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Monday, 23 December 2019

Police operation at Samos ‘hotspot’ days after riot

A major police operation took place on Monday morning at a migrant/refugee reception and identification center on the eastern Aegean island of Samos, with 78 third country nationals detained. The…

Cabinet considers draft bills on birth bonuses; restricting small protests to sidewalks in Athens

The Cabinet on Monday was considering the final text for a draft law that allocate 2,000 euros for every birth to eligible households, with an income criteria reportedly set at…

Travel receipts exceed 17.5-bln€ threshold in Jan-Oct 2019 period: BoG

Travel revenues continued an upward course in October 2019, according to figures released by the Bank of Greece on Monday, although the balance of travel services was slightly down, compared…

Greece a ‘surprise exception’ to global manufacturing slowdown: WSJ

Greece ranks as a “surprise exception” for the Wall Street Journal in the global manufacturing sector, with the New York City-based newspaper praising the economic turnaround after a decade of…

Tender for first Greek LNG bunkering vessel expected in Jan.

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected] Greece’s Public Gas Corp. (DEPA) will commence a tender process next month for the construction of the first bunker ships to supply ocean-going vessels with LNG,…

Sunday, 22 December 2019

Draft bill foresees mandatory vaccination for children up to the age of 4

A health ministry draft bill to be tabled in the coming period will include a provision for the mandatory vaccination of children under the age of four, given a small…

Athens: Trilateral meeting on Jan. 2 to sign agreement between Israel, Cyprus, Greece

The Greek government on Sunday unexpectedly announced that a trilateral agreement between Greece, Israel and Cyprus will be signed in Athens on Jan. 2 to push forth the EastMed natgas…

Violent attempt by self-styled anarchists to re-occupy north Athens ‘squat’ prevented by police amid clashes

Roughly 100 self-styled anarchists attempted to re-occupy a recently evacuated “squat” in the northern Athens municipality of Maroussi, with riot police first blocking the attempt and then giving chase through…

Greek FM reportedly in Benghazi on Sun.; Athens steps up diplomatic contacts with partners in east Med

Athens is overtly stepping up its diplomatic activity with partners and interested parties in the eastern Mediterranean in order to neutralize a controversial – and baseless, according to the Greek…

Friday, 20 December 2019

BoG Gov. Stournaras: Acropolis ‘saved’ Greece during econ crisis; partners would not let cradle of democracy

Greek central banker Yannis Stournaras told reporters on Friday that “the Rock of the Acropolis” essentially saved Greece during the acute economic crisis over the past decade, speaking while in…

EastMed Act awaits Trump signing; significant interest for Greece, Cyprus

The EastMed Act now awaits a signature by US President Donald Trump to become US federal law, with the bill including provision with a direct Greek and Cypriot interest. Among…

First tenders for 10 regional airports in first quarter of 2020

By A. Tsimplakis [email protected]  The relevant shipping ministry and Greece’s privatization agency (HRADF) are reportedly ready to commence the process leading to an international tender for 10 regional ports around…

Thursday, 19 December 2019

EBRD support for flagship Helliniko project in Greece

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on Thursday announced its participation in a share capital increase of the real estate development that holds the concession for the Helleniko project…

Latest goal for privatizations in Greece at 2.4 bln€ in 2020

The goal for revenue from privatizations in Greece for 2020 has been set at 2.4 billion euros, with the most prominent assets in the relevant portfolio being the state’s stake…

Noted theologian, academic Fr. Georgios Metallinos

Noted Well-known academic, author and theologian Georgios Metallinos, an ordained Greek Orthodox priest, passed away on Thursday at the age of 79. Metallinos was a distinguished professor of theology at…

Govt eyes June 2020 deadline for binding offers for Egnatia tollway

By T. Igoumenidi [email protected] The government on Wednesday again signaled its intent to complete the privatization of the Egnatia tollway next year, with a deadline for binding offers set for…

Attacks against banks, shops in central Athens and Thessaloniki against evacuation of ‘squats’

A spate of attacks and vandalism by groups of hooded individuals were recorded in downtown Athens and Thessaloniki on Wednesday evening, mostly targeting ATMs, banks and store glass fronts, replete…

Wednesday, 18 December 2019

Greek PM announces another round of modest tax cuts; middle class relief the goal

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Wednesday evening announced a cut in a so-called “solidarity tax” imposed by the previous leftist government on annual gross incomes exceeding 20,000 euros, a…

First state budget tabled by Mitsotakis govt passed in Parliament

The first state budget submitted by the months-old Mitsotakis government was ratified in Greece’s Parliament on Wednesday evening, by a vote of 158 in favor to 139 deputies voting against.…

Greece’s ‘top 500’ most profitable businesses post impressive rise in profits for 2018

Greece’s top 500 most profitable companies significantly improved, on average, their profitability in 2018, compared to the previous year, with EBITDA profits increased by an overall average of 12.4 percent,…

Negotiations near end for sale of Porto Carras resort to company controlled by Savvidis group

By G. Hatzilidis [email protected] A final agreement between ATHEX-listed Technical Olympic and Belterra Investments for the sale of the Porto Carras resort in northern Greece to the latter is expected…

Edison, Hellenic Petroleum considering joint bid for DEPA’s Natural Gas Commerce subsidiary

By K. Deligiannis [email protected] Italy’s Edison is reportedly ready to propose another joint consortium with Hellenic Petroleum (Hel.pe) in order to submit a binding offer for Greece’s state-run Public Gas…

Union of Greek Shipowners wholly supports int’l proposal to create R&D fund to eliminate vessels’ CO2 emissions

The Union of Greek Shipowners (UGS) on Wednesday announces its full backing to proposal by global shipping interests to create a five-billion-dollar research and development fund for eliminating CO2 emissions…

Reuters: Athens mulls another early repayment of IMF loans in 2020

Reuters on Wednesday reported that the Mitsotakis government in Athens is considering the early repayment of another batch of IMF loans in 2020, months after covering a portion of the…

Prosecutor in GD trial recommends guilty verdict for prime homicide defendant; acquittal for another 17

The first prosecutorial recommendation in the explosive and prolonged trial of an ultra-nationalist Golden Dawn member, charged in the stabbing death of a rapper more than six year ago, came…

Another three ‘squats’ raided, evacuated by police in central Athens

Police raided and evacuated another three “squats” in central Athens in an early morning operation, nearly two weeks after a deadline, issued by the relevant public order minister for the…

Lease transfer of 2 sugar producing units of one-time state monopoly reportedly approved

By V. Vegiri [email protected] An agreement to lease two sugar production units in northern Greece, previously owned and operated by the debt-laden and loss-making Hellenic Sugar Industry (HSI), has reportedly…

Fourlis to open 15 medium-to-small IKEA outlets in Bulgaria; first in Varna in 2020

IKEA’s national partner in Greece, the Fourlis Group, is expected to create a medium-to-small sized chain of the well-known Swedish retailer’s outlets in Bulgaria. The five medium-sized stores and the…

Athens awaits ECB ‘green light’ allowing Greek banks’ exposure to bond markets

A request by Athens towards the European Central Bank (ECB) to lift restrictions on Greek banks’ exposure to bonds issued by the Greek state appears likely to be approved, with…

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

Felony charges filed against top FF execs, former board members

New indictments alleging felony offenses were filed by prosecutors in Athens this week against the former primary shareholders, chief executives and former board members of Athens-based multinational retailer and accessory…