Greece

Delegations from Greece and Turkey were meeting in Athens on Monday as part of long-standing efforts to improve often tense relations, days after Turkey voiced objections over Greece's plans to create marine nature reserves in the Ionian and Aegean seas.

The inexperience of the SYRIZA government (2015-2019) forced Greece to undergo another five tough years, noted Charles Dallara, the former Institute of International Finance head who in 2012 led negotiations on a major haircut on Greece's private-held debt, known as the private sector involvement (PSI).

Greece has reacted to a report in the Financial Times suggesting that the government in Athens faces significant pressure to supply air defense systems to Ukraine, clarifying that no action would be taken that might compromise the country's deterrent capability.

Greece and Spain are under significant pressure from their EU and NATO allies to provide air defense systems to Ukraine, according to a report in the Financial Times.

The race for the European elections dominates the political scene after parties unveiled their roster of candidates last week. Political leaders are crisscrossing the country, aiming to mobilize voters seven weeks before the ballot.

A new police directorate, specifically tasked to fight organized crime, will be created, probably before the end of the year, officials say.

Greek and Turkish delegations will on Monday hold a meeting on Confidence Building Measures at the Defense Ministry in Athens, according to an announcement on Sunday.

The delegations will be led by Greek Ambassador Theocharis Lalacos and Turkish Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Burak Akcapar. Additionally, high-level Armed Forces officers from both countries will be in attendance.

Overflights by Turkish fighters over Greek airspace, a lasting major source of tension between the two nominal allies, may have virtually ceased over the past six months, but this has not lulled Greek officials into believing that Turkey has abandoned its disputing of Greek sovereignty over large parts of the Aegean.

A dramatic demographic deterioration was one of the many factors that contributed to the fall of Constantinople in 1453 and the collapse of the centuries-old Byzantine Empire. The city's population had shrunk dramatically, and especially with regard to younger age groups.

Catch "TACK" at the Onassis Cultural Center on April 23 at 8.30 p.m. Directed by Greek-British filmmaker Vania Turner, the documentary follows Olympic champion Sofia Bekatorou and young sailing champion Amalia Provelengiou in Greece's #MeToo movement. A Q&A with the director will follow.