Moscow's decision to lower the threshold for a nuclear attack came as the Kremlin responded furiously to the United States allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia with American weapons.

(photo Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on Monday.Vyacheslav Prokofyev / AFP -)

Russian President Vladimir Putin formally lowered the threshold for his country's use of nuclear weapons Tuesday, days after the United States allowed Ukraine to strike inside Russia using American missiles.

The Kremlin announced that Putin had approved an updated nuclear doctrine — a document that governs how Russia uses its nuclear arsenal — including the declaration that Moscow could unleash a nuclear strike if subject to an attack by a non-nuclear country that has the support of a nuclear state.

“The nuclear doctrine update was required to bring the document in line with the current political situation,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the TASS state news agency in comments published early Tuesday.

Peskov outlined Moscow's new threat in light of Washington's shift in policy: That the use of Western non-nuclear missiles by Ukraine's military against Russia under the new doctrine could lead to a nuclear response.

The changes had been formulated and will be formalized as necessary, he said. Still, the use of nuclear weapons would be a “last resort measure,” he added.

The changes mark the most significant saber rattling yet by the Kremlin, which has consistently warned about possible nuclear war throughout the now 1,000 days since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Putin had signaled the update to his country’s policy earlier this year as he sought to warn the West against loosening restrictions on Kyiv's use of long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia.

Russia also reserved the rise to use the weapons even if Belarus was attacked, he said then. And the new doctrine matches that shift.

"Aggression against the Russian Federation and its allies by a non-nuclear country with the support of a nuclear state will be considered a joint attack," it reads.

The doctrine also says that “The Russian Federation may use nuclear weapons in the event of a critical threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself and Belarus,” a shift from previous language that said it may use nuclear weapons “when the very existence of the state is at risk.”
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The changes follow Putin's warning to the U.S. and its NATO allies that any use of their long-range weapons supplied to the Ukrainians against Russian territory would mean NATO and Russia are at war.

But after the U.S. and others said that thousands of North Korean troops had joined the fight alongside the Kremlin's military, U.S. officials told NBC News that the Biden administration had relaxed restrictions on the missile systems it has supplied to its ally, authorizing use of the long-range ATACMS missile systems for limited strikes in Russia's Kursk border region.

The shift drew condemnation from the Kremlin, with Peskov saying Monday that Washington was pouring "oil on the fire" and was provoking "further escalation of tension around this conflict."

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s security council and former president, offered a clearer warning to NATO and Ukraine on Tuesday. If NATO missiles were fired at Russia, Moscow could target Kyiv and the bloc’s facilities with its nuclear weapons, he said.

“That means World War III,” Medvedev said in a post on X.

(NBCNEWS)

Australia is the latest country to introduce a law that acknowledges the right of employees to disconnect after work hours.
The news comes after calls by the European Parliament earlier this year on the Commission to enact an EU-wide law in this direction. The aim of the proposal is to safeguard employees and ensure work-life balance particularly due to increased telework.

The law, which was passed earlier this year and went into effect this week in Australia, allows employees to “refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact or attempted contact outside their working hours, unless their refusal is unreasonable” despite efforts by employers to call or message them after work.
Meanwhile, in Greece, the government enacted a law in July which foresees a six-day work week allowing employers to request their employees work an extra day.

According to Eurostat data for 2023, Greeks worked the highest number of hours per week in the EU, followed by Romania and Poland.
Increasing telework, particularly after Covid-19, has forced the European Parliament to seek ways to legally put a stop to the expectation of round-the-clock availability.

Experts argue that constant connectivity can cause significant health issues, including stress, burnout, and musculoskeletal disorders. According to EU data, 27% of teleworkers said they worked outside their regular hours.
Countries recognising the “right to disconnect” include France, Ireland, Belgium, Portugal, and Spain, among others.
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Source: tovima.com

RIYADH: Sri Lanka’s government will allow visa-free entry for Saudi Arabia citizens from Oct. 1, the Adviser to the Ministry of Tourism Harin Fernando was reported as saying on Thursday.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad told Arab News: “The landmark decision to provide visa-free access to Sri Lanka for Saudi citizens will serve as a catalyst to boost tourism and enhance business exchanges between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia.”
Ajwad added that it would enhance “people-to people contacts” and comes as the two nations celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations this year.
In its announcement on Thursday, the Sri Lanka government granted visa-free access to citizens from 35 countries.
They include the UK, China, US, India, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Australia, Denmark, Poland, Kazakhstan, UAE, Nepal, Indonesia, Russia and Thailand.
The list includes Malaysia, Japan, France, Canada, Czech Republic, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Israel, Belarus, Iran, Sweden, South Korea, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain and New Zealand.
Saudi Arabia is the third-largest source of tourists for Sri Lanka, according to statistics released in July by the latter’s tourism development authority.
The Sri Lanka Embassy has helped promote the island nation as a destination, including showcasing its tourism products at the Riyadh Travel Fair 2024 from May 27 to 29.

An high-profile article by Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung entitled “The Mykonos Mafia” details what it calls the Mitsotakis government’s failure to deal with organized crime plaguing the isle, particularly in the construction and land use sector on the tremendously popular Cyclades holiday island.

The article, bylined by Michael Martens, charges that the Greek government has failed to curb corruption on the iconic island, dubbed the “most popular party island in Europe” by the Guardian.

Similarly, an investigative series begun by in.gr in 2023 focusing on the “construction mafia” on Mykonos presented documents showing serious building violations on the jet-setting isle.

Whoever gets involved with ‘construction mafia’ at risk
“Beyond the high season, when tourists are packed like sardines to see sights that no longer exist because of them (construction mafia), Mykonos is a magical place. However, behind the Instagram facades there’s a construction mafia sprawling all over the island, with no regards for casualties. And woe be tide to those who stand in its way,” the article in the German newspaper underlines, referring to two cases that have recently attracted particular attention.
The first involves archaeologist Manolis Psarros, whose case, FAZ emphasizes, revolves around constant theme when stones comprising artifacts, along with fragments and other historical relics are discovered during construction work. This happens in almost every foundation-laying ceremony in some regions of Greece. “It’s not only the companies that are involved in the construction of the still unfinished Thessaloniki metro for almost two decades, who could sing a rhapsody about this,” the article characteristically notes.
Psarros was nearly beaten to death in northern Athens last year by two assailants who subsequently fled. He faced off with the ‘construction mafia of Mykonos’ and had filed complaints of illegal construction. A public servant like Psarros, who can take recourse to the courts to block investments or at least cause costly delays, obviously stands in the way for some. His case shocked the country and called into question the Mitsotakis government’s pledge to reinforce law and order.
Special investigators were sent to the island, and what emerged was a network of corrupt contractors, club owners, hoteliers, motel owners, local politicians and police, all “with excellent connections to corrupt associates among Athens’ halls of power.”
In fact, a few weeks ago a crime took place that further shed light on the archaeologist’s case even more, namely, when land surveyor Panagiotis Stathis, who worked on Mykonos for decades, was shot dead in Athens’ Psychiko district by an assailant who also fled.

Up to 30K per square meter
“The background behind the alleged contract killing is not entirely known, but one thing is clear: a great deal of money is being circulated on Mykonos. Dozens of five-star hotels on an island with fewer inhabitants than Husum bear witness to the summer rush of wealthy clients from around the world, who come to the island on direct flights from Dubai, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and Doha, among others. Although there are hundreds of hotels on the island, new properties are constantly being added, FAZ reports.
The article adds that this year news spread of a 200-million-euro investment on Mykonos by Soutrock Property Co., a subsidiary of the German Otto Group. The investment reportedly entails a new luxury complex on almost 200,000 square meters. In addition, nowhere in Greece are prices for second homes higher than on the Cyclades islands, FAZ underlines. On Mykonos, up to €7,000 per square meter is being paid for such “noble” retreats, while prices in excess of 30,000 euros per square meter have even been reported for some of the island’s prime locations.

Mitsotakis’ empty promises
A common side effect of such transactions is that they take place on the margins of, or even outside legal bounds.
“We will impose legality on Mykonos. We are committed to uprooting the criminal networks that think they control the fate of this beautiful island,” Kyriakos Mitsotakis emphasized in his weekly message just last July – commitments that turned out to be “empty words” of his government, yet again.

The loophole
FAZ’s investigative report explains how the “Mykonos mafia” exploits “a law that stipulates that any buildings illegally erected in Greece before July 2011 can be retroactively ‘legalized’ by paying fines, which aren’t so high, by the way. And the construction dates of many buildings, which have been built in Mykonos long after 2011, are systematically falsified in order to take advantage of this law. This is easily proven by the images taken by the Hellenic Air Force or Google Maps – if, of course, someone wants to prove this.”
For buildings constructed before 1982, the penalties are significantly lower.
On Mykonos, buildings constructed long after 2011 were therefore “systematically” listed earlier in the records. The town squares where buildings were supposed to be located before 2011 were actually unused for years afterwards, FAZ explains. However, uncontrolled property development also has consequences for tourists: the island’s infrastructure cannot always meet this “turbo-charged development”. For example, the sewage network on Mykonos has been overloaded several times during the high season. At times streams of raw sewage poured through manholes and provided “jet-setters with an unforgettable holiday experience…

At the same time, Panormos remains an occupied beach
One of the areas of Mykonos that was widely discussed last year was that of Panormos. It was at this coastal site that extensive illegal construction around the Principote club was revealed. The case had come to the forefront as a typical example of the problem with Mykonos, while the government, in the person of the prime minister himself, used it as an example of the volition shown by the government to uphold legality. And indeed, after the commotion, the company that ownsd the club demolished the illegal constructions on the beach – and this year it is operating again.
However, this didn’t mean that the beach was freed up and became accessible again. In fact, the business still occupies not only a significant part of the beach but also controls access to the rest of the supposedly free beach, since the only way to get to it is through the business’ premises.

​in.gr 

Greek tourism continues to record impressive figures as confirmed by multiple reports in 2024. In the latest of these encouraging reports by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), hotel-type accommodations, campsites, and collective short-stay accommodations (such as rented rooms) for June 2024 were on the rise.

ELSTAT released provisional monthly statistics that revealed the upward trend in various sectors linked to Greek tourism such as:
Airports: Passenger traffic at Greek airports has reached record levels in the first seven months of the year.
According to the data on accommodation and stays, in June 2024, tourist arrivals reached 5,317,221 and overnight stays amounted to 23,128,841, marking an increase compared to the same month in 2023 by 3.6% in arrivals and 2.5% in overnight stays.
Specifically, compared to June 2023, there was a 4.1% increase in foreign arrivals and a 2.7% rise in their overnight stays. For domestic visitors, arrivals increased by 1.5% and overnight stays by 1.4%.
Foreign visitors contributed the most to overall arrivals and overnight stays, accounting for 81.9% and 89.4%, respectively. The average total stay for June 2024 was 4.3 days.
Tourism revenues grew by 12.2% in the first half of the year, according to data released by the Bank of Greece, confirming the strong performance of the tourism sector this year as well.
According to this data, travel revenues in the first half of 2024 reached €6.9 billion compared to €6.1 billion in the same period in 2023. Essentially, an additional €754 million was generated during this period compared to last year. During this time, the number of inbound tourist arrivals increased by 15.5%.
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Source: tovima.com

Tinder box” conditions are forecast for Saturday in much of southern Greece and the islands, according to civil protection authorities and the fire brigade, meaning that first responders in the country will again be on edge for the possibility of wildfires.

A single but rapidly spreading and uncontrolled blaze that started last Sunday in the Varnavas township, northeast of Athens, scorched some 10,000 hectares of land over the subsequent two days, extending from northeast Attica prefecture all the way to the twin peaks of Dionysos and Penteli, overlooking the greater Athens area. Flames reached as far southwest as north Athens’ leafy highland municipalities.
There will also be a precautionary ban on the circulation of vehicles and people within national parks, forests and high-risk areas, along with a ban on activities such as barbeques in rural areas or outside activities using machinery that causes sparks.
On the day, the most serious wildfire was reported in Kozani prefecture, in northwest Greece, near the Monastery of St. Cosmas the Aetolian. A force comprised of 37 firefighters operating nine fire engines were deployed to the scene, aided by two ground units and municipal crews. Three aircraft were also dropping water before dusk.
Another major wildfire erupted in the extreme northwest border prefecture of Thesprotia, and specifically at the Palabas site within the municipality of Filiates.

Meeting to discuss restoration, compensation
In a related development, the relevant Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Minister, Vassilis Kikilias, on Friday chaired a meeting of ministry official and mayors of fire-stricken municipalities to discuss measures for the rapid restoration of damages.
In a first response, the interior ministry this week disbursed emergency funding totaling 4.7 million euros to the eight municipalities, with more compensation approved for households and businesses.

Ministry cites progress to restore fire-ravaged northern Evia
Finally, in another wildfire-related development, the environment ministry on Friday issued an announcement referring to what it called progress in funded reforestation, restoration and fire-fighting works in northern Evia Island, which was devastated in the summer of 2021 by a multi-front conflagration that torched some 125,000 hectares of land – including dense mountainous forests.
Much of the reforestation and afforestation works are funded under the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Fund, with thousands of seedlings of the Black Pine (pinus nigra) species to be planted this autumn and the cultivation of tens of thousands of others at nurseries.
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Source: tovima.com

Hamas has named a new leader. He’s the group’s top military commander in Gaza and the man widely known as the architect of the Oct. 7 attacks.

The new leader of Hamas cares about children.

Greek patients are experiencing significant challenges in accessing the innovative pharmaceutical treatments they need, with just one out of five new pharmaceutical drugs available in the European Union and approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) reaching Greece, says In.gr.

Moreoever, even though some treatments have reached Greece, they are not accessible to everyone, according to a series of studies by the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies (SFEE) and the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA), in collaboration with research firm IQVIA.
The studies investigate the waiting time for innovative treatments to reach Greece, the causes of delays, the availability of new medicines over the past decade, and the comparison of state participation in pharmaceutical expenditure among European countries and found that Greece spends 70% less on pharmaceuticals than the European average.
SFEE President Olympios Papadimitriou and General Manager Michalis Cheimonas emphasized that while funding needs to be increased, the Greek state needs to ensure equal, universal, and timely access to the new treatments that make it to Greece.
And funding and access must be matched with controls and digital tools to improve the investment performance of pharmaceuticals because, according to SFEE, the business environment for pharmaceutical companies in Greece is ‘unsustainable’ and less attractive for investment.
According to EFPIA’s study, Greece approves innovative pharmaceutical drugs faster than the European average. The average time for an innovative drug to become available in Greece is 587 days, which is 56 days faster than the European average.
However, despite availability from the first day of EMA approval, patient access remains limited.
Only 52% of reimbursed innovative drugs are fully available in Greece, with oncology drugs prioritized and combinations facing significant delays.
The main reasons for delays in Greece are the prolonged pricing and reimbursement processes and insufficient budget allocations for their distribution to the population.
Only one in five drugs approved in the last four years is reimbursed in Greece, with another 29% distributed and reimbursed through the Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Technology (IFET) without their reimbursement being officially approved as not related request has ever been submitted.
Overall, the study showed that delays in the submission of applications in Western Europe are largely due to the requirements of the Health Technology Assessment process, whereas in Southern Europe, they are primarily attributed to a lack of financial viability, which affects commercial decisions regarding the release of these drugs in local markets.
Specifically for Greece, limited availability affects one in two new drugs, with the primary causes of delay being the lack of financial viability due to exorbitant mandatory rebates and clawbacks, the need for drugs to be evaluated and marketed in five out of eleven EU countries with assessment bodies, and the accessibility of available drugs depending on their distribution channel and the specifics of their approval process says In.gr.
Greece’s Funding Gap
Over the past decade, state funding for pharmaceutical care in Greece decreased by 14.9% while the average funding increase in Europe was 55.2%.
The funding shortfall severely impacts patient care, with per capita spending on medications in Greece significantly lower than in other European countries.
Specifically, the per capita spending on medications reaches 53 euros for hospital medications and 202 euros for outpatient medications in Greece.
Meanwhile in Southern Europe, the average per capita spending is 146 euros and 232 euros respectively, and in Western Europe, it rises to 178 euros and 370 euros, respectively.
Thus, patient coverage falls short by 64-70% compared to Southern and Western Europe for hospital pharmaceutical care and by 13-45% for outpatient pharmaceutical care, says In.gr.
Overall, the average per capita pharmaceutical expenditure both inside and outside hospitals reaches 255 euros, which is 32% below the Southern European average of 378 euros and 53% below the Western European average of 548 euros.
As a potential solution to the challenges faced by pharmaceutical companies in Greece, SFEE has proposed a multi-year cooperation memorandum between the state and the pharmaceutical industry to enhance predictability and transparency.
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Source: tovima.com

By William  J. Antholis, Director &  CEO of Miller Center of Public Affairs at the University of Virginia

President Biden’s decision Sunday to step aside from the 2024 presidential race has historic significance on par with Lyndon Johnson’s decision to withdraw in 1968 and even George Washington’s decision to not run in 1796. The forces behind this weekend’s political earthquake have been at work for years, of course—from the deeply divided electorate, the deep antipathy between President Biden and former President Trump, and the grinding force of age.  Most importantly, Biden’s withdrawal has now pushed forward Kamala Harris as his replacement.
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The earthquake began with President Biden’s catastrophic debate performance on June 27. It sent shockwaves through Democratic circles, and began to divide the party over whether he was capable of winning the election.
What is most striking about Biden’s fall, in retrospect, is how united the party is and has been on his performance as president. His historic legislative accomplishments rival those of Franklin Roosevelt and Lyndon Johnson in the sheer number of laws passed, if not in reshaping the goals and missions of the American government. Biden helped manage true national crises — economic, national security, and domestic crises — on par with those inherited by Washington, Roosevelt, and Johnson. That includes a global pandemic, a resulting inflation crisis, the constitutional crisis on January 6th, and Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.  On top of developing responses to all of those issues, the Biden team also passed historic bipartisan infrastructure and technology laws, as well as major climate change legislation.
And yet while Biden managed to provide significant governing victories for a number of factions within the Democratic Party, he also was unable to grow his popularity beyond about 45% of the electorate.  The biggest challenge was his administration’s inability to tame inflation.  While economic growth and job creation levels remained high, inflation also remained stubborn for most of his four year term, making it difficult to win over independent voters, who favored Donald Trump on pocket-book concerns.
Moreover, a few other governing failures — such as the tragic pullout in Afghanistan combined with his administration’s qualified support for Israel to — began to erode a sense of confidence within his own party.  And beyond all that, while a broad public generally liked him and admired his values, they also worried deeply about his age, including whether he had severe mental decline.  In the end, he saw that he had lost the confidence of his party to defeat Donald Trump, even if he had not lost their love and thanks.
Vice President Harris has now quickly stepped in as his replacement.  Her ascent is a stunning political turnaround.  In her first two years as Vice President, she seemed unsure of her place in the Biden White House.  She had stumbled early in efforts to address immigration. And she also seemed unable to craft a policy agenda that told a bigger story about her leadership priorities and governing style.  That began to change in the run-up to the 2022 mid-term elections, when she seized on reproductive rights and the threat to democracy as her guiding issues.  On top of that, the Ukraine War provided an opportunity for her to develop national security leadership skills.

Democrats know that they are taking a gamble with uncertain chances of success.  So far, it is showing dividends.  She already has slowed down the momentum of the Trump-Vance campaign.  Just four days ago, they were riding high from a successful convention that demonstrated unity in the Republican Party.  They were preparing to run a campaign focused on Biden’s age, in addition to lingering concerns about the economy and international conflict.  Suddenly, it is the Democratic candidate who can now question the age of her opponent.  Moreover, as a former prosecutor, she provides a sharp contrast to former President Trump, who is now a convicted felon.
The race is far from decided.  After a very tumultuous month — which included major controversial Supreme Court rulings and an assassination attempt on President Trump — the race may be once again too-close-to-call.  Moreover, Vice President Harris will have to learn on the job how to run a national campaign, including building a team she can trust and finding a compelling voice and vision.  But her elevation to the head of the Democratic Party has provided a jolt of energy to the race that had been lacking for the last year.

in.gr 

US President Joe Biden has assured Democrat donors that he can still win November's presidential election against Donald Trump, after a poor debate performance fuelled concern about his candidacy.
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The president, 81, attended a series of fundraising events in New York and New Jersey on Saturday, and defended his performance in CNN's Presidential Debate.
Speaking at one event, Mr Biden admitted, "I didn’t have a great night, but neither did Trump” on Thursday.
"I promise you we're going to win this election," he said.
Mr Biden's debate performance was marked by hard-to-follow and shaky answers - raising fresh fears among some Democrats over whether he is the right candidate to contest this high-stakes election.
Speaking to the BBC's Katty Kay, former Democratic House speaker Nancy Pelosi said Mr Biden's debate performance “wasn’t great” - while his former communications director, Kate Bedingfield, called it “really disappointing”.
The president said he understood the concern, but pledged to fight harder.
New Jersey's Democratic governor Phil Murphy attended the fundraiser alongside Mr Biden and the First Lady - and told Mr Biden that "we are all with you 1,000%".

By Sofia Ferreira Santos, BBC News

Global credit rating agency Morningstar DBRS has upgraded its estimation for Greek economic growth for 2024 to 1.6% in its analysis.

Despite the favorable forecast for the current fiscal year, the Canada-based credit rating agency lowered its GDP prediction to 2.2% for 2025, according to its new global economic forecasts, while it also expects a faster decline in the unemployment rate to 10.1% this year and even further to 9.2% in 2025.
DBRS’s analysis notes that growth forecasts for almost all major economies have improved over the past three months, with the median growth forecast for the U.S. in 2024 upgraded to 2.4%. The Canadian economy faces more challenges, but forecasts have also slightly improved to 1%.
Major European economies show weak growth prospects, the analysis posits, but the average forecasts for the UK, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany have significantly improved since March. Forecasts for China have also improved by 0.4 percentage points to 5%, while growth forecasts for Japan have decreased by 0.3 percentage points to 0.4%.
Ongoing geopolitical tensions, electoral uncertainty in key economies, and prolonged risks from commercial real estate could further deteriorate the outlook as we enter the second half of the year, DBRS reports.

Source: tovima.com

Οlympiacos FC owner Evangelos Marinakis on Wednesday was again elected to the helm of Greece’s Super League, the top professional football tier in the country, edging out Panathiankos FC owner Giannis Alafouzos 7-6 in a vote by representatives of the 14 eligible clubs.

One team representative cast a blank ballot.
The development marks another truly excellent opportunity for professional football in Greece. After Makis Gagatsis, who’s on a final countdown towards assuming the presidency of the Hellenic Football Association (EPO), thereby ending the federation’s “captivity”, the news that the Super League’s most successful president since its inception, Evangelos Marinakis, is again assuming the league’s “reins” comes as a relief. It was Marinakis who in his first tenure as Super League president (2010-11) achieved the signing of the biggest ever broadcast contract for the league – during a period when television rights were managed centrally by the latter.
It was during Marinakis’ second tenure (2022-23) that the biggest sponsorship deal for the Greek championship was signed, along with the crucial issue of the pro football cooperative’s annual revenue “take” from the Greek Super League betting pool, run by the national concessionaire, OPAP’s “Stoixima”.
These were deals that funneled several millions of euros into pro clubs’ coffers, something that was certainly appreciated, as shown from today’s vote in the very tight race to elect a new Super League leader.
The setting was the first time that witnessed the president of Olympiacos pitted against the president of Panathinaikos, Giannis Alafouzos, for the responsibility of the Super League’s top executive position. As such, the decision was admittedly a weighty one for the pro clubs casting a vote, as they were called upon to decide between two significant investors.
What appeared to clinch this administrative “derby” was proposals, and above all, intent.
Evangelos Marinakis tabled his candidacy by presenting a comprehensive plan to the other league owners. This plan includes ways to find and generate new revenue for the league; how to make the championship more attractive via a new format, which will entail playoffs for the teams finishing first through fourth in the regular season, as well as a playoff round for teams finishing fifth through eighth, with the prize here being a European play berth.
The plan also features a comprehensive “road map” for cooperation and partnership with EPO and the Super League 2 (the second pro tier), as well as with UEFA and FIFA.
The goal is none other than to elevate Greece’s Super League into the continent’s “Top 10”.
Marinakis presented his vision for an upgraded and robust Super League, when across the table Giannis Alafouzos merely became the “vehicle” for an entire “system” that over the last few years burdened pro football in the country.
After so many announcements over the years by the president of Panathinaikos regarding “reform” of the league, he ended up on Wednesday being supported by this very “system” – the “system” comprised of AEK, Aris and Lamia.
According to reports, Marinakis faced off against all odds for 24 hours – even with Alafouzos and with “reformers”, and even against certain representatives of the government (!), who attempted to encroach into the Super League and attempt to influence developments in pro football in the country. He faced off against everyone, and he vanquished all. And the most important point: at the end of the process he declared himself to be the president of the entire Super League and not just those who voted for him.
“We’re all together for the good of football. Football must be truly self-governing and remain apart from politicians and governments. Let us head into a better day for all of professional football,” was Marinakis’ statement, which inaugurated his third term as Super League president.

Voting results
Voting in favor of Evangelos Marinakis were: Olympiacos, Atromitos Athens, Asteras Tripolis, Volos, OFI Crete, PAOK Thessaloniki and Panserraikos.
Voting in favor of Giannis Alafouzos were: Lamia, Panathinaikos Athens, AEK Athens, Aris Thessaloniki, Kallithea Athens and Levadiakos.
The Panetolikos side cast a blank vote.

​in.gr 

Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of sports fans have an appointment to keep in Europe this summer, some with the classic “king of sports”, others with team and individual sports of every sort. In the months ahead, the world will be looking to the capitals of our continent’s two largest and most powerful countries, Germany and France. Berlin will be kicking off proceedings on 14 June, when (along with other cities) it hosts the final phase of the European Football Championship for a month, through to 14 July.

The German capital will then pass the baton straight on to Paris, where the opening ceremony of the 33rd Olympic Games is scheduled for July 26. The closing ceremony will be held on August 11.

Undoubtedly, this summer holds a good deal of spectacle and intense emotion in store, along with some fierce competition and several new records from the elite champions of our era. That, and a huge amount of revenue for those who have invested in sports, tourism and advertising. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end there, though. Because the governments of Europe (and of the states hosting these mammoth events, in particular) and the relevant organizing bodies have at least three manor causes for concern: climate crisis, terrorism, and hooliganism.
So how ready and prepared are the organizers to confront these multiple challenges? And to what extent can they do so without taking away from the events, or moving away from the principles they claim to espouse? Moreover, does everything depend on the decisions they take and the way they implement them, or are some of the possible scenarios—a prolonged and unprecedented heatwave, for example—simply beyond their capacity?

Heatwaves—Meteorological predictions cause anxiety
The year 2024 is likely to go down as the year in modern global history. In Europe, in particular, according to data from Copernicus, the average ground surface temperature in the December-February quarter was 1.44 degrees Celsius higher than the previous average, making this winter the second warmest in history after 2019–2020.
The above data and forecasts have sounded the alarm for organizers of major events, and in particular of those that take place outdoors, like football matches and athletics. “Will athletes at the Paris Olympics be forced to endure the ordeal of a heatwave that turns the Paris region into an oven? Although it is still too early to answer this question, the recent past is enough to make organizers sweat,” a recent report in le Monde noted. The author added that “according to data from the French meteorological service Météo-France, France has experienced 22 heatwaves since 2010 (only 2014 and 2021 were heatwave-free), which is more than occurred in the 52 years between 1947 and 2000. Over the past five years alone, France experienced two heatwaves in 2019, two in 2020, three in 2022 and one in 2023. And some of them occurred during the exact period in which the Olympics will be staged this year.”
Similar concerns are also prevalent in Berlin ahead of Euro 2024, even if the climatic threat to the German capital is considered less severe than that to Paris. It is no coincidence that last summer’s heatwaves forced Health Minister Karl Lauterbach to admit that the country is not prepared to cope with high temperatures.

Terrorism: On the lookout for bombs and suicide-bombers
“It seemed like a good idea at the time. French President Emmanuel Macron promised the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics on the banks of the River Seine in July would be a ‘moment of beauty, art, celebration of sports and our values.’ Instead, the grand opening and accompanying circus surrounding the sporting extravaganza threatens to turn into a nightmare for France’s security apparatus.” This was the conclusion of an article published in Politico on April 24, highlighting a threat that many fear will cast a long, dark shadow over the Games: the specter of terrorism.
After all, France—and Paris, in particular—has had bitter and recent first-hand experience of terrorism, starting in 2015 with the attack on the offices of the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and the bloody, three-day manhunt that followed, and continuing with the massacre of 130 people in the Bataclan theater, surrounding streets and the Stade de France stadium, where the French and German national teams were playing a friendly football match. And this summer, the French capital will become the beating heart of the 2024 Olympic Games. A year later, it was Berlin’s turn to experience the horror: It was 19 December 2016 when a truck was transformed into a killing machine in a central Christmas market, when its driver drove it straight into unsuspecting citizens, killing 12 and injuring over 50.
With these memories still fresh, and Europe experiencing a new period of racial and religious tension, the governments of France and Germany are rushing to take steps to avoid similar scenes, especially after the recent deadly attack in Moscow, for which an ISIS offshoot claimed responsibility. In fact, Paris is seriously considering moving the Games’ opening ceremony from the banks of the Seine to the less spectacular but far safer environment of the Stade de France, or the Trocadero.

Hooliganism—Keeping the “ultras” and fanatics out
France may not be especially perturbed by the threat of hooliganism during the Olympics, which is not an event hooligans tend to act up at, but that is definitely not true of Germany and the Euros. The authorities admit they are worried about organized groups of extreme fans arriving en masse from countries whose national teams are playing in the final phase of Euro 2024, and determined to settle scores, both between themselves and with the police. The activities of Fenerbahçe’s hard-core fans, and the clashes between supporters of Olympiacos and Panathinaikos during the EuroLeague Final Four, have certainly set off alarm bells for the German authorities, combined with the hand-to-hand fighting between Lyon and Paris Saint-Germaine fans in neighboring France just before the Cup Final last Sunday.
According to a report by the Associated Press, preventative measures are already being intensified against this backdrop. “Zero tolerance of violence is our main aim,” said one of the officers with an executive role to play in providing security for the Euros. At the same time, reports from Britain—a long-standing hooliganism black spot—indicate that the government has already issued a travel ban on 1,600 people believed to be part of violent groups. This number may well increase as the tournament gets closer. “These measures will ensure that true football fans can travel to the tournament in safety, while simultaneously preventing hooligans from committing their crimes abroad,” the minister said in a statement, noting that the German authorities are cooperating closely with their counterparts abroad.


Coordinated by Aggelos Skordas
Source: tovima.com

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah threatening Cyprus
(Visegrád 24)

Greece secured a seat on the UN Security Council for the 2025-2026 term, the Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry announced.
Greece was elected on Thursday as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, gathering 182 votes during the 78th session of the UN General Assembly which held elections earlier today.
In addition to Greece, Denmark, Panama, Somalia, and Pakistan were elected for two-year terms to non-permanent seats on the 15-member Council.
The elected countries will start their two-year terms on Jan. 1 and will replace Ecuador, Japan, Malta, Mozambique, and Switzerland, whose terms end on Dec. 31.
Speaking on Ant1, Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis said the election strengthens Greece’s position and enables it to table issues of concern. This is the third time Greece has been elected to a UN Security Council seat.
Among others, following a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York earlier this week, Gerapetritis said Greece aspired “to uphold with vigor, seeking to bridge the North with the South, the East with the West… to establish a voice of reason, a voice of international law within the United Nations, ensuring that this voice, and that of all other states sharing a common understanding, can be heard.”
The two officials also discussed issues concerning the Middle East and Ukraine, a proposal for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East, and the Cyprus issue.
Source: tovima.com

Italian travel magazine My Greek Salad, dedicated to introducing Italians to the beauty of Greece, recently posted a detailed and photographically embellished article on what it regards as the top three islands to visit in Greece this summer season. Specifically, according to the magazine, the islands of Astypalaia in the Dodecanese, Naxos in the Cyclades and Skopelos in the Sporades take the lead for this year’s go-to Greek destinations for Italian travelers.

ASTYPALAIA
According to the article, Astypalaia is an island which, although located in the Dodecanese, “aesthetically” resembles an island in the Cyclades. The multitude of windmills, bars and restaurants, and sandy beaches are all part of Astypalaia’s magic, while its old-fashioned look gives off a feeling of being “suspended in time”. Another selling point, the article states, is the island’s focus on sustainability, aiming at 100% sustainable mobility with vehicles being powered by solar and wind energy. The author suggests that the island is “ideal for those who love ‘the pleasure of discovery’, and are looking for a beautiful, refined island, still wild and never boring.”

NAXOS
Naxos, the article explains, is both rich in sandy beaches, picturesque villages and magical views. It explains that the Chora (the center of the island) houses the Old Market and hides a maze of alleys full of traditional coffee shops and little stores. The article also recommends an excursion to the Lesser Cyclades, which are just a short boat-ride away from Naxos. The magazine does warn, however, that the island is a hotspot for high winds.

SKOPELOS
Skopelos, the article opens, is the famous backdrop of the movie Mamma Mia!, which is a selling point on its own. It quickly goes on to describe the green landscape of the island and sense of freedom it embodies. A scooter ride can take visitors to its multitude of beaches and taverns, it continues, while renting a small boat also gives travelers the opportunity to discover isolated beaches around the island. It notes that the island is much calmer than some of its neighbors like Skiathos and offers a much more peaceful and relaxed experience.
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Source: tovima.com

Greece’s finance ministry is expected to submit, possibly in the next few days, a draft bill envisioning the automatic detection of vehicles in the country that are not insured or have passed inspection.
The draft bill, which will first be unveiled for public deliberation, also foresees stiffer fines for vehicle owners who do have not paid road fees before an end-of-the-year deadline.
The new online cross-checking system aims to reduce the scourge of uninsured vehicles in the country, as well as ones that have not been inspected by authorized auto centers for road and passengers’ safety, as well as emissions. The draft bill also adapts the EU’s motor insurance directive (MID).
According to reports, at least half a million vehicles in Greece are uninsured, while the number of those without inspections is unknown.
The only current method of detecting such vehicles and their owners at present is police roadblocks.
Source: tovima.com

Greece remained in the lowest one-third of 26  European states in terms of salaries for 2023, coming in at 20th place.
According to figures released by Eurostat, the Benelux Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, one of Europe’s hubs for finance, is in first place, with an average hourly rate of 47 euros. Luxembourg also has the highest per capita income in the world.
Denmark follows with 42 euros per hour, then Norway (41.7), non-EU Iceland (39.5) and Belgium (36.3).
Greece’s 20th place is linked with an average hourly wage of 12.6 euros.
Behind the country are Slovakia (12.5), Poland (11.9), Hungary (11), Latvia (10.7) and Romania (10.4). Last place is held by Bulgaria, where the average hourly wage is 8.4 euros.