All News from Balkans

UK yoga class mistakenly reported as 'mass killing'

U.K. police descended on a yoga class in central England after a member of the public spotted people lying on the floor and reported a "mass killing."

Officers rushed to the spot with car sirens blaring only to find members of the class quietly meditating.

Chastain closes out strongly political Venice festival

Has the Venice Film Festival saved its best for last? Oscar-winner Jessica Chastain is back on Sept. 8 with a provocative romance between a recovering alcoholic and dementia patient in "Memory."

Support requested for flood- and fire-damaged holiday destinations in Greece

The Federation of Hellenic Associations of Travel & Tourist Agencies (FedHATTA) has expressed strong concern about the development of the Daniel weather system, which is affecting many holiday destinations, having caused serious problems in the service of tourists at a time that coincides with the end of a season it had in focus of the devastating fires in Rhodes and other destinations.

Police smashes carjacking gang in northern Greece

A gang which stole luxury cars belonging to tourists holidaying in the northern Greek resort region of Halkidiki has been dismantled, police announced Friday.

Building permits dip in Cyprus

Building permits issued in Cyprus in the first half of 2023 dropped by an annual 7.4%, with the value of the permits rising by 16.5% and the total area by 3%, data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus (CyStat) show.

Goldman Sachs anticipates more takings for Greek banks

Goldman Sachs expects Greek banks to show strong results in the third quarter of the year as well, following the trend of the second quarter, with further strengthening of net interest income, which will be supported by the 50-basis point increase in interest rates, to which it is estimated that the European Central Bank will have progressed in the specific period.

Currys says Kotsovolos update coming in due course

Currys said on Thursday it would give an update on its Greek business, Kotsovolos, where a strategic review is under way which could lead to a sale, in due course.

Sales in Greece rose 3% in the four months to the end of August, the British retailer reported. [Reuters]

DBRS restores Greece to investment grade

DBRS Morningstar upgraded Greece's credit rating to investment level on Friday, ending the country's bonds "junk status" after 13 years.

The Canadian-based rating agency, one of the world's four majors, became on Friday the first to bring Greece back to investment level since 2010.

Storm Daniel leaves a trail of devastation in Greece

Iliana Magra, a journalist with Kathimerini, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest reporting from Greece on the unprecedented Storm Daniel that has battered the country this week, leading to the death of multiple people, triggering landslides, road and bridge collapses, and is being described as a "biblical catastrophe".

ATHEX: Bright end to a week of gloom

The benchmark of the Greek stock market staged an impressive rebound late in Friday's session to come back from 1% down and close with gains of almost 1%. Banks led the way for the recovery of the index, though that was not enough to offset all its weekly losses.

An overarching climate agency

The scale of natural disasters surpasses the existing capacities of the state and political personnel. It is evident that a robust, overarching agency is required, led by a non-political individual with operational experience capable of coordinating the fire brigade, the Hellenic Police, the coast guard, the armed forces, the regions, and the entire state apparatus during times of crisis.