Kremlin Welcomes ‘More Balanced’ US Stance on Ukraine after UN Vote

THE GUARDIAN: Moscow praises Washington for siding with it at UN, as European countries abstain in sign of deepening rift with US

The Kremlin has welcomed what it said was a “much more balanced” US stance on Ukraine after the Trump administration pushed through a UN security council resolution on the war that included no criticism of Russia.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said the move was evidence of Washington’s willingness to try to find a peaceful settlement. Moscow backed the resolution, which was passed late on Monday, although European countries abstained, in a sign of a deepening rift with Washington.

In a simple three-paragraph motion on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the US took a neutral position on the war and called for a “swift end” to the conflict and “lasting peace”. It presented a sharply different tone to that of the Biden administration, which had supported Ukraine throughout.

Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, acknowledged what he said were “constructive changes” in the US position on the conflict. US allies in Europe on the 15-member council – France, Britain, Denmark, Greece and Slovenia – abstained from the vote. » | Andrew Roth and Oliver Holmes | Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Hungry Man Kitchen: Classic Greek Moussaka - Traditional and Delicious!

Aug 11, 2023 | The word "Moussaka" itself has Arabic origins, derived from the word "musaqqa'a," which means "chilled." Early versions of this dish were made with layered vegetables and sometimes meat, then baked and served at room temperature. The concept of layering and baking vegetables eventually spread to other parts of the Mediterranean, including Greece.

Greek Moussaka, as we know it today, is said to have been adapted and popularized by the Greek population during the Ottoman era. This widely known Greek version was created by the French-trained Greek chef Nikolaos Tselementes in the 1920s.


Click here for the full recipe, then click on ‘more’.

Hungry Man Kitchen can be supported on Patreon here.

‘Don’t Allow You to Go to the Bathroom’: Big Tech’s Call Center Workers in Greece On Strike

THE GUARDIAN: Workers at Teleperformance, customer support company for Apple, Google and Netflix, accuse it of union busting and surveillance

Call center workers for some of the world’s biggest tech companies including Apple, Google, Microsoft and Netflix are accusing their employer of retaliating against union organisers, constantly surveilling staff and even refusing bathroom breaks.

In the US or Europe, if you call for technical or customer support from a big tech company, you may be speaking with a worker at one of Teleperformance’s call centers in Greece.

Teleperformance, the largest call center operator in the world, employs about 12,000 workers in Greece, serving more than 140 markets around the world in 43 different languages and dialects. The company has seven multi-language hubs in Greece – in Athens, Chania, and Thessaloniki. » | Michael Sainato | Tuesday, January 14, 2025

You Say Tomato, I Say Domata | My Greek Table with Diane Kochilas

Nov 20, 2024 | Can anyone imagine Greek cuisine without the tomato? It took a curious Capuchin monk living in the Plaka section of Athens, to first plant this new-world vegetable in the 18th century. From there, the tomato spread to Santorini, and the rest is history. Diane follows the path of this most basic food, all the while cooking up some of Greece's most delectable tomato-based dishes.

My Greek Table is a journey through Greece's mountains, islands, villages, and cities in search of the country's most delicious, healthy recipes and raw ingredients. Diane Kochilas, the host of My Greek Table, is a native New Yorker who adopted Greece as her home more than two decades ago. With My Greek Table, Diane will shed light on one of the world's oldest and healthiest cuisines.

The Greek Islands - Crystal Clear Water and a Paradise for Foodies | DW Documentary | Reupload

Jun 13, 2024 | The island world of the Aegean Sea is both fascinating and incredibly diverse. Each island has its own charm and character. The film travels to the Greek Cyclades island group and visits five islands. Along the way, viewers meet people whose love for their islands is tangible.

Ikaria, in the north-eastern Aegean, is known as the island of 100-year-olds. It’s one of the world's five "Blue Zones", where people live to an exceptionally old age. Sifnos is the foodie island. Greece's most famous cook and cookbook author, Nikolaos Tselementes, was born here on this western Cyclades island and it’s no accident that it’s a place where food is important -- on Sifnos, traditional Greek cuisine is interpreted in a modern way. Kimolos is a small island that’s also home to the 95-year-old captain Augusti Galanos. He’s the archipelago’s most famous resident. Polyegos, with its wild goats, who all have names, is the largest uninhabited island in the Aegean. And Mykonos, the jet-set island that everyone knows, still holds plenty of surprises.

What Is the Real Name of the British Royal House?

Oct 6, 2024 | In this video, Allan Barton explores the male line ancestry of Charles III back twenty-four generations to the eleventh century and to the medieval Counts of Oldenburg. He then moves forward in time to chart their rise as the medieval and renaissance kings of Denmark. He explores Charles III's descent through the obscurity of the landless dukes of the ducal house of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg, and their eventual return to be the royal house of Denmark and then of Greece. What does such a genealogical study reveal about the real dynastic name of the United Kingdom's royal house? This video is just a bit of fun, Allan Barton is not suggesting the king should change the dynastic name!

Paul Saladino MD: I Went to Greece to Debunk the Lies about Blue Zones

Sep 28, 2024 | n this video, I uncover the lies of plant-based diets in the Blue Zones…

For more info on Paul Saladino MD, cleck here and then click on ‘more’.

How Greece Becomes Europe's Next Muslim Country

Sep 26, 2024 | Modern-day Greece is home to an estimated 500,000 Muslims, accounting for about 4.6% of the total population. This number has been steadily rising due to immigration, especially from North Africa and Muslim-majority countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, as well as of course the natural growth within these communities. This demographic shift is particularly noticeable in regions like Athens, Thessaloniki, and Thrace, where Muslim communities are expanding and challenging Greece's traditional cultural landscape. …

Feminism has lots to answer for! The low birth rate right across Europe and the West is a direct result of women preferring to be in the workplace rather than being at home procreating children. A controversial viewpoint, maybe, but true! – © Mark Alexander

Moussaka - How One of Greece's Most Traditional Dishes Is Made | DW Food | Reupload

Jul 29, 2022 | If you've ever been to Greece, you've likely sampled the most Greek of all dishes – moussaka! It’s traditionally made with eggplant, potatoes, ground beef, and béchamel sauce. A cornerstone of Greek cuisine, it’s as popular with visitors as it is with the locals.

Demographic Decline: Greece Faces Alarming Population Collapse

Sep 13, 2024 | Empty villages, disillusioned young workers, and government officials scrambling for solutions: this is the stark reality Euronews uncovered in Greece, where the country is bracing for a major population collapse fuelled by plummeting numbers of births, mass emigration, and low fertility rates.

Read more here.

Greece Orders Evacuations Near Athens as Wildfires Rage

Aug 12, 2024 | Greece ordered the evacuation of hospitals and homes near Athens as wildfires spread across the area, the fire brigade said. At least five more communities were told to flee by civil protection authorities on Monday, after hundreds of people evacuated the previous day from at least eight villages. “Civil protection forces battled hard throughout the night, but despite superhuman efforts, the fire evolved rapidly,” fire brigade spokesman Vassilis Vathrakogiannis said. The brigade deployed 510 firefighters, 152 vehicles and 29 aircraft, he added.

How Does Greece's Government Justify a 6-day Working Week? | DW News

Jul 3, 2024 | Greece has become the first country in the European Union to introduce a six-day working week for some businesses. The measure applies to firms that provide 24/7 services, or those experiencing an extraordinary workload. Greece's pro-business government calls the regulation "worker-friendly." But it's sparked outrage among trade unions. And many people on the street don't like it either.

Related article here.

Greece Introduces ‘Growth-oriented’ Six-day Working Week

THE GUARDIAN: Pro-business government says measure is needed due to shrinking population and shortage of skilled workers

Companies in countries worldwide may be toying with the idea of implementing shorter working weeks, but in Greece employees have been told that, henceforth, they can put in a sixth day of labour in an unorthodox step aimed at turbocharging productivity.

After outpacing other Europeans in terms of economic growth, the nation once at the heart of the continent’s worst financial crisis has bucked the trend again, introducing a 48-hour working week. The measure, decried as “barbaric” by unions, takes effect from Monday.

“It makes no sense whatsoever,” said Akis Sotiropoulos an executive committee member of the civil servants’ union Adedy. “When almost every other civilised country is enacting a four-day week, Greece decides to go the other way.” » | Helena Smith in Athens | Monday, July 1, 2024

Why are extreme right-wingers always so regressive? There must be something in their DNA or genes. They always want to keep the little people short of money, and they also want to work them into the ground. They're a sad bunch. They really are. – © Mark Alexander

Meanwhile Germany starts testing out a four-day work week »

Greece Issues Extreme Heat and Weather Warnings | BBC News

June 18, 2024 | Residents and tourists have been told to prepare for extreme weather conditions as parts of the Mediterranean experience a severe heatwave. Greece and neighbouring countries are expecting to experience record temperatures.

The warning comes as the body of an American tourist has reportedly been found on the Greek island of Mathraki, adding to the list of foreigners missing or reported to have died during the record-setting heatwave.

A Dutchman also was found dead on Samos over the weekend, following the recent death of British TV presenter Dr Michael Mosley on the island of Symi. Adding to the list, two hikers were found dead on 5 June on Crete. Another American, Albert Calibet, is among at least three others reported missing.

How Cheese Is Made in Europe | DW Food

Feb 17, 2024 | How about Dutch Gouda, French Camembert or Italian Parmesan? Or perhaps you're more partial to cheddar from the UK or feta from Greece? European cheese is popular all over the world. Nowhere is as much cheese produced as in Europe: more than 10 million tons in 2023. And nowhere is as much cheese eaten as in Europe: statistically speaking, every European consumes more than 20 kilograms of cheese every year (based on the 27 EU member states in 2022). European cheeses are as varied and diverse as the continent itself! Find out here how some classic European cheese are made.

To the Greeks, We Send Our Warmest Wishes

Congratulations to the wonderful country of Greece and to all Greeks on this historic and progressive occasion.
With many thanks to Pinterest for this delightful graphic representation of Achilles and Patroclus.
WIKIPEDIA: Achilles and Patrochus.

Greece Legalizes Same-sex Marriage | DW News

Feb 16, 2024 | Greece has voted to legalise same-sex marriage, making it the first Orthodox Christian country to do so. The law change was opposed by the Orthodox church, which claimed it would threaten what it called 'traditional families'. But supporters say the change is long overdue and a significant advance for Greek society. DW spoke to journalist Giorgos Christides.

Related links here.

Griechenland beschließt Ehe für alle: Griechenlands Parlament hat für die Einführung der Ehe für alle gestimmt. Die orthodoxe Kirche und einige Konservative rebellieren. »

Greece Becomes First Orthodox Christian Country to Legalise Same-sex Marriage

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Lawmakers in the 300-seat parliament voted for the bill drafted by centre-right government despite church officials’ objections

Greece has become the world’s first Christian Orthodox nation to legalise same-sex marriage after the Athens parliament passed the landmark reform amid scenes of both jubilation and fury in the country.

In a rare display of parliamentary consensus, 176 MPs from across the political spectrum voted in favour of the bill. 76 rejected the reform while two abstained from the vote and 46 were not present.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community, many unable to contain their emotion, watched from the galleries above. “We have waited years for this,” said the prominent gay activist Stella Belia of legislation that will not only allow same-sex couples to exchange vows in civil ceremonies but adopt children. “It’s a historic moment. A lot of us weren’t sure it would ever come.”

The vote followed two days of heated debate – and weeks of public rancour – with the reform described by supporters as “bold” and “long overdue” and decried as “antisocial’ and “unchristian” by opponents including the powerful Orthodox church. » | Helena Smith in Athens | Friday, February 16, 2024

La Grèce légalise le mariage et l’adoption pour les couples de même sexe : Porté par le parti de droite au pouvoir, Nouvelle Démocratie, du premier ministre, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, le texte a été approuvé par 176 des 254 députés présents au Parlement à l’issue de deux jours de débat. »

Article connexe ici.

Parthenon Marbles Row: Rishi Sunak Cancels Meeting with Greek PM

THE GUARDIAN: Tory source says ‘it became impossible for meeting to go ahead’ after Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged return of antiquities to Athens

Greece’s prime minister has criticised the decision of his British counterpart Rishi Sunak to cancel planned talks at which he had hoped to raise the issue of the Parthenon marbles, as disagreements over the antiquities erupted with renewed vigour.

As aides described Sunak’s move as “wrong and undignified”, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who is visiting London, voiced irritation at the scheduled Downing Street meeting being called off at the 11th hour.

“I [want to] express my annoyance at the fact that the British prime minister cancelled our scheduled meeting a few hours before it was due to take place,” the centre-right leader said in a statement released by his Maximou office as the diplomatic row intensified.

“Greece and Britain are united by traditionally strong ties of friendship and the framework of our bilateral relations is exceptionally broad. The views of Greece on the Parthenon sculptures are well known.

“I had hoped to have the opportunity to discuss them with my British counterpart along with other international challenges: Gaza; Ukraine; the climate crisis; migration.”

The statement ended with Mitsotakis berating Sunak for failing to rise to the challenge of discussing the fate of antiquities that have spawned the west’s longest running cultural row. “Whoever believes in the correctness and justice of his views is never afraid of opposing arguments,” it read. » | Helena Smith in Athens | Monday, November 27, 2023

Fishy goings on in Rishi’s Downing Street hideaway! I hadn’t known before this that being rude to prime ministers of other European nations was in our own prime minister’s remit. Does Rishi's rude behaviour show lack of courage or lack of politesse, or perhaps a lack of both? – © Mark Alexander

Dutch Throne on Display for First Time as Monarchy Tries to Win Back Public

GUARDIAN EUROPE: Seat used during state opening of parliament takes centre stage in exhibition about royal power

The Dutch throne has been moved for the first time from the 13th-century Ridderzaal in The Hague to be displayed in an exhibition, as the Netherlands’ monarchy seeks to further open up to the public amid growing republican sentiment.

…

De Vries laughed off any suggestion that the new exhibition was an attempt to reignite interest and support for the Dutch monarchy at a difficult time for the king, whose royal house has a €55m annual budget, making it one of the most expensive in Europe.

…

An increase in republican sentiment in recent years can be tracked to an outpouring of anger at Willem-Alexander’s decision to take his family on holiday to Greece during the Covid pandemic in 2020, despite people being advised to travel as little as possible at the time.

Read the whole article » | Daniel Boffey, Chief reporter | Friday, October 20, 2023