[{"type":"top_articles","posts":[{"id":435136,"date":"2026-03-16T16:06:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=435136"},"modified":"2026-03-16T16:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:06:20","slug":"un-report-labels-israeli-airstrike-on-iran-prison-a-war-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/un-report-labels-israeli-airstrike-on-iran-prison-a-war-crime\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Report Labels Israeli Airstrike on Iran Prison a War Crime"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"552\">A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded that an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison last year constitutes a war crime, the head of the investigation told the Human Rights Council on Monday.<\/p> <p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"945\">Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said the airstrike, which killed more than 70 people—including women and a child—was deliberately directed at a civilian object. The report, based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and other documentation, also details the broader risks to prisoners amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Iran.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1s32hc1\" data-start=\"947\" data-end=\"990\">Growing Concerns Over Detainee Safety<\/h3> <p data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1258\">The strikes have caused damage to Evin Prison, which holds political prisoners, including a British couple. Hossain warned that continued bombardment could lead to harsher domestic repression in Iran, citing an increase in executions following last year’s attacks.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1470\">“The core lesson drawn from our investigations is clear: external military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” Hossain said.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1679\">U.N.-appointed rights expert Mai Sato also highlighted deteriorating conditions for detainees. Families have struggled to contact relatives, and shortages of food and medicine are worsening inside prisons.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5o23wj\" data-start=\"1681\" data-end=\"1717\">Israel Disengages From Council<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1928\">Israel was absent from the Human Rights Council debate and left its seat empty. Officials from the prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"2142\">Iran’s ambassador, Ali Bahreini, called for condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in the country, and emphasized the humanitarian risks to detainees.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UN investigation finds Israel intentionally targeted Evin Prison, killing civilians, and warns current U.S.-Israeli strikes could increase repression and put detainees at risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":435139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[18810,1134,23271],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"552\">A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded that an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison last year constitutes a war crime, the head of the investigation told the Human Rights Council on Monday.<\/p> <p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"945\">Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said the airstrike, which killed more than 70 people—including women and a child—was deliberately directed at a civilian object. The report, based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and other documentation, also details the broader risks to prisoners amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Iran.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1s32hc1\" data-start=\"947\" data-end=\"990\">Growing Concerns Over Detainee Safety<\/h3> <p data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1258\">The strikes have caused damage to Evin Prison, which holds political prisoners, including a British couple. Hossain warned that continued bombardment could lead to harsher domestic repression in Iran, citing an increase in executions following last year’s attacks.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1470\">“The core lesson drawn from our investigations is clear: external military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” Hossain said.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1679\">U.N.-appointed rights expert Mai Sato also highlighted deteriorating conditions for detainees. Families have struggled to contact relatives, and shortages of food and medicine are worsening inside prisons.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5o23wj\" data-start=\"1681\" data-end=\"1717\">Israel Disengages From Council<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1928\">Israel was absent from the Human Rights Council debate and left its seat empty. Officials from the prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"2142\">Iran’s ambassador, Ali Bahreini, called for condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in the country, and emphasized the humanitarian risks to detainees.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":18810,"name":"Iran Israel Conflict","slug":"iran-israel-conflict","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18810,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":182,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1134,"name":"UN","slug":"un","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1134,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":23271,"name":"war crimes","slug":"war-crimes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":23271,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-300x201.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-768x515.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434845,"date":"2026-03-16T13:33:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434845"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:32:34","slug":"greece-denies-any-involvement-in-strait-of-hormuz-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-denies-any-involvement-in-strait-of-hormuz-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Rules Out Involvement in Strait of Hormuz Conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"438\">The Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-supports-free-navigation-and-diplomacy-in-middle-east\/\">government<\/a> has ruled out any involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East.<\/p> <p data-start=\"440\" data-end=\"623\">Speaking during a regular briefing to political reporters, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said there is “no issue of Greece’s involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"840\">He clarified that Greece’s participation in regional security operations is limited to Operation “<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-from-cyprus-another-mission-to-protect-intl-shipping-forthcoming\/\">Aspides<\/a>,” which operates in the Red Sea and is aimed at protecting maritime security in that specific area.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1nys0gk\" data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"884\">Response to surveillance allegations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"1121\">Marinakis was also asked about renewed media reports concerning a s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/intellexa-founder-company-sells-surveillance-tech-only-to-govts\/\">urveillance case<\/a>. Commenting on statements by businessman Felix Dillian, he said the matter has already been examined at the highest level of the Greek judiciary.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1123\" data-end=\"1299\">According to the government spokesperson, the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court (Areios Pagos) concluded that no responsibility could be attributed to state officials.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1301\" data-end=\"1484\">He added that Dillian and four other individuals were referred to trial before a criminal court in Athens, where they were convicted at first instance. The case is now under appeal.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1683\">“It is not the role of the government or any of its officials to conduct a trial during press briefings or on television,” Marinakis said, stressing that the issue is being handled by the courts.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1o75vna\" data-start=\"1685\" data-end=\"1726\">Parliamentary debate on rule of law<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1728\" data-end=\"1982\">Responding to a question about a request by the opposition PASOK party for a parliamentary debate on the rule of law, Marinakis confirmed that the discussion will take place. The date will be set in the coming days in line with parliamentary rules.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1ynmoo\" data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2027\">Parliament approves energy agreements<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2029\" data-end=\"2246\">During the briefing, Marinakis also referred to the recent approval by Parliament of a bill ratifying four energy agreements between the Greek state and a consortium formed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/parliament-approves-energy-deals-with-chevron-helleniq-energy\/\">Chevron<\/a> and HelleniqEnergy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2557\">The agreements concern hydrocarbon exploration and potential exploitation in sea areas south of Crete and the Peloponnese. According to the government, the contracts will double the maritime areas available for exploration and increase the likelihood of discovering commercially viable energy resources.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2559\" data-end=\"2930\">Officials say the projects involve high-cost technological research funded by the companies, meaning they will not place a financial burden on the Greek state. The agreements are also expected to attract international interest in Greece’s energy sector and strengthen the country’s role as a regional energy hub, with the potential to become a natural gas producer.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2932\" data-end=\"3057\">If commercially viable deposits are discovered, the state’s share of profits is estimated to range between 38% and 41%.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"twxcii\" data-start=\"3059\" data-end=\"3106\">Law enforcement and anti-crime operations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3443\">Marinakis also highlighted the work of Greece’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, which has handled 958 cases since it began operating in October 2024. Authorities have brought charges against 3,094 individuals, while 2,159 arrests have been made and 598 suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3445\" data-end=\"3676\">Among the recent cases cited was the dismantling of a criminal group that allegedly ran illegal casinos in dozens of internet cafés in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Agrinio, with estimated profits reaching €16 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"3967\">Separately, Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue uncovered a large fuel smuggling network that generated at least €9 million in profits, leading to 14 arrests. Authorities said the scheme caused an estimated €2.7 million in lost customs duties for the state.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"oarl13\" data-start=\"3969\" data-end=\"4038\">Government initiatives in agriculture, education and employment<\/h3> <p data-start=\"4040\" data-end=\"4111\">The spokesperson also pointed to several ongoing government programs.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4113\" data-end=\"4490\">Under Greece’s Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan, investment projects are being evaluated for the modernization and construction of greenhouses, with total investment expected to approach €500 million. Additional financial tools, developed in cooperation with the Hellenic Development Bank, are expected to mobilize investments exceeding €350 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4492\" data-end=\"4801\">In education, the School Meals Program now operates in 159 municipalities, covering 1,986 schools and providing daily meals to 184,368 students. The initiative has recently expanded to six additional municipalities, including Orestiada, Soufli, Grevena, Paionia, Istiaia-Aidipsos and Aegina.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4803\" data-end=\"5214\">Meanwhile, two new labor programs are expected to create 2,250 jobs in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region. One scheme will fund 2,000 full-time positions for unemployed adults, with subsidies of €875 per month for 12 months, while another program will provide six months of work experience for 250 unemployed individuals in the livestock sector, with monthly compensation of €748.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5216\" data-end=\"5445\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Marinakis’ remarks came ahead of a public event later in the day, where Greece’s prime minister is scheduled to speak at a gathering organized by the Ministry of Development at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Government spokesperson says Greece is not involved in the Strait of Hormuz despite tensions in the Middle East, stressing the country’s participation is limited to a security mission in the Red Sea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":435118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4839,357,65995],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"438\">The Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-supports-free-navigation-and-diplomacy-in-middle-east\/\">government<\/a> has ruled out any involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East.<\/p> <p data-start=\"440\" data-end=\"623\">Speaking during a regular briefing to political reporters, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said there is “no issue of Greece’s involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"840\">He clarified that Greece’s participation in regional security operations is limited to Operation “<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-from-cyprus-another-mission-to-protect-intl-shipping-forthcoming\/\">Aspides<\/a>,” which operates in the Red Sea and is aimed at protecting maritime security in that specific area.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1nys0gk\" data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"884\">Response to surveillance allegations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"1121\">Marinakis was also asked about renewed media reports concerning a s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/intellexa-founder-company-sells-surveillance-tech-only-to-govts\/\">urveillance case<\/a>. Commenting on statements by businessman Felix Dillian, he said the matter has already been examined at the highest level of the Greek judiciary.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1123\" data-end=\"1299\">According to the government spokesperson, the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court (Areios Pagos) concluded that no responsibility could be attributed to state officials.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1301\" data-end=\"1484\">He added that Dillian and four other individuals were referred to trial before a criminal court in Athens, where they were convicted at first instance. The case is now under appeal.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1683\">“It is not the role of the government or any of its officials to conduct a trial during press briefings or on television,” Marinakis said, stressing that the issue is being handled by the courts.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1o75vna\" data-start=\"1685\" data-end=\"1726\">Parliamentary debate on rule of law<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1728\" data-end=\"1982\">Responding to a question about a request by the opposition PASOK party for a parliamentary debate on the rule of law, Marinakis confirmed that the discussion will take place. The date will be set in the coming days in line with parliamentary rules.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1ynmoo\" data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2027\">Parliament approves energy agreements<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2029\" data-end=\"2246\">During the briefing, Marinakis also referred to the recent approval by Parliament of a bill ratifying four energy agreements between the Greek state and a consortium formed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/parliament-approves-energy-deals-with-chevron-helleniq-energy\/\">Chevron<\/a> and HelleniqEnergy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2557\">The agreements concern hydrocarbon exploration and potential exploitation in sea areas south of Crete and the Peloponnese. According to the government, the contracts will double the maritime areas available for exploration and increase the likelihood of discovering commercially viable energy resources.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2559\" data-end=\"2930\">Officials say the projects involve high-cost technological research funded by the companies, meaning they will not place a financial burden on the Greek state. The agreements are also expected to attract international interest in Greece’s energy sector and strengthen the country’s role as a regional energy hub, with the potential to become a natural gas producer.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2932\" data-end=\"3057\">If commercially viable deposits are discovered, the state’s share of profits is estimated to range between 38% and 41%.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"twxcii\" data-start=\"3059\" data-end=\"3106\">Law enforcement and anti-crime operations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3443\">Marinakis also highlighted the work of Greece’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, which has handled 958 cases since it began operating in October 2024. Authorities have brought charges against 3,094 individuals, while 2,159 arrests have been made and 598 suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3445\" data-end=\"3676\">Among the recent cases cited was the dismantling of a criminal group that allegedly ran illegal casinos in dozens of internet cafés in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Agrinio, with estimated profits reaching €16 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"3967\">Separately, Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue uncovered a large fuel smuggling network that generated at least €9 million in profits, leading to 14 arrests. Authorities said the scheme caused an estimated €2.7 million in lost customs duties for the state.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"oarl13\" data-start=\"3969\" data-end=\"4038\">Government initiatives in agriculture, education and employment<\/h3> <p data-start=\"4040\" data-end=\"4111\">The spokesperson also pointed to several ongoing government programs.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4113\" data-end=\"4490\">Under Greece’s Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan, investment projects are being evaluated for the modernization and construction of greenhouses, with total investment expected to approach €500 million. Additional financial tools, developed in cooperation with the Hellenic Development Bank, are expected to mobilize investments exceeding €350 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4492\" data-end=\"4801\">In education, the School Meals Program now operates in 159 municipalities, covering 1,986 schools and providing daily meals to 184,368 students. The initiative has recently expanded to six additional municipalities, including Orestiada, Soufli, Grevena, Paionia, Istiaia-Aidipsos and Aegina.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4803\" data-end=\"5214\">Meanwhile, two new labor programs are expected to create 2,250 jobs in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region. One scheme will fund 2,000 full-time positions for unemployed adults, with subsidies of €875 per month for 12 months, while another program will provide six months of work experience for 250 unemployed individuals in the livestock sector, with monthly compensation of €748.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5216\" data-end=\"5445\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Marinakis’ remarks came ahead of a public event later in the day, where Greece’s prime minister is scheduled to speak at a gathering organized by the Ministry of Development at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":4839,"name":"Greek Government","slug":"greek-government","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4839,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":37,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":65995,"name":"Strait of Hormuz","slug":"strait-of-hormuz","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":65995,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434908,"date":"2026-03-16T15:25:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434908"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:25:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:28","slug":"evangelos-marinakis-protect-our-ships-and-sailors-and-we-will-help-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz-for-all-our-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/evangelos-marinakis-protect-our-ships-and-sailors-and-we-will-help-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz-for-all-our-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"Evangelos Marinakis: ‘Protect Our Ships and Sailors and We Will Help Reopen the Strait of Hormuz for all Our Benefit’"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis, Chairman of Capital Maritime & Trading Corp, calls for an immediate international action in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that restoring the free flow of energy from the Gulf is a matter of global security and economic stability. In his landmark article published in the <em data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"178\">Daily Telegraph<\/em>, he highlights that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed for the first time, cutting off the transport of a fifth of the world’s crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a third of fertilisers.<\/p> <p>Mr. Marinakis proposes the creation of a common strategy to restore energy flow from the Gulf to global markets. The alliance, as he explains, will be based on three commitments: coordination of shipowners to redeploy fleets, mobilization of the Gulf States to immediately utilize their export infrastructure, and active US contribution through naval presence and diplomatic support.<\/p> <p><span dir=\"auto\">At the same time, he calls on all stakeholders – shipping companies, Gulf energy ministers and policymakers in Washington – to take immediate action. “The time for action is now,” says Evangelos Marinakis.<\/span><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>The Article Reads as such: <\/strong><\/p> <p>For the first time in history, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. One fifth of the world&#8217;s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a third of its fertiliser supply- all of it stopped.<\/p> <p>Energy prices are climbing. Inflation is returning. The world is being reminded, brutally, of what happens when the arteries of global trade are severed by hostile actors willing to use energy as a weapon.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Apart from the effect on the global economy, there is something even more important: the lives of our seafarers.<\/p> <p>The situation in the region has become extremely dangerous. Ships are being attacked with missiles, and the lives of crew members are at risk daily. An activity that is meant to ensure economic growth and the prosperity of nations has turned into a target for those who do not hesitate to kill innocent people.<\/p> <p>The shipping industry has navigated crises before- the Red Sea, Suez, pandemic-era gridlock. Each time we adapted.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Each time the world moved on and assumed the next crisis would be solved the same way. That assumption has now collapsed. Improvisation is not a strategy.<\/p> <p>What this moment demands is a formal alliance between the world&#8217;s major shipowners, the Gulf energy-producing nations and the US with a single immediate purpose- to restore the flow of energy from the Gulf to global markets by ensuring the safe passage of our vessels and to guarantee that the world cannot be held hostage again.<\/p> <p>Such an alliance would rest on three immediate commitments.<\/p> <p>Major tanker and LNG carrier owners must now co-ordinate on rerouting capacity and pooling fleet intelligence, moving the maximum possible volume through alternative corridors.<\/p> <p>Gulf States must bring their export infrastructure to the table without delay. And the US- whose strategic commitment to energy market stability and free navigation of international water remains critical- would be well placed to reinforce the effort through its naval presence and diplomatic engagement, serving as the operational backbone of any joint framework and ensuring first and foremost the safety of our seafarers,<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>It is my understanding that Washington recognizes the importance of co-ordinated action to safeguard global energy flows.<\/p> <p>Efforts to strengthen the reliability of energy supplies from America and its partners, including the continued supply of US and allied LNG to global markets, and for the containment of destabilising state actors. These are not abstract policy goals. For Europe, in particular, these priorities also point to a strategic reality: the continent will continue to rely on imported energy, but it cannot indefinitely sustain that dependence on supply relationships that have repeatedly proven politically unstable.<\/p> <p>Taken together, these priorities form a strong strategic basis for co-operation of this kind. The private maritime sector is the natural partner for that agenda.<\/p> <p>We have the assets, the operational reach and the will.<\/p> <p>We are acting-with or without the framework.<\/p> <p>Our companies, Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp, the largest US-listed owner of LNG vessels, and Capital Tankers Corp, a major crude tanker owner, represent some of the most strategically critical tonnage in the global energy system.<\/p> <p>We are prepared to bring that capacity to bear immediately.<\/p> <p>But I want to be direct about something.<\/p> <p>Restoring energy flows in conditions like these will require brave decisions- on insurance, on passage, on the protection of vessels operating in contested waters.<\/p> <p>These are not decisions the market will make on its own and they are not decisions that can wait for committees to convene.<\/p> <p>As a market leader in both LNG and tanker tonnage, we are prepared to make those decisions for our fleet in the interests of the common good and setting aside profits.<\/p> <p>I am calling on others- shipowners, governments, insurers &#8211; to do the same. The cost of inaction is already being paid by the world. It is time for those of us with capability to act to step forward and bear our share of the burden.<\/p> <p>Our action must be co-ordinated. We must do everything possible to protect the lives of our crew members, the people who are called upon to continue giving their best to ensure the smooth global movement of goods and merchandise.<\/p> <p>I extend this invitation today to my peers in the industry, to the energy ministers of the Gulf states and to policymakers in Washington.<\/p> <p>The time to act is now.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p><em>The link to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/business\/2026\/03\/16\/protect-ships-sailors-we-will-help-reopen-strait-hormuz\/\">official article<\/a> can be found here. <\/em><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis in an intervention article published in the British Telegraph highlights that restoring the free flow of energy from the Gulf demands immediate, co-ordinated action<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":383758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[62552,19015,166,65995],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis, Chairman of Capital Maritime &amp; Trading Corp, calls for an immediate international action in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that restoring the free flow of energy from the Gulf is a matter of global security and economic stability. In his landmark article published in the <em data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"178\">Daily Telegraph<\/em>, he highlights that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed for the first time, cutting off the transport of a fifth of the world’s crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a third of fertilisers.<\/p> <p>Mr. Marinakis proposes the creation of a common strategy to restore energy flow from the Gulf to global markets. The alliance, as he explains, will be based on three commitments: coordination of shipowners to redeploy fleets, mobilization of the Gulf States to immediately utilize their export infrastructure, and active US contribution through naval presence and diplomatic support.<\/p> <p><span dir=\"auto\">At the same time, he calls on all stakeholders – shipping companies, Gulf energy ministers and policymakers in Washington – to take immediate action. “The time for action is now,” says Evangelos Marinakis.<\/span><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>The Article Reads as such: <\/strong><\/p> <p>For the first time in history, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. One fifth of the world&#8217;s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a third of its fertiliser supply- all of it stopped.<\/p> <p>Energy prices are climbing. Inflation is returning. The world is being reminded, brutally, of what happens when the arteries of global trade are severed by hostile actors willing to use energy as a weapon.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Apart from the effect on the global economy, there is something even more important: the lives of our seafarers.<\/p> <p>The situation in the region has become extremely dangerous. Ships are being attacked with missiles, and the lives of crew members are at risk daily. An activity that is meant to ensure economic growth and the prosperity of nations has turned into a target for those who do not hesitate to kill innocent people.<\/p> <p>The shipping industry has navigated crises before- the Red Sea, Suez, pandemic-era gridlock. Each time we adapted.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Each time the world moved on and assumed the next crisis would be solved the same way. That assumption has now collapsed. Improvisation is not a strategy.<\/p> <p>What this moment demands is a formal alliance between the world&#8217;s major shipowners, the Gulf energy-producing nations and the US with a single immediate purpose- to restore the flow of energy from the Gulf to global markets by ensuring the safe passage of our vessels and to guarantee that the world cannot be held hostage again.<\/p> <p>Such an alliance would rest on three immediate commitments.<\/p> <p>Major tanker and LNG carrier owners must now co-ordinate on rerouting capacity and pooling fleet intelligence, moving the maximum possible volume through alternative corridors.<\/p> <p>Gulf States must bring their export infrastructure to the table without delay. And the US- whose strategic commitment to energy market stability and free navigation of international water remains critical- would be well placed to reinforce the effort through its naval presence and diplomatic engagement, serving as the operational backbone of any joint framework and ensuring first and foremost the safety of our seafarers,<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>It is my understanding that Washington recognizes the importance of co-ordinated action to safeguard global energy flows.<\/p> <p>Efforts to strengthen the reliability of energy supplies from America and its partners, including the continued supply of US and allied LNG to global markets, and for the containment of destabilising state actors. These are not abstract policy goals. For Europe, in particular, these priorities also point to a strategic reality: the continent will continue to rely on imported energy, but it cannot indefinitely sustain that dependence on supply relationships that have repeatedly proven politically unstable.<\/p> <p>Taken together, these priorities form a strong strategic basis for co-operation of this kind. The private maritime sector is the natural partner for that agenda.<\/p> <p>We have the assets, the operational reach and the will.<\/p> <p>We are acting-with or without the framework.<\/p> <p>Our companies, Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp, the largest US-listed owner of LNG vessels, and Capital Tankers Corp, a major crude tanker owner, represent some of the most strategically critical tonnage in the global energy system.<\/p> <p>We are prepared to bring that capacity to bear immediately.<\/p> <p>But I want to be direct about something.<\/p> <p>Restoring energy flows in conditions like these will require brave decisions- on insurance, on passage, on the protection of vessels operating in contested waters.<\/p> <p>These are not decisions the market will make on its own and they are not decisions that can wait for committees to convene.<\/p> <p>As a market leader in both LNG and tanker tonnage, we are prepared to make those decisions for our fleet in the interests of the common good and setting aside profits.<\/p> <p>I am calling on others- shipowners, governments, insurers &#8211; to do the same. The cost of inaction is already being paid by the world. It is time for those of us with capability to act to step forward and bear our share of the burden.<\/p> <p>Our action must be co-ordinated. We must do everything possible to protect the lives of our crew members, the people who are called upon to continue giving their best to ensure the smooth global movement of goods and merchandise.<\/p> <p>I extend this invitation today to my peers in the industry, to the energy ministers of the Gulf states and to policymakers in Washington.<\/p> <p>The time to act is now.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p><em>The link to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/business\/2026\/03\/16\/protect-ships-sailors-we-will-help-reopen-strait-hormuz\/\">official article<\/a> can be found here. <\/em><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":4,"name":"Finance","slug":"finance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news on the Greek and international economy, jobs market, stock market, real estate industry and workplace, by <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" href=\"http:\/\/tovima.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id--756905112\">tovima.com<\/span><\/a> and Wall Street Journal. Includes the latest news and analysis of government spending and Central Banking.<!-- notionvc: f0c84efe-4643-45a0-ab3f-cdeb41fed5d0 -->","parent":0,"count":2627,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":62552,"name":"CAPITAL CLEAN ENERGY CARRIERS","slug":"capital-clean-energy-carriers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":62552,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":19015,"name":"Evangelos Marinakis","slug":"evangelos-marinakis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":19015,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":64,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":166,"name":"LNG","slug":"lng","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":166,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":76,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":65995,"name":"Strait of Hormuz","slug":"strait-of-hormuz","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":65995,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus-300x250.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus-768x640.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434719,"date":"2026-03-16T14:38:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:38:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434719"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:38:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:38:57","slug":"the-middle-east-needs-to-learn-how-ukraine-stops-cheap-drones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/the-middle-east-needs-to-learn-how-ukraine-stops-cheap-drones\/","title":{"rendered":"The Middle East Needs to Learn How Ukraine Stops Cheap Drones"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. and Gulf Arab states have sent multimillion-dollar Patriot missiles and jet fighters streaking through the skies to intercept Iranian drones <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/gulf-states-in-race-against-time-to-repel-irans-onslaught\/\">costing a fraction of that.<\/a><\/p> <p>Ukraine, which has faced similar attacks by Russia for four years, prefers a hail of bullets and other cheaper methods to get the job done.<\/p> <p>The contrasting responses to the threat of inexpensive drones stems from differing approaches and economics—something the U.S. and its Gulf allies are increasingly taking into account as the war stretches into its third week .<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Officials and analysts say those wealthy countries were ill-equipped for the drone onslaught, having spent billions on top-notch systems designed to counter high-end missiles.<\/p> <p>Ukraine, though poorer, built a layered defense on the fly, finding cheap-but-effective solutions including truck-mounted machine guns, drone interceptors and electronic jamming alongside cheaper interceptor missiles and jet fighters.<\/p> <p>Some of these methods are familiar to the U.S. and others, and while Ukraine’s interception of Russian missiles and drones is far from perfect, it has shown how to do it on a large scale and for less money. The U.S. and its allies are now scrambling to tap Ukraine’s knowledge and technology.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In comments cleared for publication Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had dispatched three teams of dozens of experts to the Middle East to help assess and demonstrate how to defend against drones, while not taking part in operations against Iran. Zelensky said it was the first step in what he hoped would be long-term deals for drones and counterdrone technology.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>The U.S., Israel and Gulf nations have been largely successful in stopping ballistic missiles, but Iran’s Shahed drones, which cost tens of thousands of dollars, have been more troubling. A drone attack in Kuwait killed six American troops on Mar. 1. Others caused extensive damage.<\/p> <p>The United Arab Emirates says it has intercepted almost all the ballistic missiles flown at it, and 94% of drones. Between Feb. 28 and March 6, Qatar intercepted 97% of missiles and 72% of drones, according to research by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, while Bahrain intercepted 86% of missiles and 71% of unmanned aerial vehicles.<\/p> <p>Gulf states appear to lack the means to affordably shoot down a lot of low-flying drones. In recent times, some including Saudi Arabia used multimillion-dollar Patriot missiles and air-to-air missiles fired from jet fighters or helicopters to destroy drones, according to people familiar with the matter.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>As an example, Qatar has 34 Patriot systems, according to IISS, but only has eight antiaircraft guns, which have been effective in shooting drones at short range in Ukraine. In 2023, Qatar sold around a dozen self-propelled antiaircraft guns called Gepards back to Germany, where they were made. Germany passed these and its own Gepards to Ukraine, where they can take down drones with a burst of bullets that cost in the low thousands dollars, according to German defense company Rheinmetall , which makes the ammunition.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-434725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_cce2356e21276522ac7d1635_620400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_cce2356e21276522ac7d1635_620400.png 620w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_cce2356e21276522ac7d1635_620400-300x242.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-434731\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-1024x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-1024x400.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-768x300.png 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <p>The U.S. and Gulf states, which fended off infrequent drones and missiles from Iran and Yemen’s Houthis for years, are now learning fast. The U.A.E. released footage of Apache helicopters bringing down Shaheds with bullets. The U.S. and Gulf states are sending or ordering the so-called interceptor drones perfected by Ukraine. Saudi Arabia is negotiating a deal to buy Ukrainian signal jammers.<\/p> <p>Rheinmetall’s chief executive said Wednesday that Gulf countries and others are asking for more bullet-based systems and ammunition. A rapid-fire air-defense gun made by U.S. firm RTX is also seeing new interest, according to a person familiar with the matter.<\/p> <p>Bob Tollast, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the threat from Shahed drones had been known for some time and questioned why the U.S. and its allies didn’t develop cost-effective solutions at scale like Ukraine.<\/p> <p>The Pentagon likely fired about $5.7 billion worth of interceptors to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles and drones in the first four days of the war, according to an analysis by Elaine McCusker, a top Pentagon budget official under the first Trump administration.<\/p> <p>“Who’s going to run out first?” said Chris Miller, an acting defense secretary in the first Trump administration who now runs defense-technology company FPF-Defense.<\/p> <p>He said the U.S. focus is too often on state-of-the-art technology. “When you go out and try to sell them low-cost solutions, the U.S. government wasn’t interested,” he said.<\/p> <p>The Pentagon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p> <p>Israel has extensive experience dealing with Iranian attacks but still has room to improve. Around 20 years ago, it ditched an antiaircraft gun called the Vulcan as it transitioned to missile-based defense. Those weapons would have come in handy now to affordably take down cheap drones.<\/p> <p>“It was a mistake,” said Zvika Haimovich, former commander of the Israeli air forces. “The economic dimension is very important especially when we have a lot of wars.”<\/p> <p>Last June, Israel stopped almost all Iran’s Shahed drones using aircraft, helicopters, its Iron Dome short-range missile system and electronic warfare. It also has a new laser system. But these methods are mostly expensive, and the country had less success bringing down drones flown at shorter distances across the Lebanese border by Hezbollah.<\/p> <p>Since the start of 2024, Ukraine has shot down just 19% of ballistic missiles but 88% of long-range drones launched by Russia, according to the Centre for Information Resilience, a U.K. nonprofit.<\/p> <p>Kyiv has few Patriot systems. Instead, it employs cheap short-range missiles to target drones, aircraft and helicopters. Planes and helicopters use cannons to bring down drones.<\/p> <p>What Ukraine’s military lacks in expensive munitions, it has also tried to make up for in innovative do-it-yourself defense. It repurposed old prop aircraft , where gunmen hang out the window and shoot down drones. It developed drones that intercept other drones by exploding on or near them, vehicles that Gulf nations now want to buy from them. It has also proven adept at using electronic warfare to jam or spoof drones’ communication signals on a large scale.<\/p> <p>The country has, in particular, used the sort of bullet-based systems for short distances that were long thought to have been rendered irrelevant by missile defense. Kyiv plundered warehouses for veteran Soviet antiaircraft guns and fitted heavy machine guns, some almost a century old, with thermal imaging systems.<\/p> <p>“For Ukraine, this experience has been painful. But for the rest of the world, it is highly instructive,” said Col. Yuriy Ihnat, a Ukrainian military spokesman.<\/p> <p>Write to Alistair MacDonald at Alistair.Macdonald@wsj.com and Stephen Kalin at stephen.kalin@wsj.com<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>U.S., Gulf states and Israel are searching for more affordable, effective solutions to their advanced antimissile capabilities<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434734,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[261],"tags":[3591,357,1734],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. and Gulf Arab states have sent multimillion-dollar Patriot missiles and jet fighters streaking through the skies to intercept Iranian drones <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/gulf-states-in-race-against-time-to-repel-irans-onslaught\/\">costing a fraction of that.<\/a><\/p> <p>Ukraine, which has faced similar attacks by Russia for four years, prefers a hail of bullets and other cheaper methods to get the job done.<\/p> <p>The contrasting responses to the threat of inexpensive drones stems from differing approaches and economics—something the U.S. and its Gulf allies are increasingly taking into account as the war stretches into its third week .<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Officials and analysts say those wealthy countries were ill-equipped for the drone onslaught, having spent billions on top-notch systems designed to counter high-end missiles.<\/p> <p>Ukraine, though poorer, built a layered defense on the fly, finding cheap-but-effective solutions including truck-mounted machine guns, drone interceptors and electronic jamming alongside cheaper interceptor missiles and jet fighters.<\/p> <p>Some of these methods are familiar to the U.S. and others, and while Ukraine’s interception of Russian missiles and drones is far from perfect, it has shown how to do it on a large scale and for less money. The U.S. and its allies are now scrambling to tap Ukraine’s knowledge and technology.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In comments cleared for publication Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv had dispatched three teams of dozens of experts to the Middle East to help assess and demonstrate how to defend against drones, while not taking part in operations against Iran. Zelensky said it was the first step in what he hoped would be long-term deals for drones and counterdrone technology.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>The U.S., Israel and Gulf nations have been largely successful in stopping ballistic missiles, but Iran’s Shahed drones, which cost tens of thousands of dollars, have been more troubling. A drone attack in Kuwait killed six American troops on Mar. 1. Others caused extensive damage.<\/p> <p>The United Arab Emirates says it has intercepted almost all the ballistic missiles flown at it, and 94% of drones. Between Feb. 28 and March 6, Qatar intercepted 97% of missiles and 72% of drones, according to research by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, while Bahrain intercepted 86% of missiles and 71% of unmanned aerial vehicles.<\/p> <p>Gulf states appear to lack the means to affordably shoot down a lot of low-flying drones. In recent times, some including Saudi Arabia used multimillion-dollar Patriot missiles and air-to-air missiles fired from jet fighters or helicopters to destroy drones, according to people familiar with the matter.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>As an example, Qatar has 34 Patriot systems, according to IISS, but only has eight antiaircraft guns, which have been effective in shooting drones at short range in Ukraine. In 2023, Qatar sold around a dozen self-propelled antiaircraft guns called Gepards back to Germany, where they were made. Germany passed these and its own Gepards to Ukraine, where they can take down drones with a burst of bullets that cost in the low thousands dollars, according to German defense company Rheinmetall , which makes the ammunition.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-434725\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_cce2356e21276522ac7d1635_620400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"620\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_cce2356e21276522ac7d1635_620400.png 620w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_cce2356e21276522ac7d1635_620400-300x242.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-434731\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-1024x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-1024x400.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800-768x300.png 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/cdc_feffa11d828089645b61a5ed_1280800.png 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <p>The U.S. and Gulf states, which fended off infrequent drones and missiles from Iran and Yemen’s Houthis for years, are now learning fast. The U.A.E. released footage of Apache helicopters bringing down Shaheds with bullets. The U.S. and Gulf states are sending or ordering the so-called interceptor drones perfected by Ukraine. Saudi Arabia is negotiating a deal to buy Ukrainian signal jammers.<\/p> <p>Rheinmetall’s chief executive said Wednesday that Gulf countries and others are asking for more bullet-based systems and ammunition. A rapid-fire air-defense gun made by U.S. firm RTX is also seeing new interest, according to a person familiar with the matter.<\/p> <p>Bob Tollast, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, said the threat from Shahed drones had been known for some time and questioned why the U.S. and its allies didn’t develop cost-effective solutions at scale like Ukraine.<\/p> <p>The Pentagon likely fired about $5.7 billion worth of interceptors to shoot down Iranian ballistic missiles and drones in the first four days of the war, according to an analysis by Elaine McCusker, a top Pentagon budget official under the first Trump administration.<\/p> <p>“Who’s going to run out first?” said Chris Miller, an acting defense secretary in the first Trump administration who now runs defense-technology company FPF-Defense.<\/p> <p>He said the U.S. focus is too often on state-of-the-art technology. “When you go out and try to sell them low-cost solutions, the U.S. government wasn’t interested,” he said.<\/p> <p>The Pentagon didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p> <p>Israel has extensive experience dealing with Iranian attacks but still has room to improve. Around 20 years ago, it ditched an antiaircraft gun called the Vulcan as it transitioned to missile-based defense. Those weapons would have come in handy now to affordably take down cheap drones.<\/p> <p>“It was a mistake,” said Zvika Haimovich, former commander of the Israeli air forces. “The economic dimension is very important especially when we have a lot of wars.”<\/p> <p>Last June, Israel stopped almost all Iran’s Shahed drones using aircraft, helicopters, its Iron Dome short-range missile system and electronic warfare. It also has a new laser system. But these methods are mostly expensive, and the country had less success bringing down drones flown at shorter distances across the Lebanese border by Hezbollah.<\/p> <p>Since the start of 2024, Ukraine has shot down just 19% of ballistic missiles but 88% of long-range drones launched by Russia, according to the Centre for Information Resilience, a U.K. nonprofit.<\/p> <p>Kyiv has few Patriot systems. Instead, it employs cheap short-range missiles to target drones, aircraft and helicopters. Planes and helicopters use cannons to bring down drones.<\/p> <p>What Ukraine’s military lacks in expensive munitions, it has also tried to make up for in innovative do-it-yourself defense. It repurposed old prop aircraft , where gunmen hang out the window and shoot down drones. It developed drones that intercept other drones by exploding on or near them, vehicles that Gulf nations now want to buy from them. It has also proven adept at using electronic warfare to jam or spoof drones’ communication signals on a large scale.<\/p> <p>The country has, in particular, used the sort of bullet-based systems for short distances that were long thought to have been rendered irrelevant by missile defense. Kyiv plundered warehouses for veteran Soviet antiaircraft guns and fitted heavy machine guns, some almost a century old, with thermal imaging systems.<\/p> <p>“For Ukraine, this experience has been painful. But for the rest of the world, it is highly instructive,” said Col. Yuriy Ihnat, a Ukrainian military spokesman.<\/p> <p>Write to Alistair MacDonald at Alistair.Macdonald@wsj.com and Stephen Kalin at stephen.kalin@wsj.com<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":261,"name":"The Wall Street Journal","slug":"wsj","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":261,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":2071,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":3591,"name":"drones","slug":"drones","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3591,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":28,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1734,"name":"Ukraine","slug":"ukraine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1734,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":92,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-01T081946Z_859283742_RC2KVJAAPQMA_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-GULF-QATAR-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-01T081946Z_859283742_RC2KVJAAPQMA_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-GULF-QATAR.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-01T081946Z_859283742_RC2KVJAAPQMA_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-GULF-QATAR-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-01T081946Z_859283742_RC2KVJAAPQMA_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-GULF-QATAR-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434968,"date":"2026-03-16T15:25:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434968"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:30:20","slug":"eu-to-impose-sanctions-on-nine-people-for-alleged-war-crimes-in-ukraines-bucha-says-french-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/eu-to-impose-sanctions-on-nine-people-for-alleged-war-crimes-in-ukraines-bucha-says-french-minister\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Set to Impose Sanctions on Nine Individuals for Purported War Crimes in Ukraine’s Bucha Suburb, Says French Minister"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Barrot made the ⁠comments upon his arrival at ​a EU foreign minister meeting ​in Brussels.<\/p> <p>The EU would also impose sanctions on Monday ​on a number of rumored ⁠Kremlin propagandists, most notably the Franco-Russian Adrien Bocquet, whom Barrot ​has characterized as &#8220;a key recruiter ​of ⁠foreign fighters in Ukraine, responsible for glorifying war crimes, and also ⁠responsible ​for disinformation campaigns in ​Europe and Africa.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Kyiv has reported that more than 1,400 civilians were killed in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital, during a 33-day occupation by Russian forces at ‌the ⁠beginning of Moscow&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p> <p>Moscow has referred to the allegations as a &#8220;hoax&#8221;, denying any responsibility and accusing Ukrainian authorities of faking footage of the civilian killings.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\" data-testid=\"promo-box\"> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel ​Barrot said on Monday that ‌the European Union would be imposing sanctions on nine individuals accused of war ​crimes connected to the ​April 2022, Bucha killings in Ukraine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":435013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[42919,206,25,41135],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Barrot made the ⁠comments upon his arrival at ​a EU foreign minister meeting ​in Brussels.<\/p> <p>The EU would also impose sanctions on Monday ​on a number of rumored ⁠Kremlin propagandists, most notably the Franco-Russian Adrien Bocquet, whom Barrot ​has characterized as &#8220;a key recruiter ​of ⁠foreign fighters in Ukraine, responsible for glorifying war crimes, and also ⁠responsible ​for disinformation campaigns in ​Europe and Africa.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Kyiv has reported that more than 1,400 civilians were killed in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital, during a 33-day occupation by Russian forces at ‌the ⁠beginning of Moscow&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p> <p>Moscow has referred to the allegations as a &#8220;hoax&#8221;, denying any responsibility and accusing Ukrainian authorities of faking footage of the civilian killings.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\" data-testid=\"promo-box\"> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":42919,"name":"EU sanctions","slug":"eu-sanctions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":42919,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":206,"name":"European Union","slug":"european-union","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":206,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":101,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":25,"name":"France","slug":"france","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":25,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":86,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":41135,"name":"Russia Ukraine War","slug":"russia-ukraine-war","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":41135,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":405,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434440,"date":"2026-03-16T15:30:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434440"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:52:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:52:27","slug":"iran-war-shows-dangers-of-fossil-fuel-dependence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/iran-war-shows-dangers-of-fossil-fuel-dependence\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran War Shows Dangers of Fossil Fuel Dependence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"685\">The ongoing war in Iran has highlighted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/oil-markets-brace-for-lasting-turmoil-in-the-gulf\/\">the risks<\/a> of heavy dependence on fossil fuels, according to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. Speaking to European policymakers in Brussels, Stiell described the crisis as an “abject lesson” in how energy reliance can undermine national security and economic stability.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1gd9ey6\" data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"725\">European Energy Markets Hit Hard<\/h3> <p data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1065\">Although geographically distant from the Middle East, Europe has felt the impact of the conflict through sharply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/papastavrou-100-oil-would-trigger-fuel-measures-in-greece\/\">rising energy prices.<\/a> European gas costs have surged by 50% since the war began just two weeks ago, prompting emergency measures by EU governments to protect consumers and prevent a repeat of the 2022 energy crisis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1067\" data-end=\"1394\">“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty, and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” Stiell said in prepared remarks. He warned that Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas—over 90% of oil and 80% of gas—leaves citizens vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and volatile pricing.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"74x6ty\" data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1436\">Renewables as a Strategic Solution<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1438\" data-end=\"1708\">Stiell emphasized that a transition to locally produced renewable and nuclear energy is key to securing Europe’s energy independence. Governments, he argued, should resist pressure from countries like Italy and Hungary to weaken climate policies for short-term relief.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1710\" data-end=\"2037\">“Meek dependence on fossil fuel imports will leave Europe forever lurching from crisis to crisis,” Stiell said. He highlighted the long-term benefits of renewables, noting that sources like solar and wind offer stable, low-cost energy and stimulate clean-technology jobs, free from reliance on vulnerable shipping routes.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UN climate chief warns Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas fuels insecurity and price volatility, calling for urgent shift to renewable energy to shield economies from geopolitical shocks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434455,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[390,948,357,1134],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"685\">The ongoing war in Iran has highlighted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/oil-markets-brace-for-lasting-turmoil-in-the-gulf\/\">the risks<\/a> of heavy dependence on fossil fuels, according to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. Speaking to European policymakers in Brussels, Stiell described the crisis as an “abject lesson” in how energy reliance can undermine national security and economic stability.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1gd9ey6\" data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"725\">European Energy Markets Hit Hard<\/h3> <p data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1065\">Although geographically distant from the Middle East, Europe has felt the impact of the conflict through sharply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/papastavrou-100-oil-would-trigger-fuel-measures-in-greece\/\">rising energy prices.<\/a> European gas costs have surged by 50% since the war began just two weeks ago, prompting emergency measures by EU governments to protect consumers and prevent a repeat of the 2022 energy crisis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1067\" data-end=\"1394\">“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty, and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” Stiell said in prepared remarks. He warned that Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas—over 90% of oil and 80% of gas—leaves citizens vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and volatile pricing.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"74x6ty\" data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1436\">Renewables as a Strategic Solution<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1438\" data-end=\"1708\">Stiell emphasized that a transition to locally produced renewable and nuclear energy is key to securing Europe’s energy independence. Governments, he argued, should resist pressure from countries like Italy and Hungary to weaken climate policies for short-term relief.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1710\" data-end=\"2037\">“Meek dependence on fossil fuel imports will leave Europe forever lurching from crisis to crisis,” Stiell said. He highlighted the long-term benefits of renewables, noting that sources like solar and wind offer stable, low-cost energy and stimulate clean-technology jobs, free from reliance on vulnerable shipping routes.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":390,"name":"climate change","slug":"climate-change","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":390,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":116,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":948,"name":"fossil fuel","slug":"fossil-fuel","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":948,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1134,"name":"UN","slug":"un","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1134,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE-300x207.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE-768x529.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434620,"date":"2026-03-16T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434620"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:37:23","slug":"a-new-reality-in-the-eastern-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/a-new-reality-in-the-eastern-mediterranean\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Reality in the Eastern Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"854\">Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/cyprus-president-comments-on-turkish-f-16-deployment\/\">“Turkey factor.”<\/a><\/p> <p data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"1272\">Perhaps the attackers’ objectives, especially the Americans’, were ambitious from the start and are now proving difficult to achieve—at least in their entirety. Today, no one knows the exact size of Iran’s missile arsenal or how far Tehran is willing to resist. Moreover, establishing effective communication channels between the theocratic regime and the West seems, at this point, like a midsummer night’s dream.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1274\" data-end=\"1775\">Yet, despite these disappointing facts, in Athens—as in most European capitals—they are working on the basis of the most optimistic scenario: the war between the U.S.–Israel and Iran, already lasting 15 days and involving nearly all Gulf states, will end at most within the next 3–4 weeks. However, it leaves behind a new reality, the effects of which will not be confined to the Middle East. Its impact is already influencing geopolitical balances worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"2255\">“The most likely scenario is that we will see a gradual de-escalation within a relatively short period,” a senior diplomatic source told <em data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"1923\">To Vima<\/em>, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments, without ruling out the possibility that events could become extremely adverse: a prolonged, low-intensity war with destructive consequences, primarily in energy and economic sectors, and with the risk of a new migration wave toward European shores.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2286\"><strong data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2284\">Risks and Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2800\">The economic cost, after all, is Tehran’s leverage against its adversaries. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for already pressured affluent societies to absorb the impact. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-faces-pressure-over-fuel-and-food-prices\/\">Athens<\/a>, the focus is not only on managing possible consequences. War is full of risks—especially when the line of fire touches the national security system. It requires adjustments but also presents opportunities, particularly for those who take a clear stance and demonstrate a willingness to participate on the ground.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"3483\">At the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the primary gain is seen as projecting the flag and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially beyond Greece’s narrow borders. This, they believe, was achieved through the immediate deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus, as well as the deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/patriot-air-defense-system-arrives-on-karpathos\/\">Patriot systems<\/a> in Karpathos and along the Greek-Bulgarian border. The key objective is protection from potential missile threats, obviously originating from Iranian territory or its proxies. As a senior government official notes, Athens’ move “establishes the country as a power capable of guaranteeing stability in the wider region.”<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3485\" data-end=\"3893\">Moreover, the presence of Greek forces on the island has opened the way for other Europeans to follow on the ground—particularly France—and has strengthened Cyprus’ full inclusion in the Western security system. “Something that until a few years ago could not be taken for granted, even though it is European territory,” notes a minister with deep knowledge of the political system in Nicosia to <em data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3890\">To Vima<\/em>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3895\" data-end=\"4493\">Combined with the rapid strengthening of relations with Israel and the United States, and the fact that President Nikos Christodoulides operates within a purely NATO-oriented framework, it is clear that Cyprus is gradually transforming from a weak link in broader Greek defense and a neutral player, with its gaze both West and East, into an allied factor in the Eastern Mediterranean. Based on this logic, Greece is expanding its diplomatic and defense reach across the Cyprus–Dodecanese–Crete axis, a region of intense geopolitical interest, with Turkey’s revisionist presence distinctly noted.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4522\"><strong data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4520\">Strategy and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"4524\" data-end=\"4986\">In recent years, as Europe has been dragged into a violent paradigm shift where defense has become a top priority both nationally and collectively, Athens now emerges as a power with a demonstrated willingness to participate even beyond its immediate interests. According to the rationale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, this strategy, combined with adherence to allied obligations, is certain to yield tangible benefits, and in the near future.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4988\" data-end=\"5380\">“The country’s consistency toward Israel and the United States is recognized,” diplomats note, who are in continuous contact with George <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-moves-to-protect-citizens-in-iran-and-the-middle-east\/\">Gerapetritis<\/a>, while ruling party officials believe that the current war crisis strengthens strategic relations with Washington and Tel Aviv. They add that Greece’s participation in the Gaza stabilization force will contribute further to this direction.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5382\" data-end=\"5815\">At the same time, with European military assistance to Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a field of early and partial development of the EU’s ambitious defense autonomy project, with Athens seeking triple benefits: first, by accelerating strategic integration, it brings forces to the region that otherwise might have remained indifferent (e.g., the UK, the Netherlands), creating a positive precedent for future crises.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"6401\">Second, it further strengthens military cooperation with France—a nuclear power with longstanding interests in Southeast Europe—while Athens and Paris finalize the details before renewing the defense agreement and extending the mutual assistance clause in case of an external attack. Third, it sends the message to the U.S. and NATO that Greece is willing to participate in smaller, more flexible arrangements that will play a significant role in Western defense in the coming years. The common denominator of all these efforts is strengthening Greece’s imprint in the wider region.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6415\"><strong data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6413\">Turkey<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"6417\" data-end=\"6907\">Although Athens insists that its foreign policy during the war does not have an “anti-Turkish dimension,” no one can ignore that its choices affect both relations and the balance of power with Ankara. The Greek government considers Ankara’s reaction—sending six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to Cyprus—as largely cosmetic, while it remains cautious about how the stance of this “cunning neutral” could affect Greece’s position at the critical crossroads between East and West.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6909\" data-end=\"7357\">The common assessment of the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Turkey is currently facing a series of issues beyond the narrow Aegean framework. As demonstrated, Turkish air defense is porous, while the scenario of Iranian Kurds getting involved in the war—with U.S. approval—evokes in Ankara the nightmare of a possible unification of their co-ethnics in Iraq and Turkey, aiming ultimately for the long-sought autonomy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"7359\" data-end=\"7730\">At the same time, Turkey’s economy has little room for further increases in energy prices, which would inevitably drive inflation higher. And as for the duration of the war? That will determine whether Turkey faces yet another massive influx of populations onto its territory. Pending these challenges, Greek-Turkish relations currently appear as a footnote in history.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the “Turkey factor.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1104,213,90,56459],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"854\">Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/cyprus-president-comments-on-turkish-f-16-deployment\/\">“Turkey factor.”<\/a><\/p> <p data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"1272\">Perhaps the attackers’ objectives, especially the Americans’, were ambitious from the start and are now proving difficult to achieve—at least in their entirety. Today, no one knows the exact size of Iran’s missile arsenal or how far Tehran is willing to resist. Moreover, establishing effective communication channels between the theocratic regime and the West seems, at this point, like a midsummer night’s dream.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1274\" data-end=\"1775\">Yet, despite these disappointing facts, in Athens—as in most European capitals—they are working on the basis of the most optimistic scenario: the war between the U.S.–Israel and Iran, already lasting 15 days and involving nearly all Gulf states, will end at most within the next 3–4 weeks. However, it leaves behind a new reality, the effects of which will not be confined to the Middle East. Its impact is already influencing geopolitical balances worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"2255\">“The most likely scenario is that we will see a gradual de-escalation within a relatively short period,” a senior diplomatic source told <em data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"1923\">To Vima<\/em>, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments, without ruling out the possibility that events could become extremely adverse: a prolonged, low-intensity war with destructive consequences, primarily in energy and economic sectors, and with the risk of a new migration wave toward European shores.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2286\"><strong data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2284\">Risks and Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2800\">The economic cost, after all, is Tehran’s leverage against its adversaries. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for already pressured affluent societies to absorb the impact. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-faces-pressure-over-fuel-and-food-prices\/\">Athens<\/a>, the focus is not only on managing possible consequences. War is full of risks—especially when the line of fire touches the national security system. It requires adjustments but also presents opportunities, particularly for those who take a clear stance and demonstrate a willingness to participate on the ground.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"3483\">At the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the primary gain is seen as projecting the flag and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially beyond Greece’s narrow borders. This, they believe, was achieved through the immediate deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus, as well as the deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/patriot-air-defense-system-arrives-on-karpathos\/\">Patriot systems<\/a> in Karpathos and along the Greek-Bulgarian border. The key objective is protection from potential missile threats, obviously originating from Iranian territory or its proxies. As a senior government official notes, Athens’ move “establishes the country as a power capable of guaranteeing stability in the wider region.”<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3485\" data-end=\"3893\">Moreover, the presence of Greek forces on the island has opened the way for other Europeans to follow on the ground—particularly France—and has strengthened Cyprus’ full inclusion in the Western security system. “Something that until a few years ago could not be taken for granted, even though it is European territory,” notes a minister with deep knowledge of the political system in Nicosia to <em data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3890\">To Vima<\/em>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3895\" data-end=\"4493\">Combined with the rapid strengthening of relations with Israel and the United States, and the fact that President Nikos Christodoulides operates within a purely NATO-oriented framework, it is clear that Cyprus is gradually transforming from a weak link in broader Greek defense and a neutral player, with its gaze both West and East, into an allied factor in the Eastern Mediterranean. Based on this logic, Greece is expanding its diplomatic and defense reach across the Cyprus–Dodecanese–Crete axis, a region of intense geopolitical interest, with Turkey’s revisionist presence distinctly noted.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4522\"><strong data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4520\">Strategy and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"4524\" data-end=\"4986\">In recent years, as Europe has been dragged into a violent paradigm shift where defense has become a top priority both nationally and collectively, Athens now emerges as a power with a demonstrated willingness to participate even beyond its immediate interests. According to the rationale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, this strategy, combined with adherence to allied obligations, is certain to yield tangible benefits, and in the near future.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4988\" data-end=\"5380\">“The country’s consistency toward Israel and the United States is recognized,” diplomats note, who are in continuous contact with George <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-moves-to-protect-citizens-in-iran-and-the-middle-east\/\">Gerapetritis<\/a>, while ruling party officials believe that the current war crisis strengthens strategic relations with Washington and Tel Aviv. They add that Greece’s participation in the Gaza stabilization force will contribute further to this direction.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5382\" data-end=\"5815\">At the same time, with European military assistance to Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a field of early and partial development of the EU’s ambitious defense autonomy project, with Athens seeking triple benefits: first, by accelerating strategic integration, it brings forces to the region that otherwise might have remained indifferent (e.g., the UK, the Netherlands), creating a positive precedent for future crises.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"6401\">Second, it further strengthens military cooperation with France—a nuclear power with longstanding interests in Southeast Europe—while Athens and Paris finalize the details before renewing the defense agreement and extending the mutual assistance clause in case of an external attack. Third, it sends the message to the U.S. and NATO that Greece is willing to participate in smaller, more flexible arrangements that will play a significant role in Western defense in the coming years. The common denominator of all these efforts is strengthening Greece’s imprint in the wider region.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6415\"><strong data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6413\">Turkey<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"6417\" data-end=\"6907\">Although Athens insists that its foreign policy during the war does not have an “anti-Turkish dimension,” no one can ignore that its choices affect both relations and the balance of power with Ankara. The Greek government considers Ankara’s reaction—sending six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to Cyprus—as largely cosmetic, while it remains cautious about how the stance of this “cunning neutral” could affect Greece’s position at the critical crossroads between East and West.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6909\" data-end=\"7357\">The common assessment of the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Turkey is currently facing a series of issues beyond the narrow Aegean framework. As demonstrated, Turkish air defense is porous, while the scenario of Iranian Kurds getting involved in the war—with U.S. approval—evokes in Ankara the nightmare of a possible unification of their co-ethnics in Iraq and Turkey, aiming ultimately for the long-sought autonomy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"7359\" data-end=\"7730\">At the same time, Turkey’s economy has little room for further increases in energy prices, which would inevitably drive inflation higher. And as for the duration of the war? That will determine whether Turkey faces yet another massive influx of populations onto its territory. Pending these challenges, Greek-Turkish relations currently appear as a footnote in history.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1104,"name":"Cyprus","slug":"cyprus","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1104,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":155,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":213,"name":"French President Emmanuel Macron","slug":"french-president-emmanuel-macron","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":213,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":52,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":90,"name":"Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis","slug":"greek-prime-minister-mitsotakis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":90,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":519,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":56459,"name":"Nikos Christodoulides","slug":"nikos-christodoulides","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":56459,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":30,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434740,"date":"2026-03-16T13:45:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434740"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:28:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:28:48","slug":"greece-urges-eu-preparedness-amid-energy-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-urges-eu-preparedness-amid-energy-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Urges EU Preparedness Amid Energy Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Greek Minister of Environment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/mitsotakis-again-cites-nuke-option-for-energy-needs\/\">Energy<\/a>, Stavros Papastavrou, arrived in Brussels to participate in the EU Energy Ministers’ Council on Monday, March 16.<\/p> <p>Upon entering the council chamber, he warned that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/europes-energy-future-at-stake-at-paris-nuclear-summit-2026\/\">Europe<\/a> is facing an international crisis that is testing its resilience. He noted that rising energy prices are affecting households, businesses, and daily life across the continent, and stressed the need for Europe to respond with targeted measures and flexibility to protect citizens and the economy.<\/p> <p>The minister highlighted that Greece had recorded the sixth-lowest wholesale electricity price in Europe in the first ten days of March, attributing this to the country’s diversified energy mix, renewable sources, and hydroelectric capacity. He emphasized that Greece is moving forward with a clear plan, underlining that the government is not complacent regarding energy security, price stability, or the protection of citizens and businesses.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In response to a question, Papastavrou underscored the importance of energy networks, describing them as essential for achieving a unified, resilient, and interconnected Europe. He suggested that now is the moment for the EU to take a decisive step toward establishing a truly integrated European energy market.<\/p> <p>Energy ministers are set to explore options for containing energy costs, while officials are developing emergency plans to mitigate the impact of the sharp increase in oil and natural gas prices driven by the conflict in Iran.<\/p> <p>Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing emergency measures to shield consumers from rising energy bills. According to informed EU sources, these measures could include state support for industries, tax reductions, and leveraging the upcoming revision of the EU carbon emissions trading system to ease the supply of CO2 allowances.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Energy minister Papastavrou said that Greece is moving forward with a clear plan, underlining that the government is not complacent regarding energy security, price stability, or the protection of citizens and businesses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":434791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[82984,49139,357],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>The Greek Minister of Environment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/mitsotakis-again-cites-nuke-option-for-energy-needs\/\">Energy<\/a>, Stavros Papastavrou, arrived in Brussels to participate in the EU Energy Ministers’ Council on Monday, March 16.<\/p> <p>Upon entering the council chamber, he warned that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/europes-energy-future-at-stake-at-paris-nuclear-summit-2026\/\">Europe<\/a> is facing an international crisis that is testing its resilience. He noted that rising energy prices are affecting households, businesses, and daily life across the continent, and stressed the need for Europe to respond with targeted measures and flexibility to protect citizens and the economy.<\/p> <p>The minister highlighted that Greece had recorded the sixth-lowest wholesale electricity price in Europe in the first ten days of March, attributing this to the country’s diversified energy mix, renewable sources, and hydroelectric capacity. He emphasized that Greece is moving forward with a clear plan, underlining that the government is not complacent regarding energy security, price stability, or the protection of citizens and businesses.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In response to a question, Papastavrou underscored the importance of energy networks, describing them as essential for achieving a unified, resilient, and interconnected Europe. He suggested that now is the moment for the EU to take a decisive step toward establishing a truly integrated European energy market.<\/p> <p>Energy ministers are set to explore options for containing energy costs, while officials are developing emergency plans to mitigate the impact of the sharp increase in oil and natural gas prices driven by the conflict in Iran.<\/p> <p>Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing emergency measures to shield consumers from rising energy bills. According to informed EU sources, these measures could include state support for industries, tax reductions, and leveraging the upcoming revision of the EU carbon emissions trading system to ease the supply of CO2 allowances.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":7,"name":"Climate","slug":"climate","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news and analysis on the climate crisis and its impact on Greece and internationally, including coverage of natural disasters, climate summits, scientific research and experts’ opinions on the way forward.","parent":0,"count":701,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":82984,"name":"Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou","slug":"energy-minister-stavros-papastavrou","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":82984,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":35,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":49139,"name":"Energy security","slug":"energy-security","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":49139,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":16,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran-300x178.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran-768x455.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434923,"date":"2026-03-16T14:45:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:45:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434923"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:42:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:42:14","slug":"greece-advances-major-defense-modernization-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-advances-major-defense-modernization-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Advances Major Defense Modernization Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greek-defense-minister-meets-bulgarian-pm-in-sofia\/\">Minister<\/a> of National <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-eyes-e5bln-defense-plan-featuring-iron-dome-type-shield\/\">Defense<\/a> Nikos Dendias announced that on Monday, 16 March, a series of key defense initiatives had been submitted for review to the Special Permanent Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament. The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.<\/p> <p>In a statement outlining the scope of the new armaments program, Dendias said the projects demonstrated how early the government had recognized the changing security landscape. He noted that the planning had been based on what he described as a “wide-angle reading” of the emerging security environment.<\/p> <p>Their implementation, he suggested, would usher the Greek Armed Forces into a new era—one in which they would become the strongest in the country’s history. At the same time, he stressed that the security provided to Greek society would be more essential than ever.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Presenting the initiatives, the minister emphasized that all the programs form part of the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning, itself a pillar of the broader “Agenda 2030”. Within this framework, he highlighted the extensive upgrade of the country’s air-defense capabilities through the creation of a multi-layered mechanism designed to counter aerial threats.<\/p> <p>According to Dendias, this capability constitutes a central component of the “Achilles Shield”, a new deterrence program intended to protect the country from modern airborne threats.<\/p> <p>He argued that the necessity of such a system had been clearly demonstrated in recent conflict zones. Greece, he said, was moving toward the creation of a comprehensive protective dome over its territory, capable of addressing a wide spectrum of threats—including aircraft, drones, missiles and ballistic missiles. Greek companies, he added, would participate in the production of these systems with a share of at least 25 percent.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Among the programs submitted to the parliamentary committee is also the development of infrastructure at the Andravida air base for the operational integration of F-35 fighter jets. Dendias noted that the F-35 should not be viewed simply as aircraft but as advanced platforms that would introduce the Hellenic Air Force to a new technological era.<\/p> <p>The proposal package further includes the upgrade of approximately 40 F-16 Block 50 aircraft to the Viper configuration, a move that would bring the total number of Greek F-16 Vipers to more than 100. In addition, the minister referred to the modernization of MEKO-class frigates, a project expected to involve Greek shipyards, as well as a range of “Follow-On Support” programs for aircraft fleets, including transport aircraft such as the C-27.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":434929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[58388,36251],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greek-defense-minister-meets-bulgarian-pm-in-sofia\/\">Minister<\/a> of National <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-eyes-e5bln-defense-plan-featuring-iron-dome-type-shield\/\">Defense<\/a> Nikos Dendias announced that on Monday, 16 March, a series of key defense initiatives had been submitted for review to the Special Permanent Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament. The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.<\/p> <p>In a statement outlining the scope of the new armaments program, Dendias said the projects demonstrated how early the government had recognized the changing security landscape. He noted that the planning had been based on what he described as a “wide-angle reading” of the emerging security environment.<\/p> <p>Their implementation, he suggested, would usher the Greek Armed Forces into a new era—one in which they would become the strongest in the country’s history. At the same time, he stressed that the security provided to Greek society would be more essential than ever.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Presenting the initiatives, the minister emphasized that all the programs form part of the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning, itself a pillar of the broader “Agenda 2030”. Within this framework, he highlighted the extensive upgrade of the country’s air-defense capabilities through the creation of a multi-layered mechanism designed to counter aerial threats.<\/p> <p>According to Dendias, this capability constitutes a central component of the “Achilles Shield”, a new deterrence program intended to protect the country from modern airborne threats.<\/p> <p>He argued that the necessity of such a system had been clearly demonstrated in recent conflict zones. Greece, he said, was moving toward the creation of a comprehensive protective dome over its territory, capable of addressing a wide spectrum of threats—including aircraft, drones, missiles and ballistic missiles. Greek companies, he added, would participate in the production of these systems with a share of at least 25 percent.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Among the programs submitted to the parliamentary committee is also the development of infrastructure at the Andravida air base for the operational integration of F-35 fighter jets. Dendias noted that the F-35 should not be viewed simply as aircraft but as advanced platforms that would introduce the Hellenic Air Force to a new technological era.<\/p> <p>The proposal package further includes the upgrade of approximately 40 F-16 Block 50 aircraft to the Viper configuration, a move that would bring the total number of Greek F-16 Vipers to more than 100. In addition, the minister referred to the modernization of MEKO-class frigates, a project expected to involve Greek shipyards, as well as a range of “Follow-On Support” programs for aircraft fleets, including transport aircraft such as the C-27.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":58388,"name":"Greece defense program","slug":"greece-defense-program","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":58388,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":36251,"name":"Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias","slug":"greek-defense-minister-nikos-dendias","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":36251,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":100,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434779,"date":"2026-03-16T13:07:21","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:07:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434779"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:26:45","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:26:45","slug":"greek-repatriation-flight-from-dubai-postponed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/greek-repatriation-flight-from-dubai-postponed\/","title":{"rendered":"Greek Repatriation Flight From Dubai Postponed"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"308\" data-end=\"516\">A planned repatriation flight for Greek citizens stranded in Dubai, which was also set to transport their pets back to Greece, has been postponed, leaving dozens of people awaiting further instructions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"518\" data-end=\"794\">The operation, organized by Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and codenamed “Ark,” had been in preparation for more than two weeks. It aimed to bring around 90 Greek nationals and approximately 100 pets safely back to Greece from the United Arab Emirates.<\/p> <p data-start=\"796\" data-end=\"947\">Despite the detailed planning, the special flight did not take place as scheduled, causing frustration and uncertainty among those waiting to depart.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"x8c7r9\" data-start=\"949\" data-end=\"996\">Drone attack disrupted airport operations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"998\" data-end=\"1228\">According to officials, the delay appears to be linked to the temporary closure of Dubai’s airport following a drone attack that triggered a fire in a fuel tank. The incident led to major disruptions to flight schedules.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1230\" data-end=\"1350\">Although the airport has reportedly reopened, the repatriation flight has not yet been reinstated in the schedule.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"f09e9j\" data-start=\"1352\" data-end=\"1398\">Many refused to leave without their pets<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1400\" data-end=\"1707\">Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos said the operation had been carefully planned to ensure that all logistical and travel requirements were met. A key element of the plan was allowing passengers to travel together with their pets, as many had refused to leave the country without them.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1709\" data-end=\"1951\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">For now, the participants remain in the UAE, waiting for an update from authorities on when the repatriation flight will finally take place. Greek citizens involved in the operation are hoping the mission will proceed as soon as possible.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dozens of Greek citizens and their pets remain stranded in the United Arab Emirates after a planned government repatriation flight was unexpectedly delayed following a drone attack that disrupted airport operations in Dubai<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434806,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[1131,8781],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"308\" data-end=\"516\">A planned repatriation flight for Greek citizens stranded in Dubai, which was also set to transport their pets back to Greece, has been postponed, leaving dozens of people awaiting further instructions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"518\" data-end=\"794\">The operation, organized by Greece’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and codenamed “Ark,” had been in preparation for more than two weeks. It aimed to bring around 90 Greek nationals and approximately 100 pets safely back to Greece from the United Arab Emirates.<\/p> <p data-start=\"796\" data-end=\"947\">Despite the detailed planning, the special flight did not take place as scheduled, causing frustration and uncertainty among those waiting to depart.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"x8c7r9\" data-start=\"949\" data-end=\"996\">Drone attack disrupted airport operations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"998\" data-end=\"1228\">According to officials, the delay appears to be linked to the temporary closure of Dubai’s airport following a drone attack that triggered a fire in a fuel tank. The incident led to major disruptions to flight schedules.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1230\" data-end=\"1350\">Although the airport has reportedly reopened, the repatriation flight has not yet been reinstated in the schedule.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"f09e9j\" data-start=\"1352\" data-end=\"1398\">Many refused to leave without their pets<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1400\" data-end=\"1707\">Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yiannis Loverdos said the operation had been carefully planned to ensure that all logistical and travel requirements were met. A key element of the plan was allowing passengers to travel together with their pets, as many had refused to leave the country without them.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1709\" data-end=\"1951\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">For now, the participants remain in the UAE, waiting for an update from authorities on when the repatriation flight will finally take place. Greek citizens involved in the operation are hoping the mission will proceed as soon as possible.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1131,"name":"Dubai","slug":"dubai","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1131,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":15,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":8781,"name":"repatriation","slug":"repatriation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8781,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP21008655935686-1024x671-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP21008655935686-1024x671-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP21008655935686-1024x671-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP21008655935686-1024x671-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"politics","header":"Πολιτική","ID":"1","posts":[{"id":434620,"date":"2026-03-16T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434620"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:37:23","slug":"a-new-reality-in-the-eastern-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/a-new-reality-in-the-eastern-mediterranean\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Reality in the Eastern Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"854\">Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/cyprus-president-comments-on-turkish-f-16-deployment\/\">“Turkey factor.”<\/a><\/p> <p data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"1272\">Perhaps the attackers’ objectives, especially the Americans’, were ambitious from the start and are now proving difficult to achieve—at least in their entirety. Today, no one knows the exact size of Iran’s missile arsenal or how far Tehran is willing to resist. Moreover, establishing effective communication channels between the theocratic regime and the West seems, at this point, like a midsummer night’s dream.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1274\" data-end=\"1775\">Yet, despite these disappointing facts, in Athens—as in most European capitals—they are working on the basis of the most optimistic scenario: the war between the U.S.–Israel and Iran, already lasting 15 days and involving nearly all Gulf states, will end at most within the next 3–4 weeks. However, it leaves behind a new reality, the effects of which will not be confined to the Middle East. Its impact is already influencing geopolitical balances worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"2255\">“The most likely scenario is that we will see a gradual de-escalation within a relatively short period,” a senior diplomatic source told <em data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"1923\">To Vima<\/em>, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments, without ruling out the possibility that events could become extremely adverse: a prolonged, low-intensity war with destructive consequences, primarily in energy and economic sectors, and with the risk of a new migration wave toward European shores.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2286\"><strong data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2284\">Risks and Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2800\">The economic cost, after all, is Tehran’s leverage against its adversaries. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for already pressured affluent societies to absorb the impact. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-faces-pressure-over-fuel-and-food-prices\/\">Athens<\/a>, the focus is not only on managing possible consequences. War is full of risks—especially when the line of fire touches the national security system. It requires adjustments but also presents opportunities, particularly for those who take a clear stance and demonstrate a willingness to participate on the ground.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"3483\">At the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the primary gain is seen as projecting the flag and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially beyond Greece’s narrow borders. This, they believe, was achieved through the immediate deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus, as well as the deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/patriot-air-defense-system-arrives-on-karpathos\/\">Patriot systems<\/a> in Karpathos and along the Greek-Bulgarian border. The key objective is protection from potential missile threats, obviously originating from Iranian territory or its proxies. As a senior government official notes, Athens’ move “establishes the country as a power capable of guaranteeing stability in the wider region.”<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3485\" data-end=\"3893\">Moreover, the presence of Greek forces on the island has opened the way for other Europeans to follow on the ground—particularly France—and has strengthened Cyprus’ full inclusion in the Western security system. “Something that until a few years ago could not be taken for granted, even though it is European territory,” notes a minister with deep knowledge of the political system in Nicosia to <em data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3890\">To Vima<\/em>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3895\" data-end=\"4493\">Combined with the rapid strengthening of relations with Israel and the United States, and the fact that President Nikos Christodoulides operates within a purely NATO-oriented framework, it is clear that Cyprus is gradually transforming from a weak link in broader Greek defense and a neutral player, with its gaze both West and East, into an allied factor in the Eastern Mediterranean. Based on this logic, Greece is expanding its diplomatic and defense reach across the Cyprus–Dodecanese–Crete axis, a region of intense geopolitical interest, with Turkey’s revisionist presence distinctly noted.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4522\"><strong data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4520\">Strategy and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"4524\" data-end=\"4986\">In recent years, as Europe has been dragged into a violent paradigm shift where defense has become a top priority both nationally and collectively, Athens now emerges as a power with a demonstrated willingness to participate even beyond its immediate interests. According to the rationale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, this strategy, combined with adherence to allied obligations, is certain to yield tangible benefits, and in the near future.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4988\" data-end=\"5380\">“The country’s consistency toward Israel and the United States is recognized,” diplomats note, who are in continuous contact with George <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-moves-to-protect-citizens-in-iran-and-the-middle-east\/\">Gerapetritis<\/a>, while ruling party officials believe that the current war crisis strengthens strategic relations with Washington and Tel Aviv. They add that Greece’s participation in the Gaza stabilization force will contribute further to this direction.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5382\" data-end=\"5815\">At the same time, with European military assistance to Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a field of early and partial development of the EU’s ambitious defense autonomy project, with Athens seeking triple benefits: first, by accelerating strategic integration, it brings forces to the region that otherwise might have remained indifferent (e.g., the UK, the Netherlands), creating a positive precedent for future crises.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"6401\">Second, it further strengthens military cooperation with France—a nuclear power with longstanding interests in Southeast Europe—while Athens and Paris finalize the details before renewing the defense agreement and extending the mutual assistance clause in case of an external attack. Third, it sends the message to the U.S. and NATO that Greece is willing to participate in smaller, more flexible arrangements that will play a significant role in Western defense in the coming years. The common denominator of all these efforts is strengthening Greece’s imprint in the wider region.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6415\"><strong data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6413\">Turkey<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"6417\" data-end=\"6907\">Although Athens insists that its foreign policy during the war does not have an “anti-Turkish dimension,” no one can ignore that its choices affect both relations and the balance of power with Ankara. The Greek government considers Ankara’s reaction—sending six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to Cyprus—as largely cosmetic, while it remains cautious about how the stance of this “cunning neutral” could affect Greece’s position at the critical crossroads between East and West.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6909\" data-end=\"7357\">The common assessment of the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Turkey is currently facing a series of issues beyond the narrow Aegean framework. As demonstrated, Turkish air defense is porous, while the scenario of Iranian Kurds getting involved in the war—with U.S. approval—evokes in Ankara the nightmare of a possible unification of their co-ethnics in Iraq and Turkey, aiming ultimately for the long-sought autonomy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"7359\" data-end=\"7730\">At the same time, Turkey’s economy has little room for further increases in energy prices, which would inevitably drive inflation higher. And as for the duration of the war? That will determine whether Turkey faces yet another massive influx of populations onto its territory. Pending these challenges, Greek-Turkish relations currently appear as a footnote in history.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the “Turkey factor.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1104,213,90,56459],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"854\">Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/cyprus-president-comments-on-turkish-f-16-deployment\/\">“Turkey factor.”<\/a><\/p> <p data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"1272\">Perhaps the attackers’ objectives, especially the Americans’, were ambitious from the start and are now proving difficult to achieve—at least in their entirety. Today, no one knows the exact size of Iran’s missile arsenal or how far Tehran is willing to resist. Moreover, establishing effective communication channels between the theocratic regime and the West seems, at this point, like a midsummer night’s dream.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1274\" data-end=\"1775\">Yet, despite these disappointing facts, in Athens—as in most European capitals—they are working on the basis of the most optimistic scenario: the war between the U.S.–Israel and Iran, already lasting 15 days and involving nearly all Gulf states, will end at most within the next 3–4 weeks. However, it leaves behind a new reality, the effects of which will not be confined to the Middle East. Its impact is already influencing geopolitical balances worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"2255\">“The most likely scenario is that we will see a gradual de-escalation within a relatively short period,” a senior diplomatic source told <em data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"1923\">To Vima<\/em>, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments, without ruling out the possibility that events could become extremely adverse: a prolonged, low-intensity war with destructive consequences, primarily in energy and economic sectors, and with the risk of a new migration wave toward European shores.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2286\"><strong data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2284\">Risks and Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2800\">The economic cost, after all, is Tehran’s leverage against its adversaries. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for already pressured affluent societies to absorb the impact. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-faces-pressure-over-fuel-and-food-prices\/\">Athens<\/a>, the focus is not only on managing possible consequences. War is full of risks—especially when the line of fire touches the national security system. It requires adjustments but also presents opportunities, particularly for those who take a clear stance and demonstrate a willingness to participate on the ground.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"3483\">At the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the primary gain is seen as projecting the flag and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially beyond Greece’s narrow borders. This, they believe, was achieved through the immediate deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus, as well as the deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/patriot-air-defense-system-arrives-on-karpathos\/\">Patriot systems<\/a> in Karpathos and along the Greek-Bulgarian border. The key objective is protection from potential missile threats, obviously originating from Iranian territory or its proxies. As a senior government official notes, Athens’ move “establishes the country as a power capable of guaranteeing stability in the wider region.”<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3485\" data-end=\"3893\">Moreover, the presence of Greek forces on the island has opened the way for other Europeans to follow on the ground—particularly France—and has strengthened Cyprus’ full inclusion in the Western security system. “Something that until a few years ago could not be taken for granted, even though it is European territory,” notes a minister with deep knowledge of the political system in Nicosia to <em data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3890\">To Vima<\/em>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3895\" data-end=\"4493\">Combined with the rapid strengthening of relations with Israel and the United States, and the fact that President Nikos Christodoulides operates within a purely NATO-oriented framework, it is clear that Cyprus is gradually transforming from a weak link in broader Greek defense and a neutral player, with its gaze both West and East, into an allied factor in the Eastern Mediterranean. Based on this logic, Greece is expanding its diplomatic and defense reach across the Cyprus–Dodecanese–Crete axis, a region of intense geopolitical interest, with Turkey’s revisionist presence distinctly noted.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4522\"><strong data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4520\">Strategy and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"4524\" data-end=\"4986\">In recent years, as Europe has been dragged into a violent paradigm shift where defense has become a top priority both nationally and collectively, Athens now emerges as a power with a demonstrated willingness to participate even beyond its immediate interests. According to the rationale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, this strategy, combined with adherence to allied obligations, is certain to yield tangible benefits, and in the near future.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4988\" data-end=\"5380\">“The country’s consistency toward Israel and the United States is recognized,” diplomats note, who are in continuous contact with George <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-moves-to-protect-citizens-in-iran-and-the-middle-east\/\">Gerapetritis<\/a>, while ruling party officials believe that the current war crisis strengthens strategic relations with Washington and Tel Aviv. They add that Greece’s participation in the Gaza stabilization force will contribute further to this direction.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5382\" data-end=\"5815\">At the same time, with European military assistance to Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a field of early and partial development of the EU’s ambitious defense autonomy project, with Athens seeking triple benefits: first, by accelerating strategic integration, it brings forces to the region that otherwise might have remained indifferent (e.g., the UK, the Netherlands), creating a positive precedent for future crises.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"6401\">Second, it further strengthens military cooperation with France—a nuclear power with longstanding interests in Southeast Europe—while Athens and Paris finalize the details before renewing the defense agreement and extending the mutual assistance clause in case of an external attack. Third, it sends the message to the U.S. and NATO that Greece is willing to participate in smaller, more flexible arrangements that will play a significant role in Western defense in the coming years. The common denominator of all these efforts is strengthening Greece’s imprint in the wider region.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6415\"><strong data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6413\">Turkey<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"6417\" data-end=\"6907\">Although Athens insists that its foreign policy during the war does not have an “anti-Turkish dimension,” no one can ignore that its choices affect both relations and the balance of power with Ankara. The Greek government considers Ankara’s reaction—sending six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to Cyprus—as largely cosmetic, while it remains cautious about how the stance of this “cunning neutral” could affect Greece’s position at the critical crossroads between East and West.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6909\" data-end=\"7357\">The common assessment of the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Turkey is currently facing a series of issues beyond the narrow Aegean framework. As demonstrated, Turkish air defense is porous, while the scenario of Iranian Kurds getting involved in the war—with U.S. approval—evokes in Ankara the nightmare of a possible unification of their co-ethnics in Iraq and Turkey, aiming ultimately for the long-sought autonomy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"7359\" data-end=\"7730\">At the same time, Turkey’s economy has little room for further increases in energy prices, which would inevitably drive inflation higher. And as for the duration of the war? That will determine whether Turkey faces yet another massive influx of populations onto its territory. Pending these challenges, Greek-Turkish relations currently appear as a footnote in history.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1104,"name":"Cyprus","slug":"cyprus","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1104,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":155,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":213,"name":"French President Emmanuel Macron","slug":"french-president-emmanuel-macron","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":213,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":52,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":90,"name":"Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis","slug":"greek-prime-minister-mitsotakis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":90,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":519,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":56459,"name":"Nikos Christodoulides","slug":"nikos-christodoulides","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":56459,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":30,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434923,"date":"2026-03-16T14:45:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:45:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434923"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:42:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:42:14","slug":"greece-advances-major-defense-modernization-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-advances-major-defense-modernization-plans\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Advances Major Defense Modernization Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greek-defense-minister-meets-bulgarian-pm-in-sofia\/\">Minister<\/a> of National <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-eyes-e5bln-defense-plan-featuring-iron-dome-type-shield\/\">Defense<\/a> Nikos Dendias announced that on Monday, 16 March, a series of key defense initiatives had been submitted for review to the Special Permanent Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament. The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.<\/p> <p>In a statement outlining the scope of the new armaments program, Dendias said the projects demonstrated how early the government had recognized the changing security landscape. He noted that the planning had been based on what he described as a “wide-angle reading” of the emerging security environment.<\/p> <p>Their implementation, he suggested, would usher the Greek Armed Forces into a new era—one in which they would become the strongest in the country’s history. At the same time, he stressed that the security provided to Greek society would be more essential than ever.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Presenting the initiatives, the minister emphasized that all the programs form part of the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning, itself a pillar of the broader “Agenda 2030”. Within this framework, he highlighted the extensive upgrade of the country’s air-defense capabilities through the creation of a multi-layered mechanism designed to counter aerial threats.<\/p> <p>According to Dendias, this capability constitutes a central component of the “Achilles Shield”, a new deterrence program intended to protect the country from modern airborne threats.<\/p> <p>He argued that the necessity of such a system had been clearly demonstrated in recent conflict zones. Greece, he said, was moving toward the creation of a comprehensive protective dome over its territory, capable of addressing a wide spectrum of threats—including aircraft, drones, missiles and ballistic missiles. Greek companies, he added, would participate in the production of these systems with a share of at least 25 percent.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Among the programs submitted to the parliamentary committee is also the development of infrastructure at the Andravida air base for the operational integration of F-35 fighter jets. Dendias noted that the F-35 should not be viewed simply as aircraft but as advanced platforms that would introduce the Hellenic Air Force to a new technological era.<\/p> <p>The proposal package further includes the upgrade of approximately 40 F-16 Block 50 aircraft to the Viper configuration, a move that would bring the total number of Greek F-16 Vipers to more than 100. In addition, the minister referred to the modernization of MEKO-class frigates, a project expected to involve Greek shipyards, as well as a range of “Follow-On Support” programs for aircraft fleets, including transport aircraft such as the C-27.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":434929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[58388,36251],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greek-defense-minister-meets-bulgarian-pm-in-sofia\/\">Minister<\/a> of National <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-eyes-e5bln-defense-plan-featuring-iron-dome-type-shield\/\">Defense<\/a> Nikos Dendias announced that on Monday, 16 March, a series of key defense initiatives had been submitted for review to the Special Permanent Committee on Armament Programs and Contracts of the Hellenic Parliament. The proposals include the upgrade of F-16 fighter aircraft, the development of the “Achilles Shield” air-defense system, and the modernization of naval frigates.<\/p> <p>In a statement outlining the scope of the new armaments program, Dendias said the projects demonstrated how early the government had recognized the changing security landscape. He noted that the planning had been based on what he described as a “wide-angle reading” of the emerging security environment.<\/p> <p>Their implementation, he suggested, would usher the Greek Armed Forces into a new era—one in which they would become the strongest in the country’s history. At the same time, he stressed that the security provided to Greek society would be more essential than ever.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Presenting the initiatives, the minister emphasized that all the programs form part of the Long-Term Defense Armaments Planning, itself a pillar of the broader “Agenda 2030”. Within this framework, he highlighted the extensive upgrade of the country’s air-defense capabilities through the creation of a multi-layered mechanism designed to counter aerial threats.<\/p> <p>According to Dendias, this capability constitutes a central component of the “Achilles Shield”, a new deterrence program intended to protect the country from modern airborne threats.<\/p> <p>He argued that the necessity of such a system had been clearly demonstrated in recent conflict zones. Greece, he said, was moving toward the creation of a comprehensive protective dome over its territory, capable of addressing a wide spectrum of threats—including aircraft, drones, missiles and ballistic missiles. Greek companies, he added, would participate in the production of these systems with a share of at least 25 percent.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Among the programs submitted to the parliamentary committee is also the development of infrastructure at the Andravida air base for the operational integration of F-35 fighter jets. Dendias noted that the F-35 should not be viewed simply as aircraft but as advanced platforms that would introduce the Hellenic Air Force to a new technological era.<\/p> <p>The proposal package further includes the upgrade of approximately 40 F-16 Block 50 aircraft to the Viper configuration, a move that would bring the total number of Greek F-16 Vipers to more than 100. In addition, the minister referred to the modernization of MEKO-class frigates, a project expected to involve Greek shipyards, as well as a range of “Follow-On Support” programs for aircraft fleets, including transport aircraft such as the C-27.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":58388,"name":"Greece defense program","slug":"greece-defense-program","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":58388,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":36251,"name":"Greek Defense Minister Nikos Dendias","slug":"greek-defense-minister-nikos-dendias","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":36251,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":100,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greece-defense-advances-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434740,"date":"2026-03-16T13:45:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:45:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434740"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:28:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:28:48","slug":"greece-urges-eu-preparedness-amid-energy-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-urges-eu-preparedness-amid-energy-crisis\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Urges EU Preparedness Amid Energy Crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Greek Minister of Environment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/mitsotakis-again-cites-nuke-option-for-energy-needs\/\">Energy<\/a>, Stavros Papastavrou, arrived in Brussels to participate in the EU Energy Ministers’ Council on Monday, March 16.<\/p> <p>Upon entering the council chamber, he warned that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/europes-energy-future-at-stake-at-paris-nuclear-summit-2026\/\">Europe<\/a> is facing an international crisis that is testing its resilience. He noted that rising energy prices are affecting households, businesses, and daily life across the continent, and stressed the need for Europe to respond with targeted measures and flexibility to protect citizens and the economy.<\/p> <p>The minister highlighted that Greece had recorded the sixth-lowest wholesale electricity price in Europe in the first ten days of March, attributing this to the country’s diversified energy mix, renewable sources, and hydroelectric capacity. He emphasized that Greece is moving forward with a clear plan, underlining that the government is not complacent regarding energy security, price stability, or the protection of citizens and businesses.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In response to a question, Papastavrou underscored the importance of energy networks, describing them as essential for achieving a unified, resilient, and interconnected Europe. He suggested that now is the moment for the EU to take a decisive step toward establishing a truly integrated European energy market.<\/p> <p>Energy ministers are set to explore options for containing energy costs, while officials are developing emergency plans to mitigate the impact of the sharp increase in oil and natural gas prices driven by the conflict in Iran.<\/p> <p>Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing emergency measures to shield consumers from rising energy bills. According to informed EU sources, these measures could include state support for industries, tax reductions, and leveraging the upcoming revision of the EU carbon emissions trading system to ease the supply of CO2 allowances.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Energy minister Papastavrou said that Greece is moving forward with a clear plan, underlining that the government is not complacent regarding energy security, price stability, or the protection of citizens and businesses.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":434791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2],"tags":[82984,49139,357],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>The Greek Minister of Environment and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/mitsotakis-again-cites-nuke-option-for-energy-needs\/\">Energy<\/a>, Stavros Papastavrou, arrived in Brussels to participate in the EU Energy Ministers’ Council on Monday, March 16.<\/p> <p>Upon entering the council chamber, he warned that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/europes-energy-future-at-stake-at-paris-nuclear-summit-2026\/\">Europe<\/a> is facing an international crisis that is testing its resilience. He noted that rising energy prices are affecting households, businesses, and daily life across the continent, and stressed the need for Europe to respond with targeted measures and flexibility to protect citizens and the economy.<\/p> <p>The minister highlighted that Greece had recorded the sixth-lowest wholesale electricity price in Europe in the first ten days of March, attributing this to the country’s diversified energy mix, renewable sources, and hydroelectric capacity. He emphasized that Greece is moving forward with a clear plan, underlining that the government is not complacent regarding energy security, price stability, or the protection of citizens and businesses.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In response to a question, Papastavrou underscored the importance of energy networks, describing them as essential for achieving a unified, resilient, and interconnected Europe. He suggested that now is the moment for the EU to take a decisive step toward establishing a truly integrated European energy market.<\/p> <p>Energy ministers are set to explore options for containing energy costs, while officials are developing emergency plans to mitigate the impact of the sharp increase in oil and natural gas prices driven by the conflict in Iran.<\/p> <p>Meanwhile, the European Commission is preparing emergency measures to shield consumers from rising energy bills. According to informed EU sources, these measures could include state support for industries, tax reductions, and leveraging the upcoming revision of the EU carbon emissions trading system to ease the supply of CO2 allowances.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":7,"name":"Climate","slug":"climate","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news and analysis on the climate crisis and its impact on Greece and internationally, including coverage of natural disasters, climate summits, scientific research and experts’ opinions on the way forward.","parent":0,"count":701,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":82984,"name":"Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou","slug":"energy-minister-stavros-papastavrou","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":82984,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":35,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":49139,"name":"Energy security","slug":"energy-security","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":49139,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":16,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran-300x178.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Greek-energy-minister-Iran-768x455.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434845,"date":"2026-03-16T13:33:39","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434845"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:32:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:32:34","slug":"greece-denies-any-involvement-in-strait-of-hormuz-conflict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-denies-any-involvement-in-strait-of-hormuz-conflict\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Rules Out Involvement in Strait of Hormuz Conflict"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"438\">The Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-supports-free-navigation-and-diplomacy-in-middle-east\/\">government<\/a> has ruled out any involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East.<\/p> <p data-start=\"440\" data-end=\"623\">Speaking during a regular briefing to political reporters, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said there is “no issue of Greece’s involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"840\">He clarified that Greece’s participation in regional security operations is limited to Operation “<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-from-cyprus-another-mission-to-protect-intl-shipping-forthcoming\/\">Aspides<\/a>,” which operates in the Red Sea and is aimed at protecting maritime security in that specific area.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1nys0gk\" data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"884\">Response to surveillance allegations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"1121\">Marinakis was also asked about renewed media reports concerning a s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/intellexa-founder-company-sells-surveillance-tech-only-to-govts\/\">urveillance case<\/a>. Commenting on statements by businessman Felix Dillian, he said the matter has already been examined at the highest level of the Greek judiciary.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1123\" data-end=\"1299\">According to the government spokesperson, the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court (Areios Pagos) concluded that no responsibility could be attributed to state officials.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1301\" data-end=\"1484\">He added that Dillian and four other individuals were referred to trial before a criminal court in Athens, where they were convicted at first instance. The case is now under appeal.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1683\">“It is not the role of the government or any of its officials to conduct a trial during press briefings or on television,” Marinakis said, stressing that the issue is being handled by the courts.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1o75vna\" data-start=\"1685\" data-end=\"1726\">Parliamentary debate on rule of law<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1728\" data-end=\"1982\">Responding to a question about a request by the opposition PASOK party for a parliamentary debate on the rule of law, Marinakis confirmed that the discussion will take place. The date will be set in the coming days in line with parliamentary rules.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1ynmoo\" data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2027\">Parliament approves energy agreements<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2029\" data-end=\"2246\">During the briefing, Marinakis also referred to the recent approval by Parliament of a bill ratifying four energy agreements between the Greek state and a consortium formed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/parliament-approves-energy-deals-with-chevron-helleniq-energy\/\">Chevron<\/a> and HelleniqEnergy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2557\">The agreements concern hydrocarbon exploration and potential exploitation in sea areas south of Crete and the Peloponnese. According to the government, the contracts will double the maritime areas available for exploration and increase the likelihood of discovering commercially viable energy resources.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2559\" data-end=\"2930\">Officials say the projects involve high-cost technological research funded by the companies, meaning they will not place a financial burden on the Greek state. The agreements are also expected to attract international interest in Greece’s energy sector and strengthen the country’s role as a regional energy hub, with the potential to become a natural gas producer.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2932\" data-end=\"3057\">If commercially viable deposits are discovered, the state’s share of profits is estimated to range between 38% and 41%.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"twxcii\" data-start=\"3059\" data-end=\"3106\">Law enforcement and anti-crime operations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3443\">Marinakis also highlighted the work of Greece’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, which has handled 958 cases since it began operating in October 2024. Authorities have brought charges against 3,094 individuals, while 2,159 arrests have been made and 598 suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3445\" data-end=\"3676\">Among the recent cases cited was the dismantling of a criminal group that allegedly ran illegal casinos in dozens of internet cafés in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Agrinio, with estimated profits reaching €16 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"3967\">Separately, Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue uncovered a large fuel smuggling network that generated at least €9 million in profits, leading to 14 arrests. Authorities said the scheme caused an estimated €2.7 million in lost customs duties for the state.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"oarl13\" data-start=\"3969\" data-end=\"4038\">Government initiatives in agriculture, education and employment<\/h3> <p data-start=\"4040\" data-end=\"4111\">The spokesperson also pointed to several ongoing government programs.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4113\" data-end=\"4490\">Under Greece’s Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan, investment projects are being evaluated for the modernization and construction of greenhouses, with total investment expected to approach €500 million. Additional financial tools, developed in cooperation with the Hellenic Development Bank, are expected to mobilize investments exceeding €350 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4492\" data-end=\"4801\">In education, the School Meals Program now operates in 159 municipalities, covering 1,986 schools and providing daily meals to 184,368 students. The initiative has recently expanded to six additional municipalities, including Orestiada, Soufli, Grevena, Paionia, Istiaia-Aidipsos and Aegina.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4803\" data-end=\"5214\">Meanwhile, two new labor programs are expected to create 2,250 jobs in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region. One scheme will fund 2,000 full-time positions for unemployed adults, with subsidies of €875 per month for 12 months, while another program will provide six months of work experience for 250 unemployed individuals in the livestock sector, with monthly compensation of €748.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5216\" data-end=\"5445\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Marinakis’ remarks came ahead of a public event later in the day, where Greece’s prime minister is scheduled to speak at a gathering organized by the Ministry of Development at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Government spokesperson says Greece is not involved in the Strait of Hormuz despite tensions in the Middle East, stressing the country’s participation is limited to a security mission in the Red Sea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":435118,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4839,357,65995],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"309\" data-end=\"438\">The Greek <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-supports-free-navigation-and-diplomacy-in-middle-east\/\">government<\/a> has ruled out any involvement in the Strait of Hormuz, despite escalating tensions in the Middle East.<\/p> <p data-start=\"440\" data-end=\"623\">Speaking during a regular briefing to political reporters, government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis said there is “no issue of Greece’s involvement in the Strait of Hormuz.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"625\" data-end=\"840\">He clarified that Greece’s participation in regional security operations is limited to Operation “<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-from-cyprus-another-mission-to-protect-intl-shipping-forthcoming\/\">Aspides<\/a>,” which operates in the Red Sea and is aimed at protecting maritime security in that specific area.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1nys0gk\" data-start=\"842\" data-end=\"884\">Response to surveillance allegations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"886\" data-end=\"1121\">Marinakis was also asked about renewed media reports concerning a s<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/intellexa-founder-company-sells-surveillance-tech-only-to-govts\/\">urveillance case<\/a>. Commenting on statements by businessman Felix Dillian, he said the matter has already been examined at the highest level of the Greek judiciary.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1123\" data-end=\"1299\">According to the government spokesperson, the Supreme Civil and Criminal Court (Areios Pagos) concluded that no responsibility could be attributed to state officials.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1301\" data-end=\"1484\">He added that Dillian and four other individuals were referred to trial before a criminal court in Athens, where they were convicted at first instance. The case is now under appeal.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1486\" data-end=\"1683\">“It is not the role of the government or any of its officials to conduct a trial during press briefings or on television,” Marinakis said, stressing that the issue is being handled by the courts.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1o75vna\" data-start=\"1685\" data-end=\"1726\">Parliamentary debate on rule of law<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1728\" data-end=\"1982\">Responding to a question about a request by the opposition PASOK party for a parliamentary debate on the rule of law, Marinakis confirmed that the discussion will take place. The date will be set in the coming days in line with parliamentary rules.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1ynmoo\" data-start=\"1984\" data-end=\"2027\">Parliament approves energy agreements<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2029\" data-end=\"2246\">During the briefing, Marinakis also referred to the recent approval by Parliament of a bill ratifying four energy agreements between the Greek state and a consortium formed by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/parliament-approves-energy-deals-with-chevron-helleniq-energy\/\">Chevron<\/a> and HelleniqEnergy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2248\" data-end=\"2557\">The agreements concern hydrocarbon exploration and potential exploitation in sea areas south of Crete and the Peloponnese. According to the government, the contracts will double the maritime areas available for exploration and increase the likelihood of discovering commercially viable energy resources.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2559\" data-end=\"2930\">Officials say the projects involve high-cost technological research funded by the companies, meaning they will not place a financial burden on the Greek state. The agreements are also expected to attract international interest in Greece’s energy sector and strengthen the country’s role as a regional energy hub, with the potential to become a natural gas producer.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2932\" data-end=\"3057\">If commercially viable deposits are discovered, the state’s share of profits is estimated to range between 38% and 41%.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"twxcii\" data-start=\"3059\" data-end=\"3106\">Law enforcement and anti-crime operations<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3108\" data-end=\"3443\">Marinakis also highlighted the work of Greece’s Directorate for Combating Organized Crime, which has handled 958 cases since it began operating in October 2024. Authorities have brought charges against 3,094 individuals, while 2,159 arrests have been made and 598 suspects have been placed in pre-trial detention.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3445\" data-end=\"3676\">Among the recent cases cited was the dismantling of a criminal group that allegedly ran illegal casinos in dozens of internet cafés in Athens, Thessaloniki, Patras and Agrinio, with estimated profits reaching €16 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3678\" data-end=\"3967\">Separately, Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue uncovered a large fuel smuggling network that generated at least €9 million in profits, leading to 14 arrests. Authorities said the scheme caused an estimated €2.7 million in lost customs duties for the state.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"oarl13\" data-start=\"3969\" data-end=\"4038\">Government initiatives in agriculture, education and employment<\/h3> <p data-start=\"4040\" data-end=\"4111\">The spokesperson also pointed to several ongoing government programs.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4113\" data-end=\"4490\">Under Greece’s Common Agricultural Policy strategic plan, investment projects are being evaluated for the modernization and construction of greenhouses, with total investment expected to approach €500 million. Additional financial tools, developed in cooperation with the Hellenic Development Bank, are expected to mobilize investments exceeding €350 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4492\" data-end=\"4801\">In education, the School Meals Program now operates in 159 municipalities, covering 1,986 schools and providing daily meals to 184,368 students. The initiative has recently expanded to six additional municipalities, including Orestiada, Soufli, Grevena, Paionia, Istiaia-Aidipsos and Aegina.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4803\" data-end=\"5214\">Meanwhile, two new labor programs are expected to create 2,250 jobs in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace region. One scheme will fund 2,000 full-time positions for unemployed adults, with subsidies of €875 per month for 12 months, while another program will provide six months of work experience for 250 unemployed individuals in the livestock sector, with monthly compensation of €748.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5216\" data-end=\"5445\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Marinakis’ remarks came ahead of a public event later in the day, where Greece’s prime minister is scheduled to speak at a gathering organized by the Ministry of Development at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":4839,"name":"Greek Government","slug":"greek-government","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4839,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":37,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":65995,"name":"Strait of Hormuz","slug":"strait-of-hormuz","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":65995,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/AP26070401830350-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434749,"date":"2026-03-16T13:00:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434749"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:52:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:52:04","slug":"greece-supports-free-navigation-and-diplomacy-in-middle-east","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-supports-free-navigation-and-diplomacy-in-middle-east\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Supports Free Navigation and Diplomacy in Middle East"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"327\" data-end=\"678\">Greece has reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and diplomatic solutions in the Middle East, amid rising regional tensions. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greek-fm-in-brussels-for-eu-talks-india-meeting\/\">Speaking at<\/a> the Foreign Affairs Council, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized the country’s support for international law, civilian protection, and peaceful conflict resolution.<\/p> <p data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"1044\">Addressing the strategic importance of maritime routes, Gerapetritis stressed that Greece advocates for the unrestricted passage of all ships in the region and called on Iran to respect international maritime law. He highlighted that the European-led operation “<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-from-cyprus-another-mission-to-protect-intl-shipping-forthcoming\/\">Aspides<\/a>” is already active, involving two EU member states, to support these objectives.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1248\">Gerapetritis also underscored <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/dendias-abandoning-cyprus-would-be-unforgivable\/\">Greece’s solidarity<\/a> with affected countries in the Gulf region and reaffirmed support for Cyprus, noting that Greece does not intend to engage in direct conflict.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1487\">Highlighting the economic and strategic stakes, the minister noted that free navigation is crucial not only for oil prices but also for global supply chains, reinforcing the Mediterranean’s role as a key economic and security zone.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1489\" data-end=\"1769\">Finally, he raised the issue of a recent attack<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/greek-owned-tanker-attacked-in-the-black-sea\/\"> on a Greek vessel<\/a> in the Black Sea, calling for full condemnation and accountability, and urged European partners to assume a leadership role in addressing geopolitical, economic, and environmental risks in the region.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greek Foreign Minister stresses adherence to international law, civilian protection, and diplomatic conflict resolution amid escalating Middle East tensions, while highlighting the importance of maritime freedom for global trade<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434752,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1104,39899,357],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"327\" data-end=\"678\">Greece has reaffirmed its commitment to freedom of navigation and diplomatic solutions in the Middle East, amid rising regional tensions. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greek-fm-in-brussels-for-eu-talks-india-meeting\/\">Speaking at<\/a> the Foreign Affairs Council, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis emphasized the country’s support for international law, civilian protection, and peaceful conflict resolution.<\/p> <p data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"1044\">Addressing the strategic importance of maritime routes, Gerapetritis stressed that Greece advocates for the unrestricted passage of all ships in the region and called on Iran to respect international maritime law. He highlighted that the European-led operation “<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-from-cyprus-another-mission-to-protect-intl-shipping-forthcoming\/\">Aspides<\/a>” is already active, involving two EU member states, to support these objectives.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1248\">Gerapetritis also underscored <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/dendias-abandoning-cyprus-would-be-unforgivable\/\">Greece’s solidarity<\/a> with affected countries in the Gulf region and reaffirmed support for Cyprus, noting that Greece does not intend to engage in direct conflict.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1487\">Highlighting the economic and strategic stakes, the minister noted that free navigation is crucial not only for oil prices but also for global supply chains, reinforcing the Mediterranean’s role as a key economic and security zone.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1489\" data-end=\"1769\">Finally, he raised the issue of a recent attack<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/greek-owned-tanker-attacked-in-the-black-sea\/\"> on a Greek vessel<\/a> in the Black Sea, calling for full condemnation and accountability, and urged European partners to assume a leadership role in addressing geopolitical, economic, and environmental risks in the region.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1104,"name":"Cyprus","slug":"cyprus","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1104,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":155,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":39899,"name":"Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis","slug":"foreign-minister-george-gerapetritis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39899,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":53,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/gerapetritis-6-1024x695-1-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/gerapetritis-6-1024x695-1.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/gerapetritis-6-1024x695-1-300x204.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/gerapetritis-6-1024x695-1-768x521.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"roi_eidhseon","header":"Τελευταία Νέα","posts":[{"id":434689,"date":"2026-03-16T17:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434689"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:06:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:06:19","slug":"nationwide-24-hour-strike-by-greek-public-hospital-doctors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/nationwide-24-hour-strike-by-greek-public-hospital-doctors\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationwide 24-Hour Strike by Greek Public Hospital Doctors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"275\" data-end=\"476\">Doctors across Greece’s public healthcare system are set to stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 18, following a decision by the Federation of Greek Hospital Doctors (OENGE).<\/p> <p data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"678\">The strike aims to highlight ongoing concerns over the medical wage system and chronic understaffing in hospitals, issues that hospital unions say affect patient care and working conditions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"879\">As part of the action, a protest rally is scheduled in Athens at 12:00 p.m. outside the Ministry of Health, drawing attention to the need for urgent reforms in the public healthcare sector.<\/p> <p data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"1041\">OENGE has confirmed that local hospital unions are currently organizing meetings and various preparatory activities to ensure a coordinated nationwide strike.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greek public hospital doctors will hold a full-day strike on March 18 to protest low wages and staff shortages, with a planned rally outside the Health Ministry in Athens at noon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[5475,19279,12273],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"275\" data-end=\"476\">Doctors across Greece’s public healthcare system are set to stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 18, following a decision by the Federation of Greek Hospital Doctors (OENGE).<\/p> <p data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"678\">The strike aims to highlight ongoing concerns over the medical wage system and chronic understaffing in hospitals, issues that hospital unions say affect patient care and working conditions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"879\">As part of the action, a protest rally is scheduled in Athens at 12:00 p.m. outside the Ministry of Health, drawing attention to the need for urgent reforms in the public healthcare sector.<\/p> <p data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"1041\">OENGE has confirmed that local hospital unions are currently organizing meetings and various preparatory activities to ensure a coordinated nationwide strike.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":5475,"name":"ESY","slug":"esy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5475,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":19279,"name":"Greece public health system","slug":"greece-public-health-system","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":19279,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":17,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":12273,"name":"Greece strike","slug":"greece-strike","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":12273,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":100,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434641,"date":"2026-03-16T16:30:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434641"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:53:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:53:20","slug":"27-year-old-mother-dies-in-car-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/27-year-old-mother-dies-in-car-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"27-Year-Old Mother Dies in Car Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"469\">A tragic traffic accident claimed the life of a 27-year-old mother of three yesterday afternoon near Lamia, central Greece. The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. on a service road approaching the city’s main roundabout.<\/p> <p data-start=\"471\" data-end=\"738\">According to local police, the woman’s vehicle collided head-on with a car driven by a 75-year-old man, accompanied by his 45-year-old son, who was en route to work in Anthili. The collision caused severe damage, leaving the young mother trapped in her car.<\/p> <p data-start=\"740\" data-end=\"934\">Firefighters arriving at the scene freed her from the wreckage, and she was transported by ambulance to Lamia Hospital. Despite efforts by medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries.<\/p> <p data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"1172\">The driver of the other vehicle was found injured in nearby fields, where his car had veered off the road. His son also sustained a head injury but was reported to be in stable condition. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A head-on collision near Lamia leaves a young mother of three dead and two others injured, as authorities investigate the circumstances of the tragic accident<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[43045],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"469\">A tragic traffic accident claimed the life of a 27-year-old mother of three yesterday afternoon near Lamia, central Greece. The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. on a service road approaching the city’s main roundabout.<\/p> <p data-start=\"471\" data-end=\"738\">According to local police, the woman’s vehicle collided head-on with a car driven by a 75-year-old man, accompanied by his 45-year-old son, who was en route to work in Anthili. The collision caused severe damage, leaving the young mother trapped in her car.<\/p> <p data-start=\"740\" data-end=\"934\">Firefighters arriving at the scene freed her from the wreckage, and she was transported by ambulance to Lamia Hospital. Despite efforts by medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries.<\/p> <p data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"1172\">The driver of the other vehicle was found injured in nearby fields, where his car had veered off the road. His son also sustained a head injury but was reported to be in stable condition. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":43045,"name":"road accidents Greece","slug":"road-accidents-greece","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":43045,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":46,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":435046,"date":"2026-03-16T16:15:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:15:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=435046"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:32:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:32:58","slug":"klelia-andriolatou-shines-at-elton-johns-oscar-party-in-los-angeles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/celebrities\/klelia-andriolatou-shines-at-elton-johns-oscar-party-in-los-angeles\/","title":{"rendered":"Klelia Andriolatou Shines at Elton John’s Oscar Party in Los Angeles"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Greek actress and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/back-on-set-maestro-in-blue-returns-with-new-episodes\/\"><em>Maestro in Blue<\/em> <\/a>star Klelia Andriolatou is continuing her journey in Los Angeles, sharing glimpses of the beautiful moments she’s experiencing there with friends and collaborators. Among the highlights of her trip was her appearance at the glamorous Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party, where she delivered one of her most striking red-carpet looks to date.<\/p> <p>For the dazzling evening, Andriolatou chose a strapless black maxi gown by Dolce & Gabbana, a sleek silhouette that elegantly accentuated her figure. Equally captivating were her hair and makeup choices, which perfectly complemented the timeless sophistication of the dress.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_435076\" style=\"width: 1211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-435076\" class=\"size-full wp-image-435076\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1.jpg\" alt=\"Andriolatou Oscar Party\" width=\"1201\" height=\"1602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-435076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">IG @klelia_andriolatou<\/p><\/div> <p>Through a post and a series of Instagram Stories on her personal account, the actress offered followers a behind-the-scenes look at her preparation for the event. Her hairstyle—already becoming something of a signature—was created by hairstylist George Fragkioudakis.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>He styled her hair sleek and straight, parted neatly down the middle, and tucked it behind her ears, allowing her makeup to take center stage.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_435082\" style=\"width: 1211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-435082\" class=\"size-full wp-image-435082\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2.jpg\" alt=\"Andriolatou Oscar Party\" width=\"1201\" height=\"1602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-435082\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">IG @klelia_andriolatou<\/p><\/div> <p>Her makeup look was crafted by makeup artist Christopher Miles, who gave her striking cat-eye liner that beautifully framed her eyes. A delicate line of black eyeliner traced the upper lash line, while the rest of the makeup remained understated and refined. Her lips were finished with a nude satin lipstick, completing a look that was effortlessly elegant.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Greek actress appeared at the glamorous Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party, where she delivered one of her most striking red-carpet looks to date.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":435070,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[1107,82405,3594],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Greek actress and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/back-on-set-maestro-in-blue-returns-with-new-episodes\/\"><em>Maestro in Blue<\/em> <\/a>star Klelia Andriolatou is continuing her journey in Los Angeles, sharing glimpses of the beautiful moments she’s experiencing there with friends and collaborators. Among the highlights of her trip was her appearance at the glamorous Elton John AIDS Foundation Oscar Party, where she delivered one of her most striking red-carpet looks to date.<\/p> <p>For the dazzling evening, Andriolatou chose a strapless black maxi gown by Dolce &amp; Gabbana, a sleek silhouette that elegantly accentuated her figure. Equally captivating were her hair and makeup choices, which perfectly complemented the timeless sophistication of the dress.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_435076\" style=\"width: 1211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-435076\" class=\"size-full wp-image-435076\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1.jpg\" alt=\"Andriolatou Oscar Party\" width=\"1201\" height=\"1602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-435076\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">IG @klelia_andriolatou<\/p><\/div> <p>Through a post and a series of Instagram Stories on her personal account, the actress offered followers a behind-the-scenes look at her preparation for the event. Her hairstyle—already becoming something of a signature—was created by hairstylist George Fragkioudakis.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>He styled her hair sleek and straight, parted neatly down the middle, and tucked it behind her ears, allowing her makeup to take center stage.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_435082\" style=\"width: 1211px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-435082\" class=\"size-full wp-image-435082\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2.jpg\" alt=\"Andriolatou Oscar Party\" width=\"1201\" height=\"1602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-2-1152x1536.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1201px) 100vw, 1201px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-435082\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">IG @klelia_andriolatou<\/p><\/div> <p>Her makeup look was crafted by makeup artist Christopher Miles, who gave her striking cat-eye liner that beautifully framed her eyes. A delicate line of black eyeliner traced the upper lash line, while the rest of the makeup remained understated and refined. Her lips were finished with a nude satin lipstick, completing a look that was effortlessly elegant.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":10,"name":"Celebrities","slug":"celebrities","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":10,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news about actors, singers, musicians and celebrities from the Greek and international show business","parent":0,"count":237,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1107,"name":"events","slug":"events","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1107,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":82405,"name":"Klelia Andriolatou","slug":"klelia-andriolatou","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":82405,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":3594,"name":"Oscars","slug":"oscars","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3594,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-300x169.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Andriolatou-Oscar-Party-768x432.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":435136,"date":"2026-03-16T16:06:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=435136"},"modified":"2026-03-16T16:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:06:20","slug":"un-report-labels-israeli-airstrike-on-iran-prison-a-war-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/un-report-labels-israeli-airstrike-on-iran-prison-a-war-crime\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Report Labels Israeli Airstrike on Iran Prison a War Crime"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"552\">A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded that an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison last year constitutes a war crime, the head of the investigation told the Human Rights Council on Monday.<\/p> <p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"945\">Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said the airstrike, which killed more than 70 people—including women and a child—was deliberately directed at a civilian object. The report, based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and other documentation, also details the broader risks to prisoners amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Iran.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1s32hc1\" data-start=\"947\" data-end=\"990\">Growing Concerns Over Detainee Safety<\/h3> <p data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1258\">The strikes have caused damage to Evin Prison, which holds political prisoners, including a British couple. Hossain warned that continued bombardment could lead to harsher domestic repression in Iran, citing an increase in executions following last year’s attacks.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1470\">“The core lesson drawn from our investigations is clear: external military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” Hossain said.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1679\">U.N.-appointed rights expert Mai Sato also highlighted deteriorating conditions for detainees. Families have struggled to contact relatives, and shortages of food and medicine are worsening inside prisons.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5o23wj\" data-start=\"1681\" data-end=\"1717\">Israel Disengages From Council<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1928\">Israel was absent from the Human Rights Council debate and left its seat empty. Officials from the prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"2142\">Iran’s ambassador, Ali Bahreini, called for condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in the country, and emphasized the humanitarian risks to detainees.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UN investigation finds Israel intentionally targeted Evin Prison, killing civilians, and warns current U.S.-Israeli strikes could increase repression and put detainees at risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":435139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[18810,1134,23271],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"552\">A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded that an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison last year constitutes a war crime, the head of the investigation told the Human Rights Council on Monday.<\/p> <p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"945\">Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said the airstrike, which killed more than 70 people—including women and a child—was deliberately directed at a civilian object. The report, based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and other documentation, also details the broader risks to prisoners amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Iran.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1s32hc1\" data-start=\"947\" data-end=\"990\">Growing Concerns Over Detainee Safety<\/h3> <p data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1258\">The strikes have caused damage to Evin Prison, which holds political prisoners, including a British couple. Hossain warned that continued bombardment could lead to harsher domestic repression in Iran, citing an increase in executions following last year’s attacks.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1470\">“The core lesson drawn from our investigations is clear: external military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” Hossain said.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1679\">U.N.-appointed rights expert Mai Sato also highlighted deteriorating conditions for detainees. Families have struggled to contact relatives, and shortages of food and medicine are worsening inside prisons.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5o23wj\" data-start=\"1681\" data-end=\"1717\">Israel Disengages From Council<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1928\">Israel was absent from the Human Rights Council debate and left its seat empty. Officials from the prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"2142\">Iran’s ambassador, Ali Bahreini, called for condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in the country, and emphasized the humanitarian risks to detainees.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":18810,"name":"Iran Israel Conflict","slug":"iran-israel-conflict","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18810,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":182,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1134,"name":"UN","slug":"un","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1134,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":23271,"name":"war crimes","slug":"war-crimes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":23271,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-300x201.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-768x515.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434620,"date":"2026-03-16T16:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434620"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:37:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:37:23","slug":"a-new-reality-in-the-eastern-mediterranean","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/a-new-reality-in-the-eastern-mediterranean\/","title":{"rendered":"A New Reality in the Eastern Mediterranean"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"854\">Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/cyprus-president-comments-on-turkish-f-16-deployment\/\">“Turkey factor.”<\/a><\/p> <p data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"1272\">Perhaps the attackers’ objectives, especially the Americans’, were ambitious from the start and are now proving difficult to achieve—at least in their entirety. Today, no one knows the exact size of Iran’s missile arsenal or how far Tehran is willing to resist. Moreover, establishing effective communication channels between the theocratic regime and the West seems, at this point, like a midsummer night’s dream.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1274\" data-end=\"1775\">Yet, despite these disappointing facts, in Athens—as in most European capitals—they are working on the basis of the most optimistic scenario: the war between the U.S.–Israel and Iran, already lasting 15 days and involving nearly all Gulf states, will end at most within the next 3–4 weeks. However, it leaves behind a new reality, the effects of which will not be confined to the Middle East. Its impact is already influencing geopolitical balances worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"2255\">“The most likely scenario is that we will see a gradual de-escalation within a relatively short period,” a senior diplomatic source told <em data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"1923\">To Vima<\/em>, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments, without ruling out the possibility that events could become extremely adverse: a prolonged, low-intensity war with destructive consequences, primarily in energy and economic sectors, and with the risk of a new migration wave toward European shores.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2286\"><strong data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2284\">Risks and Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2800\">The economic cost, after all, is Tehran’s leverage against its adversaries. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for already pressured affluent societies to absorb the impact. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-faces-pressure-over-fuel-and-food-prices\/\">Athens<\/a>, the focus is not only on managing possible consequences. War is full of risks—especially when the line of fire touches the national security system. It requires adjustments but also presents opportunities, particularly for those who take a clear stance and demonstrate a willingness to participate on the ground.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"3483\">At the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the primary gain is seen as projecting the flag and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially beyond Greece’s narrow borders. This, they believe, was achieved through the immediate deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus, as well as the deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/patriot-air-defense-system-arrives-on-karpathos\/\">Patriot systems<\/a> in Karpathos and along the Greek-Bulgarian border. The key objective is protection from potential missile threats, obviously originating from Iranian territory or its proxies. As a senior government official notes, Athens’ move “establishes the country as a power capable of guaranteeing stability in the wider region.”<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3485\" data-end=\"3893\">Moreover, the presence of Greek forces on the island has opened the way for other Europeans to follow on the ground—particularly France—and has strengthened Cyprus’ full inclusion in the Western security system. “Something that until a few years ago could not be taken for granted, even though it is European territory,” notes a minister with deep knowledge of the political system in Nicosia to <em data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3890\">To Vima<\/em>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3895\" data-end=\"4493\">Combined with the rapid strengthening of relations with Israel and the United States, and the fact that President Nikos Christodoulides operates within a purely NATO-oriented framework, it is clear that Cyprus is gradually transforming from a weak link in broader Greek defense and a neutral player, with its gaze both West and East, into an allied factor in the Eastern Mediterranean. Based on this logic, Greece is expanding its diplomatic and defense reach across the Cyprus–Dodecanese–Crete axis, a region of intense geopolitical interest, with Turkey’s revisionist presence distinctly noted.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4522\"><strong data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4520\">Strategy and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"4524\" data-end=\"4986\">In recent years, as Europe has been dragged into a violent paradigm shift where defense has become a top priority both nationally and collectively, Athens now emerges as a power with a demonstrated willingness to participate even beyond its immediate interests. According to the rationale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, this strategy, combined with adherence to allied obligations, is certain to yield tangible benefits, and in the near future.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4988\" data-end=\"5380\">“The country’s consistency toward Israel and the United States is recognized,” diplomats note, who are in continuous contact with George <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-moves-to-protect-citizens-in-iran-and-the-middle-east\/\">Gerapetritis<\/a>, while ruling party officials believe that the current war crisis strengthens strategic relations with Washington and Tel Aviv. They add that Greece’s participation in the Gaza stabilization force will contribute further to this direction.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5382\" data-end=\"5815\">At the same time, with European military assistance to Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a field of early and partial development of the EU’s ambitious defense autonomy project, with Athens seeking triple benefits: first, by accelerating strategic integration, it brings forces to the region that otherwise might have remained indifferent (e.g., the UK, the Netherlands), creating a positive precedent for future crises.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"6401\">Second, it further strengthens military cooperation with France—a nuclear power with longstanding interests in Southeast Europe—while Athens and Paris finalize the details before renewing the defense agreement and extending the mutual assistance clause in case of an external attack. Third, it sends the message to the U.S. and NATO that Greece is willing to participate in smaller, more flexible arrangements that will play a significant role in Western defense in the coming years. The common denominator of all these efforts is strengthening Greece’s imprint in the wider region.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6415\"><strong data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6413\">Turkey<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"6417\" data-end=\"6907\">Although Athens insists that its foreign policy during the war does not have an “anti-Turkish dimension,” no one can ignore that its choices affect both relations and the balance of power with Ankara. The Greek government considers Ankara’s reaction—sending six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to Cyprus—as largely cosmetic, while it remains cautious about how the stance of this “cunning neutral” could affect Greece’s position at the critical crossroads between East and West.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6909\" data-end=\"7357\">The common assessment of the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Turkey is currently facing a series of issues beyond the narrow Aegean framework. As demonstrated, Turkish air defense is porous, while the scenario of Iranian Kurds getting involved in the war—with U.S. approval—evokes in Ankara the nightmare of a possible unification of their co-ethnics in Iraq and Turkey, aiming ultimately for the long-sought autonomy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"7359\" data-end=\"7730\">At the same time, Turkey’s economy has little room for further increases in energy prices, which would inevitably drive inflation higher. And as for the duration of the war? That will determine whether Turkey faces yet another massive influx of populations onto its territory. Pending these challenges, Greek-Turkish relations currently appear as a footnote in history.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the “Turkey factor.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434626,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1104,213,90,56459],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"612\" data-end=\"854\">Senior diplomatic sources at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs share their assessments for the “day after”—the scenarios for the duration of the conflict and the balance of power post-war, the alliances on the ground, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/cyprus-president-comments-on-turkish-f-16-deployment\/\">“Turkey factor.”<\/a><\/p> <p data-start=\"856\" data-end=\"1272\">Perhaps the attackers’ objectives, especially the Americans’, were ambitious from the start and are now proving difficult to achieve—at least in their entirety. Today, no one knows the exact size of Iran’s missile arsenal or how far Tehran is willing to resist. Moreover, establishing effective communication channels between the theocratic regime and the West seems, at this point, like a midsummer night’s dream.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1274\" data-end=\"1775\">Yet, despite these disappointing facts, in Athens—as in most European capitals—they are working on the basis of the most optimistic scenario: the war between the U.S.–Israel and Iran, already lasting 15 days and involving nearly all Gulf states, will end at most within the next 3–4 weeks. However, it leaves behind a new reality, the effects of which will not be confined to the Middle East. Its impact is already influencing geopolitical balances worldwide, including in the Eastern Mediterranean.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1777\" data-end=\"2255\">“The most likely scenario is that we will see a gradual de-escalation within a relatively short period,” a senior diplomatic source told <em data-start=\"1914\" data-end=\"1923\">To Vima<\/em>, adding that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely monitoring developments, without ruling out the possibility that events could become extremely adverse: a prolonged, low-intensity war with destructive consequences, primarily in energy and economic sectors, and with the risk of a new migration wave toward European shores.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2286\"><strong data-start=\"2257\" data-end=\"2284\">Risks and Opportunities<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"2288\" data-end=\"2800\">The economic cost, after all, is Tehran’s leverage against its adversaries. The longer the war lasts, the harder it will be for already pressured affluent societies to absorb the impact. In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-faces-pressure-over-fuel-and-food-prices\/\">Athens<\/a>, the focus is not only on managing possible consequences. War is full of risks—especially when the line of fire touches the national security system. It requires adjustments but also presents opportunities, particularly for those who take a clear stance and demonstrate a willingness to participate on the ground.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2802\" data-end=\"3483\">At the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the primary gain is seen as projecting the flag and influence in the Eastern Mediterranean, especially beyond Greece’s narrow borders. This, they believe, was achieved through the immediate deployment of two frigates and four F-16 fighter jets to Cyprus, as well as the deployment of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/patriot-air-defense-system-arrives-on-karpathos\/\">Patriot systems<\/a> in Karpathos and along the Greek-Bulgarian border. The key objective is protection from potential missile threats, obviously originating from Iranian territory or its proxies. As a senior government official notes, Athens’ move “establishes the country as a power capable of guaranteeing stability in the wider region.”<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3485\" data-end=\"3893\">Moreover, the presence of Greek forces on the island has opened the way for other Europeans to follow on the ground—particularly France—and has strengthened Cyprus’ full inclusion in the Western security system. “Something that until a few years ago could not be taken for granted, even though it is European territory,” notes a minister with deep knowledge of the political system in Nicosia to <em data-start=\"3881\" data-end=\"3890\">To Vima<\/em>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3895\" data-end=\"4493\">Combined with the rapid strengthening of relations with Israel and the United States, and the fact that President Nikos Christodoulides operates within a purely NATO-oriented framework, it is clear that Cyprus is gradually transforming from a weak link in broader Greek defense and a neutral player, with its gaze both West and East, into an allied factor in the Eastern Mediterranean. Based on this logic, Greece is expanding its diplomatic and defense reach across the Cyprus–Dodecanese–Crete axis, a region of intense geopolitical interest, with Turkey’s revisionist presence distinctly noted.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4522\"><strong data-start=\"4495\" data-end=\"4520\">Strategy and Benefits<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"4524\" data-end=\"4986\">In recent years, as Europe has been dragged into a violent paradigm shift where defense has become a top priority both nationally and collectively, Athens now emerges as a power with a demonstrated willingness to participate even beyond its immediate interests. According to the rationale of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs leadership, this strategy, combined with adherence to allied obligations, is certain to yield tangible benefits, and in the near future.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4988\" data-end=\"5380\">“The country’s consistency toward Israel and the United States is recognized,” diplomats note, who are in continuous contact with George <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/greece-moves-to-protect-citizens-in-iran-and-the-middle-east\/\">Gerapetritis<\/a>, while ruling party officials believe that the current war crisis strengthens strategic relations with Washington and Tel Aviv. They add that Greece’s participation in the Gaza stabilization force will contribute further to this direction.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5382\" data-end=\"5815\">At the same time, with European military assistance to Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean emerges as a field of early and partial development of the EU’s ambitious defense autonomy project, with Athens seeking triple benefits: first, by accelerating strategic integration, it brings forces to the region that otherwise might have remained indifferent (e.g., the UK, the Netherlands), creating a positive precedent for future crises.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5817\" data-end=\"6401\">Second, it further strengthens military cooperation with France—a nuclear power with longstanding interests in Southeast Europe—while Athens and Paris finalize the details before renewing the defense agreement and extending the mutual assistance clause in case of an external attack. Third, it sends the message to the U.S. and NATO that Greece is willing to participate in smaller, more flexible arrangements that will play a significant role in Western defense in the coming years. The common denominator of all these efforts is strengthening Greece’s imprint in the wider region.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6415\"><strong data-start=\"6403\" data-end=\"6413\">Turkey<\/strong><\/h3> <p data-start=\"6417\" data-end=\"6907\">Although Athens insists that its foreign policy during the war does not have an “anti-Turkish dimension,” no one can ignore that its choices affect both relations and the balance of power with Ankara. The Greek government considers Ankara’s reaction—sending six F-16 fighter jets and air defense systems to Cyprus—as largely cosmetic, while it remains cautious about how the stance of this “cunning neutral” could affect Greece’s position at the critical crossroads between East and West.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6909\" data-end=\"7357\">The common assessment of the Maximos Mansion and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is that Turkey is currently facing a series of issues beyond the narrow Aegean framework. As demonstrated, Turkish air defense is porous, while the scenario of Iranian Kurds getting involved in the war—with U.S. approval—evokes in Ankara the nightmare of a possible unification of their co-ethnics in Iraq and Turkey, aiming ultimately for the long-sought autonomy.<\/p> <p data-start=\"7359\" data-end=\"7730\">At the same time, Turkey’s economy has little room for further increases in energy prices, which would inevitably drive inflation higher. And as for the duration of the war? That will determine whether Turkey faces yet another massive influx of populations onto its territory. Pending these challenges, Greek-Turkish relations currently appear as a footnote in history.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":2,"name":"Politics","slug":"politics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news and analysis on Greek politics, including the latest coverage of the Greek Parliament, government, opposition parties and more.","parent":0,"count":3216,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1104,"name":"Cyprus","slug":"cyprus","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1104,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":155,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":213,"name":"French President Emmanuel Macron","slug":"french-president-emmanuel-macron","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":213,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":52,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":90,"name":"Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis","slug":"greek-prime-minister-mitsotakis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":90,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":519,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":56459,"name":"Nikos Christodoulides","slug":"nikos-christodoulides","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":56459,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":30,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/macron_cyprus-1024x683-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":435019,"date":"2026-03-16T15:45:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=435019"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:17:30","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:17:30","slug":"weather-in-greece-to-deteriorate-rain-snow-expected","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/climate\/weather-in-greece-to-deteriorate-rain-snow-expected\/","title":{"rendered":"Weather in Greece to Deteriorate: Rain, Snow Expected"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The relatively mild weather in Greece is forecast to take a turn for the worse, starting on Tuesday, March 17, according to meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas.<\/p> <p>More specifically, two bad weather patterns are forecast to impact the country tomorrow and are expected to peak on Thursday and Friday. One system is advancing eastward from Sicily, and the other is moving northward from the Gulf of Sirte in Libya.<\/p> <p>The two fronts are forecast to bring significant rainfall and snowfall to parts of Greece in the coming days, according to Theodoros Kolydas.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"800\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid02ApAvY4FAAf1CVLsZ52SyqqzMge8X2WhWyVJ9qbR6Z2NR3MAabEQwHQvH2UWAfbnbl%26id%3D760859466&show_text=true&width=500\" width=\"500\"><\/iframe><\/p> <p>Rain on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18 will be mostly localized, but conditions are expected to deteriorate from Thursday, March 19 onward, with precipitation becoming more widespread and affecting the Aegean islands and Crete.<\/p> <p>Snow is considered almost certain in mountainous areas, where accumulations could be substantial in places. There is also a small but real possibility of snow temporarily reaching semi-mountainous areas of central and northern Greece overnight Thursday into Friday — a forecast that meteorologists say will become clearer in the coming days.<\/p> <p>Winds over the Aegean are expected to strengthen significantly, reaching storm force 8 on the Beaufort scale and intensifying the sensation of cold.<\/p> <p>Current data also suggest that the unsettled pattern may persist beyond March 24, with further rainfall forecast across many parts of the country.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The relatively mild weather in Greece is forecast to take a turn for the worse, starting on Tuesday, March 17, according to meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas. More specifically, two bad weather patterns are forecast to impact the country tomorrow and are expected to peak on Thursday and Friday. One system is advancing eastward from Sicily, and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":435031,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[41383],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>The relatively mild weather in Greece is forecast to take a turn for the worse, starting on Tuesday, March 17, according to meteorologist Theodoros Kolydas.<\/p> <p>More specifically, two bad weather patterns are forecast to impact the country tomorrow and are expected to peak on Thursday and Friday. One system is advancing eastward from Sicily, and the other is moving northward from the Gulf of Sirte in Libya.<\/p> <p>The two fronts are forecast to bring significant rainfall and snowfall to parts of Greece in the coming days, according to Theodoros Kolydas.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" style=\"border: none; overflow: hidden;\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"800\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plugins\/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3Dpfbid02ApAvY4FAAf1CVLsZ52SyqqzMge8X2WhWyVJ9qbR6Z2NR3MAabEQwHQvH2UWAfbnbl%26id%3D760859466&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500\" width=\"500\"><\/iframe><\/p> <p>Rain on Tuesday, March 17, and Wednesday, March 18 will be mostly localized, but conditions are expected to deteriorate from Thursday, March 19 onward, with precipitation becoming more widespread and affecting the Aegean islands and Crete.<\/p> <p>Snow is considered almost certain in mountainous areas, where accumulations could be substantial in places. There is also a small but real possibility of snow temporarily reaching semi-mountainous areas of central and northern Greece overnight Thursday into Friday — a forecast that meteorologists say will become clearer in the coming days.<\/p> <p>Winds over the Aegean are expected to strengthen significantly, reaching storm force 8 on the Beaufort scale and intensifying the sensation of cold.<\/p> <p>Current data also suggest that the unsettled pattern may persist beyond March 24, with further rainfall forecast across many parts of the country.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":7,"name":"Climate","slug":"climate","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":7,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news and analysis on the climate crisis and its impact on Greece and internationally, including coverage of natural disasters, climate summits, scientific research and experts’ opinions on the way forward.","parent":0,"count":701,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":41383,"name":"bad weather","slug":"bad-weather","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":41383,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/weather-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/weather.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/weather-300x179.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/weather-768x458.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"finance","header":"Ανάπτυξη","ID":"2","posts":[{"id":434908,"date":"2026-03-16T15:25:28","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:28","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434908"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:25:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:28","slug":"evangelos-marinakis-protect-our-ships-and-sailors-and-we-will-help-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz-for-all-our-benefit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/evangelos-marinakis-protect-our-ships-and-sailors-and-we-will-help-reopen-the-strait-of-hormuz-for-all-our-benefit\/","title":{"rendered":"Evangelos Marinakis: ‘Protect Our Ships and Sailors and We Will Help Reopen the Strait of Hormuz for all Our Benefit’"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis, Chairman of Capital Maritime & Trading Corp, calls for an immediate international action in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that restoring the free flow of energy from the Gulf is a matter of global security and economic stability. In his landmark article published in the <em data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"178\">Daily Telegraph<\/em>, he highlights that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed for the first time, cutting off the transport of a fifth of the world’s crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a third of fertilisers.<\/p> <p>Mr. Marinakis proposes the creation of a common strategy to restore energy flow from the Gulf to global markets. The alliance, as he explains, will be based on three commitments: coordination of shipowners to redeploy fleets, mobilization of the Gulf States to immediately utilize their export infrastructure, and active US contribution through naval presence and diplomatic support.<\/p> <p><span dir=\"auto\">At the same time, he calls on all stakeholders – shipping companies, Gulf energy ministers and policymakers in Washington – to take immediate action. “The time for action is now,” says Evangelos Marinakis.<\/span><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>The Article Reads as such: <\/strong><\/p> <p>For the first time in history, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. One fifth of the world&#8217;s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a third of its fertiliser supply- all of it stopped.<\/p> <p>Energy prices are climbing. Inflation is returning. The world is being reminded, brutally, of what happens when the arteries of global trade are severed by hostile actors willing to use energy as a weapon.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Apart from the effect on the global economy, there is something even more important: the lives of our seafarers.<\/p> <p>The situation in the region has become extremely dangerous. Ships are being attacked with missiles, and the lives of crew members are at risk daily. An activity that is meant to ensure economic growth and the prosperity of nations has turned into a target for those who do not hesitate to kill innocent people.<\/p> <p>The shipping industry has navigated crises before- the Red Sea, Suez, pandemic-era gridlock. Each time we adapted.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Each time the world moved on and assumed the next crisis would be solved the same way. That assumption has now collapsed. Improvisation is not a strategy.<\/p> <p>What this moment demands is a formal alliance between the world&#8217;s major shipowners, the Gulf energy-producing nations and the US with a single immediate purpose- to restore the flow of energy from the Gulf to global markets by ensuring the safe passage of our vessels and to guarantee that the world cannot be held hostage again.<\/p> <p>Such an alliance would rest on three immediate commitments.<\/p> <p>Major tanker and LNG carrier owners must now co-ordinate on rerouting capacity and pooling fleet intelligence, moving the maximum possible volume through alternative corridors.<\/p> <p>Gulf States must bring their export infrastructure to the table without delay. And the US- whose strategic commitment to energy market stability and free navigation of international water remains critical- would be well placed to reinforce the effort through its naval presence and diplomatic engagement, serving as the operational backbone of any joint framework and ensuring first and foremost the safety of our seafarers,<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>It is my understanding that Washington recognizes the importance of co-ordinated action to safeguard global energy flows.<\/p> <p>Efforts to strengthen the reliability of energy supplies from America and its partners, including the continued supply of US and allied LNG to global markets, and for the containment of destabilising state actors. These are not abstract policy goals. For Europe, in particular, these priorities also point to a strategic reality: the continent will continue to rely on imported energy, but it cannot indefinitely sustain that dependence on supply relationships that have repeatedly proven politically unstable.<\/p> <p>Taken together, these priorities form a strong strategic basis for co-operation of this kind. The private maritime sector is the natural partner for that agenda.<\/p> <p>We have the assets, the operational reach and the will.<\/p> <p>We are acting-with or without the framework.<\/p> <p>Our companies, Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp, the largest US-listed owner of LNG vessels, and Capital Tankers Corp, a major crude tanker owner, represent some of the most strategically critical tonnage in the global energy system.<\/p> <p>We are prepared to bring that capacity to bear immediately.<\/p> <p>But I want to be direct about something.<\/p> <p>Restoring energy flows in conditions like these will require brave decisions- on insurance, on passage, on the protection of vessels operating in contested waters.<\/p> <p>These are not decisions the market will make on its own and they are not decisions that can wait for committees to convene.<\/p> <p>As a market leader in both LNG and tanker tonnage, we are prepared to make those decisions for our fleet in the interests of the common good and setting aside profits.<\/p> <p>I am calling on others- shipowners, governments, insurers &#8211; to do the same. The cost of inaction is already being paid by the world. It is time for those of us with capability to act to step forward and bear our share of the burden.<\/p> <p>Our action must be co-ordinated. We must do everything possible to protect the lives of our crew members, the people who are called upon to continue giving their best to ensure the smooth global movement of goods and merchandise.<\/p> <p>I extend this invitation today to my peers in the industry, to the energy ministers of the Gulf states and to policymakers in Washington.<\/p> <p>The time to act is now.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p><em>The link to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/business\/2026\/03\/16\/protect-ships-sailors-we-will-help-reopen-strait-hormuz\/\">official article<\/a> can be found here. <\/em><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis in an intervention article published in the British Telegraph highlights that restoring the free flow of energy from the Gulf demands immediate, co-ordinated action<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":383758,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[62552,19015,166,65995],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis, Chairman of Capital Maritime &amp; Trading Corp, calls for an immediate international action in the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that restoring the free flow of energy from the Gulf is a matter of global security and economic stability. In his landmark article published in the <em data-start=\"161\" data-end=\"178\">Daily Telegraph<\/em>, he highlights that the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed for the first time, cutting off the transport of a fifth of the world’s crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and a third of fertilisers.<\/p> <p>Mr. Marinakis proposes the creation of a common strategy to restore energy flow from the Gulf to global markets. The alliance, as he explains, will be based on three commitments: coordination of shipowners to redeploy fleets, mobilization of the Gulf States to immediately utilize their export infrastructure, and active US contribution through naval presence and diplomatic support.<\/p> <p><span dir=\"auto\">At the same time, he calls on all stakeholders – shipping companies, Gulf energy ministers and policymakers in Washington – to take immediate action. “The time for action is now,” says Evangelos Marinakis.<\/span><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>The Article Reads as such: <\/strong><\/p> <p>For the first time in history, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. One fifth of the world&#8217;s crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG), a third of its fertiliser supply- all of it stopped.<\/p> <p>Energy prices are climbing. Inflation is returning. The world is being reminded, brutally, of what happens when the arteries of global trade are severed by hostile actors willing to use energy as a weapon.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Apart from the effect on the global economy, there is something even more important: the lives of our seafarers.<\/p> <p>The situation in the region has become extremely dangerous. Ships are being attacked with missiles, and the lives of crew members are at risk daily. An activity that is meant to ensure economic growth and the prosperity of nations has turned into a target for those who do not hesitate to kill innocent people.<\/p> <p>The shipping industry has navigated crises before- the Red Sea, Suez, pandemic-era gridlock. Each time we adapted.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Each time the world moved on and assumed the next crisis would be solved the same way. That assumption has now collapsed. Improvisation is not a strategy.<\/p> <p>What this moment demands is a formal alliance between the world&#8217;s major shipowners, the Gulf energy-producing nations and the US with a single immediate purpose- to restore the flow of energy from the Gulf to global markets by ensuring the safe passage of our vessels and to guarantee that the world cannot be held hostage again.<\/p> <p>Such an alliance would rest on three immediate commitments.<\/p> <p>Major tanker and LNG carrier owners must now co-ordinate on rerouting capacity and pooling fleet intelligence, moving the maximum possible volume through alternative corridors.<\/p> <p>Gulf States must bring their export infrastructure to the table without delay. And the US- whose strategic commitment to energy market stability and free navigation of international water remains critical- would be well placed to reinforce the effort through its naval presence and diplomatic engagement, serving as the operational backbone of any joint framework and ensuring first and foremost the safety of our seafarers,<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>It is my understanding that Washington recognizes the importance of co-ordinated action to safeguard global energy flows.<\/p> <p>Efforts to strengthen the reliability of energy supplies from America and its partners, including the continued supply of US and allied LNG to global markets, and for the containment of destabilising state actors. These are not abstract policy goals. For Europe, in particular, these priorities also point to a strategic reality: the continent will continue to rely on imported energy, but it cannot indefinitely sustain that dependence on supply relationships that have repeatedly proven politically unstable.<\/p> <p>Taken together, these priorities form a strong strategic basis for co-operation of this kind. The private maritime sector is the natural partner for that agenda.<\/p> <p>We have the assets, the operational reach and the will.<\/p> <p>We are acting-with or without the framework.<\/p> <p>Our companies, Capital Clean Energy Carriers Corp, the largest US-listed owner of LNG vessels, and Capital Tankers Corp, a major crude tanker owner, represent some of the most strategically critical tonnage in the global energy system.<\/p> <p>We are prepared to bring that capacity to bear immediately.<\/p> <p>But I want to be direct about something.<\/p> <p>Restoring energy flows in conditions like these will require brave decisions- on insurance, on passage, on the protection of vessels operating in contested waters.<\/p> <p>These are not decisions the market will make on its own and they are not decisions that can wait for committees to convene.<\/p> <p>As a market leader in both LNG and tanker tonnage, we are prepared to make those decisions for our fleet in the interests of the common good and setting aside profits.<\/p> <p>I am calling on others- shipowners, governments, insurers &#8211; to do the same. The cost of inaction is already being paid by the world. It is time for those of us with capability to act to step forward and bear our share of the burden.<\/p> <p>Our action must be co-ordinated. We must do everything possible to protect the lives of our crew members, the people who are called upon to continue giving their best to ensure the smooth global movement of goods and merchandise.<\/p> <p>I extend this invitation today to my peers in the industry, to the energy ministers of the Gulf states and to policymakers in Washington.<\/p> <p>The time to act is now.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p><em>The link to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/business\/2026\/03\/16\/protect-ships-sailors-we-will-help-reopen-strait-hormuz\/\">official article<\/a> can be found here. <\/em><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":4,"name":"Finance","slug":"finance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news on the Greek and international economy, jobs market, stock market, real estate industry and workplace, by <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" href=\"http:\/\/tovima.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id--756905112\">tovima.com<\/span><\/a> and Wall Street Journal. Includes the latest news and analysis of government spending and Central Banking.<!-- notionvc: f0c84efe-4643-45a0-ab3f-cdeb41fed5d0 -->","parent":0,"count":2627,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":62552,"name":"CAPITAL CLEAN ENERGY CARRIERS","slug":"capital-clean-energy-carriers","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":62552,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":19015,"name":"Evangelos Marinakis","slug":"evangelos-marinakis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":19015,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":64,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":166,"name":"LNG","slug":"lng","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":166,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":76,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":65995,"name":"Strait of Hormuz","slug":"strait-of-hormuz","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":65995,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus-300x250.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/23\/marinakis_church_piraeus-768x640.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434377,"date":"2026-03-16T11:30:54","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:30:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434377"},"modified":"2026-03-16T08:40:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T06:40:14","slug":"war-shockwaves-reach-greek-market","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/war-shockwaves-reach-greek-market\/","title":{"rendered":"War Shockwaves Reach Greek Market"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly two weeks into the conflict in the Middle East, the first signs of disruption are beginning to appear in the Greek market.<\/p> <p>The development was largely inevitable, given the strategic importance of the region where tensions between the United States and Iran are unfolding—an area critical to the global energy system and key trade routes.<\/p> <p>According to well-informed sources, the first shortages are already emerging in certain packaging materials, while some production units are facing disruptions as they struggle to secure essential raw materials. “One facility has already cited a lack of raw material as the reason it cannot produce—something that until yesterday seemed unthinkable,” sources say, noting that such cases remain limited for now despite the concern they have caused.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>More visible, however, are the first waves of price increases spreading across the market.<\/p> <p>In response, the government moved quickly to introduce emergency measures, reinstating a cap on profit margins—an instrument previously used during the 2022 energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Market sources say some suppliers have already sent customers new price lists with increases of 20% to 30%, citing supply-chain disruptions and higher transportation costs.<\/p> <p>The prevailing view is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/inflation-in-greece-at-2-7-in-february\/\">inflationary<\/a> pressures will gradually spread across several sectors of the economy. The European Union already estimates inflation could exceed 3% this year, a development that may weigh on growth in 2026.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Concern is also rising in the agricultural sector. Tensions in the Middle East are not only affecting<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/trump-lifts-sanctions-on-russian-oil-amid-surging-oil-prices\/\"> oil<\/a> and natural gas markets; disruptions are already spreading to fertilizers, raising fears that—with a delay of several months—they could impact grain production and eventually food prices.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Exporters are also on alert, closely monitoring developments in the region. “The ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East are creating heightened uncertainty for international trade and inevitably affect Greek exports,” said the president of the Panhellenic Exporters Association, noting that the region has long been a key destination for Greek products, from food and construction materials to industrial goods and pharmaceuticals.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The first shortages are already emerging in certain packaging materials, while some production units are facing disruptions as they struggle to secure essential raw materials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":434386,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[22279,33156,95140,357],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Nearly two weeks into the conflict in the Middle East, the first signs of disruption are beginning to appear in the Greek market.<\/p> <p>The development was largely inevitable, given the strategic importance of the region where tensions between the United States and Iran are unfolding—an area critical to the global energy system and key trade routes.<\/p> <p>According to well-informed sources, the first shortages are already emerging in certain packaging materials, while some production units are facing disruptions as they struggle to secure essential raw materials. “One facility has already cited a lack of raw material as the reason it cannot produce—something that until yesterday seemed unthinkable,” sources say, noting that such cases remain limited for now despite the concern they have caused.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>More visible, however, are the first waves of price increases spreading across the market.<\/p> <p>In response, the government moved quickly to introduce emergency measures, reinstating a cap on profit margins—an instrument previously used during the 2022 energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Market sources say some suppliers have already sent customers new price lists with increases of 20% to 30%, citing supply-chain disruptions and higher transportation costs.<\/p> <p>The prevailing view is that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/inflation-in-greece-at-2-7-in-february\/\">inflationary<\/a> pressures will gradually spread across several sectors of the economy. The European Union already estimates inflation could exceed 3% this year, a development that may weigh on growth in 2026.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Concern is also rising in the agricultural sector. Tensions in the Middle East are not only affecting<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/trump-lifts-sanctions-on-russian-oil-amid-surging-oil-prices\/\"> oil<\/a> and natural gas markets; disruptions are already spreading to fertilizers, raising fears that—with a delay of several months—they could impact grain production and eventually food prices.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Exporters are also on alert, closely monitoring developments in the region. “The ongoing military conflicts in the Middle East are creating heightened uncertainty for international trade and inevitably affect Greek exports,” said the president of the Panhellenic Exporters Association, noting that the region has long been a key destination for Greek products, from food and construction materials to industrial goods and pharmaceuticals.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":4,"name":"Finance","slug":"finance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news on the Greek and international economy, jobs market, stock market, real estate industry and workplace, by <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" href=\"http:\/\/tovima.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id--756905112\">tovima.com<\/span><\/a> and Wall Street Journal. Includes the latest news and analysis of government spending and Central Banking.<!-- notionvc: f0c84efe-4643-45a0-ab3f-cdeb41fed5d0 -->","parent":0,"count":2627,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":22279,"name":"food prices","slug":"food-prices","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":22279,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":31,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":33156,"name":"food shortage","slug":"food-shortage","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":33156,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":95140,"name":"fuel prices Greece","slug":"fuel-prices-greece","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95140,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/War-Greek-Market-150x150.png","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/War-Greek-Market.png","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/War-Greek-Market-300x200.png","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/War-Greek-Market-768x512.png","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433624,"date":"2026-03-13T17:30:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T15:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433624"},"modified":"2026-03-13T15:12:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T13:12:51","slug":"aegean-performs-strongly-as-mideast-war-weighs-on-demand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/aegean-performs-strongly-as-mideast-war-weighs-on-demand\/","title":{"rendered":"Aegean Performs Strongly as Mideast War Weighs on Demand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"346\" data-end=\"590\">Aegean Airlines recorded another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/aegean-posts-14-profit-increase-proposes-e0-90-dividend\/\">strong financial year<\/a>, with balanced growth across its domestic and international network, according to company chairman Eftichios Vassilakis during the presentation of the airline’s annual results to investors. However, the positive performance was accompanied by mounting challenges, including geopolitical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/how-the-iran-war-unraveled-the-gulfs-image-as-a-luxurious-safe-haven\/\">tensions in the Middle East<\/a> and rising regulatory costs affecting the European aviation sector.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1dp0ovp\" data-start=\"786\" data-end=\"826\">Balanced Growth in Passenger Traffic<\/h3> <p data-start=\"828\" data-end=\"978\">Vassilakis described 2025 as “another strong year” for the Greek airline, highlighting steady expansion across both domestic and international routes. Passenger traffic increased by about 6 percent in both segments, reflecting what the company described as balanced growth across its network. Overall, Aegean carried 17.3 million passengers during the year, while seat capacity also expanded at a similar pace.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1436\">The company’s financial results reflected this growth. Total revenue reached approximately €1.86 billion, up 5 percent year over year, largely tracking the rise in passenger numbers. Profitability also improved during the year. Operating earnings (EBITDA) rose by about 4% to €421 million, while pre-tax profits increased more sharply, climbing roughly 17% to €192 million. Net profit after taxes reached approximately €148 million.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1ggmv5d\" data-start=\"1686\" data-end=\"1723\">Rising Regulatory Costs in Europe<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1725\" data-end=\"1865\">Despite the strong results, Aegean’s management emphasized that operating performance was significantly affected by rising regulatory costs. Vassilakis noted that 2025 marked the first year of a mandatory rule requiring airlines to increase staffing by 2%, adding pressure to the company’s cost structure.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2044\" data-end=\"2339\">Another major factor was the gradual phase-out of free emissions allowances under the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). The change added about €20 million to the airline’s operating costs, bringing the total regulatory burden for the year to approximately €43 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2341\" data-end=\"2463\">Operational challenges related to air traffic management in Greece also continued to affect the company’s performance.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"2501\" data-end=\"2553\">Some external factors helped offset these pressures. Fuel prices were about 10% lower than the previous year, providing some cost relief. Exchange-rate movements also had a positive impact on the airline’s financial results.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"okazq2\" data-start=\"2739\" data-end=\"2778\">Fleet Challenges From Engine Issues<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2780\" data-end=\"2928\">Operational pressures were also heightened by technical problems affecting Pratt & Whitney GTF engines used in newer aircraft in Aegean’s fleet. At times during the year, as many as 13 to 14 aircraft were grounded, forcing the airline to adjust operations. According to company management, the issue is expected to gradually ease as technical repairs continue and partial support is provided by the engine manufacturer.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"ng6ffk\" data-start=\"3210\" data-end=\"3237\">India Expansion Delayed<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3239\" data-end=\"3343\">The airline also adjusted its fleet plans, affecting its timeline for launching direct flights to India. Aegean recently canceled an order for two Airbus XLR aircraft, replacing them with two LR aircraft, which can also serve long-haul routes. The company had initially ordered the XLR jets last year to accelerate its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/first-ever-india-greece-direct-flights-unlock-new-opportunities\/\">expansion toward India<\/a> starting this spring. However, certification delays for the XLR aircraft would have pushed deliveries toward the end of the year, delaying the planned launch of direct routes.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3768\" data-end=\"4059\">As a result, the airline exited the XLR contract and will operate six LR aircraft in total—four previously planned and two replacing the canceled order. The direct connection between Greece and India is now expected to begin in spring 2027, about a year later than initially planned. The change will also result in a more uniform fleet of LR aircraft, which the company sees as an operational advantage.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"yyb6yh\" data-start=\"4186\" data-end=\"4230\">Middle East Conflict Creates Uncertainty<\/h3> <p data-start=\"4232\" data-end=\"4307\">Geopolitical developments are also beginning to affect Aegean’s operations. The escalation of conflict in the Middle East has already created uncertainty for aviation in the region. Vassilakis said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/will-the-iran-war-affect-greece-tourism-this-summer\/\">passenger flows<\/a> have declined about 8 to 10% compared with previous weeks, although there are signs of gradual stabilization.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4569\" data-end=\"4748\">Since Feb. 28, 2026, Aegean has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/aegean-announces-more-flight-cancellations-to-mideast-destinations\/\">canceled flights<\/a> to and from Israel, Lebanon and Iraq and adjusted routes to destinations in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These markets represent roughly 4 to 5% of the airline’s total capacity, according to the company.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4861\" data-end=\"5030\">The impact is also being felt in nearby markets not directly involved in the conflict. For example, bookings to and from Cyprus have dropped by more than 10%.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5070\" data-end=\"5177\">Despite uncertainty in global energy markets, Aegean remains partially shielded from fuel price volatility. The airline has hedging contracts covering about 60% of its fuel consumption, limiting exposure to sudden increases in fuel costs.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"13y6x9m\" data-start=\"5322\" data-end=\"5347\">Investment in Volotea<\/h3> <p data-start=\"5349\" data-end=\"5431\">Vassilakis also addressed Aegean’s investment in the European airline Volotea. Aegean’s investment has reached €37 million, giving it a 20% stake in the company. An additional €10 million investment is planned for this year.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5599\" data-end=\"5870\">Volotea continues to improve its EBITDA each year, although it still reports net losses due to high financial obligations from the past. The airline’s operations are mainly concentrated in France, Italy and Spain, and it has no exposure to the Middle East market.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"fzm5ln\" data-start=\"5872\" data-end=\"5908\">Higher Dividend for Shareholders<\/h3> <p data-start=\"5910\" data-end=\"5977\">Aegean also announced an increased dividend of €0.90 per share.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5979\" data-end=\"6132\">Looking ahead, Vassilakis said it remains too early to predict how developments in the Middle East will affect the airline’s results in the coming weeks. However, he emphasized that Aegean has built the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6229\" data-end=\"6470\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Short-term developments may affect performance, he said, but they will not jeopardize the company’s ability to serve customers or continue growing in the future. Maintaining competitiveness, he added, remains the company’s main priority.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6229\" data-end=\"6470\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ot.gr\/2026\/03\/13\/epixeiriseis\/aegean-isxyra-apotelesmata-alla-i-krisi-sti-mesi-anatoli-fernei-pieseis-stis-kratiseis\/\">ot.gr<\/a><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greece’s largest airline reported higher revenue and profits, but warned that regulatory costs, fleet issues and geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could affect short-term performance.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":218693,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[819,357],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"346\" data-end=\"590\">Aegean Airlines recorded another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/aegean-posts-14-profit-increase-proposes-e0-90-dividend\/\">strong financial year<\/a>, with balanced growth across its domestic and international network, according to company chairman Eftichios Vassilakis during the presentation of the airline’s annual results to investors. However, the positive performance was accompanied by mounting challenges, including geopolitical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/how-the-iran-war-unraveled-the-gulfs-image-as-a-luxurious-safe-haven\/\">tensions in the Middle East<\/a> and rising regulatory costs affecting the European aviation sector.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1dp0ovp\" data-start=\"786\" data-end=\"826\">Balanced Growth in Passenger Traffic<\/h3> <p data-start=\"828\" data-end=\"978\">Vassilakis described 2025 as “another strong year” for the Greek airline, highlighting steady expansion across both domestic and international routes. Passenger traffic increased by about 6 percent in both segments, reflecting what the company described as balanced growth across its network. Overall, Aegean carried 17.3 million passengers during the year, while seat capacity also expanded at a similar pace.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1436\">The company’s financial results reflected this growth. Total revenue reached approximately €1.86 billion, up 5 percent year over year, largely tracking the rise in passenger numbers. Profitability also improved during the year. Operating earnings (EBITDA) rose by about 4% to €421 million, while pre-tax profits increased more sharply, climbing roughly 17% to €192 million. Net profit after taxes reached approximately €148 million.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1ggmv5d\" data-start=\"1686\" data-end=\"1723\">Rising Regulatory Costs in Europe<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1725\" data-end=\"1865\">Despite the strong results, Aegean’s management emphasized that operating performance was significantly affected by rising regulatory costs. Vassilakis noted that 2025 marked the first year of a mandatory rule requiring airlines to increase staffing by 2%, adding pressure to the company’s cost structure.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2044\" data-end=\"2339\">Another major factor was the gradual phase-out of free emissions allowances under the European Union’s Emissions Trading System (ETS). The change added about €20 million to the airline’s operating costs, bringing the total regulatory burden for the year to approximately €43 million.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2341\" data-end=\"2463\">Operational challenges related to air traffic management in Greece also continued to affect the company’s performance.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"2501\" data-end=\"2553\">Some external factors helped offset these pressures. Fuel prices were about 10% lower than the previous year, providing some cost relief. Exchange-rate movements also had a positive impact on the airline’s financial results.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"okazq2\" data-start=\"2739\" data-end=\"2778\">Fleet Challenges From Engine Issues<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2780\" data-end=\"2928\">Operational pressures were also heightened by technical problems affecting Pratt &amp; Whitney GTF engines used in newer aircraft in Aegean’s fleet. At times during the year, as many as 13 to 14 aircraft were grounded, forcing the airline to adjust operations. According to company management, the issue is expected to gradually ease as technical repairs continue and partial support is provided by the engine manufacturer.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"ng6ffk\" data-start=\"3210\" data-end=\"3237\">India Expansion Delayed<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3239\" data-end=\"3343\">The airline also adjusted its fleet plans, affecting its timeline for launching direct flights to India. Aegean recently canceled an order for two Airbus XLR aircraft, replacing them with two LR aircraft, which can also serve long-haul routes. The company had initially ordered the XLR jets last year to accelerate its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/politics\/first-ever-india-greece-direct-flights-unlock-new-opportunities\/\">expansion toward India<\/a> starting this spring. However, certification delays for the XLR aircraft would have pushed deliveries toward the end of the year, delaying the planned launch of direct routes.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3768\" data-end=\"4059\">As a result, the airline exited the XLR contract and will operate six LR aircraft in total—four previously planned and two replacing the canceled order. The direct connection between Greece and India is now expected to begin in spring 2027, about a year later than initially planned. The change will also result in a more uniform fleet of LR aircraft, which the company sees as an operational advantage.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"yyb6yh\" data-start=\"4186\" data-end=\"4230\">Middle East Conflict Creates Uncertainty<\/h3> <p data-start=\"4232\" data-end=\"4307\">Geopolitical developments are also beginning to affect Aegean’s operations. The escalation of conflict in the Middle East has already created uncertainty for aviation in the region. Vassilakis said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/will-the-iran-war-affect-greece-tourism-this-summer\/\">passenger flows<\/a> have declined about 8 to 10% compared with previous weeks, although there are signs of gradual stabilization.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4569\" data-end=\"4748\">Since Feb. 28, 2026, Aegean has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/aegean-announces-more-flight-cancellations-to-mideast-destinations\/\">canceled flights<\/a> to and from Israel, Lebanon and Iraq and adjusted routes to destinations in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. These markets represent roughly 4 to 5% of the airline’s total capacity, according to the company.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4861\" data-end=\"5030\">The impact is also being felt in nearby markets not directly involved in the conflict. For example, bookings to and from Cyprus have dropped by more than 10%.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5070\" data-end=\"5177\">Despite uncertainty in global energy markets, Aegean remains partially shielded from fuel price volatility. The airline has hedging contracts covering about 60% of its fuel consumption, limiting exposure to sudden increases in fuel costs.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"13y6x9m\" data-start=\"5322\" data-end=\"5347\">Investment in Volotea<\/h3> <p data-start=\"5349\" data-end=\"5431\">Vassilakis also addressed Aegean’s investment in the European airline Volotea. Aegean’s investment has reached €37 million, giving it a 20% stake in the company. An additional €10 million investment is planned for this year.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5599\" data-end=\"5870\">Volotea continues to improve its EBITDA each year, although it still reports net losses due to high financial obligations from the past. The airline’s operations are mainly concentrated in France, Italy and Spain, and it has no exposure to the Middle East market.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"fzm5ln\" data-start=\"5872\" data-end=\"5908\">Higher Dividend for Shareholders<\/h3> <p data-start=\"5910\" data-end=\"5977\">Aegean also announced an increased dividend of €0.90 per share.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5979\" data-end=\"6132\">Looking ahead, Vassilakis said it remains too early to predict how developments in the Middle East will affect the airline’s results in the coming weeks. However, he emphasized that Aegean has built the flexibility to adapt to changing conditions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6229\" data-end=\"6470\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Short-term developments may affect performance, he said, but they will not jeopardize the company’s ability to serve customers or continue growing in the future. Maintaining competitiveness, he added, remains the company’s main priority.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6229\" data-end=\"6470\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ot.gr\/2026\/03\/13\/epixeiriseis\/aegean-isxyra-apotelesmata-alla-i-krisi-sti-mesi-anatoli-fernei-pieseis-stis-kratiseis\/\">ot.gr<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":4,"name":"Finance","slug":"finance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news on the Greek and international economy, jobs market, stock market, real estate industry and workplace, by <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" href=\"http:\/\/tovima.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id--756905112\">tovima.com<\/span><\/a> and Wall Street Journal. Includes the latest news and analysis of government spending and Central Banking.<!-- notionvc: f0c84efe-4643-45a0-ab3f-cdeb41fed5d0 -->","parent":0,"count":2627,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":819,"name":"Aegean Airlines","slug":"aegean-airlines","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":819,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/21\/Aegean-Airlines-Cancels-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/21\/Aegean-Airlines-Cancels.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/21\/Aegean-Airlines-Cancels-300x169.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/21\/Aegean-Airlines-Cancels-768x432.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433597,"date":"2026-03-13T13:11:10","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:11:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433597"},"modified":"2026-03-13T13:11:10","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:11:10","slug":"navigator-assembly-2026-shipping-at-the-crossroads-of-global-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/navigator-assembly-2026-shipping-at-the-crossroads-of-global-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"Navigator Assembly 2026: Shipping at the Crossroads of Global Challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <strong>Navigator Assembly<\/strong> was successfully held on <strong>Tuesday, March 10, 2026<\/strong>, at the <strong>Grand Hyatt Athens<\/strong>, bringing together <strong>309 representatives<\/strong> from shipowning and ship management companies, maritime service providers, 15 Embassies and 18 maritime organizations representing the core of the Greek shipping community.<\/p> <p>This year’s event held particular significance as <strong>2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the NAVIGATOR – The Shipping Decision Makers Forum<\/strong>, celebrating nearly three decades of dialogue, innovation and thought leadership in the maritime industry.<\/p> <p>Participants were welcomed by <strong>Danae Bezantakou, CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants<\/strong>, who thanked the more than <strong>10,000 participants<\/strong> who have supported the forum over the past 25 years, making it one of the <strong>oldest privately initiated maritime conferences in Greece<\/strong>, as well as the Greek shipping community for its continued trust and support.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>For <strong>35 years<\/strong>, Navigator Shipping Consultants has been providing reliable <strong>towing and port agency services through its worldwide network<\/strong>, contributing to the smooth operation of ports and global trade routes. This year’s Assembly focused on critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of shipping, including <strong>sustainability, technological transformation, education and geopolitical resilience<\/strong>, while reaffirming the importance of <strong>collaboration, innovation and investing in the next generation of maritime professionals<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>Opening remarks were also delivered by <strong>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Haris Theoharis<\/strong>, <strong>President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping George Alexandratos<\/strong>, and <strong>President of the Hellenic Shipbrokers Association John Cotzias<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-433612 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>The discussions focused on three key thematic pillars:<\/p> <h3>Decarbonization and ESG<\/h3> <p>The <strong>energy transition of shipping<\/strong> represents one of the sector’s greatest challenges, as <strong>geopolitical tensions and instability in energy markets<\/strong> continue to drive fuel prices higher and affect the availability and development of <strong>alternative fuels such as biofuels<\/strong>. At the same time, <strong>approximately 95% of the global fleet still operates on conventional fuels<\/strong>, while the transition to <strong>Net Zero<\/strong> is expected to require <strong>investments of up to $2 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Participants highlighted that <strong>ESG is rapidly evolving from a regulatory compliance tool into a key strategic pillar for shipping companies<\/strong>. For the first time, <strong>representatives from the banking sector<\/strong> also took part in the discussion, emphasizing the importance of the <strong>meaningful integration of ESG principles<\/strong>. They stressed that the <strong>green transition should not become a simple “box-ticking exercise”<\/strong>, but should instead be based on <strong>constructive dialogue among all stakeholders<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><strong>Investors and financial institutions are increasingly demanding greater transparency<\/strong>, incorporating <strong>ESG indicators into their financing decisions<\/strong>. <strong>Enhanced transparency<\/strong> is expected to create <strong>new opportunities for access to capital<\/strong> for the shipping industry in the coming years. At the same time, participants agreed on the <strong>necessity of the green transition<\/strong>, noting that it must proceed <strong>in a coordinated and well-planned manner<\/strong>, <strong>without undermining the competitiveness of businesses<\/strong>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>However, the greatest challenge remains the <strong>active participation of the shipping industry in shaping legislative and regulatory frameworks<\/strong>, in order to ensure that the <strong>energy transition is implemented smoothly<\/strong>, <strong>in line with market principles<\/strong> and with full recognition of the <strong>maritime industry’s critical role in global trade<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-433615 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <h3>Smart Shipping & the Human Element<\/h3> <p>Despite the <strong>rapid advancement of technology<\/strong>, <strong>seamanship, experience and human judgment remain at the core of safe and efficient shipping<\/strong>. With regards to <strong>education and technology<\/strong>, a particularly constructive dialogue took place, highlighting the need for <strong>more targeted training<\/strong> and <strong>greater use of technology and artificial intelligence<\/strong>, always <strong>in combination with the human element<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>The discussion emphasized that while <strong>artificial intelligence, telemetry and digital platforms<\/strong> can <strong>process data and enhance safety<\/strong>, the <strong>full automation of ships remains a distant prospect<\/strong>. Key topics included <strong>crew education and training<\/strong>, <strong>mental health<\/strong>, the <strong>management of multinational crews<\/strong> and <strong>intergenerational collaboration<\/strong>, allowing the <strong>knowledge of experienced seafarers<\/strong> to be combined with the <strong>technological skills of younger professionals<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>Participants also agreed that <strong>experience and seamanship remain fundamental elements<\/strong> both for <strong>operations at sea and for shore-based management<\/strong>. <strong>Technology should therefore not replace these qualities, but rather support and strengthen them.<\/strong><\/p> <p>The main conclusion was that the <strong>future of shipping will rely on a balanced integration of the human element and digital technology<\/strong>, ensuring <strong>safety, efficiency and sustainability across the industry<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-433618 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <h3>Geopolitical Developments and Shipping<\/h3> <p>Recent geopolitical developments — from the conflicts in <strong>Ukraine and the Middle East<\/strong> to tensions in the <strong>Red Sea and the Persian Gulf<\/strong> — highlight the <strong>strategic importance of shipping for the global economy<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>With <strong>90% of global trade transported by sea<\/strong>, and available shipping capacity reduced by up to <strong>22% in certain regions<\/strong>, the <strong>protection of seafarers, the safety of vessels and the effective management of geopolitical risks<\/strong> have become critical priorities.Shipping is therefore <strong>not only a key industry, but a strategic pillar for Europe and the global economy<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>The <strong>Navigator Assembly 2026<\/strong> highlighted the need for <strong>pragmatic and gradual solutions<\/strong>, the smart use of technology, continuous education and stronger cooperation within the maritime community — while underlining the importance of <strong>ongoing dialogue among leaders of the world’s leading shipping nation<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>The conclusions and key insights of this year’s discussions will be presented on <strong>Tuesday, October 13, 2026<\/strong>, at the <strong>Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)<\/strong> during the <strong>25th Navigator 2026 – The Shipping Decision Makers Forum<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Navigator Assembly 2026 highlighted the need for pragmatic and gradual solutions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":69,"featured_media":433603,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>The <strong>Navigator Assembly<\/strong> was successfully held on <strong>Tuesday, March 10, 2026<\/strong>, at the <strong>Grand Hyatt Athens<\/strong>, bringing together <strong>309 representatives<\/strong> from shipowning and ship management companies, maritime service providers, 15 Embassies and 18 maritime organizations representing the core of the Greek shipping community.<\/p> <p>This year’s event held particular significance as <strong>2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the NAVIGATOR – The Shipping Decision Makers Forum<\/strong>, celebrating nearly three decades of dialogue, innovation and thought leadership in the maritime industry.<\/p> <p>Participants were welcomed by <strong>Danae Bezantakou, CEO of Navigator Shipping Consultants<\/strong>, who thanked the more than <strong>10,000 participants<\/strong> who have supported the forum over the past 25 years, making it one of the <strong>oldest privately initiated maritime conferences in Greece<\/strong>, as well as the Greek shipping community for its continued trust and support.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>For <strong>35 years<\/strong>, Navigator Shipping Consultants has been providing reliable <strong>towing and port agency services through its worldwide network<\/strong>, contributing to the smooth operation of ports and global trade routes. This year’s Assembly focused on critical challenges and opportunities shaping the future of shipping, including <strong>sustainability, technological transformation, education and geopolitical resilience<\/strong>, while reaffirming the importance of <strong>collaboration, innovation and investing in the next generation of maritime professionals<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>Opening remarks were also delivered by <strong>Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Haris Theoharis<\/strong>, <strong>President of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping George Alexandratos<\/strong>, and <strong>President of the Hellenic Shipbrokers Association John Cotzias<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-433612 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ1-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>The discussions focused on three key thematic pillars:<\/p> <h3>Decarbonization and ESG<\/h3> <p>The <strong>energy transition of shipping<\/strong> represents one of the sector’s greatest challenges, as <strong>geopolitical tensions and instability in energy markets<\/strong> continue to drive fuel prices higher and affect the availability and development of <strong>alternative fuels such as biofuels<\/strong>. At the same time, <strong>approximately 95% of the global fleet still operates on conventional fuels<\/strong>, while the transition to <strong>Net Zero<\/strong> is expected to require <strong>investments of up to $2 trillion<\/strong>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Participants highlighted that <strong>ESG is rapidly evolving from a regulatory compliance tool into a key strategic pillar for shipping companies<\/strong>. For the first time, <strong>representatives from the banking sector<\/strong> also took part in the discussion, emphasizing the importance of the <strong>meaningful integration of ESG principles<\/strong>. They stressed that the <strong>green transition should not become a simple “box-ticking exercise”<\/strong>, but should instead be based on <strong>constructive dialogue among all stakeholders<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><strong>Investors and financial institutions are increasingly demanding greater transparency<\/strong>, incorporating <strong>ESG indicators into their financing decisions<\/strong>. <strong>Enhanced transparency<\/strong> is expected to create <strong>new opportunities for access to capital<\/strong> for the shipping industry in the coming years. At the same time, participants agreed on the <strong>necessity of the green transition<\/strong>, noting that it must proceed <strong>in a coordinated and well-planned manner<\/strong>, <strong>without undermining the competitiveness of businesses<\/strong>.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>However, the greatest challenge remains the <strong>active participation of the shipping industry in shaping legislative and regulatory frameworks<\/strong>, in order to ensure that the <strong>energy transition is implemented smoothly<\/strong>, <strong>in line with market principles<\/strong> and with full recognition of the <strong>maritime industry’s critical role in global trade<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-433615 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-1024x681.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"681\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/ΝΑ2-2048x1363.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <h3>Smart Shipping &amp; the Human Element<\/h3> <p>Despite the <strong>rapid advancement of technology<\/strong>, <strong>seamanship, experience and human judgment remain at the core of safe and efficient shipping<\/strong>. With regards to <strong>education and technology<\/strong>, a particularly constructive dialogue took place, highlighting the need for <strong>more targeted training<\/strong> and <strong>greater use of technology and artificial intelligence<\/strong>, always <strong>in combination with the human element<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>The discussion emphasized that while <strong>artificial intelligence, telemetry and digital platforms<\/strong> can <strong>process data and enhance safety<\/strong>, the <strong>full automation of ships remains a distant prospect<\/strong>. Key topics included <strong>crew education and training<\/strong>, <strong>mental health<\/strong>, the <strong>management of multinational crews<\/strong> and <strong>intergenerational collaboration<\/strong>, allowing the <strong>knowledge of experienced seafarers<\/strong> to be combined with the <strong>technological skills of younger professionals<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>Participants also agreed that <strong>experience and seamanship remain fundamental elements<\/strong> both for <strong>operations at sea and for shore-based management<\/strong>. <strong>Technology should therefore not replace these qualities, but rather support and strengthen them.<\/strong><\/p> <p>The main conclusion was that the <strong>future of shipping will rely on a balanced integration of the human element and digital technology<\/strong>, ensuring <strong>safety, efficiency and sustainability across the industry<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-433618 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Picture1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <h3>Geopolitical Developments and Shipping<\/h3> <p>Recent geopolitical developments — from the conflicts in <strong>Ukraine and the Middle East<\/strong> to tensions in the <strong>Red Sea and the Persian Gulf<\/strong> — highlight the <strong>strategic importance of shipping for the global economy<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>With <strong>90% of global trade transported by sea<\/strong>, and available shipping capacity reduced by up to <strong>22% in certain regions<\/strong>, the <strong>protection of seafarers, the safety of vessels and the effective management of geopolitical risks<\/strong> have become critical priorities.Shipping is therefore <strong>not only a key industry, but a strategic pillar for Europe and the global economy<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>The <strong>Navigator Assembly 2026<\/strong> highlighted the need for <strong>pragmatic and gradual solutions<\/strong>, the smart use of technology, continuous education and stronger cooperation within the maritime community — while underlining the importance of <strong>ongoing dialogue among leaders of the world’s leading shipping nation<\/strong>.<\/p> <p>The conclusions and key insights of this year’s discussions will be presented on <strong>Tuesday, October 13, 2026<\/strong>, at the <strong>Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC)<\/strong> during the <strong>25th Navigator 2026 – The Shipping Decision Makers Forum<\/strong>.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":4,"name":"Finance","slug":"finance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news on the Greek and international economy, jobs market, stock market, real estate industry and workplace, by <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" href=\"http:\/\/tovima.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id--756905112\">tovima.com<\/span><\/a> and Wall Street Journal. Includes the latest news and analysis of government spending and Central Banking.<!-- notionvc: f0c84efe-4643-45a0-ab3f-cdeb41fed5d0 -->","parent":0,"count":2627,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":{"name":"ΤΟ ΒΗΜΑ","slug":"tovima-gr","term_group":"0","term_taxonomy_id":"41091","taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":"0","count":"1","filter":"raw"},"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/NP86949-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/NP86949.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/NP86949-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/NP86949-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433063,"date":"2026-03-12T18:00:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T16:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433063"},"modified":"2026-03-12T15:53:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:53:07","slug":"moodys-revises-outlook-on-greek-banking-sector-to-stable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/moodys-revises-outlook-on-greek-banking-sector-to-stable\/","title":{"rendered":"Moody’s Revises Outlook on Greek Banking Sector to ‘Stable’"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Moody&#8217;s has revised its outlook on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/greek-banks-deutsche-bank-bullish-on-greek-banking-sector\/\">Greek banking<\/a> sector from &#8220;positive&#8221; to &#8220;stable,&#8221; citing heightened geopolitical risks — just days after the ratings agency issued a favorable assessment of Greek banks&#8217; performance.<\/p> <p>The ratings agency, operating under its base-case scenario—which envisions a Middle East conflict that stays contained—doesn&#8217;t foresee any significant repercussions for the creditworthiness of Greek banks. This outlook rests on a foundation of consistent loan growth, robust net interest margins, and the sector&#8217;s solid capital reserves.<\/p> <p>The agency, however, warned that a sustained halt to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz might cause energy prices to surge, which could then negatively impact the broader economy and the stability of banks. If this were to happen, profitability and expansion strategies could be compromised, and the likelihood of new non-performing loans would increase.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>Economic Backdrop Remains Supportive<\/strong><\/p> <p>Moody&#8217;s said the broader economic environment is expected to stay supportive, with growth continuing to be driven by investment and a strengthening labor market. Loan quality is projected to keep improving, albeit at a more gradual pace, as NPE ratios converge toward the European Union average.<br \/> The agency noted that a substantial strengthening of bank balance sheets in recent years has already brought non-performing loan ratios down to low single-digit levels, while provisioning costs are gradually declining.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Moody&#8217;s said the broader economic environment is expected to stay supportive, with growth continuing to be driven by investment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":433066,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1071,13242],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Moody&#8217;s has revised its outlook on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/greek-banks-deutsche-bank-bullish-on-greek-banking-sector\/\">Greek banking<\/a> sector from &#8220;positive&#8221; to &#8220;stable,&#8221; citing heightened geopolitical risks — just days after the ratings agency issued a favorable assessment of Greek banks&#8217; performance.<\/p> <p>The ratings agency, operating under its base-case scenario—which envisions a Middle East conflict that stays contained—doesn&#8217;t foresee any significant repercussions for the creditworthiness of Greek banks. This outlook rests on a foundation of consistent loan growth, robust net interest margins, and the sector&#8217;s solid capital reserves.<\/p> <p>The agency, however, warned that a sustained halt to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz might cause energy prices to surge, which could then negatively impact the broader economy and the stability of banks. If this were to happen, profitability and expansion strategies could be compromised, and the likelihood of new non-performing loans would increase.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>Economic Backdrop Remains Supportive<\/strong><\/p> <p>Moody&#8217;s said the broader economic environment is expected to stay supportive, with growth continuing to be driven by investment and a strengthening labor market. Loan quality is projected to keep improving, albeit at a more gradual pace, as NPE ratios converge toward the European Union average.<br \/> The agency noted that a substantial strengthening of bank balance sheets in recent years has already brought non-performing loan ratios down to low single-digit levels, while provisioning costs are gradually declining.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":4,"name":"Finance","slug":"finance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news on the Greek and international economy, jobs market, stock market, real estate industry and workplace, by <a class=\"notion-link-token notion-focusable-token notion-enable-hover\" href=\"http:\/\/tovima.com\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-token-index=\"1\"><span class=\"link-annotation-unknown-block-id--756905112\">tovima.com<\/span><\/a> and Wall Street Journal. Includes the latest news and analysis of government spending and Central Banking.<!-- notionvc: f0c84efe-4643-45a0-ab3f-cdeb41fed5d0 -->","parent":0,"count":2627,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1071,"name":"Greek Banks","slug":"greek-banks","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1071,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":78,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":13242,"name":"Moody's Rating Agency","slug":"moodys-rating-agency","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":13242,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":21,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/moodys-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/moodys.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/moodys-300x176.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/moodys-768x450.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"apopsi","header":"Γνώμες","ID":"3","posts":[{"id":434980,"date":"2026-03-16T14:38:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434980"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:38:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:38:26","slug":"the-victory-and-xerxes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/opinions\/the-victory-and-xerxes\/","title":{"rendered":"The “Victory” and Xerxes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"283\" data-end=\"585\">An all-powerful mentor sits in the back of his limousine with his ambitious apprentice. He has now decided to reveal to him the secret of success. “Never admit your defeat,” he tells him. “Insist that you won even when you have been crushed. The greater your crushing defeat, the more you will insist.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"1184\">The scene is from <em data-start=\"605\" data-end=\"621\">The Apprentice<\/em>, the film in which Ali Abbasi follows Donald Trump in the New York of the 1970s. In the film we see Donald distorting reality in exactly this way—insisting that he won even when he has lost. We see him, of course, stepping over corpses—the last one being that of his mentor, who is almost dying on a straw mat. We see him after we have already seen him in real life. Trump had “won” when he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden. When he welcomed Putin in Alaska, and also when he withdrew the tariffs he had imposed. Will he “win” in the same way in Iran?<\/p> <p data-start=\"1186\" data-end=\"1736\">From the very beginning, this war had been identified with such an ending. The “spectacle” was exhausted with the strike that killed Khamenei and the rest of the regime figures who made the mistake of being in the same building with him. What followed was a war of attrition—or, in terms of spectacle, the same scene of the play: missiles costing millions of dollars are spent to intercept drones worth a few thousand. The asymmetry of the war is mainly economic, and money hurts the president, just as it hurt the real-estate developer of the 1970s.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1738\" data-end=\"1989\">From the start of this war it had also been said that the White House had no plan. Not that it needed one. Trump would “win” if the regime of the mullahs remained in place, just as he would “win” if it collapsed. Which of the two is more “convenient”?<\/p> <p data-start=\"1991\" data-end=\"2604\">Iran is not Gaza, where you can replace cannons fired at the righteous and the unrighteous with the “butter” of a Riviera. For someone who even stepped over the corpse of his mentor, it is better for the mullahs to remain in power than to stare at the “mess” of a civil war. Stronger inside the country, since the “heroic” Ayatollah sacrificed himself to confront the “Great and the Little Satan” together. And he “won.” At the same time, however, weakened in the region, without the defensive capacity of the past, deprived of the proxy fighters of Hezbollah and the Houthis, and with all the Arabs against them.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2606\" data-end=\"3105\">Between an authoritarian regime that will continue to sow the corpses of dissidents and a civil war in which Iranians, Kurds with their six parties, and Azeris would kill one another, the first is preferable. For the Donald of the 1980s, the author of <em data-start=\"2858\" data-end=\"2879\">The Art of the Deal<\/em>, it is always better to “deal” with one dictator than with a dozen tribal leaders. Why not a “Xerxes Agreement” with the Iranians sometime in the future, just as the Abraham Accords were signed with the Arabs a few years ago?<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3107\" data-end=\"3489\">In this choice lies the divergence of goals between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. One wants to “be done with” the war; the other with the regime. Israel would not be threatened in the slightest by an Iranian civil war, but the United States sees nothing beneficial in assuming responsibility for yet another Iraq or Libya. “Whenever I decide the war should end, it will end.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"3491\" data-end=\"3782\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">That is how you declare yourself the “winner.” And that is how you end the war. As you would close the zipper on your jacket at an unexpected moment of chill in Mar-a-Lago. No longer as an “apprentice” in 1970, but as president in 2025, with the weight of eight decades of life on your back.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Does a war end the way you close a zipper?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434983,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[357],"nea_authors":[80149],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"Periklis Dimitrolopoulos","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"283\" data-end=\"585\">An all-powerful mentor sits in the back of his limousine with his ambitious apprentice. He has now decided to reveal to him the secret of success. “Never admit your defeat,” he tells him. “Insist that you won even when you have been crushed. The greater your crushing defeat, the more you will insist.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"1184\">The scene is from <em data-start=\"605\" data-end=\"621\">The Apprentice<\/em>, the film in which Ali Abbasi follows Donald Trump in the New York of the 1970s. In the film we see Donald distorting reality in exactly this way—insisting that he won even when he has lost. We see him, of course, stepping over corpses—the last one being that of his mentor, who is almost dying on a straw mat. We see him after we have already seen him in real life. Trump had “won” when he lost the presidential election to Joe Biden. When he welcomed Putin in Alaska, and also when he withdrew the tariffs he had imposed. Will he “win” in the same way in Iran?<\/p> <p data-start=\"1186\" data-end=\"1736\">From the very beginning, this war had been identified with such an ending. The “spectacle” was exhausted with the strike that killed Khamenei and the rest of the regime figures who made the mistake of being in the same building with him. What followed was a war of attrition—or, in terms of spectacle, the same scene of the play: missiles costing millions of dollars are spent to intercept drones worth a few thousand. The asymmetry of the war is mainly economic, and money hurts the president, just as it hurt the real-estate developer of the 1970s.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1738\" data-end=\"1989\">From the start of this war it had also been said that the White House had no plan. Not that it needed one. Trump would “win” if the regime of the mullahs remained in place, just as he would “win” if it collapsed. Which of the two is more “convenient”?<\/p> <p data-start=\"1991\" data-end=\"2604\">Iran is not Gaza, where you can replace cannons fired at the righteous and the unrighteous with the “butter” of a Riviera. For someone who even stepped over the corpse of his mentor, it is better for the mullahs to remain in power than to stare at the “mess” of a civil war. Stronger inside the country, since the “heroic” Ayatollah sacrificed himself to confront the “Great and the Little Satan” together. And he “won.” At the same time, however, weakened in the region, without the defensive capacity of the past, deprived of the proxy fighters of Hezbollah and the Houthis, and with all the Arabs against them.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2606\" data-end=\"3105\">Between an authoritarian regime that will continue to sow the corpses of dissidents and a civil war in which Iranians, Kurds with their six parties, and Azeris would kill one another, the first is preferable. For the Donald of the 1980s, the author of <em data-start=\"2858\" data-end=\"2879\">The Art of the Deal<\/em>, it is always better to “deal” with one dictator than with a dozen tribal leaders. Why not a “Xerxes Agreement” with the Iranians sometime in the future, just as the Abraham Accords were signed with the Arabs a few years ago?<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"3107\" data-end=\"3489\">In this choice lies the divergence of goals between Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu. One wants to “be done with” the war; the other with the regime. Israel would not be threatened in the slightest by an Iranian civil war, but the United States sees nothing beneficial in assuming responsibility for yet another Iraq or Libya. “Whenever I decide the war should end, it will end.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"3491\" data-end=\"3782\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">That is how you declare yourself the “winner.” And that is how you end the war. As you would close the zipper on your jacket at an unexpected moment of chill in Mar-a-Lago. No longer as an “apprentice” in 1970, but as president in 2025, with the weight of eight decades of life on your back.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Opinions","slug":"opinions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"To Vima and Wall Street Journal Opinion columnists, editorials and guest essays.","parent":0,"count":498,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Psimithia_1503-e1773572498850-1024x849-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Psimithia_1503-e1773572498850-1024x849-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Psimithia_1503-e1773572498850-1024x849-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Psimithia_1503-e1773572498850-1024x849-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434965,"date":"2026-03-16T14:35:11","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434965"},"modified":"2026-03-16T14:35:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:35:11","slug":"put-on-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/opinions\/put-on-ice\/","title":{"rendered":"Put On Ice"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The political life of most European countries, including Greece, has been put on ice.<\/p> <p>Which is reasonable. Everything hinges on the (third) Gulf War and its outcome. The consequences (primarily economic) are already surfacing, but they cannot be fully foreseen or appraised until the fighting stops.<\/p> <p>Four polls (Opinion, Alco, Interview, Pulse) conducted after the onset of hostilities recorded almost identical initial reactions from the Greek public.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>People are anxious; they feel insecure and uncertain. They aren’t sure what lies ahead, and can’t predict how these events will collide with their daily lives.<\/p> <p>As is normal in such circumstances, the usual repertoire of daily life is put on ice—which traditionally favors the incumbent governments. Party-political maneuvering or reflexive opposition is ill-suited to the moment; it fails to rise to the occasion.<\/p> <p>How long will this hiatus last? No one knows and no one can say. But most importantly of all, no one can gauge the economic fallout of the war, which will arrive in a second wave and touch every household in the land.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In other words, the &#8220;window of opportunity&#8221; thrown open by the war is extremely precarious, and may prove fleeting. So if some are weaving electoral scenarios or nurturing opportunistic ambitions to seize the day, they are probably getting ahead of themselves; I suspect that few people would be ready to follow them.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>In any case, the Prime Minister has categorically ruled out such a path. One cannot claim to be the guarantor of stability while simultaneously hunting out opportunities to stir things up.<\/p> <p>But even so, this brief flash hides a deeper truth: that the Greek political scene is marked by an unprecedented political stability. Of course, there are marginal, reactive fluctuations, but there is no evidence of a radical realignment or a shift in the balance of power.<\/p> <p>Naturally, all of this ignores the progression of a war of unknown duration whose impacts on the wider region remain a mystery.<\/p> <p>So people are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, and not only in Greece. Putting everything on ice.<\/p> <p>In France, they have their first round of municipal elections today, but there’s a sluggishness to proceedings which only the war can explain.<\/p> <p>Especially since, at the risk of repeating myself, we haven’t seen the whole play yet, or even read the script.<\/p> <p>So how can we know how it ends?<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>One cannot claim to be the guarantor of stability while simultaneously hunting out opportunities to stir things up<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434971,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[46982,95140,4839],"nea_authors":[591],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"Yannis Pretenteris","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>The political life of most European countries, including Greece, has been put on ice.<\/p> <p>Which is reasonable. Everything hinges on the (third) Gulf War and its outcome. The consequences (primarily economic) are already surfacing, but they cannot be fully foreseen or appraised until the fighting stops.<\/p> <p>Four polls (Opinion, Alco, Interview, Pulse) conducted after the onset of hostilities recorded almost identical initial reactions from the Greek public.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>People are anxious; they feel insecure and uncertain. They aren’t sure what lies ahead, and can’t predict how these events will collide with their daily lives.<\/p> <p>As is normal in such circumstances, the usual repertoire of daily life is put on ice—which traditionally favors the incumbent governments. Party-political maneuvering or reflexive opposition is ill-suited to the moment; it fails to rise to the occasion.<\/p> <p>How long will this hiatus last? No one knows and no one can say. But most importantly of all, no one can gauge the economic fallout of the war, which will arrive in a second wave and touch every household in the land.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In other words, the &#8220;window of opportunity&#8221; thrown open by the war is extremely precarious, and may prove fleeting. So if some are weaving electoral scenarios or nurturing opportunistic ambitions to seize the day, they are probably getting ahead of themselves; I suspect that few people would be ready to follow them.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>In any case, the Prime Minister has categorically ruled out such a path. One cannot claim to be the guarantor of stability while simultaneously hunting out opportunities to stir things up.<\/p> <p>But even so, this brief flash hides a deeper truth: that the Greek political scene is marked by an unprecedented political stability. Of course, there are marginal, reactive fluctuations, but there is no evidence of a radical realignment or a shift in the balance of power.<\/p> <p>Naturally, all of this ignores the progression of a war of unknown duration whose impacts on the wider region remain a mystery.<\/p> <p>So people are adopting a wait-and-see attitude, and not only in Greece. Putting everything on ice.<\/p> <p>In France, they have their first round of municipal elections today, but there’s a sluggishness to proceedings which only the war can explain.<\/p> <p>Especially since, at the risk of repeating myself, we haven’t seen the whole play yet, or even read the script.<\/p> <p>So how can we know how it ends?<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Opinions","slug":"opinions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"To Vima and Wall Street Journal Opinion columnists, editorials and guest essays.","parent":0,"count":498,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":46982,"name":"energy costs","slug":"energy-costs","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":46982,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":95140,"name":"fuel prices Greece","slug":"fuel-prices-greece","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95140,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":4839,"name":"Greek Government","slug":"greek-government","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4839,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":37,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/20150414140507_img_78631429027946-1-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/20150414140507_img_78631429027946-1.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/20150414140507_img_78631429027946-1-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/20150414140507_img_78631429027946-1-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434107,"date":"2026-03-15T15:49:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T13:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434107"},"modified":"2026-03-15T15:50:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T13:50:27","slug":"ankaras-war-of-opportunity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/opinions\/ankaras-war-of-opportunity\/","title":{"rendered":"Ankara’s War of Opportunity"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>While the war with Iran dominates the horizon, Ankara has raised its posture in the occupied north of Cyprus. The deployment of F-16s and air defences was cast as a precaution while missiles crossed regional skies. In reality it was positioning for the decade, not the week. The move was deliberate, placed where Ankara expects the least scrutiny.<\/p> <p>Turkey’s posture toward Tehran is not neutrality. It is preservation. Ankara opposes escalation, preserves ties and avoids confrontation even as missiles traverse regional skies. The Iskenderun episode exposed the pattern: a strike first framed as evidence that Turkey too was under Iranian attack, then quietly briefed as likely bound for Cyprus. The narrative shifted. Clarity was never the objective. Positioning was. Strategically, nothing changed. Turkey is not part of the pressure on Iran. It is part of the machinery sustaining Tehran. Tehran receives what war requires most: cover, space and time. Ankara does not need Iran to win. It needs the regime to endure. An unresolved Iran keeps the region unstable and attention elsewhere. When the war approached Turkish airspace, Ankara did not open a front against Tehran. It reinforced its military footprint in the occupied north. That choice says everything about where Ankara seeks advantage.<\/p> <p>Cyprus is not strategy. It is leverage. Ankara treats the island as a forward position for projecting force across the eastern Mediterranean basin. Aircraft compress warning time and extend range. Temporary deployments become routine air policing. Officials already speak of phases, air defence layers and drones. This is not contingency. It is entrenchment.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>None of this is improvised. It is preparation conducted in the confidence that NATO will tolerate in Cyprus what it would never accept elsewhere.<\/p> <p>The irony is clear. Turkish officials accused Greece of exploiting regional crises in the Aegean. Yet converting turbulence into leverage has become Ankara’s reflex. President Erdoğan has declared that Turkey neutralises threats at their source beyond its borders. The doctrine runs from northern Syria to Iraq and across the seas. Cross-border action is routine.<\/p> <p>Cyprus is the next stage of a pattern that predates this war. In 2019 Turkish drones appeared at Geçitkale airfield to support offshore energy operations. In 2020 naval deployments accompanied survey missions near Cyprus as Ankara tested maritime claims in contested waters. Navigation warnings expanded across the Aegean,<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>asserting continental shelf rights and challenging neighbouring research activity. Individually they appear tactical. Together they form doctrine.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Ankara frames a two-state outcome for Cyprus as the most realistic settlement. Figures within the governing coalition raised the prospect of deeper integration between Turkey and the northern entity. Whether such proposals materialise is secondary. Their purpose is to widen what Ankara considers possible. Military reality and political narrative now converge.<\/p> <p>Turkey is no longer a reluctant status-quo power in the eastern Mediterranean. It is a revisionist one, and Cyprus is its proving ground.<\/p> <p>This instinct to act while others look away is not new. The intervention in Cyprus in 1974 unfolded while Washington was paralysed by Watergate and the United States government consumed by domestic crisis. Decades earlier the incorporation of Hatay occurred as Europe drifted toward war and French strategic bandwidth narrowed. These were not coincidences. They were moments of distraction Ankara used. Each episode reinforced the same lesson: when allies are distracted, lines on the map become negotiable.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Nor is Turkey alone in this instinct. States have long operated under borrowed fire. Syria joined the coalition against Iraq during the Gulf War and consolidated dominance in Lebanon once the conflict redirected attention. Russia intensified operations in eastern Ukraine after the war in Gaza shifted global headlines. Strategic distraction is opportunity.<\/p> <p>The war with Iran has drawn fleets and aircraft into the region. Air corridors are crowded with intercepts. Sea lanes are watched. The occupied north has become Ankara’s forward base in the eastern Mediterranean. Against this backdrop Turkey’s fighter deployment there is not marginal theatre. It is an attempt to shape the region’s security geometry before the war ends.<\/p> <p>The next moves will be quiet. Strategy rarely announces itself. A rotational fighter presence will normalise unless challenged. Air defence layers will thicken. Unmanned platforms will operate from the north with greater frequency while reconnaissance patrols extend across the eastern Mediterranean. None will appear dramatic. Over time they redefine the theatre.<\/p> <p>Yet strategy conducted under the cover of another war carries a paradox. States exploiting distraction assume invisibility. They rarely achieve it. When powers surge military assets into a region, sensors multiply, surveillance intensifies and information circulates instantly. What once escaped notice is now recorded everywhere.<\/p> <p>The legal framework surrounding the island reinforces scrutiny. International rulings and United Nations resolutions recognise only the Republic of Cyprus and reject the<\/p> <p>legality of the northern entity. Reinforcing military infrastructure does not erase those determinations. It deepens the record.<\/p> <p>There is also a contradiction in Ankara’s posture. The crisis that enabled the deployment also exposed Turkey’s reliance on collective missile defence when Iranian projectiles crossed regional skies. Interceptions came through allied systems while additional missile batteries reinforced the regional shield. A state widening one theatre while leaning on external protection in another projects autonomy while revealing dependence.<\/p> <p>European capitals and London are not bystanders. Each accepted “temporary” deployment writes Cyprus into a different security order. Ankara counts on that indulgence. It has for decades. Each unanswered move turns Cyprus from a European problem into a European choice.<\/p> <p>Even the supposed rear area is not frictionless. Northern Cyprus hosts a large Turkish military footprint, yet segments of its population question Ankara’s political direction and social influence. Military depth is strongest when the society behind it is aligned. When tension grows, securitisation can produce the opposite effect.<\/p> <p>Moves taken under distraction are recorded more closely than those taken in calm. Every deployment leaves coordinates.<\/p> <p>War accelerates strategy. While the world watches Iran, Ankara is redrawing the map of the eastern Mediterranean.<\/p> <p>But maps work both ways.<\/p> <p>Every new position extends reach and fixes vulnerability. Every aircraft shelter, patrol route and radar horizon enters a file, a model, a contingency.<\/p> <p>States acting under borrowed fire often mistake distraction for immunity. It is not immunity. It is disclosure.<\/p> <p>Disclosure is acted on.<\/p> <p>Attention shifts. The map does not.<\/p> <p>*Shay Gal works on international politics, crisis management and strategic communications, engaging governments and policymakers worldwide on power, risk and strategic decision-making.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>War draws the eye. Strategy moves elsewhere. While the world watches one battlefield, maps change. The eastern Mediterranean is one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":434152,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[21583,357,56489,17037],"nea_authors":[95212],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"Shay Gal","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>While the war with Iran dominates the horizon, Ankara has raised its posture in the occupied north of Cyprus. The deployment of F-16s and air defences was cast as a precaution while missiles crossed regional skies. In reality it was positioning for the decade, not the week. The move was deliberate, placed where Ankara expects the least scrutiny.<\/p> <p>Turkey’s posture toward Tehran is not neutrality. It is preservation. Ankara opposes escalation, preserves ties and avoids confrontation even as missiles traverse regional skies. The Iskenderun episode exposed the pattern: a strike first framed as evidence that Turkey too was under Iranian attack, then quietly briefed as likely bound for Cyprus. The narrative shifted. Clarity was never the objective. Positioning was. Strategically, nothing changed. Turkey is not part of the pressure on Iran. It is part of the machinery sustaining Tehran. Tehran receives what war requires most: cover, space and time. Ankara does not need Iran to win. It needs the regime to endure. An unresolved Iran keeps the region unstable and attention elsewhere. When the war approached Turkish airspace, Ankara did not open a front against Tehran. It reinforced its military footprint in the occupied north. That choice says everything about where Ankara seeks advantage.<\/p> <p>Cyprus is not strategy. It is leverage. Ankara treats the island as a forward position for projecting force across the eastern Mediterranean basin. Aircraft compress warning time and extend range. Temporary deployments become routine air policing. Officials already speak of phases, air defence layers and drones. This is not contingency. It is entrenchment.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>None of this is improvised. It is preparation conducted in the confidence that NATO will tolerate in Cyprus what it would never accept elsewhere.<\/p> <p>The irony is clear. Turkish officials accused Greece of exploiting regional crises in the Aegean. Yet converting turbulence into leverage has become Ankara’s reflex. President Erdoğan has declared that Turkey neutralises threats at their source beyond its borders. The doctrine runs from northern Syria to Iraq and across the seas. Cross-border action is routine.<\/p> <p>Cyprus is the next stage of a pattern that predates this war. In 2019 Turkish drones appeared at Geçitkale airfield to support offshore energy operations. In 2020 naval deployments accompanied survey missions near Cyprus as Ankara tested maritime claims in contested waters. Navigation warnings expanded across the Aegean,<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>asserting continental shelf rights and challenging neighbouring research activity. Individually they appear tactical. Together they form doctrine.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Ankara frames a two-state outcome for Cyprus as the most realistic settlement. Figures within the governing coalition raised the prospect of deeper integration between Turkey and the northern entity. Whether such proposals materialise is secondary. Their purpose is to widen what Ankara considers possible. Military reality and political narrative now converge.<\/p> <p>Turkey is no longer a reluctant status-quo power in the eastern Mediterranean. It is a revisionist one, and Cyprus is its proving ground.<\/p> <p>This instinct to act while others look away is not new. The intervention in Cyprus in 1974 unfolded while Washington was paralysed by Watergate and the United States government consumed by domestic crisis. Decades earlier the incorporation of Hatay occurred as Europe drifted toward war and French strategic bandwidth narrowed. These were not coincidences. They were moments of distraction Ankara used. Each episode reinforced the same lesson: when allies are distracted, lines on the map become negotiable.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Nor is Turkey alone in this instinct. States have long operated under borrowed fire. Syria joined the coalition against Iraq during the Gulf War and consolidated dominance in Lebanon once the conflict redirected attention. Russia intensified operations in eastern Ukraine after the war in Gaza shifted global headlines. Strategic distraction is opportunity.<\/p> <p>The war with Iran has drawn fleets and aircraft into the region. Air corridors are crowded with intercepts. Sea lanes are watched. The occupied north has become Ankara’s forward base in the eastern Mediterranean. Against this backdrop Turkey’s fighter deployment there is not marginal theatre. It is an attempt to shape the region’s security geometry before the war ends.<\/p> <p>The next moves will be quiet. Strategy rarely announces itself. A rotational fighter presence will normalise unless challenged. Air defence layers will thicken. Unmanned platforms will operate from the north with greater frequency while reconnaissance patrols extend across the eastern Mediterranean. None will appear dramatic. Over time they redefine the theatre.<\/p> <p>Yet strategy conducted under the cover of another war carries a paradox. States exploiting distraction assume invisibility. They rarely achieve it. When powers surge military assets into a region, sensors multiply, surveillance intensifies and information circulates instantly. What once escaped notice is now recorded everywhere.<\/p> <p>The legal framework surrounding the island reinforces scrutiny. International rulings and United Nations resolutions recognise only the Republic of Cyprus and reject the<\/p> <p>legality of the northern entity. Reinforcing military infrastructure does not erase those determinations. It deepens the record.<\/p> <p>There is also a contradiction in Ankara’s posture. The crisis that enabled the deployment also exposed Turkey’s reliance on collective missile defence when Iranian projectiles crossed regional skies. Interceptions came through allied systems while additional missile batteries reinforced the regional shield. A state widening one theatre while leaning on external protection in another projects autonomy while revealing dependence.<\/p> <p>European capitals and London are not bystanders. Each accepted “temporary” deployment writes Cyprus into a different security order. Ankara counts on that indulgence. It has for decades. Each unanswered move turns Cyprus from a European problem into a European choice.<\/p> <p>Even the supposed rear area is not frictionless. Northern Cyprus hosts a large Turkish military footprint, yet segments of its population question Ankara’s political direction and social influence. Military depth is strongest when the society behind it is aligned. When tension grows, securitisation can produce the opposite effect.<\/p> <p>Moves taken under distraction are recorded more closely than those taken in calm. Every deployment leaves coordinates.<\/p> <p>War accelerates strategy. While the world watches Iran, Ankara is redrawing the map of the eastern Mediterranean.<\/p> <p>But maps work both ways.<\/p> <p>Every new position extends reach and fixes vulnerability. Every aircraft shelter, patrol route and radar horizon enters a file, a model, a contingency.<\/p> <p>States acting under borrowed fire often mistake distraction for immunity. It is not immunity. It is disclosure.<\/p> <p>Disclosure is acted on.<\/p> <p>Attention shifts. The map does not.<\/p> <p>*Shay Gal works on international politics, crisis management and strategic communications, engaging governments and policymakers worldwide on power, risk and strategic decision-making.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Opinions","slug":"opinions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"To Vima and Wall Street Journal Opinion columnists, editorials and guest essays.","parent":0,"count":498,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":21583,"name":"Cyprus issue","slug":"cyprus-issue","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":21583,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":69,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":56489,"name":"Recep Tayyip Erdogan","slug":"recep-tayyip-erdogan","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":56489,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":125,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":17037,"name":"Turkey - Greece","slug":"turkey-greece","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":17037,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":18,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/AP22200427341266-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/AP22200427341266.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/AP22200427341266-300x195.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/AP22200427341266-768x500.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433330,"date":"2026-03-13T09:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T07:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433330"},"modified":"2026-03-13T07:54:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T05:54:02","slug":"when-the-big-world-devours-the-small","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/opinions\/when-the-big-world-devours-the-small\/","title":{"rendered":"When the Big World Devours the Small"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>It may indeed be “naturally” impossible for the small worlds humans inhabit to break beyond their limits. The strength each of us possesses often belongs less to the individual and more to the tiny ecosystem that sustains them.<\/p> <h3>A Different World Beneath the Sea<\/h3> <p>The sea is another world entirely. Its environment differs profoundly from that of land, and its creatures have evolved along very different paths. Underwater, the rules are not the same.<\/p> <p>For that reason, what we think we know about marine life often comes only from observation—and observation can mislead.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Take dolphins.<\/p> <p>Because they don’t eat us for breakfast and because humans have trained them to perform acrobatics in captivity, we tend to imagine them as the gentle angels of the ocean.<\/p> <p>Not quite.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In reality, dolphins can be the bullies of the deep. They are extraordinarily intelligent and share with humans two potentially dangerous traits: they can recognize themselves in a mirror, and they engage in sexual activity not only for reproduction but also for pleasure.<\/p> <p>That level of self-awareness sometimes goes hand in hand with darker behavior. Groups of dolphins have been observed exploiting, tormenting or even killing other dolphins and vulnerable marine species they encounter.<\/p> <h3>The Misunderstood Shark<\/h3> <p>Sharks, on the other hand, suffer from the opposite misunderstanding.<\/p> <p>Because sharks sometimes eat humans, we imagine them as demons of the sea. But the reality is far less sinister. In many ways, they resemble Malinois dogs—large, somewhat clumsy creatures with teeth.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Sharks generally prefer to be left alone. Some swim accompanied by small fish that help guide them, because sharks are naturally somewhat nearsighted. Certain species—such as the whale shark, whose name sounds far more terrifying than its behavior—are not aggressive at all.<\/p> <p>And, frankly, can we really complain?<\/p> <p>If someone paddles into the middle of the ocean on a surfboard, nearly naked and alone, what exactly did they expect? In the open sea, that makes you lunch.<\/p> <h3>When We Get It Exactly Right<\/h3> <p>Most marine creatures we misunderstand because their world is closed to us. We cannot truly enter it, coexist with them or communicate with them.<\/p> <p>But there are species we have not misunderstood at all.<\/p> <p>One striking example is the orca, often called the killer whale.<\/p> <p>These formidable marine mammals earned their reputation through a combination of physical strength, intelligence and relentless focus, aggressive enough to rival the drive of a corporate pyramid-scheme manager.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Orcas usually move in tightly coordinated groups—like a gang patrolling the streets of Queens.<\/p> <p>When they spot a seal resting on a sheet of Arctic ice, the orcas begin an astonishingly synchronized maneuver. Swimming in formation beneath the ice, they slam their massive bodies against it again and again, generating waves that eventually shatter the platform.<\/p> <p>The seal, after enduring long minutes of terror on what it believed was a safe refuge, suddenly plunges into the freezing water—surrounded by giants who have just demonstrated that they are not in a hurry to kill quickly or mercifully.<\/p> <h3>The Grandmother Orca<\/h3> <p>Recently, I learned something fascinating about a monitored orca named Sophia.<\/p> <p>Sophia was a solitary female, around sixty years old—a grandmother in orca terms. She is the only documented case of a lone orca killing a great white shark.<\/p> <p>For a pod of orcas, that would simply be another Wednesday.<\/p> <p>But here we are talking about a single elderly orca facing a great white shark, perhaps the most formidable predator still echoing the age of dinosaurs.<\/p> <p>In the documentary footage, the shark swims calmly, barely noticing the danger. The orca charges and strikes with such force that, as the narrator explains dramatically, the shark’s ribs shatter instantly.<\/p> <p>With a single, deliberate blow, the contest ends before it even truly begins.<\/p> <h3>A Collision of Forces<\/h3> <p>Watching such scenes inspires awe.<\/p> <p>Through a documentary screen, we can hardly comprehend the scale of the forces involved—the sheer mass of muscle colliding with muscle, the tons of living flesh, the fortress of teeth.<\/p> <p>When the orca and the shark collide, it almost feels as though a vibration reaches you—like a shockwave not of matter, but of an idea.<\/p> <p>The idea that a human would stand absolutely no chance between those two creatures.<\/p> <p>What could we possibly amount to against such power?<\/p> <p>That video reminded me of another one I had seen—an animated simulation of the hypothetical collision between a black hole and a neutron star.<\/p> <p>Two spheres drift through space: one black, the black hole—like the orca; the other blue, the neutron star—like the great white shark.<\/p> <p>The dance is strangely similar. The black sphere circles the blue one so tightly that they almost seem still. Then, with a single catastrophic moment, the black hole simply swallows the neutron star.<\/p> <p>Another unknown world, with forces so far beyond human scale that even the word <em>death<\/em> would seem absurdly small if someone were somehow caught between them.<\/p> <h3>The Human Exception<\/h3> <p>Yet humans rule their own planet.<\/p> <p>And although we certainly do not rule the universe, we have no hesitation in sticking our noses into it.<\/p> <p>Neither orcas and sharks nor black holes and neutron stars intimidate us enough to stop exploring. We know that while we lack physical might, we possess extraordinary intelligence.<\/p> <p>Still, intelligence alone would hardly be enough to compete with the monsters of other worlds.<\/p> <p>Perhaps that is precisely the trick.<\/p> <p>Great forces remain locked inside their own domains:<br \/> whales within the vast oceans, stars within the vast emptiness of space.<\/p> <h3>Worlds That Do Not Cross<\/h3> <p>But imagine if those worlds collided.<\/p> <p>What if an orca and a shark could walk on land? What if black holes and stars could move freely outside their cosmic fields?<\/p> <p>What if humans were not the only ones capable of entering other worlds—but the monsters could enter ours as well?<\/p> <p>This cosmic architecture seems to apply everywhere.<\/p> <p>Everyone has their own world.<\/p> <p>You may be king in your own domain—like the orca—but unable even to breathe in the world next door. There, you would be nothing.<\/p> <p>Human societies maintain a kind of balance based on exactly this principle. What matters is not what you are, but that you remain within your closed environment.<\/p> <p>Rule your world if you like. Just do not leave it.<\/p> <p>Because there are other worlds nearby—worlds that your overwhelming power might threaten if that power were truly yours, rather than a product of the environment that contains you.<\/p> <h3>The Limits of Power<\/h3> <p>Perhaps it truly is “natural” for human micro-worlds to remain confined within their boundaries.<\/p> <p>The power any of us possesses belongs mostly to our ecosystem, not to ourselves.<\/p> <p>And if someone somehow managed to escape that limitation—if they discovered a form of power belonging solely to themselves—that would be an anomaly in nature.<\/p> <p>As strange as an orca suddenly growing legs and launching itself onto land to strike beyond the water.<\/p> <p>One wonders whether, somewhere in the depths, the mind of the orca ever struggles with that thought.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From dolphins and sharks to killer whales and black holes, a reflection on power, ecosystems and the invisible boundaries that separate worlds. What happens when strength only exists within the limits of the environment that created it?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":433333,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1566,36],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>It may indeed be “naturally” impossible for the small worlds humans inhabit to break beyond their limits. The strength each of us possesses often belongs less to the individual and more to the tiny ecosystem that sustains them.<\/p> <h3>A Different World Beneath the Sea<\/h3> <p>The sea is another world entirely. Its environment differs profoundly from that of land, and its creatures have evolved along very different paths. Underwater, the rules are not the same.<\/p> <p>For that reason, what we think we know about marine life often comes only from observation—and observation can mislead.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Take dolphins.<\/p> <p>Because they don’t eat us for breakfast and because humans have trained them to perform acrobatics in captivity, we tend to imagine them as the gentle angels of the ocean.<\/p> <p>Not quite.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>In reality, dolphins can be the bullies of the deep. They are extraordinarily intelligent and share with humans two potentially dangerous traits: they can recognize themselves in a mirror, and they engage in sexual activity not only for reproduction but also for pleasure.<\/p> <p>That level of self-awareness sometimes goes hand in hand with darker behavior. Groups of dolphins have been observed exploiting, tormenting or even killing other dolphins and vulnerable marine species they encounter.<\/p> <h3>The Misunderstood Shark<\/h3> <p>Sharks, on the other hand, suffer from the opposite misunderstanding.<\/p> <p>Because sharks sometimes eat humans, we imagine them as demons of the sea. But the reality is far less sinister. In many ways, they resemble Malinois dogs—large, somewhat clumsy creatures with teeth.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Sharks generally prefer to be left alone. Some swim accompanied by small fish that help guide them, because sharks are naturally somewhat nearsighted. Certain species—such as the whale shark, whose name sounds far more terrifying than its behavior—are not aggressive at all.<\/p> <p>And, frankly, can we really complain?<\/p> <p>If someone paddles into the middle of the ocean on a surfboard, nearly naked and alone, what exactly did they expect? In the open sea, that makes you lunch.<\/p> <h3>When We Get It Exactly Right<\/h3> <p>Most marine creatures we misunderstand because their world is closed to us. We cannot truly enter it, coexist with them or communicate with them.<\/p> <p>But there are species we have not misunderstood at all.<\/p> <p>One striking example is the orca, often called the killer whale.<\/p> <p>These formidable marine mammals earned their reputation through a combination of physical strength, intelligence and relentless focus, aggressive enough to rival the drive of a corporate pyramid-scheme manager.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Orcas usually move in tightly coordinated groups—like a gang patrolling the streets of Queens.<\/p> <p>When they spot a seal resting on a sheet of Arctic ice, the orcas begin an astonishingly synchronized maneuver. Swimming in formation beneath the ice, they slam their massive bodies against it again and again, generating waves that eventually shatter the platform.<\/p> <p>The seal, after enduring long minutes of terror on what it believed was a safe refuge, suddenly plunges into the freezing water—surrounded by giants who have just demonstrated that they are not in a hurry to kill quickly or mercifully.<\/p> <h3>The Grandmother Orca<\/h3> <p>Recently, I learned something fascinating about a monitored orca named Sophia.<\/p> <p>Sophia was a solitary female, around sixty years old—a grandmother in orca terms. She is the only documented case of a lone orca killing a great white shark.<\/p> <p>For a pod of orcas, that would simply be another Wednesday.<\/p> <p>But here we are talking about a single elderly orca facing a great white shark, perhaps the most formidable predator still echoing the age of dinosaurs.<\/p> <p>In the documentary footage, the shark swims calmly, barely noticing the danger. The orca charges and strikes with such force that, as the narrator explains dramatically, the shark’s ribs shatter instantly.<\/p> <p>With a single, deliberate blow, the contest ends before it even truly begins.<\/p> <h3>A Collision of Forces<\/h3> <p>Watching such scenes inspires awe.<\/p> <p>Through a documentary screen, we can hardly comprehend the scale of the forces involved—the sheer mass of muscle colliding with muscle, the tons of living flesh, the fortress of teeth.<\/p> <p>When the orca and the shark collide, it almost feels as though a vibration reaches you—like a shockwave not of matter, but of an idea.<\/p> <p>The idea that a human would stand absolutely no chance between those two creatures.<\/p> <p>What could we possibly amount to against such power?<\/p> <p>That video reminded me of another one I had seen—an animated simulation of the hypothetical collision between a black hole and a neutron star.<\/p> <p>Two spheres drift through space: one black, the black hole—like the orca; the other blue, the neutron star—like the great white shark.<\/p> <p>The dance is strangely similar. The black sphere circles the blue one so tightly that they almost seem still. Then, with a single catastrophic moment, the black hole simply swallows the neutron star.<\/p> <p>Another unknown world, with forces so far beyond human scale that even the word <em>death<\/em> would seem absurdly small if someone were somehow caught between them.<\/p> <h3>The Human Exception<\/h3> <p>Yet humans rule their own planet.<\/p> <p>And although we certainly do not rule the universe, we have no hesitation in sticking our noses into it.<\/p> <p>Neither orcas and sharks nor black holes and neutron stars intimidate us enough to stop exploring. We know that while we lack physical might, we possess extraordinary intelligence.<\/p> <p>Still, intelligence alone would hardly be enough to compete with the monsters of other worlds.<\/p> <p>Perhaps that is precisely the trick.<\/p> <p>Great forces remain locked inside their own domains:<br \/> whales within the vast oceans, stars within the vast emptiness of space.<\/p> <h3>Worlds That Do Not Cross<\/h3> <p>But imagine if those worlds collided.<\/p> <p>What if an orca and a shark could walk on land? What if black holes and stars could move freely outside their cosmic fields?<\/p> <p>What if humans were not the only ones capable of entering other worlds—but the monsters could enter ours as well?<\/p> <p>This cosmic architecture seems to apply everywhere.<\/p> <p>Everyone has their own world.<\/p> <p>You may be king in your own domain—like the orca—but unable even to breathe in the world next door. There, you would be nothing.<\/p> <p>Human societies maintain a kind of balance based on exactly this principle. What matters is not what you are, but that you remain within your closed environment.<\/p> <p>Rule your world if you like. Just do not leave it.<\/p> <p>Because there are other worlds nearby—worlds that your overwhelming power might threaten if that power were truly yours, rather than a product of the environment that contains you.<\/p> <h3>The Limits of Power<\/h3> <p>Perhaps it truly is “natural” for human micro-worlds to remain confined within their boundaries.<\/p> <p>The power any of us possesses belongs mostly to our ecosystem, not to ourselves.<\/p> <p>And if someone somehow managed to escape that limitation—if they discovered a form of power belonging solely to themselves—that would be an anomaly in nature.<\/p> <p>As strange as an orca suddenly growing legs and launching itself onto land to strike beyond the water.<\/p> <p>One wonders whether, somewhere in the depths, the mind of the orca ever struggles with that thought.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Opinions","slug":"opinions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"To Vima and Wall Street Journal Opinion columnists, editorials and guest essays.","parent":0,"count":498,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":1566,"name":"Animals","slug":"animals","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1566,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":36,"name":"environment","slug":"environment","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":36,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":17,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Clipboard-2026-03-06T090425.416-1024x645-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Clipboard-2026-03-06T090425.416-1024x645-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Clipboard-2026-03-06T090425.416-1024x645-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/Clipboard-2026-03-06T090425.416-1024x645-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":431569,"date":"2026-03-11T10:30:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T08:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=431569"},"modified":"2026-03-12T19:02:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:02:09","slug":"the-prophecy-of-prophecies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/opinions\/the-prophecy-of-prophecies\/","title":{"rendered":"The Prophecy of Prophecies"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm pb-25\"> <article class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&:has([data-writing-block])>*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-turn-id=\"request-6978b5d2-4e58-8331-b0c1-8e043c2c3803-112\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-96\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\"> <div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"> <div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"> <div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"039454e9-8ad5-4b5f-8703-4c23291a9b2c\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-3\"> <div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"> <div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling\"> <p data-start=\"444\" data-end=\"883\">To Albert Einstein’s hypothesis, rooted in the terror of nuclear weapons, that “World War IV will be fought with stones,” one could add a first element based on lived experience: today’s war is fought with keyboards. This is the beginning of a beginning which one hopes will not lead to a Third World War—and, even more, that the nuclear button will not be pressed. If that were to happen, it would certainly confirm Einstein’s hypothesis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"1476\">The hypothesis, not the prophecy. Emmanuel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-orders-nuclear-warhead-increase-launches-eu-deterrence-plan\/\">Macron<\/a> did not turn into a prophet in a suit and tie by promoting the idea of a “nuclear umbrella” that would cover European territory. He too based himself on the assumption that a sequence of escalations can lead a theoretically controlled situation to an uncontrollable catastrophe. What does this mean? That the anarchist student from Serbia probably never imagined that, by assassinating the Archduke of Austria, Europe would end up counting millions of dead in its mud. That just two bullets would turn the Old Continent into a vast cemetery.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1478\" data-end=\"1978\">Nothing therefore guarantees that a war fought with keyboards will not escalate into a more deadly one—or even the deadliest in history. Nothing ensures that the “safety specifications”—drone operators working from a “remote room,” “locked targets,” and “precision strikes”—will not collapse because of random events and unpredictable factors. Joysticks are all very well, but if one wants greater peace of mind, it would be better to prepare for both the most likely and the most unlikely scenarios.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1980\" data-end=\"2348\">To gather forces, as has happened, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/mitsotakis-and-macron-pledge-support-for-cyprus-amid-tensions\/\">Cyprus<\/a>. And yes, to set up a nuclear umbrella as well, just in case. It is probably the minimum one should do when at the head of the most powerful country on the planet there is not only a president accompanied by the certainty that he is “unpredictable,” but also by the well-founded suspicion that he is not at all far-sighted.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2350\" data-end=\"2706\">Analysts and insiders pointed out from the very first days of the remote operation in Iran that the United States had no plan, and that if someone wanted to diagnose the course of events, they should turn their attention to Israel’s moves and draw information from there. “They know their business,” as one analyst who speaks with the well-informed put it.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2708\" data-end=\"2980\">Why is this study worth its weight in gold? Because it strengthens the ability to foresee developments. And what one is above all called upon to foresee is the “right side of history.” That is the prediction of predictions—or, more cryptically, the prophecy of prophecies.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"2982\" data-end=\"3608\">The objective becomes even more important now that the camps are no longer entrenched as they once were, nor are alliances taken for granted. A rather short-sighted reading—one that has certainly been disproved in the past—says that to come out unscathed it is enough to placate the monster of the era. It is not so; it never was. Another view argues that it is enough to play with many sides while ensuring that none considers you its own. But if one looks nearby, one will see that Turkey moved from the penthouse of “multi-dimensional foreign policy” to the basements of embarrassment—and not step by step, but by elevator.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3610\" data-end=\"4012\">From Venezuela to Greenland, Trump sees the world like a platter—a flat surface where all you have to do is bring your thumb and forefinger together to pick up the morsel you desire. The others see a reality of multiple dimensions: Iran striking the Arabs, Ukraine offering defensive know-how to the Gulf Emirates, and a number of European countries assisting “Kimon” in the Southeastern Mediterranean.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4014\" data-end=\"4252\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Much has changed in the Third Gulf War, yet nothing has changed since the Russian invasion of Northeastern Europe. Already from that moment, one should have been able to “prophesy” whom you would side with—and whom you would leave behind.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/article> <\/div> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>From Venezuela to Greenland, Trump sees the world like a platter—a flat surface where all you have to do is bring your thumb and forefinger together to pick up the morsel you crave. Everyone else sees a reality of more dimensions<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":433234,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[276],"nea_authors":[80149],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"Periklis Dimitrolopoulos","thecontent":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm pb-25\"> <article class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-turn-id=\"request-6978b5d2-4e58-8331-b0c1-8e043c2c3803-112\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-96\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\"> <div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"> <div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"> <div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"039454e9-8ad5-4b5f-8703-4c23291a9b2c\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-3\"> <div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"> <div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word light markdown-new-styling\"> <p data-start=\"444\" data-end=\"883\">To Albert Einstein’s hypothesis, rooted in the terror of nuclear weapons, that “World War IV will be fought with stones,” one could add a first element based on lived experience: today’s war is fought with keyboards. This is the beginning of a beginning which one hopes will not lead to a Third World War—and, even more, that the nuclear button will not be pressed. If that were to happen, it would certainly confirm Einstein’s hypothesis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"1476\">The hypothesis, not the prophecy. Emmanuel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/macron-orders-nuclear-warhead-increase-launches-eu-deterrence-plan\/\">Macron<\/a> did not turn into a prophet in a suit and tie by promoting the idea of a “nuclear umbrella” that would cover European territory. He too based himself on the assumption that a sequence of escalations can lead a theoretically controlled situation to an uncontrollable catastrophe. What does this mean? That the anarchist student from Serbia probably never imagined that, by assassinating the Archduke of Austria, Europe would end up counting millions of dead in its mud. That just two bullets would turn the Old Continent into a vast cemetery.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1478\" data-end=\"1978\">Nothing therefore guarantees that a war fought with keyboards will not escalate into a more deadly one—or even the deadliest in history. Nothing ensures that the “safety specifications”—drone operators working from a “remote room,” “locked targets,” and “precision strikes”—will not collapse because of random events and unpredictable factors. Joysticks are all very well, but if one wants greater peace of mind, it would be better to prepare for both the most likely and the most unlikely scenarios.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1980\" data-end=\"2348\">To gather forces, as has happened, in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/mitsotakis-and-macron-pledge-support-for-cyprus-amid-tensions\/\">Cyprus<\/a>. And yes, to set up a nuclear umbrella as well, just in case. It is probably the minimum one should do when at the head of the most powerful country on the planet there is not only a president accompanied by the certainty that he is “unpredictable,” but also by the well-founded suspicion that he is not at all far-sighted.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2350\" data-end=\"2706\">Analysts and insiders pointed out from the very first days of the remote operation in Iran that the United States had no plan, and that if someone wanted to diagnose the course of events, they should turn their attention to Israel’s moves and draw information from there. “They know their business,” as one analyst who speaks with the well-informed put it.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2708\" data-end=\"2980\">Why is this study worth its weight in gold? Because it strengthens the ability to foresee developments. And what one is above all called upon to foresee is the “right side of history.” That is the prediction of predictions—or, more cryptically, the prophecy of prophecies.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"2982\" data-end=\"3608\">The objective becomes even more important now that the camps are no longer entrenched as they once were, nor are alliances taken for granted. A rather short-sighted reading—one that has certainly been disproved in the past—says that to come out unscathed it is enough to placate the monster of the era. It is not so; it never was. Another view argues that it is enough to play with many sides while ensuring that none considers you its own. But if one looks nearby, one will see that Turkey moved from the penthouse of “multi-dimensional foreign policy” to the basements of embarrassment—and not step by step, but by elevator.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3610\" data-end=\"4012\">From Venezuela to Greenland, Trump sees the world like a platter—a flat surface where all you have to do is bring your thumb and forefinger together to pick up the morsel you desire. The others see a reality of multiple dimensions: Iran striking the Arabs, Ukraine offering defensive know-how to the Gulf Emirates, and a number of European countries assisting “Kimon” in the Southeastern Mediterranean.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4014\" data-end=\"4252\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">Much has changed in the Third Gulf War, yet nothing has changed since the Russian invasion of Northeastern Europe. Already from that moment, one should have been able to “prophesy” whom you would side with—and whom you would leave behind.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/article> <\/div> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Opinions","slug":"opinions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"To Vima and Wall Street Journal Opinion columnists, editorials and guest essays.","parent":0,"count":498,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":276,"name":"Donald Trump","slug":"donald-trump","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":276,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":628,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/Psimithia_0803-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/Psimithia_0803.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/Psimithia_0803-187x300.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/Psimithia_0803-768x1229.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"World","header":"Κόσμος","ID":"4","posts":[{"id":435136,"date":"2026-03-16T16:06:20","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:06:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=435136"},"modified":"2026-03-16T16:06:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:06:20","slug":"un-report-labels-israeli-airstrike-on-iran-prison-a-war-crime","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/un-report-labels-israeli-airstrike-on-iran-prison-a-war-crime\/","title":{"rendered":"UN Report Labels Israeli Airstrike on Iran Prison a War Crime"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"552\">A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded that an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison last year constitutes a war crime, the head of the investigation told the Human Rights Council on Monday.<\/p> <p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"945\">Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said the airstrike, which killed more than 70 people—including women and a child—was deliberately directed at a civilian object. The report, based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and other documentation, also details the broader risks to prisoners amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Iran.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1s32hc1\" data-start=\"947\" data-end=\"990\">Growing Concerns Over Detainee Safety<\/h3> <p data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1258\">The strikes have caused damage to Evin Prison, which holds political prisoners, including a British couple. Hossain warned that continued bombardment could lead to harsher domestic repression in Iran, citing an increase in executions following last year’s attacks.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1470\">“The core lesson drawn from our investigations is clear: external military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” Hossain said.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1679\">U.N.-appointed rights expert Mai Sato also highlighted deteriorating conditions for detainees. Families have struggled to contact relatives, and shortages of food and medicine are worsening inside prisons.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5o23wj\" data-start=\"1681\" data-end=\"1717\">Israel Disengages From Council<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1928\">Israel was absent from the Human Rights Council debate and left its seat empty. Officials from the prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"2142\">Iran’s ambassador, Ali Bahreini, called for condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in the country, and emphasized the humanitarian risks to detainees.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The UN investigation finds Israel intentionally targeted Evin Prison, killing civilians, and warns current U.S.-Israeli strikes could increase repression and put detainees at risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":435139,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[18810,1134,23271],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"349\" data-end=\"552\">A U.N. fact-finding mission has concluded that an Israeli airstrike on Tehran’s Evin Prison last year constitutes a war crime, the head of the investigation told the Human Rights Council on Monday.<\/p> <p data-start=\"554\" data-end=\"945\">Sara Hossain, chair of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, said the airstrike, which killed more than 70 people—including women and a child—was deliberately directed at a civilian object. The report, based on witness testimony, satellite imagery, and other documentation, also details the broader risks to prisoners amid ongoing U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in Iran.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1s32hc1\" data-start=\"947\" data-end=\"990\">Growing Concerns Over Detainee Safety<\/h3> <p data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1258\">The strikes have caused damage to Evin Prison, which holds political prisoners, including a British couple. Hossain warned that continued bombardment could lead to harsher domestic repression in Iran, citing an increase in executions following last year’s attacks.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1260\" data-end=\"1470\">“The core lesson drawn from our investigations is clear: external military action does not provide accountability or bring meaningful change. Instead, it risks intensifying domestic repression,” Hossain said.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1472\" data-end=\"1679\">U.N.-appointed rights expert Mai Sato also highlighted deteriorating conditions for detainees. Families have struggled to contact relatives, and shortages of food and medicine are worsening inside prisons.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5o23wj\" data-start=\"1681\" data-end=\"1717\">Israel Disengages From Council<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1928\">Israel was absent from the Human Rights Council debate and left its seat empty. Officials from the prime minister’s office, foreign ministry, and military did not immediately respond to requests for comment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1930\" data-end=\"2142\">Iran’s ambassador, Ali Bahreini, called for condemnation of the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes, which he said have killed more than 1,300 people in the country, and emphasized the humanitarian risks to detainees.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":18810,"name":"Iran Israel Conflict","slug":"iran-israel-conflict","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":18810,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":182,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1134,"name":"UN","slug":"un","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1134,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":23271,"name":"war crimes","slug":"war-crimes","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":23271,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-300x201.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T103443Z_1285187758_RC2L5KAWF5FK_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-RIGHTS-768x515.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434440,"date":"2026-03-16T15:30:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:30:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434440"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:52:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:52:27","slug":"iran-war-shows-dangers-of-fossil-fuel-dependence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/iran-war-shows-dangers-of-fossil-fuel-dependence\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran War Shows Dangers of Fossil Fuel Dependence"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"685\">The ongoing war in Iran has highlighted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/oil-markets-brace-for-lasting-turmoil-in-the-gulf\/\">the risks<\/a> of heavy dependence on fossil fuels, according to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. Speaking to European policymakers in Brussels, Stiell described the crisis as an “abject lesson” in how energy reliance can undermine national security and economic stability.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1gd9ey6\" data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"725\">European Energy Markets Hit Hard<\/h3> <p data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1065\">Although geographically distant from the Middle East, Europe has felt the impact of the conflict through sharply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/papastavrou-100-oil-would-trigger-fuel-measures-in-greece\/\">rising energy prices.<\/a> European gas costs have surged by 50% since the war began just two weeks ago, prompting emergency measures by EU governments to protect consumers and prevent a repeat of the 2022 energy crisis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1067\" data-end=\"1394\">“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty, and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” Stiell said in prepared remarks. He warned that Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas—over 90% of oil and 80% of gas—leaves citizens vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and volatile pricing.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"74x6ty\" data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1436\">Renewables as a Strategic Solution<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1438\" data-end=\"1708\">Stiell emphasized that a transition to locally produced renewable and nuclear energy is key to securing Europe’s energy independence. Governments, he argued, should resist pressure from countries like Italy and Hungary to weaken climate policies for short-term relief.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1710\" data-end=\"2037\">“Meek dependence on fossil fuel imports will leave Europe forever lurching from crisis to crisis,” Stiell said. He highlighted the long-term benefits of renewables, noting that sources like solar and wind offer stable, low-cost energy and stimulate clean-technology jobs, free from reliance on vulnerable shipping routes.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>UN climate chief warns Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas fuels insecurity and price volatility, calling for urgent shift to renewable energy to shield economies from geopolitical shocks<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434455,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[390,948,357,1134],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"347\" data-end=\"685\">The ongoing war in Iran has highlighted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wsj\/oil-markets-brace-for-lasting-turmoil-in-the-gulf\/\">the risks<\/a> of heavy dependence on fossil fuels, according to Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC. Speaking to European policymakers in Brussels, Stiell described the crisis as an “abject lesson” in how energy reliance can undermine national security and economic stability.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1gd9ey6\" data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"725\">European Energy Markets Hit Hard<\/h3> <p data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1065\">Although geographically distant from the Middle East, Europe has felt the impact of the conflict through sharply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/finance\/papastavrou-100-oil-would-trigger-fuel-measures-in-greece\/\">rising energy prices.<\/a> European gas costs have surged by 50% since the war began just two weeks ago, prompting emergency measures by EU governments to protect consumers and prevent a repeat of the 2022 energy crisis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1067\" data-end=\"1394\">“Fossil fuel dependency is ripping away national security and sovereignty, and replacing it with subservience and rising costs,” Stiell said in prepared remarks. He warned that Europe’s reliance on imported oil and gas—over 90% of oil and 80% of gas—leaves citizens vulnerable to geopolitical shocks and volatile pricing.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"74x6ty\" data-start=\"1396\" data-end=\"1436\">Renewables as a Strategic Solution<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1438\" data-end=\"1708\">Stiell emphasized that a transition to locally produced renewable and nuclear energy is key to securing Europe’s energy independence. Governments, he argued, should resist pressure from countries like Italy and Hungary to weaken climate policies for short-term relief.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1710\" data-end=\"2037\">“Meek dependence on fossil fuel imports will leave Europe forever lurching from crisis to crisis,” Stiell said. He highlighted the long-term benefits of renewables, noting that sources like solar and wind offer stable, low-cost energy and stimulate clean-technology jobs, free from reliance on vulnerable shipping routes.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":390,"name":"climate change","slug":"climate-change","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":390,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":116,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":948,"name":"fossil fuel","slug":"fossil-fuel","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":948,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":357,"name":"Iran","slug":"iran","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":357,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":329,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1134,"name":"UN","slug":"un","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1134,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE-300x207.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T050026Z_758186024_RC20J5ARM4ER_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-UN-CLIMATE-768x529.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434968,"date":"2026-03-16T15:25:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:25:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434968"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:30:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:30:20","slug":"eu-to-impose-sanctions-on-nine-people-for-alleged-war-crimes-in-ukraines-bucha-says-french-minister","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/eu-to-impose-sanctions-on-nine-people-for-alleged-war-crimes-in-ukraines-bucha-says-french-minister\/","title":{"rendered":"EU Set to Impose Sanctions on Nine Individuals for Purported War Crimes in Ukraine’s Bucha Suburb, Says French Minister"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Barrot made the ⁠comments upon his arrival at ​a EU foreign minister meeting ​in Brussels.<\/p> <p>The EU would also impose sanctions on Monday ​on a number of rumored ⁠Kremlin propagandists, most notably the Franco-Russian Adrien Bocquet, whom Barrot ​has characterized as &#8220;a key recruiter ​of ⁠foreign fighters in Ukraine, responsible for glorifying war crimes, and also ⁠responsible ​for disinformation campaigns in ​Europe and Africa.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Kyiv has reported that more than 1,400 civilians were killed in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital, during a 33-day occupation by Russian forces at ‌the ⁠beginning of Moscow&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p> <p>Moscow has referred to the allegations as a &#8220;hoax&#8221;, denying any responsibility and accusing Ukrainian authorities of faking footage of the civilian killings.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\" data-testid=\"promo-box\"> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel ​Barrot said on Monday that ‌the European Union would be imposing sanctions on nine individuals accused of war ​crimes connected to the ​April 2022, Bucha killings in Ukraine<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":124,"featured_media":435013,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[42919,206,25,41135],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Barrot made the ⁠comments upon his arrival at ​a EU foreign minister meeting ​in Brussels.<\/p> <p>The EU would also impose sanctions on Monday ​on a number of rumored ⁠Kremlin propagandists, most notably the Franco-Russian Adrien Bocquet, whom Barrot ​has characterized as &#8220;a key recruiter ​of ⁠foreign fighters in Ukraine, responsible for glorifying war crimes, and also ⁠responsible ​for disinformation campaigns in ​Europe and Africa.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Kyiv has reported that more than 1,400 civilians were killed in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital, during a 33-day occupation by Russian forces at ‌the ⁠beginning of Moscow&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.<\/p> <p>Moscow has referred to the allegations as a &#8220;hoax&#8221;, denying any responsibility and accusing Ukrainian authorities of faking footage of the civilian killings.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p class=\"text-module__text__0GDob text-module__dark-grey__UFC18 text-module__regular__qJJtA text-module__small__sph8i body-module__base__o--Cl body-module__small_body__gOmDf article-body-module__promo-box__hVl8h\" data-testid=\"promo-box\"> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":42919,"name":"EU sanctions","slug":"eu-sanctions","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":42919,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":206,"name":"European Union","slug":"european-union","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":206,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":101,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":25,"name":"France","slug":"france","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":25,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":86,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":41135,"name":"Russia Ukraine War","slug":"russia-ukraine-war","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":41135,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":405,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/French-Foreign-Minister-Jean-Noel-Barrot-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434866,"date":"2026-03-16T13:47:51","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434866"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:47:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:47:51","slug":"uk-working-with-allies-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/uk-working-with-allies-to-reopen-strait-of-hormuz\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Working With Allies to Reopen Strait of Hormuz"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"339\" data-end=\"613\">The United Kingdom is working with international partners on a plan to reopen the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/france-and-italy-open-talks-with-iran-over-hormuz-passage-ft-reports\/\">Strait of Hormu<\/a>z, Prime Minister <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Keir Starmer<\/span><\/span> said on Monday, as governments seek to restore navigation through one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.<\/p> <p data-start=\"615\" data-end=\"781\">Speaking to reporters in London, Starmer said the effort aims to stabilize global energy markets and reduce the economic impact caused by disruptions in the region.<\/p> <p data-start=\"783\" data-end=\"914\">“Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the (oil) market. That is not a simple task,” he said.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"lncj79\" data-start=\"916\" data-end=\"946\">Coordination With Allies<\/h3> <p data-start=\"948\" data-end=\"1103\">Starmer said Britain is coordinating closely with its partners to develop a collective strategy that could restore safe passage through the waterway.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1338\">“We&#8217;re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact,” he added.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prime Minister Keir Starmer says Britain and its partners are developing a collective plan to restore freedom of navigation in the key energy route, warning that reopening the strait will not be easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[28191,65995,45146],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"339\" data-end=\"613\">The United Kingdom is working with international partners on a plan to reopen the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/france-and-italy-open-talks-with-iran-over-hormuz-passage-ft-reports\/\">Strait of Hormu<\/a>z, Prime Minister <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Keir Starmer<\/span><\/span> said on Monday, as governments seek to restore navigation through one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.<\/p> <p data-start=\"615\" data-end=\"781\">Speaking to reporters in London, Starmer said the effort aims to stabilize global energy markets and reduce the economic impact caused by disruptions in the region.<\/p> <p data-start=\"783\" data-end=\"914\">“Ultimately, we have to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to ensure stability in the (oil) market. That is not a simple task,” he said.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"lncj79\" data-start=\"916\" data-end=\"946\">Coordination With Allies<\/h3> <p data-start=\"948\" data-end=\"1103\">Starmer said Britain is coordinating closely with its partners to develop a collective strategy that could restore safe passage through the waterway.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1338\">“We&#8217;re working with all of our allies, including our European partners, to bring together a viable collective plan that can restore freedom of navigation in the region as quickly as possible and ease the economic impact,” he added.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":28191,"name":"Keir Starmer","slug":"keir-starmer","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":28191,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":65995,"name":"Strait of Hormuz","slug":"strait-of-hormuz","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":65995,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":36,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":45146,"name":"UK","slug":"uk","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":45146,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":44,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T112153Z_1266088255_RC2N5KAIXXKI_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-BRITAIN-STARMER-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T112153Z_1266088255_RC2N5KAIXXKI_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-BRITAIN-STARMER.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T112153Z_1266088255_RC2N5KAIXXKI_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-BRITAIN-STARMER-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T112153Z_1266088255_RC2N5KAIXXKI_RTRMADP_5_IRAN-CRISIS-BRITAIN-STARMER-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434743,"date":"2026-03-16T13:35:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:35:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434743"},"modified":"2026-03-16T13:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:40:48","slug":"former-french-president-sarkozys-appeal-against-conspiracy-conviction-opens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/former-french-president-sarkozys-appeal-against-conspiracy-conviction-opens\/","title":{"rendered":"Former French President Sarkozy’s Appeal Against Conspiracy Conviction Opens"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This marks Sarkozy as the first post-war president of France to be imprisoned, a remarkable downfall for a man who led ​the country from 2007 to 2012. He was incarcerated in ​October at La Sante prison in Paris and was freed three ⁠weeks later, after a court agreed to release him under judicial supervision, which ​included a ban on leaving France.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-and-Gaddafi.avif\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-434758\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-and-Gaddafi.avif\" alt=\"Sarkozy welcoming Gaddafi to theÉlysée Palace in in 2007. Photograph: Sipa Press\/Rex\/Shutterstock\" \/><\/a>Sarkozy, who has always denied the charges, was ​accused of making striking a deal with Gaddafi in 2005, when he was ​France&#8217;s interior minister, to obtain campaign financing in exchange for supporting the then-isolated Libyan ‌government ⁠on the international stage.<\/p> <p>Judges said there was no proof that Sarkozy made such a deal with Gaddafi, nor that money that was sent from Libya reached Sarkozy&#8217;s campaign coffers, even if the timing was &#8220;compatible&#8221; and the ​paths the money ​went through were &#8220;very ⁠opaque&#8221;.<\/p> <p>But they said Sarkozy was guilty of criminal conspiracy between 2005 and 2007 for having let close aides ​get in touch with people in Libya to try ​and ⁠obtain campaign financing.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;<em>The fight against corruption is not just a matter of integrity: it is a prerequisite for protecting the rule of law and maintaining ⁠effective ​democracy,<\/em>&#8221; said rights groups Sherpa, Anticor and ​Transparency International France in a statement on Friday.<\/p> <p>Sarkozy&#8217;s lawyer Christophe Ingrain said he had no comment ​ahead of the appeal trial opening.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy is due to appear in court on Monday to appeal a conviction for criminal ​conspiracy over attempts to procure campaign funds from Libya, for ‌which he received a five-year jail sentence last year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":434764,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[39043],"tags":[68032,25,77788],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>This marks Sarkozy as the first post-war president of France to be imprisoned, a remarkable downfall for a man who led ​the country from 2007 to 2012. He was incarcerated in ​October at La Sante prison in Paris and was freed three ⁠weeks later, after a court agreed to release him under judicial supervision, which ​included a ban on leaving France.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-and-Gaddafi.avif\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-434758\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-and-Gaddafi.avif\" alt=\"Sarkozy welcoming Gaddafi to theÉlysée Palace in in 2007. Photograph: Sipa Press\/Rex\/Shutterstock\" \/><\/a>Sarkozy, who has always denied the charges, was ​accused of making striking a deal with Gaddafi in 2005, when he was ​France&#8217;s interior minister, to obtain campaign financing in exchange for supporting the then-isolated Libyan ‌government ⁠on the international stage.<\/p> <p>Judges said there was no proof that Sarkozy made such a deal with Gaddafi, nor that money that was sent from Libya reached Sarkozy&#8217;s campaign coffers, even if the timing was &#8220;compatible&#8221; and the ​paths the money ​went through were &#8220;very ⁠opaque&#8221;.<\/p> <p>But they said Sarkozy was guilty of criminal conspiracy between 2005 and 2007 for having let close aides ​get in touch with people in Libya to try ​and ⁠obtain campaign financing.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;<em>The fight against corruption is not just a matter of integrity: it is a prerequisite for protecting the rule of law and maintaining ⁠effective ​democracy,<\/em>&#8221; said rights groups Sherpa, Anticor and ​Transparency International France in a statement on Friday.<\/p> <p>Sarkozy&#8217;s lawyer Christophe Ingrain said he had no comment ​ahead of the appeal trial opening.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":39043,"name":"World","slug":"world","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39043,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Covering global news, politics, finance, conflicts, environmental issues, culture and stories from around the world. Provides updates on major developments and analyses of international relations.","parent":0,"count":2213,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":68032,"name":"court case","slug":"court-case","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":68032,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":8,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":25,"name":"France","slug":"france","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":25,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":86,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":77788,"name":"Nicolas Sarkozy","slug":"nicolas-sarkozy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":77788,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/Sarkozy-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"science","header":"Science","ID":"5","posts":[{"id":432814,"date":"2026-03-12T19:30:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T17:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=432814"},"modified":"2026-03-12T16:42:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:42:14","slug":"greek-patients-gain-skills-in-digital-health-and-rights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/science\/greek-patients-gain-skills-in-digital-health-and-rights\/","title":{"rendered":"Greek Patients Gain Skills in Digital Health and Rights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"726\">Patient organizations in Greece are taking a proactive step to strengthen the role of patients in healthcare through education and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/a-digital-leap-for-greeces-health-system\/\">digital literacy<\/a>. The Greek Patients’ Association has launched two groundbreaking programs designed to equip patients with the knowledge and skills needed to engage effectively in their own care and in broader health policy decisions.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"728\" data-end=\"765\">Bridging the Digital Health Gap<\/h3> <p data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"1046\">Modern healthcare increasingly relies on electronic prescriptions, digital patient records, online appointments, and health technology assessments. Yet for many patients, these tools remain unfamiliar, limiting their ability to fully access and benefit from available care.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1048\" data-end=\"1610\">To address this gap, the Greek Patients’ Association piloted the Patients’ Academy, where 86 participants, including patients and healthcare professionals, significantly increased their digital health literacy. Familiarity with digital tools rose from 23.2% to 41.2%, while understanding key concepts such as telemedicine and personal data rights reached 100%. Final assessments showed 82–96% success across all topics, and participants reported daily use of digital tools with a positive outlook toward further training.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1612\" data-end=\"2006\">The program is free and open to all citizens wishing to develop digital health skills, offering access to online courses and training sessions. It is delivered under the guidance of a 19-member scientific committee in collaboration with Greece’s Ministries of Health and Digital Governance, the national health insurer EOPYY, and under the aegis of the Athens Medical Society.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2008\" data-end=\"2064\">EUPATI Academy: Patient Experts in Decision-Making<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2066\" data-end=\"2423\">In parallel, the EUPATI Patient Academy prepares specialized patient representatives to participate meaningfully in health policy and decision-making committees. Modeled on the European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI), the 12-month program offers 200 hours of training, two intensive three-day sessions, and certification.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2425\" data-end=\"2708\">Participants learn to navigate health technology assessments, clinical trials, drug development, and policy processes. The program ensures graduates can engage as equal partners with scientists, regulators, and policymakers, giving patients a voice with depth and evidence.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-start=\"2710\" data-end=\"2751\">Empowering Patients, Shaping Policy<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2753\" data-end=\"3025\">Memi Tsekoura, President of the Greek Patients’ Association, said the programs mark a turning point: “Our goal is to transform patients from passive recipients into active co-creators of healthcare policy. Knowledge is the key to claiming rights effectively.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"3027\" data-end=\"3279\">Flora Bakopoulou, Chair of the Health Technology Assessment Committee, highlighted the programs’ impact: “Patient experience, combined with knowledge and preparation, strengthens their role in structured and scientific decision-making processes.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"3281\" data-end=\"3478\">The initiatives have received support from industry partners such as MSD Greece, who underscore the importance of digital literacy as a foundation for equitable, participatory healthcare.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"3480\" data-end=\"3521\">A Nationwide, Accessible Initiative<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3523\" data-end=\"3842\">Both programs are now open for registration, providing online, asynchronous learning to Greek citizens and patient representatives from across the country. By equipping patients with digital tools and policy knowledge, these initiatives aim to foster a more informed, empowered, and engaged patient community.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two new programs empower patients to navigate digital healthcare tools, understand their rights, and participate in decision-making in Greece and across Europe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":432820,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[13119,39597,2046],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"726\">Patient organizations in Greece are taking a proactive step to strengthen the role of patients in healthcare through education and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/a-digital-leap-for-greeces-health-system\/\">digital literacy<\/a>. The Greek Patients’ Association has launched two groundbreaking programs designed to equip patients with the knowledge and skills needed to engage effectively in their own care and in broader health policy decisions.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"728\" data-end=\"765\">Bridging the Digital Health Gap<\/h3> <p data-start=\"767\" data-end=\"1046\">Modern healthcare increasingly relies on electronic prescriptions, digital patient records, online appointments, and health technology assessments. Yet for many patients, these tools remain unfamiliar, limiting their ability to fully access and benefit from available care.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1048\" data-end=\"1610\">To address this gap, the Greek Patients’ Association piloted the Patients’ Academy, where 86 participants, including patients and healthcare professionals, significantly increased their digital health literacy. Familiarity with digital tools rose from 23.2% to 41.2%, while understanding key concepts such as telemedicine and personal data rights reached 100%. Final assessments showed 82–96% success across all topics, and participants reported daily use of digital tools with a positive outlook toward further training.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1612\" data-end=\"2006\">The program is free and open to all citizens wishing to develop digital health skills, offering access to online courses and training sessions. It is delivered under the guidance of a 19-member scientific committee in collaboration with Greece’s Ministries of Health and Digital Governance, the national health insurer EOPYY, and under the aegis of the Athens Medical Society.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2008\" data-end=\"2064\">EUPATI Academy: Patient Experts in Decision-Making<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2066\" data-end=\"2423\">In parallel, the EUPATI Patient Academy prepares specialized patient representatives to participate meaningfully in health policy and decision-making committees. Modeled on the European Patients’ Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI), the 12-month program offers 200 hours of training, two intensive three-day sessions, and certification.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2425\" data-end=\"2708\">Participants learn to navigate health technology assessments, clinical trials, drug development, and policy processes. The program ensures graduates can engage as equal partners with scientists, regulators, and policymakers, giving patients a voice with depth and evidence.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-start=\"2710\" data-end=\"2751\">Empowering Patients, Shaping Policy<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2753\" data-end=\"3025\">Memi Tsekoura, President of the Greek Patients’ Association, said the programs mark a turning point: “Our goal is to transform patients from passive recipients into active co-creators of healthcare policy. Knowledge is the key to claiming rights effectively.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"3027\" data-end=\"3279\">Flora Bakopoulou, Chair of the Health Technology Assessment Committee, highlighted the programs’ impact: “Patient experience, combined with knowledge and preparation, strengthens their role in structured and scientific decision-making processes.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"3281\" data-end=\"3478\">The initiatives have received support from industry partners such as MSD Greece, who underscore the importance of digital literacy as a foundation for equitable, participatory healthcare.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"3480\" data-end=\"3521\">A Nationwide, Accessible Initiative<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3523\" data-end=\"3842\">Both programs are now open for registration, providing online, asynchronous learning to Greek citizens and patient representatives from across the country. By equipping patients with digital tools and policy knowledge, these initiatives aim to foster a more informed, empowered, and engaged patient community.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Science","slug":"science","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest science news and developments about new discoveries and inventions in Greece and worldwide, technology, space, biology, medicine and archaeology.","parent":0,"count":367,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":13119,"name":"Greece health ministry","slug":"greece-health-ministry","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":13119,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":20,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":39597,"name":"Greece healthcare","slug":"greece-healthcare","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":39597,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":2046,"name":"Ministry of Digital Governance","slug":"ministry-of-digital-governance","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":2046,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/analyzing-data-in-hospital-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/analyzing-data-in-hospital.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/analyzing-data-in-hospital-300x222.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/analyzing-data-in-hospital-768x568.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":432691,"date":"2026-03-12T09:30:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T07:30:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=432691"},"modified":"2026-03-12T08:02:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T06:02:49","slug":"global-iq-study-places-greece-below-world-average","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/global-iq-study-places-greece-below-world-average\/","title":{"rendered":"Global IQ Study Places Greece Below World Average"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"60\"> <p data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"413\">A global comparison of average IQ scores places Greece below the world average, according to international research examining cognitive performance across nearly 200 countries.<\/p> <p data-start=\"415\" data-end=\"556\">The analysis ranks Greece 54th out of 199 countries, with an estimated average IQ score of 90.77. The global average is typically set at 100.<\/p> <p data-start=\"558\" data-end=\"744\">Researchers say such comparisons are widely used to study cognitive performance across populations, although they emphasize that IQ does not represent a complete measure of intelligence.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3>Asia leads global rankings<\/h3> <p data-start=\"778\" data-end=\"874\">According to the data, countries in East Asia consistently record the highest average IQ scores.<\/p> <p data-start=\"876\" data-end=\"1044\">Japan ranks at the top of the global list with an average score exceeding 106. Other high-ranking countries include Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1248\">Researchers attribute these results partly to education systems that place strong emphasis on mathematics and science, as well as long study hours and additional academic programs outside the classroom.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1395\">Cultural traditions that emphasize discipline, diligence and academic achievement also play a role in shaping educational outcomes in the region.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"w6xdbm\" data-start=\"1397\" data-end=\"1428\">Countries with lower scores<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1582\">At the other end of the scale, the lowest average scores are recorded mainly in countries facing high levels of poverty and limited access to education.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1584\" data-end=\"1716\">Nepal appears in some studies as having the lowest national average IQ, followed by Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guatemala and Cape Verde.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"1718\" data-end=\"1881\">Researchers point to factors such as malnutrition, shorter school attendance, limited healthcare access and broader economic challenges as contributing influences.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"l5muud\" data-start=\"1883\" data-end=\"1909\">Europe’s mixed picture<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1911\" data-end=\"2030\">Within Europe, some of the highest scores are reported in countries in the northern and eastern parts of the continent.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2032\" data-end=\"2197\">Belarus ranks among the top in Europe, a result researchers often link to a strong educational tradition that places significant emphasis on science and mathematics.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2377\">Finland also performs strongly, although its educational model differs. Finnish schools focus less on intense exam pressure and more on equality, creativity and student autonomy.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1flb2py\" data-start=\"2379\" data-end=\"2400\">Greece’s position<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2402\" data-end=\"2532\">Greece’s ranking reflects a combination of strengths and challenges, according to analysts who study international IQ comparisons.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2534\" data-end=\"2742\">On the positive side, the country benefits from widespread literacy, universal healthcare and a traditional Mediterranean diet rich in fish, olive oil and vegetables—factors that support overall brain health.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2744\" data-end=\"2939\">However, economic pressures following the financial crisis of the 2010s and the migration of young professionals abroad have affected the country’s long-term educational and innovation landscape.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2941\" data-end=\"3102\">Researchers also note that the Greek education system often prioritizes vocational training and immediate employment opportunities over innovation-driven skills.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3104\" data-end=\"3281\">In addition, limited emphasis on structured programs that develop creativity and critical thinking may affect performance in standardized tests that measure cognitive abilities.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1x111mn\" data-start=\"3283\" data-end=\"3316\">IQ comparisons remain debated<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3318\" data-end=\"3437\">Experts caution that national IQ rankings should not be interpreted as definitive measures of a country’s intelligence.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3439\" data-end=\"3623\">Most researchers agree that cognitive performance is shaped by a wide range of factors, including education quality, economic conditions, healthcare access and broader social policies.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3625\" data-end=\"3855\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">For that reason, international comparisons are often viewed less as a ranking of intelligence and more as an indicator of how investments in education, health and social development can influence a population’s cognitive outcomes.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research comparing cognitive test results across countries ranks Greece 54th globally, highlighting the role of education, health and economic conditions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":432694,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,3],"tags":[50],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"60\"> <p data-start=\"237\" data-end=\"413\">A global comparison of average IQ scores places Greece below the world average, according to international research examining cognitive performance across nearly 200 countries.<\/p> <p data-start=\"415\" data-end=\"556\">The analysis ranks Greece 54th out of 199 countries, with an estimated average IQ score of 90.77. The global average is typically set at 100.<\/p> <p data-start=\"558\" data-end=\"744\">Researchers say such comparisons are widely used to study cognitive performance across populations, although they emphasize that IQ does not represent a complete measure of intelligence.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3>Asia leads global rankings<\/h3> <p data-start=\"778\" data-end=\"874\">According to the data, countries in East Asia consistently record the highest average IQ scores.<\/p> <p data-start=\"876\" data-end=\"1044\">Japan ranks at the top of the global list with an average score exceeding 106. Other high-ranking countries include Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, China and South Korea.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1248\">Researchers attribute these results partly to education systems that place strong emphasis on mathematics and science, as well as long study hours and additional academic programs outside the classroom.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1250\" data-end=\"1395\">Cultural traditions that emphasize discipline, diligence and academic achievement also play a role in shaping educational outcomes in the region.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"w6xdbm\" data-start=\"1397\" data-end=\"1428\">Countries with lower scores<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1430\" data-end=\"1582\">At the other end of the scale, the lowest average scores are recorded mainly in countries facing high levels of poverty and limited access to education.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1584\" data-end=\"1716\">Nepal appears in some studies as having the lowest national average IQ, followed by Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guatemala and Cape Verde.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"1718\" data-end=\"1881\">Researchers point to factors such as malnutrition, shorter school attendance, limited healthcare access and broader economic challenges as contributing influences.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"l5muud\" data-start=\"1883\" data-end=\"1909\">Europe’s mixed picture<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1911\" data-end=\"2030\">Within Europe, some of the highest scores are reported in countries in the northern and eastern parts of the continent.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2032\" data-end=\"2197\">Belarus ranks among the top in Europe, a result researchers often link to a strong educational tradition that places significant emphasis on science and mathematics.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2377\">Finland also performs strongly, although its educational model differs. Finnish schools focus less on intense exam pressure and more on equality, creativity and student autonomy.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1flb2py\" data-start=\"2379\" data-end=\"2400\">Greece’s position<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2402\" data-end=\"2532\">Greece’s ranking reflects a combination of strengths and challenges, according to analysts who study international IQ comparisons.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2534\" data-end=\"2742\">On the positive side, the country benefits from widespread literacy, universal healthcare and a traditional Mediterranean diet rich in fish, olive oil and vegetables—factors that support overall brain health.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"2744\" data-end=\"2939\">However, economic pressures following the financial crisis of the 2010s and the migration of young professionals abroad have affected the country’s long-term educational and innovation landscape.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2941\" data-end=\"3102\">Researchers also note that the Greek education system often prioritizes vocational training and immediate employment opportunities over innovation-driven skills.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3104\" data-end=\"3281\">In addition, limited emphasis on structured programs that develop creativity and critical thinking may affect performance in standardized tests that measure cognitive abilities.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1x111mn\" data-start=\"3283\" data-end=\"3316\">IQ comparisons remain debated<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3318\" data-end=\"3437\">Experts caution that national IQ rankings should not be interpreted as definitive measures of a country’s intelligence.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3439\" data-end=\"3623\">Most researchers agree that cognitive performance is shaped by a wide range of factors, including education quality, economic conditions, healthcare access and broader social policies.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3625\" data-end=\"3855\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">For that reason, international comparisons are often viewed less as a ranking of intelligence and more as an indicator of how investments in education, health and social development can influence a population’s cognitive outcomes.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Science","slug":"science","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest science news and developments about new discoveries and inventions in Greece and worldwide, technology, space, biology, medicine and archaeology.","parent":0,"count":367,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":50,"name":"study","slug":"study","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":50,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/shutterstock_1828949456-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/shutterstock_1828949456.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/shutterstock_1828949456-300x201.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/shutterstock_1828949456-768x515.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":432157,"date":"2026-03-11T14:15:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:15:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=432157"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:08:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:08:49","slug":"greece-considers-ban-on-burka-minister-comments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/science\/greece-considers-ban-on-burka-minister-comments\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Considers Ban on Burka, Minister Comments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"260\" data-end=\"474\">The Greek government is examining a potential ban on full-face religious garments, commonly referred to as the burka, according to <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Thanos Plevris<\/span><\/span>, the Minister for Migration and Asylum.<\/p> <p data-start=\"476\" data-end=\"685\">Speaking in the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Hellenic Parliament<\/span><\/span>, Plevris confirmed that discussions have begun to review regulations specifically related to migration, asylum, and related institutional structures.<\/p> <p data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"905\">He noted that while such cases are relatively rare, some individuals are compelled to wear full-face garments, often due to social or cultural pressures, making them vulnerable to targeting or discrimination.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"1238\">Plevris also referenced decisions by the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">European Court of Justice<\/span><\/span>, which recognize that member states have the authority to examine circumstances involving full-face coverings. He emphasized that the government is conducting a comprehensive review and expects to clarify its official position in the near future.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Migration Minister Thanos Plevris confirmed the government is reviewing rules on full-face religious garments, citing European court guidance and potential security concerns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":432160,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[4839,61181,45215,94675],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"260\" data-end=\"474\">The Greek government is examining a potential ban on full-face religious garments, commonly referred to as the burka, according to <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Thanos Plevris<\/span><\/span>, the Minister for Migration and Asylum.<\/p> <p data-start=\"476\" data-end=\"685\">Speaking in the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Hellenic Parliament<\/span><\/span>, Plevris confirmed that discussions have begun to review regulations specifically related to migration, asylum, and related institutional structures.<\/p> <p data-start=\"687\" data-end=\"905\">He noted that while such cases are relatively rare, some individuals are compelled to wear full-face garments, often due to social or cultural pressures, making them vulnerable to targeting or discrimination.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"1238\">Plevris also referenced decisions by the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">European Court of Justice<\/span><\/span>, which recognize that member states have the authority to examine circumstances involving full-face coverings. He emphasized that the government is conducting a comprehensive review and expects to clarify its official position in the near future.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Science","slug":"science","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest science news and developments about new discoveries and inventions in Greece and worldwide, technology, space, biology, medicine and archaeology.","parent":0,"count":367,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":4839,"name":"Greek Government","slug":"greek-government","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":4839,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":37,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":61181,"name":"Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum","slug":"greek-minister-of-migration-and-asylum","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":61181,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":18,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":45215,"name":"Islam","slug":"islam","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":45215,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":94675,"name":"Thanos Plevris","slug":"thanos-plevris","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":94675,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/INT10412914-1024x693-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/INT10412914-1024x693-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/INT10412914-1024x693-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/INT10412914-1024x693-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":431383,"date":"2026-03-10T22:30:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T20:30:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=431383"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:11:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:11:49","slug":"migraine-in-women-7-in-10-lack-personalized-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/science\/migraine-in-women-7-in-10-lack-personalized-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"Migraine in Women: 7 in 10 Lack Personalized Treatment; Greece Findings"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"458\" data-end=\"659\">A recent European <a href=\"https:\/\/acnr.co.uk\/hormonal-migraine-survey-europe-care-gaps\/#:~:text=hormonal%20migraine%20%7C%20ACNR-,European%20survey%20highlights%20gaps%20in%20care%20for%20women%20with%20hormonal,to%20receive%20a%20formal%20diagnosis.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">survey<\/a> highlights a concerning trend in migraine care across Greece and Europe: most women suffering from migraines are underdiagnosed and lack access to personalized treatment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"1066\">The findings were presented by the European Migraine and Headache Alliance (EMHA) at the European Parliament, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The study, titled <em data-start=\"840\" data-end=\"894\">“Migraine in Women – The Invisible Hormonal Pattern”<\/em>, collected 5,410 responses from 13 European countries, including 504 Greek participants, offering a detailed picture of how migraines impact women’s daily lives.<\/p> <p data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"1066\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0x6CgFpTCws?si=4Bl4haars3zQ2mqb\" width=\"560\"><\/iframe><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-start=\"1068\" data-end=\"1097\">Key findings in Greece:<\/h3> <ul> <li data-start=\"1101\" data-end=\"1177\">Nearly 1 in 2 women that participated had never received an official migraine diagnosis.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1180\" data-end=\"1273\">43.7% had not sought medical help, despite suffering from symptoms, with 8 in 10 of these attempting self-treatment.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1400\">72.8% reported they had not been offered personalized treatment for migraines linked to menstruation or menopause.<\/li> <\/ul> <p data-start=\"1402\" data-end=\"1723\">The research emphasizes that migraines are serious neurological disorders, not just ordinary headaches, with significant functional, social, and psychological consequences. Many women experience migraine episodes that correlate with hormonal fluctuations, yet this link is often overlooked in clinical practice.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"1725\" data-end=\"1759\">Hormonal impact on migraines<\/h3> <ul> <li data-start=\"1763\" data-end=\"1864\">2 in 3 women reported a possible connection between migraine attacks and their menstrual cycle.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1867\" data-end=\"1996\">9 in 10 women said attacks during menstruation are more intense, last longer, and are harder to manage than at other times.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1999\" data-end=\"2125\">Despite this, 7 in 10 women have never been offered a tailored treatment plan for hormone-related migraine episodes.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 data-start=\"2127\" data-end=\"2159\">Migraine’s broader effects<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2161\" data-end=\"2479\">Migraines can cause pulsing headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and significant limitations on daily functioning. Women in reproductive age are disproportionately affected, with 3 out of 4 migraine sufferers being female, highlighting the urgent need for gender-specific healthcare strategies.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2481\" data-end=\"2506\">Voices from experts<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2508\" data-end=\"2855\">Konstantinos Bilias, General Secretary of the Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients, stressed that migraines in women remain underrecognized and underdiagnosed, often attributed simplistically to hormonal changes. He emphasized that capturing patients’ experiences is crucial for shaping effective public health interventions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2857\" data-end=\"3200\">Dr. Michail Vikelis, neurologist and scientific advisor to the association, added that hormonal factors must be systematically considered in clinical practice. Tailored care addressing menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause is essential to reduce disability, improve quality of life, and better manage the disease.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new European study reveals most women with migraines remain underdiagnosed and without tailored care, with hormonal cycles often unaddressed despite being a key trigger for severe episodes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":431386,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[29010],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"458\" data-end=\"659\">A recent European <a href=\"https:\/\/acnr.co.uk\/hormonal-migraine-survey-europe-care-gaps\/#:~:text=hormonal%20migraine%20%7C%20ACNR-,European%20survey%20highlights%20gaps%20in%20care%20for%20women%20with%20hormonal,to%20receive%20a%20formal%20diagnosis.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">survey<\/a> highlights a concerning trend in migraine care across Greece and Europe: most women suffering from migraines are underdiagnosed and lack access to personalized treatment.<\/p> <p data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"1066\">The findings were presented by the European Migraine and Headache Alliance (EMHA) at the European Parliament, coinciding with International Women’s Day. The study, titled <em data-start=\"840\" data-end=\"894\">“Migraine in Women – The Invisible Hormonal Pattern”<\/em>, collected 5,410 responses from 13 European countries, including 504 Greek participants, offering a detailed picture of how migraines impact women’s daily lives.<\/p> <p data-start=\"661\" data-end=\"1066\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0x6CgFpTCws?si=4Bl4haars3zQ2mqb\" width=\"560\"><\/iframe><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-start=\"1068\" data-end=\"1097\">Key findings in Greece:<\/h3> <ul> <li data-start=\"1101\" data-end=\"1177\">Nearly 1 in 2 women that participated had never received an official migraine diagnosis.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1180\" data-end=\"1273\">43.7% had not sought medical help, despite suffering from symptoms, with 8 in 10 of these attempting self-treatment.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1276\" data-end=\"1400\">72.8% reported they had not been offered personalized treatment for migraines linked to menstruation or menopause.<\/li> <\/ul> <p data-start=\"1402\" data-end=\"1723\">The research emphasizes that migraines are serious neurological disorders, not just ordinary headaches, with significant functional, social, and psychological consequences. Many women experience migraine episodes that correlate with hormonal fluctuations, yet this link is often overlooked in clinical practice.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"1725\" data-end=\"1759\">Hormonal impact on migraines<\/h3> <ul> <li data-start=\"1763\" data-end=\"1864\">2 in 3 women reported a possible connection between migraine attacks and their menstrual cycle.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1867\" data-end=\"1996\">9 in 10 women said attacks during menstruation are more intense, last longer, and are harder to manage than at other times.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1999\" data-end=\"2125\">Despite this, 7 in 10 women have never been offered a tailored treatment plan for hormone-related migraine episodes.<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 data-start=\"2127\" data-end=\"2159\">Migraine’s broader effects<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2161\" data-end=\"2479\">Migraines can cause pulsing headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and significant limitations on daily functioning. Women in reproductive age are disproportionately affected, with 3 out of 4 migraine sufferers being female, highlighting the urgent need for gender-specific healthcare strategies.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h3 data-start=\"2481\" data-end=\"2506\">Voices from experts<\/h3> <p data-start=\"2508\" data-end=\"2855\">Konstantinos Bilias, General Secretary of the Greek Society of Migraine and Headache Patients, stressed that migraines in women remain underrecognized and underdiagnosed, often attributed simplistically to hormonal changes. He emphasized that capturing patients’ experiences is crucial for shaping effective public health interventions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2857\" data-end=\"3200\">Dr. Michail Vikelis, neurologist and scientific advisor to the association, added that hormonal factors must be systematically considered in clinical practice. Tailored care addressing menstrual cycles, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause is essential to reduce disability, improve quality of life, and better manage the disease.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Science","slug":"science","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest science news and developments about new discoveries and inventions in Greece and worldwide, technology, space, biology, medicine and archaeology.","parent":0,"count":367,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":29010,"name":"Women's health","slug":"womens-health","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":29010,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":5,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/pain-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/pain-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/pain-1024x683-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/pain-1024x683-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":427567,"date":"2026-03-04T17:00:46","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T15:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=427567"},"modified":"2026-03-04T12:25:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T10:25:51","slug":"hpv-vaccination-and-screening-early-action-saves-lives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/science\/hpv-vaccination-and-screening-early-action-saves-lives\/","title":{"rendered":"HPV Vaccination and Screening: Early Action Saves Lives"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"648\">Early vaccination and preventive screening are key tools in the fight against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus linked not only to cervical cancer but also to cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, head, neck, vagina, anus, vulva, and penis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"650\" data-end=\"1117\">Speaking on March 4, World HPV Awareness Day, Professor Theodoros Agorastos, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and President of the Hellenic Society for HPV Research and Management, emphasized that vaccination combined with modern HPV testing provides unprecedented protection. “With vaccination, we can prevent around ten types of cancers,” he said, noting that HPV testing is more effective than the traditional Pap smear.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1554\">Vaccination is recommended from age 9, both to precede sexual activity and to trigger the strongest immune response. “A child vaccinated at 9–10 produces far more antibodies than an 18–25-year-old,” Agorastos explained. While public programs in Greece cover vaccination up to 18 years old, adults up to 45 can still benefit, though at personal cost. One dose is approximately €145, with two doses typically required six months apart.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1861\">HPV screening through the HPV test is advised from ages 30 to 60–65. “Women vaccinated early may not need screening until 30, as the vaccine already provides strong protection,” he added. The HPV test detects the virus itself, rather than just cell changes, making it a more accurate preventive measure.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1863\" data-end=\"2099\">Agorastos also noted that in Europe, HPV vaccination is recommended from age 9 without an upper age limit, with countries like Sweden and Austria reimbursing up to age 30, and the United States recommending vaccination through age 45.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Experts highlight the importance of early HPV vaccination from age 9 and modern screening tests to prevent multiple cancers, stressing that adults up to 45 can also benefit from protection<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":427573,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[68173,58775],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"648\">Early vaccination and preventive screening are key tools in the fight against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus linked not only to cervical cancer but also to cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, head, neck, vagina, anus, vulva, and penis.<\/p> <p data-start=\"650\" data-end=\"1117\">Speaking on March 4, World HPV Awareness Day, Professor Theodoros Agorastos, Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and President of the Hellenic Society for HPV Research and Management, emphasized that vaccination combined with modern HPV testing provides unprecedented protection. “With vaccination, we can prevent around ten types of cancers,” he said, noting that HPV testing is more effective than the traditional Pap smear.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1119\" data-end=\"1554\">Vaccination is recommended from age 9, both to precede sexual activity and to trigger the strongest immune response. “A child vaccinated at 9–10 produces far more antibodies than an 18–25-year-old,” Agorastos explained. While public programs in Greece cover vaccination up to 18 years old, adults up to 45 can still benefit, though at personal cost. One dose is approximately €145, with two doses typically required six months apart.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1556\" data-end=\"1861\">HPV screening through the HPV test is advised from ages 30 to 60–65. “Women vaccinated early may not need screening until 30, as the vaccine already provides strong protection,” he added. The HPV test detects the virus itself, rather than just cell changes, making it a more accurate preventive measure.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1863\" data-end=\"2099\">Agorastos also noted that in Europe, HPV vaccination is recommended from age 9 without an upper age limit, with countries like Sweden and Austria reimbursing up to age 30, and the United States recommending vaccination through age 45.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":6,"name":"Science","slug":"science","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":6,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest science news and developments about new discoveries and inventions in Greece and worldwide, technology, space, biology, medicine and archaeology.","parent":0,"count":367,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":68173,"name":"sexual diseases","slug":"sexual-diseases","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":68173,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":58775,"name":"vaccines","slug":"vaccines","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":58775,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":12,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/04\/HPV-VACCINE-1024x512-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/04\/HPV-VACCINE-1024x512-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/04\/HPV-VACCINE-1024x512-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/04\/HPV-VACCINE-1024x512-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"sports","header":"Αθλητισμός","ID":"6","posts":[{"id":433321,"date":"2026-03-13T08:00:22","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T06:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433321"},"modified":"2026-03-13T07:34:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T05:34:00","slug":"duplantis-breaks-pole-vault-world-record-with-6-31m","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/duplantis-breaks-pole-vault-world-record-with-6-31m\/","title":{"rendered":"Duplantis Breaks Pole Vault World Record With 6.31m"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm pb-25\"> <article class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&:has([data-writing-block])>*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-turn-id=\"request-69a91210-277c-8394-acc3-91815f531200-27\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-68\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\"> <div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"> <div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"> <div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"7ad9a066-8c3e-42cc-abcd-76b5aeafe44c\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-3\"> <div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"> <div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"> <p data-start=\"64\" data-end=\"213\">Swedish pole vault star Armand “Mondo” Duplantis set another world record after clearing 6.31 meters on his first attempt during a meet in Uppsala, Sweden.<\/p> <p data-start=\"377\" data-end=\"635\">The record-breaking jump came in just his second appearance of the season and electrified the crowd at the event, which took place in the athlete’s hometown. Duplantis needed only one attempt to surpass the height and set a new global benchmark in the sport.<\/p> <p data-start=\"637\" data-end=\"789\">The achievement marked the second time Duplantis has broken the world record on Swedish soil and the first time he has done so at an indoor competition.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"13ezsoj\" data-start=\"791\" data-end=\"828\">Dominant performance on home soil<\/h3> <p data-start=\"830\" data-end=\"964\">Duplantis once again demonstrated his dominance in the pole vault, improving the world record and leaving competitors trailing behind.<\/p> <p data-start=\"966\" data-end=\"1111\">Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen finished in second place with a jump of 6.00 meters, while American vaulter Sam Kendricks took third with 5.90 meters.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1aljc8r\" data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1141\">Karalis finishes seventh<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1143\" data-end=\"1241\">Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis placed seventh in the competition with a best jump of 5.80 meters.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1243\" data-end=\"1558\">Karalis opened his event with a failed attempt but quickly found his rhythm, clearing 5.80 meters comfortably. He opted to skip the 5.90-meter height and moved directly to 6.00 meters. However, all three of his attempts at that height were unsuccessful, with the bar falling as he descended during one of the jumps.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"><\/div> <div class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"> <div class=\"text-center\"><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/article> <\/div> <div class=\"pointer-events-none h-px w-px absolute bottom-0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-edge=\"true\"><\/div> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Swedish star Armand “Mondo” Duplantis set a new world record in his home meeting in Uppsala, clearing 6.31 meters on his first attempt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":433324,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[24816],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<div class=\"flex flex-col text-sm pb-25\"> <article class=\"text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none [--shadow-height:45px] has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none has-data-writing-block:-mt-(--shadow-height) has-data-writing-block:pt-(--shadow-height) [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]\" dir=\"auto\" tabindex=\"-1\" data-turn-id=\"request-69a91210-277c-8394-acc3-91815f531200-27\" data-testid=\"conversation-turn-68\" data-scroll-anchor=\"true\" data-turn=\"assistant\"> <div class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"> <div class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"> <div class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow\"> <div class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1\" dir=\"auto\" data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"7ad9a066-8c3e-42cc-abcd-76b5aeafe44c\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-3\"> <div class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden\"> <div class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full wrap-break-word dark markdown-new-styling\"> <p data-start=\"64\" data-end=\"213\">Swedish pole vault star Armand “Mondo” Duplantis set another world record after clearing 6.31 meters on his first attempt during a meet in Uppsala, Sweden.<\/p> <p data-start=\"377\" data-end=\"635\">The record-breaking jump came in just his second appearance of the season and electrified the crowd at the event, which took place in the athlete’s hometown. Duplantis needed only one attempt to surpass the height and set a new global benchmark in the sport.<\/p> <p data-start=\"637\" data-end=\"789\">The achievement marked the second time Duplantis has broken the world record on Swedish soil and the first time he has done so at an indoor competition.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"13ezsoj\" data-start=\"791\" data-end=\"828\">Dominant performance on home soil<\/h3> <p data-start=\"830\" data-end=\"964\">Duplantis once again demonstrated his dominance in the pole vault, improving the world record and leaving competitors trailing behind.<\/p> <p data-start=\"966\" data-end=\"1111\">Norway’s Sondre Guttormsen finished in second place with a jump of 6.00 meters, while American vaulter Sam Kendricks took third with 5.90 meters.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1aljc8r\" data-start=\"1113\" data-end=\"1141\">Karalis finishes seventh<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1143\" data-end=\"1241\">Greek athlete Emmanouil Karalis placed seventh in the competition with a best jump of 5.80 meters.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1243\" data-end=\"1558\">Karalis opened his event with a failed attempt but quickly found his rhythm, clearing 5.80 meters comfortably. He opted to skip the 5.90-meter height and moved directly to 6.00 meters. However, all three of his attempts at that height were unsuccessful, with the bar falling as he descended during one of the jumps.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <div class=\"z-0 flex min-h-[46px] justify-start\"><\/div> <div class=\"mt-3 w-full empty:hidden\"> <div class=\"text-center\"><\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/article> <\/div> <div class=\"pointer-events-none h-px w-px absolute bottom-0\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-edge=\"true\"><\/div> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":9,"name":"Sports","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news, features and analysis on Greek and international sports including Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Track, the Olympics and more.","parent":0,"count":610,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":24816,"name":"pole vault","slug":"pole-vault","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":24816,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":13,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/armandkaralis-1024x703-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/armandkaralis-1024x703-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/armandkaralis-1024x703-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/armandkaralis-1024x703-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":432739,"date":"2026-03-12T11:30:45","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T09:30:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=432739"},"modified":"2026-03-12T12:59:48","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T10:59:48","slug":"greece-names-its-team-for-torun-2026-indoor-worlds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/greece-names-its-team-for-torun-2026-indoor-worlds\/","title":{"rendered":"Greece Names its Team for Torun 2026 Indoor Worlds"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"344\" data-end=\"581\">Greece will send eight athletes to compete at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Toruń<\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Poland<\/span><\/span>, scheduled to take place from March 20 to March 22.<\/p> <p data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"870\">The final composition of the Greek team was confirmed after the last updates to the qualification lists, adding three more athletes to the national squad. The team is larger than the group that represented the country at the 2025 championships in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Nanjing<\/span><\/span>.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"872\" data-end=\"904\">Leading names in the squad<\/h3> <p data-start=\"906\" data-end=\"995\">The delegation is headlined by two of Greece’s most prominent track and field athletes:<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <ul> <li data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1087\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Miltiadis Tentoglou<\/span><\/span>, who qualified through his performance standards<\/li> <li data-start=\"1090\" data-end=\"1174\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Emmanouil Karalis<\/span><\/span>, also qualified by meeting the required mark<\/li> <\/ul> <p data-start=\"1176\" data-end=\"1201\">They will be joined by:<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1244\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Antonios Merlos<\/span><\/span><\/li> <li data-start=\"1247\" data-end=\"1286\">Rafaela Spanoudaki-Hatziriga<\/li> <li data-start=\"1289\" data-end=\"1328\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Anastasia Dragomirova<\/span><\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <h3 data-start=\"1330\" data-end=\"1363\">Three additional qualifiers<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1365\" data-end=\"1483\">Three more athletes secured their participation following adjustments to the international rankings and entry lists:<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"1487\" data-end=\"1584\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Andreas Pantazis<\/span><\/span> (triple jump), who moved from 18th to 15th in the ranking<\/li> <li data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1664\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Dimitra Tsoukala<\/span><\/span> (60 meters), rising from 64th to 36th<\/li> <li data-start=\"1667\" data-end=\"1749\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Christos-Panagiotis Roumtsios<\/span><\/span> (hurdles), who climbed from 62nd to 42nd<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1787\">Athlete declines qualification<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1789\" data-end=\"2185\">Another athlete, <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">George Franks<\/span><\/span>, also met the qualification criteria with a time of 46.12 seconds. However, he informed the national federation that his university commitments in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Miami<\/span><\/span>—including participation in the NCAA finals with his 4x400m team—made it difficult for him to travel to Poland in time for the competition.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2187\" data-end=\"2358\">The final decision on the national team was made following recommendations from the national team officials and event coordinators of the Greek athletics federation.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Olympic champions Miltiadis Tentoglou and Emmanouil Karalis lead Greece’s eight-member squad for the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland. Three additional athletes secured their places after the final qualification list was confirmed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":432742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[73792,12822,97,12828],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"344\" data-end=\"581\">Greece will send eight athletes to compete at the 2026 World Athletics Indoor Championships in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Toruń<\/span><\/span>, <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Poland<\/span><\/span>, scheduled to take place from March 20 to March 22.<\/p> <p data-start=\"583\" data-end=\"870\">The final composition of the Greek team was confirmed after the last updates to the qualification lists, adding three more athletes to the national squad. The team is larger than the group that represented the country at the 2025 championships in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Nanjing<\/span><\/span>.<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"872\" data-end=\"904\">Leading names in the squad<\/h3> <p data-start=\"906\" data-end=\"995\">The delegation is headlined by two of Greece’s most prominent track and field athletes:<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <ul> <li data-start=\"999\" data-end=\"1087\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Miltiadis Tentoglou<\/span><\/span>, who qualified through his performance standards<\/li> <li data-start=\"1090\" data-end=\"1174\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Emmanouil Karalis<\/span><\/span>, also qualified by meeting the required mark<\/li> <\/ul> <p data-start=\"1176\" data-end=\"1201\">They will be joined by:<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1244\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Antonios Merlos<\/span><\/span><\/li> <li data-start=\"1247\" data-end=\"1286\">Rafaela Spanoudaki-Hatziriga<\/li> <li data-start=\"1289\" data-end=\"1328\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Anastasia Dragomirova<\/span><\/span><\/li> <\/ul> <h3 data-start=\"1330\" data-end=\"1363\">Three additional qualifiers<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1365\" data-end=\"1483\">Three more athletes secured their participation following adjustments to the international rankings and entry lists:<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"1487\" data-end=\"1584\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Andreas Pantazis<\/span><\/span> (triple jump), who moved from 18th to 15th in the ranking<\/li> <li data-start=\"1587\" data-end=\"1664\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Dimitra Tsoukala<\/span><\/span> (60 meters), rising from 64th to 36th<\/li> <li data-start=\"1667\" data-end=\"1749\"><span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Christos-Panagiotis Roumtsios<\/span><\/span> (hurdles), who climbed from 62nd to 42nd<\/li> <\/ul> <h3 data-start=\"1751\" data-end=\"1787\">Athlete declines qualification<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1789\" data-end=\"2185\">Another athlete, <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">George Franks<\/span><\/span>, also met the qualification criteria with a time of 46.12 seconds. However, he informed the national federation that his university commitments in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Miami<\/span><\/span>—including participation in the NCAA finals with his 4x400m team—made it difficult for him to travel to Poland in time for the competition.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2187\" data-end=\"2358\">The final decision on the national team was made following recommendations from the national team officials and event coordinators of the Greek athletics federation.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":9,"name":"Sports","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news, features and analysis on Greek and international sports including Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Track, the Olympics and more.","parent":0,"count":610,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":73792,"name":"Emmanouil Karalis","slug":"emmanouil-karalis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":73792,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":12822,"name":"Miltos Tentoglou","slug":"miltos-tentoglou","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":12822,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":97,"name":"sports","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":97,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":15,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":12828,"name":"World Athletics","slug":"world-athletics","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":12828,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":4,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/6789525.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/6789525.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/6789525.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/6789525.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":432130,"date":"2026-03-11T11:00:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T09:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=432130"},"modified":"2026-03-11T14:50:56","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:50:56","slug":"pm-mitsotakis-congratulated-giannis-antetokounmpo-for-european-order-of-merit-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/pm-mitsotakis-congratulated-giannis-antetokounmpo-for-european-order-of-merit-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Antetokounmpo Receives European Order of Merit Award"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"597\">Greek basketball superstar <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/span><\/span> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/antetokounmpo-joins-merkel-bono-among-european-order-of-merit-laureates\/\">been awarded<\/a> the European Order of Merit, one of the distinctions granted by the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">European Parliament<\/span><\/span> to individuals recognized for their influence and contribution to promoting European values.<\/p> <p data-start=\"599\" data-end=\"883\">The announcement was shared by Greek Prime Minister <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/span><\/span>, who revealed in a post on social media that Antetokounmpo was unanimously selected as one of 20 personalities to receive the honor, following a proposal submitted by the Greek government.<\/p> <p data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"1220\">According to the prime minister, the NBA star and leading figure in Greek basketball represents core values such as human dignity, equality and social inclusion, while also standing out as one of the most influential European personalities on the global stage. Mitsotakis publicly congratulated Antetokounmpo for the recognition.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-start=\"1222\" data-end=\"1268\">Recognition from the European Parliament<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1597\">The names of the first recipients of the European Order of Merit were announced in Strasbourg by <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Roberta Metsola<\/span><\/span>, president of the European Parliament. The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to European integration and the promotion and defense of European values.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1599\" data-end=\"1941\">“Europe has always been built by people — people who bridged divides, broke barriers, overturned dictatorships and overcame crises for a better future for our continent,” Metsola said, explaining the purpose of the distinction. “With the European Order of Merit, we honor those who not only believed in Europe but actively helped build it.”<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"1943\" data-end=\"1971\">Selection and Ceremony<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1973\" data-end=\"2313\">The recipients were chosen by a selection committee made up of Metsola and senior European figures, including vice presidents of the European Parliament and former European and international leaders. Nominations were submitted by heads of state or government, presidents of national parliaments and leaders of European Union institutions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2315\" data-end=\"2498\">Those honored will be invited to an official award ceremony scheduled to take place during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg between May 18 and May 21.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2500\" data-end=\"2749\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The European Order of Merit includes three levels of distinction — Member, Honorary Member and Distinguished Member — reflecting increasing levels of prestige for individuals recognized for their contribution to Europe and its shared principles.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Greek NBA star was unanimously selected among 20 personalities honored by the European Parliament for their influence and contribution to European values, with congratulations from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":432133,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[95152,33423],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"311\" data-end=\"597\">Greek basketball superstar <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/span><\/span> has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/antetokounmpo-joins-merkel-bono-among-european-order-of-merit-laureates\/\">been awarded<\/a> the European Order of Merit, one of the distinctions granted by the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">European Parliament<\/span><\/span> to individuals recognized for their influence and contribution to promoting European values.<\/p> <p data-start=\"599\" data-end=\"883\">The announcement was shared by Greek Prime Minister <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Kyriakos Mitsotakis<\/span><\/span>, who revealed in a post on social media that Antetokounmpo was unanimously selected as one of 20 personalities to receive the honor, following a proposal submitted by the Greek government.<\/p> <p data-start=\"885\" data-end=\"1220\">According to the prime minister, the NBA star and leading figure in Greek basketball represents core values such as human dignity, equality and social inclusion, while also standing out as one of the most influential European personalities on the global stage. Mitsotakis publicly congratulated Antetokounmpo for the recognition.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-start=\"1222\" data-end=\"1268\">Recognition from the European Parliament<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1270\" data-end=\"1597\">The names of the first recipients of the European Order of Merit were announced in Strasbourg by <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Roberta Metsola<\/span><\/span>, president of the European Parliament. The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to European integration and the promotion and defense of European values.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1599\" data-end=\"1941\">“Europe has always been built by people — people who bridged divides, broke barriers, overturned dictatorships and overcame crises for a better future for our continent,” Metsola said, explaining the purpose of the distinction. “With the European Order of Merit, we honor those who not only believed in Europe but actively helped build it.”<\/p> <h3 data-start=\"1943\" data-end=\"1971\">Selection and Ceremony<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1973\" data-end=\"2313\">The recipients were chosen by a selection committee made up of Metsola and senior European figures, including vice presidents of the European Parliament and former European and international leaders. Nominations were submitted by heads of state or government, presidents of national parliaments and leaders of European Union institutions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2315\" data-end=\"2498\">Those honored will be invited to an official award ceremony scheduled to take place during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg between May 18 and May 21.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2500\" data-end=\"2749\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The European Order of Merit includes three levels of distinction — Member, Honorary Member and Distinguished Member — reflecting increasing levels of prestige for individuals recognized for their contribution to Europe and its shared principles.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":9,"name":"Sports","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news, features and analysis on Greek and international sports including Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Track, the Olympics and more.","parent":0,"count":610,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":95152,"name":"European Order of Merit","slug":"european-order-of-merit","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95152,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":33423,"name":"Giannis Antetokounmpo","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":33423,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":51,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/antetokounmpo_maximou-1024x683-1-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/antetokounmpo_maximou-1024x683-1.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/antetokounmpo_maximou-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/antetokounmpo_maximou-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":431962,"date":"2026-03-10T21:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=431962"},"modified":"2026-03-10T21:08:04","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:08:04","slug":"evangelos-marinakis-on-anniversary-of-olympiacos-founding-well-continue-to-write-new-golden-pages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/evangelos-marinakis-on-anniversary-of-olympiacos-founding-well-continue-to-write-new-golden-pages\/","title":{"rendered":"Evangelos Marinakis on Anniversary of Olympiacos’ Founding: ‘We’ll Continue to Write New Golden Pages’"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"57\" data-end=\"234\">Olympiacos Piraeus today &#8211; Tuesday, March 10 &#8211; celebrated 101 years of glorious sports history, with popular Olympiacos FC&#8217;s and amateur organization&#8217;s President, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/evangelos-marinakis-to-players-mendilibar-youre-the-best-do-whats-needed-to-win-the-championship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Evangelis Marinakis<\/a>, issuing his own personal message on the occasion.<\/p> <p data-start=\"236\" data-end=\"469\">The Piraeus Club&#8217;s leader emphasized in his post that, in the second century of the Reds&#8217; history, “we&#8217;ll continue to write new golden pages and share great moments of pride together.”<\/p> <p>Evangelos Marinakis&#8217; message read:<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/evangelos-marinakis-we-reached-the-golden-treble-on-the-100th-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Olympiacos celebrates<\/a> 101 years of glorious history.<\/p> <p>“The Olympiacos Club of Piraeus Fans (OSFP) has for more than a century been a symbol of pride and strength for Piraeus, for Greece and for the millions of Olympiacos fans around the world.<\/p> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"> <p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"el\">Σήμερα, ο Ολυμπιακός συμπληρώνει 101 χρόνια ένδοξης ιστορίας.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Ο ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΦΙΛΑΘΛΩΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΙΩΣ για περισσότερο από έναν αιώνα, είναι σύμβολο υπερηφάνειας και δύναμης για τον Πειραιά, για την Ελλάδα και για τα εκατομμύρια των φιλάθλων του Ολυμπιακού σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο.… <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rWjDu06RAN\">pic.twitter.com\/rWjDu06RAN<\/a><\/p> <p>— Olympiacos FC (@olympiacosfc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/olympiacosfc\/status\/2031272132810879179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote> <p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p> <p>“Olympiacos was founded to represent athletic greatness, passion and victory. These values continue to guide us, from 1925 to the present, without deviating from our course.<\/p> <p>“As we have now entered the second century of our history, our commitment remains unwavering: to protect the values of Olympiacos, to continue competing at the highest level in Greece and Europe, and to continue building a future worthy of the Club’s great legacy &#8211; To raise the red-and-white banner ever higher.<\/p> <p>“Together, united and determined, with hard work and respect for our history, we will continue to write new golden pages in the global sports LEGEND’s history and to share these great moments of pride together!<\/p> <p>“Happy anniversary to OUR GREAT LOVE. Proud to be Olympiacos!”<\/p> <p><strong>Evangelos Marinakis<\/strong><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Evangelos Marinakis sent his own personal message on the occasion of Olympiacos celebrating 101 years of history today, March 10<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":27,"featured_media":431974,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[55400,19015,1722],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"57\" data-end=\"234\">Olympiacos Piraeus today &#8211; Tuesday, March 10 &#8211; celebrated 101 years of glorious sports history, with popular Olympiacos FC&#8217;s and amateur organization&#8217;s President, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/evangelos-marinakis-to-players-mendilibar-youre-the-best-do-whats-needed-to-win-the-championship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Evangelis Marinakis<\/a>, issuing his own personal message on the occasion.<\/p> <p data-start=\"236\" data-end=\"469\">The Piraeus Club&#8217;s leader emphasized in his post that, in the second century of the Reds&#8217; history, “we&#8217;ll continue to write new golden pages and share great moments of pride together.”<\/p> <p>Evangelos Marinakis&#8217; message read:<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;Today, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/evangelos-marinakis-we-reached-the-golden-treble-on-the-100th-anniversary\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Olympiacos celebrates<\/a> 101 years of glorious history.<\/p> <p>“The Olympiacos Club of Piraeus Fans (OSFP) has for more than a century been a symbol of pride and strength for Piraeus, for Greece and for the millions of Olympiacos fans around the world.<\/p> <blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\"> <p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"el\">Σήμερα, ο Ολυμπιακός συμπληρώνει 101 χρόνια ένδοξης ιστορίας.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Ο ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΟΣ ΣΥΝΔΕΣΜΟΣ ΦΙΛΑΘΛΩΝ ΠΕΙΡΑΙΩΣ για περισσότερο από έναν αιώνα, είναι σύμβολο υπερηφάνειας και δύναμης για τον Πειραιά, για την Ελλάδα και για τα εκατομμύρια των φιλάθλων του Ολυμπιακού σε ολόκληρο τον κόσμο.… <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/rWjDu06RAN\">pic.twitter.com\/rWjDu06RAN<\/a><\/p> <p>— Olympiacos FC (@olympiacosfc) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/olympiacosfc\/status\/2031272132810879179?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote> <p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p> <p>“Olympiacos was founded to represent athletic greatness, passion and victory. These values continue to guide us, from 1925 to the present, without deviating from our course.<\/p> <p>“As we have now entered the second century of our history, our commitment remains unwavering: to protect the values of Olympiacos, to continue competing at the highest level in Greece and Europe, and to continue building a future worthy of the Club’s great legacy &#8211; To raise the red-and-white banner ever higher.<\/p> <p>“Together, united and determined, with hard work and respect for our history, we will continue to write new golden pages in the global sports LEGEND’s history and to share these great moments of pride together!<\/p> <p>“Happy anniversary to OUR GREAT LOVE. Proud to be Olympiacos!”<\/p> <p><strong>Evangelos Marinakis<\/strong><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":9,"name":"Sports","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news, features and analysis on Greek and international sports including Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Track, the Olympics and more.","parent":0,"count":610,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":55400,"name":"100 Years Olympiacos","slug":"100-years-olympiacos","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":55400,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":105,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":19015,"name":"Evangelos Marinakis","slug":"evangelos-marinakis","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":19015,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":64,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1722,"name":"Olympiacos FC","slug":"olympiacos-fc","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1722,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":94,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/marinakis_anniversary-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/marinakis_anniversary.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/marinakis_anniversary-300x201.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/marinakis_anniversary-768x513.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":431626,"date":"2026-03-10T15:45:40","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T13:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=431626"},"modified":"2026-03-11T19:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T17:00:28","slug":"antetokounmpo-joins-merkel-bono-among-european-order-of-merit-laureates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/sports\/antetokounmpo-joins-merkel-bono-among-european-order-of-merit-laureates\/","title":{"rendered":"Antetokounmpo Joins Merkel, Bono Among European Order of Merit Laureates"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p> <p>Internationally acclaimed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/tag\/antetokounmpo\/\">basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> is among the first laureates of the newly established European Order of Merit, announced Tuesday in Strasbourg by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.<\/p> <p>Antetokounmpo joins a diverse group of scholars, lawyers, scientists, academics, musicians, chefs and political leaders recognized for their contributions to European integration and the defence of European values.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;Europe has always been built by people &#8211; bridging divides, breaking barriers, overthrowing dictatorships and overcoming crises for a better future for our continent,&#8221; Metsola said. &#8220;This European commitment deserves to be celebrated. With the European Order of Merit, we honour those who did not simply believe in Europe, but who helped build it.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Laureates will be formally honoured during a ceremony scheduled to take place during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg from May 18 to 21.<\/p> <p>The selection committee was chaired by Metsola and included European Parliament Vice-Presidents Sophie Wilmès and Ewa Kopacz, alongside senior European figures including Michel Barnier, José Manuel Barroso, Josep Borrell and Enrico Letta. Heads of state and government, speakers of national parliaments and presidents of EU institutions submitted nominations.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>Distinguished Members<\/strong><\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Among those appointed Distinguished Members of the European Order of Merit are former German chancellor Angela Merkel, former Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.<\/p> <p><strong>Honourable Members<\/strong><\/p> <p>Appointed Honourable Members are Valdas Adamkus, Jerzy Buzek, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Sauli Niinistö, Pietro Parolin, Mary Robinson, Maia Sandu, Javier Solana, Wolfgang Schüssel, and former European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet.<\/p> <p><strong>Members of the Order<\/strong><\/p> <p>Antetokounmpo, widely known as the &#8220;Greek Freak&#8221;, is among those appointed Members of the European Order of Merit. Other honourees include chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés, scholar Marc Gjidara, physician and academic Sandra Lejniece, human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, and former European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding. Members of Irish rock band U2, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr, were also recognized.<\/p> <p><strong>A New European Distinction<\/strong><\/p> <p>The European Order of Merit was established last year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the 1950 initiative that laid the foundations for European integration. Up to 20 laureates may be appointed to the order each year.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo honoured with European Order of Merit for promoting European values and unity beyond sport.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":431629,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,9],"tags":[95152,207,33423,175],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p><\/p> <p>Internationally acclaimed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/tag\/antetokounmpo\/\">basketball star Giannis Antetokounmpo<\/a> is among the first laureates of the newly established European Order of Merit, announced Tuesday in Strasbourg by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.<\/p> <p>Antetokounmpo joins a diverse group of scholars, lawyers, scientists, academics, musicians, chefs and political leaders recognized for their contributions to European integration and the defence of European values.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;Europe has always been built by people &#8211; bridging divides, breaking barriers, overthrowing dictatorships and overcoming crises for a better future for our continent,&#8221; Metsola said. &#8220;This European commitment deserves to be celebrated. With the European Order of Merit, we honour those who did not simply believe in Europe, but who helped build it.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Laureates will be formally honoured during a ceremony scheduled to take place during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg from May 18 to 21.<\/p> <p>The selection committee was chaired by Metsola and included European Parliament Vice-Presidents Sophie Wilmès and Ewa Kopacz, alongside senior European figures including Michel Barnier, José Manuel Barroso, Josep Borrell and Enrico Letta. Heads of state and government, speakers of national parliaments and presidents of EU institutions submitted nominations.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>Distinguished Members<\/strong><\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>Among those appointed Distinguished Members of the European Order of Merit are former German chancellor Angela Merkel, former Solidarity leader Lech Wałęsa, and Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine.<\/p> <p><strong>Honourable Members<\/strong><\/p> <p>Appointed Honourable Members are Valdas Adamkus, Jerzy Buzek, Aníbal Cavaco Silva, Sauli Niinistö, Pietro Parolin, Mary Robinson, Maia Sandu, Javier Solana, Wolfgang Schüssel, and former European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet.<\/p> <p><strong>Members of the Order<\/strong><\/p> <p>Antetokounmpo, widely known as the &#8220;Greek Freak&#8221;, is among those appointed Members of the European Order of Merit. Other honourees include chef and founder of World Central Kitchen José Andrés, scholar Marc Gjidara, physician and academic Sandra Lejniece, human rights lawyer Oleksandra Matviichuk, and former European Commission vice-president Viviane Reding. Members of Irish rock band U2, Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr, were also recognized.<\/p> <p><strong>A New European Distinction<\/strong><\/p> <p>The European Order of Merit was established last year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Schuman Declaration, the 1950 initiative that laid the foundations for European integration. Up to 20 laureates may be appointed to the order each year.<\/p> <p><\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":9,"name":"Sports","slug":"sports","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":9,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news, features and analysis on Greek and international sports including Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Track, the Olympics and more.","parent":0,"count":610,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":95152,"name":"European Order of Merit","slug":"european-order-of-merit","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95152,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":207,"name":"European Parliament","slug":"europeanparliament","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":207,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":64,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":33423,"name":"Giannis Antetokounmpo","slug":"giannis-antetokounmpo","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":33423,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":51,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":175,"name":"NBA","slug":"nba","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":175,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":24,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/anteto-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/anteto.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/anteto-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/10\/anteto-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"autohub","header":"AutoHub","ID":"7","posts":[]},{"type":"vimagazino","header":"BHMAgazino","ID":"8","posts":[]},{"type":"international","header":"International","ID":"11","posts":[]},{"type":"society","header":"Κοινωνία","ID":"12","posts":[{"id":434689,"date":"2026-03-16T17:00:03","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434689"},"modified":"2026-03-16T12:06:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:06:19","slug":"nationwide-24-hour-strike-by-greek-public-hospital-doctors","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/nationwide-24-hour-strike-by-greek-public-hospital-doctors\/","title":{"rendered":"Nationwide 24-Hour Strike by Greek Public Hospital Doctors"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"275\" data-end=\"476\">Doctors across Greece’s public healthcare system are set to stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 18, following a decision by the Federation of Greek Hospital Doctors (OENGE).<\/p> <p data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"678\">The strike aims to highlight ongoing concerns over the medical wage system and chronic understaffing in hospitals, issues that hospital unions say affect patient care and working conditions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"879\">As part of the action, a protest rally is scheduled in Athens at 12:00 p.m. outside the Ministry of Health, drawing attention to the need for urgent reforms in the public healthcare sector.<\/p> <p data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"1041\">OENGE has confirmed that local hospital unions are currently organizing meetings and various preparatory activities to ensure a coordinated nationwide strike.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greek public hospital doctors will hold a full-day strike on March 18 to protest low wages and staff shortages, with a planned rally outside the Health Ministry in Athens at noon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434698,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[5475,19279,12273],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"275\" data-end=\"476\">Doctors across Greece’s public healthcare system are set to stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on Wednesday, March 18, following a decision by the Federation of Greek Hospital Doctors (OENGE).<\/p> <p data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"678\">The strike aims to highlight ongoing concerns over the medical wage system and chronic understaffing in hospitals, issues that hospital unions say affect patient care and working conditions.<\/p> <p data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"879\">As part of the action, a protest rally is scheduled in Athens at 12:00 p.m. outside the Ministry of Health, drawing attention to the need for urgent reforms in the public healthcare sector.<\/p> <p data-start=\"881\" data-end=\"1041\">OENGE has confirmed that local hospital unions are currently organizing meetings and various preparatory activities to ensure a coordinated nationwide strike.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":5475,"name":"ESY","slug":"esy","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5475,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":19279,"name":"Greece public health system","slug":"greece-public-health-system","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":19279,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":17,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":12273,"name":"Greece strike","slug":"greece-strike","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":12273,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":100,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/giatroi.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434641,"date":"2026-03-16T16:30:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T14:30:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434641"},"modified":"2026-03-16T11:53:20","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:53:20","slug":"27-year-old-mother-dies-in-car-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/27-year-old-mother-dies-in-car-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"27-Year-Old Mother Dies in Car Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"469\">A tragic traffic accident claimed the life of a 27-year-old mother of three yesterday afternoon near Lamia, central Greece. The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. on a service road approaching the city’s main roundabout.<\/p> <p data-start=\"471\" data-end=\"738\">According to local police, the woman’s vehicle collided head-on with a car driven by a 75-year-old man, accompanied by his 45-year-old son, who was en route to work in Anthili. The collision caused severe damage, leaving the young mother trapped in her car.<\/p> <p data-start=\"740\" data-end=\"934\">Firefighters arriving at the scene freed her from the wreckage, and she was transported by ambulance to Lamia Hospital. Despite efforts by medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries.<\/p> <p data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"1172\">The driver of the other vehicle was found injured in nearby fields, where his car had veered off the road. His son also sustained a head injury but was reported to be in stable condition. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A head-on collision near Lamia leaves a young mother of three dead and two others injured, as authorities investigate the circumstances of the tragic accident<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434650,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[43045],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"239\" data-end=\"469\">A tragic traffic accident claimed the life of a 27-year-old mother of three yesterday afternoon near Lamia, central Greece. The incident occurred just after 4:30 p.m. on a service road approaching the city’s main roundabout.<\/p> <p data-start=\"471\" data-end=\"738\">According to local police, the woman’s vehicle collided head-on with a car driven by a 75-year-old man, accompanied by his 45-year-old son, who was en route to work in Anthili. The collision caused severe damage, leaving the young mother trapped in her car.<\/p> <p data-start=\"740\" data-end=\"934\">Firefighters arriving at the scene freed her from the wreckage, and she was transported by ambulance to Lamia Hospital. Despite efforts by medical personnel, she succumbed to her injuries.<\/p> <p data-start=\"936\" data-end=\"1172\">The driver of the other vehicle was found injured in nearby fields, where his car had veered off the road. His son also sustained a head injury but was reported to be in stable condition. Both were taken to the hospital for treatment.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":43045,"name":"road accidents Greece","slug":"road-accidents-greece","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":43045,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":46,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/TROXAIO1-1024x683-1-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434515,"date":"2026-03-16T14:30:48","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T12:30:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434515"},"modified":"2026-03-16T15:26:44","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T13:26:44","slug":"taxi-drivers-in-attica-set-to-begin-indefinite-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/taxi-drivers-in-attica-set-to-begin-indefinite-strike\/","title":{"rendered":"Taxi Drivers in Attica Set to Begin 4-day Strike"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"209\" data-end=\"387\">Taxi drivers in Athens are launching a series of 24-hour strikes from March 17 to March 20 in protest of provisions included in a new government bill affecting the taxi industry.<\/p> <p data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"589\">The strike was announced by the Attica Taxi Drivers’ Union (SATA), which said the work stoppages will begin Tuesday as lawmakers start discussing the proposed legislation in a parliamentary committee.<\/p> <p data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"789\">Drivers say the bill introduces measures they oppose, including rules related to the transition to electric vehicles, special professional licenses and criminal record requirements for taxi drivers.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1gew97j\" data-start=\"791\" data-end=\"828\">Industry pushes back on new rules<\/h3> <p data-start=\"830\" data-end=\"942\">Taxi representatives argue that the proposed changes could create financial and regulatory pressures on drivers.<\/p> <p data-start=\"944\" data-end=\"1128\">Among their main demands is a fair extension of deadlines for the transition to electric vehicles, arguing that such vehicles remain too expensive for many professionals in the sector.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1130\" data-end=\"1276\">The union is also calling for lighter penalties related to special licensing requirements and clearer operational rules for private hire vehicles.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1j1cfpb\" data-start=\"1278\" data-end=\"1310\">Possible nationwide protests<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1312\" data-end=\"1461\">The Panhellenic Federation of Taxi Drivers (POEIAΤΑ), the national umbrella organization for taxi unions, said it is also considering broader action.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1463\" data-end=\"1770\">The federation announced that its board would hold an emergency meeting to decide on further protests across the country. It has already signaled the possibility of rolling nationwide mobilizations starting with a 24-hour strike on March 17, the same day the bill is introduced for parliamentary discussion.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5xxa40\" data-start=\"1772\" data-end=\"1806\">Debate over timing of the bill<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"2050\">The legislation is expected to move through parliament soon, although reports about the timing of the final vote vary. Some sources say it could be approved later this week, while others suggest it may reach a vote in the middle of next week.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2171\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The strike is expected to disrupt taxi services in the Athens metropolitan area throughout the four-day protest period.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SATA president warned of intensified actions during the summer period if their concerns are not addressed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":33,"featured_media":434518,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[58,47993,34860],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"209\" data-end=\"387\">Taxi drivers in Athens are launching a series of 24-hour strikes from March 17 to March 20 in protest of provisions included in a new government bill affecting the taxi industry.<\/p> <p data-start=\"389\" data-end=\"589\">The strike was announced by the Attica Taxi Drivers’ Union (SATA), which said the work stoppages will begin Tuesday as lawmakers start discussing the proposed legislation in a parliamentary committee.<\/p> <p data-start=\"591\" data-end=\"789\">Drivers say the bill introduces measures they oppose, including rules related to the transition to electric vehicles, special professional licenses and criminal record requirements for taxi drivers.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1gew97j\" data-start=\"791\" data-end=\"828\">Industry pushes back on new rules<\/h3> <p data-start=\"830\" data-end=\"942\">Taxi representatives argue that the proposed changes could create financial and regulatory pressures on drivers.<\/p> <p data-start=\"944\" data-end=\"1128\">Among their main demands is a fair extension of deadlines for the transition to electric vehicles, arguing that such vehicles remain too expensive for many professionals in the sector.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1130\" data-end=\"1276\">The union is also calling for lighter penalties related to special licensing requirements and clearer operational rules for private hire vehicles.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <h3 data-section-id=\"1j1cfpb\" data-start=\"1278\" data-end=\"1310\">Possible nationwide protests<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1312\" data-end=\"1461\">The Panhellenic Federation of Taxi Drivers (POEIAΤΑ), the national umbrella organization for taxi unions, said it is also considering broader action.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1463\" data-end=\"1770\">The federation announced that its board would hold an emergency meeting to decide on further protests across the country. It has already signaled the possibility of rolling nationwide mobilizations starting with a 24-hour strike on March 17, the same day the bill is introduced for parliamentary discussion.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"5xxa40\" data-start=\"1772\" data-end=\"1806\">Debate over timing of the bill<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1808\" data-end=\"2050\">The legislation is expected to move through parliament soon, although reports about the timing of the final vote vary. Some sources say it could be approved later this week, while others suggest it may reach a vote in the middle of next week.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2171\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The strike is expected to disrupt taxi services in the Athens metropolitan area throughout the four-day protest period.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":58,"name":"Attica","slug":"attica","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":58,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":17,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":47993,"name":"Taxi Drivers union (SATA)","slug":"taxi-drivers-union-sata","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":47993,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":14,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":34860,"name":"Taxi strike","slug":"taxi-strike","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":34860,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":34,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/taxi-strike-Attica-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/taxi-strike-Attica.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/taxi-strike-Attica-300x200.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/taxi-strike-Attica-768x512.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434467,"date":"2026-03-16T13:30:12","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T11:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434467"},"modified":"2026-03-16T09:42:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T07:42:13","slug":"greek-tax-filing-platform-opens-today-for-2026-returns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/greek-tax-filing-platform-opens-today-for-2026-returns\/","title":{"rendered":"Greek Tax Filing Platform Opens Today for 2026 Returns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"310\" data-end=\"605\">Greece’s tax filing season officially begins today, as the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) opens its online platform for 2026 income tax declarations. The system will remain accessible until July 15, 2026, giving taxpayers several months to review and submit their returns.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1bcqdzs\" data-start=\"607\" data-end=\"637\">Key Codes and Deductions<\/h3> <p data-start=\"638\" data-end=\"982\">Before submitting their tax returns, taxpayers should carefully check the pre-filled information on Form E1, including income, expenses, dependents, student status, hosting arrangements, insurance contributions, and charitable donations. Paying attention to 13 key codes can help reduce the final tax bill or avoid additional charges.<\/p> <p data-start=\"984\" data-end=\"1028\">Some of the most important points include:<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <ol> <li data-start=\"1033\" data-end=\"1231\"><strong data-start=\"1033\" data-end=\"1059\">Professional Expenses:<\/strong> Special provisions exist for new mothers and self-employed individuals in smaller towns or operating school cafeterias, reducing taxable income under certain conditions.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1453\"><strong data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1258\">Dependent Children:<\/strong> Parents must declare all dependents, including students, to qualify for tax reductions. Income thresholds for dependents are €3,000 annually, or €6,000 for those with 67% or higher disability.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1457\" data-end=\"1709\"><strong data-start=\"1457\" data-end=\"1481\">Electronic Expenses:<\/strong> Pre-filled codes for purchases and services allow taxpayers to account for additional spending up to 30% of taxable income. Medical expenses count double toward this limit. Penalties apply if the minimum threshold is not met.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1713\" data-end=\"1918\"><strong data-start=\"1713\" data-end=\"1741\">Professional E-Receipts:<\/strong> Expenses from 20 professional categories, including electricians, plumbers, gyms, and salons, can reduce taxable income by up to 30%, with a maximum limit of €5,000 annually.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1922\" data-end=\"2099\"><strong data-start=\"1922\" data-end=\"1944\">Building Upgrades:<\/strong> Costs for energy, functional, or aesthetic improvements reduce income tax proportionally over five years, up to €16,000, if paid via electronic methods.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2200\"><strong data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2131\">Insurance Contributions:<\/strong> Contributions declared under specific codes reduce taxable income.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2204\" data-end=\"2316\"><strong data-start=\"2204\" data-end=\"2228\">Tips and Gratuities:<\/strong> Monthly tips up to €300 from clients are exempt from income tax if properly reported.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2429\"><strong data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2346\">Disability Deductions:<\/strong> Individuals with disabilities of 67% or more can claim automatic tax reductions.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2433\" data-end=\"2592\"><strong data-start=\"2433\" data-end=\"2458\">Charitable Donations:<\/strong> Donations above €100 to public or charitable organizations reduce taxable income by up to 5% or 40% for non-governmental charities.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2702\"><strong data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2617\">Student Housing:<\/strong> Parents declaring secondary residences for studying children may claim deductions.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2707\" data-end=\"2833\"><strong data-start=\"2707\" data-end=\"2732\">Hosting Arrangements:<\/strong> Non-dependent residents living in a taxpayer’s home must be properly declared to avoid tax issues.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2973\"><strong data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2866\">Living Cost Assumptions:<\/strong> Reduced living cost assessments on homes, vehicles, and boats lower taxes for roughly 480,000 taxpayers.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2978\" data-end=\"3132\"><strong data-start=\"2978\" data-end=\"2994\">Unpaid Rent:<\/strong> Landlords can avoid taxation on unpaid 2025 rents if legal actions, such as eviction or payment orders, are in place before submission.<\/li> <\/ol> <h3 data-section-id=\"1sy6x5\" data-start=\"3134\" data-end=\"3169\">Payment Options and Discounts<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3170\" data-end=\"3399\">Taxpayers with outstanding tax liabilities can pay in eight monthly installments, starting at the end of July 2026. Those opting for one-time payments may receive discounts of 2% to 4%, depending on the submission date:<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3443\">4% for submissions by April 30<\/li> <li data-start=\"3446\" data-end=\"3469\">3% by June 15<\/li> <li data-start=\"3472\" data-end=\"3495\">2% by July 15<\/li> <\/ul> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Taxpayers can now submit 2025 income declarations, with key codes available to reduce tax liabilities and avoid penalties, including deductions for children, donations, insurance contributions, and electronic expenses<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434470,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[31167],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"310\" data-end=\"605\">Greece’s tax filing season officially begins today, as the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) opens its online platform for 2026 income tax declarations. The system will remain accessible until July 15, 2026, giving taxpayers several months to review and submit their returns.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1bcqdzs\" data-start=\"607\" data-end=\"637\">Key Codes and Deductions<\/h3> <p data-start=\"638\" data-end=\"982\">Before submitting their tax returns, taxpayers should carefully check the pre-filled information on Form E1, including income, expenses, dependents, student status, hosting arrangements, insurance contributions, and charitable donations. Paying attention to 13 key codes can help reduce the final tax bill or avoid additional charges.<\/p> <p data-start=\"984\" data-end=\"1028\">Some of the most important points include:<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <ol> <li data-start=\"1033\" data-end=\"1231\"><strong data-start=\"1033\" data-end=\"1059\">Professional Expenses:<\/strong> Special provisions exist for new mothers and self-employed individuals in smaller towns or operating school cafeterias, reducing taxable income under certain conditions.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1453\"><strong data-start=\"1235\" data-end=\"1258\">Dependent Children:<\/strong> Parents must declare all dependents, including students, to qualify for tax reductions. Income thresholds for dependents are €3,000 annually, or €6,000 for those with 67% or higher disability.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1457\" data-end=\"1709\"><strong data-start=\"1457\" data-end=\"1481\">Electronic Expenses:<\/strong> Pre-filled codes for purchases and services allow taxpayers to account for additional spending up to 30% of taxable income. Medical expenses count double toward this limit. Penalties apply if the minimum threshold is not met.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1713\" data-end=\"1918\"><strong data-start=\"1713\" data-end=\"1741\">Professional E-Receipts:<\/strong> Expenses from 20 professional categories, including electricians, plumbers, gyms, and salons, can reduce taxable income by up to 30%, with a maximum limit of €5,000 annually.<\/li> <li data-start=\"1922\" data-end=\"2099\"><strong data-start=\"1922\" data-end=\"1944\">Building Upgrades:<\/strong> Costs for energy, functional, or aesthetic improvements reduce income tax proportionally over five years, up to €16,000, if paid via electronic methods.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2200\"><strong data-start=\"2103\" data-end=\"2131\">Insurance Contributions:<\/strong> Contributions declared under specific codes reduce taxable income.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2204\" data-end=\"2316\"><strong data-start=\"2204\" data-end=\"2228\">Tips and Gratuities:<\/strong> Monthly tips up to €300 from clients are exempt from income tax if properly reported.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2429\"><strong data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2346\">Disability Deductions:<\/strong> Individuals with disabilities of 67% or more can claim automatic tax reductions.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2433\" data-end=\"2592\"><strong data-start=\"2433\" data-end=\"2458\">Charitable Donations:<\/strong> Donations above €100 to public or charitable organizations reduce taxable income by up to 5% or 40% for non-governmental charities.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2702\"><strong data-start=\"2597\" data-end=\"2617\">Student Housing:<\/strong> Parents declaring secondary residences for studying children may claim deductions.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2707\" data-end=\"2833\"><strong data-start=\"2707\" data-end=\"2732\">Hosting Arrangements:<\/strong> Non-dependent residents living in a taxpayer’s home must be properly declared to avoid tax issues.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2973\"><strong data-start=\"2838\" data-end=\"2866\">Living Cost Assumptions:<\/strong> Reduced living cost assessments on homes, vehicles, and boats lower taxes for roughly 480,000 taxpayers.<\/li> <li data-start=\"2978\" data-end=\"3132\"><strong data-start=\"2978\" data-end=\"2994\">Unpaid Rent:<\/strong> Landlords can avoid taxation on unpaid 2025 rents if legal actions, such as eviction or payment orders, are in place before submission.<\/li> <\/ol> <h3 data-section-id=\"1sy6x5\" data-start=\"3134\" data-end=\"3169\">Payment Options and Discounts<\/h3> <p data-start=\"3170\" data-end=\"3399\">Taxpayers with outstanding tax liabilities can pay in eight monthly installments, starting at the end of July 2026. Those opting for one-time payments may receive discounts of 2% to 4%, depending on the submission date:<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"3403\" data-end=\"3443\">4% for submissions by April 30<\/li> <li data-start=\"3446\" data-end=\"3469\">3% by June 15<\/li> <li data-start=\"3472\" data-end=\"3495\">2% by July 15<\/li> <\/ul> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":31167,"name":"Greece taxation","slug":"greece-taxation","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":31167,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":59,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/forologikesd1-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/forologikesd1.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/forologikesd1-300x194.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/forologikesd1.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":434365,"date":"2026-03-16T11:00:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T09:00:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434365"},"modified":"2026-03-16T08:53:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T06:53:02","slug":"arrest-made-in-thessaloniki-fatal-stabbing-case","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/arrest-made-in-thessaloniki-fatal-stabbing-case\/","title":{"rendered":"Arrest Made in Thessaloniki Fatal Stabbing Case"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"268\" data-end=\"489\">Greek police have made a new arrest in connection with the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/20-year-old-fatally-stabbed-in-thessaloniki\/\"> fatal stabbing<\/a> of a 20-year-old man in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Thessaloniki last Thursday. <\/span><\/span><\/p> <p data-start=\"491\" data-end=\"808\">Authorities confirmed that a 19-year-old friend of the victim has been arrested and remains in custody. He is expected to appear before a prosecutor on Wednesday. The suspect faces charges including forming a criminal group, causing dangerous bodily harm, and possession of objects capable of inflicting injury.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"7p96xt\" data-start=\"810\" data-end=\"839\">Main Suspect to Testify<\/h3> <p data-start=\"840\" data-end=\"1071\">Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man accused of carrying out the fatal stabbing is scheduled to testify before investigators on Tuesday. He faces charges of intentional homicide, as well as illegal possession and use of a weapon.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1073\" data-end=\"1273\">Police believe additional individuals may have been involved in the violent confrontation that led to the young man’s death. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue collecting evidence.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1r0z4dd\" data-start=\"1275\" data-end=\"1317\">Possible Link to Sports Fan Violence<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1652\">Prosecutors are also examining whether the case is connected to sports-related fan violence. According to a representative of the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Thessaloniki Police Officers Union<\/span><\/span>, the charges filed by the prosecutor were based on legislation concerning sports-related offenses, suggesting a possible fan-related background to the incident.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1890\">Officials also warned about the increasing use of knives in violent incidents among young people. According to police representatives, knives are easily accessible and have become one of the most commonly used weapons in such attacks.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1892\" data-end=\"2139\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The deadly stabbing, which occurred in the coastal district of <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Kalamaria<\/span><\/span>, continues to be investigated as authorities seek to determine the full circumstances behind the killing and identify any additional suspects.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Police detained a friend of the 20-year-old victim as investigations continue into the deadly attack, with authorities examining whether the killing was linked to sports fan violence<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":434371,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[36883,38],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"268\" data-end=\"489\">Greek police have made a new arrest in connection with the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/20-year-old-fatally-stabbed-in-thessaloniki\/\"> fatal stabbing<\/a> of a 20-year-old man in <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Thessaloniki last Thursday. <\/span><\/span><\/p> <p data-start=\"491\" data-end=\"808\">Authorities confirmed that a 19-year-old friend of the victim has been arrested and remains in custody. He is expected to appear before a prosecutor on Wednesday. The suspect faces charges including forming a criminal group, causing dangerous bodily harm, and possession of objects capable of inflicting injury.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"7p96xt\" data-start=\"810\" data-end=\"839\">Main Suspect to Testify<\/h3> <p data-start=\"840\" data-end=\"1071\">Meanwhile, a 23-year-old man accused of carrying out the fatal stabbing is scheduled to testify before investigators on Tuesday. He faces charges of intentional homicide, as well as illegal possession and use of a weapon.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1073\" data-end=\"1273\">Police believe additional individuals may have been involved in the violent confrontation that led to the young man’s death. The investigation is ongoing as authorities continue collecting evidence.<\/p> <h3 data-section-id=\"1r0z4dd\" data-start=\"1275\" data-end=\"1317\">Possible Link to Sports Fan Violence<\/h3> <p data-start=\"1318\" data-end=\"1652\">Prosecutors are also examining whether the case is connected to sports-related fan violence. According to a representative of the <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Thessaloniki Police Officers Union<\/span><\/span>, the charges filed by the prosecutor were based on legislation concerning sports-related offenses, suggesting a possible fan-related background to the incident.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1654\" data-end=\"1890\">Officials also warned about the increasing use of knives in violent incidents among young people. According to police representatives, knives are easily accessible and have become one of the most commonly used weapons in such attacks.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1892\" data-end=\"2139\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">The deadly stabbing, which occurred in the coastal district of <span class=\"hover:entity-accent entity-underline inline cursor-pointer align-baseline\"><span class=\"whitespace-normal\">Kalamaria<\/span><\/span>, continues to be investigated as authorities seek to determine the full circumstances behind the killing and identify any additional suspects.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Society","slug":"society","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Breaking news, photos and videos from around Greece. Read our latest coverage on crime, education, the judicial system, health care and immigration.","parent":0,"count":6746,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":36883,"name":"knife attack","slug":"knife-attack","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":36883,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":18,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":38,"name":"Thessaloniki","slug":"thessaloniki","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":38,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":92,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/6890464-768x512-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/6890464-768x512-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/6890464-768x512-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/6890464-768x512-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"culture","header":"Πολιτισμός","ID":"13","posts":[{"id":434290,"date":"2026-03-16T08:30:53","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T06:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=434290"},"modified":"2026-03-16T07:37:26","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T05:37:26","slug":"cassandra-kulukundis-wins-first-ever-casting-oscar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/cassandra-kulukundis-wins-first-ever-casting-oscar\/","title":{"rendered":"Cassandra Kulukundis Wins First-Ever Casting Oscar"},"content":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"417\" data-end=\"683\">Cassandra Kulukundis made history at the 98th Academy Awards, becoming the first person ever to win an Oscar for Casting Direction—a category introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize the craft of assembling a film’s cast.<\/p> <p data-start=\"685\" data-end=\"948\">With the win, the Greek-American casting director also became only the second Greek woman ever to receive an Academy Award, after legendary actress Katina Paxinou. Her victory also marked the seventh Oscar awarded to a Greek artist.<\/p> <p data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"1167\">Kulukundis was honored for her work on <em data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1018\">One Battle After Another<\/em>, the film that dominated the ceremony with six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1169\" data-end=\"1520\">The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, features a powerful ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn—who won his third Oscar for his performance—and Benicio del Toro. It also introduces new faces discovered through an extensive audition process.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"1xx8svx\" data-start=\"1527\" data-end=\"1567\">What a Casting Director Actually Does<\/h2> <p data-start=\"1569\" data-end=\"1635\">In Hollywood, casting is an essential but often invisible art.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1825\">During her acceptance speech, Kulukundis devoted part of her remarks to explaining the work she and her colleagues do: finding the right actors to bring a film’s characters to life.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"2013\">Her award represents more than a personal achievement—it also signals long-awaited institutional recognition for a profession that has remained largely behind the scenes for decades.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2015\" data-end=\"2260\">Over a long career in Hollywood, Kulukundis has helped shape the casts of some of the most important American films of recent decades. The Greek-American casting director stands behind several of the most memorable ensembles in modern cinema.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"1hbtd5b\" data-start=\"2267\" data-end=\"2318\">A Long-Time Collaborator of Paul Thomas Anderson<\/h2> <p data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2379\">Kouloukoundis’ career in film began in the early 1990s.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2552\">A graduate of college in the United States, she entered the film industry as an intern on Hard Eight, the debut feature by Paul Thomas Anderson.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2554\" data-end=\"2711\">That collaboration proved decisive. From then on, she became one of the director’s closest collaborators, responsible for casting in nearly all of his films.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2713\" data-end=\"2996\">Her work helped bring to life iconic characters such as Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day‑Lewis in There Will Be Blood, and Freddie Quell, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in The Master.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2998\" data-end=\"3222\">Beyond those films, she has collaborated with Anderson on Magnolia, Inherent Vice, Phantom Thread and Licorice Pizza.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3224\" data-end=\"3470\">Kouloukoundis has also worked on the casting of other well-known films such as Mid90s and Her—again starring Joaquin Phoenix—and has participated in film projects as a producer.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"gzkmqa\" data-start=\"3477\" data-end=\"3531\">The Casting Challenge of <em data-start=\"3505\" data-end=\"3531\">One Battle After Another<\/em><\/h2> <p data-start=\"3533\" data-end=\"3707\">For <em data-start=\"3537\" data-end=\"3563\">One Battle After Another<\/em>, Kulukundis and her team faced one of the most demanding casting processes of their careers: blending established stars with new talent.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3709\" data-end=\"3896\">One of those discoveries was Chase Infiniti, who plays Willa, a central character in the film. Infiniti portrays the daughter of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, an armed revolutionary.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3898\" data-end=\"4021\">“It’s the child of two revolutionaries, so she needed to look like she came from that world,” Kulukundis once explained.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4023\" data-end=\"4109\">To find the right performer, she visited every martial arts school in Los Angeles.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4111\" data-end=\"4212\">Infiniti turned out to be a kickboxing athlete who had already made a promising television debut.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4214\" data-end=\"4398\">“When I first met her, she was still in school,” Kulukundis recalled. Even so, extensive training and rehearsals were required before convincing Anderson she was right for the role.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4400\" data-end=\"4479\">The casting director is convinced Infiniti has the makings of a movie star.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4481\" data-end=\"4610\">Jokingly, she said: “After <em data-start=\"4508\" data-end=\"4534\">One Battle After Another<\/em>, it’ll be impossible for me to cast her again—her fame will have exploded.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"4612\" data-end=\"4823\">Part of that prediction has already come true. Infiniti has since signed on to star in the TV series The Testaments, the sequel to the hit series The Handmaid’s Tale.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"m4s48l\" data-start=\"4830\" data-end=\"4868\">An Oscar for Every Casting Director<\/h2> <p data-start=\"4870\" data-end=\"4914\">Kulukundis ’ win carries strong symbolism.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4916\" data-end=\"5033\">She dedicated the award to all casting directors who, as she said, “never had the chance to stand on this stage.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"5035\" data-end=\"5127\">She also joked with Anderson, telling him she had managed to win an Oscar before he did.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5129\" data-end=\"5319\">By the end of the evening, however, Anderson had collected not one but three Oscars—for Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture—marking the first Academy Awards of his career.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"2gp4sy\" data-start=\"5326\" data-end=\"5359\">The Greeks Who Have Won Oscars<\/h2> <p data-start=\"5361\" data-end=\"5456\">Kulukundis now joins a small but notable group of Greek artists who have won Academy Awards.<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"5460\" data-end=\"5543\">Katina Paxinou (1943) – Best Supporting Actress for <em data-start=\"5516\" data-end=\"5541\">For Whom the Bell Tolls<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5546\" data-end=\"5641\">Manos Hadjidakis (1960) – Best Original Song for “Never on Sunday” from <em data-start=\"5622\" data-end=\"5639\">Never on Sunday<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5644\" data-end=\"5714\">Vassilis Fotopoulos (1964) – Art Direction for <em data-start=\"5695\" data-end=\"5712\">Zorba the Greek<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5717\" data-end=\"5790\">Theo Papadakis (1970) – Best Visual Effects for <em data-start=\"5769\" data-end=\"5788\">Tora! Tora! Tora!<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5793\" data-end=\"5874\">Vangelis Papathanassiou (1981) – Best Original Score for <em data-start=\"5854\" data-end=\"5872\">Chariots of Fire<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5877\" data-end=\"5957\">George Migdalis (2010) – Best Makeup (as part of the team) for <em data-start=\"5944\" data-end=\"5957\">The Wolfman<\/em><\/li> <\/ul> <p data-start=\"5959\" data-end=\"6036\">Kulukundis ’ win marks Greece’s seventh Oscar and the first since 2010.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6038\" data-end=\"6323\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">And while the list of Greek winners remains short, the list of Greek filmmakers nominated for Oscars—from directors like Costa‑Gavras to Yorgos Lanthimos—is far longer, reflecting the growing global influence of Greek talent in cinema.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Greek-American casting director Cassandra Kulukundis makes Oscar history, winning the first Academy Award ever given for casting. Her work on One Battle After Another also marks Greece’s seventh Oscar and the first since 2010.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":434293,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,5],"tags":[14049,16356,3594],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p data-start=\"417\" data-end=\"683\">Cassandra Kulukundis made history at the 98th Academy Awards, becoming the first person ever to win an Oscar for Casting Direction—a category introduced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize the craft of assembling a film’s cast.<\/p> <p data-start=\"685\" data-end=\"948\">With the win, the Greek-American casting director also became only the second Greek woman ever to receive an Academy Award, after legendary actress Katina Paxinou. Her victory also marked the seventh Oscar awarded to a Greek artist.<\/p> <p data-start=\"950\" data-end=\"1167\">Kulukundis was honored for her work on <em data-start=\"992\" data-end=\"1018\">One Battle After Another<\/em>, the film that dominated the ceremony with six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1169\" data-end=\"1520\">The film, directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, features a powerful ensemble cast including Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn—who won his third Oscar for his performance—and Benicio del Toro. It also introduces new faces discovered through an extensive audition process.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"1xx8svx\" data-start=\"1527\" data-end=\"1567\">What a Casting Director Actually Does<\/h2> <p data-start=\"1569\" data-end=\"1635\">In Hollywood, casting is an essential but often invisible art.<\/p> <p data-start=\"1637\" data-end=\"1825\">During her acceptance speech, Kulukundis devoted part of her remarks to explaining the work she and her colleagues do: finding the right actors to bring a film’s characters to life.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p data-start=\"1827\" data-end=\"2013\">Her award represents more than a personal achievement—it also signals long-awaited institutional recognition for a profession that has remained largely behind the scenes for decades.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2015\" data-end=\"2260\">Over a long career in Hollywood, Kulukundis has helped shape the casts of some of the most important American films of recent decades. The Greek-American casting director stands behind several of the most memorable ensembles in modern cinema.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"1hbtd5b\" data-start=\"2267\" data-end=\"2318\">A Long-Time Collaborator of Paul Thomas Anderson<\/h2> <p data-start=\"2320\" data-end=\"2379\">Kouloukoundis’ career in film began in the early 1990s.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2381\" data-end=\"2552\">A graduate of college in the United States, she entered the film industry as an intern on Hard Eight, the debut feature by Paul Thomas Anderson.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2554\" data-end=\"2711\">That collaboration proved decisive. From then on, she became one of the director’s closest collaborators, responsible for casting in nearly all of his films.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2713\" data-end=\"2996\">Her work helped bring to life iconic characters such as Daniel Plainview, played by Daniel Day‑Lewis in There Will Be Blood, and Freddie Quell, portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in The Master.<\/p> <p data-start=\"2998\" data-end=\"3222\">Beyond those films, she has collaborated with Anderson on Magnolia, Inherent Vice, Phantom Thread and Licorice Pizza.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3224\" data-end=\"3470\">Kouloukoundis has also worked on the casting of other well-known films such as Mid90s and Her—again starring Joaquin Phoenix—and has participated in film projects as a producer.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"gzkmqa\" data-start=\"3477\" data-end=\"3531\">The Casting Challenge of <em data-start=\"3505\" data-end=\"3531\">One Battle After Another<\/em><\/h2> <p data-start=\"3533\" data-end=\"3707\">For <em data-start=\"3537\" data-end=\"3563\">One Battle After Another<\/em>, Kulukundis and her team faced one of the most demanding casting processes of their careers: blending established stars with new talent.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p data-start=\"3709\" data-end=\"3896\">One of those discoveries was Chase Infiniti, who plays Willa, a central character in the film. Infiniti portrays the daughter of Leonardo DiCaprio’s character, an armed revolutionary.<\/p> <p data-start=\"3898\" data-end=\"4021\">“It’s the child of two revolutionaries, so she needed to look like she came from that world,” Kulukundis once explained.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4023\" data-end=\"4109\">To find the right performer, she visited every martial arts school in Los Angeles.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4111\" data-end=\"4212\">Infiniti turned out to be a kickboxing athlete who had already made a promising television debut.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4214\" data-end=\"4398\">“When I first met her, she was still in school,” Kulukundis recalled. Even so, extensive training and rehearsals were required before convincing Anderson she was right for the role.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4400\" data-end=\"4479\">The casting director is convinced Infiniti has the makings of a movie star.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4481\" data-end=\"4610\">Jokingly, she said: “After <em data-start=\"4508\" data-end=\"4534\">One Battle After Another<\/em>, it’ll be impossible for me to cast her again—her fame will have exploded.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"4612\" data-end=\"4823\">Part of that prediction has already come true. Infiniti has since signed on to star in the TV series The Testaments, the sequel to the hit series The Handmaid’s Tale.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"m4s48l\" data-start=\"4830\" data-end=\"4868\">An Oscar for Every Casting Director<\/h2> <p data-start=\"4870\" data-end=\"4914\">Kulukundis ’ win carries strong symbolism.<\/p> <p data-start=\"4916\" data-end=\"5033\">She dedicated the award to all casting directors who, as she said, “never had the chance to stand on this stage.”<\/p> <p data-start=\"5035\" data-end=\"5127\">She also joked with Anderson, telling him she had managed to win an Oscar before he did.<\/p> <p data-start=\"5129\" data-end=\"5319\">By the end of the evening, however, Anderson had collected not one but three Oscars—for Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture—marking the first Academy Awards of his career.<\/p> <h2 data-section-id=\"2gp4sy\" data-start=\"5326\" data-end=\"5359\">The Greeks Who Have Won Oscars<\/h2> <p data-start=\"5361\" data-end=\"5456\">Kulukundis now joins a small but notable group of Greek artists who have won Academy Awards.<\/p> <ul> <li data-start=\"5460\" data-end=\"5543\">Katina Paxinou (1943) – Best Supporting Actress for <em data-start=\"5516\" data-end=\"5541\">For Whom the Bell Tolls<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5546\" data-end=\"5641\">Manos Hadjidakis (1960) – Best Original Song for “Never on Sunday” from <em data-start=\"5622\" data-end=\"5639\">Never on Sunday<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5644\" data-end=\"5714\">Vassilis Fotopoulos (1964) – Art Direction for <em data-start=\"5695\" data-end=\"5712\">Zorba the Greek<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5717\" data-end=\"5790\">Theo Papadakis (1970) – Best Visual Effects for <em data-start=\"5769\" data-end=\"5788\">Tora! Tora! Tora!<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5793\" data-end=\"5874\">Vangelis Papathanassiou (1981) – Best Original Score for <em data-start=\"5854\" data-end=\"5872\">Chariots of Fire<\/em><\/li> <li data-start=\"5877\" data-end=\"5957\">George Migdalis (2010) – Best Makeup (as part of the team) for <em data-start=\"5944\" data-end=\"5957\">The Wolfman<\/em><\/li> <\/ul> <p data-start=\"5959\" data-end=\"6036\">Kulukundis ’ win marks Greece’s seventh Oscar and the first since 2010.<\/p> <p data-start=\"6038\" data-end=\"6323\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">And while the list of Greek winners remains short, the list of Greek filmmakers nominated for Oscars—from directors like Costa‑Gavras to Yorgos Lanthimos—is far longer, reflecting the growing global influence of Greek talent in cinema.<\/p> <p><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":10,"name":"Celebrities","slug":"celebrities","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":10,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news about actors, singers, musicians and celebrities from the Greek and international show business","parent":0,"count":237,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":5,"name":"Culture","slug":"culture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"News, reviews and analysis from our critics and reporters about the Greek culture &amp; arts scene, including books, movies, art, food, music, history, television and theater.","parent":0,"count":1104,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":14049,"name":"Academy Awards","slug":"academy-awards","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":14049,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":6,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":16356,"name":"Oscar-winning Greeks","slug":"oscar-winning-greeks","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":16356,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":2,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":3594,"name":"Oscars","slug":"oscars","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3594,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":19,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T001108Z_30987554_HP1EM3G00IIE8_RTRMADP_5_AWARDS-OSCARS-1024x700-1.avif","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T001108Z_30987554_HP1EM3G00IIE8_RTRMADP_5_AWARDS-OSCARS-1024x700-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T001108Z_30987554_HP1EM3G00IIE8_RTRMADP_5_AWARDS-OSCARS-1024x700-1.avif","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/16\/2026-03-16T001108Z_30987554_HP1EM3G00IIE8_RTRMADP_5_AWARDS-OSCARS-1024x700-1.avif","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433519,"date":"2026-03-15T22:51:30","date_gmt":"2026-03-15T20:51:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433519"},"modified":"2026-03-15T22:51:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-15T20:51:54","slug":"nazi-execution-photos-prompt-greece-to-create-national-photo-archive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/stories\/nazi-execution-photos-prompt-greece-to-create-national-photo-archive\/","title":{"rendered":"Nazi Execution Photos Prompt Greece to Create National Photo Archive"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In a space smaller than a passport photo, just 5cm by 6, one of the most tragic moments in modern Greek history comes to light 82 years later, exposing the atrocities Nazi Germany inflicted on the Greek people.<\/p> <p>Moments from those dark days were captured on May 1, 1944, by the steady hand of a Wehrmacht sergeant who photographed the execution of 20 Greek men. They were among 200, most of them Communists and members of the Resistance, who were executed in batches of 20. Each group carried their dead comrades to the army trucks before their turn came. After the shooting, the photographer walked among the lifeless bodies, taking images of the corpses while another soldier, pistol in hand, ensured the fallen Greek prisoners were truly dead. If any still showed signs of life, he would shoot them again on the spot.<\/p> <p>Minutes earlier, the men had been ordered to remove their coats so the bullets would penetrate their bodies more easily.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Composed and unwavering, the 20 men in the photos, just some of the hundreds who faced similar deaths across Greece during WWII and the German occupation, looked bravely into the camera on their way to the firing squad as the Wehrmacht officer immortalized the achievements of Nazi Germany on film.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434110\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434110\" class=\"wp-image-434110 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/5_HEUER_006a-e1773581515336.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1017\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434110\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Minutes before the execution, Nazi soldiers order the first group of 20 men to remove their coats to make sure the bullets penetrate their bodies.<\/p><\/div> <p>Their final moments stand as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in modern Greek history that must never be repeated.<\/p> <p>The images remained largely unknown until this year.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>€100,000 for a Glimpse of History<\/strong><\/p> <p>The photos of the Kaisariani May Day execution, 262 of them in all, shocked Greece after coming to public attention late in February, when Tim de Craene, a Belgian WWII memorabilia collector, decided to sell them on e-Bay.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>The listing included the photos taken by German sergeant Hermann Heuer along with 16 documents, among them a collage of newspaper clippings and several Greek banknotes, assembled from his personal archive.<\/p> <p>Within days, the discovery was sending shockwaves through Greece.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434113\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434113\" class=\"wp-image-434113 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/7_HEUER_008a-1-e1773581600573.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"966\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434113\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The political prisoners, mostly Communists and resistance fighters, walk toward their death, looking straight into the Heuer’s camera.<\/p><\/div> <p>The Greek Culture Ministry moved quickly to stop the auction and negotiate the purchase of the collection. In less than two weeks, a committee of historians, archivists and conservators verified the authenticity of the images and the ministry began talks with de Craene.<\/p> <p>“This is the first time a public body has  moved so quickly and in such a coordinated manner to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/battle-over-nazi-era-execution-photos-halted-on-ebay\/\">halt an auction<\/a> and acquire material that forms a significant part of modern Greek heritage,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said during a presentation of the photographs in Athens in the first week of March.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>The Greek Culture Ministry paid a total of 100,000 euros to acquire the collection. The entire archive is now officially the property of the Greek state.<\/p> <p><strong>Three Images Too Disturbing to Sell<\/strong><\/p> <p>In addition to the ten Kaisariani photos that had already been made public, the minister presented three shocking photographs of the May Day execution.<\/p> <p>The images were considered too disturbing for public sale, and eBay had refused to list them, Mendoni said. The minister also requested, out of respect for the deceased and their families, that two of these should not be published. The third shows the moment the command is given and the Nazi soldiers open fire, leaving the 20 men dead.<\/p> <p>Mendoni said the photos will go on public display in the future. “For the time being, 82 years later, we must show respect.”<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434116\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434116\" class=\"wp-image-434116 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-1024x894.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-1024x894.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-300x262.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-768x670.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-1536x1340.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-2048x1787.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434116\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 20 Greeks are lined up minutes before their execution at the Kaisariani firing range, today a major WWII memorial site.<\/p><\/div> <p><strong>May Day 1944 – Athens<\/strong><\/p> <p>The executions captured on film took place at the rifle range in Kaisariani, a district near downtown Athens, which is now one of Greece’s most important wartime memorial sites. The Nazis killed the men in retaliation -a common practice &#8211; for the murder by resistance fighters of German Major General Franz Krech in the town of Molaoi, in the Peloponnese. The 200 men were political prisoners held at the Haidari concentration camp.<\/p> <p>Mendoni said the collection provides a rare and coherent visual record of the German occupation of Greece during World War II. Until now, historians have had few visual records of the mass executions carried out by German forces during the occupation. The Kaisariani photographs change that.<\/p> <p><strong>Kaisariani Photos Next Steps<\/strong><\/p> <p>The photos have now been officially designated “national monuments”, said Mendoni. This status places them under state protection and requires their preservation, scientific documentation and eventual public presentation.<\/p> <p>The next phase involves extensive research. Historians will examine the circumstances surrounding the photographs and attempt to identify the people depicted. Families of the victims will also be contacted where possible. Once the research is completed, the findings will be presented at an academic conference, the minister added.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434119\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434119\" class=\"wp-image-434119 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-1024x862.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-1024x862.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-768x646.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-1536x1293.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-2048x1723.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The political prisoners, mostly Communists and resistance fighters, walk toward their death, looking straight into the Heuer’s camera.<\/p><\/div> <p>So far, no relatives of the executed prisoners have come forward, although several institutions have already expressed interest in the material, including the National Resistance Museum in Kaisariani, the Municipality of Haidari, the Greek Communist Party and the Municipality of Kaisariani.<\/p> <p><strong>Photographs of War… and Leisure<\/strong><\/p> <p>For historians, the images are significant not only for their subject matter, but also for what they reveal about the photographer’s mindset. According to the ministry’s committee of experts, the collection reflects a broader photographic culture within the German army during the war.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434122\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434122\" class=\"wp-image-434122 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-1024x801.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-1024x801.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-300x235.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-768x601.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-1536x1202.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-2048x1602.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alongside the photographs of executions, there are casual snapshots of the soldiers’ everyday life in Greece. Souvenirs of the Nazi experience abroad.<\/p><\/div> <p>Maria Mertzani, head of the Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments, said the material has survived in remarkably good condition despite its age.<\/p> <p>“It’s over 80 years old, so it requires special care,” she said. “Our priority now is conservation, digitization and long-term protection.”<\/p> <p>Stavroula Fotopoulou, head of the Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage, said historians have immediately recognized the importance of the photographs.<\/p> <p>“It was crucial that we acquired the material, so it can be preserved and made available for research.”<\/p> <p>Fotopoulou noted that the photographs form part of a vast visual record produced during the war. “We are very much aware of the many photo collections circulating from the Third Reich, the Wehrmacht and Nazi soldiers,” she said.<\/p> <p>“It is estimated that more than 40 million photographs were taken by Wehrmacht soldiers, and more than two million by Goebbels’ propaganda apparatus.”<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-434125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-1024x852.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-1024x852.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-768x639.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-1536x1277.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-2048x1703.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <p><strong>The Power of Propaganda<\/strong><\/p> <p>The images served both personal and political purposes. “Goebbels created a massive propaganda machine with professional photographers from the Propaganda Units, but everyone—soldiers and their families—were also encouraged to photograph their experiences. Why? So these photographs could come back and tell the story of the Wehrmacht&#8217;s success,&#8221; Fotopoulou explained.<\/p> <p>Goebbels served as Germany’s Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945. He used the arts and the press to promote Nazi ideology. Actions were carefully orchestrated to convince German citizens of the importance of the war effort and to stir their patriotism.<\/p> <p>The Kaisariani photographs were likely not official propaganda but part of this broader culture.<\/p> <p>Historian Valentin Schneider, a World War II specialist at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eie.gr\/en\/home\/\">National Hellenic Research Foundation<\/a> who will lead the research project, describes them as “hybrid” images.<\/p> <p>“They are private photographs documenting everyday life in the army, but they exist within the wider framework of Nazi wartime culture,” he said.<\/p> <p>Other images in Heuer’s archive illustrate this contrast. Alongside the photographs of executions, there are casual snapshots of soldiers relaxing on beaches near Piraeus, touring the Acropolis or posing during training exercises. The juxtaposition is unsettling.<\/p> <p>“These were souvenirs of the Nazi experience abroad,” explains photographer Socratis Mavrommatis. “The sergeant is detached from the crimes being committed. That’s why his collection includes spontaneous shots of everyday life.”<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434128\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434128\" class=\"wp-image-434128 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-800x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-800x1024.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-768x983.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-1200x1536.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-1600x2048.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434128\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wehrmacht sergeant Hermann Heuer with his camera photographed by a soldier.<\/p><\/div> <p>In addition to the 13 photos of the political prisoners boarding the convoy from the camp in Haidari to their execution, others depict moments captured in Piraeus, Malakasa and Isthmia, as well as troops departing Germany by train and traveling through Yugoslavia to Athens in December 1943.<\/p> <p>The point was to enrich Goebbels’ narrative that war was an adventure of discovery and exploration, says Schneider.<\/p> <p><strong>Toward a National Photo Archive<\/strong><\/p> <p>During the press conference in Athens, Mendoni announced plans to create Greece’s first National Photo Archive, which will operate as part of the National Archive of Monuments.<\/p> <p>“The time has come,” she said. “It is now more necessary than ever, and there is so much material available.”<\/p> <p>The archive will gather and preserve historically significant photographic collections from across Greece. Among other materials to be featured are photographs from the former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/tatoi-estate-redevelopment-into-cultural-hub-advancing\/\">royal estate at Tatoi<\/a>, images documenting the arrival of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/stories\/greeks-of-istanbul-hold-on-to-a-fading-legacy\/\">Greek refugees from Asia Minor<\/a>, and photographic records from the Archaeological Service.<\/p> <p>The new archive will also collaborate with private collectors, she said.<\/p> <p>The Kaisariani photographs will likely become one of its most powerful testaments.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434137\" style=\"width: 816px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434137\" class=\"wp-image-434137 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-806x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"806\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-806x1024.jpg 806w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-768x975.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-1209x1536.jpg 1209w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-1612x2048.jpg 1612w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434137\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nazi soldiers on their way to Greece, during the German occupation (April 1941–October 1944) in WWII.<\/p><\/div> <h3>The Question of German Reparations<\/h3> <p>Greece has repeatedly sought justice for the devastation caused during the German occupation of 1941-1944. The Nazis left the country’s economy shattered, destroying infrastructure, factories, roads and ports. Tens of thousands of civilians died from famine, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/karya-station-becomes-historic-landmark-a-silent-witness-to-nazi-forced-labor-in-greece\/\">forced labor<\/a>, reprisals and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/vima-history\/the-kalavryta-massacre-a-terrible-nazi-war-crime\/\">mass executions<\/a>.<\/p> <p>One of the most devastating impacts of the occupation was the forced loan imposed in 1942. Nazi Germany compelled the Bank of Greece to provide interest-free loans totaling 476 million Reichsmarks to finance their military operations in the country.<\/p> <p>Greece has raised the issue of reparations several times over the years, including in 1960, after German reunification in 1990, and more recently between 2015 and 2023. According to estimates cited by Greek officials, the country’s claims could amount to 300-350 billion euros.<\/p> <p>Germany maintains that the matter was settled through post-war agreements, though Greece was never party to these, and the 1990 Two Plus Four Treaty. Greece insists that the claims remain legally active and enforceable, particularly in relation to the occupation loan and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/operation-stolen-memories\/\">damages<\/a> not covered by earlier agreements.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-434143\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-984x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"984\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-984x1024.jpg 984w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-288x300.jpg 288w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-768x799.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-1476x1536.jpg 1476w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-1968x2048.jpg 1968w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px\" \/><\/p> <p>For decades, historians relied largely on written testimony and photographs of wartime destruction, bombed factories, ruined infrastructure and starving civilians to illustrate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/vima-history\/lela-karagianni-the-fearless-mother-turned-resistance-legend-against-the-nazis\/\">scale of suffering during the German occupation<\/a>. Visual documentation of mass executions in Greece was largely absent from public archives.<\/p> <p>The newly-acquired Kaisariani photographs change that. They provide rare visual evidence of Nazi war crimes committed in Greece and contribute to a fuller historical record of the occupation.<\/p> <p>They also prepare the ground for renewed discussion centered on the deep political divisions of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/vima-history\/december-events-the-prelude-to-the-greek-civil-war-80-years-on\/\">Greek Civil War that followed<\/a> (1946 -1949).<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shocking images of the 1944 May Day executions in Kaisariani reveal Nazi brutality and spur Greece to preserve its visual history.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":118,"featured_media":433528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,19519],"tags":[95074,1425],"nea_authors":[12939],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"Maria Paravantes","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>In a space smaller than a passport photo, just 5cm by 6, one of the most tragic moments in modern Greek history comes to light 82 years later, exposing the atrocities Nazi Germany inflicted on the Greek people.<\/p> <p>Moments from those dark days were captured on May 1, 1944, by the steady hand of a Wehrmacht sergeant who photographed the execution of 20 Greek men. They were among 200, most of them Communists and members of the Resistance, who were executed in batches of 20. Each group carried their dead comrades to the army trucks before their turn came. After the shooting, the photographer walked among the lifeless bodies, taking images of the corpses while another soldier, pistol in hand, ensured the fallen Greek prisoners were truly dead. If any still showed signs of life, he would shoot them again on the spot.<\/p> <p>Minutes earlier, the men had been ordered to remove their coats so the bullets would penetrate their bodies more easily.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Composed and unwavering, the 20 men in the photos, just some of the hundreds who faced similar deaths across Greece during WWII and the German occupation, looked bravely into the camera on their way to the firing squad as the Wehrmacht officer immortalized the achievements of Nazi Germany on film.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434110\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434110\" class=\"wp-image-434110 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/5_HEUER_006a-e1773581515336.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1017\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434110\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Minutes before the execution, Nazi soldiers order the first group of 20 men to remove their coats to make sure the bullets penetrate their bodies.<\/p><\/div> <p>Their final moments stand as a stark reminder of a dark chapter in modern Greek history that must never be repeated.<\/p> <p>The images remained largely unknown until this year.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><strong>€100,000 for a Glimpse of History<\/strong><\/p> <p>The photos of the Kaisariani May Day execution, 262 of them in all, shocked Greece after coming to public attention late in February, when Tim de Craene, a Belgian WWII memorabilia collector, decided to sell them on e-Bay.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>The listing included the photos taken by German sergeant Hermann Heuer along with 16 documents, among them a collage of newspaper clippings and several Greek banknotes, assembled from his personal archive.<\/p> <p>Within days, the discovery was sending shockwaves through Greece.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434113\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434113\" class=\"wp-image-434113 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/7_HEUER_008a-1-e1773581600573.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"966\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434113\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The political prisoners, mostly Communists and resistance fighters, walk toward their death, looking straight into the Heuer’s camera.<\/p><\/div> <p>The Greek Culture Ministry moved quickly to stop the auction and negotiate the purchase of the collection. In less than two weeks, a committee of historians, archivists and conservators verified the authenticity of the images and the ministry began talks with de Craene.<\/p> <p>“This is the first time a public body has  moved so quickly and in such a coordinated manner to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/battle-over-nazi-era-execution-photos-halted-on-ebay\/\">halt an auction<\/a> and acquire material that forms a significant part of modern Greek heritage,” Culture Minister Lina Mendoni said during a presentation of the photographs in Athens in the first week of March.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>The Greek Culture Ministry paid a total of 100,000 euros to acquire the collection. The entire archive is now officially the property of the Greek state.<\/p> <p><strong>Three Images Too Disturbing to Sell<\/strong><\/p> <p>In addition to the ten Kaisariani photos that had already been made public, the minister presented three shocking photographs of the May Day execution.<\/p> <p>The images were considered too disturbing for public sale, and eBay had refused to list them, Mendoni said. The minister also requested, out of respect for the deceased and their families, that two of these should not be published. The third shows the moment the command is given and the Nazi soldiers open fire, leaving the 20 men dead.<\/p> <p>Mendoni said the photos will go on public display in the future. “For the time being, 82 years later, we must show respect.”<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434116\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434116\" class=\"wp-image-434116 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-1024x894.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"894\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-1024x894.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-300x262.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-768x670.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-1536x1340.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/1_HEUER_009a-2048x1787.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434116\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The 20 Greeks are lined up minutes before their execution at the Kaisariani firing range, today a major WWII memorial site.<\/p><\/div> <p><strong>May Day 1944 – Athens<\/strong><\/p> <p>The executions captured on film took place at the rifle range in Kaisariani, a district near downtown Athens, which is now one of Greece’s most important wartime memorial sites. The Nazis killed the men in retaliation -a common practice &#8211; for the murder by resistance fighters of German Major General Franz Krech in the town of Molaoi, in the Peloponnese. The 200 men were political prisoners held at the Haidari concentration camp.<\/p> <p>Mendoni said the collection provides a rare and coherent visual record of the German occupation of Greece during World War II. Until now, historians have had few visual records of the mass executions carried out by German forces during the occupation. The Kaisariani photographs change that.<\/p> <p><strong>Kaisariani Photos Next Steps<\/strong><\/p> <p>The photos have now been officially designated “national monuments”, said Mendoni. This status places them under state protection and requires their preservation, scientific documentation and eventual public presentation.<\/p> <p>The next phase involves extensive research. Historians will examine the circumstances surrounding the photographs and attempt to identify the people depicted. Families of the victims will also be contacted where possible. Once the research is completed, the findings will be presented at an academic conference, the minister added.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434119\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434119\" class=\"wp-image-434119 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-1024x862.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"862\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-1024x862.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-300x252.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-768x646.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-1536x1293.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/4_HEUER_007a-2048x1723.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434119\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The political prisoners, mostly Communists and resistance fighters, walk toward their death, looking straight into the Heuer’s camera.<\/p><\/div> <p>So far, no relatives of the executed prisoners have come forward, although several institutions have already expressed interest in the material, including the National Resistance Museum in Kaisariani, the Municipality of Haidari, the Greek Communist Party and the Municipality of Kaisariani.<\/p> <p><strong>Photographs of War… and Leisure<\/strong><\/p> <p>For historians, the images are significant not only for their subject matter, but also for what they reveal about the photographer’s mindset. According to the ministry’s committee of experts, the collection reflects a broader photographic culture within the German army during the war.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434122\" style=\"width: 1034px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434122\" class=\"wp-image-434122 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-1024x801.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-1024x801.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-300x235.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-768x601.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-1536x1202.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/2_HEUER_019a-2048x1602.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434122\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Alongside the photographs of executions, there are casual snapshots of the soldiers’ everyday life in Greece. Souvenirs of the Nazi experience abroad.<\/p><\/div> <p>Maria Mertzani, head of the Directorate for the Conservation of Ancient and Modern Monuments, said the material has survived in remarkably good condition despite its age.<\/p> <p>“It’s over 80 years old, so it requires special care,” she said. “Our priority now is conservation, digitization and long-term protection.”<\/p> <p>Stavroula Fotopoulou, head of the Directorate of Modern Cultural and Intangible Cultural Heritage, said historians have immediately recognized the importance of the photographs.<\/p> <p>“It was crucial that we acquired the material, so it can be preserved and made available for research.”<\/p> <p>Fotopoulou noted that the photographs form part of a vast visual record produced during the war. “We are very much aware of the many photo collections circulating from the Third Reich, the Wehrmacht and Nazi soldiers,” she said.<\/p> <p>“It is estimated that more than 40 million photographs were taken by Wehrmacht soldiers, and more than two million by Goebbels’ propaganda apparatus.”<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-434125\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-1024x852.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"852\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-1024x852.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-768x639.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-1536x1277.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/9_HEUER_005a-2048x1703.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p> <p><strong>The Power of Propaganda<\/strong><\/p> <p>The images served both personal and political purposes. “Goebbels created a massive propaganda machine with professional photographers from the Propaganda Units, but everyone—soldiers and their families—were also encouraged to photograph their experiences. Why? So these photographs could come back and tell the story of the Wehrmacht&#8217;s success,&#8221; Fotopoulou explained.<\/p> <p>Goebbels served as Germany’s Minister of Propaganda from 1933 to 1945. He used the arts and the press to promote Nazi ideology. Actions were carefully orchestrated to convince German citizens of the importance of the war effort and to stir their patriotism.<\/p> <p>The Kaisariani photographs were likely not official propaganda but part of this broader culture.<\/p> <p>Historian Valentin Schneider, a World War II specialist at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eie.gr\/en\/home\/\">National Hellenic Research Foundation<\/a> who will lead the research project, describes them as “hybrid” images.<\/p> <p>“They are private photographs documenting everyday life in the army, but they exist within the wider framework of Nazi wartime culture,” he said.<\/p> <p>Other images in Heuer’s archive illustrate this contrast. Alongside the photographs of executions, there are casual snapshots of soldiers relaxing on beaches near Piraeus, touring the Acropolis or posing during training exercises. The juxtaposition is unsettling.<\/p> <p>“These were souvenirs of the Nazi experience abroad,” explains photographer Socratis Mavrommatis. “The sergeant is detached from the crimes being committed. That’s why his collection includes spontaneous shots of everyday life.”<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434128\" style=\"width: 810px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434128\" class=\"wp-image-434128 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-800x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-800x1024.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-234x300.jpg 234w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-768x983.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-1200x1536.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/8_HEUER_016a-1600x2048.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434128\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wehrmacht sergeant Hermann Heuer with his camera photographed by a soldier.<\/p><\/div> <p>In addition to the 13 photos of the political prisoners boarding the convoy from the camp in Haidari to their execution, others depict moments captured in Piraeus, Malakasa and Isthmia, as well as troops departing Germany by train and traveling through Yugoslavia to Athens in December 1943.<\/p> <p>The point was to enrich Goebbels’ narrative that war was an adventure of discovery and exploration, says Schneider.<\/p> <p><strong>Toward a National Photo Archive<\/strong><\/p> <p>During the press conference in Athens, Mendoni announced plans to create Greece’s first National Photo Archive, which will operate as part of the National Archive of Monuments.<\/p> <p>“The time has come,” she said. “It is now more necessary than ever, and there is so much material available.”<\/p> <p>The archive will gather and preserve historically significant photographic collections from across Greece. Among other materials to be featured are photographs from the former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/tatoi-estate-redevelopment-into-cultural-hub-advancing\/\">royal estate at Tatoi<\/a>, images documenting the arrival of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/stories\/greeks-of-istanbul-hold-on-to-a-fading-legacy\/\">Greek refugees from Asia Minor<\/a>, and photographic records from the Archaeological Service.<\/p> <p>The new archive will also collaborate with private collectors, she said.<\/p> <p>The Kaisariani photographs will likely become one of its most powerful testaments.<\/p> <div id=\"attachment_434137\" style=\"width: 816px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-434137\" class=\"wp-image-434137 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-806x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"806\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-806x1024.jpg 806w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-236x300.jpg 236w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-768x975.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-1209x1536.jpg 1209w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/6_HEUER_029a-1612x2048.jpg 1612w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-434137\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nazi soldiers on their way to Greece, during the German occupation (April 1941–October 1944) in WWII.<\/p><\/div> <h3>The Question of German Reparations<\/h3> <p>Greece has repeatedly sought justice for the devastation caused during the German occupation of 1941-1944. The Nazis left the country’s economy shattered, destroying infrastructure, factories, roads and ports. Tens of thousands of civilians died from famine, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/karya-station-becomes-historic-landmark-a-silent-witness-to-nazi-forced-labor-in-greece\/\">forced labor<\/a>, reprisals and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/vima-history\/the-kalavryta-massacre-a-terrible-nazi-war-crime\/\">mass executions<\/a>.<\/p> <p>One of the most devastating impacts of the occupation was the forced loan imposed in 1942. Nazi Germany compelled the Bank of Greece to provide interest-free loans totaling 476 million Reichsmarks to finance their military operations in the country.<\/p> <p>Greece has raised the issue of reparations several times over the years, including in 1960, after German reunification in 1990, and more recently between 2015 and 2023. According to estimates cited by Greek officials, the country’s claims could amount to 300-350 billion euros.<\/p> <p>Germany maintains that the matter was settled through post-war agreements, though Greece was never party to these, and the 1990 Two Plus Four Treaty. Greece insists that the claims remain legally active and enforceable, particularly in relation to the occupation loan and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/society\/operation-stolen-memories\/\">damages<\/a> not covered by earlier agreements.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-434143\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-984x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"984\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-984x1024.jpg 984w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-288x300.jpg 288w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-768x799.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-1476x1536.jpg 1476w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/15\/3_HEUER_010a-1968x2048.jpg 1968w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 984px) 100vw, 984px\" \/><\/p> <p>For decades, historians relied largely on written testimony and photographs of wartime destruction, bombed factories, ruined infrastructure and starving civilians to illustrate the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/vima-history\/lela-karagianni-the-fearless-mother-turned-resistance-legend-against-the-nazis\/\">scale of suffering during the German occupation<\/a>. Visual documentation of mass executions in Greece was largely absent from public archives.<\/p> <p>The newly-acquired Kaisariani photographs change that. They provide rare visual evidence of Nazi war crimes committed in Greece and contribute to a fuller historical record of the occupation.<\/p> <p>They also prepare the ground for renewed discussion centered on the deep political divisions of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/vima-history\/december-events-the-prelude-to-the-greek-civil-war-80-years-on\/\">Greek Civil War that followed<\/a> (1946 -1949).<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Culture","slug":"culture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"News, reviews and analysis from our critics and reporters about the Greek culture &amp; arts scene, including books, movies, art, food, music, history, television and theater.","parent":0,"count":1104,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":19519,"name":"Stories","slug":"stories","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":19519,"taxonomy":"category","description":"Feature stories, interviews and in-depth analyses focusing on Greece: Greece politics, social issues, arts and culture, environment, travel and tourism by To Vima.com.","parent":0,"count":419,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":95074,"name":"Kaisariani Execution Photographs","slug":"kaisariani-execution-photographs","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95074,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":7,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1425,"name":"National Gallery","slug":"national-gallery","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1425,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/0_front-_HEUER_011a-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/0_front-_HEUER_011a.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/0_front-_HEUER_011a-300x247.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/0_front-_HEUER_011a-768x631.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433768,"date":"2026-03-13T18:15:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-13T16:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433768"},"modified":"2026-03-13T17:32:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T15:32:27","slug":"alexander-the-great-2000-year-old-lost-city-confirmed-in-iraq","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/alexander-the-great-2000-year-old-lost-city-confirmed-in-iraq\/","title":{"rendered":"Alexander the Great: 2,000 Year-Old Lost City Confirmed in Iraq"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Alexander the Great, considered by many the greatest military genius in history, had left a trail of cities – some put the number at over 70 &#8211; named after him across Asia during his legendary campaigns and the conquest of the Persian Empire. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/archaeologists-discover-500-year-old-shipwreck-beneath-barcelona-market\/\">Archaeologists<\/a> have confirmed the location of a city lost for over 2,000 years, founded by the Macedonian leader.<\/p> <p>The ancient city, located at a strategic point in southern Iraq near the Persian Gulf, is named Alexandria on the Tigris. The river in Iraq is the eastern of the two great rivers that defined ancient Mesopotamia<\/p> <p>The port city was founded in the fourth century BC by Alexander the Great and acted as a trading hub connecting India and Mesopotamia with the Mediterranean world.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Archaeologists, who worked on the site for 16 years, managed to map the city’s walls and street grids, using high-resolution imagery and drones, revealing the large size of a thriving metropolis.<\/p> <p>According to the Professor of archaeology from the University of Konstanz in Germany, Stefan R. Hauser, the city had been flooded many times. He said that despite the floods, the city “has been miraculously preserved.”<\/p> <p>Researchers unearthed temples and workshops with kilns and furnaces.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;The size of the city blocks is extraordinary,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It surpasses even those of the major capitals of the time, like Seleucia on the Tigris or Alexandria on the Nile.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Hauser added, &#8220;The quality of the geophysical evidence is absolutely stunning… The preservation of buildings is surprisingly good, and we started identifying the walls immediately beneath the surface, which also accounts for the good results in geophysical exploration.&#8221;<\/p> <p>The archaeologist said he was surprised by the city&#8217;s size at 2.5 square miles, which he called &#8220;enormous for an ancient city.&#8221;<\/p> <p><strong><em>with information from Foxnews.com<\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alexander the Great, considered by many the greatest military genius in history, had left a trail of cities – some put the number at over 70 &#8211; named after him across Asia during his legendary campaigns and the conquest of the Persian Empire. Archaeologists have confirmed the location of a city lost for over 2,000 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":433771,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[825],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Alexander the Great, considered by many the greatest military genius in history, had left a trail of cities – some put the number at over 70 &#8211; named after him across Asia during his legendary campaigns and the conquest of the Persian Empire. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/world\/archaeologists-discover-500-year-old-shipwreck-beneath-barcelona-market\/\">Archaeologists<\/a> have confirmed the location of a city lost for over 2,000 years, founded by the Macedonian leader.<\/p> <p>The ancient city, located at a strategic point in southern Iraq near the Persian Gulf, is named Alexandria on the Tigris. The river in Iraq is the eastern of the two great rivers that defined ancient Mesopotamia<\/p> <p>The port city was founded in the fourth century BC by Alexander the Great and acted as a trading hub connecting India and Mesopotamia with the Mediterranean world.<\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>Archaeologists, who worked on the site for 16 years, managed to map the city’s walls and street grids, using high-resolution imagery and drones, revealing the large size of a thriving metropolis.<\/p> <p>According to the Professor of archaeology from the University of Konstanz in Germany, Stefan R. Hauser, the city had been flooded many times. He said that despite the floods, the city “has been miraculously preserved.”<\/p> <p>Researchers unearthed temples and workshops with kilns and furnaces.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>&#8220;The size of the city blocks is extraordinary,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It surpasses even those of the major capitals of the time, like Seleucia on the Tigris or Alexandria on the Nile.&#8221;<\/p> <p>Hauser added, &#8220;The quality of the geophysical evidence is absolutely stunning… The preservation of buildings is surprisingly good, and we started identifying the walls immediately beneath the surface, which also accounts for the good results in geophysical exploration.&#8221;<\/p> <p>The archaeologist said he was surprised by the city&#8217;s size at 2.5 square miles, which he called &#8220;enormous for an ancient city.&#8221;<\/p> <p><strong><em>with information from Foxnews.com<\/em><\/strong><\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Culture","slug":"culture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"News, reviews and analysis from our critics and reporters about the Greek culture &amp; arts scene, including books, movies, art, food, music, history, television and theater.","parent":0,"count":1104,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":825,"name":"Alexander the Great","slug":"alexander-the-great","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":825,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":8,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/alex-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/alex.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/alex-300x180.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/13\/alex-768x461.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":433123,"date":"2026-03-12T17:00:29","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T15:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=433123"},"modified":"2026-03-12T16:42:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T14:42:03","slug":"brad-pitt-in-nea-makri-as-filming-of-the-riders-continues-vid","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/celebrities\/brad-pitt-in-nea-makri-as-filming-of-the-riders-continues-vid\/","title":{"rendered":"Brad Pitt in Nea Makri, as Filming of ‘The Riders’ Continues (vid)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Greece continues to ride the wave of Hollywood, as megastar Brad Pitt was spotted in the coastal town of Nea Makri in East Attica for the shooting of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/celebrities\/latest-shooting-of-brad-pitt-film-in-front-of-athens-city-hall\/\">upcoming movie “The Riders”<\/a>.<\/p> <p>The small town is the third location the production crew relocated to after shooting scenes on the island of Hydra, Chalkida, and downtown Athens.<\/p> <p><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <div style=\"width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16\/9;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/player.glomex.com\/integration\/1\/integration.html?integrationId=40599w1hlpi78e1y&playlistId=v-dh0ne3wxg2kx\"><\/iframe><\/div> <p>Locals were pleasantly surprised on Thursday morning when they got a glimpse of Brad Pitt entering a hotel in Nea Makri along with the movie’s team.<\/p> <p>According to a Mega TV reporter, the 62-year-old, who has won two Oscars, entered the hotel through the back door to avoid the paparazzi.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-433135 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2.jpg\" alt=\"Brad Pitt\" width=\"1641\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2.jpg 1641w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-656x1024.jpg 656w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-768x1198.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-985x1536.jpg 985w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-1313x2048.jpg 1313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1641px) 100vw, 1641px\" \/><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>The hotel, which has hosted many renowned political, economic, and cultural figures in the past, including Aristotle Onassis and recently departed entertainer George Marinos, was chosen because of its aesthetics reminiscent of the 80s.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-433138 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3.jpg\" alt=\"Brad Pitt\" width=\"1200\" height=\"859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3-1024x733.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3-768x550.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p> <p>Filming in Nea Makri will continue on Friday, before the production moves to a different location.<\/p> <p>The movie is based on the same-name novel by Tim Winton and is directed by Edward Berger. Brad Pitt plays the role of Fred Scully, while co-starring alongside him are Julianne Nicholson and Coco Greenstone.<\/p> <p>The story follows a man who settles in Europe with his family, only to deal with the mysterious disappearance of his wife. The search that follows turns into a journey filled with suspense and emotional twists, according to publicity material.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Brad Pitt plays the role of Fred Scully, while co-starring alongside him are Julianne Nicholson and Coco Greenstone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":433132,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10,5],"tags":[94909,83122,95203],"nea_authors":[],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"TοΒΗΜΑ Team","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>Greece continues to ride the wave of Hollywood, as megastar Brad Pitt was spotted in the coastal town of Nea Makri in East Attica for the shooting of his <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/celebrities\/latest-shooting-of-brad-pitt-film-in-front-of-athens-city-hall\/\">upcoming movie “The Riders”<\/a>.<\/p> <p>The small town is the third location the production crew relocated to after shooting scenes on the island of Hydra, Chalkida, and downtown Athens.<\/p> <p><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <div style=\"width: 100%; aspect-ratio: 16\/9;\"><iframe style=\"width: 100%; height: 100%;\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/player.glomex.com\/integration\/1\/integration.html?integrationId=40599w1hlpi78e1y&amp;playlistId=v-dh0ne3wxg2kx\"><\/iframe><\/div> <p>Locals were pleasantly surprised on Thursday morning when they got a glimpse of Brad Pitt entering a hotel in Nea Makri along with the movie’s team.<\/p> <p>According to a Mega TV reporter, the 62-year-old, who has won two Oscars, entered the hotel through the back door to avoid the paparazzi.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-433135 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2.jpg\" alt=\"Brad Pitt\" width=\"1641\" height=\"2560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2.jpg 1641w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-656x1024.jpg 656w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-768x1198.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-985x1536.jpg 985w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt2-1313x2048.jpg 1313w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1641px) 100vw, 1641px\" \/><\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>The hotel, which has hosted many renowned political, economic, and cultural figures in the past, including Aristotle Onassis and recently departed entertainer George Marinos, was chosen because of its aesthetics reminiscent of the 80s.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-433138 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3.jpg\" alt=\"Brad Pitt\" width=\"1200\" height=\"859\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3-300x215.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3-1024x733.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt3-768x550.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/p> <p>Filming in Nea Makri will continue on Friday, before the production moves to a different location.<\/p> <p>The movie is based on the same-name novel by Tim Winton and is directed by Edward Berger. Brad Pitt plays the role of Fred Scully, while co-starring alongside him are Julianne Nicholson and Coco Greenstone.<\/p> <p>The story follows a man who settles in Europe with his family, only to deal with the mysterious disappearance of his wife. The search that follows turns into a journey filled with suspense and emotional twists, according to publicity material.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":10,"name":"Celebrities","slug":"celebrities","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":10,"taxonomy":"category","description":"The latest news about actors, singers, musicians and celebrities from the Greek and international show business","parent":0,"count":237,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":5,"name":"Culture","slug":"culture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"News, reviews and analysis from our critics and reporters about the Greek culture &amp; arts scene, including books, movies, art, food, music, history, television and theater.","parent":0,"count":1104,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":94909,"name":"Brad Pitt","slug":"brad-pitt","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":94909,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":8,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":83122,"name":"Hollywood production","slug":"hollywood-production","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":83122,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":10,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":95203,"name":"The Riders","slug":"the-riders","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95203,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt-300x169.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/12\/pitt-768x432.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null},{"id":432490,"date":"2026-03-11T17:44:36","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:44:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wp.mgmt.tovima.com\/?p=432490"},"modified":"2026-03-11T17:44:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-11T15:44:36","slug":"trailblazing-greek-showman-giorgos-marinos-dies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/culture\/trailblazing-greek-showman-giorgos-marinos-dies\/","title":{"rendered":"Trailblazing Greek Showman Giorgos Marinos Dies"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>One of Greece’s most versatile and daring performers, showman extraordinaire Giorgos Marinos passed away this week, leaving behind a legacy of artistic freedom and inclusivity. He was 87.<\/p> <p>For decades, Marinos captivated audiences with performances that defied convention. His shows blended satire, storytelling, song, and theater into a captivating mix of cabaret and stand-up comedy that became uniquely his own. With wit, finesse, and audacity, he pushed the boundaries of Greek live entertainment and redefined the country’s fledgling nightclub scene.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-432511 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-940x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Giorgos Marinos\" width=\"940\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-940x1024.jpg 940w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-275x300.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-768x837.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2.jpg 1330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><\/p> <p>Beyond his artistic flair, Marinos was admired for his boldness and uncompromising nature. At a time when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/stories\/greek-schools-still-unsafe-for-lgbtqi-children\/\">silence and stigma surrounded homosexuality in Greece,<\/a> he was among the few public figures to speak openly about his private life. In interviews, he often said he felt a deep responsibility to appear with dignity and pride, representing a community that faced discrimination and exclusion.<\/p> <p>Marinos was born in 1939, in the neighborhood of Votanikos in Athens, where he grew up with his mother. His passion for performance began early, a calling that would later lead to an artistic career spanning decades and multiple mediums, including theater, cinema, and television.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>He collaborated with some of the most prominent figures in Greek culture, including composer Manos Hadjidakis, poet Nikos Gatsos, and beloved cinema and theater stars Rena Vlachopoulou, Dimitris Horn, and Maro Kontou. Marinos was also among the first entertainers to introduce live performance-style shows to Greek television.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p><\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-432514 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-780x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Giorgos Marinos\" width=\"780\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-780x1024.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-768x1008.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-1170x1536.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-1560x2048.jpg 1560w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/p> <p><\/p> <p>One of the defining chapters of his career unfolded at the legendary Medusa nightclub, where he performed from 1973 to 1992. For nearly two decades, his nightly appearances transformed the venue into a cultural happening spot. There, Marinos’ electrifying performances blended humor, social and political commentary, and theatrical spectacle, drawing devoted audiences and reshaping Greece’s nightlife culture.<\/p> <p>Throughout his career, he also supported and mentored younger performers, encouraging new talent and serving as a role model and inspiration for generations of entertainers who followed.<\/p> <p>Away from the spotlight, Marinos lived quietly and was known for his deep love of animals. In his later years, he resided in a nursing home.<\/p> <p>Reacting to his passing, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described him as &#8220;an emblematic artist who fully displayed his talent and was loved by the public like few others.”<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>&#8220;He generously gifted us with his talent,&#8221; she said, calling him “the first great Greek showman, an artist who uniquely combined acting, imitation, music, and song.”<\/p> <p>Mendoni also highlighted his broader social impact, noting that Marinos was among the first public figures in Greece to speak openly about his personal life, helping challenge stereotypes and contributing to greater acceptance.<\/p> <p>&#8220;We owe a lot to Giorgos Marinos,&#8221; she said. “We will always remember and honor him for his valuable contribution.”<\/p> <p>With his charisma, courage, and singular style, Giorgos Marinos leaves behind more than a body of work, he leaves a legacy of artistic and personal freedom that changed Greek entertainment forever.<\/p> <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With his signature cabaret style, Giorgos Marinos redefined Greek nightlife, challenging taboos with his boldness and disarming honesty<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":432532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[95194,43055,95197,31302],"nea_authors":[12939],"super_title":null,"cwp_author":"Maria Paravantes","thecontent":{"rendered":"<p>One of Greece’s most versatile and daring performers, showman extraordinaire Giorgos Marinos passed away this week, leaving behind a legacy of artistic freedom and inclusivity. He was 87.<\/p> <p>For decades, Marinos captivated audiences with performances that defied convention. His shows blended satire, storytelling, song, and theater into a captivating mix of cabaret and stand-up comedy that became uniquely his own. With wit, finesse, and audacity, he pushed the boundaries of Greek live entertainment and redefined the country’s fledgling nightclub scene.<\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-432511 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-940x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Giorgos Marinos\" width=\"940\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-940x1024.jpg 940w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-275x300.jpg 275w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2-768x837.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-2.jpg 1330w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/><\/p><div id='300x250_m1' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m1'); });<\/script><\/div> <p><\/p> <p>Beyond his artistic flair, Marinos was admired for his boldness and uncompromising nature. At a time when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/stories\/greek-schools-still-unsafe-for-lgbtqi-children\/\">silence and stigma surrounded homosexuality in Greece,<\/a> he was among the few public figures to speak openly about his private life. In interviews, he often said he felt a deep responsibility to appear with dignity and pride, representing a community that faced discrimination and exclusion.<\/p> <p>Marinos was born in 1939, in the neighborhood of Votanikos in Athens, where he grew up with his mother. His passion for performance began early, a calling that would later lead to an artistic career spanning decades and multiple mediums, including theater, cinema, and television.<\/p><div id='300x250_m2' style='display:none;margin-bottom:30px'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_m2'); });<\/script><\/div> <p>He collaborated with some of the most prominent figures in Greek culture, including composer Manos Hadjidakis, poet Nikos Gatsos, and beloved cinema and theater stars Rena Vlachopoulou, Dimitris Horn, and Maro Kontou. Marinos was also among the first entertainers to introduce live performance-style shows to Greek television.<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_2' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_2'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p><\/p> <p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-432514 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-780x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Giorgos Marinos\" width=\"780\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-780x1024.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-228x300.jpg 228w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-768x1008.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-1170x1536.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/Marinos-1-1560x2048.jpg 1560w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 780px) 100vw, 780px\" \/><\/p> <p><\/p> <p>One of the defining chapters of his career unfolded at the legendary Medusa nightclub, where he performed from 1973 to 1992. For nearly two decades, his nightly appearances transformed the venue into a cultural happening spot. There, Marinos’ electrifying performances blended humor, social and political commentary, and theatrical spectacle, drawing devoted audiences and reshaping Greece’s nightlife culture.<\/p> <p>Throughout his career, he also supported and mentored younger performers, encouraging new talent and serving as a role model and inspiration for generations of entertainers who followed.<\/p> <p>Away from the spotlight, Marinos lived quietly and was known for his deep love of animals. In his later years, he resided in a nursing home.<\/p> <p>Reacting to his passing, Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni described him as &#8220;an emblematic artist who fully displayed his talent and was loved by the public like few others.”<\/p><div class='is-hidden-desktop'><div style='min-height:475px;margin-bottom:30px' class='parent__div adrow'><div id='300x250_middle_3' class='adunit__sticky' style='display:none'><script type='text\/javascript'>googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('300x250_middle_3'); });<\/script><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/p> <p>&#8220;He generously gifted us with his talent,&#8221; she said, calling him “the first great Greek showman, an artist who uniquely combined acting, imitation, music, and song.”<\/p> <p>Mendoni also highlighted his broader social impact, noting that Marinos was among the first public figures in Greece to speak openly about his personal life, helping challenge stereotypes and contributing to greater acceptance.<\/p> <p>&#8220;We owe a lot to Giorgos Marinos,&#8221; she said. “We will always remember and honor him for his valuable contribution.”<\/p> <p>With his charisma, courage, and singular style, Giorgos Marinos leaves behind more than a body of work, he leaves a legacy of artistic and personal freedom that changed Greek entertainment forever.<\/p> <\/p>"},"cwp_category":[{"term_id":5,"name":"Culture","slug":"culture","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"News, reviews and analysis from our critics and reporters about the Greek culture &amp; arts scene, including books, movies, art, food, music, history, television and theater.","parent":0,"count":1104,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_tags":[{"term_id":95194,"name":"Giorgos Marinos","slug":"giorgos-marinos","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95194,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":43055,"name":"Greece obituaries","slug":"greece-obituaries","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":43055,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":3,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":95197,"name":"Greece theater","slug":"greece-theater","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":95197,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":1,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":31302,"name":"Greek music","slug":"greek-music","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":31302,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":22,"filter":"raw"}],"cwp_featured_thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/marinos-f-150x150.jpg","cwp_featured_full":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/marinos-f.jpg","cwp_featured_medium":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/marinos-f-300x226.jpg","cwp_featured_medium_large":"https:\/\/www.tovima.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/11\/marinos-f-768x577.jpg","locked_article":null,"youtube_player":null,"facebook_player":null,"extra_video_mobile_app":null,"extra_video":null}]},{"type":"books","header":"Βιβλία","ID":"14","posts":[]}]