Latest Greece government News

A fire that spread through settlements in Turkey killed 11. Greece evacuates villages for safety

Jun. 21, 2024 12:20 PM EDT

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A fire that apparently started in crop stubble spread through settlements in southeast Turkey overnight, killing 11 people and leaving dozens of others requiring medical treatment, officials and news reports said Friday. In neighboring Greece, authorities...

Summer wildfires plague Greece and Turkey. The worst ones have been contained

Jun. 19, 2024 13:02 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Scores of Greek firefighters and water-bombing aircraft succeeded late Wednesday in taming a large wildfire on the fringes of Athens that forced authorities to evacuate two nearby settlements. Summer wildfires also plagued Greece's Mediterranean neighbor...

Greece denies new report of brutality to migrants, including claim dozens were left to die at sea

Jun. 17, 2024 12:35 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece on Monday denied a new report that accused its coast guard of brutally preventing migrants from reaching Greek shores, which also alleged that the practice had resulted in dozens of deaths. A BBC report said it had been ascertained that 43 migrants...

Greece's prime minister tweaks his government to focus on cost of living and labor

Jun. 14, 2024 07:26 AM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweaked his Cabinet on Friday with a focus on cost-of-living and labor policies after his center-right party's victory in Europe's parliamentary elections. Despite a recent dip in inflation, polls consistently show most...

Heat wave in Greece halts visits to Acropolis as drones with thermal cameras monitor temperatures

Jun. 12, 2024 09:49 AM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Authorities in Athens announced the closure of the Acropolis for five hours on Wednesday due to heat wave temperatures that also shut many schools. The ancient site in the Greek capital — which drew nearly 4 million visitors last year — was closed from...

Greece is buoyed by a Turkish official's comments about Parthenon sculptures taken by Britain

Jun. 05, 2024 11:02 AM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — One of the world’s most intractable cultural disputes is back in the spotlight after a Turkish official cast doubt on the existence of proof long cited by Britain that it had legally acquired the Parthenon Marbles, 2,500-year-old sculptures taken from the Acropolis in...

Families reclaim the remains of 15 recently identified Greek soldiers killed in Cyprus in 1974

May. 30, 2024 08:53 AM EDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly a half-century ago were returned to their families on Thursday. Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides attended a funeral service in the capital,...

Nearly 140 migrants reach Greece after dangerous sea voyages. One man drowned

May. 24, 2024 14:33 PM EDT

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Nearly 140 migrants have reached Greek shores over the past 24 hours, making the dangerous sea voyage across the Mediterranean Sea, authorities said Friday. One man, who had set off from North Africa, drowned off the southern island of Crete. Greece, along...

Chances of Cyprus peace talks restart look dimmer as Turkish Cypriot leader sees no common ground

May. 15, 2024 14:56 PM EDT

NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Chances of restarting formal talks to mend Cyprus’ decades-long ethnic division appeared dimmer Wednesday as the leader of the breakaway Turkish Cypriots told a U.N. envoy that he saw no common ground with Greek Cypriots for a return to negotiations. ...

North Macedonia’s new president seeks to sidestep disputes with EU neighbors

May. 13, 2024 21:14 PM EDT

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — European Union candidate North Macedonia sought Monday to calm disputes with EU neighbors Greece and Bulgaria that flared up following the landslide election victory of a conservative-backed coalition and president. North Macedonia changed its name...