Alexis Tsipras

By Sophie Sassard

Soon after politicians from left-wing SYRIZA party won power in Greece they said they had hired Lazard to advise them on restructuring their debt.

It is a homecoming of sorts for the US investment bank. Lazard cemented its position as the eminence grise of debt negotiations when it secured the biggest restructuring deal in history for Athens in 2012.

By Nikos Konstandaras

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday agreed to boost bilateral ties in a telephone conversation during which the latter invited the new Greek premier to an event in Moscow in May to mark the victory over Nazism.

By Sotiris Nikas

Uncertainty regarding the policies that Alexis Tsipras?s government will follow has taken a toll on confidence in the Greek economy and could slow the country?s recovery, the European Commission warned in its winter forecasts, as it proceeded to a downward revision of its estimate for growth this year.

Thousands of people gathered in front of the Greek parliament in Athens on Thursday evening in support of the new government's efforts to renegotiate Greece's international loans and end austerity.

Greek central bank governor Yannis Stournaras said on Thursday that Greek banks were solid and under control, a day after the European Central Bank denied them use of Greek bonds as collateral for loans.

"Deposits and liquidity are absolutely safe," Stournaras, who is also a member of the European Central Bank's Governing Council, told reporters.

Vladimir Putin was the latest world leader to call and congratulate new Greek PM Alexis Tsipras, with a Kremlin official saying on Thursday that Russia’s “unofficial Czar” phoned and even invited the Greek leftist to Moscow.

By Xenia Kounalaki

?It was great. There were people jumping up and down,? said the young American journalist, one of an estimated 800 people working for the foreign press who came to Athens to cover Greece?s national election. She was describing the scene when newly elected Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras?s gave his first speech.

By Padraic Halpin & Conor Humphries

DUBLIN - Europe and the "undemocratic" European Central Bank risk fueling the growth of right-wing parties across the continent if they ignore the will of the Greek people, Gerry Adams, leader of Ireland's leftist Sinn Fein said on Thursday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said on Thursday it was time for both Greece and Europe to "turn the page" on austerity, telling members of his hard-left SYRIZA party that "fear is over."