Gita Gopinath, the Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, speaks with AFP outside of their headquarters in Washington, DC on October 13, 2020. A US stimulus package in the order of the $2.2 trillion CARES act approved in March would increase growth by two percentage points next year, the IMF's chief economist told AFP on October 13, 2020. / AFP / ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS
Gita Gopinath, the Chief Economist of the International Monetary Fund, speaks with AFP outside of their headquarters in Washington, DC on October 13, 2020. A US stimulus package in the order of the $2Show more

Watch: IMF on the economy and Covid-19



The International Monetary Fund forecasts that the world economic output will contract by 4.4 per cent this year. However this is a better projection that the one it gave in June due to a partial and better-than-expected rebound in advanced economies from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic.

However, the Middle East and North Africa region remains at risk from the pandemic and a recovery next year is far from assured, according to the Fund.

It is hosting a live discussion titled ‘Coping with COVID-19: Challenges and Policy Priorities for the MENA Region and the Global Economy’.

Gita Gopinath, the IMF’s chief economist, Jihad Azour, its Middle East and Central Asia director, Reza Moghadam, vice chairman of global capital markets at Morgan Stanley and Nasser Saidi, former Lebanon economy minister, will debate the outlook for the region and beyond. CNBC’s Hadley Gamble moderates.

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Read more here:

Pandemic worsens challenges of fragile states in Middle East and Central Asia, IMF says

IMF revises economic outlook on partial recovery and calls for multilateral co-operation

IMF forecasts 'partial and uneven recovery' as it warns of record debt levels

ESSENTIALS

The flights

Emirates flies direct from Dubai to Rio de Janeiro from Dh7,000 return including taxes. Avianca fliles from Rio to Cusco via Lima from $399 (Dhxx) return including taxes. 

The trip

From US$1,830 per deluxe cabin, twin share, for the one-night Spirit of the Water itinerary and US$4,630 per deluxe cabin for the Peruvian Highlands itinerary, inclusive of meals, and beverages. Surcharges apply for some excursions.

Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray 

Electoral College Victory

Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate. 

 

Popular Vote Tally

The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.


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