Renowned Greek musician and composer Mimis Plessas has died just a week before his 100th birthday.

It's time for the 58th annual Original Greek Festival happening this weekend in Montrose! From the delicious authentic Greek food and pastries to live music and shopping, we'll learn more about what you can enjoy this weekend at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Fires have broken on a Greek-flagged oil tanker previously attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels this week.

A French destroyer rescued 29 mariners from an oil tanker that came under repeated attack from Yemen's Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, while also destroying a bomb-carrying drone boat in the area.

A Greek-flagged oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea has come under repeated attack, leaving the vessel “not under command” and drifting ablaze in an assault suspected to have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

Preliminary results show Albania's governing Socialist Party candidate Vangjel Tavo has won the mayoral election in the southwestern town of Himara.

Pope Francis has voiced his hope that the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games will provide an opportunity for countries at war to respect an ancient Greek tradition and establish a truce for the duration of the Games.

Turkey’s president has reaffirmed his commitment to a two-state peace deal for ethnically split Cyprus that Greek Cypriots have dismissed out-of-hand, again putting a damper on prospects for a quick resumption of talks to resolve the half-century-old conflict.

The United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies are criticizing Greece’s failure over the past year to shed light on one of the worst migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea that left hundreds dead.

The remains of recently identified Greek soldiers who fought in Cyprus against invading Turkish troops nearly a half-century ago have been returned to their families.

A Greek-owned and Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that came under attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels earlier this week had a cargo of grain bound for Iran.

The flame that is to burn at the Paris Olympics has been kindled at the site of the ancient games in southern Greece.

In a meticulously choreographed ceremony on Tuesday, the flame for this summer’s Paris Olympics will be lit at the birthplace of the ancient Olympic Games in southern Greece.

Archaeologists excavating new sites in Pompeii have uncovered a sumptuous banquet hall decorated with intricately frescoed mythological characters inspired by the Trojan War.

Voters around the world who worry about growing threats to democratic freedoms should consider electing more women in countries’ national elections this year.

Longtime regional rivals Greece and Turkey have made a significant step in mending ties during a visit to Athens by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Greece has become a late but enthusiastic convert to new technology as a way of displaying its famous archaeological monuments and deepening visitors' knowledge of ancient history.

One airline is betting that passengers will pay extra to sit away from babies and young children.

Nearly 100 Croatian soccer fans have appeared in an Athens court to face serious criminal charges that include murder and membership of a criminal organization, over their alleged involvement in deadly fan violence.

Passion for this year's soccer champions from Naples has led Italian police to capture a longtime organized crime fugitive who was living on a Greek island.

The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus have made a joint appeal for information that could lead to the buried remains of people who vanished amid violence and war decades ago, as more eyewitnesses die.

A Greek news web site has published excerpts from the depositions of two survivors of Wednesday's deadly shipwreck off southwestern Greece.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has declared a national day of mourning for citizens who died when a fishing trawler packed with migrants sank off the Greek coast.

There are still more questions than answers about what led up to one of the worst shipwrecks in recent Mediterranean history in which some 500 people are feared dead.

Nine survivors from a migrant boat that sank were arrested on suspicion of smuggling as hope faded for hundreds of missing passengers and attention turned to Greece’s failure to act before the ship capsized.

Hundreds of remnants of ancient Roman life — from dice to rain gutter decorations to burial offerings 3,000 years old — have long been hidden from public view.

Excavations in the ancient city of Paestum in southern Italy have unearthed seven terracotta bull heads and a figurine of the Greek god Eros riding a dolphin.

President Joe Biden — surrounded by Greek-American politicians and community leaders — marked Greek Independence Day at the White House on Wednesday.

Greek authorities say police are continuing searches in Athens and other parts of the country following the arrest of two suspects accused of planning an attack at Jewish center in a busy downtown area of the Greek capital.

A stationmaster accused of causing Greece’s deadliest train disaster has been charged with negligent homicide and jailed pending trial.

A court on the Greek island of Lesbos has rejected charges against a group of aid workers and volunteers who participated in migrant rescue operations, ruling on procedural grounds to return the case to the prosecution for refiling.

A group of 24 aid workers and volunteers who participated in migrant rescue operations on an eastern Greek island are on trial in a smuggling-related case widely criticized by human rights groups.

Greece is planning a major extension of a steel wall along its border with Turkey in 2023 in a move that is being applauded by residents in the border area as well as voters more broadly.

Opa! The Original Greek Festival is back for its 55th year in Montrose.

French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a national debate meant to broaden end-of-life options.

A new report has found that clean energy now provides more employment than the fossil fuel industry, reflecting the shift that efforts to tackle climate change are having on the global jobs market.

European Union ministers are debating ways to ramp up weapons production and boost military training for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Protesters angry over a building collapse in southwestern Iran that killed at least 33 people have shouted down an emissary sent by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard says it has seized two Greek oil tankers in the Persian Gulf.

Antiquities authorities in Egypt say archaeologists have unearthed the ruins of a temple for the ancient Greek god Zeus in the Sinai Peninsula.

The rival leaders of ethnically divided Cyprus have kicked off an initiative to give women an equal say in any renewed push to reunify the east Mediterranean island nation.

An SUV crashed Friday afternoon into the outdoor seating area of a popular Greek restaurant in Northwest Washington, D.

Archaeologists in southern Italy say they have discovered the ruins of a painted brick wall and ancient warrior helmets at a site that might have been a forerunner of a temple dedicated to the goddess Athena.

A censure motion brought by the main opposition party against the Greek government over its handling of a severe snowstorm last Monday has been rejected after a three-day debate.

Italian media say Nino Cerruti, the Italian fashion designer credited with revolutionizing menswear in the 1960s and who gave Giorgio Armani his first fashion break, has died.

Egypt’s foreign minister has rebuffed a Turkish push for a two-state peace deal on ethnically divided Cyprus.

The U.N. climate summit, known as COP26 this year, brings officials from almost 200 countries to Glasgow to haggle over the best measures to combat global warming.

British officials have identified a relative of the delta variant.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hosted a lunch for the leaders of divided Cyprus in hopes of spurring a return to negotiations to reunite the Mediterranean island nations.

Tentoglou was the world leader coming into Tokyo with an 8.60m leap at a domestic competition in May, but struggled to find his form early.

A painting donated to Greece by Pablo Picasso will go back on display at the newly renovated National Gallery in Athens after its recovery nine years after it was stolen and the arrest of a 49-year-old construction worker as a suspect.

Ferry services to the Greek islands have been disrupted after a seamen’s union went ahead with a strike that a court had declared illegal.

Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns to Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia during the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 27, 2021, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)MIAMI – For tennis up-and-comers like Stefanos Tsitsipas, the draw at the Miami Open began to look a lot less daunting even before the tournament began. “It’s a first test to see how it is playing without them,” Tsitsipas said after his third-round victory Saturday. 2-seeded Tsitsipas is among those with the best chance to take advantage, and he looked the part against Damir Dzumhur, winning 6-1, 6-4. “I created a lot of opportunities with my serve — I wasn’t rushing at all, finding the right angles and executing it perfectly,” Tsitsipas said. In women's play, top-ranked Ash Barty and three-time champion Victoria Azarenka advanced to a round of 16 showdown.

HOUSTON – The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Hurricane Committee held its annual meeting from March 15 to 17. They cited several reasons for their decision:Often, there is more focus on the use of the Greek alphabet for names rather than the storm itself, which leads to less-than-optimal communication of important information. Greek alphabet names can be confusing when translating to different languages. The WMO will replace the Greek alphabet names with a supplemental list of names that start with A, B, C, D, and so on, all the way down the alphabet with the exception of Q, U, X, Y, and Z. AdThe supplemental list of names agreed upon for Atlantic hurricanes is:AdriaBraylenCaridadDeshawnEmeryFosterGemmaHeathIslaJacobusKenzieLucioMakaylaNolanOrlandaPaxRoninSophieTayshaunVivianaWillPacific storms will also have a supplemental list, which you can view here.

(NOAA via AP)With named storms coming earlier and more often in warmer waters, the Atlantic hurricane season is going through some changes with meteorologists ditching the Greek alphabet during busy years. The Greek alphabet had only been used twice in 2005 and nine times last year in a record-shattering hurricane season. AdMeanwhile, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration is recalculating just what constitutes an average hurricane season. STARTING EARLIERMIT hurricane researcher Kerry Emanuel said “this whole idea of hurricane season should be revisited." So a warming world means the new normal is busy hurricane seasons just like the last 30 years.

The Israel Antiquities Authority displays newly discovered Dead Sea Scroll fragments at the Dead Sea scrolls conservation lab in Jerusalem, Tuesday, March 16, 2021. Israeli archaeologists on Tuesday announced the discovery of dozens of new Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text found in a desert cave and believed hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner)JERUSALEM – Israeli archaeologists on Tuesday announced the discovery of dozens of Dead Sea Scroll fragments bearing a biblical text found in a desert cave and believed hidden during a Jewish revolt against Rome nearly 1,900 years ago. The Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of Jewish texts found in desert caves in the West Bank near Qumran in the 1940s and 1950s, date from the third century B.C. There are slight differences and some of those differences are important,” said Joe Uziel, head of the antiquities authority's Dead Sea Scrolls unit.

Raab pledged support in helping to “break the logjam” that has blocked a peace deal for nearly a half-century, fueled tensions over offshore energy reserves and encumbered Turkey’s relationship with the European Union. Greek Cypriots strongly reject any deal that would legitimize the east Mediterranean island nation’s ethnic partition. AdOnly Turkey recognizes a Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in the island’s northern third where it keeps more than 35,000 troops. Although Cyprus is an EU member, only the Greek Cypriot southern part where the internationally recognized government is seated enjoys full membership benefits. The last push for a peace deal in July 2017 collapsed amid much acrimony.

Lute is meeting both leaders separately in order to prepare the ground for reunification talks. (Stavros Ioannides/Cyprus' Press and Information Office via AP)NICOSIA – U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres intends to meet next month with ethnically split Cyprus’ rival Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders to gauge whether conditions are ripe to resume dormant peace talks, the Cypriot government spokesman said on Monday. Kyriakos Koushos didn’t provide a specific date for the informal February meeting that will also bring together top officials from Cyprus’ three "guarantors" — Greece, Turkey and Britain. Koushos was speaking after U.N. envoy Jane Holl Lute met with Greek Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to prepare for the meeting that’s seen as the linchpin to restarting negotiations. Turkey’s research vessels — escorted by warships — continue to search for hydrocarbons in waters where Cyprus claims exclusive economic rights.

I’ve had a number of viewers ask what happens if we go through the Greek alphabet for storm names. Or we could stick with the Greek idea -- Tropical Storm Chi Omega? The bottom line is, we have no fear of running through the Greek alphabet. Per the WMO, once the 21 names on the Atlantic list are exhausted, the Greek alphabet is used. There are 24 names on the Greek alphabet list.

HOUSTON – The storm is expected to weaken just slightly down to a strong tropical storm before making landfall somewhere between Cedar Key and Clearwater, Florida by this evening. It will bring heavy rain, wind and up to a 2-3 foot storm surge during high tide across central and NW Florida coastline. Eta is approaching the central Florida coastline this eveningEta will move across Florida tonight and tomorrowWe might be nearing the end of hurricane season but the tropics are still very busy! Tropical Storm Theta is churning in the north Atlantic heading towards Spain and Portugal and we will likely be looking at “Iota” over the next few days tracking in the Caribbean towards Central America. Busy TropicsTHETA marks the 29th named storm of the 2020 season breaking the record for the most named tropical systems in a hurricane season.

PARIS – An explosion at a Saudi cemetery where American and European officials were commemorating the end of World War I wounded three people Wednesday, according to official statements. A Saudi security officer was also lightly wounded, Saudi state media quoted a local official as saying. France has urged its citizens in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim-majority countries to be “on maximum alert” amid the heightened tensions. Wednesday marked the 102nd anniversary of the armistice ending World War I and is commemorated in several European countries. In 1916, during World War I, Ottoman troops surrendered to the local troops backed by the British in Jiddah, a Red Sea port city.

In this undated photo made available Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, ancient Greek and Roman marble statues are seen prior to going on display in the newly refurbished Villa Caffarelli, one of the Capitoline Museums exhibition spaces overlooking the ancient Roman Forum, in Rome. One of the most important private collections of ancient Greek and Roman marble sculptures is going on display Monday as part of the Eternal Citys 150th anniversary celebrations. (Fondazione Torlonia via AP)

In this undated photo made available Monday, Oct. 12, 2020, ancient Greek and Roman marble statues are seen prior to going on display in the newly refurbished Villa Caffarelli, one of the Capitoline Museums exhibition spaces overlooking the ancient Roman Forum, in Rome. One of the most important private collections of ancient Greek and Roman marble sculptures is going on display Monday as part of the Eternal Citys 150th anniversary celebrations. (Fondazione Torlonia via AP)ROME – One of the most important private collections of ancient Greek and Roman marble sculptures is going on display in Rome as part of the Eternal City’s 150th anniversary celebrations. The 90 works from the Torlonia Collection were opening Monday in the newly refurbished Villa Caffarelli, one of the Capitoline Museum’s exhibition spaces overlooking the ancient Roman Forum. The 620-piece Torlonia Collection is considered one of the greatest private collections of classical art, featuring marble busts, reliefs, sarcophagi and statues.

Louisiana residents who are still recovering from the devastation of a powerful hurricane less than two months ago braced for another hit as Hurricane Delta steamed north through the Gulf on Thursday after swiping Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, the Associated Press reported. “They do not retire Greek alphabet storm names -- at least so far,” Gross said. The last time we went through all the letters of the alphabet and moved on to the Greek alphabet was 2005. In 2005, a record-breaking year of devastating hurricanes, we made it through six Greek letters. The Committee also agreed that it was not practical to retire into hurricane history a letter in the Greek alphabet.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:___The entire Kilmarnock squad was told to self-isolate for 14 days following six positive virus cases, and its Scottish Premiership match on Friday against Motherwell was postponed. Kilmarnock reported three cases on Wednesday and three more positive tests on Thursday, and local officials advised all of the playing squad to self-isolate. The classic marathon route has grown in popularity since the 1970s and the event now includes 10-kilometer and 5-kilometer races. The federation says participants will be contacted and offered a refund or to transfer their participation to 2021. It says it will organize a virtual race in November that will be open to all.

It’s easy to forget that hurricane season lasts through Nov. 30 (sometimes longer) and, after all, the Greek hurricane names are in use. The National Hurricane Center is watching the Caribbean now (still plenty warm down there) for possible development. The orange area below has a 60% chance to develop in the next five days (10% the next two days). NHC forecastOur question, of course, is where would it go from there (if it even develops). Enjoy the fall weather through the weekend into next week and let me worry about the tropics for you!

This Aqua satellite image taken Friday, Sept. 18, 2020 and provided by NASA, shows subtropical storm Alpha in the eastern North Atlantic Ocean near Portugal's coast. The Atlantics record-breaking crazy hurricane season got a bizarre European remake Friday as forecasters ran out of traditional names and trotted out the Greek alphabet for subtropical storm Alpha. (NASA via AP)The Atlantic’s record-breaking “crazy” hurricane season got a bizarre European remake Friday as forecasters ran out of traditional names and trotted out the Greek alphabet for subtropical storm Alpha. The busy Atlantic is beta testing the Greek alphabet as Beta formed late Friday afternoon. With at least another month of the heart of the busiest part of hurricane season to go, one weather-watcher on Twitter talked of “Hurricane Pi on Thanksgiving.”

HOUSTON – Well, that was fast....Wilfred has formed in the far eastern Atlantic and Alpha formed off the coast of Portugal late this morning! Our Tropical Depression 22 will get the name BETA. If there’s one thing that is not Greek to me, it’s that this will be a slow mover and slow movers drop a lot of rain. And we’ve had our share of storms that get ‘stuck’ between competing high-pressure systems. Effectively, the storm gets stuck, meanders, and eventually gets pushed one way or the other.

Tropical Storm Teddy's track forecast and looks like it will make Cat 3 strengthAnd the truth is, we’re almost out of names! They’ve chosen not to use five letters--Q, U, X, Y and Z-- because, apparently, those letters are hard to find names for. Here’s the 2020 list: Arthur Bertha Cristobal Dolly Edouard Fay Gonzalo Hanna Isaias Josephine Kyle Laura Marco Nana Omar Paulette Rene Sally Teddy Vicky WilfredWe ran out of names in 2005 (the Katrina/Rita year) when the National Hurricane Center named 27 storms--six of them got Greek alphabet names. What happens if we have a Greek alphabet storm that causes catastrophic damage or death and the name needs to be retired? I reached out to Dennis Feltgen, Communications & Public Affairs Officer at the National Hurricane Center, and asked him exactly what would happen.

Students sit outside the Peter T. Flawn Academic Center at the University of Texas at Austin. As Texas college towns see rising COVID-19 cases with the return of hundreds of thousands of students to campus, a small but increasing number of universities are disciplining students who attend or host house parties or Greek rush events. But while reports of those crackdowns are beginning to increase, most Texas universities arent penalizing individual students for partying that takes place off-site. Many of the Greek events have since been halted, he said, but the off-campus parties continue. Penalize organizations, not peoplePerhaps the most power that Texas universities can wield over off-campus student behavior comes through its recognized organizations, from sororities to student government and beyond.

HOUSTON – At Niko Niko’s in Montrose, owner Demetri Fetokakis loves to sing the praises of his famous gyros sandwiches. Niko Niko’s was opened in 1977 and features a legendary list of Greek favorites. The restaurant also boasts several awards from the Houston Press, including “Best Pork Chop”, “Best Chicken” and “Best Family Owned Restaurant." Niko Niko’s offers a blast of flavor that seems to ooze from every dish on the menu, which is derived from traditional Greek family recipes. Niko Niko’s Greek and American CaféAddress: 2520 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, 77006Phone: 713-528-4976