Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news * Reeves to make case for free global trade at Washington IMF talks Japan’s Minister of Finance Katsunobu Kato said today he aims to build on close discussions pertaining to currencies when he meets his US counterpart Scott Bessent in Washington this week, Bloomberg reports. Kato told a press conference today: “Treasury Secretary Bessent and I are in close contact on currencies, and I would like to take this opportunity to hold further discussions during my visit. Continue reading...

Russian president says he is open to bilateral talks as forces launch drone attack on Black Sea port city Welcome back to our live coverage of Russia’s war on Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said for the first time in years that he is open to bilateral talks with Ukraine, having previously demanded Volodymyr Zelenskyy be replaced before it could happen. We have always talked about this, that we have a positive attitude towards any peace initiatives. We hope that representatives of the Kyiv regime will feel the same way. The Ukrainian air force said on Tuesday that Russia launched 54 drones during an overnight attack. The air force said it shot down 38 drones and another 16 did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures. Russia’s air defence units destroyed 10 Ukrainian drones overnight, downing half of them over the Crimean Peninsula, according to reports. Leaks suggest the Trump administration is now pushing for a “peace deal” that heavily favours Russia. It would include a pause to the war along the existing 1,000km frontline; recognition that Crimea belongs to Moscow; and a veto on Ukraine’s Nato membership. There are also unconfirmed reports that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station – which Russia seized in 2022 – would be part of a “neutral” zone. Continue reading...

First-hand accounts from victims of unthinkable violence paint a gruesome picture of the brutality sweeping the central African country. How long is the West prepared to look away? They were looking for new ways to kill, ways to send fresh terror across…

Estimated $2bn lost in missed taxes from environmentally destructive practice some blame on political corruption Felicity Nelson remembers her 17-day detention last September vividly. The 34-year-old Ghanaian activist was one of 53 people arrested at a…

The rampant racism expressed by football teams and fans in Israel exposes a glaring culture of impunity. Authorities and sporting bodies like FIFA must stop looking the other way and address this trou...

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Top official sanctions case against Booker prize-winning novelist for comments about Kashmir