Ακατάλληλο για ανθρώπινη κατανάλωση κρίθηκε προσωρινά το νερό στους οικισμούς Λεφόκαστρο, Κάλαμος και Τρίκερι, όπως αναφέρει ο δήμος Νοτίου Πηλίου, μετά τις τελευταίες χημικές αναλύσεις που έδειξαν υπέρβαση στην παραμετρική τιμή των ολικών τριαλογονομεθανίων (THM). Τα THM είναι χημικές ενώσεις που δημιουργούνται κατά τη διαδικασία χλωρίωσης του νερού, όταν το χλώριο αντιδρά με οργανικές ουσίες που υπάρχουν φυσικά στο υδάτινο δίκτυο. Πρόκειται για δείκτη που παρακολουθείται συστηματικά στις αναλύσεις ποιότητας νερού, καθώς η παρατεταμένη κατανάλωσή τους σε αυξημένες συγκεντρώσεις θεωρείται επιβαρυντική μακροχρόνια για τη δημόσια υγεία. Σύμφωνα με την ενημέρωση, μέχρι την ολοκλήρωση νέων ελέγχων και την έκδοση επικαιροποιημένων αποτελεσμάτων, το νερό στους συγκεκριμένους οικισμούς δεν θα πρέπει να χρησιμοποιείται για πόση και γενικότερα για ανθρώπινη κατανάλωση, για καθαρά προληπτικούς λόγους. Η Δημοτική Αρχή έκανε γνωστό ότι βρίσκεται ήδη σε συνεργασία με τους τοπικούς προέδρους και τους αρμόδιους αντιδημάρχους, προκειμένου να διασφαλιστεί η άμεση κάλυψη των αναγκών των κατοίκων, μέσω δωρεάν διανομής εμφιαλωμένου νερού. Οι αρμόδιες υπηρεσίες αναμένεται να προχωρήσουν σε νέες αναλύσεις, ενώ οι κάτοικοι καλούνται να τηρούν τις οδηγίες των αρχών μέχρι νεότερης επίσημης ενημέρωσης για την αποκατάσταση της καταλληλότητας του νερού. www.ertnews.gr

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Two Dutch nationals have been arrested after they were found to have stolen pieces of fossils from the Petrified Forest protected by NATURA 2000 Network on the island of Lesvos. The two were arrested while they were attempting to board a flight to Amsterdam from Levsos airport. The fossil fragments were detected by inspectors of the […] The post Dutch tourists arrested for stealing pieces from Lesvos Petrified Forest appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.

A norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in Atticon University hospital in western Athens has sounded alarm and concern, while it also exposed grave shortcomings in the safety measures of the hospital. Hospital workers report of dozens of cases among healthcare workers, patients and companions, while the facility management appears reassuring claiming there is no risk for the public […] The post Norovirus gastroenteritis outbreak in Athens Atticon University hospital appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.

The story of Baucis and Philemon – a pair of hospitable elders who were saved by Zeus and Hermes. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. The Greek word Philoxenia, literally translated as a “friend to a stranger,” is widely perceived to be synonymous to hospitality. For Greeks, however, it is much deeper than that. It is an unspoken cultural law that expresses generosity and courtesy to strangers. Greeks are enormously generous when inviting others to their home or being invited themselves. In villages, it is not uncommon for villagers to show up at the door of a resident foreigner (or even a temporary visitor renting a room) with a sack full of fresh tomatoes, or even a bottle of local olive oil. Philoxenia today can be as simple as a smile, helping a stranded motorist, buying a meal for a homeless person, or opening your home to friends and family. Zeus Xenios This cultural law has its origins in Ancient Greece. The Ancient Greek god Zeus is sometimes called Zeus Xenios, as he was also a protector of travelers. He thus embodied the religious obligation to be hospitable to travelers. The beautiful story written by the Roman poet Ovid in 8 A.D of Zeus and Hermes disguised as poor travelers, narrates the sacred relation between host and guest, embodying the ancient Greek tradition. The two ancient Greek Gods, the story goes, visited many villages in search of refuge for the night. A poor elderly couple, Baucis and Philemon, welcomed them as guests in their home and generously served them food and wine. After refilling her guests’ cups many times over, Baucis noticed that the wine jug was still full. Philemon then realized the visitors were actually gods, and she offered to kill their only goose to feed them. Touched by this gesture, Zeus rewarded their generosity by transforming the humble cottage into a beautiful stone temple. Zeus also granted the couple their ultimate wish, namely to be the guardians of the temple, to die at the same time, and stay together for eternity, as they were turned into trees guarding each side of the temple’s door. Trojan War According to legend, even an event as momentous as the Trojan War began because of a guest’s violation of xenia. The Trojan prince Paris was a guest of King Menelaus of Sparta when he abducted Menelaus’ wife, Helen. Both the Odyssey and the Iliad are filled with episodes in which xenia is either honored or ignored and the subsequent consequences are notable. For instance, when Odysseus sails to the island of the cyclops, the monster’s treatment of Odysseus and his sailors is a violation of the custom of xenia. The cyclops is punished for the transgression. Odysseus blinds his “host” and escapes. The cyclops episode depicts an abuse of xenia. Odysseus in Polyphemus Cave, The Odyssey. Credit: Wikipedia/Public domain. In another story, Odysseus’ wife, Penelope, is forced by custom to entertain an entire household of suitors. The guests not only make unreasonable, burdensome requests that were impolite for guests but they do so with the assumption the host himself is no longer alive. The conclusion of the poem involves Odysseus’s slaughter of the suitors. This violent ending can be seen as retribution for an egregious abuse of xenia, or conversely, a violation of its very precepts. Reasons for philoxenia There are many possible reasons why hospitality (philoxenia) was more prevalent in those times. Traveling in Homer’s time was much more extensive and lengthier than in modern times. Because of this, many more nights were spent away from home in many different locations. Also, there were no hotels or inns where travelers could pay and stay the night. Because of this, travelers had to rely on the hospitality of others for shelter, food, and protection. There was, however, some payment for this hospitality in the form of a gift exchange. Another possible reason for this hospitality was the fact that there were no nations that would allow travelers to enter their territory safely. Without such hospitality, strangers could be captured or even killed for entering a foreign land. Furthermore, Greek hospitality may have been vital because Greeks believed the gods wanted them to show hospitality to anyone who showed up at their homes. It was believed that turning away someone and not providing them this hospitality would result in some form of punishment from the gods. Finally, Greek hospitality could have been key in spreading one’s name and bringing fame if a high standard of hospitality was provided to strangers. It might have even been a portrayal of wealth.

File photo of migrants arriving on Lesvos. Credit: Cgia Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0 A fierce debate erupted in the Greek Parliament following the arrival of more than 600 undocumented migrants on the shores of Crete within a single 24-hour window. Addressing parliament, Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris issued a stern warning, stating that Greece is prepared to implement unprecedentedly harsh measures if this sudden influx of migrants, as was the case on Crete, becomes the new normal. “If there is an attempt to continue what happened yesterday (Thursday), we will take extremely tough measures that have already been discussed with the Prime Minister—measures far stricter than the temporary suspension of asylum applications implemented in the past,” Plevris underscored. “We will not allow a repeat of the 2015–2016 crisis when a million people crossed into the country. Greece has borders, and they will be guarded.” Closed detention and fast-track deportations for migrants in Greece The Ministry of Migration defended the establishment of new processing facilities in the Cretan regional units of Chania and Heraklion, emphasizing that they will operate strictly as closed detention centers to protect local communities. Under the framework of the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which officially goes into effect on June 12, Greece will divide arrivals into distinct tracks based on their probability of receiving protection: High Asylum Probability: Individuals with clear refugee profiles will be placed in open facilities and transferred to the mainland. Low Asylum Probability: Economic migrants will be placed in immediate closed detention. Plevris noted that over 50% of recent arrivals to Crete originate from Bangladesh and Egypt, countries not experiencing active warfare. The 12-Week Rule: The new EU pact mandates a strict 12-week window to process applications. If rejected, individuals face immediate deportation. While a temporary closed space has already been secured in Chania in cooperation with local authorities, the government is currently looking to secure a temporary screening facility in Malades, Heraklion, to manage the 40% of recent arrivals that landed in that specific prefecture. Political backlash: “Prison-camps” vs. effective screening The government’s plans faced sharp criticism from Communist Party (KKE) MP Manolis Syntychakis, who argued that the surge in arrivals is a direct consequence of escalating geopolitical conflicts and imperialist rivalries in which Greece is entangled, pointing specifically to the prominent role of the US-NATO naval base at Souda Bay on Crete. Syntychakis condemned the proposed facilities in Heraklion and Chania, labeling them “prison-camps” and “hotspots of misery.” He specifically highlighted the anger of residents in Malades, an area already burdened by urban and environmental issues, where the government plans to convert an Agricultural Cooperatives Union building into a facility without prior community consultation. “The reactionary and dead-end policies of the government and the EU do not stop the flow of displaced people; instead, they turn our seas into graveyards and our country into a warehouse of souls,” Syntychakis argued. He called on the government to cancel the closed camps, establish humane, open hospitality zones, and provide immediate healthcare, legal aid, and travel documents so migrants can reach their actual destinations in Europe. A clash of ideologies Minister Plevris dismissed the KKE’s arguments as hypocritical, highlighting the contradiction in demanding pristine living conditions while simultaneously opposing the establishment of local centers to keep migrants off the streets. “If we made the Malades facility an open camp with perfect conditions, would you prefer that?” Plevris countered. “Because if it is open, people will be free to roam the local community. We need to speak the truth here. To manage this safely, initial screening is non-negotiable.” Plevris concluded by noting that while cooperation with the Turkish Coast Guard has successfully reduced migrant flows in the Eastern Aegean by 70%, managing the southern route to Greece’s largest island of Crete from Eastern Libya remains highly complex due to the presence of a Libyan administration unrecognized by the European Union. Nevertheless, the minister reiterated that deterrence remains the cornerstone of Greek policy.

Ferries, buses and highways out of the Greek capital are running at capacity as residents head to the islands and mainland for the long weekend Whit Monday holiday.

The partnership, ‘Project Trident, is based at the west Attica port of Elefsina; the aim is to create a regional naval industrial hub that supports NATO operations, defense manufacturing and advanced maritime infrastructure

Romania will hold an emergency meeting following the incident, in which two people were injured.

French students are taking their exams in baking schools, while red alerts are issued in Italy.

Royal Mail says its service is improving and that it is on track to hit the regulator Ofcom's reduced targets

Tom Kerridge, Yotam Ottolenghi, Ravneet Gill and Simon Rogan told BBC Newsnight VAT should be slashed to 10% to ease mounting pressure on the hospitality industry.

The attacks come as nearly 19.5 million Sudanese face severe hunger amid the country’s deepening humanitarian crisis.

Quad kicks back to life in Asia Pacific, looking to develop ports in Fiji, in a counter to China's rise.

The European Union will unlock more than €16 billion in frozen funds for Hungary, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Friday, praising what she described as "long overdue reforms" by newly elected Prime Minister Peter Magyar. The EU had frozen the funds while the country was under the leadership of nationalist premier Viktor Orban, accusing Budapest of corruption and democratic backsliding. 

One of Pakistan’s greatest challenges is controlling its rapidly growing population. With more than 258 million inhabitants, the country is already the fifth most populous in the world. By 2030, its population could surpass 300 million, pushing Pakistan into fourth place globally, ahead of Indonesia. This rapid demographic growth is far outpacing the country’s capacity for socio-economic development and infrastructure expansion. In several key social sectors, Pakistan continues to lag behind neighbouring India and Bangladesh. Yet contraception remains largely taboo in a society shaped by strong traditional values, where it is sometimes viewed as religiously forbidden. A report by Shahzaib Wahlah and Ondine de Gaulle, in collaboration with Hameer M.