Category: World
Trade War Hits Emerging Market Growth, Weaker Dollar Eases Some Risks: Fitch Ratings
Emerging-market (EM) issuers are variously exposed to direct and indirect impacts from the global trade war, Fitch Ratings says in a new report. Credit pressures may become most evident in EMs where tariff effects combine with aggravating factors or add to pre-existing pressures, even if direct US tariff exposures are small. APAC’s high trade openness […]
Human Development progress slows to a 35-year low according to UN Development Programme report
Human development progress is experiencing an unprecedented slowdown according to a new report released today by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The report shows how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could reignite development. Instead of seeing sustained recovery following the period of exceptional crises of 2020-2021, the report reveals unexpectedly weak progress. Excluding those crisis years, […]
Foreign Minister to attend Pope Francis’s Funeral Mass
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Vijitha Herath will represent the Government of Sri Lanka at the funeral of His Holiness Pope Francis to be held on 26 April 2025 in Saint Peter’s Square, Vatican City. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Colombo
Deep Cuts to Growth Forecasts as Global Trade War Escalates: Fitch Ratings
Fitch Ratings has sharply lowered its forecasts for world growth in response to the severe escalation in the global trade war. In a special update to its quarterly Global Economic Outlook, Fitch has cut world growth in 2025 by 0.4pp and China and US growth by 0.5pp from the March edition. US annual growth in […]
VIDEO: Trump pauses higher tariffs for 90 days because of ‘Yippy’ Reaction but slaps China with 125-pct
President Trump announced he would impose a 125% tariff on China for retaliating against the U.S., while also announcing a 90-day pause on some tariffs.
Tariffs Have Mixed Fiscal Impact, Will Not Solve Underlying Challenges in US Economy, says Fitch Ratings
Tariff revenues will help narrow the US budget deficit in 2025, but the hit to economic growth and additional tax cuts are likely to limit the size of any lasting fiscal benefit, Fitch Ratings says. Stabilizing US debt/GDP will be challenging as long as long-term spending pressures remain unaddressed. The tariffs announced on April 2 […]
IMF Warns of “Significant Risk” to Global Economy Following US Tariffs
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has issued a stark warning regarding the potential impact of newly announced U.S. tariffs on the global economy. In a statement released today, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva expressed concern over the measures, highlighting the potential for increased economic instability. “We are still assessing the macroeconomic implications of the announced […]
‘Liberation Day’ Takes US Tariff Rate Back to Level Last Seen in 1909: Fitch Ratings
US tariffs have reached levels that are transforming the global economic outlook, significantly raising US recession risks and constraining the Federal Reserve’s ability to lower interest rates further, says Fitch Ratings. The “Liberation Day” tariff increases outlined by the US government on 2 April sharply exceeded the already steep rises assumed in our March 2025 Global […]
World Growth Forecasts Cut Sharply as US Starts Global Trade War: Fitch Ratings
The new US administration has started a global trade war that will reduce US and world growth, push up US inflation and delay Federal Reserve rate cuts, Fitch Ratings believes. We have cut both our US 2025 growth forecast to 1.7% from 2.1% in the December 2024 Global Economic Outlook (GEO) and our 2026 forecast to 1.5% […]
SL Students’ Growing Interest in Healthcare & STEM Fields Across Top Study Destinations
ApplyBoard, a leading international student mobility technology platform, has released its latest report. This in-depth analysis of international student search trends across Canada, the US, and the UK offers valuable insights into how Sri Lankan students are strategically aligning their study choices with high-growth global sectors, particularly healthcare, engineering, and STEM fields. Key Insights on […]
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Watch as Donald Trump gives remarks at the World Economic Forum. A key topic he spoked about is major tax cuts. The President also talked about trade and tariffs.
BRICS Expands: Nine Nations to Join as Partner States from Jan 2025; More Expected Soon
Russia confirmed on Monday (December 23) that nine nations have agreed to join BRICS as partner states, with their status becoming official on January 1, 2025, as reported by foreign media. A report from TASS, citing Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov, revealed that a total of thirteen nations were invited to join the newly established category […]