Armenian Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan and Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan met with IMF and World Bank officials to discuss economic stability, macroeconomic developments, and digital transformation cooperation amid global uncertainty.
The World Bank cut global growth forecasts to 2.5 percent for 2026 amid geopolitical tensions and debt concerns, though Goldman Sachs' chief economist remains optimistic that artificial intelligence could boost productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points annually over a decade.
The IMF and Austria renewed their cooperation agreement on the Joint Vienna Institute on June 18, 2026, reaffirming its role training over 60,000 public sector officials across Europe, Central Asia and beyond since 1992.
ECB President Christine Lagarde warned that artificial intelligence poses severe financial crisis risks to 109 stress-tested banks and urged global governance modeled on Cold War nuclear treaties to manage the technology's cross-border threats.
Trump's Iran war drove oil prices up 30 percent and inflation higher, dampening global growth, yet G7 leaders meeting in France avoid publicly blaming the U.S. president, prioritizing diplomatic cooperation over economic accountability.
The International Monetary Fund identified Argentina as a striking exception to global economic pressures from Middle East conflict, with inflation declining to 2.1% in May while other nations faced significant increases, aided by domestic oil producers managing fuel prices.
IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva stated the global economy shows no immediate slowdown signs despite Middle East war risks, though oil prices remain elevated and vulnerable emerging markets face significant growth pressures.
President Trump announced a US-Iran peace deal, causing Brent crude to drop over 5% to 82 dollars per barrel, the lowest in three months, as reopening the Strait of Hormuz could ease global energy supply disruptions and inflation concerns.
The EU's new migration rulebook entered force today, introducing faster asylum procedures and external deportation hubs while drawing papal criticism for weakening migrant protections amid Europe's rightward political shift.
World Bank, IMF, and WTO meet to discuss US and Iran conflict affecting vulnerable countries.
The IMF will cut global growth forecasts due to the Middle East war, anticipating up to $50 billion in financial assistance needs and warning that 45 million people face food insecurity despite potential ceasefire.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized the IMF and World Bank for diverging from core missions, demanding they refocus on economic growth and financial stability rather than social issues like climate and gender, warning they must reform or face reduced US support.
The International Monetary Fund criticized Argentina's Milei government for weak anti-corruption oversight and delayed asset declarations in its Article IV review, marking the harshest IMF tone since 2018 and reflecting concerns over judicial independence and enforcement capacity.
World Bank, IMF, WTO, and IEA leaders met in Washington to assess the US-Iran conflict's disproportionate impact on vulnerable economies through elevated fuel and fertilizer prices, food insecurity, and job losses, while warning of depleting global oil inventories.
The IMF questioned Argentina's anti-corruption policy, citing weaknesses in asset controls and judicial independence.
Argentina's government rejects changes to taxes and Monotributo despite FMI recommendations.
Twenty-seven nations seek World Bank emergency aid amid the global oil crisis.
Armenian Finance Minister Hovhannisyan and Central Bank Governor Galstyan met with IMF and World Bank leaders to discuss economic stability, structural reforms, and digital transformation opportunities amid global uncertainty and geopolitical challenges.
The World Bank and IMF express muted concern about Trump's economic policies and Middle East disruptions, forecasting global growth to slow to 2.5 percent this year, yet fail to acknowledge the fundamental shift in the US-led international order.
Oil prices fell two percent to their lowest since Iran war's start following a US-Iran deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz and easing sanctions, with Brent crude dropping to $77.96 and WTI to $74.96 per barrel.
G7 leaders convened in France amid economic fallout from the US-Iran conflict, which spiked oil prices and disrupted trade; while a ceasefire eased concerns, central banks tightened policy to combat persistent inflation affecting global growth.
G7 leaders unlikely to blame Trump for war-driven economic slowdown at France meeting.
IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva welcomed the US-Iran peace agreement ending four months of conflict that disrupted global oil supplies, but warned economic damage will persist as infrastructure recovery in the Gulf remains prolonged and uncertain.
The IMF identified Argentina as a notable exception where inflation declined despite Middle East conflict-driven global energy price increases, contrasting with inflation accelerations in the US, Europe, and most other economies.
IMF Chief Kristalina Georgieva stated the global economy shows no slowdown signs despite Middle East war risks, though energy prices remain 30% above pre-war levels, with vulnerable emerging markets and energy-importing nations facing significant growth pressures.
IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warned that advanced AI models like Anthropic's Mythos pose systemic financial risks if misused by bad actors, noting such powerful tools represent only the beginning of emerging threats to critical infrastructure.
IMF and World Bank leaders urged member nations Friday to increase funding for global lenders combating poverty and climate change in poorer countries, with the World Bank chief proposing over 150 billion dollars in additional lending capacity.
The IMF met with Venezuelan officials in May to discuss strengthening macroeconomic stability and capacity development, potentially paving the way for Article IV consultations to resume bilateral economic reviews after over a decade of sanctions.
The IMF urged countries to pursue regional trade integration as global trade fundamentally restructures, warning that supply chain reorganization around select connector nodes creates both opportunities and risks for nations positioned outside emerging trade corridors.
Finance ministers and central bank governors from 191 countries convene for IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings amid global economic uncertainty, with growth forecasts being revised downward due to geopolitical conflicts disrupting oil and gas supplies.
Minister Luis Caputo promises inflation below 1% starting August, despite May's rate exceeding 2%.
The IMF criticized Milei's administration for weak anticorruption efforts and delayed asset declarations, marking the harshest tone since Argentina's 2018 IMF return, while approving a $1.05 billion disbursement despite unmet central bank reserve targets.
The IMF proposed Argentina expand income tax coverage to at least 20 percent of workers and reduce the simplified Monotributo regime, potentially generating 0.4 percent of GDP while broadening the tax base narrowed by 2023 reforms.
Over 25 countries requested emergency loans from the World Bank, with three activating new financing instruments and 24 finalizing procedures, as the bank prepares to distribute 20-60 billion dollars amid global crisis demands.
Montenegro's Central Bank Governor Radović told international finance leaders that strong institutions are essential for economic resilience amid global crises, advocating for enhanced IMF and World Bank support to help member nations strengthen preparedness and respond to emerging risks.
Oil prices fell to June lows following a US-Iran ceasefire deal, with Brent crude dropping 2% to $77.96/barrel and WTI declining 2.38% to $74.96/barrel, as markets anticipated increased Iranian oil supply and restored Strait of Hormuz passage.
G7 leaders meet in France amid rising inflation and oil prices due to the US-Iran war.
IMF Director Kristalina Georgieva said an Iran-US energy deal was positive, yet global oil supply disruptions would persist, causing prices above one hundred dollars per barrel and complicating Latin America's already weak economic growth outlook amid Middle East conflict ramifications.
Zelenskyy meets with G7 leaders to strengthen Ukraine's air defense and push diplomacy to end the war.
Following a U.S.-Iran peace agreement reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Nigerians anticipate fuel price relief as global crude oil declined approximately ten dollars per barrel by mid-June, though analysts warn price reductions may be slow and incomplete due to market dynamics.
The IMF reports the global economy showed surprising resilience following the Middle East conflict, with U.S. and China-led tech investments and stable inflation expectations offsetting oil price increases, though Middle Eastern exporters, Europe, and Africa face severe economic contractions and energy dependency pressures.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasizes strong national security as the cabinet approves the 2026-27 budget.
IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the world remains unprepared for increasingly frequent economic shocks, citing recent crises from COVID-19 to Middle East conflict, while cautiously addressing AI's labor market impacts to avoid repeating globalization's unequal distribution of costs.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang dismissed a significant tech market sell-off triggered by AI valuation concerns as a buying opportunity, while Asian markets tumbled and the Nasdaq fell 4.2 percent, its largest drop in over a year.
Liz Kendall says Labour will make AI work for workers, not abandon those whose jobs are lost to its advance.
The IMF, World Bank, and International Energy Agency warned Friday that continued disruptions to Strait of Hormuz shipping risk severe summer fuel shortages and economic instability, with vulnerable nations facing disproportionate impacts from surging energy and fertilizer prices amid Middle East conflict.
IMF, World Bank, and IEA warn of summer fuel scarcity if Hormuz shipping does not resume.
The IMF criticized Argentina's government for its lax anti-corruption policies and weak control over officials' sworn declarations.
The IMF, IEA, and World Bank warned that continued Strait of Hormuz closures risk summer fuel shortages and global supply depletion, with vulnerable economies requiring up to fifty billion dollars in assistance amid Middle East conflict impacts.
Argentina's central bank received one billion dollars from the IMF's second review approval, pushing international reserves to 47.9 billion dollars, the highest level since October 2019, though the Fund flagged inflation measurement concerns and potential fiscal deficit risks.