Middle East and Asia

A new working paper shows how an IMF playbook could boost the global economy by providing guidance to countries on how best to maximize use of the Special Drawing Rights they receive.

With prices at record highs, the IMF should use its gold reserves to fund much-needed support for developing countries.

Despite alarmist headlines, China’s aging population won’t doom its economy—rising productivity and shifting labor trends can more than offset demographic changes.

The UN imposes “snapback” sanctions on Iran as Congress remains divided over repeal of the Caesar Act. Trump urges Europe to tariff India and China over Russia.

The US sanctions Brazilian health officials for hosting Cuban medical missions while it urges UN to lift sanctions on Syrian president. Europeans warn of snapback sanctions on Iran.

To reduce dependence on Trump’s erratic trade policies, the EU, Canada, and other democracies should pursue closer economic ties with China, leveraging its strength in clean energy and manufacturing.

Trump’s fantasy of American dominance collides with reality as China surges ahead economically while his policies sabotage US growth, research, and global standing.

Trump signals plans to cut Cuba’s remaining economic lifelines and threatens sanctions on Russia. Lancet Global Health study finds sanctions are as deadly as war.

Los Angeles Times: Broad economic sanctions, most of which are imposed by the US government, kill hundreds of thousands of innocent people each year — disproportionately children.

This study, published in The Lancet Global Health, estimates that unilateral sanctions were associated with an annual toll of 564,258 deaths, similar to the global mortality burden associated with armed conflict.