Greece: Eurogroup approves third bailout for debt-ridden Greece

Eurozone finance ministers agreed on Friday to approve a third bailout programme for Greece, with the first tranche of aid to be worth €26 billion. Eurogroup chairman Jeroen Djisselbloem said that "of course there were differences, but we have managed to solve the last issues."

To recapitalise Greek banks €10 billion will be made available, while a second tranche of €16 billion will be paid out in several installments, starting with a €13 billion installment by August 20 when Greece must make a new debt payment to the European Central Bank (ECB).

"On this basis, Greece is and will irreversibly remain a member of the Euro area," said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker after the deal was sealed.

Read more: france 24 - Eurogroup approves third bailout for debt-ridden Greece - France 24

Greece: Eurozone sets Greece tough terms as euro exit looms

Eurozone leaders set Greece brutal take-it-or-leave-it conditions for a desperately needed bailout deal at a summit on Sunday as an exit from the single currency loomed ever larger.

Hawkish Germany pushed for a Greek "time out" from the euro if leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras fails to agree terms for a three-year rescue plan worth up to 86 billion euros ($96 billion).

Athens faces demands to push through new reform laws next week to win a third bailout since 2010, with the government in a tight corner as the cash-starved country's banks look set to run dry in days. 

"There will be no agreement at any price," Merkel said as she arrived for the summit of 19 eurozone leaders, complaining of a loss of trust in Athens and warning of "tough negotiations" ahead.

Read nore: Eurozone sets Greece tough terms as euro exit looms - Yahoo News

Italy: Matteo Renzi tipped to be new Italy PM as Letta quits

Matteo Renzi (39) tipped as new Italian PM

Italy is looking for a new prime minister again after Enrico Letta’s resignation was accepted by President Giorgio Napolitano.

Letta drove himself to the presidential residence, the Quirinale in Rome – amid yet more political turmoil in the country.

Letta announced on Thursday that he would stand down after a meeting of his centre-left Democratic Party (PD) voted in favour of changing the government.

The man expected to take over as prime minister is the new party leader Matteo Renzi, 39. He could be named premier as soon as this weekend, and would be the country’s youngest-ever leader.

The president is now beginning meetings with political parties to find a solution to the leadership crisis and pave the way for a new government.

There has been growing criticism over the slow pace of economic reform in Italy which left Letta increasingly isolated.

A low-key moderate, he was appointed in April last year to lead the cross-party coalition patched together after deadlocked elections had brought weeks of fruitless wrangling between rival parties.

Letta did not attend Thursday’s party meeting, which was brought forward from next week.

Read more: Matteo Renzi tipped to be new Italy PM as Letta quits | euronews, world news