Finance officials from around the world are gathering in Bangkok this week for the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank. The US-Israel war on Iran, now in its eighth month, and its inflationary impact are expected to dominate the agenda. Rising global public debt, at its highest level since World War II and projected to exceed 100% of GDP before 2030, will also be a key concern for policymakers. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be absent, but Federal Reserve Board Chairman Kevin Warsh is slated to participate in a public event on October 16. Trump on Friday announced a deal with Russia to provide more diesel to global markets and a temporary waiver of US sanctions, aiming to lower petrol prices before November elections.