Latest News from Greece
Israel pivotal in Greece's defense plans
At the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign and Defense ministries, top officials are engaged in a two-pronged sustained effort to expand Greece's alliances in the wider region and upgrade its defense capabilities.
In these efforts, and especially on defense, Israel is emerging as a pivotal ally, high-ranked sources in government tell Kathimerini.
Dendias, Maas speak ahead of FAC meeting
Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias on Monday held a telephone call with his German counterpart Heiko Maas in view of the upcoming Foreign Affairs Council which is responsible for the EU's external action.
In a tweet, Dendias said the conversation focused on recent regional developments.
No more details were immediately available.
Cold weather front hits Greece, with snow shutting highway
A cold weather front has hit Greece, sending temperatures plunging from the low 20s degrees Celsius (around 70 Fahrenheit) on Friday to well below freezing on Monday, and seeing snowfall in central Athens.
Authorities appealed to the public to restrict their movements outside to the essential only, while the main highway leading north out of the capital was shut due to snowfall.
Cold front brings snowfall to Greek capital
Many Athenians woke up to a blanket of snow on Monday morning, as the cold front "Medea" that swept into Greece on Saturday affected most parts of the country and particularly higher altitudes.
In the capital, snowfall came early in the morning and blanketed northern suburbs like Kifissia, Ekali and Melissia, while also giving a dusting to the downtown area.
Colosseum-like structure found in Aegean
An ancient structure similar to the world-famous Colosseum amphitheater in Rome has been discovered during ongoing archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Mastaura in the Aegean province of Aydın's Nazilli district.
It is reported that the structure, which was cleaned and became visible, is unique in Turkey due to the fact that it is completely round.
Visegrad Group digital event from Athens
In the context of the Polish Presidency of the Visegrad Group, the Delphi Economic Forum and the Polish Embassy in Athens are set to hold an open digital event on Monday titled "Strong V4 Group in a Strong Europe," with the participation of Greece's Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis.
Fitch: Budget balance to convince market
The European Central Bank may be one of the strongest allies of Greece in this crisis, but the anticipated conclusion of the PEPP program is not expected to put Greek bonds at risk, as until then the sustainability of the country's public finances will have improved further, Fitch Ratings analysts told Kathimerini.
Coronavirus: 662 new cases, 23 deaths
Greek health authorities announced 662 new coronavirus cases in the 24-hour period ending at 3 p.m. Sunday, along with 23 deaths.
The number of patients on ventilators continued to rise, to 301 this time. Earlier this month it had fallen to a low of 244.
There were a total of 19,694 tests on Sunday, with the positive ones 3.36% of the total.
Greek diplomacy ticks off Turkey
The "Philia (Friendship) Forum" that brought together in Athens four Mediterranean states (Cyprus, Egypt, France and Greece) and three Gulf states (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) on Thursday apparently touched a raw nerve in Turkey, which reacted with a strongly worded statement by Foreign Ministry spokesman Hami Aksoy.
Snow forecast for Athens, as “Medea” cold front continues to move across Greece (photos-video)
Snow has covered many areas in Greece