Latest News from Greece
Bulgaria under fire over anti-refugee border fence
Overwhelmed by an influx of mostly Syrian immigrants, Bulgaria has taken steps to secure its EU border -- including building a barbed-wire fence -- but now faces criticism from rights groups.
The 30-kilometre fence, standing three meters high and fortified with razor wire coils, was completed this week.
Eurozone June inflation unchanged at low levels as expected
By Martin Santa
Eurozone inflation stayed low as expected in what the European Central Bank calls the «danger zone» in June as falling prices of food and phone calls offset more expensive tobacco and restaurants, data showed on Thursday.
Vodafone bids for Greek telecoms company Forthnet
Greece's biggest subscription television provider Forthnet said on Thursday it had received a joint takeover bid from Britain's Vodafone and its Greek business partner Wind.
INTERVIEW John Mastrini (Reuters Foundation): Professional journalists must be ready to manage social media
Professional journalists must be able to manage social media at any time in their fields, whether it's experts or politicians or celebrities they are covering who might tweet something at anytime that will change the news, online editor and trainer of Thomson Reuters Foundation John Mastrini told AGERPRES on Thursday.
Two Minor Earthquakes in Southern Bulgaria
A 3.2-strong earthquake was registered in the south of Bulgaria early on Thursday, the European Seismological Center announced.
Its epicenter was 29 km west of the southwestern town of Smolyan and at a depth of 2 km, though the Geophysical Institute at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences places it west of Trigrad, a town near Smolyan.
7th International Students’ Folklore Festival begins in Nis
NIS - The 7th Students’ Folklore Festival, which has kicked off in the city of Nis in southern Serbia, will feature presentations of folk traditions from six countries by 11 ensembles and over 500 participants.
Greek banks able to tap investors after stress tests, HFSF Says
Marcus Bensasson, Nikos Chrysoloras & Christos Ziotis
Greece is unlikely to have to inject more money into its banks during the European bank stress tests this year, helping to boost the nation’s public finances, top executives at the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund said.
Volleyball national team reaches Euro final
By George Georgakopoulos
The national team proved there is some pulse in the long-suffering sport of volleyball, as it secured its entry to the final of the European League on Wednesday by upsetting the odds and Slovenia.
Large-caps tap bond markets on reduced interest rates
By Anestis Dokas
Blue chip companies have enjoyed borrowing costs of below 5 percent in their international corporate bond issues during the first half of the year. The main reason for the decline is the improvement in the countrys fiscal image, confirmed by Greeces return to the bond markets in April for the first time since 2010.
PM presents Greece's case to German chancellor
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday as part of an effort to convince key leaders ahead of the troika review in September that Greece should be allowed to reduce taxes and increase the payment period for businesses and individuals who owe money to the state.
Hospital chief with bogus ID is suspended
Health Minister Makis Voridis on Wednesday ordered the immediate suspension of the director of a public hospital in western Macedonia, northern Greece, amid suspicions that he secured the post with a fake diploma.
Greek, Italian and Spanish bonds post gains
Portugals government bonds led gains in euro-area sovereign debt on Wednesday after its central bank chief told TV station TVI that Banco Espirito Santo SA can raise more capital as an associated company missed a payment.
Prison guards protest conditions, demand structural reform
Prison guards have decided to stage a series of protests over their working conditions and the creation of maximum-security prisons.
The guards will stage work stoppages on Tuesday and Thursday next week while they will hold 24-hour strikes on Wednesday and Friday.
This will lead to all prison visits and inmate transfers being canceled.
Father and son detained after illegal liquor is discovered in their car
Police in Giannitsa, northern Greece, on Wednesday detained a father and son believed to have been running a contraband alcohol business.
The pair were detained after police stopped their car on the Edessa-Thessaloniki national highway and checked the vehicle, turning up 474 bottles containing alcohol but lacking the required health and safety labels.
Serbian minister confers with Greek official
BRUSSELS - Serbian minister without portfolio responsible for European integration Jadranka Joksimovic conferred with Greece's deputy foreign minister in charge of European affairs Dimitris Kourkoulas on the margins of the donors' conference in Brussels.