Latest Greece government News

A rockfall triggered by a rainstorm kills a woman hiker in Greece

Sep. 18, 2024 14:11 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A rockfall triggered by a sudden rainstorm fatally injured a hiker in a popular national park on the Greek island of Crete Wednesday, authorities said. The accident occurred in the Samaria Gorge of western Crete. The victim was identified by state-run ERT...

Greek firefighters contain a blaze at a major oil refinery that injured 3 workers

Sep. 17, 2024 16:13 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Three workers suffered light injuries during a fire Tuesday at a major oil refinery west of Athens that prompted Greek authorities to issue an evacuation alert for the surrounding area. The blaze near the seaside town of Agii Theodori, some 70 kilometers (40...

A migrant has died off a Greek island after smugglers ditched 31 people in the sea to avoid patrols

Sep. 17, 2024 15:46 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — One migrant died after smugglers piloting a speedboat from Turkey to an Aegean Sea island forced their passengers into the sea on Tuesday to avoid detection by marine patrols, Greek authorities said. The remaining 30 migrants on the vessel were unhurt, a coast...

Wildfires in Portugal blamed for at least six deaths as Europe sends aircraft to help

Sep. 17, 2024 09:27 AM EDT

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Five thousand firefighters struggled Tuesday to contain multiple wildfires raging across northern Portugal that are blamed for causing at least six deaths including four firefighters and forcing an unknown number of residents to flee their homes. Some 100...

Greek opposition leader is ousted by his Syriza party

Sep. 08, 2024 17:11 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek opposition leader Stefanos Kasselakis was ousted by his party’s central committee Sunday via a motion of no confidence, just a year after his election to the post by party cadres who accused him of being an authoritarian and not fully ideologically aligned with the...

Greece's prime minister says he will keep spending under wraps in a keynote speech

Sep. 07, 2024 15:57 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister said Saturday he would not allow excessive spending to derail the country’s recovery from the lengthy financial crisis that required an unprecedented infusion of funds from its creditors, in a key speech at the country’s most prestigious trade...

An ethnic Greek politician and EU lawmaker is released on probation in Albania

Sep. 02, 2024 16:19 PM EDT

TIRANA, Albania (AP) — A former ethnic Greek mayor of an Albanian town, whose imprisonment on vote-buying charges has strained Albanian-Greek ties, has been released on probation, his office and a lawyer said Monday. Fredis Beleris was freed after a court in Fier, 100 kilometers...

Greek oil tanker drifting and ablaze after repeated attacks in the Red Sea, British military says

Aug. 22, 2024 02:43 AM EDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea came under repeated attack Wednesday, leaving the vessel “not under command” and drifting ablaze after an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the British military said....

Greek authorities rescued 147 migrants trying to reach the country in small boats

Aug. 21, 2024 11:01 AM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities rescued nearly 150 migrants trying to reach the country by sea in small boats over a 24-hour period, officials said Wednesday, including one that had 115 people crammed into it. A coast guard statement said the vessel was located in distress...

Greek authorities detain migrants on Crete as smugglers seek new routes

Aug. 20, 2024 13:17 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities on the southern Greek island of Crete detained 76 migrants early Tuesday after they arrived on three boats, as smugglers seek new routes in the region to evade coast guard patrols. The migrants from Syria, Egypt, Sudan and Bangladesh included six...