Lamia

As temperatures are expected to hit and even exceed 40 degrees Celsius in many parts of the country this weekend, a National Observatory of Athens (NOA) scientist said Greece may be in for the hottest May heatwave in at least 50 years.

Αuthorities are concerned about a trend involving large groups of young people gathering in squares with alcohol from bars and cafes offering takeaway services, with a square in Agia Paraskevi, north of Athens, being closed indefinitely after two nights of parties that culminated in clashes with police. 

PAOK, Olympiakos and Aris have clinched a spot in the Greek Cup semifinals this week, while one of AEK and Panetolikos will join them next week.

PAOK defeated Panathinaikos 2-0 in controversial fashion in Thessaloniki on Wednesday to take a significant lead in the most important pairing of the Greek Cup quarterfinals, while Olympiakos, AEK and Atromitos also got the edge from the week's first-leg games.

Greek health authorities on Tuesday stepped up preparations for dealing with the possible appearance of a deadly new coronavirus that has killed at least 132 people and infected thousands in China since its outbreak earlier this month.

The European Commission approved a 255-million-euro investment for the construction of a road section in central Greece, it said on Friday.

The Cohesion Fund resources will be used to complete the link between Lamia and Xyniada in central Greece (part of road E65), connecting central Greece and west Thessaly with the main national network.

PAOK kept up the chase of Super League leader Olympiakos beating AEK on Sunday in a tightly contested game, after the Reds had comfortably seen off host Lamia.

PAOK and Olympiakos appear to have already clinched their tickets to the Greek Cup's quarterfinals after the midweek first-leg games, while Panathinaikos suffered another defeat, this time at Super League 2 leader PAS Giannina.

A director of the department responsible for Attica's motorways was sacked on Tuesday for omissions and mistakes that led to the shutdown of a section of the national highway connecting Athens to Lamia on Monday.

Lamia added another major scalp to its collection in the Greek Cup this year, as it followed up the elimination of Panathinaikos with a shock win at Olympiakos on Thursday, to see the central Greece team through to the tournament's semis and the Reds crash out. Lamia has joined AEK, PAOK and Asteras Tripolis in the semifinal line-up.