Standard & Poor's cuts Catalonia debt rating to junk status
Standard & Poor's slashed Catalonia's debt to junk-bond status Friday, warning of looming financial tensions with Spain's central government.
Moody's holds Spain rating pending eurozone moves
Moody's said Thursday that it would hold its review of Spain's credit rating until late September as it waits for more clarity on the European Stability Mechanism and moves for a eurozone banking union.
Angola votes in second peacetime polls
Angola votes Friday for only the second time since its civil war ended a decade ago, with the incumbent ruling party expected to sweep the polls.
Moody's upgrades S. Korea credit rating
Ratings agency Moody's Investors Service Monday upgraded South Korea's sovereign credit rating, citing strong fiscal fundamentals and resilience to external economic shocks.
Merkel: 'every day' counts for Greece's austerity steps
German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Sunday warned that "every day" counts in efforts by debt-wracked Greece to comply with its commitments and safeguard its eurozone membership.
Brazil cracks down on cocaine trafficking in border areas
Faced with rising cocaine consumption linked to economic prosperity, Brazil is cracking down harder on trafficking along its borders with three top neighboring coca leaf producers: Bolivia, Peru and Colombia.
Superstition thrives in modern Singapore
Whenever Christina Tang is overseas and returns to her hotel room, she always knocks on the door before entering even if she is the only occupant.
Australia sees China chance in Chevron gas exit
Australian officials on Tuesday welcomed Chevron's decision to bow out of Woodside Petroleum's massive Browse liquefied natural gas project as a chance for Chinese investors to buy in.
Berlin douses hopes of quick euro crisis fix
Germany on Monday dampened hopes for powerful action from the European Central Bank to fix the euro crisis and slapped down speculation of an immediate breakthrough on debt-wracked Greece.
Greek euro exit 'manageable' but expensive: ECB
A Greek exit from the eurozone would be "manageable" even if it would be expensive and result in higher unemployment.
Italy's Monti warns against euro being EU 'break-up factor'
The euro must not become a "break-up factor" that pits northern Europe against crisis-choked nations in the south of the continent.
New Dominican Republic president pushes anti-poverty fight
Economist Danilo Medina was sworn in as the Dominican Republic's new president Thursday and pushed for a pact against poverty as he assumed the post.
Eurozone fears shadow Merkel's arrival in Canada
German leader Angela Merkel held talks Wednesday with her Canadian counterpart on a first-ever bilateral visit shadowed by eurozone fears and Ottawa's refusal to wade into relief efforts.
Asian economies most at risk from natural disasters
Asian countries dominate a league table of economies most at risk from earthquakes, floods, storms and other natural hazards, according to research published on Wednesday.
Indian PM pledges to attract more foreign investment
Indian PM Manmohan Singh used his Independence Day speech on Wednesday to promise to improve conditions for foreign investment in the country after a sharp downturn in economic growth.
Brent crude oil price hits three-month high
Crude prices finished mixed Monday after early jumps, with Brent topping $115 a barrel before settling back for a modest gain.
Olympics: Most Britons say Games worth the cost - poll
Most Britons believe the London Olympics have delivered good value for money, according to a poll published Saturday, as the hosts revel in Britain's best performance at the Games for more than a century.
Japan lawmakers to approve long-awaited tax hike
An unpopular bill to double Japan's sales tax and partially plug its gaping debt hole is set to be passed by lawmakers Friday in a triumph for the prime minister that could also herald the end of his job.
S. Korea firms in talks to resume Iran oil imports
South Korean oil refiners are in talks with Iran to resume oil imports, officials said Thursday, potentially by using Iranian tankers as a way to circumvent EU sanctions.
S&P cuts Greek outlook to 'negative'
Standard & Poor's cut Greece's debt rating outlook to negative Tuesday, saying the worsening economy and political challenges could soon force another downgrade.