Latest News from Greece
Frontex Heightens Presence in Greece to Deal with Migrant Influx
The EU agency for external borders, Frontex, heightened its presence in Greece in order to support the country in dealing with the unprecedented number of migrants arriving on its islands.
This was done by launching the Poseidon Rapid Intervention on Monday, which replaces the Joint Operation Poseidon Sea with a larger number of officers and technical equipment.
Scenes from Vasso Meimaraki’s funeral (pics)
Crowds gathered at Zografou Cemetery on Monday morning so that people could pay their last respects to ND leadership candidate Vangeli Meimarakis’ sister, Vasso Meimaraki, who died of cancer.
Sputnik: Turks seek Mount Athos for military exercises
Russian newsagency Sputnik reports that Greece’s civil aviation authority rejected announcements from Ankara seeking to restrict flights over Greek islands in the Aegean Sea for 12 months so that Turkey can carry out military training.
Al Jazeera: Female refugees face sexual exploitation in Greece
Doha-based news agency Al Jazeera focuses on the lives of female refugees and documents their plight as they embark upon the perilous crossing from Turkey to Greece. One of the case studies is that of Samira who traveled from Ahir, Morocco, to Lesbos.
SYRIZA govt responds to German FinMin’s criticism of Greece – again! – over migrant crisis
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble didn’t miss the chance to criticize Greece on its handling of the migrant crisis in an interview with German newspaper Bild am Sonntag. Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) Spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili criticized Schaeuble for his anti-Greek stand while also stating: “Somebody should remind Mr.
Turkey Detains 21 Migrants Trying to Enter Bulgaria
Turkish authorities say they arrested 21 people who were seeking to cross illegally into Bulgaria on Saturday.
Another 26 were captured before entereing Greece from Turkey's northwest, Hürriyet Daily News reports.
Schaeuble said Greece has ignored the Dublin Regulations for years
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said that Greece has ignored the rules of the Dublin Regulation that obliges migrants to file for asylum in the first country of the European Union. Speaking to Germany’s “Bild am Sonntag” newspaper, he said Greeks should not place the blame for their problems on others but should, instead, see how they should better themselves.
Pianist Yanni performs at the pyramids of Egypt
Celebrated Greek pianist/composer Yanni is known for his extravagant live performances at the world’s most significant heritage sites. The Greek-born US-based keyboardist will broadcast his historic “Yanni: The Dream Concert – Live from the Great Pyramids of Egypt” concert at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza in 2016.
Athens-New York gets a little closer x 3
Delta Airlines, United Airlines and American Airlines will operate a connection from Athens to New York during the summer of 2016. Alternate Tourism Minister Eleni Kountoura announced that these new flights are to take place, while also revealing that she had proposed that Aegean Airlines link Greece to North America so that a reliable Greek airline reactivates the line.
After a mild Christmas in Greece there are snowy days ahead
Temperatures will drop during the last two days of December 2015 with the National Weather Service announcing that there may be snow for New Year’s Eve.
Greece has experienced a mild winter so far with clear blue skies and sunny spring weather for Christmas.
Turkey captures 978 for illegal cross-border attempts
Some 978 people have been captured ahead of illegal crossings through Turkish borders, the Turkish General Staff has said.
The general staff said in a written statement that 978 people were captured before illegally crossing Turkey's borders with Greece, Bulgaria, Syria, Iraq and Iran on Dec. 26.
World instability means more Russian and German tourists to Greece in 2016
Deutsche Welle reports that more Russian and German tourists are expected to visit Greece in 2016.
Egypt and Turkey, past popular destinations for Russia, noted a decline following the Russian passenger plane crash by ISIS bombing and the recent downing of a Russian jet fighter by the Turkish Air Force.
Greek and Danish uncover ruins of Ancient Greek port at Lechaion (pics + vid)
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen using cutting-edge technology to investigate the Corinthian port of Lechaion uncovered a well-preserved wooden caissons and also found that the port’s entrance canal was larger than previously believed. Lechaion is just one of the two Corinthian ports active from the 6th century BC to the 6th century AD.
It’s not all bad for Greek business as a result of the refugee crisis
The Greek government may end up spending $500mn in 2015 trying to contain the refugee crisis. But the EU will reimburse most of the money Greece spends building and maintaining the camps for more than 800,000 refugees that crossed through Greece from Turkey.