News from Around the World

Malpass shifts the World Bank from conferences to countries

WASHINGTON — David Malpass, who has been the president of the World Bank for seven months, is not a big fan of international development conferences. He has said so on several occasions, including again last week.

Major contraction in Iran is driving the Middle East’s growth slowdown: IMF report

The International Monetary Fund’s latest regional outlook report for the Middle East and Central Asia, published Monday, paints a picture of uncertain economies weighed down by global factors like trade tensions as well as internal and regional turmoil.

Trade wars, oil price volatility, the risk of a disorderly Brexit and rising social unrest — and in the short term, a massive economic contraction in Iran as it buckles under heavy U.S. sanctions — are the biggest factors shaping the region’s outlook, according to the IMF.

López Obrador takes on Mexico’s institutions

Standing beside a sugar cane farmer who uses a wooden, horse-drawn press to squeeze juice into a plastic bucket, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador gave a demonstration of his economic world view.

On a visit to La Huasteca last week, near the Bajío region that is Mexico’s high-tech manufacturing powerhouse, the leftwing nationalist president — who prides himself on not having a checking account or credit card — extolled the virtues of artisanal microbusinesses that he said were “as or more important” in terms of job creation and development than big business.

Look at Issuing Digital Currency, IMF Head Tells Central Banks

Central banks should look seriously at issuing digital currency in order to “fill the void left by the decline of cash”, according to the head of the IMF.

Christine Lagarde said in Singapore on Wednesday that there could be a role for the state to supply money to the digital economy to aid financial inclusion and avoid a situation where “too much power could fall into the hands of a small number of outsized private payment providers”.

Lebanon withdraws World Bank nominee under pressure

WASHINGTON — Lebanon has withdrawn its nomination of Ziad Hayek to be the next World Bank president. Hayek told Devex the Lebanese government made its decision because of “pressure” from other governments.

Lebanon Nominates Challenger to Trump's Choice to Lead World Bank

WASHINGTON — Lebanon has nominated investment banker Ziad Hayek as a candidate for president of the World Bank, mounting the first challenge to U.S. President Donald Trump's choice to lead the development lender, Hayek said in a Twitter post on Tuesday.

Latin America: the year that was and the year to come

This is the last LatAm Viva of the year — and what a year it has been. From all-change in the Brazilian and Mexican presidential elections, to the IMF’s biggest-ever bailout package in Argentina or Latin America’s worst refugee crisis in Venezuela.

The word “tumultuous” hardly does the year justice. What might 2019 hold? Standing at its eve, I’m anticipating:

● More smoke than fire in Brazil as President Jair Bolsonaro struggles to manage Congress and his programme falls short of many investors’ high expectations

Juan Guaidó wins diplomatic recognition as Venezuela’s president

The crowd urged him on. “Swear in! Swear in!” they chanted. And then he did. Juan Guaidó, the gangly 35-year-old politician—unknown to most Venezuelans a month ago—raised his right hand and declared himself acting president of the republic. Tens of thousands of people, gathered in Caracas on January 23rd as part of a national demonstration against the disastrous regime of Nicolás Maduro, now deemed a usurper, let out a raucous cheer.

Jordan's Parliament Passes IMF-backed Tax Law to Reduce Public Debt

AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan’s parliament approved a new IMF-backed tax law on Sunday after introducing some changes in a move to push ahead with crucial fiscal reforms to lower record public debt needed to get the economy hit by regional conflict back on track.

A majority of deputies in the chamber approved a series of amendments in the 36-article bill that included raising family exemptions to mitigate its impact on middle class income earners.

Japan Ratifies US Trade Deal in Record Time

Japan’s Diet has pushed through a US trade deal in record time, showing how Tokyo hopes to dodge any trade war by co-operating with US President Donald Trump’s demands.

The upper house completed ratification of the deal — which will slash Japanese tariffs on US beef — 10 weeks after it was first agreed and less than nine months since the start of negotiations. With no ratification needed in the US, the deal is set to come into effect on January 1.