Greece

28 May 2024; MEMO: A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier off the Yemeni coast took on water after being targeted with three missiles, maritime security and shipping sources said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

The ship issued a distress call, saying it had sustained damage to the cargo hold and was taking on water about 54 nautical miles south-west of Yemen’s port city of Hudaydah, British security firm, Ambrey, said.

ANCIENT OLYMPIA /Greece/, April 16. /TASS/. The ceremonial lighting of the Olympic flame for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris has taken place in Ancient Olympia, a TASS correspondent reports from the scene.

In attendance at the ceremony were Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach, President of the Greek National Olympic Committee Spyros Capralos and other officials.

ATHENS, April 1 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Thick clouds of dust blown in from the Sahara once again covered Greek skies Monday, especially Athens and Thessalonika, with temperatures rising as high as 31øC (88øF).

The dust storms, which had already affected Greece last week as well as regions such as Switzerland and Southern France, made breathing difficult for many people. 

A high of 26øC was forecast in the capital Athens Monday, which public television station ERT described as conditions more akin to May. 

CHANIA, Greece (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Saturday that Turkey is committed to playing “a positive, productive” role for postwar Gaza and prepared to use its influence in the region to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from broadening even more.

The latest Mideast mission by America’s top diplomat opened with talks in Turkey and Greece before shifting to the region for “not necessarily easy conversations” with allies and partners about what they are willing to do “to build durable peace and security.”

ATHENS, Dec. 17 (Xinhua) -- Greece's parliament approved on Sunday the 2024 state budget, which foresees 2.9 percent gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the new year up from 2.4 percent in 2023, according to data released by the National Economy and Finance Ministry.

The budget passed with the votes of 158 lawmakers in the 300-member strong plenary, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported.

7 December 2023; MEMO: After years of strained relations that raised tensions to alarming levels, long time regional rivals, Greece and Turkiye, made a significant step Thursday in mending ties during a visit to Athens by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, AP reports.

SPATA, Greece (AP) — In an olive grove on the outskirts of Athens, grower Konstantinos Markou pushes aside the shoots of new growth to reveal the stump of a tree — a roughly 150-year-old specimen, he said, that was among 15 cut down on his neighbor’s land by thieves eager to turn it into money.

ATHENS, Oct 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Greece’s coastguard late on Sunday said it had found three bodies during a search for survivors after a migrant boat sank off the eastern Greek island of Symi.

According to a statement, eight people were found alive during the rescue operation that is underway with ships and a helicopter.

The weather conditions off the Dodecanese island are good.

Sources said that at least two more people are thought missing.

06 October 2023; MEMO: A recent investigative report by the European Investigative Collaborations, involving 15 European news outlets, has alleged that Athens was the centre of the Israeli Intellexa spyware company, Anadolu Agency reports.

Greek Reporters United, providing new evidence, revealed that the central figure in the scandal was French businessman, Stefan Salies, the head of Nexa, which collaborated closely with Intellexa to sell surveillance software, including the Predator, to illiberal regimes.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Public health officials issued an urgent appeal Monday to residents in flood-stricken central Greece to avoid using floodwater for domestic chores due to mounting fears of contamination.