Anthousa

Praktiker Hellas is planning to create four new stores in Greece, following Thursday's official opening of its 16th outlet in the country.

The store in Anthoussa, northeastern Athens, is the sixth in Attica for the homeware retailer.

It constitutes a 4-million-euro investment and covers 10,500 square meters.

A fire that broke out late Wednesday on the Aegean island of Kea (also known as Tzia) has been mostly contained before spreading to residential areas, authorities said.

Teams were continuing to cool blaze hotspots and were expected to remain in the area for the time being.

A 24-year-old man was remanded in custody on Wednesday on a string of arson charges after authorities connected him to 16 fires in different parts of Attica. The suspect is accused of setting fires on forest and farmland in the areas of Penteli, Anthousa and Geraka between July 14 and August 1.

Following heavy snowfall and icy conditions across the region of Attica, several municipalities announced that schools in their areas would remain closed on Thursday.

Schools in the areas of Thrakomakedones, Varibobi, Kifissia, Vrilissia and Penteli, northern Attica, were closed on Thursday.