Finland

Efforts to prevent the sea around Andros being polluted after a cargo vessel ran aground off the Cycladic island on December 24 are facing difficulty due to stormy weather in the area.

According to the Passport Index annual report Greece is in the 6th position in the world ranking, as the Greek passport holders can travel to 153 countries without the need of a visa.

The Passport Index is an indicator of the strength of the passports of all countries based on the number of countries they can travel to without visa.

With only the ship’s bridge visible just above the surface, the Hellenic Navy’s S-70B helicopter is making an enormous effort to save the 9 men of a merchant ship that ran aground at the Greek island of Andros.

The video released by the Hellenic Navy is breathtaking and a testament to the bravery of those men that save lives regardless of the conditions.

All 12 victims of the truck attack in Berlin have been identified. According to the online edition of Spiegel, six men and six women were killed. Out of the 12 victims eight are German, four are foreigners - from the Czech Republic, Italy, Israel and Poland.

Among the injured, there are citizens of Israel, Hungary, Finland, Spain and the UK. Most of them are still in hospital.

The petition for holding a referendum on Finland's membership of the EU did not collect enough signatures in order to be discussed in Parliament, reported Reuters.

The idea of Fixit was proposed by the youth wing of the Eurosceptic Finns Party (previously known as the True Finns) which is part of the government.

The meeting of the Euro Working Group (EWG) ended on Tuesday with no agreement on whether the implementation of the short-term debt relief measures for Greece can go ahead, although the impasse may be overcome if Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos sends a letter of clarification regarding the recent handouts pledged by the government.

Athens is among the best destinations to travel to in 2017, according to renowned Conde Nast Traveller’s list.

From Conde Nast Traveller:

5.Athens

Among deteriorating weather conditions, a total of 48 migrants and refugees arrived at the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos Tuesday, authorities said.

No arrivals were recorded on the other islands, authorities said.

The number of migrants and refugees stranded on Greece's islands was Tuesday estimated at 11,299.

Finland said on Wednesday it would push the European Union to step up efforts to curb illegal migration by negotiating agreements with Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.

European leaders are due at a summit on Thursday to discuss results from their recent migration compacts with five African countries - Niger, Nigeria, Mali, Senegal and Ethiopia.

Nearly two-thirds of Greeks are inhaling someone elses tobacco smoke on a daily basis, making Greece the worst nation in the European Union in exposing its people to the health risks of passive smoking.