Former, president of France, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, is in Athens today, attending the inauguration of the new Jacqueline de Romilly Square in the Thision area of downtown Athens. The municipality of Athens has named the square in honor of the renown French Philhellene and classicist.

The former French president spoke at the ceremony, before which he met with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras.

State asset privatization fund TAIPED is proceeding with a second phase for the exploitation of 14 peripheral airports, with seven of the eleven bidders continuing on, while the Athens International Airport is just a breath away a total change of leadership.

Germany's "The Left" (Die Linke) party has made a 180 degree turn by suddenly rejecting SYRIZA's demand for repayment of a forced loan extended to Nazi occupation forces during WWII.

Pegged as a dress rehearsal in the run up to next week's general elections, Sunday's local election in Bavaria saw conservatives allied with chancellor Angela Merkel gain an absolute majority of seats in the local parliament, according to first results.