Greek city-states

Archaeological excavations that have been carried out in the ancient city of Assos in the Ayvacık district of the southern province of Çanakkale bring new finds. Works in the Roman-era Nymphaeum (Monumental Fountain) in the east of the Agora, a third century B.C. weight unit, which was made of lead, has been unearthed.

Marking one of the most important holidays in the Greek Orthodox calendar, the Naxos Festival (naxos festival.gr) is holding its own "panigiri" at the Bazeos Tower on August 15.

Health and ambulance services on the islands are struggling to respond to increased needs with scarce capabilities in August for yet another summer. 

Mykonos, Paros, Santorini, Samos and Chios have just one ambulance operating around the clock and a second operating a few days a month. 

On Greece's popular island of Paros, a protest by residents demanding space and free access to its sandy beaches has led to a growing nationwide movement against the expansion of pricey sunbeds rented out by private companies.

Restoring the long-neglected National Theater of Rhodes is one of the top priorities in the capital of the southeastern Aegean island. The agreement for the project was signed recently by the South Aegean Regional Authority and the Municipality of Rhodes, with construction set to begin soon.

In recent years, we have been mere spectators in a joyless drama. From the decks of ferries and the windows of our hotels to the crowded shores of popular beaches and the tables of upscale nouvelle-cuisine-style tavernas serving ceviche, we watch helplessly as tourism swallows the Cyclades.

Amid fears of imminent inspections and the threat of legal consequences, the idyllic beaches of Plaka, Agia Anna and Agios Prokopios on the Cycladic island of Naxos were emptied of sunbeds and beach furniture. 

The move practically implies that there were either no permits or there were huge violations of the leases.

Unlicensed construction and all manner of violations, transgressions and outright real estate-related crimes have historically been the norm rather than the exception in many parts of the country, especially in areas with a lot of tourism.

Prompted by protests on popular Aegean Sea resort islands, dubbed the "beach-towel revolt," the Greek government said it remains firm in upholding the law and refrains from making concessions. Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis emphasized this stance on Skai TV's morning bulletin on Thursday.

A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel rescued 17 migrants in the eastern Aegean on Wednesday and safely transferred them to the port of Chios, where they were to undergo a registration procedure at the VIAL detention center.

A preliminary investigation has been launched by the Central Port Authority of Chios.