Athens

With the exception of the statue of the former American president Harry Truman in downtown Athens that has been toppled, splashed with paint and firebombed, Greece has not witnessed, at least in recent years, any attempts to "erase" history by means of vandalism.

Work on downtown Panepistimiou Street that is part of a plan to create an extensive network in Athens for pedestrians and bicycles caused traffic jams across the city center on Monday. The City of Athens has called for the understanding of residents as the project, dubbed the Grand Walk, is still in its pilot phase.

A protest rally by healthcare workers and ongoing public works in central Athens created long bottlenecks in main streets on Tuesday morning.

A National Archaeological Museum employee wears a face protective mask while walking next to statues, as museums open following the easing of measures against the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19), in Athens, Monday. [Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters]

A casino and two hotels being planned for the landmark plot of Athens' former international airport on the southern coast at Elliniko will be ready for business by 2024, Investment Minister Adonis Georgiadis said on Monday.

The distance between Athens and Tokyo is more than 9,500 kilometers; that between Greece and Japan in terms of technological development may well be even greater, with the Asian country having enjoyed a clear lead for decades.

The government has approved the demolition of five structures at the former Athens airport at Elliniko in southern Athens, a necessary step toward the long overdue redevelopment of the area, marking the start of the process undertaken by the consortium led by Lamda Development.

Five nightclubs in Attica were ordered to close over the weekend after raids on Friday night conducted by units of the Hellenic Police and the Development Ministry's General Secretariat for Trade and Consumer Protection established that the businesses had violated hygiene protocols aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus, notably by permitting excessive overcrowding.

Greek twins Marianna and Sofia Erotokritou delivered a fresh batch of thousands of protective face masks to the Hellenic Police (ELAS) on Wednesday to assist their country's fight against Covid-19.
The two young students, who have been living and studying in China since 2013, launched a campaign via WeChat to gather the supplies.

Positive signs are coming from potential residential property buyers - both Greeks and foreigners - even though the vast majority of interested parties are only seeing what's on offer on the market without deciding on the acquisition of a property.