WBEZ 91.5 Chicago

In March, Illinois home prices increased for the first time since June 2010, ending a long streak of price decline. That and other indicators may suggest that the housing market may be stabilizing.

Over the last sixty years, international financial institutions such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have doled out more than one trillion dollars in loans.

In Syria, some observers are worried that an all-out civil war could erupt. The Assad regime has heightened its crackdown on protesters. The U.S. ambassador recently left the country. And, with Turkey’s support, deserted soldiers are taking up arms against the regime.

Lawmakers in Greece this week have passed bills clearing the way for international financial aid crucial to solving the country’s debt crisis.

Eurozone finance ministers and economists from around the world now argue over the best solution to Greece’s spiraling economic crisis. Some want more rigorous austerity measures, while others believe Greece should default on its debt and abandon the Euro.

Christine Lagarde's determination as a negotiator and experience working on the euro zone debt crisis are likely to ensure she settles smoothly into leadership of the International Monetary Fund,as the global lender faces some of the toughest economic challenges in its history.Her charisma and the e

Earlier today, former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted rape and sexual assault.