Debt News

Could Venezuela's debt crisis force regime change?

By AFP

Caracas - Venezuela might look bad right now with protests, scarce food and fraught political tensions. But it could soon get a lot worse, according to analysts, because of a debt emergency raising the specter of default.

Malaysia's 1MDB misses Abu Dhabi payment

By AFP

Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's scandal-hit state investment fund 1MDB has missed a payment to Abu Dhabi of over $600 million that it was supposed to make by the end of July to settle debts, the emirate's sovereign wealth fund said Tuesday.

Greek PM hopeful new bond will open access to ECB funds

By AFP

Atenas - Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday claimed that his country's first bond sale in three years would help convince the European Central Bank to provide additional liquidity to its struggling economy.

Greece returns to debt markets after three-year hiatus

By AFP

Atenas - Greece returned to the debt markets for the first time in three years on Tuesday, with reports saying it was on track to raise funds at a lower cost, marking a symbolic victory for the beleaguered eurozone nation.

IMF approves $1.8 bn loan for Greece 'in principle,' no funds released

By AFP

Washington - The International Monetary Fund late Thursday approved a one-year, $1.8 billion loan program for Greece but will not release any funds until the eurozone agrees on a debt relief plan, in a highly unusual compromise step.

Greece heading for bond market test 'within days'

By AFP

Atenas - Bolstered by its third bailout programme and positive reports from the European Union, Greece is planning an imminent test of the bond market, local media said this weekend.

China opens up $10 trillion bond market in liberalisation step

By AFP

Shanghai - China on Monday opened up its $10 trillion bond market to foreign investors, in the latest liberalisation move by Beijing as it seeks to draw in more fund flows as it battles slowing economic growth.

Portugal makes early 1-billion euro repayment to IMF

By AFP

Lisbon - Portugal has made an early repayment of one billion euros to the International Monetary Fund and intends to repay a further 2.6 billion euros of bailout loans by August, the government said Friday.As part of a bailout in 2011, Portugal was loaned 29.

Greece takes home foreclosures online to avoid protests

By AFP

Atenas - The scene has become familiar in Greece in recent months -- a middle-aged woman in a courthouse, trying to dodge an angry crowd shouting inches from her face."Get out, crow!

IMF takes 'unusual' steps for Greece

By AFP

Washington - By promising Thursday to approve a new aid plan for Greece, but without releasing any money, the IMF has again departed from its usual procedures to support Athens, exposing itself to accusations of giving the country special treatment.

Puerto Ricans back full US statehood but vote marred by abstentions

By AFP

San Juan - Puerto Rico's referendum on statehood delivered a lackluster turnout Sunday, with almost four fifths of voters deciding not to cast a ballot, though those who did unanimously backed the territory becoming a US state.

Greek families left struggling after successive cuts

By AFP

Atenas - In the living room of his small Athens flat, 40-year-old Dimitris Voutsinos scours the web for job ads -- one of thousands struggling to cope as Greece's economic crisis endures.

IMF's Greek compromise could break impasse on aid deal

By AFP

Washington - The IMF's proposed compromise on Greece raises hopes it will break a deadlock with Europe next week and open the way for the release of desperately needed funds for Athens, averting a renewed crisis in July.

IMF: Greece compromise could avoid July crisis

By AFP

Washington - A compromise the IMF offered to break the deadlock with Europe over financing for Greece could avoid a renewed crisis in the country in July, a fund spokesman said Thursday.

Puerto Rico, a US cousin, mulls its status and identity

By AFP

San Juan - "How pretty is the flag, is the flag of Puerto Rico!

Puerto Rico crisis hits public education -- a way out for the poor

By AFP

San Juan - Beraliz Germocen still can't believe she won a scholarship to the University of Puerto Rico, but her dream school has been closed by weeks of student strikes, threatening her ticket out of poverty.

Puerto Rico's bankruptcy leaves US island facing hard times

By AFP

San Juan - In San Juan, chants of "the debt is illegal" and "colonial dictatorship" fill the morning air, as students from the University of Puerto Rico block a palm-lined avenue.

Greece says 'confident' of 'good solution' in June on debt

By AFP

Atenas - Greece's finance minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Monday said he was "confident" that an upcoming eurozone meeting would reach a "good solution" on debt relief, whilst calling on creditors to end their "procrastination"."We're looking for a good solution....

Greece says 'confident' of 'good solution' in June on debt

By AFP

Greece says 'confident' of 'good solution' in June on debt

By AFP

Moody's cuts China's rating on debt concerns

By AFP

Bejing - Moody's ratings agency downgraded China's credit score on Wednesday, warning that economy-wide debt is expected to rise as potential economic growth slows over the coming years.

Eurozone fails to reach Greece debt deal amid IMF row

By AFP

Brussels - Eurozone finance ministers failed to reach a deal for fresh bailout cash for Greece on Monday, as a row with the International Monetary Fund over debt relief dragged on.

Greek parliament approves new austerity measures

By AFP

Atenas - The Greek parliament late Thursday adopted a new round of austerity cuts which the government hopes will secure a pledge of debt relief and loan disbursements by EU-IMF creditors this month.The bill entails 4.9 billion euros ($5.

Greek police fire tear gas as anti-austerity protest turns violent

By AFP

Atenas - Greek police fired tear gas Thursday as a thousands-strong demonstration in Athens against new austerity cuts turned violent with some hooded youths throwing Molotov cocktails.

Greeks mark May Day with strike, demos against fresh cuts

By AFP

Atenas - Greek trade unions marked May Day on Monday with a 24-hour nationwide strike and protests against looming new cuts demanded by the country's creditors in return for bailout cash.

China targets debt risks, but does it mean business?

By AFP

Shanghai - China has launched perhaps its most concerted push yet to clean up a toxic brew of unregulated and risky lending increasingly viewed as a threat to global financial stability, but do authorities really mean business this time? Analysts don't think so.