In Ukraine

Greek Police (ELAS) has released drone footage allegedly showing riot police being attacked by protesters outside Parliament on Wednesday.

The clashes took place as MPs debated an education bill that includes provisions for a university campus security force.

Turkey's foreign minister on Dec. 18 said the dispute in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine should be solved within "territorial integrity." 

"The problem at the Donbas region should be solved within the territorial integrity and we are happy that the ceasefire continues, despite some small breaches," Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on an official visit to Ukraine.

The Cypriot Orthodox Church's top decision-making body on Wednesday backed the Archbishop's move to effectively recognize the new Ukrainian Orthodox Church's independence, overturning an earlier position of neutrality on the thorny issue.

A senior Russian-backed bishop in Ukraine will lead a prayer walk in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, on Saturday, joining protests led by the Serbian Orthodox Church against a recently-adopted law on religious freedom.

Until now, it was considered that Russia should be held responsible for the downing of the plane, which killed all passengers and crew members (a total of 283 passengers, including 80 children, and 15 crew members), as the aircraft was shot down over the territory of Ukraine controlled by rebels supported by Russia.

Greece's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday expressed its condolences to the people and government of Turkey after an avalanche slammed into a mountain in eastern Turkey killing 38 people, including the rescue crews who rushed to help those trapped.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday welcomed a decision by the Church of Greece and Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa to recognize the autonomy of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, during a visit to Kiev.

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was registered in eastern Romania, in the Vrancea region.

The earthquakes was recorded in 3.26 am local time in Vrancea. The epicentre of the earthquake was at a depth of 140 kilometers.

There is no information on casualties or property damage.

Lebanon's public prosecutor ordered the release on Jan. 19 of more than 30 people detained the previous evening, according to the National State News agency, in the worst day of violence since protests erupted three months ago.

The public prosecutor said all 34 arrested are to be released, except those with other pending cases.

Greek Archbishop Ieronymos informed the Holy Synod on Friday that he has refused an invitation from Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to attend a meeting of Orthodox leaders.
According to a statement issued by the Holy Synod, Ieronymos refused the invite because the calling of such meetings of Orthodox leaders is the sole privilege of the ecumenical patriarch based in Istanbul.