ECONOMY
-The annual inflation rate in Greece and the eurozone both stood at 2.5% in June 2024, Eurostat data showed. The lowest annual rates were registered in Finland (0.5%), Italy (0.9%) and Lithuania (1.0%). The highest annual rates were recorded in Belgium (5.4%), Romania (5.3%), Spain and Hungary (both 3.6%).
-Greece raised 250 million euros from the reopening of a 5-year government bond via an auction on Wednesday, the Public Debt Management Agency announced. The yield on the 3.875% bond due March 2029, came in at 2.81%. Total bids reached 906 million euros and settlement date is July 24, 2024.
-More than 467,000 Greeks aged 25-44 immigrated in the decade 2008-2017. Low wages and working conditions are the main obstacle to returning to Greece for almost one in four Greeks living abroad, according to the Bank of Greece and the eight-year monetary policy report 2016-2023.
GENERAL
– Greece has ordered some businesses not to let their employees perform heavy outdoor duties from midday till 5 p.m. till Friday (July 19) as the mercury is expected to reach 42-43 Celsius in parts of the country. The highest temperature values are expected on Wednesday (July 17) and Thursday (July 18) in the interior of mainland Greece, mainly in the west, central and north of the country.
-Very high fire risk (category 4) is forecast for Thursday in Attica, Peloponnese and Crete, as well as in Northern Aegean, Western Greece, Eastern Macedonia and Thrace according to the Fire Risk Forecast Map issued by the Ministry of Climate Crisis & Civil Protection.
-The archaelogical site of the Acropolis will remain closed between noon and 17:00 on Wednesday (July 17) due to the extremely high temperatures forecast in Athens, the culture ministry announced.
TOURISM
There is a need for a holistic approach to the development of tourist ports and berths for pleasure boats, according to representatives of the sector. The demand for berths in popular destinations, especially in the Ionian, Dodecanese and Attica, is still high, especially in the summer months, and at the moment the number of existing berths cannot be met, the president of the Greek Marinas Association, Stavros Katsikadis told Naftemporiki.
-Cruise industry opposes new EU plan for Piraeus Port, Greece’s largest port, To Vima reported. According to the proposal, cruise ship passengers will be transported by shuttle boats from Piraeus to the Peace and Friendship Stadium (SEF), so that they can then travel to Athens once the construction of the new cruise terminal is completed.