World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk |
- Parched backwater in Senegal where local traditions and modern art collide
- Are there too many sustainable development goals?
- Students' attack on Cecil Rhodes statue leads to soul searching in South Africa
- The Interview: South Korea bans balloon drop of DVDs into North
- From the archive, 20 March 1915: Your country needs you
- Rapes and fears for safety on Nauru uncovered by independent Moss review
- Saudi Arabia to stop visas for Swedish citizens amid human rights row
- A Crimean league? Football caught up in annexation struggle
- Alabama puts executions on hold
- Chinese corruption crackdown, bad harvest leads to Bordeaux wine sales fall
- France decrees new rooftops must be covered in plants or solar panels
- EU leaders in Brussels demand Greece produce economic blueprint quickly
- Sri Lanka says Mahinda Rajapaksa officials hid more than $2bn in Dubai
- Revealed: the terrifying 9ft-long crocodile that walked upright
- European leaders hold meeting on Greek bailout –as it happened
- Man freed 39 years after death sentence is awarded $1m in compensation
- Bodies of five babies reportedly found in house by French police
- Federal probe launched after black Mississippi man found hanging from tree
- Malcolm Fraser, former Australian prime minister, dies aged 84
- Congress not backing down on Iran nuclear deal as bill could face veto
| Parched backwater in Senegal where local traditions and modern art collide Posted: 20 Mar 2015 01:00 AM PDT Rapper and painter among first residents at Thread centre, which aims to promote creativity despite opposition from conservative local leaders Continue reading...      |
| Are there too many sustainable development goals? Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:00 AM PDT We asked, you answered. As part of our Students Speak series, students share their thoughts on the effectiveness of the new set of goals and targets Continue reading...      |
| Students' attack on Cecil Rhodes statue leads to soul searching in South Africa Posted: 20 Mar 2015 12:00 AM PDT Protesters at University of Cape Town call for statue's removal, bringing questions of national identity and colonial legacy to the fore When students hurled a bucket of excrement over a statue of Cecil John Rhodes at South Africa's highest ranked university, they could scarcely have guessed how their act would trigger national soul searching about heritage, identity and race. Protesters at the University of Cape Town (UCT) are demanding the statue's removal as a catalyst for becoming a less "eurocentric" and more African institution. In what one newspaper dubbed "Rhodes rage" and Twitter users embraced as #RhodesMustFall, they argue that the colonialist has no place on campus 21 years after the end of apartheid. Related: Cecil Rhodes statue pelted with excrement at Cape Town University Continue reading...      |
| The Interview: South Korea bans balloon drop of DVDs into North Posted: 19 Mar 2015 11:30 PM PDT Government in Seoul says it will intervene to stop stunt as it would do more harm than good, putting residents along the border at risk of retaliation South Korea has vowed to stop a balloon drop of Hollywood film The Interview into North Korea, citing a "limit" to freedom of expression. Activists plan to launch 10,000 DVDs of the film – a comedy about a fictional CIA plot to assassinate the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un – as well as 500,000 propaganda leaflets across the heavily militarised border. Related: 10,000 copies of The Interview to be sent to North Korea by balloon Continue reading...      |
| From the archive, 20 March 1915: Your country needs you Posted: 19 Mar 2015 10:30 PM PDT |
| Rapes and fears for safety on Nauru uncovered by independent Moss review Posted: 19 Mar 2015 10:16 PM PDT Report by former integrity commissioner Philip Moss also found no information to support claims that Save the Children workers encouraged asylum seekers to protest or self-harm At least two women have reported being raped, others have been forced to expose their bodies in exchange for access to showers, an independent report on immigration detention conditions on Nauru has found. In an 86-page report, released suddenly on Friday afternoon, the former integrity commissioner Philip Moss also found "no information which substantiates" claims that Save the Children workers on Nauru encouraged protests or acts of self-harm. Related: Call for inquiry into claims of sexual exploitation of Nauru asylum seekers Continue reading... |
| Saudi Arabia to stop visas for Swedish citizens amid human rights row Posted: 19 Mar 2015 10:11 PM PDT Kingdom also to refuse to renew visas in retaliation for critical remarks by Sweden's foreign minister Margot Wallstrom Continue reading...      |
| A Crimean league? Football caught up in annexation struggle Posted: 19 Mar 2015 10:00 PM PDT Uefa boss attempts to distance himself from politics as football body considers the future for the clubs of Crimea. EurasiaNet.org report       |
| Alabama puts executions on hold Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:23 PM PDT Lethal injections will not be carried out until supreme court issues decision on use of drug midazolam, says judge A federal judge says Alabama has agreed to stay pending executions as the US supreme court reviews a drug that the state plans to use for its next lethal injection. US District Judge Keith Watkins said on Wednesday that the state had agreed to postpone arguments "in lethal injection cases across the board" until justices issued a decision. Continue reading...      |
| Chinese corruption crackdown, bad harvest leads to Bordeaux wine sales fall Posted: 19 Mar 2015 09:11 PM PDT Sales of the French wines fell sharply last year with rapidly slowing demand in China and a bad 2013 vintage to blame Sales of Bordeaux wines fell sharply last year, winemakers said on Thursday, blaming a poor harvest in 2013 and rapidly slowing demand in China, its main export market. A total of 685m bottles of Bordeaux were sold in 2014 – an eight-percent drop on the previous year, according to the CIVB association of Bordeaux winemakers. Continue reading...      |
| France decrees new rooftops must be covered in plants or solar panels Posted: 19 Mar 2015 08:41 PM PDT All new buildings in commercial zones across the country must comply with new environmental legislation Rooftops on new buildings built in commercial zones in France must either be partially covered in plants or solar panels, under a law approved on Thursday. Green roofs have an isolating effect, helping reduce the amount of energy needed to heat a building in winter and cool it in summer. Continue reading...      |
| EU leaders in Brussels demand Greece produce economic blueprint quickly Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:49 PM PDT Talks end with Angela Merkel affirming government of Alex Tsipras must deliver promised list of structural reforms before further bailout Greece's European creditors insisted early on Friday morning that Athens would need to present a "full and adequate" list of persuasive economic reforms before it could receive a lifeline in bailout funds. Europe's longrunning drama over whether Greece will stay in the single currency returned to the centre of EU politics on Thursday. Alexis Tsipras, the new leftwing prime minister, used his second Brussels summit to demand emergency talks with the political leaders of his key creditors. Continue reading...      |
| Sri Lanka says Mahinda Rajapaksa officials hid more than $2bn in Dubai Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:31 PM PDT Billions kept outside the country by people 'closely related' to former regime says new cabinet spokesman Sri Lankan investigators have located more than $2bn that was secretly transferred to accounts in Dubai by figures close to the administration of former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, the government said on Thursday. Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said the funds represented about a fifth of the total amount of so-called 'black money' that the authorities suspect was illicitly stashed abroad. Continue reading...      |
| Revealed: the terrifying 9ft-long crocodile that walked upright Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:29 PM PDT US scientists say they have discovered fossils of the 'Carolina butcher', a pre-dinosaur beast with sharp teeth Scientists have unearthed fossils in the United States of a big land-dwelling crocodile that lived about 231 million years ago, walked on its hind legs and was a top land predator right before the first dinosaurs appeared. Transported back to the Triassic Period, what would a person experience upon encountering this agile, roughly 9-foot-long (about 3 meter-long), 5-foot-tall (about 1.5 meter-tall) beast with a long skull and blade-like teeth? Continue reading... |
| European leaders hold meeting on Greek bailout –as it happened Posted: 19 Mar 2015 07:15 PM PDT Greece has agreed to present a new list of reforms plan quickly, after top-level overnight talks in Brussels
So, in summary, Greece has promised to speed up the implementation of its extended bailout agreement and will send a full list of detailed reform proposals to its euro zone partners very soon. Not a big breakthough, but perhaps all Alexis Tsipras could hope for. It means Greece could yet unlock some of its bailout money, if it can satisfy its creditors with a credibly reform plan. Related: EU leaders in Brussels demand Greece produce economic blueprint quickly 2 summits in row @tsipras_eu sounds banal. hot air. maybe works back home. merkel much more specific. he wanted meeting. she wasn't bothered
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras has told reporters that he's more optimistic after tonight's meeting, even though European leaders don't appear to have budged. TSIPRAS: "Process back on track" #Greece not obliged to take recessionary measures pic.twitter.com/TdRUsPLTsK #Tsipras : negotiation process back on track" pic.twitter.com/MxxVdWrjTX
French president Francois Hollande is briefing the press now (lifefeed here). He confirms that Greece must present new reform plans ASAP; there's no time to lose. And he also suggests that some aid could be forthcoming once Greece's progress has been evaluated. Merkel and Hollande have different interpretations of Greek agreement. Merkel: No money without review. Hollande: Money after evaluation.
At a brief press conference, Angela Merkel has told reporters that there was "disappointment" that more progress hasn't been made since Greece secured its bailout extension a month ago. #Merkel: The #Greek gov will show full responsibility of the reforms and next days will send us a list of specific reforms More Merkel: "There was disappointment that that what we expected didn't happen after Feb 20" #Greece
And finally, the meeting is over. In a short statement, the European Council say that attendees at tonight's (last night's) meeting are sticking to the agreement made last month. Greece must present a "full and adequate" list of reforms, fast, and all sides have agreed to work faster to make progress. Following three hours of talks that ended after 2 in the morning, German chancellor Angela Merkel made it plain that there would be no quick disbursement of emergency aid to Greece unless Tsipras delivered on unfulfilled pledges to supply a full menu of proposed structural reforms to the Greek economy. The credibility of Tsipras' proposals would need to be supported by eurozone governments before Greece, on the brink of insolvency, could obtain the financial support. "@Mina_Andreeva: .@JunckerEU @J_Dijsselbloem @eucopresident statement after meeting on #Greece pic.twitter.com/mz7vz7VbWl"
1:39am and still in #EU summit building. Seems like old times #Greece pic.twitter.com/RPQgN7U4f1
You have to admire these leaders' stamina... #EUCO heading towards 2a.m bxl, 3 hrs of @tsipras_eu mini-summit. he must be doing ok.but merkel can outsit any male. did 17 hours in minsk
If there are any press briefings in Brussels, they should be streamed online here....
Reporters in Brussels are hearing that Greece is being urged to implement some reforms immediately, to unlock the first slice of its outstanding bailout payment of over 7 billion euros. #Greece asked to change attitude towards technical teams, also suggest a plan of immediate reforms, via @doleross #EUCO
Greece has apparently been told to be more welcoming to officials representing its creditors in Athens: #Greece, Eu sources: until now Eu technicians in Athens could not work safely, we said to @tsipras_eu that that needs to change
The Greek meeting hasn't finished yet - Suzanne Lynch of the Irish Times has heard that some common ground is emerging between the leaders: #tsipras + EU leaders 'Identifying areas that can be tackled quickly' for reform says EU source on ongoing #Greece mini-summit
Another date for the diary, possibly.... Extra #Eurogroup meeting possibly next week ~Greek official
An EU official has also suggested that another (!) meeting of eurogroup finance ministers may take place soon....
More details on the wires... Juncker 'annoyed' over Greek govt's attitude toward 'technical staff' /via @tsigouriX #GreeceMiniEuCo
Details of tonight's meeting are starting to emerge. An EU official has told Bloomberg that talks between Greece and its creditors were "frank" at times (euphemism alert!) and that the Greek government has enough funds to last until next month. Exchanges at Greece meeting were "often frank", EU official says... #EU official says #Greek cash should last until April
Tonight's meeting will set the scene for Monday, when Greece's prime minister visits Berlin. The Wall Street Journal reports tonight that Angela Merkel is poised to "intervene directly in a deepening rift between Greece and its international creditors". The chancellor's message for Mr. Tsipras—that Greece has no alternative to cooperating with finance officials' demands—is likely to disappoint the Greek leader's hope for a lenient funding deal.
Reminder; we're not expecting much from this meeting. Hours ago, Angela Merkel said it would not deliver a breakthrough, and several other leaders have emphasised that they want to see Greece delivering on its commitments before bailout cash is handed over.
Alexis Tsipras looked rather more cheerful than Mario Draghi at the start of tonight's mini-summit meeting on Greece:
Heads-up: we might hear from Angela Merkel tonight: The meeting on #Greece in a small group format just started. Afterwards press conf. by Chllr #Merkel. pic.twitter.com/13XIlWd51K MT @RegSprecher
Update from Ian - that £20m fund announced by David Cameron tonight is a UK-only affair: #EUCO cameron unveils very small fund for eastern europe. it's uk only. eu not invited. why go to brussels to do that?
Ahha! European officials have just released a short video of the start of the meeting on Greece tonight: It's online here - unfortunately everyone is on their best behaviour, but you can see Alexis Tsipras, Angela Merkel, Francois Hollande, Donald Tusk, Mario Draghi, Jean-Claude Juncker and Jeroen Dijsselbloem all in attendance. Αρχίσαμε...ο Θεός να βάλει το χέρι του!!! pic.twitter.com/Z4770hyLgF
Back in Greece, Mega TV's political analyst Nikos Evangelatos, citing senior government officials, has told the station's flagship news programme that the Greek side was attending the talks "with a goal, hope and fear." "The goal is to get a deal," he said, adding: "The fear is that a new card will be put on the table and that creditors demand Greece completes [the last] programme with an evaluation of public finances [a red line for a government that wants nothing to do with the previous bailout accord], and the hope is that more money is released because the 400 million euros in ELA funds disbursed [last night] from the European Central Bank are only enough to keep the country going for a couple of days."
Europe editor Ian Traynor tweets news from the UK PM: #EUCO cameron announces £20m good governance fund for post-soviet, post-yugo places. modelled on thatcher's 89 knowhow fund for poland
Small #Greece kerfuffle in main #EU summit session. @MartinSchulz defended @atsipras, who said he wants 2 clear confusion on Feb 20 agreemnt
The most important thing is Tsipras's intentions, not ours, Tusk adds..... #EUCO @eucopresident going in to chair @tsipras_eu mini-summit: 'he requested it. most important thing is his intentions, not ours.'
European Council president Donald Tusk appears to have downplayed hopes of a breakthrough, by reminding reporters that the meeting tonight was Tsipras's idea....
The mini-summit about Greece is now underway, reporters on the ground in Brussels say.
Hello again. Greek government sources say that Alexis Tsipras has been briefing fellow leaders about the humanitarian crisis in Greece tonight. He hopes to establish common ground during tonight's talks, and is unhappy that officials from Greece's creditors have drawn "red lines", preventing Athens making progress on implementing last month's the bailout extension deal, adds our Helena Smith.
Looks like Brussels is going to be quiet for some hours <tempting fate>. Related: Talks between Greece and key EU leaders unlikely to bring breakthrough
Here's tonight's official seating plan: Oh @alexstubb: #EUCO seating arrangement. No new colleagues. Order of rotating Presidency. pic.twitter.com/0VoXt7LBJ8
Tonight's meeting on the Greek crisis will start after leaders have had dinner -- and Marco Zatterin of La Stampa suggests it could be a late one: Pino the Eu Octopus foresees the beginning of the Eu Greek meeting in bxl "around 11 pm" @la_stampa #EUCO
European leaders got down to business tonight after holding the traditional family photo - once everyone turned up, that is...
Britain's FTSE 100 index has set a new record closing high tonight, by a whisker, on expectations that central banks will leave interest rates at record lows for longer. The blue-chip index finished the day up 17 points at 6962.32, up 0.25%, beating the previous record of 6961 set on March 5th. #FTSE 100 closed at 6962, +0.25% All time high Related: Interest rates may be cut, suggests Bank of England chief economist
Back at the summit our Europe editor, Ian Traynor, is hearing that several smaller EU nations are unhappy about tonight's mini-summit on Greece. #EUCO at least another 2 countries joined belgium complaining about small format tsipras talks, demand to be briefed - eu diplomats #EUCO benelux annoyed about @tsipras_eu special talks, summit delayed bc of complaints - eu dips
So why has the Greek prime minister pressed for today's mini-summit on the sidelines of the Summit tonight? Insiders in his Syriza party are saying it is not only because he wants to get a lay of the land ahead of Monday's meeting with the German chancellor. Liquidity – or the lack of it – is the main reason. "What we are doing is seizing the moment to press for a political solution before the four-month [bailout extension] period runs out. Liquidity has become a huge problem and if we don't resolve that how on earth will we be able to proceed with anything else?" "If anything, an accident would take the form of a run on banks."
The selloff in Greek government bonds is accelerating this afternoon as the summit begins, as markets are gripped by fresh worries over its bailout. The yield on Greek 10-year debt has jumped to 12.2%, up from 11.2% last night. That's the highest level since April 2013, and suggests a higher risk of default. #Greece 10-year bond yield climbs above 12%; first time since April 2013 /via @advdesk
A sombre start to the summit: One minute of silence. The European Council pays tribute to the victims of the terrorist attack in #Tunisia. #EUCO pic.twitter.com/wwLuQ51Ltd
More signs of discord in Brussels: Enda Kenny attacks language used by Greek govt: "There's a difference btwn political argument + threats of releasing jihadists into Europe."
Ireland's prime minister, Enda Kenny, has predicted it could be "quite a difficult meeting', and that Greece must face its responsibilities: "The feeling among the political leaders is that Greece and Greek politicians have to live up to their responsibilities here. The ball is in their court. The prime minister asked for time and space and he has been given that to come forward with sustainable and workable proposals. Greece needs to reflect on that very quickly because time is running out."
Here's what Alexis Tsipras told Brussels reporters as he arrived for the summit: "The European Union needs brave political initiatives, which respect both democracy and the treaties. "Let us leave the crisis behind us and be led toward growth".
Denmark's prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, told reporters outside the summit that the rhetoric between Athens and Berlin does not belong in the EU.
Greece's PM has urged his fellow leaders to be bold today: #TSIPRAS: The European Union needs bold political initiatives #Greece #EUCO pic.twitter.com/e5vHqyROwB
There must be an election soon: UK PM Cameron: When I came to my first #EUCO in 2010, Britain and Greece were virtually in the same boat. Cameron: Reason why UK is now in different situation from Greece is we took difficult long-term decisions. #EUCO Oh dear: Cameron says UK and Greece were in the same position five years ago. The reason why UK growing now is his "difficult" decisions.
Greece must get its wealthiest citizens to pay their taxes, declares French president Francois Hollande as he arrives in Brussels. #Hollande "Ce qu'on demande a la #Grèce c'est qu'elle demande aux plus riches de payer des impôts" #EUCO MT @lidabola #HOLLANDE "We want Greece to get its rich to pay their taxes" #Greece pic.twitter.com/xlFa5XhXWx
Angela Merkel has dashed any lingering hopes of a breakthrough -- telling reporters outside the summit that they shouldn't expect a solution to the Greek crisis tonight. That's a blow to Alexis Tsipras's hopes of a political deal to resolve the crisis, rather than through the technical talks with eurozone officials. Merkel kills it again on arrival at #EUCO: 'Do not expect any solution, do not expect a breakthrough' #Greece so Merkel doesn't expect any solutions on #Greece today. Why is it left to the #Eurogroup to hold #Europe together?
Finland's @alexstubb has 'full confidence' in France and Germany handling Greece at summit sideline meeting #EUCO
There's open rancour in Brussels before the summit even starts. Belgium's prime minister, Charles Michel, has blasted tonight's meeting between Greece, its creditors, and the leaders of Germany and France. "It's a bad method."
UK interest rates are as likely to be cut to fresh record lows as they are to be raised. So says Andy Haldane, the Bank of England's chief economist, in a speech in Rutland right now [online here]. Given the asymmetry of inflation risks, I think the chances of a rate rise or cut are broadly evenly balanced. Inflation has dropped like a stone over the past year, to close to zero. This largely, but not wholly, reflects external forces. On the MPC's central view, inflation will remain close to zero in the near-term, before rising to reach the inflation target over a two-year horizon. The risks to inflation at that horizon are plainly two-sided. But my personal view is that these risks are skewed to the downside. In my view, that means policy needs to stand ready to move off either foot in the period ahead to meet the symmetric inflation target. Andrew G Haldane, as @bankofengland now style him, is concerned about "drag" from labour market slack; inflation expectations; sterling. Andy Haldane, the Bank of England's chief economist, has just outed himself as the secret dove on the MPC. pic.twitter.com/rn9injhuVa
Good to see Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras showing some thrift; he and his team were spotted in economy class heading to today's Summit. Hat-tip to Enikos. Alexis Tsipras travels economy class to crucial EU Summit – PHOTOS - http://t.co/qgavCo1Hrs pic.twitter.com/X42mdBjrZJ Σήμερα βρισκόμαστε στις Βρυξέλλες, στη Σύνοδο Κορυφής. #EUCO #Greece pic.twitter.com/0Ir5113f1r
Both the FT and Reuters are reporting that depositors withdrew at least €300m from Greek banks yesterday. That would be the biggest daily outflow since last month's bailout extension was agreed in February. "Depositors are nervous already and the suggestion that Greece could follow the example of Cyprus two years ago made them react."
And here's a video clip of Donald Tusk talking about Greece: EU's Tusk: Meeting is not 'last chance' for #Greece http://t.co/tAOIO6wMXO
Here are European Council president Donald Tusk's comments on Greece at a news conference ahead of today's summit, via Reuters. "Nobody wants a so-called Grexit. And everybody wants to avoid a so-called Grexident." "This informal meeting will not be a decisive meeting, because we have a formal format to take decisions [ie the, Eurogroup of finance minister]". "This is something like consultations. (They are) needed because we try to avoid confrontational political discussions and my intuition is that today at the level of the European Council the discussion could be a little bit too hot." My remarks following the #TripartiteSocialSummit & ahead of the European Council #EUCO http://t.co/PSHI8j9z2Q pic.twitter.com/Wgw8o3HR3q Unemployment is still unacceptably high in some countries, and there is an urgent need for labour market reforms in the eurozone. However, the economic tide is turning. And by continuing with structural reforms, we are ensuring that this will be a long-term improvement, not a brief crack of light.
Back to important issues, and the draft conclusions of the EU Summit have leaked, showing that leaders are planning a fightback against Russian 'disinformation' over Ukraine. HUGE: @donaldtusk to launch programme countering Russian propaganda by June - #EUCO draft conclusions (@tineurope) pic.twitter.com/g9vka5n1rH
Lord, give me strength.... Surprise: SATIRIST who admitted to faking Varoufakis middle-finger video wasn't being serious! New @OpenEurope blog: http://t.co/dW3PuHDn1C
European Council president Donald Tusk has played down the importance of tonight's talks, saying that it's not the last opportunity to resolve the Greek crisis.
Finland's prime minister, Alex Stubb, has warned that Athens can't expect another bailout extension. #Greece Has Four Months And Not More, Finland's Stubb Says. #Grexit AB
This is encouraging... European banks borrowed €97.8bn of cheap loans from the ECB, through its latest liquidity scheme. That's more than economists expected, and suggests that demand for credit from businesses and consumers is rising. The take-up at today's TLTRO exceeded expectations, with 143 banks borrowing an extra €97.8bn from the ECB. TLTRO will help expand the ECB's balance sheet at the margin but, more importantly, they will contribute towards improving monetary policy transmission and to lower borrowing costs even further. WOW #TLTRO. EUR98bn and 143 bidders (vs. 255 and 306 in the previous two). Should provide a boost to bank lending in the periphery. My TLTRO reaction piece – More important than you think. http://t.co/cA2Es4hzfM
Greek bond yields are continuing to climb this morning, on fears that the deadlock won't be broken in time. #Greece 10Y govt bond yields up 23 bps ahead of EU summit. Poised for highest close since July 2013. pic.twitter.com/BLNuGtTbpt
Over in Athens, our correspondent says there is are hopes that an "honourable" deal could be being hammered out at tonight's mini-summit between the Greek PM and other leaders. "An honourable compromise is what we want." "We will go ahead with legislation and after we will tell them why we are doing it." "This country takes orders only from the people, we are a country that has regained its national sovereignty."
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker has echoed Angela Merkel this morning, saying Athens must stick to its promises. "I will repeat to him what I've already told him twice: Greece must undertake the necessary reforms, Greece must ensure that the commitments it made to the Eurogroup in 2012 and more recently are followed up on."
A new opinion poll this morning shows a majority of Greeks still favour sticking with the euro rather than returning to the drachma: Keep € and memorandum or return to drachma? 61.2% of Greeks would vote to keep € (Marc/@ALPHA_TV poll). #Greece pic.twitter.com/7Hp4zD69Ed #Greece Marc poll: Syriza 40.2, ND 21, KKE 4.9, GolDawn 4.8, IndGreeks 4.5, Potami 4.3, Pasok 2.5, GPap 1.8, other party 3.3 New Marc/@ALPHA_TV poll: Greek gov't approval rating down to 59.8% from 83.1% last month. Still high, but... #Greece pic.twitter.com/B7pSnNqy70
There's a good preview of today's European Council meeting on the BBC, explaining how leaders will try to resolve the Greek crisis on the margins of the summit. The aim is to break the deadlock that has developed between Greece and its creditors about the terms agreed last month for an extension of its huge financial bailout. As time has dragged on, concern has risen that Greece could soon run out of money. There is only a matter of weeks left before another "crunch" comes.
My colleague Julia Kollewe has written about the FTSE 100 index hitting a fresh record high this morning: Related: FTSE 100 hits new record high after budget bounce and Fed meeting
Fears that Greece might default are pushing down the value of its sovereign debt this morning. The yield (or interest rate) on its two-year Greek bonds has jumped to 23%, up from 21.6% last night. That's the highest since the bonds was issued in the middle of 2014.
My day started with a working breakfast with Prime Minister of #Ukraine @Yatsenyuk_AP pic.twitter.com/X3q00zJiqH
Greece isn't officially on the agenda for today's EUCO Summit, but it will obviously be on the minds of leaders. One EU official has said the Greek bailout is the "elephant in the room", according to the AFP newswire.
Angela Merkel has warned that Greece's debt crisis will only be resolved if it sticks to its agreements and remains on its "tough path". "I have invited the Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to Berlin on Monday and I'm looking forward to his visit. We will have time to talk to each other in detail and perhaps also to argue." Laughter in #Bundestag when #Merkel said she's looking forward to debating with Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras when he visits Berlin
It really has been a dramatic 15 hours in the international markets, since the Federal Reserve's monthly meeting. The dramatic selloff in the dollar is now unwinding this morning, as investors conclude that the reaction to the Fed's cautiousness was perhaps overdone. Look what #Yellen did to the #dollar http://t.co/vmCpw1KJMV #BartChart #Fed pic.twitter.com/kZQDhxB8UO #Euro back now to where we were before FOMC last night as senamigams around Greece trigger another sell-off. pic.twitter.com/3OUA6rK65w everyone is very sweary this morning. And them that aren't swearing are just looking at charts and shaking their heads..
European Parliament President Martin Schulz has raised the stakes ahead of today's European Council Summit, warning that Greece desperately needs funds. Time is short," Schulz told Deutschlandfunk radio just hours before European Union leaders discuss Greece's bailout at their summit. "In the short term, two to three billion (euros) are needed to keep to the existing obligations," he said. Schulz said Greece had to make further payments by the end of the month, its banks needed money and its central bank's ability to supply funds was almost exhausted.
The row over Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis's infamous 'finger' gesture has taken another twist overnight; a German humorist has now claimed to have faked the footage. Related: I faked the Yanis Varoufakis middle-finger video, says German TV presenter Any apology in the offing @GuentherJauch65? For having used a doctored video to silence a conciliatory Greek voice? http://t.co/7SP6OcLIIv #Varoufake explained: Varoufakis claims finger was faked - a satire faker said he faked it - but his claim that it's fake was faked. Follow?
The euro is sliding back towards its recent lows this morning, after soaring against the US dollar last night following the Federal Reserve's cautious performance. The euro is plunging again after yesterday's surge against the dollar. http://t.co/qmqxEkefzV pic.twitter.com/qZx7hJTevs
The FTSE 100 has just hit a fresh record high this morning, as City traders begin the morning in an optimistic mood. London's blue chip index is up 32 points in early trading at 6977, led by mining companies.
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the world economy, the financial markets, the eurozone and business. With tensions rising over Greece's bailout, European leaders are heading to Brussels for another summit dominated by Athens's financial problems. "We are not going back on what we have promised. We are not asking for special treatment but equal treatment." Continue reading...      |
| Man freed 39 years after death sentence is awarded $1m in compensation Posted: 19 Mar 2015 06:34 PM PDT Ricky Jackson was put on death row in 1975 for killing of businessman but key witness, who was 13 at the time, eventually admitted lying under police pressure Continue reading...      |
| Bodies of five babies reportedly found in house by French police Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:58 PM PDT Detectives in in south-western France take 40-year-old man into custody while woman, 35, is hospitalised after four bodies found in freezer Police are reported to have discovered the bodies of five babies in a house in south-western France, in what appears to be the country's worst incident of infanticide in five years. After the body of a newborn was found in a thermal bag earlier on Thursday, officers "discovered four more bodies of babies during their search" at the house in Louchats, near the city of Bordeaux, a source said, confirming a report by French TV channel iTele. The source added that the four corpses were found in a freezer. Continue reading...      |
| Federal probe launched after black Mississippi man found hanging from tree Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:12 PM PDT Local reports named the deceased as Otis Byrd, 54, who disappeared 10 days ago and whose body was found in the woods near his last known residence Federal agents have been called in to probe the discovery in Claiborne County, Mississippi, of an African American man found hanging from a tree on Thursday. The Department of Justice has confirmed in a statement that three separate branches of the federal government have been mobilized to carry out the investigation: the FBI, the civil rights division of the Department of Justice and the US attorney for the southern district of Mississippi. Continue reading... |
| Malcolm Fraser, former Australian prime minister, dies aged 84 Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:03 PM PDT The former Liberal leader, prime minister from 1975 to 1983, won three elections but eventually left the party after becoming disillusioned with its direction The former Australian prime minister Malcolm Fraser has died at the age 84, after a brief illness. His death was confirmed in a short statement from his office on Friday. "It is with deep sadness that we inform you that after a brief illness John Malcolm Fraser died peacefully in the early hours of the morning of 20 March 2015," it said. Related: Malcolm Fraser, former Australian prime minister, has died aged 84 - rolling coverage Continue reading... |
| Congress not backing down on Iran nuclear deal as bill could face veto Posted: 19 Mar 2015 04:03 PM PDT Republican Bob Corker said committee plans to vote next week on bill that would require Congress's approval for any nuclear agreement with Iran President Obama and Congress may clash as soon as next week over nuclear negotiations with Iran, after panels in both the Senate and House made clear they intend to fight for a say in any proposed deal. Republican Senator Bob Corker said the foreign relations committee plans to vote next Thursday on a bill that would require Congress' approval for any nuclear agreement with Iran, in direct opposition to the president's wishes. If approved by the committee, the bill would move to a vote in the Senate.       |
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