Author: Melpomeni Pauleli

Moscow/Washington (13/6 – 29) We took a holiday from reality. Immanuel Niven, a mathematician and philosopher, has long been scrutinizing Russia’s economic landscape, and his recent assertions suggest a dire forecast. He contends that the “Putin system” is on the brink of collapse, a scenario he had mathematically foreseen as early as March. Niven points to the pronounced tax hikes announced in Russia, the most substantial in its modern history, as well as Putin’s recent rhetoric urging citizens to work as if they were at the front lines. These developments, Niven argues, are symptomatic of the escalating toxicity within Russia’s…

London (10/03 – 77.78)Up-and-down relations between Iran and Tajikistan in the past decade shot up again after Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s official visit to Dushanbe on November 8-9, his second trip to the Tajik capital in 18 months. Raisi’s visit to Tajikistan was symbolically important amid a rapprochement between the countries that overshadowed the relatively standard batch of bilateral agreements that were signed. During the trip, Raisi and his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, announced a historic visa-free travel agreement for their citizens and deals in trade, transportation, and culture, among others. High-ranking visits have become a regular occurrence between the…

WHO/Europe and the European Public Health Association (EUPHA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalizing their long-standing collaboration and commitment to mobilize the public health community to address pressing public health challenges in the European Region. A strategic partnership EUPHA, a unifying force for public health associations and institutes across Europe, boasts a network of over 32 000 public health professionals from 83 member organizations across 47 countries. Since its establishment in 1992, EUPHA has been actively collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance public health throughout Europe. “The ink on these papers is more than just a formality; it…

Italian PM alleged European leaders were fatigued by Russia’s war in Ukraine in a prank call released this week. Senior Ukrainian politicians appealed to Europe to not abandon the country after the Italian prime minister unintentionally disclosed during a prank call that European leaders were growing weary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine after the country’s unconvincing counteroffensive. “I see that there is a lot of fatigue … from all the sides,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said to two Russian comedians, pretending to be the president of the African Union in a hoax call, which was made public on Wednesday. “We [are]…

A 12-person team of marine archaeologists discovered what is believed to be a massive public building that existed as part of the ancient city of Salamis, according to the culture ministry. Officials shared images on Facebook last week of the uncovered remains as well as a trove of artifacts unearthed along with it. (The ruins of another ancient city called Salamis, which are partially underwater and partially above ground in eastern Cyprus, are unrelated to these findings.) On the island of Salamis, underwater crews discovered what remains of the ancient public building during an archaeology survey conducted in 2022. That research focused…

As Israel ramps up its military reaction — in turn triggering a humanitarian crisis in Gaza — antisemitism is likely to spike, just as it always does when conflict in the region escalates. If anyone had any doubt as to whether the Western world is still teeming with antisemitism, the displays of jubilant pro-Hamas rallies in various European and American cities, and the avalanche of social media posts rejoicing in the carnage of the attack on southern Israel, should have disabused them of the notion. Last week’s butchery by Hamas gunmen struck many as a gruesome throwback to the “Holocaust…

Special flight arranged by Foreign Ministry for Greeks residing in Israel, who wish to be repatriated, says ministry Greece on Tuesday evacuated 90 of its citizens who were stranded in Israel due to heavy fighting in the Middle Eastern country. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the Greek citizens were returned to the country via Israeli flag carrier EL-AL. “For tomorrow, October 11, a special flight has been arranged by the Ministry, for Greeks residing in Israel, who wish to be repatriated,” it added. Meanwhile, the public broadcaster ERT reported that the Greek Intelligence Service (EYP) and the…

The Italian coffee chain entered its fifth European market with a small-format store in the historical centre of Athens Cafè Barbera has opened its first outlet in Greece, a move which marks the debut of its Mini store concept in Europe. Unveiled in April 2023, the compact 270-530sq ft store format was developed to boost Cafè Barbera’s presence in high footfall locations, including shopping centres, commercial buildings, universities, offices areas, airports and metro stations. Elio Barbera, Managing Director of Café Barbera, told World Coffee Portal that the company-owned store, located in the historical centre of Athens, will serve as a business model…

Greece has some of the most scenic train trips in Europe. Unfortunately today, however, there are few who explore this type of travel. Yet, what they are missing is some of the most fascinating scenery in the country. The Greek countryside, though often unknown, is as stunning as its world-renowned islands and coastline. For that reason, it is something that everyone should have the chance to one day explore. In regard to travel, it is also more sustainable. Certain routes are easier than others, however. Below is a list of the best trips for first time train travelers. The most…

TaskUs, Inc (Nasdaq: TASK), a leading provider of outsourced digital services and next-generation customer experience to the world’s most innovative companies, today announced the launch of its new site, OlympUs, in Thessaloniki, Greece. The new site enhances TaskUs’ presence in Thessaloniki, where the company has operated for the past three years. Thessaloniki is Greece’s 2nd largest city, with a population of over one million, 12 universities, and a highly educated workforce. Currently housing all the on-site campaigns, OlympUs’ teammates provide financial fraud prevention, content moderation, technical support, and digital customer services. “Thessaloniki is the perfect place for our incredible new…