Latest News from Greece
Greece warned of cash shortage ahead of deadline: Report
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras had warned foreign officials that Athens would not be able to pay the 750 million euros ($845 million) due this month to the International Monetary Fund, Greek newspapers said May 17.
German econmin says Greece can only get more aid if it reforms
German Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel warned the Greek government that Greece could only get further funds if it carried out reforms in a German newspaper interview published on May 17.
Albania’s Ancient Greek Ghost island, from secret Soviet base to tourist hotspot (photos + video)
Sazan Island is a half-hour boat ride from mainland Albania and is shrouded in a ghostly legacy. The island, where the Adriatic and Ionian seas meet between Italy and Albania was once home to a Soviet military base and chemical weapons facility.
Greece, a sinking ship in need of a third bailout
German newspaper Die Welt reports that Greece will need a third bailout backage this summer. The newspaper reports that even if Greece manages to receive the 7.2 billion euros benchmarked for the country but being withheld since the summer of 2014, the money will quickly run out causing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to seek new funds.
Jews outraged by Kavala mayor’s request to remove Star of David from monument
Jewish groups are outraged over news concerning the delay in the unveiling of a Holocaust monument in Kavala, northern Greece due to the objections of the local council of the region.
Greece came close to not paying IMF
The Greek government is hoping that it will be able to reach a technical agreement with lenders this week, paving the way for it to receive the funds that would allow it to continue meeting its obligations.
Greek govts battle of negotiations over the red lines
A frenzy of negotiations between Greece and its international creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund over the last 24 hours is aimed at clinching a deal.
British tourists undeterred by U.K. FCO warnings of default
Around two million Brits visit Greece every year from May to September. Warnings from the U.K. Foreign and Commonwealth Office warning Brits that they should have cash handy on their trip in case ATM’s are shut down due to a default have done little to discourage tourism.
Strictly Confidential: Read IMF leak that predicts Greek default in June
Official accounts point to positive negotiations between Greece and its international creditors from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund.
‘Operation Ben’… Greek TV show spawns new leads
South Yorkshire police said that the appeal made by Ben Needham’s mother on a three-hour Greek TV show – “Light at the End of the Tunnel” – resulted in a number of calls concerning the disappearance of little Ben 24 years ago while on holiday on the island of Kos, Greece. One of the leads concern the claim by a man who believes that it could be him and who is willing to undergo DNA tests.
Channel 4 claims IMF leak doubts whether Greece can make June payment without deal
Channel 4 on Saturday publishes a leak which it said is from within the IMF administration, which states that “…there will be no possibility for the Greek authorities to repay the whole amount unless an agreement is reached with international partners.”
A coke for … centaur and lapith? British Museum, Marbles and housekeeping
A Manichean media war is, unfortunately, being waged over the fate of the Parthenon Marbles, which comprise a prominent display at the British Museum and for whom official Greece has lobbied for repatriation since the 1980s.
Proto Thema meets … Woody Allen in Cannes!
Woody Allen says he’s definitely interested in shooting a movie in Athens if local authorities also pitch in for the production’s funding, noting that this was the case when he shot in London, Paris, Madrid and Rome.
Macedonia Opposition Tapes Challenge PM's Patriotism Claims
The opposition Social Democrats' leader Zoran Zaev on Saturday presented what he said were taped recordings of officials that expose Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's hypocrisy over Skopje's bitter dispute with Greece, which claims the name Macedonia as its own.
Witnesses at bailout probe to be finalized Tuesday
The list of witnesses who will be called to testify before the parliamentary committee set up to examine the circumstances under which Greece agreed to bailouts with the European Union and the International Monetary Fund will be finalized on Tuesday.
Most of the witnesses are expected to be individuals who held office between October 2009 and January 2015.