Berlin

Time is running out for the Greek Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government that is in a rush against time to decode the moves and intentions of Greece’s creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

By Nikos Chrysoloras, Alessandro Speciale & Rebecca Christie

European leaders and the head of the International Monetary Fund agreed to step up the intensity of talks over Greece?s fate after an extraordinary meeting in Berlin about ways to avert a default.

The word out of Berlin late Monday on the festering “Greek issue” is that “work must continue with real intensity”, a statement conveyed to Athens that more-or-less dispels hopes of a nearly clinched deal to free up bailout funds for the cash-strapped Greek government.

By Nikos Chrysoloras & Alessandro Speciale

Top level talks were said to be taking place in Berlin on Monday evening to hammer out a proposal that would be presented to Greece as its only realistic chance of avoiding default and safeguarding its membership of the euro.

Germany’s EU Commissioner Guenter Oettinger said on Sunday morning that a deal with Greece could be achieved this week. “We will need progress at the working group level, in order that we can agree on a reform agenda, perhaps even by the end of the week which would trigger the payment of the last tranche of aid from the current aid program,” he said, speaking with German newspaper Die Welt.

Germany's Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said on Monday he hoped there would be a quick conclusion to talks between Greece and its creditors over Greek reform efforts.

Germany's EU Commissioner Guenter Oettinger said on Monday it might still be possible for Greece and its creditors to reach a deal this week.

Alina Rudya was one year old when her parents abandoned their Prypyat home because of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl.

The 43rd Istanbul Music Festival is returning for another year this weekend with some of the most celebrated figures in the world of classical music.

Organized by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (?KSV), will start on May 31 with the opening ceremony and concert to be held at the Lütfi K?rdar Convention and Exhibition Center. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 29 pledged a "constructive" role as Britain pushed for EU reforms and said she would not rule out changing treaties of the 28-nation community.

"Of course when you are convinced of an idea, you cannot say that treaty change is a total impossibility," she said at a Berlin joint news conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron.