Latest News from Greece

IMF says next Greek payment to fund due May 6

Greece's next payment to the International Monetary Fund, totaling some 200 million euros in interest payments, is due May 6 because of the May Day holiday in Greece, an IMF spokesman said on Thursday.

Greece seeks to change Fraport airports deal, source says

Greece is trying to change the conditions of a deal to lease 14 regional airports to a joint venture led by German airport operator Fraport, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.

The deal, worth 1.2 billion euros ($1.3 billion), was agreed in 2014 but has been hit by turmoil caused by the election of the new leftist-led, anti-austerity government in January.

Commission Approves Stability Deal for Kosovo

Bekim Collaku, Kosovo's Minister of European Integration, said the European Commission had adopted a Stabilization and Association Agreement, SAA, proposal with Kosovo  on Thursday and sent it for approval to the Council of European Union.

"We welcome such a decision, which brings Kosovo closer to signing an SAA and closer to EU integration," Collaku told BIRN.

Police seeking Larissa bank robbers

Police in Larissa, central Greece, were seeking three suspects who allegedly stormed a Piraeus branch in Ambelonas on Thursday.

According to early reports, the unknown assailants, one of whom was armed, entered the branch and ordered the staff to hand over all available cash.

Greece resumes debt talks with creditors

Greece on Thursday resumed talks with its international creditors on critically-needed bailout funds as officials warned that time was running out for a deal.

"Talks have resumed and are now going on continuously over the coming days," European Commission spokesman Margaritis Schinas told reporters.

Syrian national intercepted at Greek-Turkish carrying … 208K in cash

Forget Ipads, a Syrian national arrested on Thursday at the Kipi border post on the frontier with Turkey in northeast Greece carrying 208,000 euros in his luggage.

During questioning by authorities the foreign national was unable to declare how he came about the cash, reports state.

House speaker orders Parliament to re-examine Siemens, Lagarde list cases

Greek Parliament was expected to re-examine the cases of the Siemens bribe scandal and the Lagarde list, following an order issued by House Speaker Zoe Constantopoulou on Thursday in her capacity as head of the House's Special Permanent Committee on Institutions and Transparency.

Zeman: Serbia not required to recognise Kosovo to join EU

BELGRADE - The President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman has said that he does not believe that Serbia needs to recognise the unilaterally declared independence of Kosovo to become a full member of the European Union.

Transport Strikes to Disrupt Traffic in Greece Prior to Labor Day Holidays

The number of security traffic controls in Greece have increased prior to the upcoming Labor Day (May 1) holidays. Travelling of cargo vehicles has been banned.

Meanwhile, flights to and from Greece have been cancelled on account of a three-hour strike. Additionally, marine transport will also be cut for several hours as workers have scheduled massive protests.

Moody's cuts Greece rating further into junk

Moody?s downgraded Greece?s debt further into junk territory Wednesday, citing ?high uncertainty? that Athens can reach a new agreement with official creditors in time to make upcoming debt payments.

Moody?s cut the rating one notch to Caa2, just two steps above the level signaling that a default is imminent, and left the country on ?negative outlook? for another possible downgrade.

Greece to present reforms to creditors for approval

Greece was to submit Thursday to its creditors a list of reforms order to unblock critically-needed bailout funds, a government source said.

But the hard-left government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras insisted it would not back down from 'red lines' on labour protection and wage cuts.

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