Everything you need to know about Greece: news, reviews, in-depth analysis, opinion and more
In the year 1829, Greece gained its independence from the rule of Ottoman Empire and during the late 19 th century it added the nearby territories to its own area. During the World War II, it again got invaded by Italy followed by Germany facing a civil war between the Communists and the king's supporters. And subsequently in the year 1952, it joined NATO. Greece had also faced military dictatorship in 1967 during which the King of Greece was forced to leave the country. Then in 1974, the elections were held to set up a democracy and hence the rule of monarchy got absolved. And in 1981, it joined the EU.
Greece Fast Facts :
Greece Geography, Climate and Economy :
Almost 80% of the Greece Terrain comprises of mountainous ranges. Mostly the mountains stretch into the sea forming peninsulas or a chain of islands. The Pindus chain of mountains extends across the Peloponnese and then onto the Aegean Sea. The central and west part of Greece contains high and steep peaks separated by canyons and Karstic landscapes. The Vikos Gorges is the world's largest and second deepest which is around 1100m deep. The lowest point of Greece is located in Mediterranean Sea at 0m and the highest at Mt. Olympus at 2,917m.
The Climate of Greece is Mediterranean characterized by mild temperatures and limited rainfall. The geographical features having rugged mountains causes variations in the climate. The summers are dry and hot moderated by the seasonal winds called meltemi. The winters are mild and wet and the mountains generally remain snow covered during this time.
The economy of Greece is a capitalist one. Tourism sector accounts to 15% of the GDP while the public sector accounts to 40% of the GDP. The natural resources include lignite, petroleum, magnesite, marble, zinc, hydropower, iron ore and bauxite.
Culture and Cuisine of Greece:
The Greek culture incorporates the traditions, religion, music, cuisine, language and the literature. It comprises an amalgam of East and West cultural influences of Asia and Europe. The Greeks are proud upholders of their culture and believe that it gives a national and ethnic belonging to them. Moreover, Iliad and Odyssey are the primary instances of the Greek literature.
The cuisine of Greece comprises of some succulent soups, exotic wines and different types of salads like Horiatiki Salata. Some of the popular dishes include Keftedakia, Moussaka, Paidakia, Kokoretsi and many others. There are a variety of soups like Kotossoupa, Fakies, Fassolada, Psarossoupa and Mayiritsa.
Tourist Sites in Greece:
Greece has a number of tourist sites to be ventured. Athens, its capital city has some of the significant historical sites and medieval edifices. It comprises of Acropolis, the Syntagma Square and the well known museums like Benaki and the National Archaeological Museum. Besides this, one may visit the Monasteries of Meteora. Greece has around 11 wetland areas where one can do bird watching particularly at Nestos Delta and Prespa Lakes.
Some Other Tourist Sites are :
Washington, May 24 (ANI): Virtuous people are believed to have happier lives, but a new research has revealed that it depends on where you come from.
London, May 19 (ANI): Denmark has been crowned the winner of Eurovision song contest 2013 that were held in the Swedish city of Malmo.
Thrissur (Kerala), May 18 (IANS) The festivities and fireworks at the Thrissur Pooram festival have stunned two US-based filmmakers who are making a movie on pyrotechnics across the globe. They have termed it as one of the most amazing display they have ever witnessed.
New York, May 15 (ANI): France has rated itself as most arrogant among eight European Union nations in a new survey.
New Delhi, May 8 (IANS) As part of the observances of the 152nd birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) is organizing an international conference on Rabindranath Tagore - Envoy of India: His Vision of India and the World.
The hague, May 7 IANS) International Monetary Fund's managing director Christine Lagarde's meeting with Dutch students was interrupted on Tuesday by chanting protestors who were discontent with the IMF's policies to resolve the eurozone debt crisis.
Athens, May 7 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Children from one of the world's most remote regions will start the Olympic flame relay for next year's Winter Games in Sochi.
London, May 5 (ANI): Helen Flanagan has fled to a Greek isle without boyfriend Scott Sinclair, it has been revealed.
Washington, April 30 (ANI): Eating foods that contain omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish, chicken and salad dressing and avoiding saturated fats, meat and dairy foods may be linked to preserving memory and thinking abilities, the largest study to date has found.
Beijing, Apr. 29 (Xinhua-ANI): Two cargo ships collided early Monday off southwestern Greece, with 10 crew members missing, the Greek coastguard said.
Washington, Apr. 27 (ANI): The grand Mycenaens, who inspired the legends of the Trojan Wars, 'The Iliad' and 'The Odyssey,' abruptly disappeared around 1200 B.C., marking the start of a Dark Ages in Greece.
Brussels, April 23 (IANS/EFE) Spain's budget deficit hit 10.6 percent of the gross domestic product in 2012, with the 3.6 percentage point effect of the bank bailout included, up from 9.4 percent of GDP in the prior year, the European Union's statistics agency, Eurostat, said Monday.
Karachi, April 22 (ANI): An aeronautical engineer has turned his back on his profession and set out across Europe to learn 33 more trades instead.
Washington, April 21 (ANI): Actress Julie Delpy has revealed that she was committed to making her new film, "Before Midnight," as authentic as possible, including realistic sex scenes.
Athens, April 19 (IANS/AKI) Three men have been arrested for shooting into a crowd of Bangladeshi and Pakistani migrant workers at a strawberry farm in Greece, in which around 30 workers were injured.
Sydney, Apr 19 (ANI): Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in a shooting and bombing rampage in Oslo in 2011, is becoming a cult figure, a lawyer has said.
Athens, April 12 (IANS/RIA Novosti) "The level of unemployment in Greece hit a record 27.2 percent in January, up 5.7 percentage points year on year, the Greek national statistics service Elstat said Thursday.
Geneva, April 10 (IANS) The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) Wednesday called on governments not to reduce their spending on children due to austerity measures.
Washington, April 3 (ANI): Researchers have discovered a trove of Neanderthal fossils including bones of children and adults in a cave in Greece.
New York, March 26 (ANI): Indian origin multi-millionaire Dino Lalvani celebrated his 40th birthday in London with a black-tie bash that has an Indian Raj twist.
Brussels, March 25 (Xinhua-ANI): Eurozone finance ministers had approved a new bailout plan for Cyprus, putting an end to uncertainties over the fate of the Mediterranean island country in the euro area, the Eurogroup head said early Monday.
Athens, March 24 (IANS) Eleven foreign prisoners escaped from a jail in Greece during an exchange of fire with guards, Greek authorities said.
Mumbai, March 23 (IANS) Bling and colour seem to be the flavour of the spring season with designers like Pia Pauro, Sanjay Hingu and Komal Sood presenting bright and colourful lines, with a hint of bling, at the Lakme Fashion week (LFW) summer-resort 2013 here Saturday.
Colombo, March 21 (IANS) A demonstration was held outside the US Embassy in Sri Lanka Thursday against the US sponsored resolution scheduled to be discussed at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Colombo, March 21 (Xinhua-ANI): A demonstration was held outside the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka on Thursday against the U.S. sponsored resolution scheduled to be discussed at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
Colombo, March 20 (IANS) The Sri Lankan government decided to reject the final draft of a US resolution submitted at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and seek a vote among members, the external affairs ministry said Wednesday.
Sydney, Mar 18 (ANI): A Greek soccer player has been banned for life from playing for his country after he gave a Nazi salute while celebrating a goal.
Washington, March 15 (ANI): A new study has shown how "natural" oils and fats regulate the sensation of feeling full after eating, with olive oil leading the way.
Moscow, March 14 (IANS) Breaking his silence for the first time, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that elimination of wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games would be unjustified.
Washington, March 13 (ANI): Jennifer Aniston has reportedly put all her wedding guests on standby and asked them to act quickly once they get to know about the whereabouts of the extremely private celebration because they will only be given a short notice.
Los Angeles, March 13 (IANS) Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux's won't send out invitations in advance, the guests will have to attend their wedding ceremony at a short notice.
Washington, Mar 11 (ANI): Britain, Italy and Greece have confirmed that hostages from their countries were among seven construction workers reported killed in Nigeria over the weekend.
Moscow, March 11 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Seven foreign hostages have been killed by a Nigerian Islamist group, the western governments said Sunday.
Athens, March 9 (IANS) Fewer Greeks are paying bribes for services across the country nowadays, as three years of austerity seem to have taken a toll on petty corruption, a survey of Transparency International Greece has shown.
Athens, March 8 (IANS) Fewer Greeks are paying bribes for services across the country nowadays, as three years of austerity seems to have taken a toll on petty corruption, a survey of Transparency International Greece showed Friday.
Athens, Mar 1 (IANS) Two students of a Greek university have died of carbon monoxide poisoning and three of their classmates went into coma in the central city of Larissa, officials said Friday.
Moscow, Mar 1 (IANS/RIA Novosti) A proposed Russian permanent naval task force in the Mediterranean Sea may consist of up to 10 combat and auxiliary ships, a high-ranking military source said.
Washington, February 28 (ANI): Using the new 2.3-meter 'Aristarchos' telescope, sited at Helmos Observatory (2340 meters high) in the Peloponnese Mountains in Greece, astronomers have determined the distance to and history of an enigmatic stellar system, discovering it to likely be a binary star cocooned within an exotic nebula.
Athens, Feb 25 (IANS) The attempt of a group of prisoners to escape by helicopter in central Greece has failed, the authorities said.
New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS) Major trade unions Thursday warned the central government of bigger agitation in the country, describing the two-day national strike as "the beginning of the chapter".
Athens, Feb 20 (IANS) Greece was Wednesday gripped by a one-day general strike, the first this year, in protest the austerity and reform programme introduced to lift the country up from a debt crisis.
New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) The sports ministry Wednesday urged the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to take up with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the issue of dropping wrestling from the 2020 Olympic Games.
New Delhi, Feb. 20 (ANI): Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has urged the member representing India in the IOC to take up the matter of excluding wrestling from the 25 core sports for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games urgently with IOC Executive Board and other forums and impress IOC upon the need to reconsider its decision and retain wrestling in the category of core sports in Olympic Games.
Rio de Janeiro, Feb 20 (IANS) The cousin of former Dutch international midfielder Clarence Seedorf has signed for Brazilian fourth division outfit Alecrim.
Copenhagen, Feb 19 (IANS) Several new rules for rowing were adopted at the Extraordinary Congress of the International Rowing Federation (FISA) here.
London, Feb 13 (ANI): Tomato juice could be better than energy drinks at helping the body rejuvenate after exercise, a new study has claimed.
Moscow, Feb 9 (IANS) Delegations of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and National Olympic Committees (NOCs) have been impressed with the preparations for the Sochi-2014 Winter Olympic Games.
Tokyo, Feb. 2 (Xinhua-ANI): Masato Uchishiba, a two-times Olympic judo gold winner, was sentenced to five years in prison for rape by Tokyo District Court on Friday.
Luxembourg, Feb 2 (IANS/DAPD) The economic slowdown in Europe has kept unemployment in the eurozone at a record high.
London, Jan. 30 (ANI): Muslim patrols stalking streets in Britain could become 'a lot more dangerous' and perhaps even lead to maiming or killing, the head of an anti-extremism organisation has warned.
Washington, Jan 26 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Disabled school students in the US who want to participate in sports are being given an equal playing field after the government said schools must give those students the same opportunity to play.
Washington, Jan 17 (IANS) The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved disbursement of 2.798 billion special drawing rights (SDR), amounting to about $4.3 billion, to cash-strapped Greece, Xinhua reported.
New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Painting a none too rosy picture of politics in the country, the Supreme Court Wednesday said people of character and integrity were not attracted to politics.
Berlin, Jan 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras Tuesday exuded confidence that his country will do everything possible to restore financial order and investor confidence in the economy.
Athens, Jan 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Robbers armed with Russian-designed Kalashnikov assault rifles or similar military-type assault weapons may soon face up to life in prison under new legislation drafted by the Greek ministry of justice.
London, Jan. 7 (ANI): Torrential rain that leads drains to overflow, releasing germ and virus riddled water into waterways could be the cause of more stomach illnesses in certain corners of Europe, scientists say.
London, Jan 7 (ANI): Scientists claim that a rise in static electricity below the ground could be a reliable indicator that an earthquake is imminent.
Melbourne, Jan.4 (ANI): A new global survey has ranked India as one of the worst countries to be born in.
London, Jan 2 (IANS) Switzerland is the best place to be born in 2013, according to a list of nations with the best quality of life. India occupies a lowly 66th spot while Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh are at numbers 63, 75 and 77.
Beijing, Jan 1 (IANS) The credibility of the Olympic Movement was called into question in 2012 again when a string of scandals and controversies hit the London Olympics.
Berlin, Dec 28 (IANS) German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble has said the worst of Europe's debt crisis seemed to be over, showing his optimism about the German economy in the coming year.
Athens, Dec 24 (IANS) Every second Greek of working age seeks job abroad due to the prevailing debt crisis which has hit Greece hard over the past three years, a survey has found.
Athens, Dec 19 (IANS) Greece's sovereign credit rating was upgraded to B- with a stable outlook up from selective default by international rating agency Standard & Poor's Tuesday.
Brussels, Dec 13 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Eurozone finance ministers approved a 49.1 billion-euro ($64 billion) rescue package for Greece at their meeting Thursday, to keep Athens' debt-saddled economy afloat.
London, Dec. 11 (ANI): Google has brought out the list of the most searched topics in its search engine this year.
Athens, Dec 9 (IANS) Three children died early Saturday in northern Greece after a fire broke out at a farmhouse, authorities said.
London, Dec 9 (ANI): Genetic scientists have found that the Romani, Europe's largest minority group with approximately 11 million people, began their migration into Europe 1,500 years ago, much earlier than previously thought, from a single population in northern India.
According to the latest survey on the basis of corruption, India has been declared as the 94th 'most corrupt country' in the world. The survey has been done in the context of doing businesses in these countries.
Washington, Dec. 7 (ANI): India is the 94th 'most corrupt country' in the world for doing businesses, a new survey has revealed.
Brussels, Dec 7 (IANS/EFE) The economy of the 17-nation eurozone shrank 0.1 percent in the July-September period after a decline of 0.2 percent in the second quarter, the European Union's statistics agency said Thursday.
Beijing, Dec 6 (IANS) Beijing will start a 72-hour visa-free stay policy for citizens of 45 countries from Jan 1, 2013. India and Pakistan were excluded from the list.
Madrid, Dec 4 (IANS) Ernesto Valverde was named the Spain football club Valencia's coach until the end of the 2012/13 season.
Athens, Dec 4 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Greece will spend up to 10 billion euros ($13 billion) to buy back its outstanding bonds at a steep discount, in a bid to cut debt and unlock much-needed bailout aid.
Melbourne, December 2 (ANI): Since other people's social customs can be very different from yours, experts have listed out some pitfalls to watch out for while travelling to other countries to make sure that they do not mean anything offensive in that culture.
London, Dec 1 (IANS) A majority of Britons are in favour of of legalising assisted suicide, according to a new poll which has reflected strong support for a change in the law across Europe.
Brussels, Dec 1 (IANS/EFE) The unemployment rate for the countries that use the euro inched up in October to a record-high 11.7 percent, compared to 11.6 percent the previous month, Eurostat, the European Union's statistics office, said Friday.
London, Nov 29 (IANS) Switzerland is the best place to be born, says a new list of nations with the best quality of life. India occupies a lowly 66th spot, and Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh are at numbers 63, 75 and 77.
The Hague, Nov 29 (IANS) Former Dutch football player and coach Ab Fafie died at the age of 71 Tuesday night, Dutch media reported Thursday.
Mumbai, Nov 27 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities markets Tuesday surged 305 points on positive global cues and after ratings agency Moody's said India's outlook is stable. Banks, consumer durables, metal, capital goods and fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) stocks gained the most.
Two senior officers are currently on trial in Russia for attempting to organise coups, but few believe a military?led uprising could succeed in the country in the foreseeable future.
Moscow, Nov 23 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The number of Greek civil servants has fallen by 400,000 in three years of crisis, Administrative Reform Minister Antonis Maniatakis said.
Bangalore, Nov 22 (IANS) Greece opened centres in eight cities across the country, including Bangalore, for receiving applications and delivering visas to mainly Indian citizens through VFS Global outsourcing technology services firm.
Athens, Nov 16 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Seven inmates have been caught digging a nine?metre?long tunnel in a prison in Larissa, a city in central Greece, the country's justice ministry said Friday.
Brussels, Nov 16 (IANS/EFE) The economy of the 17?member euro zone contracted 0.1 percent in the third quarter, the Eurostat statistics office said Thursday.
Melbourne, Nov 13 (ANI): "To gif" has topped as 2012's word of the year, as declared by the Oxford American Dictionary.
Tokyo, November 11 (ANI): A team of researchers claim to have found a link between the occurrence of earthquakes in the Izu Island chain and subtle changes in subterranean geoelectricity, a finding that one day might help develop techniques for predicting temblors.
Athens, Nov 8 (IANS) Clashes broke out in Greece Wednesday ahead of a crucial vote on a government austerity bill in parliament.
Athens, Nov 5 (IANS/EFE) Schools in northern Greece run the risk of being closed in the coming days because they haven't enough money to pay for heating, said authorities.
Berlin, Nov 4 (IANS/EFE) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for her European partners to show great perseverance over the long haul, predicting the region will need at least another five years to overcome its severe sovereign debt crisis.
Jerusalem, Nov 3 (IANS/RIA Novosti) The Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem has threatened to close its doors to pilgrims and tourists as its bank account has been frozen over an accumulated debt for water supplies.
Washington, November 1 (ANI): Short-term alcohol intake can increase the activity of functional connections across the human brain when it is at rest, according to a research.
Washington, Oct 30 (ANI): U.S. presidential candidate Mitt Romney, in his speech at a private fundraiser, claimed that Barack Obama considers business people 'a necessary evil', it has been revealed.
Madrid, Oct 30 (IANS/EFE) Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Monday that his government "understands that it is not essential at this time" to seek aid from the European Union to protect "the general interests of the Spanish people".
New Delhi, Oct 26 (ANI): In the wake of the Eurozone crisis, Spanish King Juan Carlos I, along with his ministerial and business delegation, arrived in India with an aim to seek investment in his country.
Srinagar, Oct. 23 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir hosted the Fourth International Symposium for saffron growers at which it emphasized the need for value addition in the agriculture and horticulture sectors.
Washington, October 22 (ANI): Researchers have waned that heavy concentrations of secondhand smoke, such as those found in smoke-filled bars and cars, can lead to airway restriction for bystanders within minutes of exposure.
Gaza, Oct 20 (IANS) A number of Palestinian officials and activists Saturday condemned Israel's interception of a Gaza-bound Finnish boat and called for an urgent international intervention to end the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip which had lasted for more than five years.
London, Oct 18 (ANI): Bees not only bite enemies that are too small to sting, but paralyze their victims with a snake-like venom, scientists have discovered.
Washington, October 16 (ANI): A research that was coordinated at Carlos III University of Madrid (UC3M) analyses the mythological images in Roman mosaics and shows that members of the most powerful elite selected Greek gods and heroes as symbols of universal values that reinforced what Rome stood for.
Jerusalem, Oct. 16 (Xinhua-ANI): Israeli lawmakers passed a bill in an early Tuesday morning vote approving a bid for the Knesset's (parliament) dissolution and holding an early election on Jan. 22, 2013.
