The Guardian View on Danger at Sea: Looking Out for All Those in Peril

THE GUARDIAN – EDITORIAL: The contrast between the frantic hunt for a missing submersible and the failure to save migrants drowning in the Mediterranean is illuminating

A massive operation is under way to find and save a stricken vessel and its passengers. As time passes, anxious families and friends wait with growing fear. The US coastguard, Canadian armed forces and commercial vessels are all hunting for the Titan submersible, which has gone missing with five aboard on a dive to the wreck of the Titanic in the north Atlantic. The UK’s Ministry of Defence is also monitoring the situation.

It is hard to think of a starker contrast with the response to a fishing boat which sank in the Mediterranean last week with an estimated 750 people, including children, packed onboard. Only about 100 survived, making this one of the deadliest disasters in the Mediterranean. Greece and the EU blame people smugglers, who overcrowd boats and abuse those aboard them. But both have profound questions to answer about their own role in such disasters. Activists say authorities were repeatedly warned of the danger this boat faced, hours before it went down, but failed to act. » | Editorial | Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Greek Milk Pie - Galatopita | Akis Petretzikis

Nov 4, 2023 | One of the most traditional sweet recipes in Greece, our very own milk pie or "galatopita". It's a crustless pie with a sugar coating that is baked until perfectly golden.

Get the recipe here.

Is Greece in a Permanent Crisis? - ARTE

May 24, 2023 | The catastrophic train crash at Larissa in February 2023 provoked angry protests against the Greek government. Is this accident a symptom of a deeper problems?

Greece’s Conservative Party Wins Big in National Election

May 22, 2023 | Greece's governing conservatives have won a landslide victory in parliamentary elections. With most votes counted, the New Democracy party has a commanding lead over left-wing rival Syriza. But it has fallen short of the majority needed to form a government on its own, making a run-off election likely in July. Al Jazeera's Stefanie Dekker reports from Athens, Greece.

The Guardian view on the Greek election: the new hegemony: A handsome victory for the centre-right is dismal news for those who have suffered from years of austerity »

Prince Philip's Mother : The Strange, Exciting Life of Princess Alice | Documentary | Reupload

Apr 9, 2021 | …A great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Prince Philip's mother married into the Greek royal family – only to see the Greek monarchy overthrown by revolution. Fleeing into exile, she suffered a severe nervous breakdown. She was locked away in mental hospitals and subjected to experimental treatments by psychiatrists - including Sigmund Freud himself.

The trauma had a shattering effect on Princess Alice’s marriage and led to a fractured childhood for her only son Prince Philip.

Philip’s mother eventually fought her way back from mental illness and became an unlikely hero of World War Two - risking her life to hide a Jewish family from the Nazis.

When her son married the future Queen Elizabeth in 1948, Alice turned down the option of a cosy royal life. Instead, she chose to dedicate herself to working with the poor in Greece, gave away all her possessions and even founded her own religious order.

Featuring exclusive interviews with family members and previously unseen archive footage, this film sheds new light on one of the royal family's most remarkable but little known personalities.

Greek, Baked Giant Beans – Gigantes | Akis Petretzikis

May 24, 2022 | A traditional Greek recipe for today! One of the most famous and heartwarming recipes in Greece... Baked giant beans, known as "gigantes". Α healthy legume dish that is perfectely combined with feta cheese and celery leaves for extra taste!

Get the recipe here.

Volodymyr Zelensky and the Spirit of Ukraine: TIME Person of the Year 2022

Dec 7, 2022 | Zelensky’s success as a wartime leader has relied on the fact that courage is contagious. It spread through Ukraine’s political leadership in the first days of the invasion, as everyone realized the President had stuck around. If that seems like a natural thing for a leader to do in a crisis, consider historical precedent. Only six months earlier, the President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani—a far more experienced leader than Zelensky—fled his capital as Taliban forces approached. In 2014, one of Zelensky’s predecessors, Viktor Yanukovych, ran away from Kyiv as protesters closed in on his residence; he still lives in Russia today. Early in the Second World War, the leaders of Albania, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Greece, Poland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Yugoslavia, among others, fled the advance of the German Wehrmacht and lived out the war in exile.

There wasn’t much in Zelensky’s biography to predict his willingness to stand and fight. He had never served in the military or shown much interest in its affairs. He had only been President since April 2019. His professional instincts derived from a lifetime as an actor on the stage, a specialist in improv comedy, and a producer in the movie business.

That experience turned out to have its advantages. Zelensky was adaptable, trained not to lose his nerve under pressure. He knew how to read a crowd and react to its moods and expectations. Now his audience was the world. He was determined not to let them down.


Guerre en Ukraine : Volodymyr Zelensky désigné personnalité de l'année 2022 par le Time Magazine : Le magazine américain a également rendu hommage à l'«esprit de l'Ukraine». »

Nigel Farage Insults Herman van Rompuy, Calls EU President a "Damp Rag"

Feb 24, 2010 | MEP and UKIP leader Nigel Farage on Wednesday delivered another major tirade against EU President Herman van Rompuy and, along the way, severely insulted Belgium and Greece during a plenary debate in the European Parliament. Farage said Van Rompuy has the "charisma of a damp rag" and the appearance of a "low-grade bank clark."

My God! This Nigel Farage was/is an arrogant little toad. The way he spoke to Herman van Rompuy some years back was truly disgraceful. One can but despise Farage. This loudmouthed empty vessel is one of the main architects of the UK’s troubles today. For Christ’s sake, the least we can do is bring back the stocks and throw rotten eggs at the rude idiot. Even worse would be much better! Nigel Farage disgusts me, as he would disgust anyone with a modicum of decency. – © Mark Alexander

Trickle-down Truss Is Carrying On the dirty Work of Thatcher, Blair and Osborne

THE GUARDIAN: Britain has endured 40 years of decline thanks to this faulty economic theory. Will Keir Starmer finally kill it off?

If Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget survives the storm it triggered, a banker on a million-pound annual salary stands to receive £50,000 of income tax relief – on top of the extra bonuses the bank can throw in, now that the Liz Truss government has removed the cap on them. Meanwhile, a Deliveroo rider gets a pep talk on the emancipatory value of aspiring to be wealthy, presumably as an incentive to pedal harder. This is the gist of the government’s growth strategy or, according to former Brexit minister David Frost, its antidote to stagnation and defeatism.

While it’s tempting to draw the obvious analogy between zombie ideas such as the trickle-down growth effect, and the classic Hollywood horror film Night of the Living Dead, a more appropriate response to the seriousness of the situation is to follow the banker’s extra cash. The government claims the banker will invest it, thus promoting growth. If it were not a blatant lie, it might have passed as a touching example of unfounded faith. But unlike Adam Smith’s bakers, butchers and brewers, who would invest any spare cash into better and more bread, ale and meat, the banker will buy into some fund that will, in turn, purchase shares, derivatives and bonds.

These recipients of the banker’s extra money have a long track record of not investing in actual productive capacity. Why would they, when the masses out there can’t afford to buy new, high-value products? … » | Yanis Varoufakis * | Saturday, October 1, 2022

* Yanis Varoufakis is the leader of MeRA25 in Greece’s parliament, a former finance minister of Greece, and author of Another Now

Kwarteng’s Tax Cuts Will Force ‘Significant’ Interest Rate Rises by Bank of England

THE GUARDIAN: Chief economist says mini-budget will increase inflationary pressure in remarks likely to further spook mortgage borrowers

The Bank of England’s chief economist, Huw Pill, says: ‘It is hard not to draw the conclusion that this [tax cuts] will require a significant monetary policy response.’ Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images
A senior Bank of England official has warned “significant” increases in interest rates will have to be imposed by the central bank in response to tax cuts put forward by Kwasi Kwarteng in his mini-budget.

The Bank’s chief economist, Huw Pill, said the chancellor’s planned tax cuts would act as a stimulus and increase inflationary pressures, with the result that interest rates would need to go higher than previously forecast.

“In my view, a combination of the fiscal announcements we have seen will act a stimulus to demand in the economy,” he said. “It is hard not to draw the conclusion that this will require a significant monetary policy response.”

Pill’s remarks are likely to further spook homebuyers and mortgage borrowers near the end of a fixed-rate mortgage about the cost of financing their loans. » | Phillip Inman | Tuesday, September 27, 2022

UK’s cost of borrowing on international markets overtakes Greece and Italy: Five-year British government bonds fall dramatically as traders price in higher risk of default on debt »

What a Bloody Mess This Country Is In!

MARK ALEXANDER: I have lived a few years already and I must say that I have never lived through times like this before. Absolutely everything is going pear-shaped! Food prices are going through the roof. Prices for energy are scandalous, and for many, are becoming unpayable. People at the top are rewarding themselves with multimillion pound salaries and bonuses for doing FA. Ordinary folk are expected to suffer in order to pay for these excesses of the people at the top. Wages are stagnant. Savings, because of double-digit inflation, are being eroded very rapidly. The prime minister is largely absent. The last I heard, he was away in Greece having a ball whilst ordinary folk are having to suffer.

Brexit was always a very, very stupid idea. Now, the stupidity of the move is being shown to all, being shown to be as stupid as all sensible people knew it would be from the start. There are many things impoverishing us Brits now, but Brexit is one of the main things causing that impoverishment.

When I was growing up, we could always depend on the Conservatives to run our economy in a sensible way. We could always depend on the Conservatives to lead the nation to relative prosperity. That was once. Once upon a time. Alas, no longer. Now, the Conservatives are the architects of our demise. They are the ones enabling the rich to get even richer, and the poor to be impoverished beyond their wildest nightmares. The wages/salaries of the working classes and even of the bulk of the middle classes have been stagnant for years now. Yet the Conservatives, or Tories, have been in power for about twelve years already; therefore, it is the Tories who are the architects of this fiasco. We can blame no-one else other than the Tories.

This country’s politics was historically dominated by two parties: the Whigs and the Tories. The Whigs went the way of the dinosaur: into extinction. It is high time that the Tories did exactly the same. This country can do better than the Tories. What this country needs is a business-friendly party which is both pro-Europe/pro-EU and progressive. The Tories are neither pro-EU nor progressive. On the contrary, the party has ossified. Indeed, it is made up of fossils from a bygone age. Let the party go the way of the dodo. This party is unable to bring prosperity to this nation. Under this backward party, the country can look forward to only one thing: sliding into oblivion.

Trump is not one of my favourite politicians. But he did get one thing right: he spoke of “sh*thouse countries”. Unfortunately, he got the nomenclature right, but he forgot to include the UK in the list! This country is truly becoming one of those nations.

© Mark Alexander
All Rights Reserved

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

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.

Why Europe Is Facing a Record-breaking Heatwave and Drought across the Continent | DW News

Jul 6, 2022 Unpredictable and extreme weather events have long been forecast by climate scientists as global warming sets in. DW's correspondents have been monitoring how the effects are being felt this summer across Europe – from Spain to Greece, and in Germany.

Holidaymakers Warned of Rising Coronavirus Cases at European Destinations

THE GUARDIAN: Increases reported in countries including Greece, Spain, France and Germany as Omicron variant BA.5 spreads

Ermones beach in Corfu, Greece: new coronavirus infections have risen on the islands of Corfu, Cephalonia and Zakynthos in recent weeks. Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Holidaymakers heading to and from the European mainland are being warned of a growing incidence of coronavirus, especially in tourist hotspots, which risks hampering travel plans.

Health officials are calling in some cases for a reintroduction of face masks and other measures, and are urging travellers to exercise personal responsibility, warning that an escalation of the virus could lead to the swift return of restrictions.

Greece, Spain, France and Germany – as well as further-afield destinations such as the Caribbean islands, Morocco and Tunisia – are all recording significant rises in cases. » | Kate Connolly in Berlin | Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Large Wildfire Damages Homes Near Athens, Evokes Memories of Last Year's Devastation | DW News

Jun 5, 2022 • Wildfires near Greece's capital Athens have forced people to evacuate their homes. They were apparently sparked by a blaze at a power station, with strong winds then fanning the flames. Authorities expressed concerns this could be a repeat of last summer, when fires devastated more than 125,000 hectares.

Dimitra’s Dishes: Sesame Baklava from Lakonia, Greece: Samousades

Get the recipe here.

Greece: Petrol Bombs Fly on Thessaloniki Streets as University Squat Protest Turns Violent

A protest in support of a 34-year-old squat in the basement of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki turned violent on Saturday.

Unidentified protesters threw petrol bombs at the police who responded with tear gas. Several were detained amid clashes.

The university squat, which had been allegedly used as a hideout for self-styled anarchists, had been cleared out in December in a police operation.

Shops in Great Britain Fear Gaps on Shelves as New Brexit Import Rules Hit

THE OBSERVER: Regulations likely to result in higher prices and shortages for delis and others

After a few minutes in the queue spent eyeing up the best on offer at the local deli, it is decision time.

Maybe some of the wonderful Parma ham from Italy? With a few slices of Spanish chorizo? And a piece of brie from that farm in Normandy … oh, and definitely some of the black olives from Greece.

The government may be making light of new and burdensome Brexit rules and regulations affecting imports to Great Britain from the EU that came into force on 1 January, but organisations representing small UK firms are not. The firms are worried about the impact on their businesses – and about the choices that will be available to their customers at their favourite specialist stores – on the high street.

The Federation of Small Businesses cites local delicatessens, many of which import from small specialist suppliers in the EU, as the type of operators that could be adversely affected.

“The classic example is your high street deli that is importing delicacies like, say, chorizo from Spain or parmesan from Italy,” says James Sibley, the federation’s head of international affairs. “For them, the thought of having to register for these systems is daunting and the process is expensive, so we’ve a lot of concern there. For those small businesses directly affected, we have picked up a lot of worry.” » | Toby Helm and Tom Wall | Saturday, January 1, 2022

Rest well tonight, my fellow countryman! Rest well in the knowledge that you have your blue passports back! Who needs a plentiful array of foodstuffs on the shelves of supermarkets when you can avail yourselves of blue passports? And who knows? BoJo might be able to conjure up a way of bringing back the British Empire! Rule Britannia, and all that! ‘Stay calm and carry on’! – © Mark

Greece Makes Vaccines Mandatory for People 60 or Older, with Fines for Not Complying.

THE NEW YORK TIMES: In a bid to bolster vaccinations among older people, the prime minister of Greece announced on Tuesday that Covid shots would be obligatory for people ages 60 or older, and that those who failed to book a first shot by Jan. 16 would face fines.

Τhe move came as the Greek health authorities try to curb a spike in coronavirus cases and deaths, while bracing for the possible effect of the Omicron variant.

About 500,000 people in Greece ages 60 or older have yet to be vaccinated against Covid-19, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told a cabinet meeting. Those who fail to meet the deadline will face a monthly fine of 100 euros ($113), the revenue from which will go toward funding state hospitals that have been stretched by the pandemic, he said.

Describing the policy as “an act of justice for the vaccinated,” Mr. Mitsotakis said he had worried about penalizing people but hoped they would see the move as an act of “encouragement, not repression.” » | Niki Kitsantonis | Tuesday, November 30, 2021

The Fascinating Life of Prince Philip's Mother: Princess Alice, the Queen's Mother-In-Law | Absolute History

Jun 8, 2019 • We all know about the late Queen Mum – one of Britain’s most instantly recognisable figures. But few have even heard of the Queen’s mother-in-law, Princess Alice. And yet, the life-story of Prince Philip’s mother almost defies belief.

A great granddaughter of Queen Victoria, Prince Philip’s mother married into the Greek royal family – only to see the Greek monarchy overthrown by revolution. Fleeing into exile, she suffered a severe nervous breakdown. She was locked away in mental hospitals and subjected to experimental treatments by psychiatrists – including Sigmund Freud himself. The trauma had a shattering effect on Princess Alice’s marriage and led to a fractured childhood for her only son Prince Philip.

Prince Philip’s mother eventually fought her way back from mental illness, and became an unlikely hero of World War Two, risking her life to hide a Jewish family from the Nazis. When her son married the future Queen Elizabeth in 1948, Alice turned down the option of a cosy royal life. Instead she chose to dedicate herself to working with the poor in Greece. She gave away all her possessions and even founded her own religious order.

Featuring exclusive interviews with family members and previously unseen archive footage, this film sheds new light on one of the royal family’s most remarkable, but little known, personalities.