Latest News from Greece

Greek academics call for revision of Article 16 prohibiting private universities

Leading academics from local and foreign institutions have signed an open letter urging Greece's leftist-led government to green-light the review of the Greek Constitution's Article 16, which prohibits the establishment of private universities, describing the matter as a question of democratic principles.

Red tape, prohibitive costs deter parental concessions of property

Property owners are rushing to notaries to transfer their real estate assets to their children before January 1, when the new taxable rates for properties, known as objective values, come into effect. However, most give up when they figure out just how much such a transfer would set them back.

With or without a tie

If Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wanted to go down in history as the "Greek premier who did not wear a tie," he has certainly achieved it and does not need to make any extra effort - provided, of course, that he remains (in this respect, at least) consistent, and does not start putting one on and taking it off on various occasions.

SSM grants Piraeus extension for its bond issue

Piraeus Bank has formally secured an extension from the European Central Bank for the coverage of its 500-million-euro corporate bond that will count toward its Tier II capital.

Kathimerini understands that the ECB's Single Supervisory Mechanism (SSM) has given Greece's leading bank in assets a nine-month extension from the original deadline of December 31.

Greek policeman, 98 other Greeks denied entry to Albania

Albanian police say a Greek policeman has been arrested after he was found with a pistol.

A statement Saturday said that 98 other Greeks were denied entry to the country due to a lack of documentation or being on a list of banned persons.

Tensions at Greek-Albanian border as mourners try to reach Katsifas service

There were tensions at the Greek-Albanian border on Saturday morning when Albanian authorities reportedly stopped Greek citizens trying to enter the country to attend a memorial service for an ethnic Greek man, Konstantinos Katsifas, who was fatally injured by Albanian police in an exchange of fire in late October in the village of Bularat.

Russia ready to extend TurkStream to Greece: Putin

Russia is ready to extend the TurkStream natural gas pipeline to Greece, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Dec. 7.

Hefty gains for market's leading firms

The country's 500 most profitable companies in 2017 generated impressive returns according to the figures stemming from their financial reports as processed by ICAP for its special annual publication "Business Leaders in Greece 2018."

The total turnover of the 500 leading firms in terms of profits rose 9.5 percent last year compared to 2016, reaching 91.02 billion euros.

Marginal decline for trade deficit in October as exports grow

Greece's trade deficit posted a marginal decline in October, as export growth outpaced the increase in imports.

The total value of exports in October amounted to 3.1 billion euros against 2.5 billion in October 2017, a rise of 24 percent, Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) figures showed on Friday.

Attica doctors, medical staff to walk off the job Monday

Hospital doctors and medical staff in Attica will walk off the job from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday, according to a statement by the Federation of Hospital Doctors of Greece and the national union of public hospital workers.

Their demands include permanent hirings, the employment of support staff and wage increases.

Greek Ombudsman: Poor conditions in several detention areas

A report from Greece's Ombudsman on detention facilities reveals cases of conditions so poor they constitute "inhuman and degrading treatment," and continued overcrowding in about half of the country's prisons despite efforts to reduce the inmate population.