Author: Artemis Economalli

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — The national gas system operators of Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary and Slovakia agreed Tuesday to boost the transfer of natural gas from Azerbaijan using the existing infrastructure of their countries, which were until recently highly dependent on Russian energy. Azerbaijan’s president, Ilham Aliyev, called the signing of the agreement between the European nations and the State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan “a very timely step” that would bring bigger and more secure gas supplies to many more countries in Europe. Aliyev attended the signing ceremony in Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital. Following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the…

In a surprising move, Hungarian President Katalin Novak rejected the new law that restricts the rights of homosexual and transsexual people on April 21. It marks the first time that Novak, a former Fidesz minister who has been 11 months in office, objected to a law that is of great importance to Prime Minister Viktor Orban. On April 11, parliament approved legislation with a two-thirds majority that aimed to transpose an EU directive protecting whistleblowers, but a clause in the law stipulates that citizens can anonymously report same-sex couples raising children together for breaching “constitutionally recognised role of marriage and…

Two years after participating in the “Blue Flag” exercises in Israel, the “Desert Flag 6” in the United Arab Emirates and “HopEx” in Egypt, India is expanding its connectivity with the Mediterranean and Southern Europe through Greece and the ‘Iniochos’ exercise, which is attracting the interest of major players in the region. The taxiing in the next few days of India’s Su-30s at the 117th Fighter Wing in Andravida as part of the exercise “Iniochos” is certainly the big surprise and at the same time a news that has its own background at the political, diplomatic and military levels. After…

Holiday boss Steve Heapy has offered some words of warning to the travel destinations looking to attract ‘higher-quality’ German tourists – and repel the Brits. Speaking at a conference in Mallorca last week, Jet2 CEO Mr Heapy said he doesn’t agree with limiting tourists and said British travellers would head for cheaper countries, like Greece and Turkey, rather than Spanish locations such as Ibiza. Lanzarote President Maria Dolores Corju said recently that the German market was better suited to the holiday hotspot’s ‘higher-quality’ tourism intentions.  In what appeared to be a slight against British tourists, she said the island had…

Roasting lamb is just one of the Easter traditions that Orthodox Christians in Greece are struggling to afford this year as their pockets are hit hard by the cost of living crisis. Ahead of the April 16 celebrations, customers in Athens are looking for the best deals so that they can still line their baskets with lamb and other goodies, such as chocolates and gifts, despite inflation. Some butchers are even trying to keep prices low so that people can still afford their meat. “In the last ten days, people have been shopping for Easter, mainly lamb and goat,” Andreas…

Within the framework of the visit to Austria, Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Internal Affairs Ivan Demerdzhiev held a meeting with his colleague Gerhard Karner, Federal Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Austria. The emphasis in the talks was placed on the recent positive resolution of the issue of Bulgaria’s Schengen membership. Minister Demerdzhiev expressed satisfaction with the intensive contacts between the two countries in recent months and confirmed the readiness of our country for permanent and open dialogue and joint actions to strengthen trust. “Effectively countering illegal migration and strengthening trust…

Greece has evacuated over 50 of its citizens and their family members from the Sudanese capital Khartoum amid military clashes, Greek Foreign Affairs Minister Nikos Dendias said on Tuesday. The first group of evacuees has now arrived in Athens. Greece will continue its efforts to repatriate all Greek nationals and their family members, he said before meeting some of the evacuees at the Ministry. Approximately 80 Greek citizens and their family members remain in Khartoum, Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister responsible for Greeks Abroad, Andreas Katsaniotis, on Tuesday welcomed the first 17 people to arrive…

Türkiye and Greece should develop formulas that prioritize Eastern Mediterranean security, an expert said Monday during the 15th Istanbul Security Conference. Topics discussed at the conference, given with the capital Ankara’s Başkent University, included the Russia-Ukraine war, opportunities and challenges in the Black Sea region, maritime border disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean, refugee migration and disasters. Maria Gavouneli, an expert on international law at the National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, discussed maritime disputes and geopolitical competition in the Eastern Mediterranean. She stressed that the Eastern Mediterranean is an important region and that Türkiye and Greece should take steps for…

ATHENS – With even unlawfully-built facilities being allowed to cater to tourist needs, Greece is anticipating a record year of arrivals including from the United Kingdom, a major market of visitors. After meeting Britain’s Ambassador Matthew Lodge, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said Greece expects more than 4 million Britons in 2023 because of the addition of more direct flights, reported GTP Headlines. British low-cost carrier Jet2.com said it would be launching summer flights to Rhodes and Halkidiki in April, earlier and put “thousands of extra seats” on sale to Rhodes from Birmingham and Manchester and travel agency TUI boosted capacity…

Despite the drop in its wholesale rates of electricity, by 8% on a daily basis, the Greek power market remained the most expensive in Europe for the second day in a row on Monday. The average price per megawatt-hour stood at 133.98 euros compared to €146.16/MWh on Sunday. Over the past seven days, the average price of a megawatt-hour in the Greek market fell to an 81-week low. Retail tariffs for the month of April are estimated to be 15-20% lower than those in March, which were in the range of 20-25 cents per kilowatt-hour. April’s basic tariffs are expected…