Mysterious Greek Tomb Contains Skeleton From the Alexander the Great Era

The news was announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture and the archeologists found the human remains in a box-shaped grave, a 10.6 by 5.1-foot ...

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Police Arrest Men Involved in Kidnapping of 27-year-old Woman, Third Kidnapper Missing

Greek police have arrested the kidnappers of a 27-year-old woman, who was abducted on October 31 and released on November 9 after her family paid €82,000 in ransom. The 27-year-old is the niece of the owner of Asteras Tripoli’s football club. According to the police, a 48-year-old man, believed to be the leader of the gang, was arrested, along with a 53-year-old man, while authorities also seized the ransom money. A third Albanian national is wanted in connection to the case. The two men are charged — where applicable — with kidnapping, robbery, blackmail and minor bodily harm, in complicity and serial manner, as well as violation of the law on armaments. According to the police report, the gang attacked the girl on the night of October 31 and pushed into a vehicle. The abductors called her father and initially demanded 10 million euros but after protracted negotiations they lowered the sum to 82,500 euros. The victim’s father handed over the money and the woman was released near the spot where she was taken. She had not been harmed. The two men arrested confessed to the crime and described the incident. Police found the ransom money in the apartment of the gang leader. Both will appear before the Athens prosecutor on Sunday. Public Order and Citizen Protection Minister Vassilios Kikilias congratulated police for solving the case, saying authorities proved “for the umpteenth time” their level of professionalism and “confirmed their vow to protect Greek citizens.” He also said this success shows the ministry has zero tolerance for crime and Greece is a safe country for both its citizens and the millions who visit every year. (source: neos kosmos)

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President Papoulias and Greek Govt Parties; Messages Leading to Polytechnic Uprising Anniversary

In an anniversary message leading up to the Polytechnic Uprising celebrations, the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, underlined the significance of the event, which is timeless, commenting that there is nothing more powerful than the passion for freedom. The anniversary events will conclude tomorrow at 2 p.m. with the established students’ demonstration towards the U.S. Embassy of Athens. “The Polytechneion uprising is one of those events in Greek history which gain even bigger importance with the passage of time. That’s because we increasingly need examples which show that social liberation is earned with struggles, that there’s nothing more powerful than the passion for freedom, that state violence and autocracy need passivity to be enforced,” Mr. Papoulias highlighted. Furthermore, the President of the Hellenic Republic said that the country has reasons to safeguard the history of the Polytechnic Uprising, written by people who took responsibility for everyone, in its collective memory. In an announcement on the event, Government Vice President and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos, commented that “Greeks have proven they know how to honor their history but also that they know how to fight until the wheels of time turn and they recover the place our country deserves in Europe and the world.” Governing New Democracy’s political committee secretary, Andreas Papamimikos, underlined that “November 17 emits a message of democracy and unity for all Greeks.” At the same time, the main opposition party, SYRIZA, in its anniversary message paralleled the events of November 1973 with today saying that “41 years later, the message of the Polytechneion uprising is more relevant than ever. At a time when the government of the memorandum is trying to abolish any collective rights, to condemn the youth and employees to poverty and destitution, Polytechneion is here. In the fights for social justice, independence, equality and social freedom. In defending democracy and freedoms against the government’s autocracy and the dead-end of memorandums and austerity.” On its behalf, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) said that Greek people “have the right to know the truth about the popular uprising in November of 1973, for the protest sit-ins of Athens Law School which took place first,” adding that they also need to know “the role played by the military dictatorship in promoting the interests of the rich, the United States and NATO.” Concluding its message KKE underlined the need “to isolate the Nazi Golden Dawn party that defames the fight against the dictatorship.” Finally, the Democratic Left (DIMAR), also commenting on the timeless message of November’s Uprising, said that “the generation of the crisis must not turn into a lost generation. On the contrary, it must use all its experience of the post-dictatorship era to stand on its feet, against an environment of general scorn, to claim a better future, which will not be sealed by the desperation of unemployment, social exclusion and marginalization.”

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The X Factor 2014: week six live blog

Last night: Big Band Night. Tonight: Olly Murs, Nicole Scherzinger, Band Aid 30 and the death of a dream. Stuart Heritage is your guide. 8.26pm GMT So, the final three are Jay James, Only The Young and Stevi. Ones definitely safe. I hope its Only The Young, because otherwise that guy in the audience is going to be all like... 8.24pm GMT BEN CRAP ME A SAUSAGE HAENOW is also through. Nobody has shouted ONLY THE YOUNG for a while. I think hes probably been silenced by a... nope, there he is. 8.23pm GMT Ah. LAURENs through. I am a terrible predictor. 8.23pm GMT Oh, STEREO KICKS are through, too. In that case, I think that Laurens probably in the sing-off. 8.22pm GMT Andreas through too. Not a surprise. 8.22pm GMT FLEUR is through. ONLY THE YOUNG MAN is not happy. 8.22pm GMT And the really loud ONLY THE YOUNG man is back. I love him. 8.21pm GMT Yup, its time to do the first bit of the results. Jay and Stereo Kicks in the bottom two. Thats what Im predicting. 8.21pm GMT Were back! And the judges arent in their seats. This must mean... 8.20pm GMT There are more adverts. Ones for a Christmas advert where a reindeer poos in a childs face. It is already my favourite Christmas film of all time. 8.18pm GMT Also, as my wife just pointed out, its beginning to look a lot like November. 8.17pm GMT Heres a Christmas advert I havent seen, where Ant & Dec sing Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas. To be fair, I think I preferred the ones that cynically cashed in on real-life atrocities. 8.15pm GMT After the song, Nicole shouted the word pussy. Which is a step-up from balls at least. The woman is diversifying. 8.14pm GMT Right, this song is Nicole giving advice to the next girlfriend of her ex-boyfriend. Her advice is run, although Id like to add in Dont bellow the word Run over and over again all the time three inches from his face when hes trying to liveblog televised talent shows, because its incredibly distracting. 8.13pm GMT This song seems to suggest that Nicole isnt very happy with a boy. Part of that reason, if I heard her correctly, is that he poos you back in. This is not the time to discuss your weird fetishes, Nicole. Band Aid is on in a minute. Show some respect. 8.12pm GMT Ah, shes singing. Sort of. This isnt so much of a song as a woman complaining about her life while a cat walks across a piano in the background. Still, at least shes trapped in a sort of crystal ball thing, so at least she cant run out into the audience and bellow the word balls over and over again like she thinks she invented it, which she used to. 8.11pm GMT And now, the return of former X Factor judge turned professional yoghurt spokeswoman Nicole Scherzinger. I dont know whether shes going to sing or just spend three minutes espousing the values of Greek-style corner desserts, so thats exciting. 8.10pm GMT And thats the end of the recap. Brisk. I like that. 8.09pm GMT NO WAIT, THERES THE AUCTIONEER! He was hiding in the shadows, but he was definitely there. HIYA AUCTIONEER! 8.09pm GMT Also, Louis Walsh is doing all of the backstage reactions, even for acts who arent his. Id like to think that all the other judges gave him wedgies until he relented and promised to do them all. 8.08pm GMT Also we learn that Cheryls East End gangster turned auctioneer has disappeared. Poor man. His time in the limelight was fleeting. I hope hes got a Facebook page. 8.07pm GMT Now for the (hopefully less) Interminable Recap, where we learn that Andrea doesnt like being criticised. 8.06pm GMT The whole things descended into a hideous kind of conga line. Laurens at the front. She might be crying. Shes certainly make the noise of a crying person. Now for Andreas solo. Unfortunately its not the spoken-word interlude, though. Its the bit where Taylor Swift goes AWWWWWUUUUURRRRRRGH SHAAAAAAAAAAAYGH AWUUUUOOOOOOOO over and over again. Which Im not even sure was in the original, to be honest. 8.04pm GMT If I said that theyre doing Shake It Off, I apologise. Ive just heard them do the chorus and it appears that theyre actually doing Shake It Okk. 8.03pm GMT Worse, theyre doing Shake It Off. Please, please let Andrea do the spoken-word interlude. 8.03pm GMT Oh. Nope. Were still getting a group song. This is a mess of priorities, X Factor. A MESS. 8.02pm GMT But now, for the billionth time of my sodding life, lets meet the judges:LOUIS! Wearing something that looks a little like velour MELB! Wearing a bowtie CHERYL! Wearing her hair up all nice SIMON! Wearing about three acres of manky chest hair rash. 8.00pm GMT Heres Dermot. Backhand punch tonight. Hes mixing it up. Like a mad scientist of punch-mimes. 8.00pm GMT Wow, were not even getting a LARST NIYT recap because tonights show is so packed. They could probably have just shaved about 15 minutes off the recap to accommodate all the new features, but who am I to go around suggesting things willy-nilly? 7.58pm GMT ITS TIME! TO BE FIPPANT! ABOUT EBOLA! 7.30pm GMT Well hello again. Thanks for coming back for the Great X Factor Liveblog One-Hour Sunday Night Results Show Segment Extravaganza! If you can think of a snappier title for this bit, by the way, do let me know because Im already exhausted from typing that out.Anyway, youll be pleased to know that I had a word with myself earlier today, and as a result therell be none of that awful chummy enthusiasm that clogged up last nights liveblog. How could there be, when tonights guest performers are Olly Murs and Nicole Scherzinger? Thats just X Factor running out of ideas and eating its own tail. At this rate, next weeks performances are going to be by Kate Thornton and the Conway Sisters. In fact, I want next weeks performances to be by Kate Thornton and the Conway Sisters. 9.46pm GMT Anyway, thats it! Thats the end of Big Band Night! We made it! Thanks for all your comments, everyone, youre all very good and stuffNow, do join me back here tomorrow night at 8pm, because Olly Murs will be performing! Olly Murs! Olly Murs! Olly Murs! Im on Twitter at @StuHeritage, but you already knew that because its all I ever go on about anyway. Olly Murs! Crap me a sausage, Olly Murs! 9.44pm GMT And thats the last performance done. I dont understand why Ive been in such a good mood tonight. Im sorry. Its been weird, hasnt it? 9.43pm GMT Simon says that Fleur could win X Factor. And she could. She wont, but she could. 9.42pm GMT Im going to temper my uncharacteristic enthusiasm by saying that its the band thats exceptional during this performance. Fleur is quite good, but the band is amazing. All in all eight out of ten. 9.41pm GMT And its better than Jessie Js version. That said, the audio track at the end of Grizzly Man is better than Jessie Js version. 9.40pm GMT Fleurs singing a big band version of Bang Bang, which she sang at Judges House. Its sort of impressive, even though shes singing a completely different song to the one that the band is playing. 9.39pm GMT In the VT, Fleur goes to a premiere. Last time I went to a premiere, I heard a photographer say to a colleague Nah, dont bother, hes not famous. What Im basically saying is that I know how Fleur feels. 9.38pm GMT Finally its Fleur East, ready to not be quite as good as everyone expects, but very slightly better than most of the other contestants. At this rate, fourth place is going to be hers for the taking. 9.37pm GMT Yes, Im still trying to make I donkey a thing. Deal with it. 9.37pm GMT There are adverts on now. But, to quote Cheryl, I donkey. Im still cut up about the one-two emotional punch of no sausages and the Wagner ripoff. If Stevi sings Ghostbusters like Jedward next week, Im going to drink bleach. 9.33pm GMT Youre still She-Bangsing in our hearts, Wagner 9.32pm GMT This is the week, it seems, that the judges all turn on Stevi for not being a very good singer. Even Simon said he was horrible. And Stevi takes it all with a smile. This is pretty much the origin story of the murder-clown from this series of American Horror Story. I fear for all of us. 9.29pm GMT It finished, and Stevi remains unpunched. Ah well. Worth a shot. 9.28pm GMT Wait. Now Stevis doing She Bangs. Just like Wagner. This feels like X Factor is trying to remove Wagner from lore in a desperate Stalinist revision. If I were Wagner, Id stand up right now and start running for the studio. Run Wagner. Run as fast as you can. Run fast enough to barrel past security and punch Stevi out during his final note. Its what he deserves for ripping you off. 9.27pm GMT Mambo Number 5. Stevis doing Mambo Number 5, and hes changed the lyrics to be about the X Factor judges. Of course he is. We built this prison for ourselves, you know. 9.26pm GMT This week in the VT, Stevi introduces home video footage of himself performing in community halls. Also, STEVI IS THE SAME AGE AS ME. I dont know if Im more embarrassed for me or him. Me, probably. 9.25pm GMT And now for Stevi Ritchie. Im genuinely not sure if Im mentally or physically prepared for the next five minutes, especially given the night Im having. Someone come and hold me. 9.23pm GMT (I quite liked that too. I have no idea whats going wrong with me. Olly Murs is singing tomorrow. If Im in a good mood for that Im going to start punching myself in the eye) 9.22pm GMT Things Zack Morris does in this performance:1) Pull an unnecessarily goofy face. 9.19pm GMT Only The Young are performing that world famous big band classic I Wanna Be Like You from The Jungle Book. Its probably not as much of a world famous big band classic as Let It Go from Frozen, but itll do. 9.18pm GMT In the VT, one of Only The Young made a bad joke and Zack Morris went WUUUARGH at her. He hates being here, doesnt he? He hates it so much. 9.18pm GMT Time for Only The Young, by which I mean The Zack Morris-Looking Paul Catermole One From Only The Young and his three luckless companions. What face is Zack Morris going to pull today? My guess - a face like hes trying to contain his delight at the sight of a toddler being stung by a wasp. 9.16pm GMT Big round of applause for BrokenBiros down in the comments, who pointed out that Stereo Kicks looked like the Bullingdon Club. This is something I will never be able to unsee. 9.13pm GMT If theres an advert for sausages now, I am going to KICK OFF. 9.12pm GMT Im not sure whats going on with Simon this week. Hes gurgling like a toddler. I miss the Simon Cowell who hated the world. 9.11pm GMT But still, crap me a sausage. HEY NOW! 9.11pm GMT (In other news, that was pretty good. Id quite like Hank to win X Factor) 9.10pm GMT Well, FINE. Im singing it as Crap Me A Sausage. There, that told YOU. 9.09pm GMT Hank looks furious during this performance. Either hes channelling the spirit of the song, or he knows how heartbroken I am about the lack of sausages in his VT. Its probably the first one, because if he really cared hed have changed the words to Crap Me A Sausage. 9.08pm GMT Hanks singing Cry Me A River. Yeah, thats right Hank, cry me a river OF SAUSAGES. Cry SAUSAGES out of your EYES, Hank. I DARE you. 9.07pm GMT Hanks taking his mum to a film premiere. What a waste. He should take a PILE OF SAUSAGES to the film premiere. A PILE OF SAUSAGES. 9.06pm GMT Time for Hank Hey Now Big Package Sausage Widow Kingsley. I dont care about Hank any more. He ignored the sausages last week. He ignored them at his peril.Oh, Hank, youre Skyping your mum. BIG WOW, HANK. BIG WOW. 9.06pm GMT Simon Cowell liked the performance. That said, he only liked it on the basis that he knows some of their names. Thats it. Thats literally what it takes to qualify as a good performance these days. Boy, Im old. 9.04pm GMT So far, they havent messed it up. But then again, they only had to memorise an eighth of a two-minute song each. Thats, what, 15 seconds each? Quick, someone give them a medal. 9.02pm GMT So far, Stereo Kick are sitting on a big pyramid plinth, and doing terrible exaggerated finger-snaps that make them look as theyre trying to flick unusually sticky bogies from their hands. 9.00pm GMT Ah, they just mentioned it at the end. Whatever they were going to do, theyre doing Mack The Knife now. Lets over-scrutinise them for mistakes, shall we? 9.00pm GMT Not that theyre mentioning this in the VT, though. Theyre all I got within 300ft of Jennifer Lawrence once! and Go-kartings fun isnt it?. 8.59pm GMT Were back (again). Erect Kiosks are up now, and god knows what theyre going to sing tonight. Whatever theyd decided to perform earlier in the week was deemed problematic, so theyre going to his us with a surprise. My guess? Tequila by The Champs because its only got one word in it so theres only like a 75% chance that theyll bugger it up. 8.56pm GMT So heres one. Hope this helps. 8.55pm GMT Theres another Christmas advert on now. This ones full of sad-looking people too. You know whatd be nice? A Christmas advert with a bloke dressed up as Santa going Ho Ho Ho-ray for Superdrug. Maybe even a bit of tinsel. You know, something nice. 8.53pm GMT Jay James is thanking everyone who voted for him last week. He could have just told his mum when she came over in the week and saved a lot of trouble. 8.52pm GMT Just checked Twitter. Its literally nothing but people using the word nipslip. Ah well. Anyway, that was an unremittingly bad performance and Im pleased its finished. 8.50pm GMT Theres a burlesque dancer in the background, and theres a chance her nipple just popped out. I wasnt watching it at the time, because I was trying to think of interesting ways to say that Jay James wasnt very good. 8.49pm GMT Ah, hes singing Skype York, Skype York. Hes singing it in his grandpas suit, which would be sweet if he didnt start the song by tearing it off and flinging it at a dancer. Also, halfway through the song, everyone went HAPPY NEW YEAR, which was definitely a taunt because he knows in the new year I wont have to liveblog X Factor any more. 8.47pm GMT This week, Jays mum came to visit him and Jay silently boiled with resentment because he really prefers it when people Skype him. Real personal interaction creeps him out. 8.46pm GMT The Skypetember of my Years? Skype Work If You Can Get It? In The Skype Skype Hours of the Skypening? See? Millions. 8.46pm GMT Jay James now. Whats he going to sing? Come Skype With Me? Skype be a Lady Tonight? Mack The Skype? Skype Me A River? Skypey Weather? Ive got a million of these. 8.45pm GMT Its OK, were back. And Dermots in the audience! With a woman who is either Fleurs twin sister or the worlds most terrifying stalker. HOORAY FOR DERMOT! 8.41pm GMT Now for Matalans Christmas advert. Its just a load of people wearing scarves. YOU HEAR THAT, SAINSBURYS? YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE CHRISTMAS ADVERTS WHERE NOBODY WEEPS AT THE SHEER FUTILITY OF LIFE ON EARTH. Please bear that in mind for next year. 8.40pm GMT Melb and Cheryl are both calling Simon Debbie Downer. I wonder which Saturday Night Live sketch theyre going to reference next. I hope its the one about the fat man who lives in his car. 8.38pm GMT That was such a boring performance that the studio audience isnt even clapping the judges when they say nice things about her. And this is the X Factor studio audience, for crying out loud. A contestant could fall to the floor and start crying and pooing and puking in front of them and theyd whoop solidly for an hour. TL:DR Lauren might be in trouble. 8.37pm GMT Well, that just happened. 8.36pm GMT This is good, but I cant shake the sensation that this is exactly what you hear when a Dignitas clinic puts you on hold. 8.35pm GMT She is singing it on a sort of gigantic sofa-hammock, though. Thats quite cool. I hope sofa-hammocks are the new plinths. 8.35pm GMT Laurens singing Smile by Nat King Cole. Because, I guess, she smiles sometimes? See? Ive completely run out of things to say about her. 8.34pm GMT On the VT, Lauren talks to Fleur. I think this is whats going to happen on all the VTs tonight. Everyones going to talk to Fleur. Except for Jay James, obviously. Hes going to Skype her from the next room. 8.33pm GMT Anyway, now for Lauren Platt. Ive run out of things to say about Lauren, because there are only so many synonyms for competent in the English language. Sorry about that. 8.32pm GMT If you enjoyed this World War One-themed Sainsburys commercial, wait until next year when Chicken Tonight debuts an advert about the ebola outbreak. 8.31pm GMT Before this began, the narrator said that ITV was proud to present the advert. I wish theyd do this with other adverts. ITV is slightly embarrassed by this Wonga presentation, but theyre paying us and we clearly need the dough. That sort of thing. 8.29pm GMT And now an ad break. This time, its the Sainsburys Christmas ad. If I remember correctly, this advert goes on for longer than Interstellar did. Wiggle your toes during it, or youll get DVT. 8.27pm GMT Simon Cowell just backed up my thoughts about Andreas funny face. I think Simon Cowell is reading this liveblog under his desk. Simon, if youre reading this, pull on your ear. Itll just be between the two of us. 8.26pm GMT So far, Im quite enjoying this Big Band Night. Its been going for 11 minutes. This is a record, by a factor of about eight minutes. 8.25pm GMT That said, he still cant sing a song that contains an ur sound without pulling a face like a woman on a hen night vomiting up Bacardi Breezers behind a policecar outside a Wetherspoons. He should probably work on that. This sole criticism aside, that might have been my favourite of Andreas performances. 8.24pm GMT Ah, he hasnt. But you know what? This is actually rather good. The songs forced Andrea to learn the meaning of the word restraint, and hes much more bearable as a consequence. 8.23pm GMT Andreas singing Summertime. I hope he changes the lyrics to Summertime, and my beards getting itchy / I sang at a wasp, and watched it explode. 8.22pm GMT In the VT, Fleur teaches Andrea to speak like all the annoying people on Twitter. Then he does an impression of the queen and talks a lot about toilets. I think I might have eaten some bad meat earlier today. Thats the only logical explanation for this paragraph. 8.21pm GMT First to sing tonight is Andrea Faustini, ready to show the world what his back teeth look like again. Jesus Andrea, just buy a mirror or something. 8.20pm GMT Ive been meaning to mention this for weeks, but Ive got a bit obsessed with the footage that plays behind the judges as they enter the stage. Its all ridiculous Simon in a helicopter, Melb exiting a helicopter, Cheryl in a racecar but the thing I find most terrifying? The sight of Louis Walsh driving a car. Christ, imagine. 8.19pm GMT So now lets meet the judges:LOUIS! Two buttons undone 8.18pm GMT Heres my new Twitter BFF Dermot OLeary doing a lovely dance in what is admittedly a ridiculously pretty set. Hes great, isnt he? OH NO, HIS PLANS WORKING! 8.16pm GMT TONIGHT! X Factor literally has to explain what a big band is, because nobody whos willingly watching this is under the age of 14. 8.15pm GMT LAST WEEK! Louis Walsh takes the sing-off to deadlock, because when he was a baby a witch told him that snakes would pour out of his mouth if he ever made a decision, and he believed her. 8.14pm GMT ITS A CRIME! TO FACE! THIS MUSIC! 8.02pm GMT Quick disclaimer number two: Ive been promised that there will be Ben Haenow sausage calligraphy tonight. But Ive said that before, havent I? Im a fool for believing, I really am. 7.59pm GMT Quick disclaimer number one: if tonights liveblog goes a bit weird, its probably because Dermot OLeary was nice to me on Twitter this morning. Ive convinced myself that this was a deliberate ploy to throw me off my game. Sorry in advance. 7.52pm GMT Before the show starts (if you havent already), you should probably try and read Tom Lamonts brilliant interview with One Direction from today. On an unrelated note, dont forget to petition The Guardian so that I can write a similar piece about 2005s eighth-place finalist Maria Lawson. 7.43pm GMT Start spreading the news! Id like to leave today, but instead Im contractually obliged to write the X Factor liveblog for Big Band Week! Never mind.Yes, thats right! In its latest step to alienate everyone who might feasibly purchase anything recorded by its ultimate winner, X Factor has brought back Big Band Week! Its perfect for everyone young people will neither recognise or enjoy any of tonights offerings, and old people will be devastated that the songs theyve come to associate with a time of innocence and virility have been massacred by a woman with a Sideshow Bob haircut and/or Zack Morris from Saved by the Bell. Tonight, we can all feel equally nonplussed as each other. X Factor has brought us together, and for this we are grateful. Continue reading...

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Govt VP Venizelos: Greece Ready to Prevent an Incident with Turkey

In an interview with Sunday newspaper Real News, the Greek government’s Vice President and Foreign Minister, Evangelos Venizelos expressed his confidence that Greece is ready to prevent a possible incident with Turkey if things get out of hand. “We are ready to prevent the possibility of an incident with Turkey. We are implementing actions to prevent an escalation, because a military escalation has never helped the region or Greece,” Mr. Venizelos underlined. In addition, the Greek government Vice President, declared that it is one thing to say that the country has a strong defense that it will make use of if needed, and it is quite another thing to enter into a crisis, “that has no prospects, has no strategic framework and often hurt a country and eventually become permanent and freeze.” He stated. On Wednesday, Mr. Venizelos warned the Turkish government that the Greek side is ready to take legal actions if necessary to protect Cyprus’ sovereign rights. “Our reaction is, so far, strong political, but it can also acquire legal characteristics. Greece in all tones, has explained that neither the tripartite agreement between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt nor that between Greece, Cyprus and Israel are of an aggressive nature and do not turn against any of the neighboring countries,” he said, defending at the same time Cypriot President Anastasiades’ decision to withdraw from the inter-communal talks under the United Nations for a solution to the Cyprus problem until Ankara ceases the provocations in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The European Parliament has passed on a joint resolution, condemning Ankara’s violations in Cyprus’  EEZ, which the Turkish Cypriot side characterized as “unacceptable” and “one-sided.” Tension is high in the southeast Mediterranean, since last month, when Turkey sent seismic vessel “Barbaros” to Cyprus’ EEZ Block 3 in order to conduct hydrocarbon research, while dogfight incidents over the Aegean sea between Turkish and Greek fighter jets have increased.

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New Greek restaurant coming to Mattituck shopping plaza

A new Greek eatery is coming to Mattituck. Greek Bites will be opening soon, according to a sign in the window of the business, located in the Mattituck shopping plaza, where the former Big City Burgers and Atomic Wings was sited, and next to the movie ...

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Exploring Greece's Cycladic Isles

With the Acropolis of Athens as a starting point, visitors hopping the Greek Isles use words like "magical" and "heaven" to describe their experience.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.northjersey.com

Greek economy in dire need of reforms

Greece is in need of radical reforms to its pension system if it is to cease being a burden on longer-term fiscal sustainability, and to prevent a rise in pension costs that would ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.greekherald.com

Caludio Ranieri and Dick Advocaat pay ultimate price for Euro 2016 qualifying failure

A statement from the Greek Football Federation said that the 63-year-old Ranieri would remain at the helm for the friendly match against Serbia this ...

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Greece confirm Ranieri sacking

Ranieri The Hellenic Football Federation have confirmed that the Italian Claudio Ranieri is no longer the coach of the Greece national side.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT forzaitalianfootball.com

Greece to seek extra debt relief as 'reward', says PM Antonis Samaras

ATHENS: Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Sunday that Greece would seek additional debt relief as a reward for a massive belt-tightening effort to ...

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT economictimes.indiatimes.com

Greece Athena boys win state soccer title

R.J. Nichol, left, celebrates with Ryan Lindeman during Greece Athena's sectional win over Pittsford Mendon. Athena won a state soccer title on ...

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Trap: 'Greece contacted me'

Giovanni Trapattoni admits “I was contacted by the Greece Federation who asked if I was available” after Claudio Ranieri's dismissal. The former Italy ...

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Recipes And Snack Ideas For Greek Yogurt

You know that Greek yogurt is high in fat-burning protein, probiotics, and calcium—but do you know how else to use it outside of your breakfast bowl? The Greek Diet, cowritten by Prevention food and nutrition director Sarah Toland and Greek chef Maria ...

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University suspends Greek activities following freshman's death

The death of a West Virginia University freshman who was found unconscious at a fraternity house has prompted officials to suspend all Greek activities on campus.

READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT edition.cnn.com

Jim Kershner's this day in history

One 42-year-old Greek man said he walked into the coffeehouse in search of an hour of peace and quiet. But then an argument broke out between the ...

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Polytechneio Today: A Revolt Without a Cause

Forty-one years after November 17, 1973 and the celebration of the brave student revolt against the colonels’, dictatorship has lost its sheen and most of its true meaning. Each year that passes, fewer and fewer people visit the building where the students defied the tank that tore down the gate of the Athens Polytechnic School, thus signifying young people’s struggle for freedom and democracy. The Polytechneio uprising has been a symbol of youth resistance against tyranny. However, through the years, political parties have struggled to make Polytechneio Day their own. For instance, the bloodied flag that was hanging on the gate the tank had torn down and instead of becoming a national symbol, fell in the hands of party youths. In 1974, after democracy was restored, in the protest rallies that culminated in the U.S. embassy, the flag was carried by the presidency of the National Union of Greek Students (EFEE) who were the student union of the Greek Communist Party (KKE). In 1976 it passed to the hands of the student union of PASOK and remained there for over 30 years. It is no wonder that the efforts made by political parties to capitalize on Polytechneio Day turned off many people from the celebration rallies of November 17, and subsequently distorted the true meaning of it. Every year, the turnout is smaller than the year before. Also, the use of November 17 as the name of a group of terrorists who murdered conservative politicians and newspaper owners, added to the demystification of the youth revolt anniversary. Today, there are still people who repeat the slogan “Bread, Education, Freedom” that echoed like thunder around the Polytechnic School that day. Thank God, that slogan is as outdated as the mimeographs the students used to print their flyers back then. Then why do some people repeat that slogan today? In the years between 1974 and 2010 there was plenty of bread for everyone and cake for many; education was good enough to the extent that many Greek university graduates excelled abroad in different fields; and there is enough freedom for students to occupy schools, do protest rallies at the drop of a hat and swear at politicians, deans, professors, cops and whoever they feel is stepping on their rights. Perhaps the answer is that today, the Polytechneio celebration is nothing more than a symbol for many young people who need to rebel against authority, rebel against anyone not on the same political wavelength, rebel against the university dean or the school teacher, rebel against whatever. The general feeling on Polytechneio Day among many young Greeks resembles more and more, the famous line from “The Wild Ones”: A woman asks rebel biker Marlon Brando, “What are you rebelling against?” to which he replies, “What have you got?” In the past few years alone, students used the November 17 anniversary to protest against the establishment of private universities, against school rules, against the firing of administrative staff, against the hiring of private cleaning companies, against security guards in universities, against exam material, against the quality of coffee in university cafeterias. “Let’s make our own Polytechneio,” today’s young chant in unison. And in vain. November 17, 1973 cannot be repeated. It was a particular moment in history that had no precedent and it cannot be duplicated. There have been tremendous historical changes since then. Democracy in Greece is well-established and the fact that we are members of the European Union, staves off the possibility of another military coup d’ etat. Young Greeks dream of a chance to relive that era, because to a large extent, Polytechneio Day fills a need for heroes. The heroic stance of the few thousand students inside the Polytechnic School that day, has been the stuff of legend. Many youngsters would have loved to have the chance to fight or participate in their own revolt. In Polytechneio Day they see a surrealistic mix of the leftist guerillas Greek Civil War, the French May of ’68, Che Guevara. But “unhappy is the land that needs a hero,” Bertolt Brecht has written. In a democratic country there are no heroes; there’s no need for them. The current recession has given young Greeks more reasons to fantasize about their own Polytechneio. It is true that the austere measures of the coalition government have burdened the Greek people and especially the young who see a bleak future ahead of them. Many fantasize that protesting in the streets shouting, “Bread, Education, Freedom,” is their own brave political struggle. Or that writing clever political remarks in the social media in the comfort of their home is their own way of fighting the system. But those who believe that they are heroes of their own Polytechneio do not have guns pointed at them and they’re in no danger of being arrested and tortured. Thankfully, the brave men and women of November 17, 1973 risked their lives so that today’s rebels are left without a real cause.

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Greek politics could return to the headlines early next year

Back in June 2012, Greek politics dominated headlines around the world when the radical left-wing party Syriza led the election. The prospect of Syriza leading the Greek government triggered a sell-off in global stocks as investors feared that its anti ...

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Greece names interim boss despite not actually firing Ranieri

The Greece FA announced Ranieri was “suspended” after the match – Greece's third in four Euro 2016 qualifiers, leaving them with just one point ...

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Greece appoint Kostas Tsanas as interim manager... but are yet to officially sack former Chelsea ...

Greece have appointed youth coach Kostas Tsanas as their interim manager, but are yet to officially announce the sacking of former Chelsea boss ...

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Greece appoint interim coach

Greece have named Kostas Tsanas as their interim coach following the sacking of Claudio Ranieri. Although the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO) is ...

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Greece names Kostas Tsanas, Nektarios Pantazis as interim coaches

Greece's football association has named Kostas Tsanas and Nektarios Pantazis as interim coaches of the national team, but has yet to confirm ...

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Greece to seek extra debt relief as 'reward': Greek PM

ATHENS: (AFP) - Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said Sunday that Greece would seek additional debt relief as a reward for a massive belt-tightening ...

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Big fat myth: Twelve Apostles passed off as Greek coastline

Footage of the iconic Twelve Apostles on the Victorian coastline has been used in a new international tourism commercial for Greece. Photographer Alex Cherney said he was stunned to discover Greek tourism authorities had swiped a 15-second clip of his time ...

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De Blasio Aide Wolfe Won’t Testify

Emma Wolfe, a Greek-American who is a top aide to New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, now reportedly has refused to talk to a special prosecutor. The post De Blasio Aide Wolfe Won’t Testify appeared first on The National Herald.

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Aussie Image in Greek Tourism Ad

Greek officials are defending use of an iconic Australian image in ads trying to lure visitors to Greece, saying it has names that "originated from Greece." The post Aussie Image in Greek Tourism Ad appeared first on The National Herald.

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History comes alive in modern Athens, Greece

Rick Steves' Europe: Athens, Greece, is cleaning up its reputation for noise, graffiti and pollution, but the city's biggest draw remain its ancient sites.

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Greece picks interim coach for friendly with Serbia

Athens: Under-21 coach Kostas Tsanas will be in charge of Greece on Tuesday in a friendly against Serbia, replacing Claudio Ranieri who was ...

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Greece FA Officially Part Ways With Former Chelsea Boss Claudio Ranieri

The former Chelsea and Monaco coach was appointed Greece boss in the summer following the country's World Cup campaign. However, he has ...

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Ranieri sacked as manager of Greece

LONDON: Claudio Ranieri has been fired as Greece coach following their shock 1-0 defeat to the Faroe Islands in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday ...

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Raniero sacked after Faroes loss

Claudio Ranieri paid the price for Greece's humiliating defeat to the Faroe Islands when it was confirmed Saturday that he had been sacked as national team coach.

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Poll: SYRIZA Leads with 4.8% Over New Democracy in Voting Intention

Greek main opposition party SYRIZA leads by 4.8% over ruling New Democracy (ND) in voting intention if general elections were held now, according to a weekly opinion poll conducted by Metron Analysis, which was published in “Parapolitika” newspaper on Saturday. According to the poll results, SYRIZA leads among those questioned with 31.3%, followed by ND with 26.5%, “To Potami” with 10%, the Greek Communist Party (KKE) with 6.1%, Golden Dawn (GD) with 5.8%, PASOK with 5.3%, Independent Greeks (ANEL) with 3.8%, Andarsya with 2.2% and Democratic Left (DIMAR) with 1.6%. Another 4.7% of respondents chose a different party. Asked which political leader is more suitable for Prime Minister, 35% said Antonis Samaras and 18% chose SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras. PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, ANEL leader Panos Kammenos and GD leader Nikos Michaloliakos all got 2%, whereas 1% chose DIMAR leader Fotis Kouvelis. A significant 32% answered “nobody,” 3% mentioned another leader and 5% did not respond to the question. (source: ana-mpa)

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New Low-Cost Airline to Launch Flights From Athens

Spanish low-cost airline Volotea announced its plans to operate from Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport. Starting from April 2015, the low-cost company, which since 2012 is offering more than 60,000 seats for destinations across Europe and North Africa, will connect the Greek capital with one internal and five international destinations. The airline will launch flights to the island of Santorini in Cyclades and to the Italian cities of Palermo, Pisa, Bari and Venice. According to Volotea’s official announcement, this development “demonstrates the company’s strong strategic interest in the Greek market, in which it has a continuous presence since 2012, having already carried more than 190,000 passengers. Volotea continues its growth in Greece and begins flights from Athens.” The low-cost company already operates from abroad to other popular Greek destinations, such as the islands of Corfu, Mykonos, Crete, Rhodes, Samos, Skiathos and Zakynthos, as well as the country’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, in Macedonia. 2015 will be the third consecutive year that Volotea operates in Greece, but the first linking the country’s capital with abroad. Volotea currently interlinks 63 destinations, while its fleet consists exclusively of 125-seater Boeing 717 aircraft.

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Thessaloniki Mayor Poses Naked in Support of Gay Pride

Statements that will be discussed made once again Thessaloniki Mayor Giannis Boutaris, who was photographed naked for a city’s magazine in support of the Gay Pride Parade. Talking to “Adore” magazine, Boutaris pointed out Thessaloniki’s prospects to become an open city, while underlined that it would be of great benefit for the city to host 50,000 gays in the next Gay Pride Parade. “I am not saying that 600,000 people should come to our town. Even 50,000 would be good, because that is the proportion for a city like Thessaloniki. If we manage to attract 50.000 gays from across the Balkans, Middle East or anywhere else, this would be something big for the city,” the groundbreaking Mayor said, adding that “now we do not have more than 2,000 to 3,000 people coming over. If they increase to 50,000, it will be a major success.” In the same interview, Boutaris estimated that Thessaloniki will never be an extremely open city, at least not in the foreseeable future, while he also commented on the Greek Church’s position regarding the halving issue of cremation, which is not allowed in Greece so far. In addition, he explained his intention to install information and road signs written in Jewish and Turkish language, while he commented on his fellow citizens’ conservatism and the city’s Christmas decoration during the previous mayor’s, Vasilis Papageorgopoulos, turn.

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The ‘Resident’ of the Amphipolis Tomb

A man of medium height, white skin, and brown or red hair: This is how the infamous and long awaited “resident” of the Amphipolis Tomb looked like, according to the scientists’ estimations, based on the facts regarding the Greeks of his time (4th century BC). As expected, a further and detailed analysis of the skeleton found under the ground surface of the third chamber, 1.6 meters deeper, will give further answers regarding his identity, although what the specialists assume, based on his features, is that the man originated from Thrace region, in northeastern Greece. “According to archaeologists’ scenarios regarding the period and the area in which the man, whose skeleton was found in Amphipolis Burial Monument, lived, these would be his basic features,” said to Greek newspaper “Ta Nea,” Professor of the Dentistry School of the University of Athens Manolis Papagrigorakis. In the same report, paleoanthropologist of the Tubingen University in Germany Katerina Charvati underlined that “by the examination of his bones and depending on the skeleton’s state, one can define various elements over his health, while he was alive, as well as his diet.” Greek Archaeologist Katerina Peristeri, head of the Amphipolis Tomb excavation, estimates that the dead man was a dignitary general. What would archaeologists discover if grave robbers have not entered his tomb first? “Thanks to the elements we got from other Macedonian graves, in which there was no human intervention after the burial, we can assume that we would have found armaments (shield, sword, chest armor, helmet, shin guards and other items), ceremonial containers made of gold or copper, chaplet and probably earthenware pottery,” explained professor of Classical Archaeology of the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki, Greece, Chrysoula Paliadeli.

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Audit Court Approves Budget for Excavations at Thessaloniki Metro

An Audit Court approved earlier today the disbursement of 25 million euros for archaeological excavations at the Metro construction site in Thessaloniki, Greece. This decision essentially unblocks the way for the completion of the biggest transport project in the city’s history. The construction of the 9.6-kilometer long, much-awaited Thessaloniki Metro started in June 2006 and should be completed by 2018. The project has been substantially delayed by significant archaeological discoveries during its construction. According to Attiko Metro, the company in charge of the construction, revealed that when it receives this amount, will proceed to the signing of a supplementary agreement with the consortium in order to allow the continuation of the suspended excavations along the city’s worksites. As the Athens-Macedonian News Agency reported, the disbursement of the 25 million euros has initially been approved last September by the Unified Public Procurement Authority. Following the positive opinion of the Audit Court, the last requirement is a typical ratification by the Greek Parliament. The total budget for the project is approximately 1.1 billion euros. Part of the budget (250 million euros) is funded from the 3rd Common Strategic Framework and a loan for 250 million euros has been arranged with the European Investment Bank. When completed, the Thessaloniki Metro will consist of initially 18 and later 35 stations.

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Refugees Cross Sea With Europe on Horizon

Crossing from Turkey to a Greek island is part of a long journey many Syrian refugees hope will take them to asylum.

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Glezos Says SYRIZA Bid Could Fail

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras' hopes to force early elections by blocking election of a Greek President may fall through, one of his leading lawmakers said. The post Glezos Says SYRIZA Bid Could Fail appeared first on The National Herald.

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Euro Zone's Troubles, Gold Vote Test Swiss Central Bank

By Alice Baghdjian and Silke KoltrowitzZURICH (Reuters) - The Swiss National Bank faces the biggest test of its cap on the franc in two years but may find it easier to defend now than when euro zone breakup fears were rampant and the strategy unproven.The franc rose to its strongest level since September 2012 on Friday, brushing up against the 1.20 euro limit the Swiss National Bank introduced in 2011 when the currency's strength was squeezing exporters and threatening deflation.Renewed weakness in the euro zone, and the European Central Bank's readiness to use radical measures to kick-start the economy, have fired up demand for the franc.A referendum this month on Swiss gold reserves is also playing a role. While approval seems unlikely, a Yes vote would force the SNB to buy gold alongside any currency interventions.Still, capital flows into Switzerland have declined sharply from the height of the euro crisis, as have fears that the interventions would spark inflation.More importantly, the SNB's success in defending the cap back in 2011 and 2012 means it may not have to intervene on the same scale to fend off any new market challenges."The difference between now and 2011 is that the wider markets and most economists believe these interventions can break the neck of speculation," said Rudolf Strahm, an economist and former Swiss lawmaker."Some market players tried once to attack the franc but all they got was a bloodied nose and lost vast sums of money. Since then no one has dared to try again."INTERVENTION POINTThe franc was trading at 1.2015 per euro by 1200 GMT on Friday, close to the 1.2010 francs per euro level where economists say the SNB has intervened in the past.The SNB shocked markets when it imposed the limit in September 2011 after the currency shot to record highs against the euro. The following year, as fears of a Greek exit from the euro zone grew, traders unsuccessfully challenged the cap. It has since become the backbone of SNB policy.The latest bout of franc strength is unlikely to prompt such intense purchases, economists say.The SNB poured billions of francs into the market until September 2012 to establish the limit, swelling its currency reserves, now around 460 billion Swiss francs ($475 billion) or about 70 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).The cap was breached only once in April 2012, adding credibility to the central bank's pledge to defend the policy with the utmost determination and purchase foreign currency in unlimited amounts to do so."It is possible that the SNB intervenes in coming days or weeks, but we would not expect the same level of interventions as in 2012," said Maxime Botteron, a Credit Suisse economist.Back then, Swiss investors were repatriating foreign funds out of fear for the euro zone. Anxiety has since subsided.Stagnating prices and faltering economic growth in Switzerland have silenced critics who warned of inflationary risks from the interventions and has underscored the need for the cap to ward off deflation.The policy has garnered support from exporters and tacit approval from other central banks. The risks from the vast purchases are limited because losses on forex reserves are pure accounting losses, economists say, though the bank will need to unwind the reserves at some point."We really don't see any inflationary pressure yet, even for the next one or two years, so there is no real limit to balance sheet expansion," said Botteron. "From our point of view, the exchange rate floor brings more benefits than costs."This could change quickly if the nation votes on Nov. 30 to oblige the central bank to hold at least 20 percent of its reserves in gold, up from 7 percent currently. However, polls show limited support.SNB Chairman Thomas Jordan has gone out of his way to warn of the risks attached to the proposal.The alternative to interventions would be negative interest rates. But that could add fuel to Switzerland's real estate boom and prove expensive for its large financial sector.(Editing by Noah Barkin/Ruth Pitchford)Join the conversation about this story »

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One of sport's greatest upsets

THE Faroe Islands achieved their biggest ever win in a stunning 1-0 upset of Greece in Athens, sparking a string of unbelievable results in Euro 2016 ...

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Greece and Poland switch roles as young Greeks head to vibrant Eastern European country for ...

In the 1980s and 90s, Greece was a beacon of hope and opportunity for the people of Poland. After making their way to Greece, Polish workers found ...

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German prosecutors raid offices of tankmaker Krauss-Maffei

Greek court officials told Reuters later that they had asked German authorities for support in an investigation into money laundering and bribery ...

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Tsipras digs in his heels, aligns with Podemos

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras made a fresh call for early elections on Saturday, during a speech in Madrid at the founding conference of Podemos, Spain’s leftist, anti-austerity party which has surged in opinion polls. Declaring that Greece is “on the brin... ...

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Greece caught using Victoria's Twelve Apostles in international tourism commercial

"The video is a dramatised narration to the presentation of Greece from an intimate perspective on all mankind, mythology, gods, heroes and all those ...

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Ranieri relieved of duties as Greece coach

Claudio Ranieri has left his post as Greece coach following the 1-0 home loss to the Faroe Islands on Friday. Ranieri only took over in July but with three home defeats his team are bottom of UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying Group F with just a single point.

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Family loses home in Greece fire

A family is without a home after a fire broke out in their kitchen and spread throughout the entire house. It happened on Leonard Road, near Dewey ...

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Greek restaurants on Long Island

Whether the draw is a creamy roe dip or a comforting moussaka -- or both -- these Greek restaurants are reliable favorites. Alexandros $$$ | Greek 1060 Rte. 25A Mount Sinai Alexandros stands out with adroitly grilled whole fish, especially red snapper and ...

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Trapattoni 'honoured' by Greece

“It would be an honour to be the Coach of a side like Greece. They are a great team and a country I would love to work in,” said the 75-year-old.

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Greece FA brings in Claudio Ranieri replacement

Greece's football association has named Kostas Tsanas as interim coach of the national team but has yet to confirm predecessor Claudio Ranieri's exit. Ranieri took over the side in July but is set to be dismissed after Friday's 1-0 home defeat by the Faroe ...

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Greece Athena, World of Inquiry boys advance to soccer finals

The boys soccer teams at Greece Athena and World of Inquiry each experienced some turmoil the past few months, but they overcame it and on ...

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