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Greece has introduced a new law designed to tackle art forgery and prevent damage to works of art and collectibles.Like many countries, Greece previously relied on its broader anti-forgery laws to tackle art-specific issues. However the new bill (No. 5271/2026), introduced in January, targets the issue directly, aiming to combat the “manufacture and circulation” of fakes.The law proposes the set-up of an independent Department of Works of Art within the culture ministry and the creation of a registry of expert art appraisers. Measures to prevent damage to art are also built in, as well as specific provisions included to protect “cinemas of historical importance”.The new legislation offers a clearer outline of sentences for crimes against cultural property, including imprisonment of at leas...

In a video posted on TikTok, Mitsotakis said he decided to speak directly to young users because the issue has become increasingly serious. The prime minister said conversations with parents and teenagers revealed common concerns about the impact of social media on daily life. “In recent years I have spoken with many parents and they all tell me roughly the same thing. Their child does not sleep well, gets stressed easily and is constantly on their phone. But I also speak with many of you. Many children tell me they get tired from comparisons, from comments, from the pressure to always be there,” he said. The regulation will be introduced during the summer of 2026 and will take effect on Jan. 1, 2027, if it is approved by the parliament in the coming months. The prime minister acknowl...

A new study shows the appropriate energy storage capacity in Greece for 2030 is 37.5 GWh.The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, together with Grant Thornton, conducted a study on behalf of the Independent Transmission Operator (IPTO or ADMIE). Professor Pantelis Biskas said this week during the Power & Gas Forum in Athens that one of the most important goals was to determine the optimal storage capacity, while keeping in mind system costs.The first battery storage facilities are making their entrance into the Greek energy market. The country’s goal is to install upwards of 4.3 GW by the end of this decade, although the sector expects something closer to 4 GW. At the same time, 15 GW to 16 GW of photovoltaics is expected to operate.Natural gas to become commercially unsustainableBisk...

A new study shows the appropriate energy storage capacity in Greece for 2030 is 37.5 GWh.The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, together with Grant Thornton, conducted a study on behalf of the Independent Transmission Operator (IPTO or ADMIE). Professor Pantelis Biskas said this week during the Power & Gas Forum in Athens that one of the most important goals was to determine the optimal storage capacity, while keeping in mind system costs.The first battery storage facilities are making their entrance into the Greek energy market. The country’s goal is to install upwards of 4.3 GW by the end of this decade, although the sector expects something closer to 4 GW. At the same time, 15 GW to 16 GW of photovoltaics is expected to operate.Natural gas to become commercially unsustainableBisk...

The Greek prime minister called for a common European "Digital Age of Majority," with frequent age verification by platforms that promote endless scrolling.ATHENS (AFP) — Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from January 1, 2027, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Wednesday, the latest country to do so as concern grows over the platforms’ impact.“We have decided to go ahead with a difficult but necessary measure: ban access to social media for children under 15 years old,” he said in a video posted on TikTok.“Greece is among the first countries in the world to adopt such a measure,” the prime minister said, adding that he would put pressure on the European Union to follow suit.Mitsotakis said he used social media to make the announcement so he could address tee...

Greece has ordered the Elbit Systems PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) modular, truck‑mounted, multiple‑launch artillery rocket system under a €650 million (US$750 million) contract signed on 6 April. The contract will be fulfilled over the next four years and will include an additional 10-year period of follow-on support. According to a statement from Elbit Systems, the contract is for launchers and a munition package which includes training rockets, operational precision-guided rockets for various ranges and loitering munitions. The number of systems ordered was not disclosed but the Netherlands ordered 20 PULS in May 2023 for approximately US$305 million to Source link

Greece is restricting access to social media for its youngest citizens. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced that children under 15 will lose access to social media platforms starting January next year, making Greece the newest European nation to draw a hard line between kids and algorithm-driven feeds. Browsing social media – artistic impression. Image credit: Detailvideo via Unsplash, free license Key Takeaways: Greece will enforce a social media ban for under-15s from January next year, citing rising anxiety, sleep disorders, and addictive platform design among young users. Prime Minister Mitsotakis is pushing for a unified EU response, including mandatory age verification and a pan-European ban for children under 15. Social media companies maintain that blanket ...

Greece will ban access to social media for children under 15 from January 1, 2027, with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announcing that formal legislation will be introduced in mid-2026, Reuters reported. This decision makes Greece one of the first European countries to impose this restriction, highlighting increasing concern about social media’s impact on minors. The move is based on concerns about rising anxiety, sleep disruption, and the addictive design of platforms among young users. Greek authorities state that extended screen time and online social pressures negatively affect children’s well-being. The government has already taken steps by banning mobile phones in schools and implementing parental control tools to limit screen time. Enforcement challenges and push for...

Apr 09, 2026 14:30:00 Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced that a law will be implemented on January 1, 2027, that will ban access to social media for those under 15, mandate the implementation of reliable age verification mechanisms for platforms, and require the re-verification of existing accounts. Prime Minister Mitsotakis has long advocated for the need to protect minors from internet addiction and has taken a leading role in EU-wide efforts, with the Greek government calling for the introduction of a unified system within the EU.Θέσπιση ορίου ηλικίας για την πρόσβαση στα μέσα κοινωνικής δικτύωσης και την προστασία των ανηλίκων από τον ψηφιακό εθισμό | Ελληνική Κυβέρνησηhttps://www.government.gov.gr/thespisi-oriou-ilikias-gia-tin-prosv...

Listen to Australian and world news and follow trending topics with SBS News Podcasts.TRANSCRIPTGreek teenager Giannis Bittis uses TikTok and Instagram to stay connected with his friends, but next year, he may be subjected to a social media ban.Greece is now proposing a social media ban for those under 15 from next year, a move that Mr Bittis described would significantly impact his generation.“A lot of kids that have engaged in social media from the age of 13 will have great difficulty now getting used to being without it if this is removed from their lives, because this is the way they keep contact with their friends, they communicate, and even though they are not communicating face to face, I believe this is a type of communication that if it is cut off, it will also cut off relationshi...