Ο Επίτροπος Εμπορίου της ΕΕ Μάρος Σέφτσοβιτς ανέφερε ότι οι συνομιλίες με τις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες για το ζήτημα των δασμών διήρκεσαν χθες το βράδυ σχεδόν έξι ώρες. Όπως σημείωσε, υπήρξε πρόοδος στις συζητήσεις, ωστόσο δεν έχει ακόμη επιτευχθεί τελική συμφωνία. Ανταπόκριση – Βρυξέλλες: Έλενα Αποστολίδου «Χθες το βράδυ, περάσαμε σχεδόν έξι ώρες σε έναν σημαντικό τριμερή διάλογο σχετικά με τον κανονισμό δασμών που εφαρμόζει την Κοινή Δήλωση ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ. Αυτή η σημαντική επένδυση χρόνου και προσπάθειας δείχνει ότι σημειώνουμε ουσιαστική πρόοδο και έχουμε ήδη επιτύχει πολλά, αν και, φυσικά, τίποτα δεν θεωρείται συμφωνημένο μέχρι να συμφωνηθούν όλα». Σε ανάρτησή του στο LinkedIn, ο ίδιος περιέγραψε και τους βασικούς άξονες της προσέγγισής του, δίνοντας έμφαση στην τήρηση των δεσμεύσεων και την προστασία των ευρωπαϊκών συμφερόντων. «Ο στόχος μου παραμένει τριπλός. Πρώτον, να αποδείξουμε ότι η ΕΕ τηρεί τις δεσμεύσεις της και κάνει πράξη όσα λέει. Δεύτερον, να εξασφαλίσουμε ένα αποτέλεσμα που να σέβεται πλήρως την Κοινή Δήλωση ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ. Τρίτον, να διαφυλάξουμε τα συμφέροντα των ευρωπαϊκών ενδιαφερόμενων μερών, μεταξύ άλλων εξοπλίζοντας την Επιτροπή με τα απαραίτητα εργαλεία ώστε να διασφαλίζεται ότι η Κοινή Δήλωση ΕΕ-ΗΠΑ θα εφαρμοστεί πιστά και από τις δύο πλευρές». www.ertnews.gr

Από την Υποδιεύθυνση Αντιμετώπισης Οργανωμένου Εγκλήματος Βορείου Ελλάδος, εξιχνιάστηκε υπόθεση απόπειρας ανθρωποκτονίας 28χρονου υπηκόου Τουρκίας, η οποία έλαβε χώρα πρώτες πρωινές ώρες της 27-04-2026, στη Νεάπολη Θεσσαλονίκης. Για την υπόθεση συνελήφθη από το Γραφείο Δίωξης Παράνομης Διακίνησης και Εμπορίας Αντικειμένων του Τμήματος Καταπολέμησης Διακίνησης και Εμπορίας Ανθρώπων και Αγαθών, δυνάμει σχετικού εντάλματος, 34χρονος υπήκοος Τουρκίας, ενώ έχουν ταυτοποιηθεί ακόμα δύο ομοεθνείς του, 24 και 25 ετών. Ως προς το χρονικό της υπόθεσης, πρώτες πρωινές ώρες της 27-04-2026, ο 28χρονος είχε δεχθεί πυροβολισμό από άγνωστους δράστες, με αποτέλεσμα τον τραυματισμό του στον δεξί μηρό και τη διακομιδή του σε εφημερεύον νοσοκομείο. Στο πλαίσιο της έρευνας που πραγματοποιήθηκε, με τη συνδρομή αστυνομικών της Υποδιεύθυνσης Εγκληματολογικών Ερευνών Βορείου Ελλάδος, συλλέχθηκαν, αξιολογήθηκαν και αναλύθηκαν στοιχεία και ευρήματα, από την περαιτέρω αξιοποίηση των οποίων, σε συνδυασμό με τα προανακριτικά δεδομένα και τις ειδικές ανακριτικές πράξεις που εφαρμόστηκαν, διακριβώθηκε η εμπλοκή στην υπόθεση των τριών υπηκόων Τουρκίας. Ειδικότερα, όπως προέκυψε, ο 24χρονος κατηγορούμενος φέρεται να πυροβόλησε στον δεξί μηρό τον παθόντα, ενώ οι δυο ομοεθνείς του, του επιτέθηκαν με γροθιές και κλωτσιές. Βραδινές ώρες της 05-05-2026 αστυνομικοί της Διεύθυνσης Άμεσης Δράσης Θεσσαλονίκης εντόπισαν και προσήγαγαν τον 34χρονο Τούρκο μαζί με έτερο 25χρονο ομοεθνή του, καθώς τα στοιχεία του πρώτου είχαν καταχωρηθεί στην εφαρμογή ειδικού μέτρου ελέγχου. Από την επακόλουθη έρευνα στην οικία των ανωτέρω, βρέθηκαν και κατασχέθηκαν αμάνικο μπουφάν του 34χρονου κατηγορούμενου, το οποίο προσομοίαζε με το αντίστοιχο που φορούσε την ημέρα του πυροβολισμού, καθώς και πτυσσόμενο μαχαίρι συνολικού μήκους 20 εκατοστών, με μήκος λάμας -9- εκατοστά. Ο 34χρονος συνελήφθη δυνάμει του εντάλματος σύλληψης που εκδόθηκε σε βάρος του για την υπόθεση της ανθρωποκτονίας και οδηγείται στην αρμόδια εισαγγελική Αρχή. Επιπλέον, λόγω της κατοχής του μαχαιριού, κατηγορείται και για παράβαση της νομοθεσίας περί όπλων, από κοινού με τον έτερο 25χρονο, για τον οποίο επιπρόσθετα κινείται διαδικασία διοικητικής απέλασης. Σημειώνεται ότι, ο 24χρονος και ο 35χρονος έχουν απασχολήσει στο παρελθόν για τα αδικήματα της αρπαγής, εκβίασης και παράβασης της νομοθεσίας περί αλλοδαπών και τους έχουν επιβληθεί περιοριστικοί όροι. www.ertnews.gr

An “explosive cocktail” of Sahara dust, mud rains and temperatures over 30 degrees Celsius is forecast to hit Greece in the following days, marking the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Mercury will climb to 30° C by the end of the week but also exceed into higher levels as of Monday, May […] The post “Explosive Cocktail” to hit Greece with Sahara Dust, mud showers and over 30°C appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.

A Turkish-owned cargo ship ran aground and sank just 180 meter off one of the northern shores of the island of Andros in the Aegean Sea early on Wednesday. All crew members – eight Turkish nationals and one Azerbaijani – were rescued.   The Greek Coast Guard launched a rescue operation after the cargo ship […] The post Cargo ship sinks off Andros island – Freighter blacklisted? appeared first on Keep Talking Greece.

At its core, the Balos is a couple’s dance and a vital social expression of flirtation and attraction. Public Domain The Balos (or Ballos) is far more than just a folk dance; it is a vibrant, lyrical piece of Greek cultural heritage, embodying the spirit and romantic tradition of the Aegean Islands. As one of the best-known island folk dances in Greece, the Balos serves as a playful ritual of courtship, during which rhythm, grace, and flirtation seamlessly intertwine. The very name of the dance hints at its ancient roots and subsequent influence. The word Balos is often traced back to the Greek verb (ballizo), meaning “to dance” or “to jump,” which was later borrowed and adapted into the Latin ballo and Italian ballo before making its way back into modern Greek. The dance is recognized as having ancient Greek elements blended with influences from the Mediterranean, demonstrating Greece’s long and diverse cultural evolution. The Balos dance is characterized by a generally joyous and lyrical melody, typically set to a brisk, lilting 2/4 time signature. This bright musical quality is distinctively characteristic of the Aegean island sound. Balos: The Greek dance of courtship At its core, the Balos is a couple’s dance and a vital social expression of flirtation and attraction. In traditional island societies where interactions between men and women were often restricted, the dance provided a structured yet passionate avenue for courtship. The choreography incorporates all the elements of a romantic pursuit: attraction, display of prowess, pursuit, and eventual surrender. The dance is almost exclusively performed by individual couples who move in spontaneous forms around the dance floor, often acting as if they are the only two people in the room even when many other couples are dancing simultaneously. Male dancers frequently perform spectacular, intricate steps and solo improvisations known as tsalimia. These skilled maneuvers—often involving stamps, small jumps, and swagger—are intended to display masculine skill and attract the woman. A signature, high-energy move involves the couple performing swift, continuous rotations known as voltes or furles. The couple spins back-to-back or side-by-side while maintaining a handhold, a demanding move that adds to the visual spectacle. Related: Hundreds of People from 20 Countries Dance Zeibekiko Under the Acropolis The Syrtos connection In many island festivities, the Balos is rarely performed in isolation. It often follows and emerges from another traditional dance: the Syrtos (a slower, circular, dragging dance). The event begins with dancers forming a circle for the Syrtos. As the music accelerates and transitions into the characteristic rhythm of the Balos, the dancers break off from the line to begin their individual, flirtatious couple dances. This sequence highlights the transition from communal unity to individual expression. While the spirit of the Balos remains consistent, its steps and energy levels vary significantly across the islands.

109 electric scooter accidents were recorded in Greece in 2025. Credit: AMNA There is growing concern in Greece over accidents involving electric scooters, following two recent incidents: the death of a 13-year-old boy in Ilia and the severe injury of a 40-year-old man in Heraklion. The Minister of Citizen Protection, Michalis Chrysochoidis, stated that electric scooters are “very dangerous” and announced upcoming legislative action. He has voiced strong reservations regarding their safety, particularly when operated by minors. “My personal view is that these should not be in circulation,” the Minister stated, highlighting the severe risks they pose on major thoroughfares. Figures on accidents involving electric scooters in Greece Athens traffic police, which recently carried out hundreds of inspections, found 127 violations for not wearing helmets, and eight violations for riding under the influence of alcohol. The Panhellenic Federation of Self-Employed Pediatricians sent a letter to the Ministry of Transport expressing serious concern about the rising number of injuries and deaths involving minors and electric scooters. According to the figures cited: 109 electric scooter accidents were recorded in Greece in 2025 two of them were fatal seventeen accidents were recorded in just the first two months of 2026 more than four hundred minors required hospitalization within one year because of such accidents The pediatricians also argue that the real scale of the problem is likely even greater, since many accidents are believed to go unreported. New legislation on electric scooters According to Chrysochoidis, new legislation is being drafted to ban minors from using e-scooters on public roads. Under the proposed regulations, their use will be restricted to pedestrian zones and public squares. “Minors cannot and should not be using scooters on the road—it is simply too risky,” Chrysochoidis emphasized. He also noted that the danger extends beyond children, observing adults traveling at high speeds on major boulevards, often without helmets. “It is a tragedy to lose children on our streets because of these scooters,” he added, leaving the door open for even stricter regulations or a total ban on their use in traffic. Laws in the EU Greece has been slow in imposing regulations compared to other EU countries. Across the majority of EU member states, you will find these standard restrictions: Speed limits: Most countries cap speed at 25 km/h (15.5 mph). However, some countries such as Germany, Denmark, and Sweden have stricter limits of 20 km/h (12.5 mph). Pavement ban: Riding on sidewalks is strictly prohibited in almost every major European city (France, Germany, Italy, etc.). You are generally required to use bike lanes or the road. Technical requirements: Scooters must almost always have front and rear lights, reflectors, a bell/horn, and two independent braking systems. Some nations have implemented much tougher requirements than others.

Athens has not received any official notification regarding a possible visit by Donald Trump and US officials, despite reports of positive interest

Millions of British voters headed to the polls for the local elections set to deliver a crushing blow to PM Keir Starmer and reshape the UK's political landscape

A British man is among three evacuees sent to the Netherlands after displaying symptoms while aboard the MV Hondius.

Ukraine is considering a law that would effectively ban foreigners from accessing surrogacy in the country.

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The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Felix Tshisekedi on Wednesday evoked a possible third term and a potential delay of a presidential vote due in two years because of turmoil in the volatile east. In power since 2019, the 62-year-old will reach the end of his second five-year term in 2028, the maximum allowed under the DRC's constitution. FRANCE 24's Emmet Livingstone reports from Kinshasa.

France's judiciary on Wednesday ordered the resumption of an almost two-decade investigation into accusations that the widow of Rwanda's former president Juvenal Habyarimana was involved in the 1994 genocide. Investigating magistrates last year dismissed the case into alleged complicity in genocide and crimes against humanity against Agathe Habyarimana over "insufficient evidence". But the judiciary overturned that decision and ordered that the investigation, which started in France in 2007, should continue.