South Aegean

"The first part of the agreement was that we would collect information on the things that the two Turks would tell us. My first task was to put military targets under surveillance, to record troop movements, infrastructure and business activity in order to ascertain whether, for example, any major industrial units were being built."

The Regional Authority of the Southern Aegean, the Soft Energy Applications Laboratory, the Center for Technological Research in Piraeus and the University of West Attica on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at the creation of a roadmap for the transformation of 10 remote Aegean islands into "smart islands" via state-of-the-art networking technology.

Two men were knocked unconscious on the island of Tinos on Thursday after a wall fell, trapping them underneath.

Six firemen with three vehicles were called to extricated them, the fire service said.

The incident occurred at the mountainous village of Mountado. 

High winds, some exceeding 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour), in parts of Greece have prompted authorities to halt ferry services between the mainland and the islands.

Authorities also said Wednesday that schools were closed on the Aegean Sea islands of Andros, Mykonos and Tinos.

A 74-year-old British tourist died on the southeastern Aegean island of Kalymnos on Tuesday night because there was no ambulance available to take her to hospital, according to the national union of public hospital workers (POEDIN).

In a statement, POEDIN said the local hospital on Kalymnos does not provide an ambulance service at night.

Thousands of travelers have been stranded on Greece's islands due to a strike by ferry crews seeking higher pay and tax breaks.

The main PNO crew union is meeting to decide whether to extend the one-day strike, which will normally run until early Tuesday.

Directed by conductor Alkis Baltas, the annual Festival of Religious Music of Patmos is taking place from August 20 to September 3 this year, at the eastern Aegean island's Cave of the Apocalypse, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The roster starts with the Saint Sion Choir from the island of Lesvos in Greek music written in praise of the Virgin Mary.

Efforts are underway to dislodge a ferry that ran aground in shallow waters in the port of Gavrio on Andros island.

The "Andros Jet" is carrying 46 passengers and nine vehicles on the Andros-Tinos-Syros route.

A Greek regional authority said it is suspending all cooperation with one of the country's banks after the lender announced the closure of its branches on three islands.

Earlier this week, Alpha Bank announced it would cease operations at its branches on the islands of Tilos, Leipsoi and Kassos on September 14. The closures would leave the remote islands without a bank.

The doctor shortages that are hampering the operation of hospitals are particularly acute on the islands which are busier than usual during the peak tourist season.