Two Greek citizens have been arrested and will be facing charges for espionage for working against Turkey on the southeastern island of Rhodes.

Out of the two suspects, one of them had been operating from a ferry from the&nbsp;Rhodes to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just off the Turkish coast, and the second was reportedly employed at the Turkish consulate in Rhodes.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-greece-turkey-are-fighting-over-hydrocarbons-in-mediterranean-sea-320304">Why Greece, Turkey are fighting over hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Sea</a>

The two were arrested after a secret investigation that was "conducted in close cooperation with the Greek National Intelligence Service, EYP," the Greek police said in a statement.

As of now, it has been alleged that the first suspect, who was working on a ferry, was responsible for reporting the position of the Greek Navy ships and providing all other relevant and secret information about the Greek forces to the other suspect who was stationed on the islands.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/how-significant-is-the-greece-uae-defence-agreement-347937/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

While the charges have not been proven yet, the two are being believed to have spied on Turkey consciously. Further involvements of international groups or governments has not been established yet.

The matter has also gained attention as the island of&nbsp;Kastellorizo, which is 1.2 miles off the Turkish coast, is situated in disputed waters which has been a reason of escalation of tensions between Greece and Turkey for the past few years.

Two Greek citizens have been arrested and will be facing charges for espionage for working against Turkey on the southeastern island of Rhodes. Out of the two suspects, one of them had been operating from a ferry from the Rhodes to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just off the Turkish coast, and the second was reportedly employed at the Turkish consulate in Rhodes.

Two Greek citizens have been arrested and will be facing charges for espionage for working against Turkey on the southeastern island of Rhodes. Out of the two suspects, one of them had been operating from a ferry from the Rhodes to the Greek island of Kastellorizo, just off the Turkish coast, and the second was reportedly employed at the Turkish consulate in Rhodes. Also read| Why Greece, Turkey are fighting over hydrocarbons in Mediterranean Sea The two were arrested after a secret investigation that was "conducted in close cooperation with the Greek National Intelligence Service, EYP," the Greek police said in a statement. As of now, it has been alleged that the first suspect, who was working on a ferry, was responsible for reporting the position of the Greek Navy ships and providing all other relevant and secret information about the Greek forces to the other suspect who was stationed on the islands. × While the charges have not been proven yet, the two are being believed to have spied on Turkey consciously. Further involvements of international groups or governments has not been established yet. The matter has also gained attention as the island of Kastellorizo, which is 1.2 miles off the Turkish coast, is situated in disputed waters which has been a reason of escalation of tensions between Greece and Turkey for the past few years.

Greek citizens charged for spying on Turkey

Greece will slash quarantine time for incoming travellers and reopen churches for Christmas, a government spokesman said Friday, although coronavirus infection rates remain high.

"Up to nine people will be allowed in churches and up to 25 people in cathedrals" on Christmas Day and Epiphany, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters.

And there was good news for some small businesses as hair salons and bookstores can also resume operation from Monday.

An ongoing coronavirus lockdown to January 7 remains in force, but the quarantine period for incoming travellers will be reduced from 10 to three days for those arriving from December 18, Petsas said.

The government added that because of major delays in parcel delivery, retail stores can&nbsp;distribute online orders through &nbsp;click-and-collect side exits until January 7, wherever possible.

"Just one person will be allowed to collect their order... we must avoid major social mobility and crowding outside stores," Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis said.

Greece has struggled to alleviate pressure on its health system amid hundreds of daily infections and scores of deaths.

Over 120,000 cases have been recorded since February -- with infections spiking after the summer -- and over 3,300 people have died of the virus.

Over 80 percent of intensive care beds nationwide are currently occupied, Petsas said Friday.

Greece will slash quarantine time for incoming travellers and reopen churches for Christmas, a government spokesman said Friday, although coronavirus infection rates remain high.

Greece will slash quarantine time for incoming travellers and reopen churches for Christmas, a government spokesman said Friday, although coronavirus infection rates remain high. "Up to nine people will be allowed in churches and up to 25 people in cathedrals" on Christmas Day and Epiphany, government spokesman Stelios Petsas told reporters. And there was good news for some small businesses as hair salons and bookstores can also resume operation from Monday. An ongoing coronavirus lockdown to January 7 remains in force, but the quarantine period for incoming travellers will be reduced from 10 to three days for those arriving from December 18, Petsas said. The government added that because of major delays in parcel delivery, retail stores can distribute online orders through click-and-collect side exits until January 7, wherever possible. "Just one person will be allowed to collect their order... we must avoid major social mobility and crowding outside stores," Development Minister Adonis Georgiadis said. Greece has struggled to alleviate pressure on its health system amid hundreds of daily infections and scores of deaths. Over 120,000 cases have been recorded since February -- with infections spiking after the summer -- and over 3,300 people have died of the virus. Over 80 percent of intensive care beds nationwide are currently occupied, Petsas said Friday.

Greece to shorten quarantine, open churches for Christmas

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that his country would not “bow down to threats and blackmail" in his disputes with Greece. This comes as European Union foreign ministers meet in Brussels to discuss the issue of sanctions over the dispute.

Prez Erdogan says, Turkey will not bow to threats

ATHENS — The coronavirus has dealt a double blow to the powerful Greek Orthodox Church, with the disease spreading through its ranks while the clergy fends off criticism that it has been stoking the pandemic.

The church’s leader, Archbishop Ieronymos, declared from the outset of the pandemic in the spring that he was committed to supporting the conservative government’s public health campaign to halt the spread of the virus. On Nov. 30, the 82-year-old archbishop left an Athens hospital after 12 days of treatment for the virus, urging Greeks to “restrict yourselves, discipline yourselves, follow the rules.”

Watch |&nbsp;

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/greece-has-extended-national-lockdown-till-december-14-347748/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

But defiance by Orthodox hard-liners and the church’s unflinching commitment to the tradition of Holy Communion, where worshippers consume sacramental bread soaked in wine from a common spoon, appears to have undercut those good intentions. Several clergy members have even gone as far as insisting that faith in the communion sacrament can shield people from the virus.

As Greek authorities struggle to contain a second wave of the virus, some of the fiercest criticism of the church is coming from within its own ranks. One bishop, Anthimos of Alexandroupolis, condemned those who, with “criminal sermons,” have urged Greeks to ignore public health restrictions.

“We believed we were supermen. We hid the fact that we’d been infected by the virus and were led to the grave,” he wrote in an article posted online last month. “Pious Egotism Kills!” he added.

Nasos Iliopoulos, spokesman for the leftist opposition party Syriza, said, “The fact that these are the words of a bishop make it clear that the church’s response to the pandemic has been questionable.”

“Let’s not forget the existence of a conservative/religious public that often appears to deny not only the measures but the very existence of the pandemic,” Iliopoulos added, saying the state must make clear that observing the coronavirus restrictions is an obligation for all.

It is not clear to what extent places of worship have contributed to the spread of the virus in a country where 8 in 10 people say religion is an important part of their lives.

Conservative government officials have chiefly blamed overcrowding in bars and restaurants and seem loath to point the finger at the church, even though the disease has clearly spread through the ranks of the clergy in recent weeks — particularly afflicting older members who are most vulnerable to the virus.

At least six of the church’s 82 bishops in Greece have caught the virus, including 62-year-old Bishop Ioannis of Lagadas in northern Greece, who died from it Nov. 15. But the actual number of infected clerics is not known, as some have not made their illnesses public, calling it “a personal issue,” church officials said.

“Some clergy, hierarchs included, seem to act as if they believe themselves to be immune to the disease,” said George Demacopoulos, a co-director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. “We are seeing the tragic results of this sort of thinking.”

Although Greece initially fared relatively well in coping with the pandemic, the second wave has proved tougher to curb. As of Friday, the country had 113,185 confirmed cases and 2,804 deaths, with most of the deaths recorded over the past month.

Ieronymos tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 16, two days after meeting Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis amid the country’s latest lockdown to discuss the opening of churches for Christmas. (Mitsotakis subsequently tested negative).

Other Orthodox churches in Europe have also been struck by the virus.

The Orthodox patriarch of Serbia, Irinej, 90, and the patriarch of Montenegro, Amfilohije, 82, both died from it in recent weeks. The Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios, a 91-year-old ethnic Greek, was flown in for treatment at the same Athens hospital that treated Archbishop Ieronymos last month.

Irinej had officiated at Amfilohije’s funeral in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, on Nov. 1. The funeral drew thousands of mourners, many of them kissing the body of the deceased cleric. Several clerics contracted the virus after that gathering.

Similar “superspreader” events appear to have fueled the transmission of the virus through the ranks of the Greek clergy, notably a dinner for the Holy Synod, the church’s governing body, in Athens and a ceremony for the patron saint of Thessaloniki in northern Greece.

Bishop Ioannis of Lagadas had been in a throng of clerics and worshippers at the saint day celebrations in late October, several weeks before his death. He was among those who claimed that the virus does not spread through Holy Communion.

A vigil for the eradication of the coronavirus at Mount Athos, a monastic community in northern Greece, also drew scores of people in a crowd last month. It followed an outbreak there in September, although monastery officials said all participants had been tested for COVID-19.

A Greek court recently cleared a bishop, Nektarios of Corfu, of violating COVID-19 health restrictions even though he urged worshippers to defy the spring lockdown and attend church.

The Holy Synod said that it was complying with health measures, including the enforcement of social distancing and the mandatory use of face masks in churches. But at the same time, it condemned a “neurotic” focus by critics on Holy Communion.

“If you don’t believe and see it as wine and bread, you are not protected,” said Giorgos Vasileiou, head of the synod’s press office. “I see it as the body of Christ, so I am.”

Several conservative lawmakers say they continue to participate in the sacrament of communion, and a government minister was recently photographed doing so.

Opinion polls, however, indicate that 7 in 10 Greeks believe that communion spreads the virus, and a new survey found that 7 in 10 described the church’s response to the pandemic as irresponsible.

Greece’s National Public Health Organization, Eody, breaks down infections by region, gender and age and conducts targeted inspections in harder-hit regions but does not systematically track the sources of outbreaks. As such, it does not release figures linking cases to church attendance, public transportation or bars among other sources.

Epidemiologists in Greece have differing opinions on the question of Holy Communion.

Eleni Yiamarellou, a government health adviser, has publicly declared that the practice poses no health risk to believers.

Another prominent epidemiologist, Athina Linou, has called on the Greek Orthodox Church to reconsider the tradition of using a single spoon, as has been done in Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the United States.

Although the messages are mixed, religious experts say the church cannot speak out against a crucial tenet of Orthodox religious practice.

“It could not show flexibility on the issue of Holy Communion,” said Apostolos Nikolaidis, professor of the sociology of religion at the University of Athens. “It would nullify itself, its nature, its very existence.”

ATHENS — The coronavirus has dealt a double blow to the powerful Greek Orthodox Church, with the disease spreading through its ranks while the clergy fends off criticism that it has been stoking the pandemic.

ATHENS — The coronavirus has dealt a double blow to the powerful Greek Orthodox Church, with the disease spreading through its ranks while the clergy fends off criticism that it has been stoking the pandemic. The church’s leader, Archbishop Ieronymos, declared from the outset of the pandemic in the spring that he was committed to supporting the conservative government’s public health campaign to halt the spread of the virus. On Nov. 30, the 82-year-old archbishop left an Athens hospital after 12 days of treatment for the virus, urging Greeks to “restrict yourselves, discipline yourselves, follow the rules.” Watch | But defiance by Orthodox hard-liners and the church’s unflinching commitment to the tradition of Holy Communion, where worshippers consume sacramental bread soaked in wine from a common spoon, appears to have undercut those good intentions. Several clergy members have even gone as far as insisting that faith in the communion sacrament can shield people from the virus. As Greek authorities struggle to contain a second wave of the virus, some of the fiercest criticism of the church is coming from within its own ranks. One bishop, Anthimos of Alexandroupolis, condemned those who, with “criminal sermons,” have urged Greeks to ignore public health restrictions. “We believed we were supermen. We hid the fact that we’d been infected by the virus and were led to the grave,” he wrote in an article posted online last month. “Pious Egotism Kills!” he added. Nasos Iliopoulos, spokesman for the leftist opposition party Syriza, said, “The fact that these are the words of a bishop make it clear that the church’s response to the pandemic has been questionable.” “Let’s not forget the existence of a conservative/religious public that often appears to deny not only the measures but the very existence of the pandemic,” Iliopoulos added, saying the state must make clear that observing the coronavirus restrictions is an obligation for all. It is not clear to what extent places of worship have contributed to the spread of the virus in a country where 8 in 10 people say religion is an important part of their lives. Conservative government officials have chiefly blamed overcrowding in bars and restaurants and seem loath to point the finger at the church, even though the disease has clearly spread through the ranks of the clergy in recent weeks — particularly afflicting older members who are most vulnerable to the virus. At least six of the church’s 82 bishops in Greece have caught the virus, including 62-year-old Bishop Ioannis of Lagadas in northern Greece, who died from it Nov. 15. But the actual number of infected clerics is not known, as some have not made their illnesses public, calling it “a personal issue,” church officials said. “Some clergy, hierarchs included, seem to act as if they believe themselves to be immune to the disease,” said George Demacopoulos, a co-director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University. “We are seeing the tragic results of this sort of thinking.” Although Greece initially fared relatively well in coping with the pandemic, the second wave has proved tougher to curb. As of Friday, the country had 113,185 confirmed cases and 2,804 deaths, with most of the deaths recorded over the past month. Ieronymos tested positive for COVID-19 on Nov. 16, two days after meeting Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis amid the country’s latest lockdown to discuss the opening of churches for Christmas. (Mitsotakis subsequently tested negative). Other Orthodox churches in Europe have also been struck by the virus. The Orthodox patriarch of Serbia, Irinej, 90, and the patriarch of Montenegro, Amfilohije, 82, both died from it in recent weeks. The Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios, a 91-year-old ethnic Greek, was flown in for treatment at the same Athens hospital that treated Archbishop Ieronymos last month. Irinej had officiated at Amfilohije’s funeral in Montenegro’s capital, Podgorica, on Nov. 1. The funeral drew thousands of mourners, many of them kissing the body of the deceased cleric. Several clerics contracted the virus after that gathering. Similar “superspreader” events appear to have fueled the transmission of the virus through the ranks of the Greek clergy, notably a dinner for the Holy Synod, the church’s governing body, in Athens and a ceremony for the patron saint of Thessaloniki in northern Greece. Bishop Ioannis of Lagadas had been in a throng of clerics and worshippers at the saint day celebrations in late October, several weeks before his death. He was among those who claimed that the virus does not spread through Holy Communion. A vigil for the eradication of the coronavirus at Mount Athos, a monastic community in northern Greece, also drew scores of people in a crowd last month. It followed an outbreak there in September, although monastery officials said all participants had been tested for COVID-19. A Greek court recently cleared a bishop, Nektarios of Corfu, of violating COVID-19 health restrictions even though he urged worshippers to defy the spring lockdown and attend church. The Holy Synod said that it was complying with health measures, including the enforcement of social distancing and the mandatory use of face masks in churches. But at the same time, it condemned a “neurotic” focus by critics on Holy Communion. “If you don’t believe and see it as wine and bread, you are not protected,” said Giorgos Vasileiou, head of the synod’s press office. “I see it as the body of Christ, so I am.” Several conservative lawmakers say they continue to participate in the sacrament of communion, and a government minister was recently photographed doing so. Opinion polls, however, indicate that 7 in 10 Greeks believe that communion spreads the virus, and a new survey found that 7 in 10 described the church’s response to the pandemic as irresponsible. Greece’s National Public Health Organization, Eody, breaks down infections by region, gender and age and conducts targeted inspections in harder-hit regions but does not systematically track the sources of outbreaks. As such, it does not release figures linking cases to church attendance, public transportation or bars among other sources. Epidemiologists in Greece have differing opinions on the question of Holy Communion. Eleni Yiamarellou, a government health adviser, has publicly declared that the practice poses no health risk to believers. Another prominent epidemiologist, Athina Linou, has called on the Greek Orthodox Church to reconsider the tradition of using a single spoon, as has been done in Romania, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. Although the messages are mixed, religious experts say the church cannot speak out against a crucial tenet of Orthodox religious practice. “It could not show flexibility on the issue of Holy Communion,” said Apostolos Nikolaidis, professor of the sociology of religion at the University of Athens. “It would nullify itself, its nature, its very existence.”

Greek Orthodox Church faces criticism as virus hits its ranks

Around 100 people were arrested Sunday in Athens at banned marches to mark the 12th anniversary of the police killing of a teenager, Greek police said.

Scores of students, trades unionists and leading politicians on the left defied a ban on gatherings of more than four people that had been imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

They were paying tribute to 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on the 12th anniversary of his shooting death at the hands of police in the Exarchia district of the Greek capital.

The annual march has frequently been marred by violence in the past.

On Sunday, city centre metro stations were shut and police deployed heavily in the Exarchia district as surveillance drones flew overhead.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/greece-has-extended-national-lockdown-till-december-14-347748/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Police broke up a similar demonstration in front of the Greek parliament on Friday.

The officer who killed Grigoropoulos was convicted of homicide and given a life sentence, but then released in 2019, a decision that the dead teenager's family are appealing in the courts.

The country erupted at the time of his killing with students, left-wing activists and others taking part in increasingly large protests that were also marked by vandalism and looting.

The conservative government has extended anti-Covid lockdown rules to December 14, a decision the leftwing opposition has criticised as a cover for imposing increasingly heavy-handed security measures.

A November 17 demonstration commemorating the 1973 uprising against the colonels' junta was violently broken up.

On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, five activists were arrested for unfurling a banner in outside parliament.

Around 100 people were arrested Sunday in Athens at banned marches to mark the 12th anniversary of the police killing of a teenager, Greek police said. Scores of students, trades unionists and leading politicians on the left defied a ban on gatherings of more than four people that had been imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

Around 100 people were arrested Sunday in Athens at banned marches to mark the 12th anniversary of the police killing of a teenager, Greek police said. Scores of students, trades unionists and leading politicians on the left defied a ban on gatherings of more than four people that had been imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus. They were paying tribute to 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos on the 12th anniversary of his shooting death at the hands of police in the Exarchia district of the Greek capital. The annual march has frequently been marred by violence in the past. On Sunday, city centre metro stations were shut and police deployed heavily in the Exarchia district as surveillance drones flew overhead. × Police broke up a similar demonstration in front of the Greek parliament on Friday. The officer who killed Grigoropoulos was convicted of homicide and given a life sentence, but then released in 2019, a decision that the dead teenager's family are appealing in the courts. The country erupted at the time of his killing with students, left-wing activists and others taking part in increasingly large protests that were also marked by vandalism and looting. The conservative government has extended anti-Covid lockdown rules to December 14, a decision the leftwing opposition has criticised as a cover for imposing increasingly heavy-handed security measures. A November 17 demonstration commemorating the 1973 uprising against the colonels' junta was violently broken up. On November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, five activists were arrested for unfurling a banner in outside parliament.

Greek police arrest dozens at march in memory of slain teen

This strategic partnership, according to UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, aims to “enhance political, economic and cultural cooperation” between the two countries.

How significant is the Greece-UAE defence agreement?

Authorities in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki have dug dozens of graves for the victims of COVID-19 after a sharp increase in the number of deaths.

Greece has extended national lockdown till December 14

Days after a top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was killed reactions from country continue to pour in. Most of the countries have called for calm after President Hassan Rouhani accused Israel of being the assassination. No one has claimed the responsibility in killing the nuclear scientist so far.

Iran Nuclear scientist's assassination: How the world responded

An explosion occurred on a Greek tanker ship on Wednesday. At the time of the blast, the tanker was at Saudi Arabian port of Al Shauqaiq. The cause of the blast is not yet known. No one has been injured. Investigation into the explosion is underway.

"The explosion happened around 0300 local time (0000 GMT), but the causes have not yet been identified," an official of Greek ministry of the merchant marine.

The Agrari MT tanker was flying a Maltese flag and there were 25 crew members onboard. Seven of them were Greeks.

"The crew's health is good," a senior ministry official said.

Owned by the Economou group of companies, the tanker was carrying no cargo when the explosion happened, the ministry added.

All damage to the ship was above the waterline, one ministry source who asked not to be named said. 
The source added that Saudi Arabian police were investigating the cause of the blast.

(With AFP inputs)

An explosion occurred on a Greek tanker ship on Wednesday. At the time of the blast, the tanker was at Saudi Arabian port of Al Shauqaiq. The cause of the blast is not yet known.

An explosion occurred on a Greek tanker ship on Wednesday. At the time of the blast, the tanker was at Saudi Arabian port of Al Shauqaiq. The cause of the blast is not yet known. No one has been injured. Investigation into the explosion is underway. "The explosion happened around 0300 local time (0000 GMT), but the causes have not yet been identified," an official of Greek ministry of the merchant marine. The Agrari MT tanker was flying a Maltese flag and there were 25 crew members onboard. Seven of them were Greeks. "The crew's health is good," a senior ministry official said. Owned by the Economou group of companies, the tanker was carrying no cargo when the explosion happened, the ministry added. All damage to the ship was above the waterline, one ministry source who asked not to be named said. The source added that Saudi Arabian police were investigating the cause of the blast. (With AFP inputs)

Explosion on Greek tanker at Saudi Arabian port

In the midst of a pandemic, decorative Christmas candles in Greece look a little different this year. Santa has adorned a blue surgical face mask, as one candlemaker said he wanted to do his part to raise awareness about wearing a mask.

Christmas candles with a twist: In Greece, Santa masked due to coronavirus

Greek police on Sunday announced a ban on public gatherings of four or more people as hospitals were overwhelmed with coronavirus cases,&nbsp;ahead of the annual anniversary of a 1973 anti-junta uprising.

Greece on Saturday said it would shut primary schools, kindergartens and daycare centres as coronavirus deaths crossed a thousand.

The anti-junta demonstration is a treasured anniversary for many Greeks, and more than 30,000 people demonstrated in Athens and other major cities last year under a heavy police presence.

At least 24 people were killed in the 1973 crackdown, an event generally considered to have broken the junta's grip on power and helped the restoration of democracy.

This year, however, all public gatherings of four or more people would be banned from 6 am on Sunday to 9 pm on Wednesday to stem the spread of coronavirus, police said in a statement.&nbsp;

Fines of 5,000 euros will be issued to legal entities like political parties and 3,000 euros for individuals who organise gatherings, while those participating will be fined 300 euros. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said on Friday that the events and marches commemorating the November 17 Athens Polytechnic student uprising will not take place this year.

"We did not celebrate March 25th or October 28th, we did not celebrate Easter, we did not celebrate any of the things that unite us in 2020. The same will be the case with the Polytechnic anniversary," the minister said, referring to three national holidays that were not celebrated because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"The virus is the enemy and large gatherings are its main weapon," he added, prompting opposition parties to pledge they would proceed with demonstrations.

Communist KKE party leader Dimitris Koutsoumpas in an interview on Saturday stressed that "the Polytechnic march was never organised by the government". &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

"All the measures will be strictly observed with the use of face masks and antiseptics, keeping the necessary distances and of course we urge people belonging to vulnerable groups or those who are ill to stay at home," Koutsoumpas said. &nbsp;

Greece's former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, leader of the Diem25 party on Saturday accused the government of announcing in advance the arrest of his party's members.

On Friday, Greek police evacuated the premises of the historic Polytechnic building that now houses the National Technical University of Athens and another university campus and arrested 92 people for trespassing, disturbance and disorder.

Authorities on Saturday reported 2,835 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 72,510, and 38 new deaths, raising the toll to 1,035.

Greek police on Sunday announced a ban on public gatherings of four or more people as hospitals were overwhelmed with coronavirus cases, ahead of the annual anniversary of a 1973 anti-junta uprising.

Greek police on Sunday announced a ban on public gatherings of four or more people as hospitals were overwhelmed with coronavirus cases, ahead of the annual anniversary of a 1973 anti-junta uprising. Greece on Saturday said it would shut primary schools, kindergartens and daycare centres as coronavirus deaths crossed a thousand. The anti-junta demonstration is a treasured anniversary for many Greeks, and more than 30,000 people demonstrated in Athens and other major cities last year under a heavy police presence. At least 24 people were killed in the 1973 crackdown, an event generally considered to have broken the junta's grip on power and helped the restoration of democracy. This year, however, all public gatherings of four or more people would be banned from 6 am on Sunday to 9 pm on Wednesday to stem the spread of coronavirus, police said in a statement. Fines of 5,000 euros will be issued to legal entities like political parties and 3,000 euros for individuals who organise gatherings, while those participating will be fined 300 euros. Citizens' Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis said on Friday that the events and marches commemorating the November 17 Athens Polytechnic student uprising will not take place this year. "We did not celebrate March 25th or October 28th, we did not celebrate Easter, we did not celebrate any of the things that unite us in 2020. The same will be the case with the Polytechnic anniversary," the minister said, referring to three national holidays that were not celebrated because of the coronavirus pandemic. "The virus is the enemy and large gatherings are its main weapon," he added, prompting opposition parties to pledge they would proceed with demonstrations. Communist KKE party leader Dimitris Koutsoumpas in an interview on Saturday stressed that "the Polytechnic march was never organised by the government". "All the measures will be strictly observed with the use of face masks and antiseptics, keeping the necessary distances and of course we urge people belonging to vulnerable groups or those who are ill to stay at home," Koutsoumpas said. Greece's former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis, leader of the Diem25 party on Saturday accused the government of announcing in advance the arrest of his party's members. On Friday, Greek police evacuated the premises of the historic Polytechnic building that now houses the National Technical University of Athens and another university campus and arrested 92 people for trespassing, disturbance and disorder. Authorities on Saturday reported 2,835 new coronavirus cases, taking the total to 72,510, and 38 new deaths, raising the toll to 1,035.

Greece bans gatherings ahead of uprising anniversary

Homes, shops, beaches and streets flooded on Crete in Greece on Tuesday (November 10) after heavy storms wreaked havoc on the northern part of the island.

Chaos on Greece's Crete island from heavy floods

Greece announced a second lockdown due to the large spread of covid-19 cases in the country, the government also gave an extension for hair saloons for the next 3 days.

Greece announced Second lockdown for next 3 weeks due to covid panedemic.

The lockdown takes effect at 6:00 a.m. Saturday and runs until November 30. Like a similar lockdown in March, all non-essential retail businesses will be closed and residents will need a permit to go outdoors.

Greece enforces three-week national COVID-19 lockdown

After years of delays caused by red tape, cutbacks and opposition from religious and political factions, the first government-funded mosque in Athens since 1833 opened its doors to worshippers on Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of Muslims from countries including Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan and Bangladesh live in Athens but the city has not had a formal mosque since it forced occupying Ottomans to leave nearly 200 years ago.

Plans to build a mosque in Athens began in 1890 but it took decades for them to materialise due to opposition from a predominantly Christian Orthodox population and nationalists, sluggish bureaucracy but most recently a decade-long financial crisis.

Amid a coronavirus outbreak, only a limited number of worshippers, wearing masks and sitting at a distance from each other due to COVID-19 restrictions, attended prayers.

"It is a historic moment for the Muslim community living in Athens, we have been waiting for this mosque for so long," said Heider Ashir, a member of the mosque's governing council. "Thanks to God, finally, we have a mosque which is open and we can pray here freely."

But other Muslims were unhappy with the mosque's appearance. A grey, rectangular structure with no dome or minaret, has no resemblance to other graceful, ornate mosques in Europe.

"It does not at all look like a place of worship, it is a small, square, miserable building," said Naim El Ghandour, head of the Muslim Association of Greece. "We thank them very much for the offer, but we will fight to reach it to the level that we deserve."

Under a lockdown to curb a surge in COVID infections, gatherings for formal worshipping will be banned from Saturday until Nov. 30.

"We will pray at home, and as soon as the lockdown is over the mosque will again be open for the worshippers," Ashir said.

After years of delays caused by red tape, cutbacks and opposition from religious and political factions, the first government-funded mosque in Athens since 1833 opened its doors to worshippers on Friday.

After years of delays caused by red tape, cutbacks and opposition from religious and political factions, the first government-funded mosque in Athens since 1833 opened its doors to worshippers on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims from countries including Pakistan, Syria, Afghanistan and Bangladesh live in Athens but the city has not had a formal mosque since it forced occupying Ottomans to leave nearly 200 years ago. Plans to build a mosque in Athens began in 1890 but it took decades for them to materialise due to opposition from a predominantly Christian Orthodox population and nationalists, sluggish bureaucracy but most recently a decade-long financial crisis. Amid a coronavirus outbreak, only a limited number of worshippers, wearing masks and sitting at a distance from each other due to COVID-19 restrictions, attended prayers. "It is a historic moment for the Muslim community living in Athens, we have been waiting for this mosque for so long," said Heider Ashir, a member of the mosque's governing council. "Thanks to God, finally, we have a mosque which is open and we can pray here freely." But other Muslims were unhappy with the mosque's appearance. A grey, rectangular structure with no dome or minaret, has no resemblance to other graceful, ornate mosques in Europe. "It does not at all look like a place of worship, it is a small, square, miserable building," said Naim El Ghandour, head of the Muslim Association of Greece. "We thank them very much for the offer, but we will fight to reach it to the level that we deserve." Under a lockdown to curb a surge in COVID infections, gatherings for formal worshipping will be banned from Saturday until Nov. 30. "We will pray at home, and as soon as the lockdown is over the mosque will again be open for the worshippers," Ashir said.

Athens' first mosque in nearly 200 years opens for Friday prayers

Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors after the earthquake in Turkey. A lucky few were pulled from the rubble, including a 3-year-old who was trapped for 65 hours under the debris. Palki Sharma Upadhyay gets you the story of Turkey's miraculous survivors.

Gravitas: Turkey's Miraculous Earthquake Survivors

More than 800 people were injured from the earthquake that toppled buildings in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, and triggered a small tsunami in the district of Seferihisar and on Samos.

Rescue efforts under way after deadly earthquake in Turkey, Greece

Rescue teams continue to plough through concrete blocks and the debris of collapsed buildings on Sunday in search of survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck Turkey’s Aegean coast and north of the Greek island of Samos on Friday.

The death toll is on a rise -- with multiple&nbsp;reports saying at least 49 people have died.

More than 800 people were injured from the earthquake that toppled buildings in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, and triggered a 'mini' tsunami in the district of Seferihisar and on Samos.

As many as 200 people, or maybe more, were in hospital, AFAD said, and rescuers were still searching eight buildings in Izmir.

Nearly 6,000 rescuers from different agencies and cities worked together to reach survivors, at times hushing the crowds to listen into the rubble with sensitive headphones and crawling through the cracks.&nbsp;

Overnight, 33 hours after the quake, a 55-year-old man named by state news agency Anadolu as Ahmet was pulled out from underneath the rubble to applause of onlookers and taken to hospital.

A 65-year-old man was saved 26 hours after the quake. Rescue teams also saved a mother and her three children from rubble 23 hours after the earthquake.

Two other women, aged 53 and 35, were brought out from the rubble of another toppled two-story building earlier on October 31.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that 103 people have been rescued from the quake's rubble. It was unclear how many more people were trapped under buildings that were levelled.

Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, or AFAD, said 885 people were injured in Izmir and three other Provinces. The health minister said eight people were being treated in intensive care, with three of them in critical condition.

Two teenagers were killed on the island Samos after being struck by a collapsing wall. At least 19 people were injured on the island, with two, including a 14-year-old, being airlifted to Athens and seven hospitalized on the island, health authorities said.

The small tsunami that hit the Turkish coast also affected Samos, with seawater flooding streets in the main harbour town of Vathi.

The earthquake, which the Istanbul-based Kandilli Institute said had a magnitude of 6.9, was centred in the Aegean northeast of Samos. AFAD said it measured 6.6. and hit at a depth of some 16 km.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the tremor's magnitude at 7.0 -- at a relatively shallow depth of 21 kilometers (13 miles), the USGS reported, making its impact powerfully felt at ground level around the epicentre.

It was felt across the eastern Greek islands and as far as Athens and in Bulgaria. In Turkey, it shook the regions of Aegean and Marmara, including Istanbul.

Authorities warned residents in Izmir not to return to damaged buildings, saying they could collapse in strong aftershocks.

Turkey has reported more than 800 aftershocks following the quake, including 40 that were above four in magnitude.

Tensions between the two nations have flared recently over energy claims in the eastern Mediterranean.

But despite this, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Friday that he had spoken to his Turkish counterpart and offered his condolences.

"Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together," Mitsotakis wrote on Twitter.

In a tweet, the Turkish president offered his condolences to Greece and said "that two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life."

According to Erdogan, both Turkey and Greece were ready to send aid to the other.

(with inputs from agencies)

Rescue teams continue to plough through concrete blocks and the debris of collapsed buildings on Sunday in search of survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck Turkey’s Aegean coast and north of the Greek island of Samos on Friday.

Rescue teams continue to plough through concrete blocks and the debris of collapsed buildings on Sunday in search of survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck Turkey’s Aegean coast and north of the Greek island of Samos on Friday. The death toll is on a rise -- with multiple reports saying at least 49 people have died. More than 800 people were injured from the earthquake that toppled buildings in Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, and triggered a 'mini' tsunami in the district of Seferihisar and on Samos. As many as 200 people, or maybe more, were in hospital, AFAD said, and rescuers were still searching eight buildings in Izmir. Nearly 6,000 rescuers from different agencies and cities worked together to reach survivors, at times hushing the crowds to listen into the rubble with sensitive headphones and crawling through the cracks. Overnight, 33 hours after the quake, a 55-year-old man named by state news agency Anadolu as Ahmet was pulled out from underneath the rubble to applause of onlookers and taken to hospital. A 65-year-old man was saved 26 hours after the quake. Rescue teams also saved a mother and her three children from rubble 23 hours after the earthquake. Two other women, aged 53 and 35, were brought out from the rubble of another toppled two-story building earlier on October 31. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday that 103 people have been rescued from the quake's rubble. It was unclear how many more people were trapped under buildings that were levelled. Turkey’s Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency, or AFAD, said 885 people were injured in Izmir and three other Provinces. The health minister said eight people were being treated in intensive care, with three of them in critical condition. Two teenagers were killed on the island Samos after being struck by a collapsing wall. At least 19 people were injured on the island, with two, including a 14-year-old, being airlifted to Athens and seven hospitalized on the island, health authorities said. The small tsunami that hit the Turkish coast also affected Samos, with seawater flooding streets in the main harbour town of Vathi. The earthquake, which the Istanbul-based Kandilli Institute said had a magnitude of 6.9, was centred in the Aegean northeast of Samos. AFAD said it measured 6.6. and hit at a depth of some 16 km. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the tremor's magnitude at 7.0 -- at a relatively shallow depth of 21 kilometers (13 miles), the USGS reported, making its impact powerfully felt at ground level around the epicentre. It was felt across the eastern Greek islands and as far as Athens and in Bulgaria. In Turkey, it shook the regions of Aegean and Marmara, including Istanbul. Authorities warned residents in Izmir not to return to damaged buildings, saying they could collapse in strong aftershocks. Turkey has reported more than 800 aftershocks following the quake, including 40 that were above four in magnitude. Tensions between the two nations have flared recently over energy claims in the eastern Mediterranean. But despite this, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Friday that he had spoken to his Turkish counterpart and offered his condolences. "Whatever our differences, these are times when our people need to stand together," Mitsotakis wrote on Twitter. In a tweet, the Turkish president offered his condolences to Greece and said "that two neighbors show solidarity in difficult times is more valuable than many things in life." According to Erdogan, both Turkey and Greece were ready to send aid to the other. (with inputs from agencies)

Rescue efforts underway after Aegean Sea earthquake; at least 49 killed

The death toll in the powerful earthquake that levelled buildings across Greece and Turkey has risen to 27.

The 7.0&nbsp;magnitude quake killed 25 people and injured 804 on Turkey's western coast after it struck Friday afternoon, with its epicentre off the coastal town of Seferihisar in Izmir province.

Also killing two teenagers on their way home from school in Greece, it caused a mini-tsunami on the Aegean island of Samos and a sea surge that turned streets into rushing rivers in one Turkish coastal town.

Multiple reports say 20 buildings had collapsed, with officials focussing their rescue efforts on 17 of them. The scenes of devastation suggested the toll could rise.

The region's governor said 70 people had been pulled out alive by Friday evening, although how many more were missing remained unknown by sunset.

Felt in both Istanbul and Athens, it also created a diplomatic opening for the two historic rivals, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placing a rare call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer his condolences and support.

Much of the damage occurred in and around Turkey's Aegean resort city of Izmir, which has three million residents and is filled with high-rise apartment blocks.

Parts of entire apartments, including toys, pillows and shattered appliances, spilled out on the streets, where survivors huddled in tears, many too shocked to speak.

Aerial footage showed entire city blocks turned to rubble.

Rescuers, helped by residents and sniffer dogs, used chainsaws to try to force their way through the rubble of one destroyed seven-floor building.

Greece and Turkey are situated in one of the world's most active earthquake zones.

The two neighbours also suffer from historically poor relations despite both being members of the NATO military alliance.

(with inputs)

The death toll in the powerful earthquake that levelled buildings across Greece and Turkey has risen to 27. The 7.0 magnitude quake killed 25 people and injured 804 on Turkey's western coast after it struck Friday afternoon, with its epicentre off the coastal town of Seferihisar in Izmir province.

The death toll in the powerful earthquake that levelled buildings across Greece and Turkey has risen to 27. The 7.0 magnitude quake killed 25 people and injured 804 on Turkey's western coast after it struck Friday afternoon, with its epicentre off the coastal town of Seferihisar in Izmir province. Also killing two teenagers on their way home from school in Greece, it caused a mini-tsunami on the Aegean island of Samos and a sea surge that turned streets into rushing rivers in one Turkish coastal town. Multiple reports say 20 buildings had collapsed, with officials focussing their rescue efforts on 17 of them. The scenes of devastation suggested the toll could rise. The region's governor said 70 people had been pulled out alive by Friday evening, although how many more were missing remained unknown by sunset. Felt in both Istanbul and Athens, it also created a diplomatic opening for the two historic rivals, with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis placing a rare call to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to offer his condolences and support. Much of the damage occurred in and around Turkey's Aegean resort city of Izmir, which has three million residents and is filled with high-rise apartment blocks. Parts of entire apartments, including toys, pillows and shattered appliances, spilled out on the streets, where survivors huddled in tears, many too shocked to speak. Aerial footage showed entire city blocks turned to rubble. Rescuers, helped by residents and sniffer dogs, used chainsaws to try to force their way through the rubble of one destroyed seven-floor building. Greece and Turkey are situated in one of the world's most active earthquake zones. The two neighbours also suffer from historically poor relations despite both being members of the NATO military alliance. (with inputs)

Death toll in major earthquake in Turkey and Greece hits 27

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-national-named-victim-of-nice-attack-339070">Brazilian national named victim of Nice attack</a>

The Brazilian foreign ministry said the victim lived in France and was a mother of three...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/brazilian-national-named-victim-of-nice-attack-339070">Read More</a>

<img alt="Nice attack victim" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22aff772-7da1-4cdd-95ed-022d45752fae" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/brazilian.JPG" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-in-a-war-french-minister-says-country-must-brace-itself-for-attacks-fueled-by-islamist-ideology-339015">'We are in a war': French minister says country must brace itself for attacks fueled by 'Islamist ideology'</a>

Darmanin said France needs to reel in 'rampant Islamism which is arming people ideologically'...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-are-in-a-war-french-minister-says-country-must-brace-itself-for-attacks-fueled-by-islamist-ideology-339015">Read More</a>

<img alt="France" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3678012b-b59c-4064-87d7-f9b71eb2c1ba" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/France_2.JPG" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-malaysian-prime-minister-mahathir-mohamad-slams-tech-giants-for-removing-posts-on-france-attack-339044">Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad slams tech giants for removing posts on France attack</a>

After sparking outrage by his post that Muslims had the right 'to kill millions of French people', Mahathir accused social networking platforms Twitter and Facebook of unfair treatment... <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-malaysian-prime-minister-mahathir-mohamad-slams-tech-giants-for-removing-posts-on-france-attack-339044">Read More</a>

<img alt="Former Malaysia PM" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="111c5152-594b-4e42-b2b5-55dce32dea57" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/mahathir.JPG" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-hits-turkey-greece-mini-tsunami-on-aegean-island-339063">Earthquake hits Turkey, Greece; 'mini-tsunami' on Aegean island</a>

The quake was registered 14 kilometres off the Greek town of Neon Karlovasion on the Aegean Sea island of Samos... <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-hits-turkey-greece-mini-tsunami-on-aegean-island-339063">Read More</a>

<img alt="Greece Earthquake" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b83f4d26-0e11-49c8-b2b1-a4c562c7a2ec" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Greece.JPG" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-to-charge-those-behind-invasive-airport-searches-of-women-339037">Qatar to charge those behind invasive airport searches of women</a>

Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-to-charge-those-behind-invasive-airport-searches-of-women-339037">Read More</a>

<img alt="Qatar airways" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dae2d49c-59b7-4f5c-8f24-17e6f93eb191" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Qatar.JPG" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-huge-crowd-holds-protest-against-france-president-emmanuel-macron-339055">Bangladesh: Huge crowd holds protest against France President Emmanuel Macron</a>

The protesters marched through streets of Dhaka and called fora boycott on French products. The crowd carried banners calling Macron "the world's biggest terrorist...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-huge-crowd-holds-protest-against-france-president-emmanuel-macron-339055">Read More</a>

<img alt="Bangladesh protest" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e5eae4ef-303e-4b24-b341-e1641f0f7de6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Bangladesh.JPG" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-biden-square-off-in-key-midwestern-states-338994">Trump, Biden square off in key Midwestern states</a>

Even with the United States reaching another daily record in new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, President Trump stuck to his strategy of downplaying its dangerousness and calling for businesses to reopen...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-biden-square-off-in-key-midwestern-states-338994">Read More</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-biden-square-off-in-key-midwestern-states-338994"><img alt="US elections" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="876210e5-803b-4426-9dea-6e88e5ed9ee7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/us.JPG" /></a> 
&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fox-hunt-row-us-should-not-to-be-haven-for-criminals-says-china-339060">Fox Hunt row: US should not to be haven for criminals, says China</a>

China had reportedly launched a campaign in 2014 to get fugitives abroad to return to face charges...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fox-hunt-row-us-should-not-to-be-haven-for-criminals-says-china-339060">Read More</a>

<img alt="US China" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b936149a-04e2-4797-8a82-423692bf4045" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/US%20China.JPG" />

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-why-are-the-polls-crucial-for-nasas-moonshot-boeing-bezos-and-musk-339026">US election 2020: Why are the polls crucial for NASA's moonshot, Boeing, Bezos and Musk</a>

Earlier, NASA had selected Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-election-2020-why-are-the-polls-crucial-for-nasas-moonshot-boeing-bezos-and-musk-339026">Read More</a>

<img alt="Bezos Musk" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16a1335e-de6d-4aef-b5e8-adc9d77545c4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Bezos.JPG" />

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-skies-in-slovakia-see-car-transforming-into-airplane-339017">Watch | Skies in Slovakia see car transforming into airplane</a>

The car-cum-airplane is named as Air Car and has been manufactured by Slovakian firm KleinVision...<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/watch-skies-in-slovakia-see-car-transforming-into-airplane-339017">Read More</a>

<img alt="Slovakia car" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b0ea4ce6-605a-4903-a978-acb4d29d7128" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Car.JPG" />

 
&nbsp;

Brazilian national named victim of Nice attack The Brazilian foreign ministry said the victim lived in France and was a mother of three...Read More 'We are in a war': French minister says country must brace itself for attacks fueled by 'Islamist ideology' Darmanin said France needs to reel in 'rampant Islamism which is arming people ideologically'.

Brazilian national named victim of Nice attack The Brazilian foreign ministry said the victim lived in France and was a mother of three...Read More 'We are in a war': French minister says country must brace itself for attacks fueled by 'Islamist ideology' Darmanin said France needs to reel in 'rampant Islamism which is arming people ideologically'...Read More Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad slams tech giants for removing posts on France attack After sparking outrage by his post that Muslims had the right 'to kill millions of French people', Mahathir accused social networking platforms Twitter and Facebook of unfair treatment... Read More Earthquake hits Turkey, Greece; 'mini-tsunami' on Aegean island The quake was registered 14 kilometres off the Greek town of Neon Karlovasion on the Aegean Sea island of Samos... Read More Qatar to charge those behind invasive airport searches of women Women on 10 Qatar Airways flights out of Doha were subject to the examinations as authorities searched for the mother of a newborn baby found abandoned in an airport bathroom...Read More Bangladesh: Huge crowd holds protest against France President Emmanuel Macron The protesters marched through streets of Dhaka and called fora boycott on French products. The crowd carried banners calling Macron "the world's biggest terrorist...Read More Trump, Biden square off in key Midwestern states Even with the United States reaching another daily record in new Covid-19 infections on Thursday, President Trump stuck to his strategy of downplaying its dangerousness and calling for businesses to reopen...Read More Fox Hunt row: US should not to be haven for criminals, says China China had reportedly launched a campaign in 2014 to get fugitives abroad to return to face charges...Read More US election 2020: Why are the polls crucial for NASA's moonshot, Boeing, Bezos and Musk Earlier, NASA had selected Bezos's Blue Origin and Musk's SpaceX to develop human landers for Artemis moon missions...Read More Watch | Skies in Slovakia see car transforming into airplane The car-cum-airplane is named as Air Car and has been manufactured by Slovakian firm KleinVision...Read More

Top 10 world news today: Brazilian national named Nice attack victim, earthquake hits Greece & more

Greece has briefed India about the current situation in the eastern Mediterranean. The foreign ministers of India and Greece met virtually on Thursday.&nbsp;

The situation has been tensed in the eastern Mediterranean as Greece and Turkey have been embroiled in a dispute over energy exploration rights and maritime boundaries in the area. The situation is getting worrisome as Ankara plans to conduct a seismic survey in the region.

A tweet by Greece's foreign minister Nikos Dendias said, "In a video conference with India FM Dr S Jaishankar. Strengthening Greek, India relations &amp; developments in Eastern Mediterranean &amp; South Asia in focus."

Delhi's ties with Turkey are not at their best -- given the support by Turkish President Recep Erdogan to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Erdogan had also raked the Kashmir issue at the United Nations.

During the virtual meet, the two ministers undertook a detailed review of bilateral ties, underpinned by long-standing historical and friendly relations as well as commonality of views on major international issues of the day, a minister of external affairs release said.&nbsp;

They also "discussed a wide range of regional and multilateral issues" especially in the context of India’s upcoming membership of the UNSC, the release added.&nbsp;

Greece has briefed India about the current situation in the eastern Mediterranean. The foreign ministers of India and Greece met virtually on Thursday. The situation has been tensed in the eastern Mediterranean as Greece and Turkey have been embroiled in a dispute over energy exploration rights and maritime boundaries in the area.

Greece has briefed India about the current situation in the eastern Mediterranean. The foreign ministers of India and Greece met virtually on Thursday. The situation has been tensed in the eastern Mediterranean as Greece and Turkey have been embroiled in a dispute over energy exploration rights and maritime boundaries in the area. The situation is getting worrisome as Ankara plans to conduct a seismic survey in the region. A tweet by Greece's foreign minister Nikos Dendias said, "In a video conference with India FM Dr S Jaishankar. Strengthening Greek, India relations & developments in Eastern Mediterranean & South Asia in focus." Delhi's ties with Turkey are not at their best -- given the support by Turkish President Recep Erdogan to Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. Erdogan had also raked the Kashmir issue at the United Nations. During the virtual meet, the two ministers undertook a detailed review of bilateral ties, underpinned by long-standing historical and friendly relations as well as commonality of views on major international issues of the day, a minister of external affairs release said. They also "discussed a wide range of regional and multilateral issues" especially in the context of India’s upcoming membership of the UNSC, the release added.

Greece briefs India about situation in eastern Mediterranean

Two crew members of a Greek minesweeper were slightly hurt Tuesday after it collided with a Portuguese container ship off Piraeus, the port next to Athens, the navy said.

There were 27 sailors on board the naval vessel, who were rescued by coastguard patrol boats.

The two injured were taken to hospital for treatment.

The minesweeper suffered serious damage to the stern and was towed back to the naval base on the nearby island of Salamina, the merchant navy ministry said.

Piraeus port authorities opened an inquiry into the incident and confined to port the container ship Maerck Launceston, which flies a Portuguese flag.

Two crew members of a Greek minesweeper were slightly hurt Tuesday after it collided with a Portuguese container ship off Piraeus, the port next to Athens, the navy said.

Two crew members of a Greek minesweeper were slightly hurt Tuesday after it collided with a Portuguese container ship off Piraeus, the port next to Athens, the navy said. There were 27 sailors on board the naval vessel, who were rescued by coastguard patrol boats. The two injured were taken to hospital for treatment. The minesweeper suffered serious damage to the stern and was towed back to the naval base on the nearby island of Salamina, the merchant navy ministry said. Piraeus port authorities opened an inquiry into the incident and confined to port the container ship Maerck Launceston, which flies a Portuguese flag.

Two hurt as Greek warship collides with freighter

A Greek university student with disabilities has achieved her lifelong ambition of reaching the summit of Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest peak strapped to the back of a friend.

Student with disabilities conquers Greece's highest peak

Student with disabilities climbing Greece's highest peak

greece

Greece, News on Greece, stories on Greece, articles on Greece, Greece stories at Wion, Greece news, Greece latest news