adviser Gregory C. Allen. Secretary Krishnan, who leads India's national AI strategy, will outline India's policy priorities and share insights into the goals and global aspirations shaping the upcoming AI Impact Summit. He will also offer a comprehensive look at the central role MeitY plays in driving innovation across India's AI ecosystem. Secretary Krishnan brings more than 35 years of experience in public service, having joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1989. Prior to his current role, he served as the Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department in the Government of Tamil Nadu. He has also served as Senior Advisor in the Office of the Executive Director for India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Bhutan at the International Monetary Fund, and has represented India in the G20 Expert Groups on International Financial Architecture and Global Financial Safety Nets. Secretary Krishnan holds a bachelor's degree from St. Stephen's College in Delhi.

Ukraine's position has been strengthened by a €90bn loan agreed by the EU after failing to agree on using frozen Russian assets. But is it enough to keep the country going?In Sri Lanka, the International Monetary Fund has also approved a $206 million in emergency financing to help the country rebuild after a devastating cyclone. What will taking on more debt mean for the country's future debt sustainability?Elsewhere, the former Chair of the independent board of Ben & Jerry's ice cream independent board has told World Business Report she was forced out by the company's owners, Magnum Ice Cream, following years of tension over Ben & Jerry's outspoken social activism.Also, Sony has more than doubled its stake in Peanuts, bringing Snoopy and Charlie Brown under its corporate umbrella, while the creator's family keeps the remaining 20% share.(Photo: A serviceman of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade prepares to launch a Darts middle range strike unmanned aerial vehicle towards Russian troops. Credit: December 16, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova)

We've curated a special 10-minute version of the podcast for those in a hurry. Here you can listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/kristalina-georgieva-leading-the-imf-navigating/id1614211565?i=1000741623513&l=nbWhat does it take to keep the global economy stable in times of crisis? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, to discuss the IMF's role in maintaining financial stability across 191 member countries. They explore debt levels, AI's impact on labor markets, and climate as a financial risk. Kristalina shares her journey from Bulgaria to leading the IMF, emphasizing her philosophy of curiosity, courage, and compassion. With $1 trillion in lending capacity, the IMF supports countries through economic crises worldwide. In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New full episodes every Wednesday, and don't miss our Highlight episodes every Friday. The production team for this episode includes Isabelle Karlsson and PLAN-B's Niklas Figenschau Johansen, Sebastian Langvik-Hansen and Pål Huuse. Background research was conducted by Une Solheim. Watch the episode on YouTube: Norges Bank Investment Management - YouTubeWant to learn more about the fund? The fund | Norges Bank Investment Management (nbim.no)Follow Nicolai Tangen on LinkedIn: Nicolai Tangen | LinkedInFollow NBIM on LinkedIn: Norges Bank Investment Management: Administrator for bedriftsside | LinkedInFollow NBIM on Instagram: Explore Norges Bank Investment Management on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special two-part edition of Editors' Choice, Felipe Antunes de Oliveira, joins us to discuss his recent book Dependency and Crisis in Brazil and Argentina: A Critique of Market and State Utopias (2024).   In this timely and theoretically rigorous work, Antunes de Oliveira examines why the two largest countries in South America fail to materialize the development they continually promise to achieve. Instead of approaching the topic from a policy-failure perspective, he focuses on what public debates reveal about "development" itself. Building on this, Antunes de Oliveira offers a theoretical and empirical critique of neoliberal and neodevelopmentalist ideas surrounding cycles of structural reform in Brazil and Argentina, drawing on dependency theory to propose an alternative political economic framework for analyzing development challenges. Felipe Antunes de Oliveira is a senior lecturer in International Relations at Queen Mary University of London and a coordinating editor at Latin American Perspectives. Outside the academy, he has served as a diplomat for the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as General Coordinator of International Financial Affairs at the Brazilian Ministry of Finance in 2024, and, since December 2024, as an Alternate Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund. Dependency and Crisis in Brazil and Argentina is available for purchase through the University of Pittsburgh Press: https://upittpress.org/books/9780822948100/  For more information about Latin American Perspectives, our podcasts, and guests, please contact latampodcasts@gmail.com

Gary Kah is founder and director of Hope for the World. Gary is Editor of Hope for the World Update. He is an author and former Europe & Middle East Trade Specialist for the Indiana State Government. Globalists have an agenda that casts aside national sovereignty, private property rights and individual freedom. In other words, they have a lust for worldwide control over nearly every facet of your life. The goal is a one-world system economically, politically and even spiritually. In order to craft this effort, regular meetings are being held by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and other globalist bodies. Gary monitors this agenda and he presented listeners with an update concerning the following: Pope Leo's brother supposedly is a strong MAGA Republican. Will this cause Trump to get "cozy" with the Pope?...the increase in hate toward anything Jewish or Christian...Zohran Mamdani and socialism in the United States...the economy and our debt...digital currency plans...and much more! It's always an information-packed program when Gary is the guest so there will be a lot to take in when you review this edition of Crosstalk.

Gary Kah is founder and director of Hope for the World. Gary is Editor of Hope for the World Update. He is an author and former Europe & Middle East Trade Specialist for the Indiana State Government. Globalists have an agenda that casts aside national sovereignty, private property rights and individual freedom. In other words, they have a lust for worldwide control over nearly every facet of your life. The goal is a one-world system economically, politically and even spiritually. In order to craft this effort, regular meetings are being held by the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and other globalist bodies. Gary monitors this agenda and he presented listeners with an update concerning the following: Pope Leo's brother supposedly is a strong MAGA Republican. Will this cause Trump to get "cozy" with the Pope?...the increase in hate toward anything Jewish or Christian...Zohran Mamdani and socialism in the United States...the economy and our debt...digital currency plans...and much more! It's always an information-packed program when Gary is the guest so there will be a lot to take in when you review this edition of Crosstalk.

What does it take to keep the global economy stable in times of crisis? Nicolai Tangen sits down with Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, to discuss the IMF's role in maintaining financial stability across 191 member countries. They explore debt levels, AI's impact on labor markets, and climate as a financial risk. Kristalina shares her journey from Bulgaria to leading the IMF, emphasizing her philosophy of curiosity, courage, and compassion. With $1 trillion in lending capacity, the IMF supports countries through economic crises worldwide. In Good Company is hosted by Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management. New full episodes every Wednesday, and don't miss our Highlight episodes every Friday. The production team for this episode includes Isabelle Karlsson and PLAN-B's Niklas Figenschau Johansen, Sebastian Langvik-Hansen and Pål Huuse. Background research was conducted by Une Solheim. Watch the episode on YouTube: Norges Bank Investment Management - YouTubeWant to learn more about the fund? The fund | Norges Bank Investment Management (nbim.no)Follow Nicolai Tangen on LinkedIn: Nicolai Tangen | LinkedInFollow NBIM on LinkedIn: Norges Bank Investment Management: Administrator for bedriftsside | LinkedInFollow NBIM on Instagram: Explore Norges Bank Investment Management on Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The International Monetary Fund has raised its forecast for economic growth in China to 5 percent this year, up 0.2 percentage points from its previous estimate in October.

When Nature Has a Number on the Balance SheetHow the financial world is starting to recognize the value of ecosystems servicesIn this episode of the Healthy Seas Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Ralph Chami — financial economist, former Assistant Director at the International Monetary Fund, and Co-Founder of Blue Green Future — to explore one of the most powerful shifts underway: integrating the value of nature's services into economic and financial systems.From whales and seagrass to elephants and bison, Ralph's work centers around measuring the economic contributions of living ecosystems and designing financial tools that recognize their role in climate regulation, biodiversity support, and human wellbeing. The goal? To accelerate funding for restoration and protection by making nature visible on the balance sheet.A Whale, a Shift, a New VisionThe conversation begins with a deeply personal story: a moment in the Sea of Cortez that transformed Ralph's life and career. From that encounter with a blue whale came a new path, one that brought together climate science, conservation, and high-level economics. Since then, Ralph has helped governments and organizations understand how to value nature's services — not to commodify ecosystems, but to make the case for investing in their preservation and restoration.In the episode, you'll hear about:Why whales can be worth millions over their lifetime through carbon storageHow forward contracts are being used to fund environmental restorationWhat makes a nature-based project “investable”Why markets are slow to respond — and what could unlock faster changeThe role of communities in managing and benefiting from ecosystem servicesThe risks of leaving nature outside the financial system, and how to avoid themWhen Oceans Meet EconomicsFor companies, investors, and governments trying to build credible climate and biodiversity strategies, this episode offers a new lens. As Ralph puts it, valuing nature's services isn't about replacing conservation with markets — it's about finally recognizing the systems we depend on, and funding their protection before it's too late.It's a bold reframe of where value lies, and how finance can be part of the solution.If you enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe, rate and review it! This helps to boost its visibility. Healthy Seas is a marine conservation organization whose mission is to tackle the ghost fishing phenomenon and turn this waste into an opportunity for a more circular economy. They do this through clean-ups, prevention, education, and working with partners who recycle and repurpose this material. The podcast is hosted by Crystal DiMiceli.

Premier Li Qiang has called for solidarity and cooperation among the Group of 20 economies to tackle global challenges, and urged efforts to firmly uphold free trade and build an open world economy amid a sluggish economic recovery.中国国务院总理李强呼吁二十国集团（G20）成员加强团结合作，共同应对全球性挑战，并在经济复苏乏力的背景下坚定维护自由贸易，推动建设开放型世界经济。Li made the remarks while addressing the 20th G20 Summit, which was held in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday and Sunday.他在上周六周日于南非约翰内斯堡举行的二十国集团第20次峰会上发表上述讲话。Cyril Ramaphosa, president of South Africa, which holds the rotating presidency of G20, chaired the summit. It is the first time that the group of economies, comprising 19 countries as well as the European Union and the African Union, held its summit on African soil.作为本届二十国集团轮值主席国，南非总统西里尔·拉马福萨主持了峰会。这也是包括19个国家以及欧盟和非盟在内的二十国集团第一次在非洲大陆举行峰会。Themed "Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability", this year's summit was divided into three sessions, focusing on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, building a resilient world, and fostering a fair and just future for all.本届峰会以“团结、平等与可持续”为主题，围绕包容和可持续经济增长、建设韧性世界、打造公平正义的共同未来等议题设置了三场会议。Addressing the first session, Li pointed out that the global economy is once again confronted with major challenges, marked by a rise in unilateralism and protectionism, along with escalating trade restrictions and confrontations.在首场会议上，李强指出，全球经济再次面临重大挑战，单边主义和保护主义抬头，贸易限制和摩擦不断加剧。Divergent interests among parties and weaknesses in global cooperation mechanisms have become prominent factors hindering international solidarity, he said.他表示，利益分歧和全球合作机制的薄弱已成为阻碍国际社会团结的重要因素。Li urged the G20 to face the problems squarely, explore solutions and help bring all parties back on the track of solidarity and cooperation.李强敦促二十国集团直面问题、探寻解决方案，并推动各方重回团结合作的正确轨道。Concerted efforts should be made to properly handle disputes and frictions through consultations on the basis of equality when facing differences and contradictions, he said, underlining the need to seek common ground while reserving differences, actively pursue the most extensive common interests, and properly address each other's reasonable concerns.他强调，在面对分歧和矛盾时，应坚持在平等基础上通过协商妥善处理争端和摩擦，坚持求同存异，积极寻求最大公约数，妥善回应彼此合理关切。Emphasizing the importance of upholding multilateralism, Li called for accelerating the reform of institutions, including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization.李强强调要维护多边主义，推动加快包括世界银行、国际货币基金组织和世界贸易组织在内的机构改革。He also called for efforts to enhance the voice of developing countries and build a fairer and more open international economic and trade order.他呼吁进一步提升发展中国家的代表性和话语权，构建更加公平开放的国际经贸秩序。China has released an action plan for implementing the G20 Initiative on Supporting Industrialization in Africa and Least Developed Countries, Li said, noting that China supports the reduction of debts in developing countries and has jointly launched with South Africa a cooperative initiative to support Africa's modernization.李强表示，中国已发布《支持非洲和最不发达国家工业化的二十国集团倡议行动计划》，支持发展中国家减轻债务负担，并与南非共同启动了支持非洲现代化的合作倡议。China will also establish the Institute of Global Development to promote common development among all countries, he added.他还宣布，中国将成立全球发展研究院，推动各国实现共同发展。Common development共同发展Leaders attending the first session of the summit said that over the past two decades, the G20 has become an important platform for the international community to meet challenges, share opportunities and seek common development.与会领导人表示，过去20年来，二十国集团已成为国际社会应对挑战、共享机遇、寻求共同发展的重要平台。Noting that today's world is facing multiple challenges and mounting instability and uncertainty, they called on G20 members, which are representatives of the world's major economies and emerging markets, to earnestly shoulder their responsibilities, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, safeguard multilateralism, and join forces to meet challenges.他们指出，当今世界面临多重挑战、不稳定性和不确定性上升，呼吁作为全球主要经济体和新兴市场代表的二十国集团成员切实承担责任，加强团结合作，坚持多边主义，携手应对挑战。The leaders also urged G20 members to safeguard the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, advance the reform of the global economic governance system, and bridge the development gap, in order to promote a strong, balanced, inclusive and sustainable growth.领导人们还呼吁二十国集团维护以世贸组织为核心的多边贸易体系，推动全球经济治理体系改革，弥合发展差距，促进强劲、平衡、包容和可持续的增长。Green cooperation绿色合作In his speech at the second session, Li called for strengthening cooperation in ecological and environmental protection, advancing collaboration in green energy and enhancing cooperation on food security.在第二场会议上，李强呼吁加强生态环境保护合作，推动绿色能源合作，并强化粮食安全领域协作。New technologies新技术与新机遇Addressing the third session, the premier emphasized that a new round of technological revolution and industrial transformation is accelerating, bringing unprecedented development opportunities to the world, while at the same time, creating new inequalities and development gaps.在第三场会议上，李强强调，新一轮科技革命和产业变革正在加速推进，给世界带来前所未有的发展机遇，同时也造成新的不平等和发展差距。Li called for promoting the widespread application and effective governance of artificial intelligence, fostering mutually beneficial cooperation on and peaceful utilization of critical minerals, and strengthening development empowerment and livelihood support for the Global South.他呼吁推动人工智能的广泛应用和有效治理，促进关键矿产的互利合作和和平利用，并加强对全球南方国家的发展赋能与民生支持。Summit declaration峰会共识The summit adopted a leaders' declaration addressing climate change and other global challenges after it was drafted without the involvement of the United States. South Africa said there was "overwhelming consensus" for a summit declaration.峰会通过了一份涉及气候变化及其他全球挑战的领导人宣言，该文件在美国未参与起草的情况下完成。南非方面表示，宣言获得“压倒性共识”。In his opening address on Saturday, Ramaphosa said the adoption of the declaration "sends an important signal to the world that multilateralism can and does deliver".拉马福萨在周六的开幕致辞中指出，宣言的通过“向世界传递了一个重要信号：多边主义能够且确实在发挥作用”。More exchanges双边互动Also on Saturday, Li met in Johannesburg with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.同一天，李强在约翰内斯堡与意大利总理焦尔贾·梅洛尼举行会晤。He said that China encourages more Italian companies to enter the Chinese market via platforms such as expositions, and expects Italy to provide a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest in Italy.李强表示，中国欢迎更多意大利企业通过展会等平台进入中国市场，并希望意大利为中国企业赴意投资提供公平、透明、非歧视性的营商环境。Meloni said that Italy welcomes more Chinese investment and encourages Italian companies to continue investing in China. Italy is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on multilateral platforms to jointly uphold multilateralism, she said.梅洛尼表示，意大利欢迎更多中国投资，也鼓励意大利企业继续在华发展。意方愿与中方在多边平台加强沟通协调，共同维护多边主义。During the summit, Li also had friendly exchanges with French President Emmanuel Macron, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung, Angolan President Joao Lourenco, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.会期间，李强还同法国总统马克龙、韩国总统李在明、安哥拉总统洛伦索、西班牙首相桑切斯及世贸组织总干事伊维拉等领导人进行了友好交流。sluggish economic recovery经济复苏乏力open world economy开放型世界经济rotating presidency轮值主席国unilateralism and protectionism单边主义与保护主义seek common ground while reserving differences求同存异

It's Thursday, October 30th, A.D. 2025. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark Muslim Ugandan beat wife and kids for trusting Christ A Muslim man in Uganda beat his wife and two children last month for putting their faith in Christ. Kulusumu Namulondo had to be hospitalized along with her two children, ages twelve and nine. Her husband proceeded to demolish the building of the church she had visited. Namulondo described the attack to Morning Star News. She said, “My husband hit my son with the walking stick several times, and he soon fell down screaming and wailing in great pain . . . While my son was on the ground, my husband started beating up me and my daughter. Thank God, neighbors arrived, and my husband fled away.” In Luke 18:29-30, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.” Help victims of Hurricane Melissa  in Jamaica and Cuba Hurricane Melissa struck Jamaica on Tuesday as a Category 5 storm. Melissa weakened to Category 3 before making landfall in Cuba yesterday.  The hurricane is one of the strongest ones on record in the Atlantic, killing dozens of people across the Caribbean. Christian charity organizations are mobilizing aid for victims of the hurricane. Samaritan's Purse announced it is “already preparing to respond as needed — with disaster relief specialists, materials, and aircraft all on standby.” You can give towards their relief effort through a link in our transcript today at TheWorldview.com.  Trump, Cruz and Johnson urge centrist Democrats to re-open gov't The Democrats in the U.S. Senate have now shut the U.S. government for 30 days, as they attempt to undo the provisions of President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill which ensured that only U.S. citizens would get taxpayer-funded health care. President Trump didn't pull any punches. TRUMP: “Today, I'm calling on every Senate Democrat to stop the madness, to let our country get back.   In the greatest moment in the history of our country, in terms of wealth, in terms of job creation, and in terms of investment coming in, these guys go on strike. It's really a shame! “So, I'm asking them to be smart. It's not working. They're getting killed in the polls. The public understands what they're doing. They're doing the wrong thing.” Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas explained that the Democrats have failed to stop the government shutdown. CRUZ: “Thirteen times now the Republicans have voted to open the government to pay the federal workers 13 times. The Democrats' party line have voted no, keep it shut down. Keep it shut down. Keep it shut down. “And at this point it's not even clear they have an exit ramp. I think they're going to continue this another week or two, and then at some point, seven or eight Democrats are going to have some sense come into them. I think it is very likely to be retiring Democrats who will never again face a primary election. So, they're more insulated from the crazy left wing base. “But we are watching performative art. We're not watching public policy. We're not watching elected officials. This is all about political saving Chuck Schumer's rear end.” And House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana, described Senator Chuck Schumer as irredeemable. JOHNSON: “We have very important work to do here, and that's why we're pleading with them. Look, I think Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are irredeemable at this point. I don't think they'll be able to tell [New York City Mayoral candidate Zohran] Mondami, [a socialist], in New York and his disciples that they voted to open the government. “I've given up on the leadership. So, we're trying to appeal to a handful of moderates or centrists who care more about the American people and will put the people's interest over their own and do the right thing in the Senate.  There's no point in me sitting down with Chuck Schumer. He's painted himself into a corner.” The Congressional Budget office said that the economy could lose $14 billion over two months unless the government is reopened. If you have a Democrat U.S. Senator, call 202-224-3121 and urge him or her to re-open the government immediately. Half of U.S. states scored poorly on religious liberty The Napa Legal Institute released its 2025 Faith and Freedom Index on Monday. The report ranks states in the U.S. from 0-100 based on how well they treat faith-based nonprofits.  The states with the highest rankings on the index are Alabama (72%), Kansas (69%), Indiana (68%), Texas (65%), and Mississippi (63%). The states with the lowest rankings are Michigan (31%), Washington (35%), Massachusetts (37%), Maryland (38%), and Illinois (38%).  Sadly, over half of the states scored below 50% on the religious liberty index.  Nvidia now valued at $5 trillion Nvidia became the first company yesterday to reach a market value of $5 trillion. The tech company started with video game processors. Now it is a major producer of computer chips for the artificial intelligence industry.  The record valuation follows growth announcements from the company, including plans to build seven supercomputers for the U.S. government.  Apple and Microsoft, two other tech companies, are not far behind with market valuations of around $4 trillion.  America's debt has surpassed $38 trillion The U.S. government's gross national debt surpassed $38 trillion last Wednesday. That's up a trillion dollars from just August of this year.  The U.S. government debt as a percentage of gross domestic product stood at 120% last year, according to the International Monetary Fund. That's one of the highest debt-to-GDP ratios in the world. Only Japan, Venezuela, Greece, and Italy are higher.     (Look at the U.S. Debt clock.) Federal Reserve cut interest rate by quarter percent The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by a quarter-point for the second time this year. This brings the rate to a range between 3.75% and 4%. That's the lowest it's been in three years.  The Fed's announcement noted, “Available indicators suggest that economic activity has been expanding at a moderate pace. Job gains have slowed this year, and the unemployment rate has edged up but remained low. …Inflation has moved up since earlier in the year and remains somewhat elevated.” Museum of the Bible displaying oldest copies of Jonah and 1 Peter And finally, CBN News reports the Museum of the Bible is displaying the oldest-known complete copies of Jonah and 1 Peter.  The pages come from the Crosby–Schøyen Codex which dates back 1,800 years. The text is written in the ancient Coptic language.  It's the first time the pages from the codex have been available to the public since 1988.  Dr. Bobby Duke is the Chief Curatorial Officer at the Museum of the Bible. Listen to comments he made to CBN News.  DUKE: “This dates back to about 250 A.D. That's incredible to think that we have something that's 1,800 years old. A community said, ‘Let's put these items together so that if it were read it will inspire this generation of Christians that lived in that part of Egypt.” 1 Peter 1:24-25 says, “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, October 30th, in the year of our Lord 2025. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

In an exclusive interview hosted by Landry Signé, Anna Bjerde, the World Bank's managing director of operations, discusses the Bank's top priorities and challenges in achieving its mandate in a changing world. This interview was recorded on-site on Day One of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund's 2025 Annual Meetings in Washington, D.C. This is the final episode of season four of Foresight Africa podcast. Show notes and transcript Foresight Africa podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network. Subscribe and listen on Apple, Spotify, Afripods, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Send feedback email to podcasts@brookings.edu.

SEND ME A TEXT MESSAGE NOWThis is the Monday Fall, where the weekend's lies meet Monday's reality.This episode exposes the quiet chokehold being placed on truth itself. Across every screen and platform, from Washington to Wall Street, the same pattern is taking shape. What you can say, what you can see, and what you can believe are all being shaped for you.My first story takes you deep inside the tightening grip of social media control.The same digital platforms that once promised freedom of speech are now quietly deciding which voices matter. It is not about politics. It is about power, and who gets to keep it.Next, I move into a story that should shake anyone who still believes in a free press.Journalists who once stood their ground inside the Pentagon are now walking out, refusing to play by new rules that turn reporting into stage management. It is a moment that marks something far bigger than headlines. It marks the end of trust between the press and the powerful.From there, the focus shifts to the world stage and a so-called truce that is not what it seems.The United States and China are once again selling calm while chaos brews underneath. This story reveals what these photo opportunities really mean for global stability and why every investor cheering a breakthru may be cheering a ghost.And finally, the focus turns to the global economy itself, where the numbers look strong but the foundation is cracking.The International Monetary Fund and the World Bank are sending quiet warnings, showing why this slowdown is not a crash but something far more dangerous. It is a slow fade into exhaustion, a system running on fumes while leaders smile for the cameras.Each of these stories connects to one truth.Control the message, and you control the public. Censorship is not always loud. Sometimes it is subtle, polite, and dressed as protection. What matters is that people keep asking questions, keep challenging power, and keep believing that truth belongs to everyone.A World Gone Mad Podcast exists to fight that silence.My Podcast is a voice for anyone who refuses to accept the scripted version of reality. Listen, question, share, and help keep independent commentary alive. Because if the people who still care about truth stay quiet, the silence becomes permanent.You can reach me by email at: WolfPackTalks@gmail.comAWorldGoneMadPodcast@gmail.com

A hostage return and the signing of a cease-fire agreement signal a new chapter in the long-running dream of peace in the Middle East. Did it matter that the key negotiators, on the US side, were financiers and real-estate developers rather than scions of America's diplomatic corps? Russell Berman, a Hoover Institution senior fellow and codirector of Hoover's Working Group on the Middle East and the Islamic World, joins GoodFellows regulars Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to discuss the sturdiness of the Trump White House's 20-point peace plan, the futures of Hamas and the Abraham Accords, the likelihood of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's reliving Winston Churchill's fate (a successful wartime leader rejected by a war-weary electorate), plus whether the “real estate-ism” approach to diplomacy is applicable to President Trump's upcoming meetings with his Russian and Chinese counterparts. After that, Niall and John reflect on the likelihood of a market crash (it is October, after all), the chances of a full-fledged tariff war with China, the merits of a US-Argentina currency swap, plus an ominous warning from the International Monetary Fund regarding global debt. Finally, the fellows salute the legendary economist Thomas Sowell, the subject of a Hoover Institution tribute later this month.   Subscribe to GoodFellows for clarity on today's biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

In this episode, Scott Becker explores concerns about the AI sector, including OpenAI's massive computing costs and the IMF's warning that U.S. AI investments may be entering bubble territory.

U.S. and Chinese officials are getting together on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington to try and preserve a fraying trade truce. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a ray of hope, ahead of a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Plus, what economic picture is non-governmental data painting right now? And, we'll hear how some countries are vying for a piece of the AI revolution.

U.S. and Chinese officials are getting together on the sidelines of International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings in Washington to try and preserve a fraying trade truce. Yesterday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent offered a ray of hope, ahead of a planned meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping later this month. Plus, what economic picture is non-governmental data painting right now? And, we'll hear how some countries are vying for a piece of the AI revolution.

What signals is the US president sending with talk of bailing out Argentina during a week of annual International Monetary Fund meetings? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has presented the government's long-awaited budget. But will it pass? And can the government finally resolve the recurring political battle over raising the retirement age?The International Monetary Fund has released its global economic outlook, projecting growth of 3.2% for the year ahead. However, concerns remain over global trade and the potential impact of tariffs.And Cape Verde's national football team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup for the first time. We take a look at the investment that helped get them there.

This week on the podcast, we unpack what to watch during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Washington, D.C. — from shifting global growth forecasts to reforms across multilateral development banks. As the fall meetings kick off, leaders in development finance are looking closely at how the World Bank is reshaping itself to mobilize more private capital and move faster on project approvals. Amid ongoing reforms, attention is turning to how new tools such as securitizations and guarantee instruments can attract institutional investors while balancing the needs of borrowing countries. The conversation also explores the ways investors are seeking to value ecosystems alongside traditional climate assets, and how differences between U.S. and European markets are shaping approaches to ESG, or environmental, social, and governance, and climate investment. To discuss these developments, Senior Reporter Adva Saldinger sits down with Elissa Miolene and J.P. Morgan's Faheen Allibhoy for the latest episode of This Week in Global Development. Sign up to the Devex Newswire and our other newsletters: https://www.devex.com/account/newsletters

Scientific Sense ® by Gill Eapen: Prof. Carmen Reinhart is Professor of the International Financial System at Harvard Kennedy School. From 2020-2022 she served as Chief Economist at The World Bank Group. She was also Policy Advisor and Deputy Director at the International Monetary Fund, a member of the Advisory Panel of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Congressional Budget Office Panel of Economic Advisors.Please subscribe to this channel:https://www.youtube.com/c/ScientificSense?sub_confirmation=1

2025-09-23 | Silicon Wafers 008 | DAILY UPDATES | Wafers daily is a round-up of news over the last 1-2 days, with a particular focus on the resurgence of authoritarian regimes in the 21st century, great power competition, democracy on the defensive, the Russian imperial project, and how Ukraine is leading the fightback for values and freedom. In this short video format, I hope to bring some light to dark times.Ukraine's $65 Billion Financing Gap and the War Economy - Ukraine is facing a painful truth: the scale of external financing it needs through 2027 is far beyond previous estimates. The International Monetary Fund has forecast a $65 billion financing gap, almost double what Ukraine had earlier estimated — $38 billion. (Reuters)----------Autumn Harvest: Silicon Curtain (Goal €22,000)This is super important. We'll be supporting troops in Pokrovsk, Kharkiv, and other regions where the trucks are needed the most. There are so many Battalions in Ukraine, fighting to defend our freedoms, but lack basics such as vehicles. These are destroyed on a regular basis, and lack of transport is costs lives, and Ukrainian territory. Once again Silicon Curtain has teamed up with Car4Ukraine and a group of wonderful creators to provide much-needed assistance: https://car4ukraine.com/campaigns/autumn-harvest-silicon-curtain----------SOURCES: Ukraine: The Latest by The Telegraph team ---https://open.spotify.com/show/6cnkk1J0I1UqtxTYVUL4Fe?si=fb9c151d2f21405a In Moscow's Shadows, hosted by Mark Galeotti ---https://open.spotify.com/show/1NKCazxYstY6o8vhpGQSjF?si=4215e2d786a44d64 Russian Roulette hosted by Max Bergmann and Dr. Maria Snegovaya ---https://podcasts.apple.com/tw/podcast/russian-roulette/id1112258664?l=en-GB Hosted by Michael Naki ---https://www.youtube.com/@MackNack Faygin Live channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@FeyginLive Hromadske channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@hromadske_ua Hosted by Vitaly Portnikov ---https://www.youtube.com/@portnikov Hosted by Vladimir Milov ---https://www.youtube.com/@Vladimir_Milov Sternenko channel ---https://www.youtube.com/@STERNENKO ----------SILICON CURTAIN FILM FUNDRAISERA project to make a documentary film in Ukraine, to raise awareness of Ukraine's struggle and in supporting a team running aid convoys to Ukraine's front-line towns.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SILICON CURTAIN LIVE EVENTS - FUNDRAISER CAMPAIGN Events in 2025 - Advocacy for a Ukrainian victory with Silicon Curtainhttps://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasOur events of the first half of the year in Lviv, Kyiv and Odesa were a huge success. Now we need to maintain this momentum, and change the tide towards a Ukrainian victory. The Silicon Curtain Roadshow is an ambitious campaign to run a minimum of 12 events in 2025, and potentially many more. Any support you can provide for the fundraising campaign would be gratefully appreciated. https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrasWe need to scale up our support for Ukraine, and these events are designed to have a major impact. Your support in making it happen is greatly appreciated. All events will be recorded professionally and published for free on the Silicon Curtain channel. Where possible, we will also live-stream events.https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extras----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction and Overview00:34 Ukraine's $65 Billion Financing Gap04:24 China's Cargo Ship in Occupied Crimea07:47 Trump and Zelenskyy Meet at the UN09:58 Moscow Under Drone Barrage12:26 Denmark and Norway Close Airports After Drone Sightings15:55 Moldova's Election Under Threat18:53 Escalation at NATO's Borders21:57 Conclusion and Strategic Observations----------

Children in Indonesia are now receiving free school meals — part of a bold new plan by President Prabowo Subianto to tackle malnutrition. Around one in five children in the country are stunted, meaning they are too short for their age. The lunch programme is central to Prabowo's vision of a “Golden Indonesia” – a prosperous, high-income nation by 2045. But not everyone is happy. To fund this and other populist pledges, the president has reallocated billions in public funds, cutting budgets from ministries including health and education. There have also been reports of food poisoning linked to the programme. Meanwhile, millions of Indonesians are struggling. The International Monetary Fund warns the country's unemployment rate will rise to 5% this year — the highest among the Southeast Asian economies it tracks. On this week's Inquiry, we're asking: ‘Can Indonesia afford free lunches?' Contributors: Dini Widiastuti, Executive Director, Yayasan Plan International Indonesia Julia Lau, Senior Fellow and Coordinator, Indonesia Studies Programme, ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute, Singapore Dr Suman Chakrabarti, Associate Research Fellow in the Nutrition, Diets, and Health Unit, International Food Policy Research Institute, New Delhi, India Bhima Yudhistira, Executive Director, Center of Economic and Law Studies (CELIOS), IndonesiaPresenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Vicky Farncombe Researcher: Maeve Schaffer Editor: Tara McDermott Technical Producer: Nicky Edwards Production Management Assistant: Liam MorreyImage Credit: Dimas Rachmatsyah via Getty Images