OPEKEPE scandal and Tempe inquiry top political agenda
The scandal involving alleged misuse of EU agricultural funds continues to grow, casting a shadow over Greek politics as new names and schemes emerge daily.
The scandal involving alleged misuse of EU agricultural funds continues to grow, casting a shadow over Greek politics as new names and schemes emerge daily.
About 230 undocumented migrants aboard two vessels were rescued south of Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost island, on Monday, authorities said. It remains unclear whether any passengers are missing.
Former transport minister Kostas A. Karamanlis on Monday denied any wrongdoing in connection with the Tempe train disaster, rejecting allegations of dereliction of duty “or any other criminal offense.”
Four defendants will appear in court Monday in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl in Piraeus.
Parliament’s preliminary inquiry committee investigating the deadly train disaster in Tempe in 2023 is scheduled to reconvene Monday morning, possibly for the penultimate time, amid heightened political tension.
The investigation that first revealed widespread fraud in the Greek agricultural subsidies agency began in the summer of 2020. It indicated that farmers allegedly claimed ownership of public lands and created fictitious rental agreements to receive millions in European Union funding.
A wildfire that broke out early on Monday in a forested area of Mount Parnitha, just outside the Greek capital, was swiftly brought under control, the fire service said.
Greece has rescued hundreds of migrants off its southern islands of Gavdos and Crete in five separate incidents since Friday, its coastguard said on Sunday.
An external explosive device most likely caused the blast that damaged Greek oil tanker Vilamoura as it was sailing off the Libyan coast last week, the vessel’s Greece-based operator TMS Tankers said on Sunday, citing an initial investigation.
A farmer was seriously injured when he was attacked by a lion that had escaped a zoo in southern Turkey on Sunday, local media reported. The lion was later shot dead.