By Naomi Rovnick and Libby George LONDON (Reuters) – Rivalry with China, fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine and wrangling once again in Washington over the U.S. debt ceiling have put the dollar’s status as the world’s dominant currency under fresh scrutiny. Russia’s sanctions-imposed exile from global financial systems last year also fuelled speculation that…
By Khalid Abdelaziz and Nafisa Eltahir DUBAI (Reuters) -Clashes between rival military factions broke out on Wednesday in Sudan’s capital Khartoum, residents said, threatening to shatter a fragile ceasefire designed to allow for the delivery of aid and create conditions for a more lasting truce. The ceasefire deal, which is being monitored by Saudi Arabia…
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday its executive board completed the first reviews of Rwanda’s loan program under the Resilience and Sustainability Facility and an accompanying policy program, allowing for an immediate, $98.6 million disbursement. In a statement, the Fund said Rwanda’s economy had robust growth in 2022 but faced challenges…
By James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to make his long-awaited foray into the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday in an unusual manner – at an event with billionaire Elon Musk on Twitter. His entry changes the shape of the contest for the Republican nomination, as he likely will emerge…
By Chijioke Ohuocha ABUJA (Reuters) – Nigeria’s annual economic growth rate slowed to 2.3% in the first quarter, data showed on Wednesday, hurt by a government plan to swap old banknotes for newly designed ones that disrupted trade and payments. The gross domestic product (GDP) data came hours before a central bank interest rate announcement…
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department on Monday said Russia’s Wagner Group is trying to obscure its efforts to acquire military equipment for use in Ukraine, adding that Washington has been informed the mercenary force is seeking to move those acquisitions through Mali to aid Russia in its war. Wagner is willing to use…
By Alexander Winning and Tannur Anders JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South Africa’s headline consumer inflation slowed more than expected in April to an 11-month low of 6.8% in annual terms, data showed on Wednesday, but analysts and markets still expect the central bank to hike interest rates on Thursday. Inflation had edged up for two consecutive months…
By Emma Farge GENEVA (Reuters) – The United Nations human rights chief on Wednesday described the situation in Sudan as “heartbreaking” and made a direct call to the two warring generals to stop sexual violence and spare the lives of civilians. Fighting in Sudan that broke out more than a month ago has killed hundreds…
By George Obulutsa NAIROBI (Reuters) – International Monetary Fund staff and Kenya have reached an agreement that could unlock more than $1 billion of new financing, which could help relieve pressure on government finances in East Africa’s largest economy. Kenya’s finances have been under strain from rising debt repayments and the effects of the worst…
By Tom Balmforth KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine’s foreign minister began a tour of African countries this week, stepping up wartime Kyiv’s diplomatic push to challenge Russian influence in the “Global South” and cement the vision laid out by Ukraine as the only path to peace. Top diplomat Dmytro Kuleba said his main priority was to…
