Latest News from Greece

State entities drag feet over debt coverage

The Finance Ministry is yet to announce its September figures on the repayment of debts to third parties, although it did announce the figures up to end-August on Friday. This lack of information on last month's figures is what deprived Greece of the disbursement of the entire 2.8-billion-euro bailout tranche this week.

Berisha sees 'third player' in unmaking of continental shelf pact between Albania, Greece

Former Albanian prime minister Sali Berisha has blamed the unmaking of a continental shelf pact between Albania and Greece five years ago on outside intervention.

"I am saying with full certainty that you did so in the interests of a third party," Berisha said in reference to current Prime Minister Edi Rama and his government.

Ancient Chinese hu on view at National Archaeological Museum

An ancient Chinese bronze hu (amphora) with a coiled dragon design, made more than 2,500 years ago, is now on display at the Hall of the Altar in the Greek National Archaeological Museum.

Beyoğlu Municipality opens new arts season with Ahmet Güneştekin show

Istanbul's Beyoğlu Municipality opened its new culture and art season on Oct. 11 with an exhibition by Turkish painter Ahmet Güneştekin. 

The works in the exhibition, titled "The Poetics of Mythology," focus on various mythological and cultural concepts, including the figures of Phoenix, Shamaran, Achilles, and Troy. 

Greece's state budget surplus beats target in first 9 months

Greece's central government registered a primary budget surplus of 5.4 billion euros in the nine months to September, beating its target by 3.5 billion euros, helped by higher tax revenues, Finance Ministry data showed on Friday.

The central government surplus excludes the budgets of social security organizations and local administration.

New book offers Greek energy market insights in English

Publishers Editcom, who also operate specialized website energia.gr, have released the "Greek Energy Directory 2016," a comprehensive guide to the local energy industry, which is at the forefront of privatizations in Greece, given the country's recently discovered hydrocarbon reserves, the opening up of the local energy market and the infinite domestic capacity in terms of renewable sources.

Let's build a front for common resistance: HDP co-chair Demirtaş

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) co-chair Selahattin Demirtaş has issued a call for joint resistance against fascism during a speech on Oct. 13 at the opening of the congress of Syriza, the main partner in Greece's government, in Athens.

He said Greece, Turkey and other regional countries were experiencing a difficult period, noting that they paid big prices. 

La Mirage Hotel in Omonoia Square to reopen

Aviation Share Fund, which is the owner of the legendary hotel La Mirage in the city centre, is looking to lease out the property to an prospectful investor for 5 million Euros, with the aim to renovate the building.

Vitsas: Claims that Greece wanted to print drachmas are "nonsense"

Deputy Defense Minister Dimitris Vitsas has dismissed  as "nonsense," the claim that Vladimir Putin was asked by Greek officials in 2015 if Athens could print drachmas in Russia.

Speaking to Real FM radio on Friday, he said that it was a non issue as "Syriza never discussed the printing of money."                    

Bruegel economist says Greece may need fourth bailout

Greece will probably need a fourth bailout as it will be unable to borrow from international markets in 2018, according to Zsolt Darvas, a senior economist at the Bruegel Institute, a European think tank specializing in economics.

Speaking at the Thessaloniki Summit, he said that in 2018 "Greece will not be able to borrow from the markets."

Bruegel Institute economist: Greece will need a 4th memorandum

Hungarian economist Zsolt Darvas of the “Bruegel Institute” said Greece would have to accept a 4th bailout program (memorandum), during a speech in Thessaloniki. Speaking at the “Thessaloniki Summit” event, the Hungarian economist stressed  expressed the view that Greece would fail to borrow from the markets in 2018 and would be forced to receive a 4th package of financial aid.

Wikileaks: Bill Clinton pressured Tsipras to accept 3rd memorandum

According to whistleblower site Wikileaks, former US President Bill Clinton was ‘recruited’ by Hillary Clinton’s campaign head John Podesta to convince Greek PM Alexis Tsipras to sign on to the third bailout program in 2015. The new revelations were brought to light after Wikileaks published a large batch Podesta’s e-mails.

Pages