AnewZ Morning Brief - January 18th, 2025
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Briefing: here are the top news stories for January 18th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Global finance leaders meet in Washington this week to address global growth, debt, and green energy amid uncertainties from conflicts, a slowing Chinese economy, and the potential impact of the U.S. election on trade and climate policies.
Global finance leaders will convene in Washington this week amid significant uncertainty driven by conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, a weakening Chinese economy, and concerns that the upcoming U.S. presidential election could spark new trade disputes and undermine international cooperation.
The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are set to bring together over 10,000 participants from finance ministries, central banks, and civil society groups to address challenges such as uneven global growth, managing debt crises, and financing the transition to green energy.
The key issue looming over the discussions is the potential impact of a U.S. presidential win by Republican candidate Donald Trump, which could disrupt the global economic landscape through significant new tariffs, increased U.S. borrowing, and reduced climate cooperation.
"The U.S. election, arguably the most critical issue for the global economy, is not officially on the agenda, but it's on everyone's mind," noted Josh Lipsky, a former IMF official now with the Atlantic Council's GeoEconomics Center.
Democratic candidate and current U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to continue the Biden administration’s focus on multilateral cooperation in areas like climate, taxes, and debt relief if she wins.
The meetings, which begin on Monday and gain momentum later in the week, are likely to be U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's last, as she has indicated she will retire from public service at the end of President Joe Biden’s term in January.
Meanwhile, rising anti-China trade sentiment and industrial strategies from wealthy nations, highlighted by the Biden administration’s tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, semiconductors, and solar products, are anticipated to be major discussion points during the sessions.
Reports of a two-month halt in Azerbaijani gas supplies to Serbia are false. Despite a technical issue at Shah Deniz Alpha, Shah Deniz Bravo ensures steady exports, with supplies set to resume soon. BP confirms no damage or environmental impact.
Coast Guard divers Chuck Fox and Corey Smith from the US Cutter *Polar Star* successfully repaired a leaking shaft in the freezing waters of McMurdo Sound, Antarctica.
Azerbaijan has temporarily halted its contracted natural gas supply to Bulgaria following a technical issue at BP's Alpha platform in the Shah Deniz gas field.
As we welcome the new year, it’s time to focus on species needing urgent conservation in 2025. From delicate lizards to mighty hornbills and massive sharks, all face the threat of extinction.
Over 100 Paris 2024 Olympic medals were returned due to quality issues linked to EU regulations and an untested varnish formula. The IOC has pledged to replace all defective medals.
Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket early Thursday, marking a key milestone in the satellite launch industry. The rocket, featuring a reusable first stage, lifted off from Cape Canaveral, positioning Blue Origin as a competitor to SpaceX in commercial space exploration.
Apple lost its position as China’s top smartphone seller in 2024, with Vivo and Huawei surpassing it after a 17% drop in shipments, marking its largest-ever annual decline. Rising competition, Huawei’s comeback, and shifting consumer trends challenge Apple’s market position.
Meta to cut 5% of staff, focusing on "low performers," while boosting AI investments. Restructuring continues as 2023's "Year of Efficiency" impacts thousands of roles.
RedNote, a Chinese lifestyle app known as Xiaohongshu, has seen a surge of over 500,000 TikTok users amid U.S. ban concerns. The platform, often called China’s Instagram, is exploring global expansion as it gains unexpected international attention.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has affirmed that Britain will establish its own approach to artificial intelligence regulation, emphasising the importance of testing and understanding AI before implementing a proportionate and grounded regulatory framework.
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