Latest News from Greece
Responsibility and accountability
Something really unusual, at least for Greek standards, happened in the town of Trikala, central Greece.
After failing to complete a water utility project by the deadline, municipal authorities announced they will compensate residents and store owners that suffered because of the four-month delay. The decision will spare them from having to pay water bills for those four months.
One in three Greeks at risk of poverty in 2018
Greece had the European Union's third highest rate of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion last year, amounting to 31.8 percent, Eurostat said on Wednesday.
Greece was one of seven EU member-states where over a quarter of the population were at risk of poverty or social exclusion.
Firefighters in Xanthi find burnt body
Police in Xanthi, northern Greece, on Wednesday were investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a woman whose charred body was found on the premises of a derelict factory on Tuesday afternoon.
According to sources, a passer-by alerted the fire service about a fire at the factory and firefighters arrived to find the body in flames.
ATM stolen by robbers in Agrinio
Unidentified robbers removed a cash machine from the premises of a hospital in Agrinio, central Greece, on Wednesday before loading it into a getaway vehicle and fleeing the scene.
It was unclear how much cash had been in the ATM.
The getaway car, which police determined had been stolen, was found shortly after the robbery a few kilometers from the scene of the crime.
Kelly Finnigan | Around Greece | October 17-20
American soul singer Kelly Finnigan, known as the voice of successful San Francisco band Monophonics, is coming to Greece with his band, the Atonements, for a mini-tour with crowd-pleasing favorites and lesser-known work. Finnigan will perform at Thessaloniki's WE venue on Thursday, Volos's Lab Art on Friday, Gazarte in Athens on Saturday and Giafka in Patra on Sunday.
EU urges Greece to improve conditions in migrant camps, speed up asylum
The European Commission on Wednesday called for "urgent action" by Greek authorities to improve living conditions in the country's overcrowded migrant camps and expedite the asylum procedure.
Migrant surge overwhelms Greek islands
Greece's eastern islands are struggling to cope with a surge in arrivals of migrants and asylum-seekers that has undermined efforts to ease severe overcrowding at refugee camps.
EU Commission green-lights Greek 2020 draft budget
The European Commission on Wednesday approved the Greek draft budget for 2020, hailed by the center-right government as containing ambitious measures that will spur growth and bolster investments.
Mitsotakis marks 100 days in office with pledge for ‘hard work’
In a tweet marking the first 100 days of his conservative administration, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday vowed to work hard to improve people's lives.
Greek PM sends message of unity, defends diaspora vote
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis sent a message of unity during an event held at the Zappeion Mansion on Wednesday to mark the 2,500-year anniversary since the Battle of Thermopylae and the Battle of Salamis.
Stricter rules for casino payments to funds, staff
The government is tightening the noose around troubled casinos in Greece: The Development Ministry's omnibus bill currently being debated in Parliament provides for casino companies to pay their debts to the social security funds and their employees with greater consistency.
Wind Hellas bonds could be used for dividend payments
A growing number of private equity firms are taking advantage of Europe's buoyant bond market to extract money from companies they hold by loading them with debt, prompting some investors to warn the fixed income rally is nearing its peak.
Golden Visa system in a bind
Greece's Golden Visa program, offering five-year residence permits to non-European Union citizens who invest at least 250,000 euros in local property, appears to have become a victim of its own success.
Staikouras in Washington for IMF, World Bank meetings
Greek Finance Minister Christos Staikouras is heading to Washington to attend the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
Ex-MP Kasidiaris testifies in GD trial
The trial of neofascist Golden Dawn party continued Wednesday with the testimony of former MP Ilias Kasidiaris. The former GD spokesman, who currently serves as a member of Athens city council, denounced charges of operating a criminal organization, as being politically motivated.