Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho will make a televised speech April 7 regarding the high court's block of austerity plans presented in the country's 2013 budget, The Telegraph reported.

Egyptian train drivers went on a nationwide strike April 7, halting railway service, AFP reported.

The International Monetary Fund will contribute 1 billion euros ($1.28 billion) over three years to Cyprus' 10 billion euro bailout, IMF head Christine Lagarde said April 3, Reuters reported.

Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris resigned April 1 after an investigation into the country's economic difficulties was ordered, the government said, AP reported April 2.

The International Monetary Fund could change the size of the $4.8 billion loan it is negotiating with Egypt, a senior IMF official said April 2, Reuters reported.

All of Cypriot banks' foreign branches eventually will be sold, Cypriot Finance Minister Michalis Sarris said March 30, Voice of Russia reported March 31.

Cyprus has no intention of abandoning the euro, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades said March 29, the BBC reported.

The United States Chamber of Commerce is considering a petition, brought by the United States Federation of Labor, on the issue of stripping Georgia of preferential permissions to export goods to the United States at zero rate, Trend reported March 28.