Europe | Greece | Activism

Teens make baby sling pouches for refugees

A small multicultural group of teenagers from Germany, France, Italy and Greece, living in Thessaloniki, a Greek port city on the Aegean Sea, decided to think out of the box and take a rather unique initiative. Francesca from Italy, a volunteer with the United Society Balkans, along with the Refugee Solidarity Movement of Thessaloniki group traveled to the neutral zone between Greece and Macedonia to assess the needs of the refugees. They saw hundreds of mothers and fathers trying to carry their babies and toddlers during their long and exhausting journeys across the borders of Europe.

Europe | Greece | Society

Why young Greek women leave and why they come back

Source: Pangea Today

ICAP, a leading business consultancy group in Southeast Europe conducted a survey in order to determine why young Greek women decide to leave the country and what it would take for them to return. The phenomenon has been quite pronounced in the last five years, depriving the country of talented and well-trained female personnel, resulting in the so called “brain drain.” The main factors that would contribute to their return, according to the findings of the survey, are the climate and the Greek lifestyle (46 percent), the likelihood of a rewarding remuneration at work (41 percent), t

Europe | Greece | Leadership

Greece’s first female PM is top judge Vassiliki Thanou

Source: Euronews

Vassiliki Thanou is the country’s top Supreme Court judge and will lead the country to elections expected on September 20. Her new government will be sworn in on Friday (August 28). The 65-year-old is has been described as an anti-austerity advocate. She made a name for herself as a judge who openly battled against wage cuts imposed on the Greek judiciary to please European and IMF lenders. Meanwhile, Thursday (August 27)was Alexis Tspiras last day in the office. He resigned as prime minister last week over a bailout rebellion. Despite a U-turn to accept further austerity cuts as p

Europe | Greece | Corruption

Mother of Greek ex-minister withdrew $178,000 before capital controls

Source: Pangea Today

The 85-year-old mother of Nadia Valavani, former Greek deputy finance minister from the ruling Syriza party, admitted that she withdrew 200,000 euros ($178,000) from her bank account in Crete on the eve of the imposition of capital controls in the country. “The money was my life savings, I was scared and I took it home,” she said in an interview. After the revelation, many raised political and moral issues after connecting the the two events, accusing the former deputy of fraud.

Europe | Greece | Politics

Syriza Leader Calls for Pan-European Anti-Austerity Movement

Source: TelesurTV

Marina Prentoulis spoke with teleSUR and said support for the Syriza-led government is more important than ever. Marina Prentoulis, spokesperson for Syriza in the U.K., told teleSUR in an exclusive interview Thursday that what is needed is a “pan-European movement” capable of confronting the power of European capital and the neoliberal agenda of European leaders. The Greek parliament voted Thursday in favor of reform measures required by a deal reached between the government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Greece's creditors. Prentoulis argued the Greek government was under extraor

Europe | Greece | Culture

Muslim woman tries to close Thrace’s sharia inheritance law loophole

Source: theguardian

A legal consequence of historical wrangling between Greece and Turkey is finally set to be challenged at the European court of human rights Well out of sight, in her pleasant flat in Komotini, Thrace, in north-eastern Greece, Chatitze Molla Sali is speaking quietly. At times she is barely audible. It’s the voice of a tired 65-year-old, who for many years “lowered her gaze and accepted everything”, as she puts it. But she livens up at any mention of her new determination. She is the first woman from Greece’s Muslim minority to have taken a case to the European court of huma

Europe | Greece | Business

Greek Australian women top entrepreneurs list

Source: Neos Kosmos

Five Greek Australian women have been recognised in Startup Daily's annual list of the Top 50 Women Entrepreneurs in Australia under the age of 40. Released just in time for International Women's Day, Greek Australian Jess Hatzis took out the top spot as one of the co-founders of Frank Body. The unique skin care range made from coffee not only has a revenue of over $20 million, but has been recognised for its impressive use of social media. Also selected was 30-year-old businesswoman Dimitra Markogiannaki, ranking at number 29. Born and raised in Athens, the entrepreneur ventured o