All News from Balkans
Contraction at 10% in final budget draft
The final version of next year's state budget will provide for a 10% economic contraction this year, a rebound to the tune of 4.5-5% in 2021 and a primary deficit of 3% of gross domestic product next year, according to Finance Minister Christos Staikouras and Alternate Minister Thodoros Skylakakis.
No end to deflation in October
Greek prices continued their decline in October for a seventh consecutive month, as the cost of fuel, air tickets and hotel rooms remained at particularly low levels due to the pandemic.
Patra ‘psychic’ arrested for trying to defraud woman out of €20,000
A woman was arrested on Tuesday in the western port city of Patra for posing as a psychic medium, claiming she could break magical spells and managing to extract more than 20,000 euros from a victim.
The arrested woman told the victim that she was under a magic spell which she could break for a fee.
ATHEX: Momentum remains in spite of dip
Despite yesterday's profit-taking on the Greek bourse, which led to a small drop for the benchmark, it became clear the momentum from Monday's record rise has not been lost: Several stocks ended higher and turnover came close to 100 million euros again.
Mitsotakis: Next 10 days crucial, vaccine must not breed complacency
PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis warned that news of Pfizer's expected COVID-19 vaccine must not cultivate a sense of security and that the next ten days will be decisive in determining how the epidemic will develop in Greece.
Mitsotakis was participating in a teleconference of the COVID Management Group of countries that handled the first wave of the pandemic successfully.
Greek PM reiterates support for European course of Western Balkans
Greece's commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans as outlined in the Thessaloniki Agenda was reiterated on Tuesday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who participated in a teleconference of the leaders of the Berlin Process, co-chaired by Bulgaria and North Macedonia.
President expects general election to pave way for PNL-centered government
President Klaus Iohannis told a press conference at the Cotroceni Palace today that after the parliamentary election he expects a Liberal government to emerge and a parliamentary majority formed around the National Liberal Party (PNL). "I honestly don't think the National Liberal Party will lose the election.
Six US Congresspeople proud to be Greek Americans
The Greek American community seems gratified with the progress made in the last elections, as its voice in the United States Congress has been strengthened even further.
The vaccine and the message
The good news about the development of a vaccine for Covid-19 should not be used as an excuse for further relaxation on our part.
Already, the increased number of people in the streets of Athens compared to the first lockdown earlier this year does not bode well.
Instead, the news should be seen as a signal that the collective effort has a visible end.
‘Catch-up move’ by Moody’s
In a year when the news about credit ratings assigned by all the main agencies has been negative, Greece on Friday became the only country among the 11 main eurozone economies to get a rating upgrade amid the pandemic, courtesy of Moody's. This in itself constituted a strong message for the Greek economy, analysts tell Kathimerini, and sent Greek bond yields to new historic lows on Monday.
French FM says all options open on Turkey sanctions
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Tuesday that Turkey is leading a "dangerous spiral" of confrontation with Europe and in the Mediterranean, adding that "everything is on the table" in terms of potential sanctions against the country.
Prison worker's union laments lack of regular testing, says 16 out of 34 jails reported infections
Health authorities have confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections in at least 16 out of the country's 34 jails, involving both employees and detainees, the Hellenic Prison Workers' Federation (OSYE) said on Tuesday and called for more measures to stop the spread of the virus.
President Iohannis: Not taking into account full quarantine for holidays
President Klaus Iohannis stated on Tuesday at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace that a full quarantine of Romania is not being taken into account currently or for the holidays. "We are not taking into consideration now a full quarantine. I am not taking into consideration a full quarantine for the holidays," said the head of state in a press conference.
SSM frets over debt freeze
Banks are asking the regulatory authorities for new moratoriums on corporate and household loans repayments for those hurt by the second lockdown, but the European authorities appear reserved.
President Iohannis: New restrictions have sole purpose - protecting population, reducing pressure on healthcare system
President Klaus Iohannis stated on Tuesday that the sanitary restrictions that entered into force at the beginning of this week have a single purpose, namely to protect the population and reduce the huge pressure that is exerted on the healthcare system.