Latest News from Greece
Alpha sells bulk of new shares to US and UK buyers
US and British investors bought the bulk of Alpha Banks 1.2-billion-euro new share issue, it said on Friday, providing further evidence that foreign investors are warming to Greece.
IMF disburses loan tranche to Cyprus
The International Monetary Fund said on Friday it had reviewed Cypruss economy under a bailout program and approved a loan disbursement for about $115 million.
The international lender said the disbursement brings total lending to date under the IMFs $1.4 billion program with Cyprus to about $459 million.
Greek coalition confident as reform multi-bill goes to Parliament
People line up outside a pharmacy in central Athens that was on duty on Friday. Pharmacists have been on strike for several days and have vowed to continue their action unless the government withdraws a provision for the deregulation of the over-the-counter drug market.
Unionist attacked in 2008 to run in European polls
Konstantina Kouneva, a former labor union activist from Bulgaria and the victim of a notorious 2008 acid attack, will run in the coming European Parliament elections on main leftist opposition SYRIZAs ticket, it emerged Friday.
Mitrogoal back soon for Fulham, says Magath
Fulham could soon have Greece striker Costas Mitroglou back to assist in its Premier League relegation fight, manager Felix Magath said on Friday.
Mitroglou has featured just twice for the Londoners since joining from Olympiakos Piraeus for an undisclosed fee, which media reports put at 12 million pounds ($19.97 million), on transfer deadline day on January 31.
Greek president a ‘wise’ man, Pope Francis says
The legal status of religious communities, the role of religion in society, and ecumenical collaboration were at the focus of talks between Greek President Karolos Papoulias and Pope Francis at the Vatican on Friday.
Georgiadis accused of misstating Athens property value
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis has been accused of not declaring the true value of a property he bought in northern Athens in 2007.
It emerged Friday that a private citizen has filed a suit against the New Democracy politician in connection to the value of the maisonette in Maroussi.
Hospital drivers on strike through Monday; nurses to join on last day
Drivers working at Greeces public hospitals will be on strike through Monday in protest at a Health Ministry plan to transfer them to EKAB, the national ambulance and emergency care service, the union of hospital workers, POEDIN, said Friday.
All hospital workers will also stage a work stoppage from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Monday.
Bulgaria 2nd Most Preferred Destination Among Turkish Tourists
Bulgaria ranks second after Georgia as the most preferred destination among Turkish residents, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute data.
A total of 7.5 million Turkish citizens traveled abroad in 2013, where they spent USD 5.3M, the statistics showed, cited by the Turkish Haberler.
European Commission takes Greece to court over failure to protect sea turtles
The European Commission on Friday announced that it is taking Greece to court over its failure to impose legislation for the protection of the Caretta-caretta loggerhead sea turtle, an endangered species that is endemic to the southern Ionian Sea and which nests there.
Bulgaria to Take Part in Project for Floating LNG Terminal near Kavala
Bulgaria will participate in the construction of a floating liquefied natural gas terminal near the Greek city of Kavala in a bid to secure constant access to natural gas.
Talks on the project are to be wrapped up by end-2014, according to the authorities in Athens, as cited by the Bulgarian National Radio (BNR).
Austerity bill angers Greece's neighborhood stores
Associations representing bakers, pharmacies, booksellers and milk producers have expressed angry opposition to a new austerity bill in Greece, a proposed overhaul of trading rules they fear will wipe out independent stores.
Peripheral bank bond penalty vanishing as confidence returns
By Alastair Marsh
The penalty that banks in Europes most indebted nations pay to borrow compared with those from the richest economies fell to the lowest in four years amid growing confidence in the regions economic recovery.
Bulgaria PM:Southern Gas Corridor Essential for Energy Diversification
The Southern Gas Corridor is an important step towards energy diversification in the entire southeastern European region, according to Bulgarian Prime Minister Plamen Oresharski.
Albania Migrants Lack Pensions, Report Warns
Many Albanians could be let without pensions because so many people have emigrated, a new report from the Ombudsman's office warns.
An estimated one-third of Albania’s 3.2 million population has emigrated in the last two decades, following the collapse of Tirana’s reclusive Communist regime, which did not allow travel abroad.