35 Posts in Special Feature

The Security Project Conference – which is the only conference event on physical security in Greece – has reached  its 10th edition! The event organized by Smart Press and Security Manager magazine, being for many years the reference point of developments  in the field of Security, aims this year – through its central title – to highlight the need to adopt a strategy for  the holistic approach to security issues, based on the triptych Man – Technologies – Processes, as a pillar for an efficient model of protection against the dangers of the time. Through the assessment of the auditing course of all aspects of the security sector in recent years, we will discuss the challenges of today in relation to complex risks, hybrid threats and crime  of all sizes, we will highlight modern Security & Safety practices and we will of course focus on new technologies and  integrated solutions  developed for security through presentations and speeches by experts in the field, as well as the participation of market companies in the exhibition sector of the conference. Sponsors’ Exhibition​ Once again, within the framework of the Security Project 2023, a parallel exhibition of the participating sponsoring companies will be held, giving visitors the opportunity to get in touch with companies operating in our country in the field of security services and solutions, in order to be informed about their activities and in general about all the developments in the field. For more information, visit securityproject.gr.

The cat was found paralyzed, in bad condition and is being treated at the Attica Park Zoo (outside Athens) clinic, where it is being treated to this day. According to the experts, the unfortunate animal is only 4 months old and as the director of the Attica Zoological Park, Jean-Jacques Lesueur explains. It is obviously the act of an dispicious person, who after illegally acquiring the white tabby, due to his disability, decided to get rid of it, in this way. More specifically, Greece's leading animal park on Wednesday said it had recovered a rare white tiger cub found abandoned on a nearby street earlier this week. Attica Zoological Park said the 4-month-old female cub, which was found beneath a garbage bin near the premises, was paralysed from the waist down. "No one knows where it came from or how it got here," park founder Jean Jacques Lesueur said, adding that the feline was likely abandoned on Monday. "It's in terrible condition," he said. Conservation group World Wildlife Fund (WWF) describes white tigers as "a genetic anomaly," with none known to exist in the wild. They are often the result of inbreeding, exposing them to a host of health problems at birth. The park says it hosts more than 2,000 animals from 290 different species.

"Japan and Greece enjoy cordial and excellent bilateral relations ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1899, but I humbly believe that no period in our bilateral history witnessed such a rapid developments as last 12 months 2022 started with the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in April in Tokyo between Minister Hayashi and Minister Dendias. The 2  ministers, recognising that both countries share the fundamental value such as democracy, human rights and rule of law including free and open maritime order, discussed not only the bilateral relation but also the variety of international issues including the situation in Ukraine, the Japanese ambassador said. He added that in June, both countries participated in the Posidonia 2022, the most important event in the world of maritime business. "It served as an excellent occasion to reaffirm the strong ties based on rich maritime history between Japan and Greece, which extends over 70 years. I believe that the maritime sector remains and will remain firmly as the central pillar of our bilateral economic relations." He also referred to the organization of a special event to commemorate the heroic rescue conducted by a Japanese merchant ship at Smyrna 100 years ago. "As most of you already know, during the great fire in Smyrna of September 1922, the Japanese ship named ‘Tokei Maru’ is said to have jettisoned its cargo in order to accommodate more than 800 Greek refugees. I have been strongly committed to make this extraordinary story known widely both in Greece and Japan and I will continue making efforts to that end." At the end of January this year, another significant event took place; the visit by Prime Minister Mitsotakis to Japan. Nakayama Yasunori explained that it was the first visit to Japan by a Greek Prime Minister in 17 years, "which, I believe, contributed significantly to the strengthening of relations between Japan and Greece. At their meeting, PM Kishida and PM Mitsotakis announced a joint statement which, among others, upgrades our bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership." During his stay in Japan, PM Mitsotakis and his wife had an audience with Their Imperial Highnesses Crown Prince and Princess Akishino, which went beyond the scheduled time with very intimate and warm conversations. On the economic front, Mitsotakis spoke at two large-scaled meetings organized respectively by Keidanren and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), both of which were very fruitful in raising visibility of the bilateral business opportunities and had very substantive meetings with representatives of the Japanese financial sector, including those from Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The Japanese ambassador considers that this very positive momentum created in the economic relations by PM Mitsotakis’s visit to Japan, it is his duty to work hard, together with his Greek partners, in attaining tangible progress in bilateral economic relations, be it investment or trade. He also said that Japan and Greece will celebrate 125 years of diplomatic relations in 2024, as the "Year of Culture & Tourism." He concluded by stressing that he is determined to make his utmost efforts to further promote the bilateral relations between Japan and Greece and by asking Greece's continued support to that end.

Detailed weather forecast for Thursday (16/2): Visibility in the morning and evening hours to the west and north will be locally limited. Winds in the west, central and north will be variable light and from the afternoon in the west from westerly directions up to 4 Beaufort. In the rest of the regions there will be winds of 3 to 5 from the north and by noon in the Aegean local 6 beauforts. Frost will be observed in places in the northern continental areas in the morning and evening hours. ATTICA Weather: Generally clear. Winds: From north directions 3 to 4 Beaufort, from the afternoon changeable conditions. Temperature: From 04 to 14 degrees Celsius. THESSALONIKI Weather: Generally clear. Winds: Variable patients. Temperature: From 00 to 14 degrees Celsius. MACEDONIA, THRACE Weather: Generally clear, with a few local clouds mainly in the morning. Winds: Variable 2 to 4 Beaufort. Temperature: From -02 (minus 2) to 14 degrees Celsius. In western Macedonia 3 to 4 degrees lower. IONIAN ISLANDS, EPIROS, WESTERN Mainland, WESTERN PELOPONNISE Weather: Generally clear, with temporary local clouds in the morning. Winds: Variable patients and from the afternoon from westerly directions to 4 Beaufort. Temperature: From 01 to 16 degrees Celsius. In the interior of Epirus 5 to 7 degrees lower. THESSALIA, EASTERN CONTINENTA, EASTERN PELOPONNISUS Weather: Generally clear, with temporary local clouds in the morning. Winds: From north directions 3 to 4 and in the morning in the south to 5 Beaufort. From the afternoon variable 3 to 4 Beaufort. Temperature: From 00 to 15 degrees Celsius. In the north 2 to 4 degrees lower. CYCLADES, CRETE Weather: In the Cyclades, generally sunny. In Crete, a few clouds temporarily increased until noon. Winds: Northerly 4 to 6 Beaufort with weakening from noon. Temperature: From 08 to 15 degrees Celsius. EAST AEGEAN ISLANDS - DODECANISE Weather: Generally clear, with a few temporary clouds in the area of Kastellorizos. Winds: Northerly 3 to 5 and temporarily in the morning local 6 Beaufort. Temperature: From 09 to 15 degrees Celsius. In the north 3 to 4 degrees lower. EUBOEA Weather: Generally clear, with a few temporary clouds in the morning. Winds: Northerly 3 to 4 and southerly in the morning up to 5 Beaufort. From the afternoon variable patients. Temperature: From 03 to 13 degrees Celsius. The countdown to this year's Mardi Gras has begun, and now you can plan where you'll "char" and how you'll celebrate "Fat (Tsikno) Thursday"!  Tsiknopempti falls on the fifth day of the second week of the triad. Thus, on Thursday, February 16th, the customs that apply throughout Greece will be revived.

More than 120 businesses are participating in the fair, offering more than 3,000 jobs, at an event in which employers and recruiters give information to potential employees. It is being held from 10:00 am to 18:00 throughout this weekend.   Address: Leof. Kifisias 39, Marousi 151 23   Phone: +302106168888

Speaking on the ANT1 news bulletin, Stefanos Tsitsipas referred to the battle that Greece will fight against Ecuador and as he pointed out, the tennis players who will take part in the two games will dedicate their efforts to Efstathios Tsitlakidis and Mario Michael Turoutsikas, who were killed after the fall of the F4 Phantom in the sea area west of Katakolo, while they were performing a training flight. "I am very happy that I will play with the National team in OAKA at the weekend. I want to dedicate this effort with the team to the 2 heroic pilots who unfortunately lost their lives a few 24 hours ago. We will go out there and give our best," the top tennis player of all time in Greece emphasized, among other things.

Constantine II, a second cousin of Britain's King Charles and godfather to heir Prince William, lived most of his life abroad, but returned to his homeland in his latter years. He died at an Athens hospital last week, aged 82. Linked to the German House of Glucksberg which has connections with royalty throughout Europe, Constantine II was the only son of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece. He was buried at Tatoi, the family's former estate north of Athens where his ancestors are also interred. His sons and grandchildren bore the coffin, singing the national anthem. As they lowered it, people chanted "Immortal!". "God's will was for you to take your last breath in our homeland, which you loved like nothing else all your life," Pavlos, Constantine's eldest son, said in an eulogy earlier. Royals from Europe, including Britain's Princess Anne, and Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended the Orthodox Christian service at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens. Also among the guests were royals from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Serbia and Monaco. Many are related. Pavlos exchanged a bear hug with Spain's Felipe, his first cousin, on the steps of the cathedral moments before the ceremony started. Spain's Queen Mother Sophia, Constantine's sister, looked visibly upset during the hour-long ceremony. Thousands of people had earlier queued for hours to pay their last respects. "I'm sad and proud that I was able to honour him until the final seconds of his life"," said Dionysios Klonaris, 76. His friend, Aphrodite Koulouris, 70, added: "I live for the moment that his heir, Pavlos, becomes king." Constantine was 27 years old and had been king for three years when he was forced into exile in 1967 with his wife Princess Anne-Marie, the youngest daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark, and his family. He was deeply unpopular for his decision to swear-in the military junta who seized power in April that year. He briefly cooperated with them before staging a failed counter-coup that led to his exile. The junta abolished the monarchy in 1973; in a referendum after it fell in 1974, Greece rejected monarchy again. Monday's service, officiated by the country's Archbishop, Ieronymos, was private, reflecting Constantine's status as a former king. Some onlookers booed the culture minister, reflecting anger that the funeral was not more official. In 1994, the state stripped Constantine of his Greek citizenship unless he recognised the end of monarchy and stated a second name in official documents. It also seized Tatoi, the family's residence, and a palace on the island of Corfu where Britain's Prince Philip was born. In interviews over the years, Constantine would recall that he was not allowed to return to Greece to advocate for himself at the time of the referendum. But he seemed resigned to the outcome. "If the Greek people decide that they want a republic, they are entitled to have that and should be left in peace to enjoy it," he was quoted as telling Time magazine in 2002.

According to an announcement, the event will begin with a lecture by Dr. Archimandritis on the play "Fourth Dimension" by Yiannis Ritsos and will be followed by a theatrical recital performed by Irène Jacob, best known for her work with Polish film director Krzysztof Kieślowski, who will perform the monologue "Helen" from the "Fourth Dimension" by Yiannis Ritsos. Yiannis Ritsos was born in Monemvasia in 1909. He is one of the famous and internationally acknowledged Greek poets, as many of his works have been translated and successfully published in many languages. He published more than one hundred poetic collections, as well as some novels, plays and translations. He belonged to the Communist Party of Greece and his strong political identity is reflected in his works. The event, which will take place on Monday, 16 January, 2023, at 19:00, at the Richelieu amphitheater of the Sorbonne University, is being held with the support of Andreas and Alexandra Martinos, as well as the Jan Michalski Foundation.

Specifically, the meeting made the following decisions: - The prior king will be buried this Monday, January 16th, 2023, as a private citizen, - His burial site will be near to that of his ancestors in Tatoi, - The church where the funeral service will be held will be decided in consultation between the government and the family, - The government will be represented at the funeral by Hellenic Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, - All procedures envisaged by the protocol for visiting officials and dignitaries from abroad will be observed for those who attend the funeral.   Greece's former King Constantine II, who died on Tuesday night aged 82, will be buried privately at a former royal estate north of Athens, the Greek government said on Wednesday. Deposed by military rulers and spurned by his subjects who voted to ditch the monarchy in 1974, Constantine II was the only son of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece. He suffered from chronic heart and mobility problems and had been treated in an Athens hospital since last week. "It is with deep sadness that the royal family announces that HM King Constantine, beloved husband, father, and brother, passed away yesterday," Constantine's private office said in a statement on Wednesday. Constantine II, godfather to Britain's Prince William and a second cousin to King Charles, would be buried privately in Tatoi, the summer palace of the former Greek royal family, where his ancestors are also laid to rest, the government said. Constantine II was 27 years old and had only recently ascended to the throne, in 1964, when he was forced into exile with a young family in late 1967. He would not return for decades to Greece, where he was deeply unpopular for his decision to swear-in the colonels who seized power in April 1967. He would briefly cooperate with them before staging a failed counter-coup. The military junta forced him to flee the country and abolished the monarchy in 1973. In another referendum after the fall of the junta a year later, Greece rejected monarchy again, making Constantine the last Greek monarch. Constantine was married to Princess Anne-Marie, the youngest daughter of King Frederick IX of Denmark, and had 5 children. Known as "The Ex" or just "Glucksberg" - from the German House of Glucksberg which has connections with royalty throughout Europe - Constantine spent almost 50 years in exile in Italy and London, before quietly returning to settle in Greece in 2013. "The eventful journey of the former King Constantine marked and was marked by turbulent moments in Greece's modern history," Hellenic Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, "My sincere condolences to his family." He is survived by his wife, the former Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark, youngest sister of Queen Margrethe II; 5 children, Alexia, Pavlos, Nikolaos, Theodora and Philippos; and 9  grandchildren.

Constantine II, the only son of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece, ascended to the throne in 1964 after his father died but his reign was marred by political instability which culminated in a military coup on April 21st, 1967. A few months later, he was forced to flee the country after leading an unsuccessful countercoup against the then military junta. He remained in Rome until the junta abolished the monarchy in 1973. In a referendum called by a national unity government led by Konstantinos Karamanlis after the fall of the junta in 1974, Greeks rejected monarchy for a second time, making Constantine the last king of Greece. Athens later stripped him of his citizenship. In 2002, he and other family members were compensated with 13.7 million Euros for their former property in Greece which includes the Tatoi palace estate north of Athens that is currently being restored and a villa in Corfu, where Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was born, now turned into a museum. With his wife Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, the former king, a sailor whose team won a gold medal at the 1960 Olympics, had 5 children. Constantine, Prince William's godfather, and his family had lived in London for years, before returning to Greece. In his last public appearance in the center of Athens last year, the former king was seen in a wheelchair and with nasal catheters, accompanied by his sister, the former Queen of Spain Sofia, and other family members. Suffering from chronic heart and mobility problems, the former king's health condition had worsened and he had been hospitalized several times in recent months. (Reuters)

It is a custom that is related to the Great Blessing of the Waters. It is a celebration marking the end of the traditional ban on sailing - as the winter seas are cleansed of the mischief-prone “kallikantzaroi” - goblins that try to torment the Christians through the festive seasons. The day is a public holiday and in the morning children go from door to door and sing the Epiphany carols. People attend the church liturgy and the ritual of sanctification, which is carried out by the priest who blesses the water. Then a Christian cross is thrown into a body of water with people jumping into the freezing temperatures to retrieve it and have its blessing all year long. After the cross is brought back, the priest releases a white dove as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. The “Phota” tend to form a triangle of events along with Epiphany Eve on January 6th, which is a celebration that children sing the Epiphany Carols and the great fest of St. John the Baptist on January 7th – when all male and female 'John and Joanne' namesakes are celebrated.

The goal of the song is to shine an even brighter light on the plight of stray dogs: recognizing their rights, ensuring their well-being and eliminating their abuse. All of the above shows the level of our humanity and culture. By "entering" the position of a dog, we are described the feelings and thoughts of the stray, who appeals for support and help from people, the only ones who can provide a solution to his problems. Watch the wonderful video clip starring the creator of the song Vassilis Kolovos with our 4-legged friends and sensitively directed by Giorgos Louridas. https://youtu.be/abVNtFETXp8 Music - Lyrics - Interpretation: Vassilis Kolovos Orchestration – Mastering: Nikos Kalambalikis Cinematography – Editing: Louridas Giorgos We thank: Konstantinos Samson, Panagiotis Kostopoulos