Latest News from Greece
Associated Press: Bulgaria Aims to Build Russian Pipeline on Time
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria says it aims to build on time its stretch of a pipeline that will bring Russian gas to Europe, despite unforeseen delays due to the COVID pandemic.
Economic sentiment nosedived in May
The economic sentiment index in Greece showed a fresh deterioration in May, despite the gradual lifting of restrictions and the resumption of most economic activities. The index compiled by the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE) showed a reading of 88.5 points, against 99.3 points in April.
ChemChina buys out Alfa Agricultural
Israeli company Adama has completed the acquisition of Greek firm Alfa Agricultural Supplies SA. Adama bought out the remaining 51% stake in Alfa for an undisclosed amount, taking its holding in the local company to 100%. This practically means Alfa has passed into the hands of the Chinese company that controls the Israeli enterprise.
Tsiodras inaugurates speaker series at CoE Committee of Ministers
Professor Sotiris Tsiodras, known to the wider Greek public as the Health Ministry's spokesman for the novel coronavirus, was the first speaker in a series initiated by Alternate Foreign Affairs Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis as chairman of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers.
Greece to pay for accommodation of infected tourists
Greece will pay for the accommodation of any tourist who tests positive for the coronavirus during their visit, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told journalists on Monday.
Lufthansa starts to restore Germany-Greece flights
Lufthansa has announced it is increasing flights between Germany and Greece from June 15, doubling the number of services it provides from Athens to Munich and Frankfurt.
Piraeus Bank swings to loss as loan-loss provisions rise
Piraeus Bank, Greece's largest lender by assets, on Monday reported a first-quarter loss after "frontloading" loan impairment provisions to take into account the impact of the coronavirus crisis.
Turkish claims on EastMed are ‘within the limits of international law'
Turkey's ambassador to Greece told Greek diplomats on Monday that his country's positions on the Eastern Mediterranean, the demarcation of maritime zones, the Cyprus issue, hydrocarbon exploration and Libya are "well-known and transparent" and "within the bounds of international law," according to Turkish diplomatic sources.
Greece summons Turkish ambassador over gas exploration applications
Greece's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the Turkish ambassador to deliver a demarche over the publication in the Turkish government's gazette of Turkish Petroleum's (TPAO) applications for an exploration permit in areas of the Greek continental shelf, diplomatic sources said.
Pesticides racket dismantled in northern Greece
A racked that illegally procured pesticides from Turkey and Bulgaria and then forwarded them to Greek farmers in Greece has been dismantled by police in northern Greece.
According to reports on Monday, four people have been arrested.
Greek hotels reopen to an uncertain future
Greece allowed year-round hotels to open on Monday, restarting its vital tourism sector hobbled by weeks of lockdown, although business remained quiet with international flights from its main airports only set to resume from June 15.
With borders also still shut in key tourism markets, some hotels have pushed back their openings due to low reservations.
Mount Athos reopens to visitors in limited numbers
The all-male monastic community of Mount Athos in northern Greece reopened its doors to pilgrims on Monday, on the condition that they are in possession of the special permits required.
Entry is also allowed to all employees of the monasteries of the Athonite State. Visitors numbers, however, will be limited to 15 people per monastery.
Greece says Turkish exploration applications attempt to ‘usurp' Greek sovereign rights
Greece said on Monday the publication in the Turkish government's gazette of Turkish Petroleum's (TPAO) applications for an exploration permit in the eastern Mediterranean were another step in Ankara's efforts to "usurp Greece's sovereign rights."
Third death in 24 hours takes Covid-19 toll to 178
A 70-year-old woman infected with the novel coronavirus died at the Greek capital's NIMTS navy hospital on Monday, bringing the country's death toll to 178.
The unnamed woman was the third victim of Covid-19 in less than 24 hours, following nearly three days without any casualties from the disease.
Greece aims to eradicate singe-use plastic by July 2021
Volunteers mobilized by the A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation pick up trash on the beach of Schinias, a protected wetland northeast of Athens, on Saturday. The foundation has launched a campaign to eradicate single-use plastic in cooperation with the Environment Ministry.