INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND

Merkel and Gauck

Merkel Clears Way for Opposition Candidate to Take Presidency

German Chancellor Angela Merkel bowed to pressure Sunday and agreed to dupport popular opposition candidate Joachim Gauck to become president, averting a political fight that might have distracted her government from solving the euro zone crisis.

Riot Police Guard Greek Parliament as Protesters Gather

A woman raises a Greek flag during an anti-austerity rally in front of the parliament in Athens February 19, 2012.
Riot police shielded Greece's national parliament Sunday as demonstrators gathered to protest against austerity measures on the eve of talks in Brussels on a 130 billion euro ($171 billion) bailout needed for the country to avert bankruptcy. (See Eurozone Crisis in Graphics and Interactive Timeline.)

Eurozone Mulls Tweaks to Greek PSI to Bridge Debt Gap

Policemen rush to detain a protester during an anti-austerity rally at central Syntagma square in Athens February 17, 2012.
Masters of the Eurozone are considering tweaks to Greek debt restructuring in terms of its private-sector involvement among several options to further cut Greek debt toward the target of 120 percent of gross domestic product in 2020, officials said.
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A woman stands in front of a banner displaying the stars of the European Union flag before a ceremony to mark the start of the European Union?s Lisbon reform treaty in Lisbon December 1, 2009.

Eurozone Economy Shrunk at End '11 -- Eurostate

The euro zone economy's shrunk at the end of 2011 as the sovereign debt crisis crushed a recovery and looked set to push the bloc into mild recession, but a north-south divide was evident as France grew while Italy slumped.
Man walks past Bank of Greece as cleaning works are in progress after Sunday's violent protests in Athens

Eurogroup Drops Bailout Talks as Greeks Quarrel

Euro zone finance ministers dropped plans on Tuesday for a special face-to-face meeting on Greece's new international bailout, as the cabinet in Athens argued up to the last minute on plugging a 325 million euro ($427 million)gap in its austerity plan.
US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner

Europe to America: Help!

A European finance minister, in Washington for a panel on global business and economics, sent up a flare to U.S. officials Monday afternoon, saying he hoped the U.S. would be more involved in playing a key role to solving the ongoing sovereign debt crisis in Europe.
The Spanish flag flutters over the Colon square in central Madrid

EU to Punish Spain for Deficits, Inaction

The European Union is likely to take action against Spain's newly installed government by May for delaying austerity measures ahead of a regional election next month, sources familiar with the situation told Reuters.
Firemen hose down a burned-out shop after a night of violence following the Greek parliament approval of a deeply unpopular austerity bill in Athens

Greek Riots: 'This Was Just the Beginning'

Greek political leaders say the nation must accept yet more punishing austerity or face a social explosion, but after a night of violence and destruction in Athens, some people fear this explosion may already be about to begin.
Flames at Syntagma Square

Greece Passes Austerity Vote

The austerity bill calls for, among other things, 15,000 cuts in public sector jobs; and a 20 percent reduction in the minimum wage.
A cyclist rides past a burning building during violent protests in central Athens

Greek Parliament Passes Deep Cuts as Athens Burns

Just after midnight Monday, the Greek parliament approved a deeply unpopular austerity bill to secure a second EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy, as buildings burned across central Athens and violence spread around the country.
A petrol bomb explodes near riot police during an anti-austerity demonstration in Athens

Greek Parliament Passes Cuts to Get Bailout, as Athens Burns

Historic cinemas, cafes and shops went up in flames in central Athens Sunday as black-masked protesters fought Greek police outside parliament, while inside lawmakers looked set to defy the public rage by endorsing a new EU/IMF austerity deal.
greek.fire.2.12.12

Greeks Riot Outside Parliament as Parties Debate Austerity

Black-masked protesters throwing petrol bombs created a wall of fire Sunday outside Greece's parliament as lawmakers inside looked set defy public rage by endorsing a new austerity deal to secure an EU/IMF bailout and avoid national bankruptcy.

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