Greek government

Germany's finance minister said Wednesday he did not expect Athens to stray from its economic plan to tackle the country's huge debts despite a change of finance minister.

Wolfgang Schaeuble told reporters in Berlin that he didn't yet know Yannis Stournaras' successor but he did not foresee changes in policy after this week's Greek cabinet reshuffle.

By Alexandra Skaraki

A school on Crete that provides the rare service of catering to both local and foreign pupils is facing the risk of closure following an inspectors' report which highlighted problems such as low student registrations, staff shortages and especially in terms of infrastructure. A campaign to save the institution is now in full swing.

China’s Premier Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping are to visit Greece in the coming weeks in what Greek government officials are hoping will mark the beginning of a boost in bilateral trade ties with a series of investments expected to be signed.

A reshuffle of the Greek government is expected to be concluded on Wednesday amid continued speculation over who will replace Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras in one of the crisis-hit country's most crucial posts, according to sources cited by Skai on Tuesday.

The German Finance Ministry attempted on Monday to play down comments by Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble that Greece would require a third bailout.

Schaeuble had suggested in an interview with Focus magazine that Greece would need assistance of less than 10 billion euros in the years to come.

Greek government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou on Tuesday said the coalition has "absolutely no intention" of calling early elections following calls for snap polls from opposition SYRIZA in the wake of the leftist party's electoral victory in Sunday's elections for local government and European Parliament.

Fired Finance Ministry cleaners blocked the entrance to the ministry on Thursday protesting the Greek government's failure to comply with an Athens court decision earlier this month that they be reinstated.

Police are at the scene, but have not intervened.

Ahead of EU elections on May 25, Greece's embattled government faces a first test in municipal and regional elections on Sunday as the country struggles to return to growth following years of economic crisis.

By John Geddie

Lower-rated euro zone bond prices slipped on Friday, deepening sharp falls on Thursday triggered by nervousness about the stability of the Greek government, a tax on foreign holders of Greek bonds, and weak growth.

Greece's government on Thursday denied it had instituted a retroactive tax on foreign holders of Greek bonds, saying capital gains booked from early 2012 to the end of last year were subject to the tax regime covering that period.