Latest News from Greece
ESM Chief K. Regling says Grexit still on the table
European Stability Mechanism Chief Klaus Regling told German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung that he cannot guarantee that the prevention of a Grexit from the eurozone. The Grexit-obsessed officials who has made similar comments in the past, admitted that at the moment Grexit is not under discussion because Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is doing his job.
Refugee boat sinks off Turkey's Aegean coast, 18 killed
Eighteen people have drowned off the southwestern coast of Turkey when a vessel carrying refugees sank late on Dec. 18, according to the Turkish Coast Guard.
The wooden boat - packed with refugees, including Syrians and Iraqis - was seeking to reach the Greek island of Kos when it sank in Bodrum Bay.
#ThisIsACoup recounts the rise and fall of Greece’s dreams (vids)
Journalist Paul Mason’s new documentary “This is a Coup” gives a telling look at the days leading to the July 5 referendum in Greece. Exclusive live coverage of behind-the-scenes developments in the Greek government show that the Greek bank holiday was not as surprising a development as it seemed at the time.
Why did Maria Rizou reject the chance to represent Greece at Eurovision 2016? (vid)
Greek public broadcaster ERT asked singer Maria Rizou to represent the country at the Eurovision song contest being held in Stockholm in 2016. It is rumored that her name was chosen after an internal panel at ERT decided that it had a non-commercial quality being sought for this year’s representation.
Hooded assailants bombed Turkish consulate in Thessaloniki
The Turkish Consulate in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, was attacked in the early hours of Friday orning by 25 hooded assailants that hurled around 15 Molotov cocktails at the guard post.
The attack occurred at 3.20 a.m. outside the consulate’s premises on Agiou Dimitriou Street. No injuries had been reported. Damage was only superficial and to the building’s façade.
Zorlu shares surge on hopes Turkey normalizing Israel ties
Shares in Turkey's Zorlu Energy, which is involved in energy projects in Israel, surged as much as 10 percent on Dec. 18 after an Israeli official said a preliminary deal had been reached with Turkey to normalize relations.
The announcement, which comes at a critical time for both countries, could have widespread implications, particularly when it comes to energy.
Macedonian, Greek, Ministers Vow to Rebuild Trust
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Macedonian counterpart, Nikola Poposki, agreed to work on rebuilding trust between the two countries at a meeting in Athens.
Poposki said Macedonia "has a strategy to have good relations with Greece" but added that when it comes to the dispute over Macedonia's name, the two countries remain separated by "mountains."