Egypt finance minister on IMF Program, Reforms, Economy, Debt, Bond issuance

Germany managed to stave off a full recession in 2022, with the economy performing better than expected. Although Russia's war in Ukraine and high energy prices slowed growth, the economy "managed to perform well."

The French press react to strikes and protests across France on "Black Thursday" against the government's pension reform plans. Also, there's mixed reaction in New Zealand to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stepping down. Finally, Andy Murray wins the second-longest match in Australian Open history, but the late finishing time sparks criticism of the tournament's organisers.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrote to Congress saying that the US Treasury had started its "debt issuance suspension period" amid a standoff in Congress over increasing the country's debt ceiling.

Following years of political and economic crises, Lebanon's population structure has changed, and not for the better. Experts believe that the structural inequality will only widen in future.

A 14-point plan to improve transparency and close loopholes has been put forward by the head of the European Parliament in the wake of Qatargate, the bribery scandal that continues to rock the institution.

President Joe Biden and Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held their first talks as the White House seeks authorization to raise borrowing limits. The opposition is believed to be seeking promises to cut spending.

This week, a major upheaval hit one of India’s top business empires. Adani Group has operations in everything from coal mining to telecoms. Its seven main units were recently worth an estimated $220 billion. But a blistering report by an American investor research firm accusing the conglomerate of massive fraud and market manipulation has sent its stock price plummeting, along with the personal fortune of billionaire founder Gautam Adani.

In his State of the Union address, US President Joe Biden underlined slowing inflation and low unemployment as signs that the country's economy is resilient and ready to compete with China in key sectors. Looking forward, he aims to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling by increasing taxes on wealth.

The Indian economy is expected to grow 6.9 % in the 2023 fiscal year, the World Bank has forecasted. But despite economic growth, India still has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the world.

Vladimir Putin claims the Russian economy has withstood Western sanctions, as he prepares to mark one year since the invasion of Ukraine. While Russia's GDP has contracted less than many analysts expected, Beata Javorcik of the EBRD explains that's largely the result of years of "sanctions-proofing", and doesn't mean that households and businesses aren't suffering.

The German Minister labour, Hubertus Heil and his colleague for Development Cooperation, Svenja Schulze, are visiting Ghana as part of their tour that would take them to neighboring Ivory Coast as well. Key on their agenda is pushing for better cooperation between Germany and Africa. Hubertus Heil has been talking to DW about the visit and upcoming migration reforms in Germany targeted at Africa.

Once enacted, the electoral body reforms would reduce salaries and funding for local election offices. Additionally, they would lessen sanctions for candidates who fail to report campaign spending.