Latest News from Greece

Mardas points to slander over supposed 80,000-euro transfer

Alternate Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas, speaking with private MEGA TV on Wednesday, dismissed charges against him regarding a supposed 80,000-euro transaction taking money out of Greece and putting it into a Luxembourg account. He said that he has not siphoned any money out of the country since the snap elections saw the victory of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) on January 25.

Greece said to have made 200 mln euro IMF payment due Wednesday

Greece has made a 200-million-euro interest payment to the International Monetary Fund that fell due on Wednesday, a Greek official familiar with the matter told Reuters.

"It's done, the money is on its way," the official said, on condition of anonymity.

Defense minister offers to bolster NATO, help fight against terrorism

Defense Minister Panos Kammenos on Tuesday declared that Greece was prepared to grant the use of its military bases and its forces to boost security in the region and bolster international efforts to curb terrorism, adding that NATO should rethink policy relating to its ?southern flank.?

Trust issues? Greek Revenue Chief deposits 80,000 euros in Luxembourg

Alternate Revenue Minister Dimitris Mardas – the man responsible for ensuring that Greek coffers have enough money for the country to meet its needs – was named by Bild as the man that northern Greek newspapers had been refering to regarding an 80,000-euro deposit in Luxembourg in March.

Draghi-Dragasaki “constructive” talks ahead of ECB meeting on Wed.

The Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) government of Greece is pinning its hopes on the stand of the European Central Bank (ECB) to avert a cash crunch. Top officials met with ECB Chief Mario Draghi who, at this stage, wants to keep Greece afloat.

Thessaloniki mayor clarifies: I called (Greek govt) crazy … not stupid!

 

Thessaloniki’s outspoken mayor apparently revved up his “outspokenness” this week, as he was quoted in an interview by the German weekly Die Zeit as calling members of the leftist SYRIZA government “stupid”.

Political maverick Yiannis Boutaris, however, denied the press report, saying he used the word “crazy”, not “stupid”.

Hopes of a GDP rebound evaporate

 Brussels anticipates anemic growth for 2015, with the primary budget balance hovering around zero

By Sotiris Nikas

Greece points finger of blame at creditors

Hopes that some progress has been made in ongoing negotiations between Greece and its creditors were mitigated on Tuesday as Athens indicated that differences between the International Monetary Fund and the European Commission were obstructing progress.

Moody's downgrades Greek bank products, OTE rating

Moody?s Investors Service announced it downgraded 18 notes and affirmed one note in eight Greek structured finance transactions late on Monday.

This follows Moody?s lowering of its country ceiling on Greece to B3 from Ba3 and its downgrade of Greece?s sovereign rating to Caa2 from Caa1 that occurred on April 29.

Rocket Internet acquires Greece's e-Food

Delivery Hero, in which German e-commerce investor Rocket Internet holds a 39 percent stake, has acquired Greece?s top takeaway delivery company, e-Food, Rocket said, without giving financial details.

[Reuters]

Over 120,000 Greeks apply for aid from government

Almost 121,000 Greeks applied for meal vouchers, free electricity and rent subsidies in the first two weeks of a new program introduced by the government to tackle what it calls the ?humanitarian crisis? in Greece.

According to the Labor Ministry, a total of 120,726 people have submitted applications since the scheme was launched.

Pages