The limited-access visa will allow Turks to visit 10 Greek islands for up to a week without having to apply for full access to the European Union’s passport-free travel zone, known as the Schengen area. NATO members Greece and Turkey launched several initiatives last year to try and sidestep decades-old disputes — mostly over sea boundaries and mineral rights in the Aegean Sea— to focus on trade. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in December to sign a series of bilateral cooperation agreements in Athens. Mitsotakis will visit Turkey next month. “The express visa can be issued not only in summer, but all year round. The measure is designed to boost tourism in areas and at times of the year when there is not a lot of traffic, so it will help the local economies,” Mitsotakis wrote in a weekly online post Sunday. Granted at participating Greek ports, the new visa will cost 60 euros and will include a passport check and fingerprint recording, while visitors will not be allowed to travel onto other EU member states, Greek officials said. “The new system is ready and there is a lot of demand from Turkish visitors. But there were no boats scheduled to arrive today. We will have arrivals later this week,” Vassilis Vayiannakis, head of the Rhodes Port Fund, told the AP. The islands in the vacation visa program all lie near the Turkish coastline and also include Lesbos, Limnos, Chios, Samos, Leros, Kalymnos, Kos, Symi and Kastellorizo, with the smaller islands due to join in June. Turkey has long sought more relaxed travel rules for its citizens visiting the EU in exchange for its cooperation with member states of the bloc that include efforts to curb illegal immigration. Tourism is a vital industry for the Greek economy. The country welcomed 32.7 million visitors last year, raising 20.5 billion euros, according to central bank data.  

The network recorded 158 attacks in 2023, up from 74 in 2022. Of those, 89 targeted migrants, refugees or asylum seekers and 61 targeted LGBT people, it said. Violence was at its highest reported levels since 2015, when Greece was on the frontline of Europe’s migration crisis. The actual number is likely higher, however, as many victims do not report crimes, RVRN said. Hostility towards migrants remains widespread in Greece, where three ultra-nationalist parties won seats in parliament in last year’s election. Far-right parties across Europe are expected to prosper in June’s European Parliament elections with pledges to toughen the bloc’s approach to immigration. RVRN, founded in 2011 by the UN refugee agency in Greece and the National Commission for Human Rights, defines racist violence as “criminal or violent acts or behaviour against people because of their ethnic origin, colour, religion, gender identity, sexual preferences or disabilities.” In its annual report, it said it had identified “intense and continuous” racist violence at Greece’s borders as well as systematic racist violence and behaviour by security officials. Attacks were carried out both by individuals and organized groups, it said. “The emergence of incidents of organised racist violence … remains a particularly worrying trend,” it said. A police spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The migration ministry said it “fully implements national, European and international law and investigates every complaint.” It added: “The responsibilities of the ministry … should not be confused with those of other ministries or the country’s security authorities.” Rights groups have accused Greek authorities of mistreating migrants and refugees and carrying out so-called pushbacks – or forced deportations of asylum seekers – at its borders, accusations the government denies. The report also found a rise in violence against LGBT people, saying they were victims of “unprovoked violence … usually homophobic and transphobic verbal attacks often resulting in physical violence.” In February, Greece passed a law legalizing same-sex marriage in a landmark victory for LGBT rights.

Tourists rushed to evacuate the hotel, while workers in vests offered first aid to an injured woman in a tent as part of a quake drill dubbed “Minoas” after the mythical Cretan Bronze Age king. “It’s good, because then we know what we are doing in real situations,” said British tourist Leah Pickles, 36, one of the hotel’s residents in Heraklion. Since a strong quake killed 143 people near Athens in 1999, tremors have not caused severe fatalities or damage but the Mediterranean country has struggled with other emergencies such as wildfires and floods in recent years.   A wildfire on the island of Rhodes last summer consumed swathes of land and forced the evacuation of some 19,000 tourists and locals, weeks before Europe’s deadliest blaze killed at least 20 people and destroyed an area larger than New York in the Evros province in the north. Separately on Tuesday, a wildfire near the city of Chania in western Crete forced authorities to evacuate part of a naval base and adjacent schools, hours before a real quake measuring 3.8 hit off the island’s southwestern coast. A fire brigade official said later the blaze had abated.

"The report records, without further investigation, allegations by non-governmental organisations that are not independently verified," the foreign ministry said. "Precisely because of this indiscriminate recording, there is the appearance that all countries with a highly developed rule of law have serious human rights issues," the ministry underlined, while adding: "Particularly important for the integrity, reliability and objectivity of the report is the fact that the opinion of the Greek state was not sought in relation to the reported issues." "Although the progress made with respect to the protection of rights in Greece is recognised on many levels, the report overlooks or completely ignores regulatory measures and national strategies in recent years to protect the rights of vulnerable categories of citizens, such as the disabled, LGBTI and unaccompanied minors." The ministry also emphasised that the reports on Greece have always presented similar human rights issues. Particularly in the period 2016-2019, very serious complaints were cited, which gradually disappeared.   STATE DEPARTMENT There were “no significant changes” in the human rights situation in Greece over the past year, the US State Department said in its annual report which includes, however, a list of issues pertaining to the treatment of migrants, police and the use of spyware.   The report says that “significant human rights issues included credible reports of cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment of prison detainees and of migrants and asylum seekers by law enforcement authorities; crimes involving violence targeting members of national, racial, or ethnic minority groups; and crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex persons.” The Greek government regularly took steps to investigate, prosecute, and punish officials who committed human rights abuses, whether in the security forces or elsewhere in the government, the report said. “There were, however, complaints from nongovernmental organizations and international organizations regarding government failures to effectively investigate allegations of forced returns of asylum seekers and to hold those responsible to account,” it added. As examples, the State Department mentions the reports of mistreatment and abuse by police and the coast guard, including against members of racial and ethnic minority groups, undocumented migrants, asylum seekers, demonstrators, and Roma.   Furthermore, prison and detention centers remained overcrowded, often with inadequate sanitation or health care, the report said. On corruption, the State Department found that “the most notable cases” involved police. In 2022, the National Transparency Authority (NTA) received 3,513 complaints of alleged corruption, fraud, and maladministration (3,057 in 2021) and carried out 575 audits and inspections (393 in 2021), of which 13 (21 in 2021) were referred for prosecution. There were 32 convictions either at appeal or first instance levels (24 in 2021) and 15 acquittals (21 in 2021). Imprisonment was suspended in 28 of the 32 conviction cases. Concerning media plurality, the report said that domestic and international agencies said journalists and media outlets faced pressure to avoid criticizing the government or reporting scandals. Furthermore, media freedom watchdogs continued to raise concerns about the use of Greek liber and slander laws to intimidate journalists. In her March report, the UN special rapporteur on human rights defenders noted journalists faced “criminal lawsuits and strategic lawsuits against public participation for their investigative reporting on corruption and environmental pollution.” On gender-based violence, a November 14 EU Group of Experts on Action against Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence report revealed that “although Greece had made progress in combating violence against women, serious concerns remained, particularly regarding victim protection, implicit attitudes about gender-based violence among police, prosecutors, and judicial decision-making officials.” There were also high rates of witness and victim attrition and low conviction rates, particularly in cases of rape.   Responding to the report, the Greek Foreign Ministry appeared to question the findings, stating that the State Department did not seek the view of the government. “Particularly important for the integrity, reliability and objectivity of the report is the fact that the opinion of the Greek state was not sought in relation to the mentioned issues,” the ministry said it a press release.  “The report lists, without further investigation, complaints by non-governmental organizations that are not independently verified. Precisely because of this indiscriminate recording, it appears that serious human rights issues exist in all countries with a developed rule of law,” it added.  

Strong southerly winds carried the dust from the Sahara Desert, giving the atmosphere of the Greek capital a Martian-like filter in the last hours of daylight. The skies are predicted to clear on Wednesday as winds shift and move the dust, with temperatures dipping. On Tuesday, the daily high in parts of the southern island of Crete topped 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), more than 20 degrees C higher than what was registered in much of northern Greece. The strong southerly winds over the past few days have also fanned unseasonal early wildfires in the country’s south. The fire service said Tuesday evening that a total 25 wildfires broke out across the country in the past 24 hours. Three people were arrested on the Aegean Sea resort island of Paros on suspicion of accidentally starting a scrub blaze on Monday, it added. No significant damage or injuries were reported, and the fire was quickly contained. Another blaze that broke out on Crete near a naval base was brought under control Tuesday. Greece suffers devastating, and often deadly, forest blazes every summer, and last year the country recorded the European Union’s largest wildfire in more than two decades. Persistent drought combined with high spring temperatures has raised fears of a particularly challenging period for firefighters in the coming months.  

According to an announcement by the Hellenic Ministry of Development, the Easter Basket extends the Household Basket by adding four new food categories, thus providing additional options for consumers. Minister of Development Kostas Skrekas stated: “We actively support households to ensure that every family table is fully stocked with essential goods at low prices. Initiatives such as the Easter Basket enhance competition among food businesses, benefiting consumers. Through the Godparents’ Basket we provide support to godparents and parents, allowing them to purchase quality toys at affordable prices and bring joy to all children during these festive days. Assistance and relief for all citizens, especially the most vulnerable, are priorities for the government and the Ministry of Development.”

According to the prognostic data of meteo.gr/National Observatory of Athens, today, in addition to the greatly increased concentrations of dust that will limit visibility, mud showers are also expected to occur, mainly in the north and west of the country. On Wednesday, the turn of the winds to the west will result in the limitation of dust in the Dodecanese and its progressive removal to the east. With the increased concentration levels of African dust in our country and the phenomenon occurring more and more frequently and longer in duration, the Hellenic Pulmonology Society is analyzing the data in an effort to understand its effect on health, while at the same time advancing recommendations for protection. According to pulmonologists, people with pre-existing respiratory conditions are particularly vulnerable during periods of increased dust levels and this is reflected in increased hospital admissions.

Specifically, he explained that the Municipality of Skiathos, in its effort to differentiate itself in tourism, but also to develop a sustainable and modern strategy based on future trends and international standards, collaborated with the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), which acts as a technical advisor to the municipality for the tourism sector. It is noteworthy that Skiathos was the first region in Greece to seek the scientific assistance of UN Tourism in order to develop properly in the future in the tourism sector. In fact, it recently strengthened its relations with the organization by participating in the international conference TOURISM FOR ALL, organized by the World Tourism Organization, the Ministry of Tourism of San Marino and the Ministry of Tourism of Italy, on accessibility and tourism. "We became an example, but mainly we learned about good practices internationally", said the mayor of Skiathos, Mr. Thodoris Tzoumas . "The Municipality of Skiathos has incorporated in its policy the planning of accessibility as a priority. The issues concerning people with disabilities and vulnerable social groups in general are issues of dignity and culture for our municipality". But the municipality's awareness does not stop there. Recently, the implementation of the Zero Waste Rota project was launched with integrated actions to reduce the waste produced on Skiathos' tourist boats and the beaches they visit, adopting prevention actions and optimal sorting at source of recyclable or other materials. Meanwhile, the actions of the municipality include actions that promote alternative tourism and include the creation of hiking and cycling trails targeting the category of tourists who love to walk or cycle during their holidays. In fact, the municipality is certified with the "Bike Friendly" label since 2020. The label is under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Environment and Energy, and the Ministry of Transport. Στατιστικά Στοιχεία Σύμφωνα με στοιχεία που έχει συλλέξει ο δήμος από τα σημεία εισόδου του νησιού, το 2023 ήρθαν 250.000 άτομα από Μάιο μέχρι Οκτώβριο μέσω αεροπορικών αφίξεων από το εξωτερικό και 200.000 άτομα, κυρίως Έλληνες, έφτασαν στο νησί με το πλοίο. Το 2024 η τουριστική περίοδος ξεκίνησε 1η Απριλίου, νωρίτερα από κάθε άλλη χρονιά, με πτήση από το Μιλάνο και μετά ακολούθησε η πτήση από το Παρίσι 6 Απριλίου. Η Σκιάθος δέχεται 13 πτήσεις την εβδομάδα από τη Μεγάλη Βρετανία με την Jet2 και φέτος προστέθηκαν και άλλες 7 πτήσεις από την EasyJet. Όπως ανέφερε ο δήμαρχος Σκιάθου, το νησί αναμένεται να δεχτεί το 2024 αφίξεις συνολικά από 38 πόλεις 17 χωρών. Στις αφίξεις της Σκιάθου υπολογίζονται και οι προσεγγίσεις με τα ιστιοπλοϊκά σκάφη. Σε αυτό θα βοηθήσει και η επέκταση της μαρίνας, η οποία από τις 120 θέσεις ελλιμενισμού που διαθέτει σήμερα θα φτάσει τις 450 θέσεις. Το έργο αναμένεται να δημοπρατηθεί αρχές του 2025.

The deal passed by Parliament is to buy seven DHC-515 aircraft from the Canadian Commercial Corp for 361 million euros ($392 million). The aircraft, purchased as part of a revamp of Greece's ageing fleet, will be delivered between 2027 and 2030, according to the agreement. The new aircraft can carry bigger quantities of water to dump on affected areas compared with the country's Canadair fleet, and fly for longer. 2 of the jets will be part of an EU RescEU reserve program, which means that Greece can lend them to other EU countries in emergencies. Summer wildfires have long been common in Greece, but rising temperatures and drought have made them more frequent and bigger and raised questions about the government's ability to stem the damage. Fires last year destroyed tens of thousands of hectares of land in the northeast. The deadliest blaze on record killed 104 people outside Athens in 2018. The purchase of the aircraft is part of a 2.1 billion-euro-scheme, mostly funded by the EU, under which Greece will receive firefighting equipment including drones, fire detectors, fire engines and meteorological stations. ($1 = 0.9217 euros)  

With this approval, the licensing process for the Project Voria enters its final stage, namely the issuance of building permits and the commencement of project construction. The project represents a 250 million-euro-investment by North Star Entertainment. According to a statement, Project Voria is the first strategic investment to be implemented in the northern suburbs of Athens in many years. The project entails the construction of a state-of-the-art complex, featuring a five-star luxury hotel, event and conference venues, a variety of dining and entertainment options, as well as a casino.

Specifically, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., there will be gradual suspensions of vehicular traffic, as well as a ban on stopping and parking on the following avenues and streets, in the area of the Municipalities of Marathon - N. Makris, Rafina - Pikermiou, Pallini - Geraka - Anthousa, Agia Paraskevi, Chalandrio and Psychiko - Filothei, as follows:     - Marathonomachon-Agias Paraskevi, in the section between the Tomb of Marathon and L. Marathonos, during the hours 08.00 - 09.30.     - Marathonos Street, in the section between Marathonomachon-Agia Paraskevi Street and Dionysos Street, during the hours 09.30 - 10.30.     - Marathonos Street, in the section between Dionysos Street and Aeroporia Street, during the hours 09.30 - 10.30.     - L. Marathonos, in the section between Aeroporia and Al. Flemig, during the hours 10.30 - 13.00.     - L. Marathonos, in the section between the streets Al. Fleming and St. Christoforou (Pikermiou - Marathon Road), during the hours 13.00 - 14.00.     - Marathonos Street, in the section between Ag. Christoforou (Pikermiou - Marathon Street) and Ag. Dimitriou (Eu. Poulaki), during the hours 14.00 - 14.30.     - Marathonos Street, in the section between Ag. Dimitriou (Ev. Poulaki) and Ethn. Resistance, during the hours 14.30 - 16.00.     - Marathonos Street, in the section between Ethnon Streets. Antistasos and Klisthenos, during the hours 16.00 - 17.00.     - Mesogeion St., in the section between Klisthenos and Chalandriou streets, during the hours of 16.00 - 17.30.     - Mesogeion St., in the section between Demokratia St. (Department of National Defense) and Chalandriou St., during the hours of 17.30 - 18.00.     - Mesogeion Avenue, in the section between Demokratia Avenue and Cyprus Street (Main entrance of the Ministry of National Defense), during the hours 18.00-18.30.     In addition, vertical crossing of vehicles will not be allowed along the route of said course, except at the following controlled vertical crossing nodes: - L. Marathonos & Dionysos. - L. Marathon & Aeroporias. - L. Marathonos & Al. Flemig (Rafina Junction). - L. Marathonos & Kyanis Aktis. - L. Marathonos & Ag. Christoforou (Crossroads of Pikermio). - L. Marathonos & Ag. Dimitriou (St. Poulaki - Monoxia Crossroads). - L. Marathon & Ethn. Resistance (Crossroads of Pallini). - Marathonos Street & Lavriou Street - Klisthenos (Stavrou Junction). - Mesogeion & Chalandrio Streets (Ag. Paraskevi Square). - Mesogeion St. & Dimokratis St. (Pentagon). The Hellenic Police appeals to drivers for better service and to avoid additional traffic problems, to avoid the passage of their vehicles on the above streets, avenues and squares during the mentioned time intervals.  

The concert had been organized in May last year under the previous municipal administration, headed at the time by ruling New Democracy’s Kostas Bakoyannis. It had been scheduled to take place on April 29 at the Olympia Theater in downtown Athens. Doukas’ decision was a response to a written appeal from the association representing the Athens Municipality’s musicians, who expressed concern that going ahead with the concert “may not be safe for the performers or the audience,” given the latest developments in Israel’s war against Hamas and other recent  conflicts. In a tweet on Tuesday, Health Minister and ND heavyweight Adonis Georgiadis lashed out at the mayor, saying that the decision to cancel the concert was “proof of how completely unsuitable” Doukas is for the post. Georgiadis also scoffed at the election of Doukas – a professor at the National Technical University of Athens who ran with the support of Socialist PASOK –  in October, saying that he was chosen “by a disparate coalition of voters of the Far Left, PASOK, and voters of [far-right Ilias] Kasidiaris chiefly on the basis of ensuring that Kostas Bakoyannis would not be re-elected.”