Prefectures of Greece

The number of stranded refugees and migrants on the islands of the northern Aegean has increased.

7,614 identified persons on the islands of Lesvos, Chios and Samos on Friday are ready to leave for Piraeus port, while 821 arrivals were recorded on the island of Lesvos in the last 24 hours.

The Greek farmers escalate their protest actions and insist on their demands asking the Greek government to withdraw first the reforms on social security and tax system and then begin the talks.

Telegraph includes six Greek islands among the 18 best “secret” island paradises in Europe.

The Greek islands, that the British newspaper distinguishes are Kastellorizo, Meganisi, Monemvasia, Kea, Koufonisia and Ios and it describes them as follows:

Even though summer is still far away, we all love looking at summer destinations either recalling our past vacation or dreaming of our future holiday.

But, it is also a good time to book early our next trip and get huge savings.

Farmers protesting against the government’s proposed plan for social security reforms escalate their protests actions and despite the bad weather they decide to continue blocking the roads.

On Friday they decided to close the motorway at Tempi Valley for 24 hours on Saturday, as they toughen their stance towards the government.

A meeting at of farmers representatives on Tuesday agreed upon 66 road blocks around Greece in protest against the social security reforms being tabled by Greek Parliament. They said that they would not enter dialogue with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras unless they receive a commitment that their rights would be protected.

The Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Ministry and the Shipping and Island Policy Ministry in cooperation with the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF) are planning to grant immediately licences for the construction of waterways on the islands of Paxoi, Zakynthos, Cephalonia and Lefkada as well as in Patras aiming to create the first network of waterways in Greece.

Popular outrage broke out in Greece and the #kastana (chestnut vendor) hashtag caught fire after 13 policeman arrested an elderly Thessaloniki chestnut vendor for not issuing receipts.

Temperatures took a nose dive as mountain peaks enjoyed their first snow for the season. Mount Parnassos, towering over Delphi in Northern Greece, wore its winter colors as snow flakes fell over Fterokala (1,600 m) early on Sunday morning.

At Samarina and Perivoli at Grevena, west Macedonia, temperatures dropped and 10cm-thick snow covered the region.

The Society for the Revival of the Nemean Games aims to establish and run a unique school of sports, a School of Ancient Greek Athletics.

This school will accept students of all ages and from all over the world and will teach them the practice and philosophy of sports in ancient Greece.