Chivalry

The US wiretapped two of France's economy ministers and spied on the country's largest companies, French media reported citing WikiLeaks documents, just days after it emerged the US had spied on three of the country's leaders.

European leaders Monday pleaded with Greek voters to back hotly disputed bailout proposals in a crunch referendum or face leaving the euro as bank closures left many in Greece scrambling to find cash.

The Greek government on Monday published the text of the question it plans to put to citizens in a referendum on Sunday, asking them to decide whether or not to accept the demands made by international lenders in return for fresh cash to keep Greece from defaulting on its debts.

Greece's government "made people [in the country] imagine wrong things after last Friday's discussions," EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has said.

In a press conference aired live, he has insisted Greeks deserve to know the truth about the bailout proposals put forward by lenders last week.

The behavior of Athens is undeserving of the great Greek nation, stated Jean Claude Juncker during the press conference he held to address the Greek people.

Greek and EU leaders have voiced contradicting messages about the upcoming referendum on the bailout package, as Greece struggled to adjust to shuttered banks, closed cash machines and a climate of rumors and conspiracy theories. 

European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is in constant communication with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and European Council Chief Donald Tusk. Sources state that an emergency teleconference is being prepared with participation of all leaders of eurozone member states.

By Ian Wishart & Corina Ruhe

Brussels - No one was more surprised about Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras calling a referendum than his team of negotiators in Brussels.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and EC president Jean-Claude Juncker were notified on the latest news on Greece.

Jean-Claude Juncker was furious when he heard about the news, while the German Chancellor asked what the subject of the referendum will be. The Prime Minister’s answer was “Do you want this deal, or not”.

The Greek government issued one of its now infamous “non papers” to detail the reasons why it rejected a new proposal by creditors on Friday for a five-month extension of the current (and soon to end) bailout agreement.