Greece opened a new holding camp for migrants on Saturday on the island of Samos, close to Turkey, and said other new facilities would follow in coming months as it tightens migration policy. The minister opening the camp said it would offer “lost dignity” to those seeking protection. Aid groups …

Greece’s Migration and Asylum Ministry assigned a company for a campaign to convince Afghan citizens not to try and reach Greece. The campaign is financed at 75% with EU funding. The campaign worth 73,532 euros (including Value Added Tax) has a duration of 3 months and will include videos and …

The EU is preparing for an influx of Afghans seeking asylum, whether or not people flee en masse from the new Taliban government, the chief of the EU border agency said, noting that millions are already displaced in neighbouring countries. In an interview, Fabrice Leggeri, director-general of border agency Frontex, …

Greek-American actor Michael Constantine, the legendary Gus Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding,  passed away at the age of 94. Although already known in the USA, Constantine became famous worldwide as Gus Portokalos, father of Toula (Nia Vardalos) in the comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). Gus …

The Council of Europe has slammed Greece’s deportations and returns bill noting it should align with human rights standards. The CoE called on the Greek government to not obstruct the work of NGOs, and the Parliament to reconsider elements of the bill. Council of Europe statement on Greece “The Greek …

The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece (KIS) has expressed its concern for the appointment of Thanos Plevris as Minister of Health. KIS wants that Plevris apologize for previous statements denying the Holocaust. In a statement issued on Wednesday, just a day after Plevris appointment, the KIS said: “The …

European Union interior ministers will say on Tuesday they are determined to act to prevent uncontrolled migration from Afghanistan, according to a draft statement seen by Reuters. EU governments are eager to avoid a repeat of the chaotic influx of migrants in 2015 that caught the bloc unprepared and sowed …

Representatives of the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches and migrants joined in a prayer for all refugees of the world. The event took place in Mytilene on the island of Lesvos on Tuesday afternoon. The event was held by the statue of a refugee mother from the Asia Minor disaster …

Elena, an Afghan asylum seeker who lives in a migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, worries about friends and family back home after the Taliban’s swift moves to seize control of Afghanistan. “It’s a disaster,” the 21-year-old, who declined to give her last name, told Reuters. “What will …

Greece has completed 11 million vaccinations as of Monday, Secretary General for Primary Health Marios Themistocleous said at the weekly live briefing on Monday. The total number refers to both those who have completed vaccination against Covid-19 or have had the first dose of vaccine only. He said that over …

“It is clear our country will not be a gateway for a new wave of refugees,” Greek Migration and Asylum Minister Notis Mitarakis said on Monday just hours after the Taliban took over Kabul and thousands of desperate Afghans started to flee their country. With the country to have experienced …

Turkish media claim on Sunday that a Turkish citizen was shot dead by patrolling Greeks along the Evros border. Greece dismisses the claims speaking of a case of human trafficking and a clash between those involved. Some to the Turkish media claim the 43-year-old man was shot by “patrolling Greek …

Two women and one child have been missing and ten people were rescued when a rubber dinghy carrying migrants from Turkey to Greece sank off the northern coast of the island of Lesvos on Friday morning. According to state broadcaster ERT, a patrolling boat of the Greek Coast Guard got …

The Greek Presidency had officially announced that rescuer Iasonas Apostolopoulos was among those citizens to be decorated for their actions on the occasion the 47. restoration of democracy on Saturday. However, Apostolopoulos’ decoration was cancelled without any justification apparently following political pressure by some members of ruling party New Democracy. …

Greece’s health authorities announced on Friday 2,854 new coronavirus cases and 7 Covid-related deaths in the past 24 hours. The number of intubated Covid-patients in hospitals Intensive Care Units increased to 130. The Civil Protection updated the Covid-MAP and placed more regions and islands on “higher risk level.” More details …

The Greek Coast Guard continues the Search and Rescue operation South off island of Crete Friday noon after a boat carrying migrants capsized and some 8 people are missing. 37 people have been rescued so far. for several people believed missing a day after a boat carrying dozens of migrants …

An one-year-old refugee child was taken to the hospital of Mytilene from the camp of Kara Tepe on Wednesday, where doctors could only confirm its death. Tthe child had high fever and vomited and was not transported to the hospital in time, local media report. The child of a single-parent …

Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Milwaukee Bucks to their first NBA title since 1971 and was named was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. on Tuesday. Powered by a masterpiece from the Greek Freak The Bucks won 105-98 over the visiting Phoenix Suns. With the victory, the Bucks clinched …

Almost 9 months after a fire gutted a refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos, work on a new reception center has still not begun despite pledges to have the facility built before next winter, Greece’s migration minister confirmed Wednesday. Greek authorities said the fires were started deliberately last …

The European Union’s border and coast guard agency FRONTEX is being given additional tasks, like playing a greater role in the deportation of migrants, at a time when it is incapable even of fulfilling the duties it was ordered to carry out five years ago, the European Court of Auditors …