Latest News from Greece
Commission: Greece has amended unfair guarantee
Greece, Italy, Spain and Portugal have modified state guarantees on deferred tax assets created by banks following discussions with European Union regulators concerned that these may give the lenders an unfair advantage, the bloc's state aid chief said on Tuesday.
Man goes on hospital rampage in Thessaloniki
A 36-year-old Syrian national will face charges of damaging public property after going on a window-smashing rampage at the Gennimatas Hospital in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, on Tuesday.
The man arrived at the hospital to receive treatment for injuries he sustained during a brawl, but for unknown reasons he ran amok, threatening to kill himself.
New economy minister: 4th bailout unnecessary
In an interview on Greek state television ERT, the newly-appointed Minister of the Economy, Dimitris Papadimitriou, claimed that there would not be a fourth bailout agreement, saying: “In 2017, Greece will have the surplus that it needs to have.”
HDP holds first parliamentary group meeting in absence of arrested MPs
The Kurdish issue-focused Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) held its first parliamentary group meeting in the absence of its co-chairs and eight deputies on Nov. 8, after they were arrested last week on terror charges.
EU's Juncker warns Turkey's Erdoğan on visa deal
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker delivered a personal warning to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Nov. 8 saying that he would be held responsible if Ankara fails to meet EU criteria for granting Turks visa-free travel.
Six in 10 death certificates in Greece contain mistakes, conference hears
Six in 10 death certificates issued in Greece contain serious errors, the head of the association representing the country's coroners told a medical conference on Crete.
The majority of the mistakes are located in the way cause of death is described and recorded, according to Grigoris Leon, who called for more vigorous training, starting at medical school.
Flyers dispersed at US Consulate in Thessaloniki in protest at Obama visit
A group of around 15 people made their way up to the American Consulate in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki on Tuesday morning, dispersing flyers protesting a planned visit to Greece by outgoing US President Barack Obama next week.
Over 15,000 locals in Turkey's small northern district immigrate to US
Over 15,000 people from the Yağlıdere district of the Black Sea province of Giresun have immigrated to the United States since the 1960s, making it the Turkish district most represented in the U.S., daily Habertürk has reported.
Anarchist group “Rubicon” members “invade” US consulate
Members of anarchist groups, including the Greek anarchist group called “Rubicon” invaded the US Consulate in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Tuesday morning. 15 people threw leaflets and chanted slogans protesting against the scheduled visit to Greece of US President Barack Obama. Greek police arrived on the scene and proceeded to apprehend some of the anarchists.
Extra tax to be charged per night on Airbnb-style property rent
Greece's first regulatory framework on property rentals via websites such as Airbnb, HomeAway, FlipKey and HouseTrip will introduce a 5 percent tax per night and impose a fine of 50,000 euros on owners who do not enter their details in the relevant register. Owners' revenues will also be taxed at the rates used for rental incomes (between 15 and 45 percent), depending on the income level.
EuroGroup: Debt relief pushed back till after 2018
All parties agreed on the need for the second review of the Greek bailout program be completed by December during Monday’s EuroGroup meeting.
Ernst & Young: Greek tax evasion estimated at 6 – 9% of GNP
In a report presented by Ernst & Young (EY) executive Stefanos Mitsios yesterday during the 8th Tax Forum organized in Thessaloniki by the Hellenic-American Chamber of Commerce, the firm estimates tax evasion in Greece to be as high as 6 to 9 percent of GDP.
Greeks retain global shipping leadership
Greece remains the global leader in shipping, as the latest annual report by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) shows that the share of the global merchant fleet owned by Greeks in terms of capacity has risen from 16.1 percent in 2015 to 16.36 percent this year.
December date for debt discussions
The short-term measures which the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) is preparing regarding the lightening of Greece's national debt will be presented in next month Eurogroup meeting, ESM chief executive officer Klaus Regling said on Monday in Brussels.
ATHEX: Stocks head higher on FBI statement and reshuffle
The FBI's announcement that it had found nothing to incriminate US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in her emails buoyed stocks internationally, while this, coupled with local traders' moderate satisfaction with Friday's cabinet reshuffle, led to gains at Athinon Avenue on Monday.