All News from Balkans

Ministry introduces new land use rules

The Environment Ministry has introduced new land use rules which allow municipalities to choose what sort of construction is allowed, or not allowed, as part of its town planning.

The changes were announced on Monday in a presidential decree which replaced the land use framework established in 1987.

Prosecutor appeals acquittal of leading Rouvikonas member

An Athens prosecutor on Monday appealed against a court decision to clear a leading member of anarchist group Rouvikonas of charges of incitement to commit a crime after he threatened last week to "burn down" private broadcaster Skai.

Island mayors decry 'linking' of VAT status to refugee crisis

The mayors of the five eastern Aegean islands hosting thousands of undocumented migrants on Monday issued a joint statement accusing the government of making them "hostages" to the refugee crisis by linking it to the issue of their special value-added tax status.

As stocks dwindle, Greek fishermen sending boats to scrapyard

Panagiotis Pagonis sits on the deck of his fishing boat off Asprovalta in northern Greece, grimacing at another empty catch. "It's all gone to hell," the 72-year-old mutters as the early glimmer of dawn lights up the waters.

Recognizing the people of Greece

In the last decade, the people of Greece have been subjected to harsh austerity, pension cuts and more. At times they have also been the target of cruel and often unfair criticism from others who have naively chosen to refer to them as "lazy Greeks," a simplistic view that denigrates a whole country by resorting to a stereotype.

Bus drivers angry over bid to limit entrance to front doors

A new initiative launched on Monday which only allows passengers to get onto buses and trolley buses via the front door in a bid to crack down on fare evasion prompted protests from many drivers, who said it increases pressure on them.

Athens Medical owner tables bid for Hygeia

G. Apostolopoulos Holdings, owner of listed Athens Medical Group, announced on Monday it has submitted a takeover bid for the entire share capital of rival Hygeia Group.

The offer, in cooperation with US fund HIG Capital International, amounts to 0.95 euros per share, bettering the 0.92-euros-per-share bid tabled by CVC.

Police arrest 2 suspected illicit icon traders in Achaia

Two men aged 45 and 75 were arrested on Monday in the region of Achaia in southern Greece over the illegal possession of three wooden religious icons dated to the 18th century.

Police said they made the arrests after raiding the homes of the suspects following a tip-off they were involved in the illegal antiquities trade.

Athens doctors to strike from 11 a.m. on Tuesday

State hospital doctors and staff in Athens will walk off the job on Tuesday from 11 a.m. until the end of their shifts.

The strike action was announced by the union of Athens and Piraeus doctors (EINAP), which is demanding that contract workers are taken on permanently and more hirings are made to deal with staff shortages.

People smuggler nabbed with 59 illegal immigrants

A 34-year-old foreign national was to appear before an Athens prosecutor on Monday after he was arrested for transferring 59 illegal immigrants in a rented truck.

According to reports, the suspect is a member of a drug smuggling network that charged migrants between 4,500 and 5,000 euros to smuggle them from Athens to border exits around the country.

Bosnia War Veterans Block Border Crossing with Croatia

Former soldiers from Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Federation entity blocked the Bijaca border crossing with Croatia, demanding welfare benefits and a proper register of those who fought in the 1992-95 war.

Ambassadors get busy on social ahead of Russia v. Croatia

And that man was Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Chepurin said in a post on Twitter on Monday - a day after the Russian victory that led the nation's football team to the quarter-finals, where they will square off against Croatia, who were better than Denmark.

Chepurin said that Vucic's optimism expressed during their meeting on June 29 had "surprised him."