American Navy

Two United States warships sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Sunday, the American navy said, the first such transit since China staged unprecedented military drills around the island.

The Thessaloniki Concert Hall is screening a production of Giacomo Puccini's heart-wrenching drama "Madama Butterfly" live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York on Saturday, November 9, with the Athens Concert Hall following suit a week later, on November 16. Hui He stars as the devoted geisha who sacrifices everything for the dashing American navy officer Pinkerton, sung by Andrea Care.

US Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt has once again highlighted the strategic importance that the base at Souda Bay in Crete has for Washington, describing it as a model of bilateral military cooperation. 

Speaking at a reception Friday evening marking 242 years since the founding of the American navy, Pyatt said Greece and the US are two allies that are pursuing similar goals. 

The US aircraft carrier Carl Vinson and other warships started joint exercises with Japan on April 23, the American navy said, as regional tensions rise over North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

The Greek National Opera’s production of Giacomo Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” had its opening night in Athens on Sunday.

Performances will continue at the ‘Megaron’ Athens Concert Hall until January 27.

It went largely unnoticed in Turkey when the U.S. Congress on Dec. 19, 2014, approved the potential transfer to Taiwan and Mexico of six frigates being decommissioned by the American Navy.