17 Σεπ 2021 The extradition cases that could expose Turkey and Venezuela's collusion to evade US sanctions A constitutional court in Cape Verde has issued a recent ruling that would pave the way for the extradition of Alex Saab, a Colombian-born businessman indicted in 2019 for facilitating sanctions evasion and bribery schemes by the Maduro regime in Venezuela. His extradition from Cape Verde, combined with ongoing US efforts to extradite a Turkish money laundering suspect from Austria, could help... 18 λεπτά
16 Σεπ 2021 Greece reacts as energy prices skyrocket across Europe Energy prices in Europe have skyrocketed as economies emerge from the pandemic, boosting demand just as supplies are falling short. Even with mild weather in September, gas and electricity prices were breaking records day after day across the continent, with no relief in sight. A number of countries, including Greece, have already announced measures to ease the pressure on consumers as... 14 λεπτά
15 Σεπ 2021 Is it time for the US to leave Incirlik airbase in Turkey? Is it time for the US to leave Incirlik airbase in Turkey? That’s the focus of a recent op-ed by Michael Rubin, who argues that rather than remaining a strategic asset, Incirlik is now a strategic liability. Michael Rubin joins our host Thanos Davelis on The Greek Current to discuss his op-ed - “The one foreign base Biden should abandon” - and explains why it’s time for the US to end its... 15 λεπτά
14 Σεπ 2021 Christos Stylianides: Greece's new climate crisis minister Greece has created its first-ever ministerial post to exclusively handle the fallout from climate change in the wake of this summer’s devastating wildfires — and it has brought in a former EU crisis management expert for the role. Christos Stylianides, a Cypriot national who previously served as the EU commissioner for humanitarian aid and crisis management, was sworn in as minister on Friday... 13 λεπτά
11 Σεπ 2021 Lebanon announces a new government, ending political deadlock On Friday Lebanon’s President and Prime minister announced a new cabinet after thirteen months of political deadlock and a spiraling economic downturn. Lebanon has been without a fully empowered government since the catastrophic August 4, 2020 explosion that rocked the port of Beirut and forced the resignation of then Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s government. In the meantime, an economic... 15 λεπτά
10 Σεπ 2021 Greece's Vaccine Diplomacy: From the Western Balkans to Africa This week when Greece’s Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias travelled to Tunisia, he wasn’t just traveling with a diplomatic team. He was also bringing 100,000 Covid-19 vaccines with him. This follows a delivery to Rwanda last week of 200,000 vaccines. These are the latest steps Greece is taking to combat the global pandemic that has seen it deliver vaccines to Libya, Albania, North Macedonia,... 16 λεπτά
9 Σεπ 2021 Renewable energy, the European Green Deal, and the Eastern Mediterranean In December, 2019, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen presented the European Green Deal, the EU’s ambitious plan to lead the world on climate action and make Europe carbon neutral by 2050. The record heat waves and destructive wildfires that hit Greece and other countries in the Mediterranean have only highlighted the need for action among experts and policymakers. Constantine... 21 λεπτά
8 Σεπ 2021 The life and legacy of Mikis Theodorakis Hundreds of people gathered on Monday at Athens Cathedral to pay their final respects to Greek composer and politician Mikis Theodorakis, who was an integral part of the Greek political and musical scene for decades. Theodorakis passed away last week on Thursday at the age of 96. After his death was announced, Greece declared three days of national mourning, while tributes poured in from... 24 λεπτά
4 Σεπ 2021 Are tensions easing between regional rivals Turkey and the UAE? Turkish President Erdogan and the de-facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nayhan, spoke on the phone earlier this week in the latest sign of a possible thaw between the regional rivals. Turkey and the UAE have been at odds over Ankara’s support for the Muslim Brotherhood and on opposing sides on a number of issues - from the conflict in... 16 λεπτά
3 Σεπ 2021 What developments in Afghanistan could mean for Greece, and FM Dendias recent trip to North Macedonia Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini’s diplomatic and defense editor, joins us on The Greek Current today to look at his latest op-ed in Kathimerini, where he highlights what Greece needs to be paying attention to when we look at the ripple effects in the region to the US and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan and the Taliban’s takeover of the country. We also look into Vassilis Nedos’s latest coverage of... 14 λεπτά
2 Σεπ 2021 With the world's attention on Afghanistan, Turkey carries out lethal airstrikes in Iraq With the world and the US focused on Afghanistan, Turkey carried out airstrikes that hit genocide survivors in Iraq and members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in mid August. One of the airstrikes hit a medical clinic in Sinjar, killing eight people, while another airstrike saw a Turkish drone kill Yazidi leader Hassan Saeed on the day he was scheduled to meet with the Iraqi prime... 16 λεπτά
1 Σεπ 2021 The significance of US Senator Menendez's visit to Greece and Cyprus US Senator Bob Menendez, the Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was in Greece and Cyprus last week and this week, where he held a number of key meetings with leading officials, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades. His trip highlighted the increasing strategic value of Greece and Cyprus for US policy in the Eastern... 13 λεπτά
31 Αυγ 2021 Turkey turns to the Taliban to reach a deal on operating Kabul airport Earlier this year Turkey’s President Erdogan had hoped to build leverage over the US, the EU, and NATO by reaching a deal with Washington, DC to take over and secure Kabul’s international airport after the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. That deal is all but dead after the Taliban took over Kabul. Turkey is continuing its dialogue with all the sides in Afghanistan, however, including the... 17 λεπτά
26 Αυγ 2021 A mini-Schengen area in the Western Balkans? Examining the "Open Balkans" initiative At the end of July, the leaders of Serbia, North Macedonia, and Albania met in Skopje, where they agreed to bolster regional economic integration, vowing to abolish border controls between their countries by January 2023. They named their initiative “Open Balkans” or “Mini-Schengen” – after the European Union’s free travel zone. The announcement comes as leaders in the Western Balkans are... 13 λεπτά
25 Αυγ 2021 The climate crisis and its impact on the Mediterranean Sea This summer has highlighted a number of challenges the world is likely to face as a result of climate change - from the deadly floods in Germany and northern Europe, to heatwaves and wildfires that ravaged Greece, Turkey, and Mediterranean countries. Another area that is increasingly under pressure is the sea. This year, we witnessed a thick, slimy layer of so-called “sea snot” cover Turkey’s... 14 λεπτά
24 Αυγ 2021 Greece announces new restrictions as it sets record for new Covid-19 cases On Tuesday Greece’s Health Minister Vassilis Kikilias unveiled a series of new public health safety measures that foresee tough restrictions on individuals that have not been vaccinated against Covid-19. The measures come as Greece continues to see a steady increase in confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths, as well as hospitalizations and intubations, over the past several weeks. Data shows... 13 λεπτά
23 Αυγ 2021 Athens pledges to restore everything destroyed by wildfires and implement reforms as Greeks count the cost of the fires Since the beginning of August, Greece has battled devastating wildfires on the island of Evia, in the Peloponnese, and in Attica. The biggest disaster, however, took place in northern Evia, Greece's second-largest island. Over a million square meters of land has burned, destroying forests, homes and business, and killing thousands of animals in what Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis called... 12 λεπτά
13 Αυγ 2021 The New Phase of Covid HALC's Stathis Theodoropoulos discusses the Delta variant and the way out of the pandemic with HALC Board Member Dr. George Chiampas, assistant professor and attending physician in the department of emergency medicine at Northwestern University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is also the chief medical officer for US Soccer and serves as the Medical Director for the Bank of... 11 λεπτά
12 Αυγ 2021 Wildfires, Coronavirus, and Conspiracy Theories, Oh My HALC's Stathis Theodoropoulos interviews Kathimerini's Vassilis Nedos about his latest column, which focuses on the strain of denialism behind climate change and the pandemic. 14 λεπτά
11 Αυγ 2021 Turkey's killer drone program HALC's Stathis Theodoropoulos discusses Turkey's controversial drone program with HALC Executive Director Endy Zemenides. 16 λεπτά