Latest News from Greece
SMEs pay disproportionately heavy price
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) paid a disproportionately high price compared to other businesses in Greece during the crisis. The shutdowns in this category, often referred to as the "backbone of the Greek economy," have come at a much higher rate than in the rest of the economy.
Archbishop and patriarch to meet in Viotia on May 23
In a bid to bury a hatchet of sorts, Greek Archbishop Ieronymos will welcome Istanbul-based Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios in Greece on May 23.
It will be the first meeting between the two church leaders after a long period during which they were reportedly not on speaking terms.
Greek MPs vote to demand German war reparations
Greek MPs late Wednesday approved a proposal by a parliamentary committee for Greece to formally seek reparations from Germany for war crimes even as Berlin rejected the demands, claiming that there was no basis for reparations.
The proposal calls on the government to take "all appropriate diplomatic and legal action to demand and fully satisfy all claims of the Greek state."
Greece to send note verbale to Germany over war reparations
Greece will soon send a so-called note verbale to Germany, repeating a long-held demand for war reparations for the crimes committed by Nazi Germany in World War II, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told parliament on Wednesday, during a debate on a relevant report presented by a House committee.
Turkish ex-defence ministry general secretary says Ankara gave Greece five islands
Beyond the antagonistic statements of Turkish government official on issues of sovereignty, former military officers and former officials are now claiming that five Greek islands belong to Turkey.
The claims are directly related to the delineation of the Exclusive Economic Zones of countries in the wider region.
ND leader says repayment of WWII occupation loan is 'legally open'
Conservative opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday the occupation loan Greece was forced to pay out to Nazi Germany during World War Two is "legally open and politically feasible," and its repayment should be made a priority.
Aktor named preferred bidder for Alimos Marina
Greek investor Aktor Concessions SA was nominated as the preferred bidder to be granted the right to use and exploit Alimos Marina in southern Athens for a period of 40 years, in the context of Greece's privatization program, the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (TAIPED), the country's privatization fund, announced on Tuesday.
Son-in-law diplomacy
A high-stakes bargaining game is currently in progress over the fate of the US-made F-35 fighter jets and Russian-made S-400 missile systems ordered by Turkey. We are keenly anticipating how this will all end. We are living in different times to the days when decisions in the United States were taken by bureaucrats and competent state officials.
Human traffickers nabbed near Thessaloniki
Three suspected human traffickers faced a prosecutor in northern Greece on Wednesday following a car chase with police who tried to stop them for a routine inspection in the area of Nymfopetra near Thessaloniki.
SNF approves new grants topping 80 mln dollars
The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) approved 95 new grants totaling over 80 million dollars for projects or organizations that aim to strengthen journalistic practices, cultivate and promote civil discourse and civic engagement, and increase open access to healthcare and cultural resources, the organization said in a press release on Wednesday.
Comicdom Con | Athens | April 19-21
Greece's biggest event dedicated to comic books is back with a strong lineup of events and special guests, including Spain's Raul Allen and Patricia Martin, the UK's Dan Watters and Italian artist Stefano Zanchi. This year's honored artist is Greece's Tasos Marangos (Tasmar). Events will be taking place at the Hellenic American Union and the French Institute from 11 a.m. to 9.30 p.m.
Prosecutor seeks to clear former PM aide
An Athens prosecutor on Wednesday proposed that Theodoros Tsoukatos, a one-time aide to former socialist premier Costas Simitis, be cleared of charges in the long-running Siemens cash-for-contracts scandal.
Tsoukatos has admitted to collecting 1 million German marks on behalf of PASOK, money that he described as a campaign donation.
Statue of Alexander the Great installed in Athens
A statue of the ancient Greek warrior-king Alexander the Great was on Wednesday installed on the corner of Amalias and Vasilissis Olgas avenues in central Athens.
The statue, which will be officially unveiled on Friday, is a work by prominent 20th century sculptor Yiannis Pappas (1913-2005).
DEPA sells gas to Bulgaria at 16 pct less
Public Gas Corporation (DEPA) has sold natural gas to Bulgaria at a price 10 percent below the Bulgarian regulated rate and 16 percent below the rate offered to its major clients in Greece, thereby subsidizing industry in the neighboring country.
Editorial: The history and culture that unite us
The global outpouring of emotion that has sprung from the flames of Notre Dame is a resounding message regarding the universality of culture.
It also demonstrates that in the tumultuous world we live in the values that unite us have not been lost.