Greece 

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Latest news on Greece (Hellas), the Hellenic Republic, covering Greek politics, the Greek economy, Athens, Thessaloniki, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Greek islands, Crete, the Aegean, migration, wildfires, energy, Greek-Turkish relations and EU affairs.

Greece is a parliamentary republic of about 10 million people and a member of the EU, the eurozone and NATO. Athens is the capital, followed by Thessaloniki, Patras, Heraklion and the port of Piraeus. Kyriakos Mitsotakis of New Democracy has been prime minister since 2019, while Konstantinos Tasoulas is the largely ceremonial president.

The economy has recovered since Greece left its third international bailout in 2018, and investment-grade credit ratings returned in 2023. Shipping, tourism and services are major employers, while cost of living, housing and wages dominate political debate. Offshore gas exploration south of Crete and the Peloponnese has also raised hopes for energy security.

Challenges remain. The Tempi rail disaster of 28 February 2023 killed 57 people and prompted mass protests, a criminal trial and questions about accountability. Migrant arrivals by sea, especially to Crete from Libya, test the asylum system, while summer wildfires threaten homes and forests on the mainland and islands such as Euboea. Relations with Turkey over Aegean waters and airspace remain a recurring concern.

Greek culture and island life draw attention worldwide. The Acropolis, the Parthenon and the monasteries of Meteora are protected heritage, and the dispute over the Parthenon Marbles, also called the Elgin Marbles, is still unresolved. Lesbos, Kefalonia, Corfu, Santorini, Mykonos and the Peloponnese are known across the country and beyond, while an ageing population and emigration of young Greeks shape social debate.

Athens was the birthplace of democracy in the 5th century BC. Greece began its war of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821, won recognition in 1830, endured occupation and civil war in the 1940s, and restored democracy in 1974 after the military junta. It joined the European Community in 1981 and adopted the euro in 2001, before the debt crisis of 2010 brought deep austerity.

Our NewsNow feed on Greece is constantly updated with the most relevant headlines from reliable sources. Whether you follow Greek politics, the economy, Athens and Thessaloniki, the islands or relations with Turkey and the EU, this feed gives you comprehensive coverage of Greece news.