Greece

Theater, this dynamic art form where performers communicate experiences and feelings to a live audience with the use of gestures, speech, music and dance was born in Greece, in the form of the magnificent ancient Drama.

Greek government officials quickly "revised" early statements - included in a midday briefing paper, no less - whereby Athens would not continue servicing its debt if lenders didn't free up loan tranches dating to 2014.

Deputy Prime Minister Yiannis Dragasakis continued his visit to China on Friday by holding talks with Vice Premier Ma Kai in Beijing, where both men pledged to strengthen ties between the two countries.

Alternate Interior Minister for Civil Protection Yiannis Panousis visited on Monday the Regional Police Directorate and the Regional Fire Departments' Directorate in Peloponnese and reiterated the government's intention to support firefighers and police officers in their difficult mission.

Former PM and New Democracy president Antonis Samaras on Friday charged that the "SYRIZA government is leading our country straight to a new Memorandum".

He also said ND's priority is the "real economy" and citizens' everyday life".

Samaras spoke during a party meeting focusing on the two-two month course of the SYRIZA -ANEL coalition government.

Alternate Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Friday made waves by saying that the Greek government was "always prepared for a rift."

Tsakalotos, who is the ministry's key official for international economic relations, made the comment during an interview on Star television channel, prompting a flurry of reactions and criticism on social media.

Greek border police say they have rescued about 70 migrants stranded on a berm on the Greek-Turkish border after they crossed the river dividing the two countries and found the fields on the Greek side flooded following days of heavy rainfall.

Representatives of the Greek government and the country's international creditors, dubbed by Athens as the Brussels Group, are to discuss Greece's proposed list of reforms in the Belgian capital on Friday, a Greek government official said without providing any details about the proposed measures.

By Birgit Jennen and Patrick Donahue

Even Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras?s friends in Germany are increasingly exasperated about his government after a visit to Berlin fueled skepticism that he can do what?s needed to end the impasse over Greece?s finances.

Greece's international partners have lost trust in Greece, Austrian Finance Minister Hans Joerg Schelling said on Friday, underscoring that Athens needs to stick to conditions of its current rescue and saying a fresh debt haircut would do no good.