Latest News from Greece
Guardian: One way or another, a Greek debt writedown will happen
Popular newspaper and website The Guardian states that whatever deal may arise for Greece, there is one point that cannot go unnoticed. Greek debt remains at 180% of GDP and is not viable. In one way or another, the debt haircut has to take place at some point, according to the British newspaper, but such a thing will not be part of the current deal.
EU/IMF lenders demand asset sales, pension cuts in Greek proposal
Greece's EU/IMF lenders have asked Athens to commit to sell off state assets, enforce pension cuts and press on with labour reforms, two sources familiar with the plan said on Thursday, demands that would cross the Greek government's "red lines".
Croatian Youth Losing Faith in Democracy, Poll Shows
Results of the research MyPlace, published on Wednesday and conducted in two Zagreb neighbourhoods, shows that young people are showing growing dissatisfaction with parliamentary democracy and feel open to more authoritarian alternatives.
Greece to come up with counter-proposals, says Dijsselbloem
By Toby Sterling
Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Thursday that the gap between Greece and its lenders narrowed after discussions this week and that Athens is expected to present alternatives to lenders' proposals within days.
Juncker says made progress with Greece, not sufficient
There has been some progress in talks with Greece on more funding in exchange for reforms, but not enough, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said on Thursday.
Greece Racing Against Time to Strike Deal with Creditors
With Friday's deadline for repaying over EUR 300 M of debt to the IMF drawing closer, Greece is racing against time to clinch a reforms-for-cash deal with its creditors that will help the country avert default.
Unemployment at 25.6 percent in March
Unemployment in Greece stood at 25.6 percent in March, unchanged compared to the previous month, the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) announced on Thursday.
The unemployment figure for March was lower than the 26.9 percent figure recorded the same month last year.
Dijsselbloem: Differences with Greece 'still quite large'
Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Dijsselbloem said on Thursday that the differences between Greece and its lenders are "still quite large" and that Athens is expected to present alternatives within days.
Talks that concluded in Brussels hours earlier were "successful in narrowing down the remaining issues", Dijsselbloem said on the sidelines of a conference in Amsterdam.
New Greek crisis talks likely Friday, source says
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will likely hold fresh talks with European Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker and creditors on Friday, European sources said, after an earlier round broke up with no deal.
SOCAR Turkey plans to open huge Aegean container port in September
The Turkish branch of Azeri energy giant SOCAR will open the Petlim Container Port in the Aegean Sea this September to become an alternative to Greece's Piraeus Port for container shipments, according to Kenan Yavuz, the head of SOCAR Turkey and a board member of Petkim Petrochemical Holding.
PM Ponta: Romania's economic growth sustainable, led by exports and production, not financial speculation
Premier Victor Ponta reaffirmed on Thursday that Romania is currently in a very good economic situation, but cautioned that a series of domestic challenges and external threats represented by "Russia's aggressiveness" in the region and the situation of Greece must be taken in consideration in the next months and years.
Talk of snap elections is 'nonsense', says Samaras
Former premier Antonis Samaras on Thursday said that any talk of snap elections was ?nonsense.? In a televised statement on Thursday, the New Democracy chief reiterated his position for a ?great national understanding,? calling the move the only solution for the cash-strapped country.
Varoufakis sees 'no reason whatsoever' for early elections
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Thursday he saw "no reason whatsoever" for Greece to go to early elections, playing down growing speculation the government was considering such a move.
"The people have given our government a clear mandate," Varoufakis told Greek radio when asked about the prospect of snap polls.
Balos: The jewel of Crete, before high season
Paradise-like waters, deep blue or turquoise, pink sand, and a backdrop of a wild bushy nature. This is Balos, a beach in southwestern Crete which has become the talk of the proverbial town amongst tourists and international media. Business Insider recently praised the beach as one of the world’s hidden jewels.
Barclays CEO bets on potential 11th hour solution for Greece
By Anna Edwards, Renee Bonorchis & Stefania Bianchi
Barclays Chief Executive Officer Antony Jenkins said he expects a solution to the standoff between Greece and international creditors, which risks ousting the country from the eurozone.