Yanis Varoufakis

Alexis Tsipras wound up his campaign to be re-elected Greek prime minister by declaring his victory would strike a blow for Europe's left, as final polls on Friday gave him a slim lead.

A breakaway eurosceptic faction of Greece's Syriza party was to attempt to form a government Monday as the country headed for a likely September 20 snap ballot.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced the widest rebellion yet from his leftist lawmakers as parliament approved a new bailout programme on Friday, forcing him to consider a confidence vote that could pave the way for early elections.

Greek lawmakers finally voted through the country's third international bailout today after a bitter all-night debate, hours before European finance ministers were due to meet to approve the deal with Germany digging in its heels.

Greece faces a last chance to stay in the euro zone today when Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras puts proposals to an emergency euro zone summit after Greek voters resoundingly rejected the austerity terms of a defunct bailout.

Raising the pressure on Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras before a euro zone summit on Tuesday, the European Central Bank decided to keep a tight grip on funding to Greek banks.

Japan's Nikkei rose 1.2 per cent while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, which fell to six-month low on Monday, was up 0.2 per cent.

Back in January, when I was half-awake while listening to the interminable euro discussion, a man for whom English is a second language started speaking poetry

Greece's maverick finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who announced his surprise resignation on today, achieved near-celebrity status with an urban-cool image and visceral attacks on the country's international creditors.

Germany maintained a hard line today after Greece rejected creditors' austerity demands in a referendum, with Berlin saying there was currently "no basis" for talks on a new bailout package or debt relief.

In a shock announcement just hours after Sunday's referendum results on bailout terms were announced, Mr Varoufakis said he was quitting to help Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in ensuing negotiations with creditors.

Greece's finance minister resigned Monday in what appeared to be a concession by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to international creditors after his resounding victory in a historic bailout referendum.

Greeks voted today in a tightly fought referendum on whether to accept worsening austerity in exchange for more bailout funds, or reject it in a gamble that could see it crash out of the euro.

Greece and the entire eurozone are in limbo as the country votes in a crucial referendum on bailout conditions today.

In the five months since he came to power vowing to deliver his country from years of biting austerity, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has kept Greece and Europe guessing.

Alexis Tsipras wound up his campaign to be re-elected Greek prime minister by declaring his victory would strike a blow for Europe's left, as final polls on Friday gave him a slim lead.

A breakaway eurosceptic faction of Greece's Syriza party was to attempt to form a government Monday as the country headed for a likely September 20 snap ballot.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced the widest rebellion yet from his leftist lawmakers as parliament approved a new bailout programme on Friday, forcing him to consider a confidence vote that could pave the way for early elections.

Greek lawmakers finally voted through the country's third international bailout today after a bitter all-night debate, hours before European finance ministers were due to meet to approve the deal with Germany digging in its heels.

Greece faces a last chance to stay in the euro zone today when Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras puts proposals to an emergency euro zone summit after Greek voters resoundingly rejected the austerity terms of a defunct bailout.

Raising the pressure on Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras before a euro zone summit on Tuesday, the European Central Bank decided to keep a tight grip on funding to Greek banks.

Japan's Nikkei rose 1.2 per cent while MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan, which fell to six-month low on Monday, was up 0.2 per cent.

Back in January, when I was half-awake while listening to the interminable euro discussion, a man for whom English is a second language started speaking poetry

Greece's maverick finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, who announced his surprise resignation on today, achieved near-celebrity status with an urban-cool image and visceral attacks on the country's international creditors.

Germany maintained a hard line today after Greece rejected creditors' austerity demands in a referendum, with Berlin saying there was currently "no basis" for talks on a new bailout package or debt relief.

In a shock announcement just hours after Sunday's referendum results on bailout terms were announced, Mr Varoufakis said he was quitting to help Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in ensuing negotiations with creditors.

Greece's finance minister resigned Monday in what appeared to be a concession by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to international creditors after his resounding victory in a historic bailout referendum.

Greeks voted today in a tightly fought referendum on whether to accept worsening austerity in exchange for more bailout funds, or reject it in a gamble that could see it crash out of the euro.

Greece and the entire eurozone are in limbo as the country votes in a crucial referendum on bailout conditions today.

In the five months since he came to power vowing to deliver his country from years of biting austerity, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has kept Greece and Europe guessing.