Kalamata

Powerful and persistent downpours have caused significant destruction to roads in parts of Messinia in the Peloponnese over recent days, and particularity in the highlands of Mount Taygetos.

Powerful and persistent downpours have caused significant destruction to roads in parts of Messinia in the Peloponnese over recent days, and particularity in the highlands of Mount Taygetos.

A 15-year-old school student died on Friday afternoon after being hit by a car on a section of the old national highway near the town of Kalamata, in the southern Peloponnese.

Greece appears to have recorded an all-time high in passenger traffic at its airports last year, reflecting the growth of Greek tourism and particularly the evolution of Athens as a major destination in its own right.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was in Athens on Thursday holding talks with his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos after laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Following his talks with Pavlopoulos, Steinmeier is due to meet Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the Maximos Mansion at noon.

German government spokesman Steffen Seibert reiterated on Wednesday Germany's position that the issue of war reparations to Greece has been settled "legally and politically."

"The reparations issue was legally and politically settled," he said at a news conference in Berlin, adding that "nothing has changed" in that position.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is due to hold talks in Athens on Thursday with his Greek counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.

The two men are to travel to Kalamata on Friday on the 74th anniversary of the liberation of Athens from German occupation, widely considered as the end of the Nazi occupation of Greece.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is due in Greece on October 11 and 12 for an official visit, it was announced on Monday.

Steinmeyer, who was invited to Greece by his counterpart Prokopis Pavlopoulos, is to meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras during his visit.

Police in the southern Peloponnese on Monday arrested five suspects who had been remanded the previous day in connection with an attack on SYRIZA lawmaker Petros Constantineas.

Danish homeware retailer JYSK is inaugurating two new outlets in the towns of Kalamata and Pyrgos in the Peloponnese on Thursday, bringing the number of stores it operates in Greece to 21.

According to the company's plan, its Greek network will come to a total of 40 stores, with owner Lars Larsen pledging completion by the end of 2020.