XpatAthens

Tuesday, 17 December 2019 00:41

The Greek Parliament Approves Diaspora Voting Rights

The Greek Parliament has approved the bill to allow diaspora Greeks to exercise their voting rights from their place of residence. The bill was passed with a majority of 288 members of Parliament voting in favor, restoring a historic commitment that had been on hold for 44 years.

The Greek Prime Minister pointed out, that “44 years had to pass for the article of the 1975 Constitution regarding the vote of diaspora Greeks to be voted, and I am proud of the new ND government and the great inter-party consensus”.

The 4 key points that made this broad consensus possible are the following:

The vote of diaspora Greeks shall be equal to that of residents of Greece.
Diaspora voters will vote for the State Ballot, which will increase its seats from 12 to 15 candidates.
Personal presence is required for casting a vote.
Greeks who have resided in Greece for at least 2 years and have and have tax obligations will be eligible vote.

To read this article in full, please visit: ERT International

Published in Greece In The News

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Monday, 30 December 2019 17:48

Tom Hanks Receives Honorary Greek Citizenship

Tom Hanks has been awarded Greek citizenship as Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos signed an honorary naturalization order allowing the actor to claim citizenship, his office told The Associated Press on Friday.

Tom Hanks and his wife, actress and producer Rita Wilson, often spend their summer vacations in the house they own on the Greek island of Antiparos. The couple have also produced several films in Greece; In 2002 they produced the hit "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and its sequel that was released in 2016. Hanks was also the executive producer of the 2008 musical "Mamma Mia!" and the 2009 comedy "My Life in Ruins."

In Greece, honorary naturalization is granted to people “who have provided exceptional services to the country or whose naturalization serves the public interest.”

To read this article in full, please visit: nbcnews.com

Published in Greece In The News

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Monday, 06 January 2020 11:50

Harvard’s Greek-Themed Online Course Attracts More Than 40,000 Participants

Through EDX, an innovative online learning platform, Harvard University will be offering a free online course called "The Ancient Greek Hero." To date, more than 40,000 candidates have registered for the class that starts on January 9th, 2020.

Here is a brief description of the course:

'Explore what it means to be human today by studying what it meant to be a hero in ancient Greek times.

In this introduction to ancient Greek culture and literature, learners will experience, in English translation, some of the most beautiful works of ancient Greek literature and song-making spanning over a thousand years from the 8th century BCE through the 3rd century CE: the Homeric Iliad and Odyssey; tragedies of Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides; songs of Sappho and Pindar; dialogues of Plato, and On Heroes by Philostratus. All of the resources are free and designed to be equally accessible and transformative for a wide audience.

You will gain access to a supportive learning community led by Professor Gregory Nagy and his Board of Readers, who model techniques for "reading out" of ancient texts. This approach allows readers with little or even no experience in the subject matter to begin seeing this literature as an exquisite, perfected system of communication.

No previous knowledge of Greek history, literature, or language is required. This is a project for students of any age, culture, and geographic location, and its profoundly humanistic message can be easily received without previous acquaintance with Western Classical literature.'

To register for "The Ancient Greek Hero" class, please visit: Edx.org

Published in Greece In The News

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Thursday, 09 January 2020 23:17

Two All-Inclusive Resorts In Greece Named The Best In The World

All-inclusive vacations are considered an utterly stress-free getaway with access to a variety of cool amenities such as meals, snacks, drinks, and activities for one flat price.

To help travelers pick the best all-inclusive resort, through their Travelers' Choice Awards 2019, TripAdvisor has named the best all-inclusive resorts in the world. There is a total of 25 exquisite resorts listed; however, the good news for Greek tourism and hospitality is that the 2 best resorts on the list are located in Greece.

Ikos Olivia

Ranked 2nd on the list, Ikos Olivia is one of the most exquisite 5-star retreats in Greece. Situated in Gerakini, Chalkidiki on a private beach that overlooks Toroneos Bay, Ikos Olivia compises 142 bedrooms and 149 bungalow suites. Here you will find all the amanietis you need to kick back and relax!

Ikos Oceania

TripAdvisor's top all-inclusive resort is Ikos Oceania in Nea Moudania, Chalkidiki. Just one look is enough to understand why this resort was voted the best in the world. The vibrant blue of the Aegean that spreads at the foot of the property, the lush gardens, exquiste decor, 4 à la carte restaurants serving mouthwatering food and 6 bars is all visitors could want from a Greek luxury holiday!

To discover the full list of top all-inlclusive resorts in the world, please visit: Tripadvisor.com

Published in Greece In The News

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Monday, 20 January 2020 12:10

Vote For Athens | Best European Destination - Until February 5th

Athens is a monumental, free-spirited, and eternally exciting city; even though the Greek capital is ancient, it somehow never gets old!

Athens has been nominated as a 2020 Best European Destination by the influential annual poll "European Best Destinations." This is how the European Best Destinations describes Athens:

"Athens lives up to all the hype! Birthplace of philosophy, democracy and drama, the city of Athens is not only an open-air museum of world-class cultural heritage attractions but also a contemporary metropolis with an urban personality."

We can't think of a better way to celebrate the greatness of Athens than to bring it up to the–much deserved–first place, and declare our beloved city the Best European Destination for 2020! We invite travelers, locals, and ex-pats to vote for Athens as their favorite destination for a holiday or city break. Competing alongside Athens are9 other European cities, including Madrid, Berlin, and Rome.

Click here to cast your vote for Athens by February 5th!
Be sure to share this with others who love Athens too.

About European Best Destinations

European Best Destinations is a travel website developed to promote culture and tourism in Europe. In partnership with the participating tourism offices and the EDEN Network, European Best Destinations promotes a better understanding of the wealth, diversity, and quality of European destinations. Speaking to an audience of e-citizens, European Best Destinations plays a significant role in promoting Europe as the number one destination in the world. It has become the meeting place for tourism offices and world travelers, a gateway to the discovery of Europe.

Published in Greece In The News

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Thursday, 23 January 2020 13:58

Greek Mountaineer Conquers The ‘7 Summits'

Christina Flampouri is the first Greek woman to reach the top of the ‘7 summits’. Facing low temperatures and strong winds, she accomplished one of her biggest goals on January 6 by climbing Mount Vinson, the highest peak in Antarctica, an altitude of 4,892 meters.

After conquering the peak, she enthusiastically stated: “Seven Summits was much more than a mountaineering project for me, it was a dream come true, and this confirms my belief that nothing is impossible. Five years ago, I was scared to step on the edge of a slope, and today I have managed to reach the highest peaks in the 7 continents.”

The ‘7 Summits’ is the quest of climbing the highest peak in each of the seven continents; to date, approximately 400 people in total have undertaken the challenge.

Last May, Flampouri became the first Greek woman to climb the highest peak in the world, Mt Everest, at an altitude of 8,848 meters.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek City Times

Published in Greece In The News

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Tuesday, 28 January 2020 12:00

Greek Parliament Elects First Female President

High court judge and human rights advocate, Katerina Sakellaropoulou has been elected Greece's first female president. Sakellaropoulou was nominated by the ruling conservative party but received backing from the opposition parties.

Breaking through the gender barrier is not a new thing for the president-elect; Katerina Sakellaropoulou was the first woman to serve as the president of the Council of State, Greece's highest administrative court.

In the parliamentary vote last Wednesday, the 63-year-old received the support of 261 out of 300 MPs, way above the 200 required by the constitution.

The president holds a mostly ceremonial position in Greece and serves a five-year term. Sakellaropoulou succeeds President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and is expected to take office on March 14, 2020.

To read this article in full, please visit: cnn.com

Published in Greece In The News

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Thursday, 06 February 2020 07:00

From Canada to Ancient Greece: Traveling with Technology

The Museum of Vancouver in Canada worked with Simon Fraser University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation Centre for Hellenic Studies to create an exhibit called Beyond Worlds: Greek Civilization XR Experience. This exhibit used both augmented and virtual reality technologies that enable visitors to virtually immerse themselves in Greek mythological and historical sites.

The exhibit was in its nascent stages and was only for elementary students until January 2020 while the researchers calibrated the technology being used. Even in its pilot run, though, the program offered visitors a unique opportunity to put on a pair of 3D goggles and be transported to a digital reconstruction of the Tholos of Delphi. Within this virtual site, museum-goers could explore the landmark and even leave an offering for the Delphic Oracle.

The museum also offers other virtual experiences for their visitors. For example, using a common tablet attached to a round shield, a still image of battleships could be projected onto the wall. Then, via the tablet’s screen, visitors were given access to a Greek warship’s deck after the Battle of Salamis, which took place in the 5th century BCE. From the ship’s virtual deck, viewers could see orange clouds emanating from the fires that destroyed enemy ships.

At a less dramatic installation, a tablet could also be used to virtually open a door painted on one of the museum’s walls. The door led to an ancient Greek villa’s yard, where actors in costumes of clothes from ancient times sat in conversation under the sun.

Visitors were also invited to wear 3D goggles and enter the mythological Greek underworld. In this world, people were transported throughout the underworld to perform simple tasks.

Although the exhibit is still considered to be a pilot project, it points to a new type of digital tourism and immersive learning. Museum-goers will not only be able to cross geographical boundaries in a matter of seconds, but they’ll also have the chance to go back in time and participate in mythological and historical events that they could only learn about, or watch from afar in movies and documentaries.

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Reporter

Published in Greece In The News

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Monday, 03 February 2020 07:00

Greek Literature Appeals To China Book Market

China is the second-largest book market in the world, with an impressive turnover of about 10 billion euros a year.

Regarding Greek literature, translations of ancient Greek works are very popular in China coming in the first place, Nikos Kazantzakis is the most translated contemporary Greek writer. At the same time, Seferis, Cavafy, and Elytis are among the most translated Greek poets.

Author and historian, Emilios Solomos researched to investigate the image and ranking of Greek literature abroad and spoke to Hellenists and translators who bridge Greek literature with faraway languages and cultures.

Solomos spoke with Jingjing Hu, translator, and Head of the Department of Modern Greek Studies at the Shanghai International University, regarding Greek literature in China. "I adore Greece and I want to introduce it to my compatriots," she explains.

According to Hu, modern Greek literature is still relatively unknown but appealing to Chinese readers because of their genaralized admiration of the ancient Greek world. She suggests that boosting publishing exchange between Greece and China will eventually make it easier for Greek writers to communicate directly with Chinese publishers.

To read this article in full, please visit: Tornos News

Published in Greece In The News

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Friday, 07 February 2020 07:00

Athens Voted The 2nd Best European Destination

Athens has been declared the 2nd Best European Destination for 2020 by travelers in the European Best Destinations (EBD) online competition. European Best Destinations (EBD) is a Brussels-based organization that promotes culture and tourism in Europe.

According to EBD, the 11th edition of the competition attracted more than 600,000 votes from 179 countries–breaking all previous records.

The town of Colmar in France came first and was proclaimed Best European Destination for 2020 with a record-breaking 179,723 votes!

Athens was voted by a total of 104,639 voters and ranked 2nd on the list, 10 places up from 12th place last year!

To read this article in full, please visit: Greek Travel Pages

Published in Greece In The News

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