Latest News from Greece

Mitsotakis thanks Karamanlis for support

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (l) received former conservative premier Costas Karamanlis at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Wednesday. Later in the day, Mitsotakis visited the Defense Ministry where he praised Greece's armed forces for being "in a state of full operational readiness." [Intime News]

Italian tourist dies of meningitis in Greek hospital

A 17-year-old Italian tourist died of meningitis in a hospital in Athens on Wednesday morning, according to the initial lab results conducted by the doctors.
A Greek Air Force aircraft transferred the woman from Naxos, where she was holidaying with her family, to the Nikea hospital on Tuesday, after she developed high fever and went into septic shock. She died at the hospital.

Dendias, Bolton talks focus on boosting ‘strategic relationship’

Talks between Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias and US National Security Adviser John Bolton focused on boosting the strong ties between the two countries, the latter said on Wednesday.

Government to table programme in Parliament, Regling lays down the law

By George Gilson

PM says boosting defense industry is a top priority

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mistotakis called for the strengthening of Greece's defense industry in order to boost the "operational readiness" of the country's armed forces during a visit on Wednesday to the Defense Ministry.

Foreign minister asks for Washington support

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said that he asked for a "clean line of communication" between Athens and Washington in the event that "issues" arise with Turkey, during his first meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on Wednesday. "The Americans noted this (request) and will answer us," he said.

Tasoulas elected Parliament Speaker with broad, five-party backing

Veteran New Democracy MP (representing the district of Ioannina) Konstantinos Tasoulas has been elected Parliament Speaker with an unprecedented 283 votes in the 300-seat legislature.

Tasoulas was supported by five of the legislature's six parties (New Democracy, SYRIZA, Movement for Change, Elliniki Lysi, and MeRa 25).

Six arrested in Kos in migrant trafficking racket

Greek authorities announced Wednesday the unravelling of a crime group that facilitated the illegal exit from Greece to other European Union countries of scores of migrants through the airport of the southeastern Aegean island of Kos over at least 15 months.

No time for mixed signals

We are entering a very thorny patch in Greek-Turkish relations. Turkey's activities within Cyprus' exclusive economic zone (EEZ), combined with the standoff with the United States over Ankara's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system are increasing the tension further in Greece's wider region.

Men, women and government

Only five of the government's 51 cabinet members are women. You've obviously read this by now and you've probably seen the photographs of dozens of suit-clad men being sworn in as their wives and children look on proudly. But this should not be seen in isolation.