European financing body says it will not honour accord after Greek PM announced pre-Christmas bonus for pensioners The dispute between Greece and its creditors has turned more ugly after the European body financing the country’s €86bn (£72bn) bailout programme decided to freezea debt relief deal. The prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, was taken by surprise on Wednesday when the European Stability Mechanism announced it would not honour an accord to ease the burden of Greece’s debt pile. The decision, taken in direct retribution for a series of surprise social welfare measures unveiled by the leader, is likely to put Athens on a war footing with lenders amid mounting signs of the Greek crisis flaring again. Everyone has to respect the Greek people, who for the last seven years have made huge sacrifices in the name of Europe Continue reading...