Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was welcomed by Erdogan and a military guard of honor at the presidential palace in Ankara before the leaders’ fourth meeting over the past year. They are expected to hold two hours of discussions followed by a news conference. Turkey and Greece, which are NATO members, have been at odds for decades over a series of issues, including territorial claims in the Aegean Sea and drilling rights in the Mediterranean, and have come to the brink of war three times in the last half-century. A dispute over energy exploration rights in 2020 led to the two countries’ warships facing off in the Mediterranean. They agreed last December to put their disputes aside and focus on areas where they can find consensus. The list of items on the so-called positive agenda includes trade, energy, education and cultural ties. Since that summit in Athens, the regional rivals have maintained regular high-level contacts to promote fence-mending initiatives, such as allowing Turkish citizens to visit 10 Greek islands without cumbersome visa procedures. The propensity for quarrels remains, however. The recent opening of a former Greek Orthodox church in Istanbul for use as a mosque led to Greece accusing Turkey of “insulting the character” of a World Heritage Site. Turkey, meanwhile, criticized a Greek plan unveiled last month for “marine parks” in parts of the Ionian and Aegean Seas. Ankara said the one-sided declaration was “a step that sabotages the normalization process.” But such low-level disputes are far removed from relations a few years ago, when energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean resulted in a naval confrontation and a vow by Erdogan to halt talks with Mitsotakis’ government. The two countries are also locked in a dispute over Cyprus, divided since 1974 between its ethnic Greek and Turkish populations. For the past seven years, Turkey has rejected a long-standing agreement for a reunified Cyprus under a federal system. Instead, Ankara and the Turkish Cypriot administration, which is only recognized by Turkey, have proposed a two-state solution. Erdogan and Mitsotakis have sharp differences over the Israel-Hamas war, but are keen to hold back further instability in the Mediterranean as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine grinds on. The recent thaw in relations was partly helped by Greek solidarity after last year’s devastating earthquake in southern Turkey. Erdogan has initiated a broader effort to reengage with Western countries following an election victory last year that saw him extend his two-decade rule by a further five years. Speaking before the meeting, Greek government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis said that the leaders would review progress in bilateral relations and the agreed upon areas of cooperation. “Our country seeks to maintain the climate of dialogue with the neighboring country,” he said, adding that “we believe that dialogue is only positive for the two countries.”

The 5th largest city in Japan, the port of Kobe is ready to host over 1000 athletes, from 104 countries. At the "Kobe Universiade Memorial Stadium" 168 new para-world champions will be crowned, in an event that is held for the first time in the same year, a few months before the Paralympic Games in Paris.   The Greek delegation that will take part in the event consists of 19 athletes (16 men and 3 women) who will give their own "battle" and depart tomorrow (Tuesday, 14/5) for the city of Japan. Tania Keramyda (F55/56) is the one who "opens" the entries, in the discus qualifier, on the first day of the games (Friday, 17/5, at 11:15 a.m. Japan time, 05:15 a.m. Greek time). The efforts of the Greek sportsmen and women will be watched by the president of EOAM-AmAA and head of the delegation Ioanna Karyofyllis, who is traveling next Friday (17/5) to Japan and Kobe.  

The "golden" Olympian of the length "flew" at 8.36m. in his sixth and last attempt, with wind within the permissible limits (1.9). Throughout the competition there was a strong favorable wind, which Jamaican Cary McLeod took advantage of to jump 8.52m. and take first place. Tedoglou's jumps were 8.15m, void, 7.72m, 8.26m, 8.34m and 8.36m. This was his best premiere since 8.60m. which he had noted in May 2021. Katerina Stefanidis in her first race of the season in the pole vault exceeded 4.63m. with the third attempt and took fifth place in the race. The first place in the pole vault was taken by the British Mali Conderry with 4.73 meters.

But even Eurovision can’t escape the world’s divisions. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters are also expected in the city for demonstrations urging a cease-fire in the Gaza war and criticizing Israel’s participation in the contest. Here’s a guide to what Eurovision means, how it works and what to watch for: What is Eurovision? The short answer: Eurovision is a music competition, in which performers from countries across Europe, and a few beyond it, compete under their national flags with the aim of being crowned continental champion. Think of it as the Olympics of pop music.   The longer answer is that Eurovision is an extravaganza that melds pop, partying and politics — a cross between a music festival, an awards show and a meeting of the United Nations Security Council. It’s an event full of silly fun, a celebration of music’s unifying power, but also a place where politics and regional rivalries play out. How does it work? Thirty-seven countries are entered in the contest, which this year is taking place over several days in the Swedish port city of Malmo. The country is hosting after Swedish singer Loreen won last year’s competition in Liverpool, England. Through two semifinals, 37 acts have been narrowed to the 26 who will compete in Saturday’s final in front of thousands of spectators in the Malmo Arena and a global television audience estimated at 180 million. Nations can enter a solo act or a band. They can perform in any genre and language, but the rules state they must sing live and songs must be no more than three minutes long. Staging has grown ever more elaborate, incorporating flashy pyrotechnics and elaborate choreography. This year is particularly strong on topless male dancers.   Once all the acts have performed, the winner is chosen by a famously complex mix of phone and online voters from around the world and rankings by music-industry juries in each of the Eurovision countries. As the results are announced, countries slide up and down the rankings and tensions build. Ending up with “nul points,” or zero, ranks as a national humiliation. The musical style of Eurovision has diversified dramatically since the contest was founded in 1956. The early years of crooners and ballads gave way to perky pop – epitomized by perhaps the greatest Eurovision song of all time, ABBA’s “Waterloo,” which won the contest 50 years ago. Nowadays, Euro-techno and power ballads remain popular, but viewers have also shown a taste for rock, folk-rap and eccentric, unclassifiable songs. Who are the favorites? According to bookmakers, a leading contender is Swiss singer Nemo, who is performing a melodic, operatic song titled “The Code.” Nemo would be the first performer who identifies as nonbinary to win the contest, which has a huge LGBTQ+ following. The contest had its first transgender winner, Dana International, a quarter century ago. Another nonbinary performer generating huge buzz is Ireland’s Bambie Thug, whose song “Doomsday Blue” is Gothic, intense, over the top and a real crowd-pleaser. They’re the only contestant known to have brought a “scream coach” to Malmo. Ireland has won Eurovision seven times – a total equaled only by Sweden – but has fared poorly in recent years. Other acts tipped to do well include operatic Slovenian singer Raiven, Ukrainian rap-pop duo Alyona Alyona and Jerry Heil and Spain’s Nebulosa, whose song “Zorra” caused a stir because its title can be translated as an anti-female slur. So far, the act with the most momentum is Croatian singer Baby Lasagna. His song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” is quintessential Eurovision: exuberant, silly, a little emotional and incredibly catchy. It’s already a huge fan favorite. Why are some people protesting? Eurovision’s motto is “united by music,” and its organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, strives to keep politics out of the contest. But it often intrudes. Belarus was expelled from Eurovision in 2021 over its government’s clampdown on dissent, and Russia was kicked out in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This year, there have been calls for Israel to be excluded because of its conduct in its war against Hamas. Israel is competing, but was told to change the title of its song, originally called “October Rain” in apparent reference to Hamas’ October 7 cross-border attack. It’s now called “Hurricane” and is performed by 20-year-old singer Eden Golan. Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through Malmo on Thursday, hours before Golan performed at Thursday’s semifinal, and was one of 10 acts voted through to the final by Eurovision viewers. Another demonstration is planned for Saturday. Swedish police have mounted a major security operation, with officers from across the country bolstered by reinforcements from Denmark and Norway. Palestinian flags hang from some apartment balconies in Malmo but have been banned from the televised event, along with all flags apart from those of competing nations. At the first semifinal one performer managed to sneak in a political statement, singing with a Palestinian keffiyeh scarf tied around his wrist. The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision, said it regretted Swedish singer Eric Saade’s decision to “compromise the non-political nature of the event.”

The vote does not amount to recognition of a Palestinian state in the UN, nor does it constitute bilateral recognition. Greece will submit an explanatory statement of its vote, which will underline, among others, that the vote in favour is based on a position of principle that the resolutioin of the Palestine issue should be the result of a mutual agreement on the basis of a 2-State solution. It will also be pointed out that the best way to end the violence and tackle extremism is the creation of a sustainable political horizon for the Palestinians, a horizon that at the same time guarantees Israel's security.

In particular, Croatia is considered the favorite with "Ram tim tagi dim", in second place is Switzerland with "The Code", in third place is Ukraine with "Teresa & Maria". Greece appears in ninth place. And while the "bets" for the big winner of the competition continue, the time is counting down for tonight's Second Semi-Final, which will be broadcast at 22.00. Greece will compete in 3rd place, while only 10 entries will qualify. In the Second Semi-Final, from the "Big Five" France, Italy and Spain appear and vote, which qualify directly. It is reminded that the grand final will take place on Saturday, May 11.

It was the first leg of an 11-week journey across the country for the torch, which will be carried by about 10,000 bearers as it passes through more than 450 towns until the Games’ opening ceremony in Paris on July 26. Former soccer player Basile Boli, who played with the Marseille team in the 1990s, kicked off Thursday’s relay from the Notre Dame de la Garde basilica that overlooks Marseille and the Mediterranean. “I’m very proud,” Boli said. “You feel like you’re on top of the world, because with an Olympic flame there’s a special fervor. … It’s the symbol of sport!”   Basketball player Tony Parker later took his turn in the relay, praising “a great honor.” On a nearby crowded beach, swimmers and sunbathers cheered the torch bearers as the flame passed. “The enthusiasm of Marseille for the flame is phenomenal,” Maurice Genevois, a local resident, said. “Honestly, I have rarely seen such a celebration.” Magali Evrard, who came from the town of Martigues, in Marseille’s region, said “it’s been so long since we started talking about this and now we’re in it! “We are on the road to Paris. We can’t wait, it’s great,” she added. A fencing champion, a skateboarder, a Michelin-starred chef and a comedian were also chosen to carry the flame on Thursday. “Let’s go for a fantastic celebration,” said Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris Olympics organizing committee. “The Games are back in our country. … Let’s share this fantastic moment of celebration with millions of people in the country.” Participants were scheduled to run all day past landmarks in the city to bring the torch to the roof of the famed Stade Vélodrome, home to Marseille’s passionate soccer fans. Ivory Coast’s Didier Drogba, a former star player for the Marseille club, was the last torchbearer of the day and lit the Olympic cauldron just outside the stadium. Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra said “it’s fantastic to give that sense of pride to the French people and to show to the whole world what we’re capable to achieve.” “’We’re going to give happiness to the whole world,” she added. Torchbearers included Ukrainian gymnast Mariia Vysochanska, who won 2 gold medals at the 2020 European Championships and competed at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Her inclusion was an expression of solidarity with Ukraine as well as a symbolic gesture to mark Europe Day, which falls on May 9 each year. Vysochanska led a group of 27 other athletes who represent all European Union member states. “It’s a way to really celebrate Europe, its values and also to demonstrate our attachment to the European sport model,” Oudéa-Castéra said. Ukraine received the green light last year to start accelerated talks on joining the EU. “[Ukrainians] face that terrible war of aggression, and we want to really express that we support them the best we can,” she added. “This is unity. This is hope. This is solidarity. And we want their victory.” Marseille on Wednesday celebrated with great fanfare the flame’s arrival, with more than 230,000 people attending the ceremony in the Old Port, according to the city’s mayor, Benoît Payan. During the Games, the sailing competition and some soccer matches will be held in Marseille.

After decades in which the EU elections hardly caused a ripple, the June 6-9 voting is the most important in memory. It is being held at a time of continuous crises on a continent which is experiencing a war in Ukraine, climate emergencies, a shifting of geopolitical plates and fundamental questions on the reach and purpose of the EU itself. “It will be an existential fight,” said Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister and outgoing free-market liberal member of parliament who has been in the thick of EU politics for over a quarter century. It will pit “those who want less Europe and, then, those political forces who understand that in the world of tomorrow you need a far more integrated European Union to defend the interests of the Europeans,” he said in an interview.   In naked political terms, it means those traditional socialist, liberal and green forces that ran the EU parliament with the Christian Democrats over the past five years against the surging powers of the hard nationalist right, exemplified by leaders like Viktor Orbán of Hungary and Georgia Meloni of Italy. The vote is the second-biggest exercise in democracy behind the elections in India, as the 27-nation bloc of 450 million people will be picking 720 parliamentarians to serve them over the next five years with decisive votes on everything from digital privacy rules to international trade policy and climate measures. But more than that, when the results are made public late on June 9, it will be an indication whether the continental political drift will match the rightward swing seen across much of the globe from Argentina to the Netherlands and Slovakia. Even if surveys diverge somewhat on the margins of the gains, they all point toward one thing: The nationalist hard right and populist parties will make strong gains. “If I look at the polls all over Europe, more or less, I can always see the same scenario,” said Nicola Procaccini, Meloni’s man in the European Parliament, who typically considers himself as part of the center-right far removed from the neo-fascist roots of his Brothers of Italy party. He said like-minded parties “are rising more or less, everywhere.” That includes election victories in the Netherlands and Slovakia and polls showing they lead the way in France with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally. When it comes to the fundamentals, the EU battle could be seen as Verhofstadt vs. Procaccini, with one insisting only more joint policies on issues like defense are the answer to the EU’s global challenges ahead, and the other saying how the individual member states, with their cherished nationhood at its core, should always come first. While 27 nations with often inefficient individual defense programs have left Western Europe at the mercy of US goodwill for much of the past half-century, Verhofstadt wants a full defense union to stave off a belligerent Russia, and anticipates a non-committal United States if Donald Trump becomes president in November. “It is not individual member states which will protect the people,” he said. “And that’s the reason why it’s an existential fight. Because if we lose this fight against the right-wing parties, we will be without defense, without security,” Verhofstadt said. Procaccini instead centers on what many far-right parties see as encroachment and downright meddling in national affairs by the EU’s institutions in Brussels and Strasbourg, France. They have specifically lashed out at the EU Green Deal to keep climate change at bay and have specifically targeted measures to force farmers into more environmentally friendly methods such as overbearing and overruling national decision-making. They want to hark back to the EU’s timid origins some 60 years ago when cooperation was much more voluntary and limited. “We want to restore the original idea of Europe,” Procacinni said. It is unlikely the anti-EU parties will get a grip on legislative power but a surge into third place behind the Christian Democrats and Socialists would have a major impact. If the forecast of the European Council on Foreign Affairs holds, the think tank says “this ‘sharp right turn’ is likely to have significant consequences for European-level policies … particularly on environmental issues, where the new majority is likely to oppose ambitious EU action to tackle climate change.” EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has already softened some of the climate rules and her center-right Christian Democrat European People’s Party, the biggest in the legislature, has moved rightward on migration on top of climate policy. With a wilting of the Green Deal, it would make sure that beyond facing geopolitical crises, the EU would also face one of its own making. Thursday’s Europe Day honors the memory of Jean Monnet, one of the founding fathers of the European Union, who once said: “Europe will be forged in crises.”

More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony after a six-hour parade of the three-masted Belem, which left Greece on April 27 with the flame after it was lit in Ancient Olympia 11 days earlier. The ship was awaited by 1,024 boats. Around 6,000 law enforcement officers are securing the area before Florent Manaudou, France’s 2012 Olympic men’s 50 metres freestyle swimming champion, brings the flame to land shortly after 1730 GMT in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron. Police canine units and elite forces snipers have also been deployed. “It’s an unprecedented level of security,” Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said. “Life goes on in Marseille but in great security conditions. “We conceived this event as a ceremony, the fifth of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics (on top of the opening and closing ceremonies,” said Paris 2024 executive director Thierry Reboul who is in charge of ceremonies. “Marseille is the ideal spot to create memories.” Florent Manaudou, France’s 2012 Olympic men’s 50 metres freestyle swimming champion, will light the cauldron shortly after 1730 GMT in the presence of President Emmanuel Macron. That will be followed by a free rap concert on a floating stage in front of 45,000 spectators. The relay will start on Thursday with former Olympique de Marseille soccer players Jean-Pierre Papin, Didier Drogba and Basile Boli, as well as three-star chef Alexandre Mazzia among the torch bearers. More than 10,000 people will take part in the torch relay before the flame reaches Paris and is installed near the Louvre, in the Jardin des Tuileries. The Olympic Opening Ceremony will take place on the River Seine on July 26.

Badosa wrote on social media Sunday that the pair “decided to amicably part ways” after being a couple since last year. “We have shared a journey filled with love and learning, and it is as friends with immense mutual respect that we now choose to move forward on our own paths,” Badosa posted. “We are grateful for the support of our friends, family, and all who have been part of our story. As we transition into this new chapter of our lives, we continue to wish each other nothing but the best in all our endeavors.” Badosa is a 26-year-old who was born in New York City but represents Spain and has been ranked as high as No. 2. She is currently No. 101 after a series of injuries that have limited her tournament appearances lately. Her record is 6-9 this season. The best Grand Slam showing of Badosa’s career was a run to the quarterfinals at the 2021 French Open. “The tennis level is there, but I need to recover emotionally,” Badosa said after a first-round loss at the Madrid Open on April 24 in her most recent match. “Every week is a disappointment. I’ve been at the top and it’s tough to see myself at the bottom right now.” Tsitsipas also dropped his first match in Madrid, although he did win the Monte Carlo Masters and was the runner-up at the Barcelona Open before that. He is a 25-year-old from Greece who has been ranked as high as No. 3 and is now No. 7. Tsitsipas twice has been a finalist at Grand Slam tournaments, finishing as the runner-up to 24-time major title winner Novak Djokovic both times — at the 2021 French Open and at the 2023 Australian Open.

The Eurozone and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lent Greece about 280 billion Euros during the crisis on the condition that Greece impose tough austerity measures. Austerity slashed public sector wages and pensions, and triggered years of violent protests. But in recent years the economy has recovered, leading to a series of early loan repayments. An official who requested anonymity told Reuters the government planned to repay between 2.5 billion and 5 billion euros to eurozone countries, "probably in the second half of the year". The official said this would help the country make room for more bond issues without increasing its debt, while adding liquidity to a shallow Greek bond market. About 70% of the country's debt is held by its official lenders, the eurozone and the European Central Bank. A second official confirmed the sum and timeline. Greece recently regained its investment grade after languishing for 13 years in the "junk" category, which helped it attract strong demand from foreign investors in its bond issues. With the planned payment this year, Greece will have repaid about 15 billion-17 billion euros from the first bailout loans. In 2022, the country paid off the IMF two years ahead of schedule and in 2023 it repayed 5 billion euros of loans to EU countries. Wall Street surged on Friday after a softer-than-expected jobs report fueled hope for rate cuts from the Federal Reserve while also reflecting U.S. economic resilience. The country's third bailout expired in 2018 and since then it has relied solely on debt markets for its borrowing needs. ($1 = 0.9366 euros)  

Roughly 100,000 visitors from 89 countries are expected in host city Malmö during the week for the 68th edition of the competition. Greece’s entry, “Zari,” is an uplifting fusion of traditional, modern, and ethnographic elements performed by Marina Satti, who is set to perform during the first half of the second semi-final on Thursday, May 9.   When is the Eurovision Song Contest 2024? The event will kick off on May 7 at 10 p.m. Greek time for the first semi-final, followed by a second semi-final two days later. The Grand Final will be held on Saturday, May 11 at 10 p.m. Greek time. Where is Eurovision being held? The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 will take place in Malmö, Sweden’s third-largest city with a population of 362,000. The city also hosted Eurovision in 1992 and in 2013. Sweden has hosted Eurovision seven times in total, counting in 2024. Stockholm in 1975, 2000, and 2016 and Gothenburg in 1985. The concert venue is Malmö Arena with a capacity of up to 15,500. Who competes in the first semi-final? Cyprus, Serbia, Lithuania, Ireland, Ukraine, Poland, Croatia, Iceland, Slovenia, Finland, Moldova, Azerbaijan, Australia, Portugal and Luxembourg. Who competes in the second semi-final? Malta, Albania, Greece, Switzerland, Czechia, Austria, Denmark, Armenia, Latvia, San Marino, Georgia, Belgium, Estonia, Israel, Norway and the Netherlands. Who competes in the grand final? The top 10 from each semi-final will participate in the final. The previous year’s winner and host nation Sweden has automatic entry to the final as well as the “Big Five” countries: United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain. There will be 26 acts in total in the final. Why the ‘Big Five’? The “Big Five” countries are France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom, which bring the biggest financial contribution to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Since 2000, these countries have secured themselves an automatic spot in the Grand Final. How to watch it The song contest will be broadcast by all 37 participating countries. It will also be streamed on YouTube. Who is the favourite to win Eurovision? Bookmakers have Switzerland as the favourite, giving Swiss rapper and singer Nemo Mettler a 23% chance of winning with the song “The Code,” according fan site Eurovisionworld. The song is about their journey of self-discovery as non-binary, Nemo has said in an interview. Switzerland will perform in the first half of the second semi-final on May 9. How does the voting work? Viewers at home will determine the outcome of the two semi-finals. Viewers and professional juries vote in the Grand Final. Who are the presenters? The song contest will be presented by Swedish comedian and actress Petra Mede and Swedish-American actress Malin Akerman. Eurovision history The Eurovision song contest is one of the world’s largest television events, and has been held annually since 1956. Eurovision features live music performances from most European countries and beyond, including Israel and Australia. Originally it started as a technical experiment for transnational broadcast television with only seven countries competing: the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, France, Luxembourg and Italy. The show reached 162 million people in 2023 through public service markets. Which countries have won the most Eurovisions? Sweden and Ireland are leading with seven wins each. France, Luxembourg, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands have each won five times, with the Netherlands as the most recent of the four countries to win in 2019. Who won last year? Swedish singer Loreen won last year’s competition in Liverpool for the second time with her song “Tattoo.” She is the only person after Ireland’s Johnny Logan to win the contest twice.