Tag Archives: Athens

Massive protests erupt across nation, demanding action on broken rail system Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis apologized Sunday for the train crash last week that killed at least 57 people, vowing to fix the nation’s broken rail system while the stationmaster charged in the crash made his first court appearance. …

Greek authorities confirmed on Wednesday night that the death toll had risen to 38 following Tuesday’s tragic passenger train crash, likely caused by a “tragic human error”. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “Everything in this tragedy points, unfortunately, mainly to human error,” said Mitsotakis in a televised address on …

The collision between freight and passenger trains in Greece caused a blaze with people trapped inside overturned cars At least 36 people have been killed and dozens injured following a head-on collision between two trains in northeastern Greece. Some 350 passengers were on board one of the trains at the …

Police and migrants have faced off as Greek authorities start evacuating one of the last refugee camps in Athens, officials say, with videos showing authorities using tear gas and a flash grenade.

‘Tiger Meet’ war games are taking place in Greece Turkey will not participate in NATO drills amid escalating tensions with Greece, Turkish media reported on Saturday, citing security sources. Ankara was scheduled to send its F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to the annual ‘Tiger Meet’ drill, which will be held at …

Greek public health sector workers protested in Athens over pay and conditions on Monday as hospitals struggled with a new surge in COVID-19 cases and authorities considered further restrictions. The protesters said they were underpaid, overworked, and understaffed. They called for more hirings, for the government to include them on …

Human rights activists unfurled a banner reading “No Genocide Games”, waved a Tibetan flag and called for a boycott of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics during the torch-lighting ceremony on Monday. Two women and a man sneaked past a tight police cordon and entered the archaeological site of the ancient …

Two women attempted to hang a banner from the Acropolis in Athens Sunday morning in protest at the upcoming Beijing Winter Olympics and were detained by Greek police. The activists, 18-year-old Tibetan student Tsela Zoksang and 22-year-old exiled Hong Kong activist Joey Siu, both American citizens, are members of the …

Turkey and Greece will hold the next round of bilateral talks aimed at addressing differences in the Mediterranean and elsewhere in Ankara on Oct. 6, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Friday, as the NATO members seek to repair their frayed ties. Greece and Turkey are at odds over issues …

Thousands of police were deployed in Greece’s second city Thessaloniki Saturday ahead of protests during a policy speech by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who seeks to repair political damage from summer wildfires. Halfway through his four-year term, Mitsotakis has seen his conservative party’s ratings flag after wildfires destroyed over 100,000 …

Greece appointed its first civil protection minister on Monday in a broad revamp of its civil defense mechanisms following sharp criticism of the government’s response to a spate of devastating wildfires this summer. The new minister is Christos Stylianides, a former European Commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management. During …

Composer Mikis Theodorakis, whose infectious, earthy score for the film “Zorba the Greek” helped foster a sunny, carefree image of his country for millions of tourists, died on Thursday, aged 96. As news of his passing swept through the nation, parliament held a moment of silence. “Today we lost a …

Some 10,000 health workers in Greece faced being suspended as a deadline to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ran out on Wednesday, a union said. From September 1, inoculations become mandatory for health workers, and those who don’t comply will not be allowed to work. Protests broke out on Wednesday morning …

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reshuffled his cabinet on Tuesday, adding some new faces after criticism of the government’s handling of wildfires this summer although key ministers stayed on. Finance Minister Christos Staikouras and Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias keep their posts, government spokesperson Giannis Oikonomou said in a televised briefing, …

Greek police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse a group of people who had gathered in central Athens on Sunday to protest against mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations. About 5,000 people rallied outside the Greek parliament to protest against the inoculations.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday appointed a new minister in charge of recovery from natural disasters in a bid to defuse growing anger over the struggle to curb wildfires that have charred thousands of hectares of forest. Mitsotakis has this week apologised for delays in the firefighting effort …

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended his government on Thursday as public anger grew over the response to wildfires that have ripped through thousands of hectares of forest over the past 10 days. On Evia, Greece’s second-largest island, where some of the worst fires have occurred, rain provided some relief …

Flames swept through a town near Athens overnight and hundreds of people were evacuated by ferry from the island of Evia as wildfires burned across Greece for a fifth day on Saturday. On Evia, east of the capital, a fire which began on Tuesday quickly burgeoned into several fronts, ripping …

At least one person has died in Greece as wildfires continue to spread, forcing thousands to flee in Greece and Turkey. A 38-year-old man in northern Athens died after being hit by a falling utility pole, the Greek health ministry said. In neighbouring Turkey, wildfires described as the worst in …

Greek authorities have evacuated several areas north of Athens as a wildfire swept through a hillside forest and threatened homes near the country’s capital. The fire, which started on Tuesday morning, is “out of control,” Dionysos mayor Yannis Kalafatelis told Greek radio. The town located about 30 kilometres northeast of …