Greece reopened its banks and started the process of paying off billions of euros owed to international creditors in the first signs of a return to normality after a deal to agree a new package of bailout reforms.

Water charge-dodgers are being given effective tax rebates of €100 each that could cost the State tens of millions of euro; Two people have survived a helicopter crash in Co Longford; Bertie Ahern is set to launch a defence of his economic record; Greek MPs have voted overwhelmingly to approve a harsh austerity bill. Here’s this morning’s irishexaminer.com round-up.

Greece’s negotiators head to Brussels armed with their reform proposals and parliamentary backing to seek a third bailout, but with the shadow of severe dissent from governing politicians hanging over them.

Beijing’s increasingly frantic attempts to stem a stock market rout were finally rewarded as Chinese shares bounced around 6% yesterday, but the costs of heavy-handed state intervention are likely to weigh on the market for a long time.

THE people of Greece arrive at a crossroads tomorrow, even if it seems that all roads lead to more or less the same unattractive, unavoidable destination.

Even if it survives the next three months teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, Greece may have blown its best chance of a long-term debt deal by alienating its eurozone partners when it most needed their support.

Greece has made another plea to the eurozone for cash to avert bankruptcy but has been told to present an improved list of economic reforms within six working days for finance ministers to pave the way for any more lending, EU officials said yesterday.

Greece is running out of options to fund itself despite a four-month bailout extension, raising pressure on Athens to quickly implement reforms it has vocally opposed or default on debt repayments in a matter of weeks.

Greece’s new finance minister has sought to convince his sceptical German counterpart to back a new approach on Greek debt – but an agreement still appears to be a long way off.

The leader of a radical left-wing party tasked with trying to form a coalition government in Greece is to meet mainstream party heads, a day after he demanded they withdraw their signatures from the international bailout deal.