STALLED

Greek Bailout Talks Grind to a Halt

President slams German "insults."

After weekend protests against new austerity measures, talks for a second bailout have stalled in Greece as leaders butt heads. Euro-zone finance ministers have put off their decision on a more than €100 trillion deal needed to save the country from default until next week, but Jean-Claude Juncker, who heads the gathering of European ministers, said that “substantial further progress” has been made. Tempers flared as Karolos Papoulias, Greece’s president, lashed out at the German finance minister for what Papoulias perceived as slights to his country, saying, “We always had the pride to defend not just our own freedom, not just our own country, but the freedom of all Europe.” It’s another sign that politicians and protesters alike are feeling the pain in Greece as further gouges are taken out of the country’s budget in pursuit of another bailout.