The Latest: 2 bystanders hurt in Greek clashes with police ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The Latest on riots in Greece (all times local): 9:25 p.m. Youths have clashed with police in Greece’s two largest cities, injuring two bystanders. Police say a woman was hospitalized with burns in Athens after being hit in the thigh with … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Greece
Violence in Greece breaks out after annual US Embassy march
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Hundreds of youths attacked police in Greece’s two largest cities on Friday, hurling rocks, flares and gas bombs, following a large, peaceful march to mark the anniversary of the 1973 crackdown on a student uprising against Greece’s former military dictatorship. At least two people were injured. In Athens, protesters hurled dozens … Continue reading
Oil spill forces Greek authorities to close Athens beaches
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek health authorities have banned swimming along a long line of popular Athens beaches following extensive sea pollution from the sinking of a small oil tanker five days ago. The ban covers much of a 20-kilometer (13-mile) stretch from Greece’s main port of Piraeus to Glyfada, further south, as well as … Continue reading
Cyprus: UN Security Council has role in reunification talks
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — U.N. Security Council member states must take part in a future summit aiming to remove a key stumbling block to a deal reunifying ethnically divided Cyprus, the island’s government spokesman said Monday. Nicos Christodoulides told The Associated Press that Security Council members have expressed their readiness to “actively and effectively take … Continue reading
Greek police break gang that sold thousands of antiquities
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek police say they have broken a major gang that allegedly exported thousands of illegally-excavated antiquities for sale through conniving European auction houses or directly to private buyers. A spokesman for the southern Patras police directorate, which headed the nationwide 14-month investigation, says more than 50 people were involved in the … Continue reading
Decade of labor reveals philosopher’s guide to the galaxy
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — When you’re trying to fathom a mangled relic of very old hi-tech, it helps to have the manufacturer’s instructions. For over a century since its discovery in an ancient shipwreck, the exact function of the Antikythera Mechanism — named after the southern Greek island off which it was found — was … Continue reading
Refugees, rights groups buoyed by papal spotlight
LESBOS, Greece (AP) — Municipal crews were pressure-hosing streets, pruning trees and touching up building facades on this Greek island where Pope Francis will visit Saturday, Apr. 16, a mission human rights groups hope will highlight the plight of refugees who fled their war-ravaged homes only to be denied entry to Europe. The Vatican insists … Continue reading
Security beefed up across world after Brussels attacks
MOSCOW (AP) — Authorities in Europe and across the world tightened security at airports, railway stations, government buildings and other key sites after deadly attacks Tuesday, Mar. 22, on the Brussels airport and its subway system. With Brussels on lockdown and the French prime minister saying that Europe is “at war,” European leaders held … Continue reading
EU calls for Greece relief as migrant arrivals hit 1 million
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The European Union told member states Wednesday, Mar. 16, they “urgently need to deliver” on commitments to resettle more refugees on the continent, as the number of refugees arriving in Greece since the start of 2015 reached the 1 million mark. The demand came on the eve of a summit of … Continue reading
EU calls for Greece relief as migrant arrivals hit 1 million
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The European Union told member states Wednesday, Mar. 16, they “urgently need to deliver” on commitments to resettle more refugees on the continent, as the number of refugees arriving in Greece since the start of 2015 reached the 1 million mark. The demand came on the eve of a summit … Continue reading
Anti-migrant force builds in Europe, hurting Merkel’s quest
PRAGUE (AP) — So where should the next impenetrable razor-wire border fence in Europe be built? Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban thinks he knows the best place — on Macedonia’s and Bulgaria’s borders with Greece — smack along the main immigration route from the Middle East to Western Europe. He says it’s necessary because … Continue reading
The Latest: Ai Weiwei gets 14,000 life vests for project
SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — The Latest on migrants seeking sanctuary in Europe (all times local): 6:35 p.m. Municipal authorities on the Greek island of Lesbos say they have given 14,000 life vests used by migrants and refugees to the Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei for an art project he is planning in Germany … Continue reading
7 children among 14 dead in migrant boat sinking off Turkey
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A wooden boat carrying dozens of migrants sank off the Turkish coast on Wednesday, killing 14 people including seven children stuck inside the vessel’s cabin, officials and reports said. Turkish coast guards rescued 27 others after the boat went down off the town of Ayvacik on its way to the Greek … Continue reading
Greece blasts EU as shipwrecks leave 31 more refugees dead
LESBOS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s prime minister lashed out Friday at European “ineptness” in handling the continent’s massive immigration crisis after 31 more people — mostly children — drowned in shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea. Greece’s Merchant Marine Ministry said 19 people died and 138 were rescued near the eastern island of Kalymnos, in one … Continue reading
Migrant tragedy in Greek seas shows dangers as winter nears
LESBOS, Greece (AP) — Dead migrants float belly-up, stripped of their clothing by churning seas. On shore, wailing women search for loved ones among the shivering, wide-eyed survivors. A rescuer tries to revive a toddler who lies unconscious in her sodden striped sweater. The scenes bring home a sobering reality: While the flow of migrants … Continue reading
Coast guard rescues 242 after boat capsizes near Lesbos
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — At least 11 migrants died in the eastern Aegean Sea Wednesday in five separate incidents, including a large shipwreck from which 242 others were rescued by the Greek coast guard. The coast guard said it remained unclear how many people were on the wooden boat when it capsized and coast guard … Continue reading
EU leaders move to slow migrant arrivals, provide shelter
BRUSSELS (AP) — European and Balkan leaders agreed on measures early Monday to slow the movement of tens of thousands whose flight from war and poverty has overwhelmed border guards and reception centers and heightened tension among nations along the route to the European Union’s heartland. In a statement to paper over deep divisions about … Continue reading
Europe cautiously optimistic of Greek debt deal this week
BRUSSELS (AP) — Greece has finally offered economic reforms that creditors consider potentially acceptable, giving Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras a couple days to turn a spirit of goodwill into a deal that might keep the country from a painful exit from the euro currency. Even though a firm deal to get Greece more loans remained … Continue reading
US stocks climb on Greek optimism, more deal news
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks advanced Monday on hopes of a breakthrough in talks between Greece and its lenders. Eurozone finance ministers are hopeful a deal can be reached later in the week to avoid the Mediterranean nation defaulting on its debts. Stocks also got a boost from merger news in the health care … Continue reading
European leaders working hard to keep Greece in eurozone
BRUSSELS (AP) — Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras headed to Brussels late Sunday for a crucial emergency eurozone summit aimed at reaching a deal between Athens and its international creditors that would allow the debt-ravaged country to avoid a default and a potentially disastrous exit from the euro. Tsipras’ departure for Monday’s summit of the … Continue reading
Greece submits draft bailout plan, creditors say not enough
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece submitted a proposal for an agreement with its bailout lenders, the country’s prime minister said Tuesday, in the hope of getting desperately needed rescue money — but its creditors were quick to respond that much work remained to be done. Alexis Tsipras said his government had made compromises in the … Continue reading
Eurozone express hopes that Greek criticism will bear fruit
RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Greece’s European creditors sought to douse talk that they are making plans for a potential Greek exit from the euro and expressed hope Saturday that recent criticism may prompt the country to push ahead with an economic reform plan needed to unlock rescue loans. In the Latvian capital of Riga, … Continue reading
Greece bailout deal elusive, ‘significant’ more work needed
RIGA, Latvia (AP) — Greece remains at loggerheads with its European creditors on an economic reform program required to unlock money the country will need to avoid a possible default and even an exit from the euro. At a meeting Friday in the Latvian capital of Riga, Greece’s finance minister came under fire from … Continue reading
Putin offers cooperation with Greece _ but no financial aid
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s President Vladimir Putin offered Wednesday to increase cooperation with Greece on energy and industry — but stopped short of extending direct financial aid that might complicate Greece’s talks with its European creditors. After a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, Putin dismissed allegations that Moscow is trying to woo … Continue reading
Stocks are muted ahead of emergency meeting on Greek debt
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks were slightly lower in early trading Wednesday. Investors have their focus turned to Europe, where an emergency meeting of European finance ministers will address Greece’s appeal for more generous bailout conditions. Energy stocks were among the biggest decliners as the price of oil, once again, fell. KEEPING … Continue reading