VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Since European Union's economy is finally recovering, a noted economist proposes three significant areas that U.K. officials should focus on to sustain its growth: medium-sized businesses, overseas trade and linking of geographic powerhouses to maintain the economic model.

On a stiflingly hot summer night, the ancient Greek amphitheatre of Epidaurus is packed to capacity for a performance of a 2,400-year-old play by Aristophanes -- testimony to Greeks' enduring love of theater despite years of grinding economic crisis.

The battle for Europe will be won or lost in Germany. On some days recently, it has looked like it might be lost. But that is to underestimate the deep German commitment to the success of European integration based on the rule of law.

Germany's finance minister wants to correct the balance between the European Commission's political role and its regulatory powers, reflecting concern in Berlin over the EU executive's neutrality as its political clout grows.

The delayed talks over a third 85 billion euro bailout plan is set to take place on Tuesday. Syriza government led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will hold negotiations with European troika, the tripartite committee led by the European Commission (Eurogroup), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Western and Middle East insurance specialists see Iran as an appealing $8 billion (£5 billion) market in the wake of its nuclear deal with world powers, though uncertainty over when sanctions on Tehran will be lifted means they are treating the country with caution.

Greek depositors lined up outside banks Monday as banks reopened three weeks after closing their doors. But while people can now withdraw money, restrictions remain and, with new taxes, they will have to shell out more for goods and services.

European Union reform of the securitized debt market to help to revive the region's economy is likely to be binding on member countries to speed up change, a senior official from the bloc's executive body said on Tuesday.

Four great crises around Europe's fringes threaten to engulf the European Union, potentially setting the ambitious post-war unification project back by decades.

Russian President Vladimir Putin must be finding it hard to contain a wry smile as the European Union struggles with Greece's debt problems.

Airbus (AIR.PA) signed an agreement on Thursday to set up its second plant on Chinese soil in a deal that the European planemaker hopes will lead to lucrative new plane orders.

The dollar was near a three-week high on Thursday and world stock markets had a delicate feel, as the implication of U.S. jobs data later for a possible Fed rate hike added to Europe's uncertainty over Greece.

U.S. stocks fell sharply in heavy trading on Monday and the S&P 500 and the Dow had their worst day since October after a collapse in Greek bailout talks intensified fears that the country could be the first to exit the euro zone.

The European Union will briefly put aside worries about Greece to broaden its relations with China at a summit in Brussels on Monday, hoping for Chinese investment in Europe's new infrastructure fund and support for a global climate deal.

Global financial markets are braced for a wave of contagion from Greece on Monday, with expected heavy losses for southern European government bonds and regional stock markets as investors scramble to discount a possible "Grexit" that most had still assumed was unlikely as late as Friday afternoon.