Greece

Attacks against migrants, refugees and LGBT people in Greece surged to their highest level in nearly a decade last year, a report by the Athens-based Racist Violence Recording Network (RVRN) has found.

The network recorded 158 attacks in 2023, up from 74 in 2022. Of those, 89 targeted migrants, refugees or asylum seekers and 61 targeted LGBT people, it said.

New Democracy's decision to nominate Fredi Beleri, the imprisoned mayor of Himare, as a candidate for the European Parliament aims to highlight Albania's violation of the rule of law as a European concern. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis made this clear on Wednesday, while also condemning attempts to monopolize these "progressive" issues.

The government plans an early repayment of up to €5 billion of bailout loans to eurozone countries this year, two government officials told Reuters on Tuesday.

The eurozone and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lent Greece about €280 billion during the crisis on the condition that it impose tough austerity measures.

A three-member Criminal Appeal Court of Thessaloniki convicted on Tuesday a police officer to seven years and eight months in prison for his involvement in the illegal smuggling of migrants through Thessaloniki's international airport.

With investments in Greece on the rise, Michael Arghyrou, the head of the Council of Economic Advisors for Greece's Finance Ministry, joins Thanos Davelis to look at how these investments are transforming Greece's economy, and to bust some of the myths around investments in Greece. 

February offered a 1.2% annual increase in tourist arrivals in hotel accommodation, rental rooms and camping and a 1.6% growth compared to the corresponding month last year, according to provisional data by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) released on Tuesday.

In February 2024, arrivals at tourist accommodation amounted to 773,104 and overnight stays to 1,677,685.

There were "no significant changes" in the human rights situation in Greece over the past year, the US State Department said in its annual report which includes, however, a list of issues pertaining to the treatment of migrants, police and the use of spyware.

A blaze that broke out near a Greek military base on the island of Crete on Tuesday morning was brought under control after several hours, with few spot fires remaining, the Fire Service said.

Fire fighting units continue to operate and will remain in the area to prevent strong winds from rekindling the flames. No injuries, damage to infrastructure or residences has been recorded.

The Belem made its first voyage in 1896, just a few weeks after the first modern Olympic Games had finished in Athens.

Greece's minister of rural development and food, Lefteris Avgenakis, is visiting Beijing, from Monday until Thursday.

The Greek minister will have the opportunity to discuss, in meetings with government officials of the People's Republic of China, issues of common interest and mainly the promotion of Greece's primary sector exports to China.