• EU members to discuss Bosnia entry into Union

    Brussels, Belgium - A group of EU countries including Germany on Tuesday pushed for a green light to start membership negotiations with Bosnia, but others such as France seemed reluctant to proceed. The EU's 27 leaders will debate at a summit on Thursday a proposal from the bloc's executive to launch...
  • Seven children among 22 dead as boat capsizes off Turkish coast

    Istanbul, Turkey - Twenty-two migrants including seven children have drowned after a boat capsized off the Turkish coast, local officials said on Friday. Two people were rescued by the Turkish coastguard and another two managed to make it out of the water on their own, officials said. The victims' nationalities were...
  • The DCO Council announces multilateral initiatives to bridge digital divide

    Manama, Bahrain - The Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO), a global intergovernmental organization dedicated to fostering digital prosperity for all by accelerating the inclusive growth of the global digital economy, has announced the launch of new initiatives to bridge the global digital divide. The DCO Council also announced the joining of...
  • Greece to join US-led naval coalition against Houthi rebels

    The task force announced by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Monday initially included Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles and Spain. The Iran-backed Houthis say their missile and drone strikes on passing container ships are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza war raging between Israel...
  • Turkey’s Erdogan in Athens in ‘new chapter’ bid

    Speaking to Kathimerini on Wednesday, the Turkish leader said communication channels with Greece had been "revived" and that he looked forward to signing a declaration of bilateral friendship with Greece on Thursday. Thursday's talks are expected to also discuss the Israel-Hamas war, where Erdogan has shown no sign of abandoning...
  • Greece and Saudi Arabia agree to link their power grids

    Athens, Greece - Greece and Saudi Arabia announced their agreement to establish a jointly-owned company with the goal of connecting their power grids. This marks the initial phase of their ambitious plan to provide Europe with more affordable green energy, according to a statement from the Greek energy ministry, as...
  • EU close to ratify new deal on asylum seeker and migrants

    Part of the aim of the revised policy is for European Union countries to act together should they be faced with a sudden large inflow of asylum-seekers, as happened in 2015-2016 when hundreds of thousands of migrants arrived, most of them Syrians fleeing the war in their country.
  • 150 dead in Libya after storm Daniel results in floods

    "At least 150 people were killed as a result of flooding and torrential rains left by storm Daniel in Derna, the Jabal al-Akhdar region and the suburbs of Al-Marj," Mohamed Massoud, a spokesman for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, said. "This is besides the massive material damage that struck public...
  • Canada’s fires in north force another town to evacuate

    Canada is suffering through its worst forest fire season in recorded history, with much of the country hit by high temperatures and serious drought. A total area of 15 million hectares (37 million acres) has now burned, an area larger than Greece.
  • Greek firefighters struggle to control wildfires for sixth day

    Athens, Greece--Hundreds of firefighters in Greece struggled Thursday to gain the upper hand against major wildfires burning unchecked for a sixth day, leaving 20 dead. A dangerous blaze continued to burn on Mount Parnitha near Athens, in the largest forest adjoining the capital, threatening a national park for a second day....
  • Turkey slams ‘unacceptable’ UN approach to Cyprus row

    ISTANBUL, TURKEY - Turkey's ruling party spokesman on Saturday criticized UN peacekeepers for blocking the construction of a controversial road in the buffer zone dividing Cyprus, calling their attitude "unacceptable" and "extremely wrong". A confrontation occurred on Friday between Turkish Cypriot forces and UN peacekeepers in Pyla, an ethnically mixed village...
  • United States beat Greece in basketball World Cup warm up in Abu Dhabi

    The United States exploded off the blocks, opening up a 13-point gap on the Greeks six minutes into the first quarter. Despite questionable turnovers during patches of the game, the USA were a class apart as they extended their perfect record in World Cup tune-ups to 4-0 in games played...
  • Will climate change hit Mediterranean tourism?

    In Spain, the thermometer has shot 15 degrees above normal summer season levels. Italy has also laboured under heatwaves with the island of Sardinia melting under 48 Celsius while, on Monday, Tunis endured 49C. Tourism plays a key role in the region's economies -- the sector accounts for nearly a...
  • Thousands of Kurds demonstrate on Lausanne treaty centenary

    The demonstrators marched through the Swiss city in opposition to the 1923 treaty, while organisers urged the international community to reconsider the agreement and its consequences for the Kurdish people. The demonstrators, who came from across Europe, gathered by Lake Geneva before marching uphill to the Palais de Rumine where...
  • Mitsotakis wins second term with clear majority in Greece polls

    Conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis won Greece's national elections on Sunday with a clear majority, securing a second term during which he vowed to bring about major reforms to transform the country. With nearly all the votes counted, Mitsotakis's New Democracy party obtained a score of over 40.5 percent.
  • Mitsotakis’s conservatives set for landslide Greece election win

    Mitsotakis's New Democracy party obtained over 40 percent of the vote, well ahead of the leftist Syriza party led by former premier Alexis Tsipras, which had under 18 percent, according to results of 35 percent of the ballot. The margin would be the widest for the conservatives in almost 50...
  • Greeks head to polls with conservative premier favorite to win

    The 55-year-old Harvard graduate, who steered Greece from the coronavirus pandemic back to two consecutive years of strong growth, had already scored a thumping win in an election just a month ago. But having fallen short of five seats in parliament to be able to form a single-party government, Mitsotakis...
  • France to provide Tunisia with financial aid to curb migrant flows

    The financial assistance would allow Tunisia to "acquire the necessary equipment and organize useful training, in particular for Tunisian police and border guards", French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said. He defended the "European approach to the migration challenge" and said that alongside African authorities, they would "fight against the networks...
  • British coronation: World leaders congratulate Charles III, Camilla

    Leaders in the United States and Europe sent congratulations to Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla on their coronation on Saturday, while China called for "cooperation" and "peace". Charles III was crowned monarch of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms on Saturday at Britain's first coronation for 70...
  • Dozens of migrants rescued at Turkey border: Greek police

    Athens in 2020 erected a 37.5-kilometre (23-mile) steel barrier in this remote northeastern area after tens of thousands of migrants tried to break through, clashing for days with Greek security forces. With the country headed into a tight general election later this month, the conservative government has vowed to extend...
  • Greek PM calls on EU to pay for fence extension along Turkey border

    Athens, Greece--Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Friday called on the European Union to "seriously consider" providing financial aid to help extend an anti-migrant steel fence along the border with Turkey. "I think it's about time for the EU to seriously consider providing European funds for these types of projects," the...
  • Greece, Italy to discuss rail ‘restart’ after tragedy: PM

    Following last month's rail tragedy, Greece's prime minister said that he would discuss with Italy safety improvements on Geek trains run by an Italian state company. The Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters that he will discuss the way in which the Italian government will be able to support the...
  • Ronaldo to earn $214 million to promote Saudi World Cup bid

    The oil-rich kingdom, along with Egypt and Greece, is considering a bid to host world football's 2030 showpiece tournament, and Ronaldo's ambassadorial role will bring his reported earnings in the country to over $428 million. Ronaldo is expected to make his Al Nassr debut on Jan. 22.
  • EU uncovers US$2.3-billion cross-border tax fraud

    The EU announced the discovery of a sophisticated US$2.3-billion VAT tax fraud that triggered raids in 14 countries, including France, Germany, Greece and Spain. Over 600 people participated in the scheme, "believed to be the biggest VAT carousel fraud ever investigated in the EU," according to the European Public Prosecutor's...
  • Turkey says Greek governor detained due to technical error

    Istanbul, Turkey— A senior Greek official was detained in Turkey at the weekend because of what the Ankara government described as a technical error, Turkish media reported on Tuesday. Athens issued a formal complaint on Saturday after Apostolos Tzitzikostas, the governor of the Greek province of Central Macedonia, was detained for...
  • Greece and Egypt call Turkish-Libyan gas deal ‘illegal’

    On Monday, Turkey said it had signed a memorandum of understanding on exploration for hydrocarbons in Libya's seas with the authorities in Tripoli. "This agreement threatens stability and security in the Mediterranean," Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias said in Cairo, where he met his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry.
  • Libyan Prime Minister defends oil, gas exploration deal with Turkey

    The question of rights to Libya's vast hydrocarbon resources has become more urgent this year as global energy prices have soared. Monday's deal builds on an agreement signed between Ankara and a previous Tripoli-based administration in 2019.
  • Turkey, Libya sign maritime hydrocarbons agreement

    Turkey's foreign minister signed a deal in Libya's capital Monday allowing for oil and gas exploration in 'Libyan waters'.
  • Six migrants including two babies die at sea after Greek pushback: Turkey

    Another 73 migrants were also rescued off Mugla province in the southwest, the coastguard said. The migrants were pushed back to Turkish waters by Greek forces in four boats, according to the coastguard, who cited a detailed interview with the migrants.
  • Syrian refugees to set off in caravan for EU from Turkey

    Desperate to rid the uncertainty hanging over their future, dozens of Syrian refugees in Turkey are planning to form a caravan to reach the European Union. According to organizers, plans are being drawn up online where calls are being issued to people to bring sleeping bags, tents, life jackets, canned...
  • Egypt, Greece, Saudi in talks to jointly host 2030 World Cup

    Egypt, Greece and Saudi Arabia are in talks to jointly host the 2030 World Cup football tournament, an Egyptian official said Friday in televised remarks. "The three countries are working flat out" and "the application to organise (the 2030 World Cup) is being studied", sports ministry spokesman Mohammed Fawzi told...
  • Turkey accuses Greece of ‘hostile action’ against jets

    The two uneasy NATO neighbors have long-standing sea and air boundary disputes which lead to near-daily air force patrols and interception missions mostly around Greek islands near Turkey's coastline.
  • 21 business, investment deals boost KSA-Greece ties

    The agreements cover logistics and transportation, renewable energies, manufacturing, environment services, aquaculture, defense, trade, engineering and agriculture.
  • Greece to get ‘cheaper energy’ from Saudi Arabia

    A power cable between the Kingdom and Greece to provide Europe with 'cheaper renewable energy' is one of the several upcoming bilateral projects between the two countries.
  • Deals in focus as Saudi crown prince visits Europe

    Mohammed bin Salman, who is visiting Greece and France, will meet the leaders of both countries 'to discuss bilateral relations and ways to enhance them in various fields'.
  • Jordan, Greece discuss cooperation in construction, energy, agriculture

    The two sides signed several agreements to implement double taxation and the Cultural and Technical Cooperation Program 2022-2025.
  • UAE to attract super rich, say investment trends

    One big factor for more HNWIs making their way to the UAE is the ongoing war in Ukraine which has triggered the biggest emigration of millionaires from Russia over the last six months, with forecast net outflows of 15,000 by the end of 2022 -- a massive 15% of its...
  • Iran seized Greek oil tankers in retaliation: Supreme leader

    Iran's supreme leader on Saturday said that the country's seizure of two Greek oil tankers late last month was in retaliation against Greece because it "stole" Iranian oil. The Revolutionary Guards boarded and took control of the two vessels in the Gulf on May 27, citing "violations", which Greece condemned.
  • Iran says crews of two seized Greek oil tankers ‘in good health’

    Iran said Saturday the crews of two Greek oil tankers it has seized in the Gulf are in "good health" and not under arrest.
  • Saudi crown prince plans Turkey visit

    Saudi Arabia's crown prince expects to travel to Turkey next month, a Saudi official told AFP Wednesday. The trip by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, will also include stops in Egypt, Cyprus and Greece, said the official, who requested anonymity because he was not permitted...
  • ADQ to fund investments worth more than $4 billion in Greece

    ADQ will work with the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB), the national development bank of Greece, and Hellenic Development Bank of Investments (HDBI), the Sovereign Fund of Funds of Greece.
  • Turkey air force pulls out of military exercise in Greece

    Turkey's air force has pulled out of a military exercise scheduled to be held in Greece next month, security sources said on Saturday alleging that preparatory documents singled out Ankara. The military exercise dubbed "Tiger Meet" is intended to promote solidarity between the participating states' fleets and is held annually.
  • Greece’s Ionian Islands eye UAE to woo tourists

    Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou, Mayor of Greece's Ionian Islands, explains how an enhanced cultural and tourism ties with UAE will be mutually beneficial for both countries.
  • Dubai’s real estate market to ramp up going forward: Report

    Over 84 percent of real estate professionals expect competition within Dubai’s real estate market to ramp up going forward, according to the 2022 EMEA Real Estate Report published by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices global headquarters. The report reflected the experiences of residential real estate professionals across seven key markets in Dubai,...
  • KSA, Greece partner to support growth of digital economy

    The two countries discussed cooperation in establishing an advanced digital infrastructure.
  • Israel president heads to Greece to calm ally ahead of Turkey visit

    Relations between majority-Muslim Turkey and the Jewish state froze over after the death of 10 civilians in an Israeli raid on a Turkish flotilla carrying aid for the Gaza strip in 2010.
  • Turkey and Greece count the political cost of blizzard

    Turkey's main airport stirred back to life on Wednesday and Greece's under-fire prime minister issued a formal apology as the east Mediterranean neighbors faced the political fallout of a paralyzing blizzard.
  • Dutch police arrest man over Saudi embassy shooting

    The 40-year-old suspect was detained in Zoetermeer, 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the Hague, about eight hours after the shooting at 6am (0500 GMT).
  • Qatar and ExxonMobil sign Cyprus gas deal despite Turkey opposition

    US giant ExxonMobil and Qatar Energy signed a contract Friday for oil and gas exploration and production-sharing off the divided island of Cyprus despite Turkey’s opposition to the deal. Cypriot Energy Minister Natasa Pilides, Varnavas Theodosiou, CEO of ExxonMobil Cyprus, and Ali al-Mana, director of Qatar Energy’s International Upstream and...
  • UAE and Greek credit insurance organizations to promote businesses

    The UAE's federal export credit company Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI) signed an MoU with Greece’s Export Credit Insurance Organization (ECIO) to boost the bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the UAE and Greece. The two agencies will support local businesses of both the countries operating in agriculture, construction, renewable energy,...
  • UAE, Greece, Cyprus foreign ministers hold tripartite meeting

    The three leaders also reviewed issues of common interest, the situation in the region, along with regional and international developments.