Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between supporters of the king and other anti-Communists and Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In 1974, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC (now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily leave the common currency or be removed.
From the CIA World Fact Book.
Recommended
- I’ve been reeling over the fact moisture content in the atmosphere is accelerating. If you haven’t yet read it, you can find it here. Southern Brazil has been hit hard by record rainfall for weeks. There has been a pause as the rain bands moved and...14 comments 76 Recs
- The UK has ordered the expulsion from the country of Russia’s defense attache. Cleverly also announced the U.K. was removing diplomatic status from several Russian-owned properties, "including Seacox Heath house, a Russian-owned property in Sussex, and...25 comments 175 Recs
- The most powerful elected Republican in America declared war on the rule of law yesterday. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that Congress, on behalf of wannabee “day one” dictator Donald Trump, is going to use every power available to him and his...56 comments 257 Recs
- WAPO has just reported that President Biden has revealed in an interview on CNN to be aired later tonight that “he will cut off offensive weapons if Israel invades Rafah.” POTUS acknowledged that offensive weapons have been used by Israel to kill...19 comments 46 Recs
- This cartoon I drew years ago was inspired by some of Matt Groening’s old Life in Hell comics. It’s a fun format to create — I’ve done a few cartoons like this — but it takes forever! Worth it, though. Over the years, at least a half-dozen...65 comments 230 Recs
- Something I never knew, and when I wondered if it were worth sharing, I thought of Jeremy. Known here by many as BFSkinner, and later as CameronProf. His passing was noted and mourned by many here. I was speechless, something about myself I’ve come to...30 comments 30 Recs
- Yes, for those of you who were worried that there was a worm eating RFK, Jr.’s brain, rest assured that is no longer the case. The New York Times has obtained a deposition from RKF, Jr.’s 2012 divorce proceedings where he has stated “I have cognitive...360 comments 357 Recs
- Earth Matters: Ever-worsening eco-crises mean more dead journalists; battery storage soars in CA, TXJournalists have always faced risks of violence when carrying out their work. For war correspondents, the perils are obvious, with many of those who are killed covering a conflict as a result of being collateral damage. Embedded in regular armies or...29 comments 107 Recs
- From the @BidensWins Twitter/X feed:168 comments 340 Recs
- The Guardian reached out to “every contactable lead author or review editor” of reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change since 2018. Of 843 contacted, 380 replied: Almost 80% of the respondents, all from the authoritative...132 comments 210 Recs
- I promised myself I’d stay away from politics and all things Trump, but I did manage to get a glimpse or two of a headline here and there: Checking the world writ large and find—yup. Trump is still being a Dictator-Wanna-Be El Douche! Yup—Donnie’s...256 comments 372 Recs
- Although there have been earlier published rumors, the NYT just published this above the fold: Biden Puts Arms Shipment to Israel on Hold Amid Dispute Over Rafah Attack The United States withheld 3,500 bombs last week out of concern that they might be...254 comments 410 Recs
Recent Diaries
- Guests: Heather Digby Parton of Salon, attorney Keith Barber of Daily Kos Also: 'Warning signs' from IN primary results; Blankenship's run in WV... Once again, on today's BradCast, we've got a mid-week "ketchup" for you, with everything you need to...1 comments 0 Recs
- 44 years ago today was the takeoff of the first non-stop transcontinental balloon flight , a low-emission form of air travel. On 12th May in 1980. Maxie Anderson and his son Kristian, made the ...5 comments 7 Recs
- President Biden announces $3.3 Billion investment by Microsoft in Wisconsin, apologies if someone else diaries this, didn’t see one In the exact location in Racine where (7 years ago) Dump promised a supposed $10 Billion project by a company called...3 comments 6 Recs
- Something I never knew, and when I wondered if it were worth sharing, I thought of Jeremy. Known here by many as BFSkinner, and later as CameronProf. His passing was noted and mourned by many here. I was speechless, something about myself I’ve come to...30 comments 30 Recs
- WELCOME TO THE EVENING SHADE YOU WILL FIND in the DIARIES a LOT of POLITICS AND EVEN MORE CRITTERS THE PERSON who MAKES the FIRST COMMENT WILL GET TWO CRITTERS EVERY PERSON WHO COMMENTS WILL GET A CRITTER RULES IN THE DIARY WHEN YOU FIND SOMETHING in...140 comments 20 Recs
- Texas brings a pedophile pastor to justice A Wichita Falls, TX. jury found Pastor Ronnie Allen Killingsworth, 79, guilty of six counts of indecency with a child. He intimately fondled three young girls, now adults, between 2000 and 2011. His lawyer and...5 comments 12 Recs
- If/when Trump violates the gag order, just put him in custody every Wednesday during the trial. He’s 'Christian enough'. The systemic-threat problem. A lot of media coverage obscures the purely systemic threat Trump poses. To take just one example,...3 comments 8 Recs
- WAPO has just reported that President Biden has revealed in an interview on CNN to be aired later tonight that “he will cut off offensive weapons if Israel invades Rafah.” POTUS acknowledged that offensive weapons have been used by Israel to kill...19 comments 46 Recs
- I’ve been reeling over the fact moisture content in the atmosphere is accelerating. If you haven’t yet read it, you can find it here. Southern Brazil has been hit hard by record rainfall for weeks. There has been a pause as the rain bands moved and...14 comments 76 Recs
- If you’re a cynic like me who thinks most protest movements involving foreign countries is probably 90% people angling for clout, well, the return of this lame is probably not gonna change your mind. With "Hind's Hall" Macklemore finally delivers an...2 comments 1 Recs
- In July of 2017, Donald Trump made a big deal out of an announcement that Foxconn, a Taiwanese electronics manufacturer, would be building a new factory in Wisconsin. This project was touted by Trump as "the eighth wonder of the world," that would...7 comments 9 Recs
- Today’s West Coast Cookbook & Speakeasy Podcast for our especially special Daily Special, Smothered Benedict Wednesdays, is now available on the Spreaker Player! Starting off in the Bistro Cafe, Judge Cannon’s luxury gift scandal grows. Then, on...1 comments 1 Recs
- One of the enduring puzzles of current politics is why evangelicals continue to support Von Schitzinpants after all the revelations about his sexual habits, his crudity, his cruelty, his inability to properly cite a verse, much less a book, of the...14 comments 22 Recs
- The flaws of the US Constitution not only prevent us from taking needed action on urgent crises, they also distort our self-image as a country. The first post in the Fixing the Constitution series on ChangeShapers.blog. When we dare to peek between our...5 comments 5 Recs
- Some sixteen years ago, two future U.S. presidents stood on the same debate stage, engaged in a spirited discussion. Barack Hussein Obama, a young and talented United States Senator based in Illinois, was one of them. The other future president was...8 comments 18 Recs
- The UK has ordered the expulsion from the country of Russia’s defense attache. Cleverly also announced the U.K. was removing diplomatic status from several Russian-owned properties, "including Seacox Heath house, a Russian-owned property in Sussex, and...25 comments 175 Recs
- I am not a frequent diarist, but sometimes a topic comes across that is so in my wheelhouse I can’t help myself. My day job is risk assessment and mitigation, so when I first hear about the Man or Bear question, I immediately understood why women were...17 comments 20 Recs
- For those less enamored with my long, convoluted diatribes—where I finally circle around to get to the point—here is the skinny: America loves winners, and Trump is a loser. Ah, you say, but Trump lost the last election and almost half the country...8 comments 18 Recs
- There was another hearing with the House Education Subcomittee today (oxymoron). Today it was the heads of K-12 programs to face the music. We know the Ivy League Presidents didn’t fare well facing the Republican Clowns (looking at you Stefanik). How...3 comments 11 Recs
- In the last twelve months, 1114 people were killed by the police in the United States, according to data from the Washington Post. Since 2015, 9,593 people have been killed by the police. These killings have a clear racial dimension: although African...2 comments 6 Recs