Iran says two supertankers hit mines as it declares Hormuz closed Trump waives Russia sanctions, Kyiv warns of reward for Moscow Houthis tighten Taiz siege and strike Aden as Egypt and UAE back Riyadh Cost-of-living protests turn violent in France and spread across Europe Russian strikes cut power to a million Ukrainians; drones target Moscow region US and Belgium press Israel after settler attacks on journalist and diplomats Stampede at Durga Puja pavilion in Kolkata kills at least 17 Albanian police use rubber bullets as student protests against Rama continue Kenya's Ebola cases rise to seven as health workers are infected Bangladesh struggles to contain world's largest measles outbreak this year Deaths and spreading fire after serious incident at Canadian base in Alberta Romania shoots down two drones over Black Sea after tanker attacks Debt trouble at AI data-centre builders spreads to Asian chip stocks IMF meetings end with warnings on oil, debt and inflation Hurricane Trudy strengthens to Category 2 as it nears Mexico's Pacific coast Former president Kabila joins rebel coalition seeking to topple Kinshasa government Calgary crowd rallies for Canada as Alberta's separation vote nears Calls for AI oversight grow from Washington to Sacramento and London Pakistan and Afghan Taliban exchange fire along border Pope Leo leaves hospital and returns to Vatican after lung cancer surgery Ten killed in fire at Bangladesh beach resort Asean monitor issues highest haze alert as Singapore names firms over Indonesian fires Four dead in Istanbul floods India's Cockroach Party founder freed after arrest as US lawmakers urge Rubio to act Tunisians stage biggest protest in years against President Saied Lula campaign accuses Meta of interference ahead of Brazil run-off Orange County wildfire burns homes and forces thousands to evacuate Lebanon and Israel to join US-backed talks in Florida Ukraine calls Russian-held Oleshky a 'death trap' with starving residents Israeli drone strikes kill six in Gaza as shelter crisis deepens before winter Delegates walk out of IMF meeting as Russian finance minister speaks Russia rejects idea of quick path to nuclear zero North Korea says it tested new AI-equipped torpedo system Suspicious mailings reach offices of dozens of US lawmakers Sudan's army claims dozens of RSF fighters killed in Nyala attack Iran says two supertankers hit mines as it declares Hormuz closed Trump waives Russia sanctions, Kyiv warns of reward for Moscow Houthis tighten Taiz siege and strike Aden as Egypt and UAE back Riyadh Cost-of-living protests turn violent in France and spread across Europe Russian strikes cut power to a million Ukrainians; drones target Moscow region US and Belgium press Israel after settler attacks on journalist and diplomats Stampede at Durga Puja pavilion in Kolkata kills at least 17 Albanian police use rubber bullets as student protests against Rama continue Kenya's Ebola cases rise to seven as health workers are infected Bangladesh struggles to contain world's largest measles outbreak this year Deaths and spreading fire after serious incident at Canadian base in Alberta Romania shoots down two drones over Black Sea after tanker attacks Debt trouble at AI data-centre builders spreads to Asian chip stocks IMF meetings end with warnings on oil, debt and inflation Hurricane Trudy strengthens to Category 2 as it nears Mexico's Pacific coast Former president Kabila joins rebel coalition seeking to topple Kinshasa government Calgary crowd rallies for Canada as Alberta's separation vote nears Calls for AI oversight grow from Washington to Sacramento and London Pakistan and Afghan Taliban exchange fire along border Pope Leo leaves hospital and returns to Vatican after lung cancer surgery Ten killed in fire at Bangladesh beach resort Asean monitor issues highest haze alert as Singapore names firms over Indonesian fires Four dead in Istanbul floods India's Cockroach Party founder freed after arrest as US lawmakers urge Rubio to act Tunisians stage biggest protest in years against President Saied Lula campaign accuses Meta of interference ahead of Brazil run-off Orange County wildfire burns homes and forces thousands to evacuate Lebanon and Israel to join US-backed talks in Florida Ukraine calls Russian-held Oleshky a 'death trap' with starving residents Israeli drone strikes kill six in Gaza as shelter crisis deepens before winter Delegates walk out of IMF meeting as Russian finance minister speaks Russia rejects idea of quick path to nuclear zero North Korea says it tested new AI-equipped torpedo system Suspicious mailings reach offices of dozens of US lawmakers Sudan's army claims dozens of RSF fighters killed in Nyala attack

Symbolic image: IMF meetings end with warnings on oil, debt and inflation

Symbolic image

IMF meetings end with warnings on oil, debt and inflation

5 sources

The IMF's Bangkok meetings ended on Saturday with warnings that the global economy's resilience is under strain. Bloomberg reports the ECB is leaning toward a December rate hike.

Closing the meetings on Saturday, 17 October, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva described "optimism and worry": optimism over resilience, AI and Asia's dynamism, worry over inflation, debt, wars and climate risks. The World Economic Outlook, titled "Resilience under strain, urgent choices", puts the cost of governments' energy support since the Iran war pushed up oil prices at 0.5% of global GDP. The IMF urges temporary, targeted measures instead of across-the-board subsidies. It projects debt in advanced economies rising from 108% of GDP last year to 115% in five years.

Poorer countries squeezed

Georgieva said higher global interest rates mean low-income countries now spend 8 to 14 percent of their revenue on debt repayments. Citing UNCTAD, Reuters reports that developing countries' external debt reached $12.3 trillion in 2025, while OECD donors cut development aid by 23% in real terms.

Central banks weigh oil shock

Bloomberg reports that the ECB leans toward a December hike. Reuters reports that the Bank of Canada sees a sharply higher inflation outlook as oil surges, according to Macklem.