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.

Greece’s health system throws spanner in the works for 1-bn-euro bailout tranche

The Greek Social Health Insurance Fund (EOPPY) is under pressure to change costs of medical exams or else there is a threat that Greece will not receive its 1-bn-euro bailout fund even though lawmakers voted through the set of 13 prior actions called for by the country’s lenders.

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.

ND elections held under the shadow of K. Karamanlis

Pathogenic problems in the main opposition conservative New Democracy (ND) party of Greece came to the fore just days ahead for the marathon leadership race that ends on Sunday.

#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.

 

Open letter: Read Vangelis Meimarakis heartfelt plea to ND voters

Just two days prior to the New Democracy (ND) leadership elections, conservative main opposition leadership candidate Vangelis Meimarakis wrote an open letter to members and friends of the party.

He writes:

Greek men and women,

New Democracy men and women,

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.

2015 Migrant, Refugee Arrivals in EU Close to One Million - IOM

A total of 990,671 migrants and refugees have entered Europe in 2015 from Africa and the Middle East by a combination of irregular land and sea routes, the International organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday.

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.

Four Iraqi migrants drown off western Turkey

Four Iraqi migrants, including two children, drowned after a Greece-bound boat capsized off the Turkish resort town of Bodrum early on Dec. 18.

The boat carrying a total of eight Iraqi migrants capsized off the Aegean province of Mu?la, leaving four dead, state-run Anadolu Agency reported. 

Latest boat accidents kill eight migrants off western Turkey

Eight migrants - five of them children - drowned in two separate boat accidents off Turkey's Aegean coast early Dec. 18.

Four Iraqi migrants, including two children, drowned after a Greece-bound boat capsized off the Turkish resort town of Bodrum early Dec. 18.

Greek PM has meetings with German Chancellor and French President in Brussels

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has scheduled a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Francois Hollande on the sidelines of the European Council of leaders on Friday. The three are expected to discuss the refugee crisis in Greece.

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."

Pages