Latest News from Greece
Greek police 'frequently harass and abuse' marginalized people, HRW says
Police in Athens systematically harass and abuse marginalized people, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said Wednesday, adding that the arbitrary detention of individuals who live or spend considerable amounts of time on the streets interferes with their access to much-needed healthcare and support services.
Mardas denies report he transferred cash abroad after joining gov't
Greece's alternate Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas has denied a report in Germany's Bild newspaper that identified him as the government official alleged to have recently transferred 80,000 euros to a bank in Luxembourg.
Reports, which however did not reveal the name of the minister, first emerged in a Thessaloniki-based newspaper earlier in the week.
English subtitles for Epidaurus Fest. performances
English subtitles for Epidaurus ancient theater festival events last year went down well with foreign crowds whose enjoyment was maximized through understanding. This year, there will also be subtitles for the performances:
July 3-4: National Theatre of Greece – Sotiris Chatzakis “The Trojan Women” by EURIPIDES
July 10-11: Yiannis Kakleas “The Acharnians” by ARISTOPHANES
Mardas points to slander over supposed 80,000-euro transfer
Alternate Finance Minister Dimitris Mardas, speaking with private MEGA TV on Wednesday, dismissed charges against him regarding a supposed 80,000-euro transaction taking money out of Greece and putting it into a Luxembourg account. He said that he has not siphoned any money out of the country since the snap elections saw the victory of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) on January 25.
Thessaloniki mayor clarifies: I called (Greek govt) crazy … not stupid!
Thessaloniki’s outspoken mayor apparently revved up his “outspokenness” this week, as he was quoted in an interview by the German weekly Die Zeit as calling members of the leftist SYRIZA government “stupid”.
Political maverick Yiannis Boutaris, however, denied the press report, saying he used the word “crazy”, not “stupid”.
Moody's downgrades Greek bank products, OTE rating
Moody?s Investors Service announced it downgraded 18 notes and affirmed one note in eight Greek structured finance transactions late on Monday.
This follows Moody?s lowering of its country ceiling on Greece to B3 from Ba3 and its downgrade of Greece?s sovereign rating to Caa2 from Caa1 that occurred on April 29.