Latest News from Greece
Phony dilemma
By Costas Iordanidis
Ben Needham’s mother with TV appeal for missing son
Kerry Needham, the tragic mother of Ben Needham - who went missing from the island of Kos on July 24, 1991 – has not lost hope that she would someday see her son again.
Greek mothers among the oldest in the EU!
In 2013, a majority (51.2%) of women in the European Union (EU) gave birth to their first child when aged in their 20s, while 40.6% became mothers in their 30s. In addition, more than 127,000 births of first children in the EU in 2013 were to women aged less than 20 (teenage mothers) and around 65,500 to women aged 40 and over.
College student elections across Greece marred by violence
Student elections in Greece, circa 2015, witnessed the burning of one ballot box in Athens and two injured people at the University of Thessaloniki following a raid by a group of masked hooligans.
Greek gov't mulls measures with eye on deal while some resist
The government's strategy in negotiations with creditors and a raft of possible measures, including tax reforms, that could form the basis of an agreement, dominated a marathon cabinet meeting on Wednesday chaired by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Govt minister: Loans from BRICS shouldn’t be ruled out
Greece’s social insurances minister on Wednesday emphasized that his government should “not rule out alternatives”, when asked if the debt-ridden country should join the so-called “BRICS” development bank.
The latter was recently announced amid heightened hoopla by the leaders of the BRICS, i.e. Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Olive oil standardization could boost exports
By Dimitra Manifava
The Greek economy could enjoy additional revenues of 250 million euros per year from olive oil exports if the commodity were utilized appropriately (i.e. not exported in bulk) and standardized in Greece with its own distinctive identity, according to a report by the National Bank of Greece.
Bloomberg: ECB concerned over govt criticism against BoG Gov. Stournaras
The European Central Bank, Greece’s crucial provider of liquidity in lieu of a bailout deal, on Wednesday extended its support to Bank of Greece (BoG) Gov. Yannis Stournaras, who come under attack by the ruling SYRIZA government recently.
Bloomberg quotes ECB sources as saying Europe’s central bank is “concerned” over government pressure aimed at the Bank of Greece.
To Potami slams German reparations video
Greece?s centrist To Potami party on Wednesday slammed the broadcast on TV screens across the Athens metro grid of a government-backed film demanding German reparations for World War II crimes.
Comment by SYRIZA MP (and doctor) about AIDS and saliva ripped by NGOs
Shades of AIDS disinformation in Greece this week, from a ruling SYRIZA party MP and a physician specializing in infectious diseases no less, as Yiannis Mihelogiannakis told a television news program that the HIV virus is transmitted through … saliva.
New migration plan foresees more funds for Frontex, use of military
In a move designed to ease pressure on Greece and other Mediterranean countries, the European Union on Wednesday presented a plan aimed at a more fair distribution of immigrants among its member states.
Marbles' return lies in 'dialogue, not litigation', says minister
Diplomacy rather than litigation will help Greece win its claim for the return of the Parthenon Marbles from the British Museum, Alternate Minister for Culture Nikos Xydakis said in an interview on Wednesday.
?On the one hand, you can?t file a suit over any issue, and, on the other, the outcome in international courts is never certain,? Xydakis told Mega TV.
Greece receives 395 Blue Flags for its pristine beaches
Greek beaches have been awarded 395 Blue Flags for top-quality waters this year, placing Greece in third place out of 50 countries, according to the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature.
Nine Greek marinas were also awarded the Blue Flag distinction awarded by the initiative?s founder, nonprofit organization the Foundation for Environmental Education.
European Union forges ahead with quota plan for migrants
The European Union forged ahead Wednesday with a plan to ease pressure on nations dealing with an influx of Mediterranean migrants by requiring other countries to share the burden, despite some strong opposition.
/Hello recession, my old friend…/ Greek GDP down 0.2% in Q1 2015
Greece’s GDP decreased by 0.2 percent in the first quarter 2015 in relation to Q4 2014, according to figures released by the semi-autonomous EL.STAT statistical service. Nevertheless, GDP was up 0.3 percent on an annualized basis, compared with the same quarter of 2014.