News archive of September 2018

Turnout in the name change referendum in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) stood at 34 percent just before polls closed.

Reports said supporters of a boycott were celebrating in Skopje, capital of FYROM.

Supporters of a voter boycott of the referendum in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) on changing the country's name to "Republic of North Macedonia" to pave the way for NATO membership are starting to celebrate based on low turnout figures election officials gave before polls closed.

The General Secretariat for Civil Protection on Sunday declared several municipalities in mainland Greece to be in a state of emergency after a powerful tropical-type storm pounded the region, causing widespread damage.

A bleak future lies ahead in terms of demographics, according to the Hellenic Association of Geriatrics and Gerontology, which projects that Greece's population by 2050 will be older and reduced by anything between 800,000 and 2.5 million people. 

A referendum on changing the name of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to "Republic of North Macedonia" to pave the way for NATO membership attracted tepid voter participation Sunday, with turnout standing below 29 percent two hours before polls close.

Greek protesters hold a banner during a rally against Greece's name deal with neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), near the Evzonoi border crossing in Greece. Citizens in FYROM were deciding on their country's future Sunday. [AP]

The state election commission in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) says voter turnout for a referendum on changing the country's name to "Republic of North Macedonia" to pave the way for NATO membership stood at 28.8 percent two hours before polls close.

State Electoral Commission head Oliver Derkoski provided the updated turnout figure as of 5 p.m. Sunday.

Greece's top military official has urged Turkey to abstain from actions that infringe on the country's sovereign rights in the Aegean Sea.

Turnout in the name change referendum in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) stood at 22.65 percent at 3 p.m. local time.

Polls close at 7 p.m. local time (8 p.m. Greek time).

Four people died last week as a result of complications after contracting the West Nile virus, bringing the death toll across Greece from the beginning of the year to 31, according to authorities.

According to a weekly report issued by the Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO), reported cases reached 271 over on Satuday.