Debt

Americans having less kids plus an ageing population could be a recipe for disaster that further erodes social stabilityRemember environmentalist Paul Ehrlich’s 1960s-vintage prediction about how overpopulation would deplete the Earth’s resources and condemn millions to starvation? His Malthusian condemnation of humanity’s voracious appetite has kept a grip on the debate over the future of the planet, even scaring the young out of having children.Ehrlich was wrong. Yet as we have come around to the thought that overpopulation won’t kill us all, we are being walloped by another demographic emergency: we are not having too many kids, we are having too few. This problem is real. Continue reading...

Conflict is pushing up price of energy and food, fuelling higher borrowing costs and hitting growth, report saysIran war escalation could trigger global recession, IMF warnsBusiness live – latest updatesThe Iran war risks triggering a rise in global debt levels, forcing governments to choose between cushioning a cost of living shock and maintaining sound public finances, the International Monetary Fund has warned.Against a volatile backdrop of the Middle East conflict, the Washington-based fund said the war could add to the already strained position of government finances throughout the world. Continue reading...

Conservationists say move could push species closer to extinction and clearer environmental rules are needed insteadFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastConservationists and scientists have warned a mining lobby proposal to use artificial intelligence to speed up national environmental approvals could generate “Robodebt-style” failures, putting threatened species at further risk.The Minerals Council of Australia has asked the government to spend $13m to trial the use of AI to help companies prepare applications and help the federal government make decisions. Continue reading...

Even if motorists can provide evidence they’ve paid for parking, they are threatened with bailiffs and courtDrivers have accused a leading car park management company of issuing “false” parking fines – leaving one mother to defend herself from multiple debt collection agencies sent by the company.Jane Winder says she was sent letters from five different debt collection agencies each asking her to pay £170 after she was accused of not purchasing a £2.30 parking ticket at a car park in Lancashire managed by Euro Car Parks. Continue reading...

Hackney leaseholders feel council made the problem worse by leaving £850,000 debt uncollected for eight yearsLeaseholders in east London have said they are “trapped in unsellable homes” because of an £850,000 debt owed by the building’s developer to Hackney council, who have let it go unpaid for eight years.The 17 leaseholders, who live in a block of flats in Upper Clapton, have appealed to the council for help but their pleas, including requests for a meeting, have been ignored. Continue reading...

• French AI firm Mistral AI secured $830 million in debt financing on March 31, 2026, to build a state-of-the-art data center near Paris. • The funding underscores surging demand for AI computing infrastructure amid global expansions in hardware and power resources. • This move positions Mistral to compete in the intensifying AI race, highlighting shifts toward massive investments in data centers.

• Senators introduced the Fiscal Commission Act mirroring House version to create commission recommending fiscal health policies. • Commission aims to tackle rising U.S. debt through targeted policy proposals amid ongoing budget concerns. • Bill provides structured approach for bipartisan fiscal reforms without specifying exact recommendations upfront.

• Elemental Royalty (ELE) reported a 128% revenue increase for 2025, significantly exceeding previous guidance and providing strong signals for royalty sector growth into 2026. • piHarrow (HROW) launched a $50 million senior unsecured notes offering to fund expansion, demonstrating continued corporate access to debt markets despite broader market uncertainty. • RenX (RENX) announced a reverse stock split as a remedial measure to regain Nasdaq compliance, with implications for share float and liquidity dynamics.

Repayments also affect financial stability of nearly half of graduates, according to report by UK bankPeople with student loans who are working towards a home deposit save almost £2,000 less per year than those without the debt, according to a new report by Barclays.The bank also found that 44% of student loan holders claim that repayments limit their ability to build long-term financial stability, while 41% say it prevents them from entering the housing market. Continue reading...

• The US national debt exceeded $39 trillion on Wednesday, a record milestone reached just weeks into the US-Israeli war in Iran, driven by competing priorities including tax cuts, defense spending, and immigration enforcement. • White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett estimated the Iran war has cost more than $12 billion so far, with the federal debt having grown from $37 trillion two months ago to $38 trillion five months ago, now reaching $39 trillion. • The Government Accountability Office warns rising debt increases borrowing costs for mortgages and cars, reduces business investment and wages, and makes goods and services more expensive for Americans.

Average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax for low-income households all rose last yearHigh levels of debt on essential bills have become the “new normal” for many low-income households, the charity StepChange said on Monday, with average arrears for housing, utilities and council tax all going up last year.People’s budgets have been stretched in recent years as they have faced higher prices for many goods and services, and the crisis in the Middle East has led to concerns over a new wave of increases. Continue reading...