high inflation continues to plague countries around the world. central bankers are trying slow down the price increases. asa as a result, we have some of the weakest growth projections by the international monetary fund since the 1990s. international monetary fund since the 19905. with the international monetary fund since the 1990s. with the world's finance ministers and central bankers meeting in washington this week, the increasingly fragile global economy will certainly be the focus, along with ways for countries to try and mitigate some of the negative impacts of those interest rate rises. the high inflation, however, is already having an impact on poorer countries, pushing them further into financial distress. given the uncertain global economic outlook, the imf believes many more countries will be looking to the imf

for help. earlier, i spoke tojohn lipski, chair of the national bureau of economic research, also in washington for those meetings. he told the cost of living is expected told the cost of living is expected to feature heavily throughout this week. pessimists think they'll have to produce recession to meet their inflation targets. inflation optimists think it will be more benign, and be a better outlook — perhaps better than the imf and world bank are looking for. inflation is the key. there's little reason to think that we're looking towards a boom.— reason to think that we're looking towards a boom. what is your sense of how central _ towards a boom. what is your sense of how central banks, _ towards a boom. what is your sense of how central banks, in _ towards a boom. what is your sense of how central banks, in particular. of how central banks, in particular the us central bank, is managing inflation, given the upheaval we've seenin

inflation, given the upheaval we've seen in financial markets with regards to this?— seen in financial markets with regards to this? certainly that is a second theme, _ regards to this? certainly that is a second theme, along _ regards to this? certainly that is a second theme, along with - regards to this? certainly that is a second theme, along with the - regards to this? certainly that is a - second theme, along with the outlook for the key economies — the issue of financial stability. and obviously that's of key importance to the federal reserve and other central banks. right now, we're in a situation in which it's clear that economic growth is slowing in the key economies, it's clear that inflation is starting to wane — how much more is going to be needed by central bank action and whether that creates a risk of financial stability will be one of the central debating points here in washington. i don't think there can be conclusions drawn, but this will be a hot topic. conclusions drawn, but this will be a hot twic— conclusions drawn, but this will be a hot topic. what else do you think investors might _ a hot topic. what else do you think investors might be _ a hot topic. what else do you think investors might be looking - a hot topic. what else do you think investors might be looking for- a hot topic. what else do you think investors might be looking for to i investors might be looking for to come out of this meeting — these meetings, i should say — in terms of reassurance? meetings, i should say - in terms of reassurance?— reassurance? yes, there are three other key points — reassurance? yes, there are three other key points that _ reassurance? yes, there are three other key points that are - reassurance? yes, there are three other key points that are going - reassurance? yes, there are three other key points that are going to | other key points that are going to be addressed by policymakers in addition to the obvious ones about growth, inflation and financial stability. that is — dealing with

sovereign debt. as your correspondent mentioned, the imf expects many more cases of countries with debt distress in the coming months. in a situation in which there is no well—functioning international system to deal with debt restructuring of debtor countries. there's going to be a real effort here in washington to try to make progress towards some kind of solution. and that means bringing together, more than anything, private—sector, debtor countries, and the lending countries, and the lending countries, and the lending countries, and especially between the advanced economies and china. two other points of importance — the debate about climate and climate finance is extremely important and will be addressed very directly here in washington. the united states and other advanced economies have charged the world bank and other multilateral development banks with developing a much more aggressive

stance for climate finance.— stance for climate finance. that's john stance for climate finance. that's john lipski _ stance for climate finance. that's john lipski there _ stance for climate finance. that's john lipski there speaking - stance for climate finance. that's john lipski there speaking to - stance for climate finance. that's john lipski there speaking to me| stance for climate finance. that'sl john lipski there speaking to me a little earlier. let's turn to tech now. shipments of personal computers globally dropped by almost a third in the first three months of this year, as fears of an economic recession start to bite. that's according to market research firm idc. one of the companies hit the hardest was apple. our business reporter this morning is katie silver. she's been looking into the details for us. shejoins me now on the programme. katie, always great to get you on the show. what does the research tell us? the? to get you on the show. what does the research tell us?— to get you on the show. what does the research tell us? they looked at five different — the research tell us? they looked at five different companies _ the research tell us? they looked at five different companies - _ the research tell us? they looked at five different companies - the - five different companies — the biggest makers of pcs, lenovo, hp, dell, apple and asus. they found all companies experienced double—digit falls in shipments in the first three months of this year compared to the first three months of last year — there were 57 million computers ordered. but the hardest hit was apple, having a 40% drop — and apple also experienced a 40% reduction in market share. there are

a few reasons for this. the first of all is weak demand. as we've spoken about time and time again on this programme — during the pandemic, nothing was more popular during the pandemic than staying at home and buying new computers, particularly for those who worked from home. demand was supersonic. those continues can't continue going forward. the other aspect is that many people bought fresh computers and, as a result a couple of years on, those computers are still relatively fresh and, therefore, a —— people aren't necessarily feeling the need to replace them. the other aspect is the economic forecasts going forward. with high interest rates and people struggling to pay their home loans, many aren't thinking about going out and upgrading their computers. of course, apple's going to be one of the companies hardest hit by this, because they make such a luxury, high—end item. many see them as a luxury product. and the final aspect too is inventory. stores around the world bought up computers with it the hope of selling them on. now, with this reduction in demand, many companies and stores around the world are looking to off—load some

of that inventory. we'll know more in may, when we see apple report their results.— their results. yes. i'm sure you'll be covering _ their results. yes. i'm sure you'll be covering that _ their results. yes. i'm sure you'll be covering that for _ their results. yes. i'm sure you'll be covering that for us _ their results. yes. i'm sure you'll be covering that for us as - their results. yes. i'm sure you'll be covering that for us as well. i be covering that for us as well. katie silver, folks. thanks for joining us on the programme. the leaders of latin america and asia's largest economies are set to meet. brazilian president luiz inacio lula da silva is beginning his state visit on tuesday. he was meant to be in china two weeks ago, but it was postponed due to mild pneumonia. there are expectations he will stick to the original agenda, signing 20 international agreements. china is brazil's largest international trading partner. we've been talking about concerns within the global economy, but some think that asia will stand out as a bright spot — that's the view of the asean + 3 research office. it expects amno countries, china, japan and south korea to collectively see economic growth of 4.6% this year — that would outpace the imf forecast.

according to antony tan of amro, part of the optimism is driven by domestic demand, as economies in this region start to fully reopen. indeed we are optimistic of the growth outlook for asia. for asean + 3 in particular. and there are a couple of considerations. three, in fact, i can give you some of the driving factors. no. i — we do see that the robust growth in the region will be anchored by robust domestic demand benefiting from fuller economic reopening. in particular, if you look at private consumption, it's expected to remain resilient, mainly driven by pent—up demand and this notion of revenge spending, right? the resumption of delayed investment activities will support private investment.— investment activities will support private investment. which countries do ou see private investment. which countries do you see as _ private investment. which countries do you see as the _ private investment. which countries do you see as the sort _ private investment. which countries do you see as the sort of— private investment. which countries do you see as the sort of standouts| do you see as the sort of standouts in the bright—spot area, if you will? in the bright-spot area, if you will? ., , in the bright-spot area, if you will? . , ., ., will? certainly china - china, we are optimistic— will? certainly china - china, we are optimistic that _

will? certainly china - china, we are optimistic that the _ will? certainly china - china, we are optimistic that the growth i are optimistic that the growth forecasts of 5.5% this year is reasonably achievable, partly because of the economic reopening story which, as everyone knows, is earlier than expected. so we do expect this huge draw—down of excess savings resulting in pent—up demand and spending that will really drive forward the growth in china for this year. and of course... the forward the growth in china for this year. and of course. . ._ year. and of course... the chinese economy also _ year. and of course... the chinese economy also depends _ year. and of course... the chinese economy also depends on, - year. and of course... the chinese economy also depends on, you - economy also depends on, you know, strong exports to the rest of the world, right? and if we've got a situation where global growth is slowing, how much are you seeing that impact outlook for china and, subsequently, the rest of asia? certainly with the slowing global growth, if you look at the us and europe, there are headwinds, but we are optimistic that, because of the opening up of the economies and fuller economic reopenings even in asean, the domestic—demand story will be the key driver. as i

mentioned earlier, if you look at china alone, the magnitude of access savings is amounting to close to 20 trillion rnp in 2023 alone. this sort of revenge spending, pent—up demand, will really drive the other part of the equation — not so much on the external side, because we know there are headwinds, but within the region over the past couple of years, the region has become more resilient in terms of sourcing the demand within itself, consuming goods and services and doing all the intramural trade in exports.- intramural trade in exports. antony tan from amro _ intramural trade in exports. antony tan from amro speaking _ intramural trade in exports. antony tan from amro speaking to - intramural trade in exports. antony tan from amro speaking to me - tan from amro speaking to me earlier. us car—maker tesla is facing a lawsuit from a san francisco owner, accusing it of allowing its workers to use images captured by cameras in the electric vehicles to create what he calls tasteless entertainment. he brought his case on behalf of all owners after reading reports of

tesla employees sending reports to employees of tesla customers in private or embarrassing situations. he wants a court order to pay unspecified demands and to stop the practice. that's it from us. thanks for watching. hey. i'mjulia hey. i'm julia with the catch—up. controversial influencer andrew tate and his brother tristan have stepped out of their villa in romania since leaving prison and being put under house arrest last month. the brothers have been getting their electronic devices searched as part of investigations into claims of rape and people—trafficking. both of them have denied wrongdoing. events taking place this week have been marking the 25th anniversary since the signing of the good friday peace agreement which ended 30 years of conflict in northern ireland known as the troubles. prime

minister rishi sunak will welcome us presidentjoe biden in belfast on tuesday to commemorate the event. some other stories now: the dalai lama has apologised after footage showing him a boy asking if he wanted to suck his tongue. the video also showed the tibetan spiritual leader kissing the boy on the lips. us presidentjoe biden has said he plans to run for re—election in 2024, even though he hasn't formally announced a campaign. there have been questions around whether he would run since, at age 80, he's the oldest american president ever, and polls show a majority of democrats would prefer that the party nominate someone else. despite poor reviews, the new super mario brothers movie has broken box—office records. the film took around $377 million world—wide in its first five days on release. we'll leave you with ten seconds of this unusual encounter — two men spotted a minky whale in the english

channel while fishing off eastbourne on saturday. dave dugan said the whale swam alongside his boat for about five minutes and was roughly eight metres long. you're all caught up now. have a good night. reading. it's not something that comes easy for everyone. for 35—year—old aaron, it's been a struggle. i 35-year-old aaron, it's been a stru: ule. .,, 35-year-old aaron, it's been a stru: ule. ., , 35-year-old aaron, it's been a struggle-— struggle. i was really scared. i felt embarrassed, _ struggle. i was really scared. i felt embarrassed, quite - struggle. i was really scared. i felt embarrassed, quite silly, l struggle. i was really scared. i | felt embarrassed, quite silly, if i'm honest. but... ..now that i'm as far as what i'm, you know, proud of myself for doing it.— of myself for doing it. twice a week, of myself for doing it. twice a week. aaron _ of myself for doing it. twice a week, aaron has _ of myself for doing it. twice a week, aaron has a _ of myself for doing it. twice a week, aaron has a session . of myself for doing it. twice a i week, aaron has a session with of myself for doing it. twice a - week, aaron has a session with coach anne, who helps him break down and pronounce words. and he's doing this for one very special person. got a little uirl, for one very special person. got a little girl. and _

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coming up on the programme: no no doubt, parker is absent and now norris schaaf as a shock exit at the monaco carlos masters. a night new camp, camp, barcelona, point closer to the first league title in four years. super stoinis shines for the super kings as they snatched a dramatic lastgasp victory in the indian premier league. hello and

thank you for