13.00 News in brief
A Eurogroup meeting is underway in Helsinki. Finance Minister Christos Staikouras will discuss a request for an early repayment of part of the country’s outstanding loans to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and will discuss Greece’s draft budget.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Staikouras will hold οne-on-one talks with Eurogroup head Mario Centeno and European Stability Mechanism chief, Klaus Reggling.
The scheme of repaying debts towards Municipalities, in 120 instalments, has been extended until December 31st.
A fire broke out earlier in Chania, on the island of Crete, another one on the island of Chios and a separate in Marathonas, eastern Attica. No residencies are in danger.
Alexis Tsipras travels to Thessaloniki today for the 84th Thessaloniki International Fair. Tomorrow he will address the public at the Velideio conference center. Dimitris Koutsoubas, the general secretary of the Communist Party, is also in Thessaloniki today, to address the 45th KNE youth festival.
Parts of eastern Spain received what in some places was the heaviest rainfall on record on Thursday. Storms killed at least two people.
Cloudy in Attica today with the temperature expected to reach a high of 30 degrees Celsius.