Sword of Damocles: France danced ‘fatal tango’ with debt, PM Bayrou says as he takes aim at predecessors

French Prime Minister François Bayrou slammed the country’s previous leaders and opposition parties for ignoring increasing indebtedness in his first major policy speech, accusing the whole political class of having danced a "fatal tango that brought us to the edge of the precipice.”

Fitch cuts US credit rating

Credit ratings agency Fitch on Tuesday downgraded the U.S. government's credit rating over concerns about "growing debt burden" and "an erosion of governance."

Top German Companies Hit Historic Debt Highs

The net financial debt of 150 of Germany’s largest listed companies reached its highest level ever this year, Handelsblatt newspaper reported on Sunday.

Ukraine external financing needs could reach $5bn a month next year: IMF chief

Ukraine’s external financing needs will be around $3bn a month through 2023 in a best case scenario, but could rise as high as $5bn if Russia’s offensive becomes “even more dramatic,” the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said.

Moldova says Gazprom not behaving like a serious partner, cites supply cuts

Moldova’s pro-Western government on Friday complained Russia’s Gazprom was not behaving like a serious partner, given its refusal to tell Chisinau how much natural gas it would provide in November.

Greece demands from EU exclusion of military spending from public debt calculation

Greece demanded from the EU an exclusion of military spending from public debt calculation, local media said Friday.

Afghanistan requests $90 mln from UN to repay its electricity debts - TASS

Afghanistan’s electricity corporation, Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), has requested $90 million from the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) to close the country’s debt to foreign electricity supplies, a company source has told TASS.

Thousands strike in Greece over proposed austerity cuts

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki to express anger at new pension and tax-break cuts forced on Greece by its EU-IMF creditors in return for bailout funds.

Russia steps in after Ukraine cuts off power to Luhansk

Russia has pledged to supply electricity to separatist-controlled areas in eastern Ukraine after the Kiev-based Ukrainian government cut off power due to unpaid bills.

Ukraine Cuts Power Supply to Separatist Region, Blaming Unpaid Debts

Ukraine's national power company said on Tuesday it had cut electricity to parts of an eastern region controlled by separatists because they had run up large debts.

Italy's National Debt Hits Record High, Reaches Some $2.5 Trillion

 Italy's public debt reached a historic high in June, exceeding 2.249 trillion euros ($2.518 trillion), the country's central bank said Friday.

Russia will not back IMF aid program to Ukraine if it fails to consider debt requests

Russia will not support the aid program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Ukraine if it does not take into consideration Ukrainian obligations to Russia regarding $3 bln debt, the Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said in an interview aired by the Rossiya-24 TV news channel Tuesday.

Greeks celebrate Orthodox Christian Easter amid debt, refugee crises

Greeks celebrated the Orthodox Christian Easter on Sunday exchanging wishes for better days to come for the country which is tested by the debt and refugee crises.

Officials rule out Greek deal despite reforms

Eurozone and IMF officials have ruled out any deal between Greece and its lenders that would unlock loans and enable vital debt relief talks, despite some progress on the reforms Greece must implement in exchange.

Ukraine introduces indefinite moratorium on payments of foreign debts

Ukraine has lifted temporary restrictions from its moratorium on the payment of its foreign public debts, including a $3 billion debt to Russia. According to an explanatory note to the relevant draft law, 242 deputies of the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) voted for the bill. For the approval of the bill 226 votes would be enough.

EU can't let Greece plunge into 'chaos' in refugee crisis - Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Sunday that the EU cannot allow Greece, a country bailed out from its huge debt crisis, to plunge into "chaos" by shutting European borders to refugees.

Ukraine Says 'Fully Ready' For Court Battle With Russia

Kyiv says it is "fully ready to decisively defend its interests" against a lawsuit brought by Russia.

Russia sues Ukraine over 3 billion USD debt

Moscow has filed a lawsuit against Ukraine at London's High Court over Kiev's 3-billion-U.S.-dollar debt, Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said Wednesday.

Most Greeks expect economy to get worse in 2016, Grexit risk to resurface (survey)

The majority of Greek citizens expected that the ailing Greek economy will get worse in 2016, an opinion poll released on Sunday showed, despite the political leadership's optimism in New Year messages that the debt-laden country will exit a six-year recession during the new year.

Russia announces lawsuit against Ukraine over default on $3-bn debt

Russia's finance ministry said Friday it was suing Ukraine for defaulting on a $3-billion debt to Moscow, following an order by President Vladimir Putin.