Libre News of The World Express Edition. Thursday the 24th of April 2025

On this episode of Libre News of The World Express edition, we span the globe to deliver the most significant headlines shaping politics, markets, and diplomacy. In India, business activity surged to an eight-month high in April, fueled by booming export orders and record-high manufacturing employment. The HSBC Flash India Composite PMI climbed to 60.0, reflecting the strongest private sector performance since August (Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-private-sector-business-activity-surges-8-month-high-april-pmi-2025-04-23/). Germany, by contrast, saw a contraction as its composite PMI fell to 49.7, underscoring the toll trade tensions and sluggish services are taking on Europe’s largest economy (Handelsblatt: https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/konjunktur-deutschlands-wirtschaft-im-april-wieder-geschrumpft/100044243.html). Across the Channel, the UK economy also faltered, with its PMI dropping to 48.2 and economists now predicting a 0.3% quarterly decline (The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/apr/23/uk-business-activity-contracts-april-global-trade-pmi). Portugal has requested the EU activate its fiscal escape clause to boost defense spending without breaching deficit rules—part of a wider EU trend toward military rearmament amid geopolitical pressures (Diário de Notícias: https://www.dn.pt/politica/portugal-pede-flexibilizacao-orcamental-para-gastos-com-defesa-18428947.html). Spain is following suit with a €10.5 billion military spending boost to meet NATO targets ahead of schedule (El País: https://elpais.com/espana/2025-04-22/sanchez-eleva-el-gasto-en-defensa-para-cumplir-la-meta-de-la-otan-en-2025.html). In Brazil, a $300 million cocoa mega-farm project led by Moisés Schmidt aims to reshape the global chocolate market as West African production slumps (Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/brazils-would-be-cocoa-king-aims-revolutionize-industry-with-giant-farm-2025-04-22/). The IMF has issued a call for faster debt restructuring in Africa, as it revises the region’s 2025 growth forecast to just 3.9% (Bloomberg Africa: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-22/imf-urges-faster-africa-debt-revamps-as-growth-outlook-darkens). In Turkey, Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek sought to calm investors during meetings in Washington, amid turbulence sparked by a surprise interest rate hike and mounting political strain (Financial Times: https://www.ft.com/content/2f5babc7-7a20-4c17-bf3d-ec18c28757b0). Meanwhile, India and Saudi Arabia deepened their strategic relationship, signing new agreements on energy and defense during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Riyadh (The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-saudi-arabia-deepen-energy-defence-ties/article67849547.ece). Tensions flared as Ukraine accused China of indirectly assisting Russia’s war effort, alleging Chinese nationals were working in Russian drone facilities. Beijing has denied the claims, but diplomatic strains are intensifying (Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/zelenskiy-says-chinese-citizens-working-drone-production-site-russia-2025-04-22/). And in a major environmental milestone, Iceland’s only whaling company has canceled its 2025 season for a second consecutive year, citing market collapse and growing public opposition (Iceland Review: https://www.icelandreview.com/news/icelands-only-whaling-company-cancels-2025-hunt/). That wraps our Express edition—your fast track to the world’s most vital headlines.