Thanos Plevris has opened debate in parliament on the potential banning of full facial coverings worn for religious reasons, following a question from a lawmaker from the Greek Solution.
Plevris said no regulatory framework has yet been finalised, noting the government is examining legislation in other countries and relevant case law.
However, Antigone Lyberaki questioned the rationale for such a move, saying the issue appears largely theoretical.
“We are going through the process of inventing an adversary,” she said, adding that in years visiting refugee reception camps in Greece she had never encountered women with fully covered faces.
Lyberaki also warned bans could create unintended consequences, pointing to Britain where similar restrictions were rejected amid concerns conservative families might stop daughters from attending school.
She argued the debate “conceals, in reality, an Islamophobia,” and said such measures could undermine efforts to build open and free societies.
Greek President Constantine Tassoulas has called for greater political consensus in Greece, saying cooperation between parties is essential for national progress.
Speaking to Kathimerini one year after taking office, Tassoulas said he hopes to foster a political climate where “we are political opponents but not political enemies.”
“Only through consensus can we make real progress,” he said, stressing the need for “a minimum of democratic understanding” because when the country faces challenges “it is not just the government or the opposition that is shaken, but all of us, and above all, the Greek people.”
He also said upcoming elections would carry national significance and expressed confidence that Greece’s justice system will clarify the circumstances surrounding the Tempi train crash.
Tassoulas added that the constitution could be revised due to “institutional fatigue” in some articles and the need to adapt to rapid technological and societal changes.
Iran has rejected claims by Donald Trump that Tehran is seeking negotiations with the United States, as the conflict enters its 16th day.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi dismissed the suggestion in an interview with CBS News’s Face The Nation.
“We are stable and strong enough. We are only defending our people,” Araghchi said.
“We don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans, because we were talking with them when they decided to attack us.
“There is no good experience talking with Americans.”
Araghchi also insisted Iran had not requested negotiations or a ceasefire.
“We never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never asked even for negotiation,” he said.
Trump had earlier claimed Iran wanted a deal to end the war but said he was not prepared to negotiate under current conditions.
Despite rejecting talks with Washington, Araghchi said Iran was open to discussions with other countries over arrangements for selected oil tankers to pass through the key Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, a sixth member of the Iran women’s national football team has returned to the war-torn country.
According to reports, the player is believed to be captain Zahra Ghanbari, who has already departed Australia.
As Chef Georgia Koutsoukou — the Kalamata-born chef known as “SoulChef” — continues her SoulChef Sundays series with The Greek Herald, she turns to one of Greece’s most misunderstood yet beloved sweets: halva.
Forget the packaged versions sitting at the back of a pantry. Real halva — the traditional bakali style — is something entirely different. Nutty, crumbly, aromatic and deeply satisfying, it’s a dessert with centuries of history and soul.
Halva: A Sweet with History and Soul
In Greece, we call this version “Bakali Halva”, meaning the grocer’s halva. Traditionally, the local grocer guarded the secret stash of the good stuff, selling it in generous blocks cut fresh from the counter.
Made with tahini, sugar and patience, this humble dessert is naturally vegan and packed with flavour. But like many traditional recipes, the magic lies not only in the ingredients — it lies in the technique.
The golden rule?
Never stir halva like cement.
You must fold it gently, patiently, allowing the hot syrup to create delicate sugary fibres within the sesame paste. Done correctly, the result is a crumbly texture that melts on the tongue.
Pair it with a sharp fruit sauce or berries to balance the rich sesame flavour, and you have a dessert that feels both traditional and surprisingly modern.
SoulChef Sunday Recipe of the Week – The Soul Chef’s Signature Halva
Ingredients
500 g tahini (premium quality, room temperature)
500 g sugar
150 g water
A few drops lemon juice
100 g roasted almonds or pistachios
Optional: pinch of mastic powder (for a Chios-inspired aroma)
Method
The Syrup Boil sugar, water and lemon juice until it reaches a light golden caramel (approximately 145°C).
The Base Place tahini in a large glass bowl. If it is cold, warm it slightly so it blends more easily.
The Magic Pour the hot caramel into the tahini. Do not whisk. Using a spatula, gently fold the mixture from the outside inward. This creates the signature halva texture.
The Crunch Fold in the roasted nuts and any aromatics such as mastic or orange zest.
The Rest Press mixture into a mould lined with baking paper and allow it to set overnight.
SoulChef’s Tip
Serve halva in paper-thin slices with fresh berries or a forest fruit sauce and a pinch of sea salt. The sweetness of the halva and the tartness of the fruit create a perfect balance.
A Message from SoulChef
“Traditional sweets carry the memory of our culture. With every slice of halva, you taste generations of Greek kitchens and the simple joy of sharing something sweet at the table.”
With love and respect for tradition, Georgia Koutsoukou – Soul Chef
Bestselling Greek American author Christopher Cosmos is back with a new novel, and this time he’s taking readers straight to the magical shores of Crete.
His latest book, Island of Ghosts and Dreams, unfolds near the utterly gorgeous and charming Cretan city of Chania and follows Maria, a village woman whose life becomes entwined with her husband and a young British soldier who washes up by her family’s olive groves.
A story of love, resistance, and the long shadow of war – one that’s already gotten plenty of attention, including a ‘Best Books of the Year’ nod from Today.com, which called it “a modern epic.”
Speaking with The Greek Herald, Cosmos opened up about how the novel came together – and why it’s close to his heart.
Finding Maria
Cosmos says the idea for Maria’s journey really began after his debut, Once We Were Here, came out in 2020. Readers were curious what happened next in Greece’s wartime story.
“That novel ended where it did,” he explains, “but history didn’t.”
He also realised he wanted to explore World War II from a female perspective – to highlight the experiences and resilience of women whose stories are not as visible.
“The character Maria became the lens through which I could do that,” he explains.
Writing with one eye on today
When Cosmos starts a project, he explains that he always comes back to two questions: who should tell this story, and why now?
While working on the novel, he spent long stretches living in Greece, soaking up the landscape and history. What surprised him most was how relevant the story felt.
“The geopolitical tensions and human dilemmas of the 1940s echo strongly in today’s world, with proof that while times change, human nature doesn’t all that much,” Cosmos said.
Why Crete keeps calling him back
Cosmos travels constantly, but western Crete holds a special place in his heart. He describes the region as “truly magical,” not just for its beauty but for its people.
Setting the novel there was his way of honouring the island – and acknowledging the generosity and sacrifices of the communities that inspired him.
Many more stories to tell
As for what’s next, Cosmos isn’t planning to slow down anytime soon. Writing novels may be a long, demanding process, he says, but it’s also what he loves most.
“The strong response to Island of Ghosts and Dreams has been especially rewarding because of how many years – and how much emotion – went into it,” he explains.
For readers, he hopes the experience of reading the book is as immersive as writing it was for him.
It might even take you from wherever you are to Chania (in real life) – and that sounds sensational!
The planned visit of Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Australia to coincide with the March 25 Greek Independence Day celebrations has been cancelled due to the escalating situation in the Middle East.
In a brief statement, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia confirmed that the scheduled events in Australia, which were to take place under its auspices as part of the Prime Minister’s visit, will no longer proceed as planned.
The Archdiocese added that further information regarding the rescheduling of the events will be provided at a later date.
The visit had been expected to include stops in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra, where the Prime Minister was set to participate in commemorations marking Greek Independence Day and meet members of the Greek Australian community.
The Greek Herald was the first outlet to report on the Prime Minister’s intention to travel to Australia around March 25, following an informal exchange with members of the Greek diaspora in central Athens earlier this year.
The proposed visit followed a long-standing invitation from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had previously invited Mitsotakis to Australia as an official guest, underscoring the close bilateral relationship between the two countries and Australia’s deep ties with the Greek diaspora.
No revised dates for the visit have yet been announced.
Fitness entrepreneur and influencer Kayla Itsines has purchased a luxury waterfront mansion on the Gold Coast for $13 million after an extended search for the right property, according to realestate.com.au
The Sweat app co-founder and her husband, Jae Woodroffe, had been quietly exploring the region’s high-end property market, inspecting several homes across some of southeast Queensland’s most prestigious suburbs before securing the Mermaid Waters estate ahead of its scheduled auction.
Cohen Handler Gold Coast agent Luke Serhan, who negotiated the purchase, said properties of this scale were rarely available.
“When clients operate at Kayla’s level of global profile, the process becomes about far more than simply finding a property,” Mr Serhan said.
“It’s about opening doors to opportunities that are rarely visible to the broader market and ensuring the acquisition aligns with both lifestyle and sound investment strategy.”
The five-bedroom, four-bathroom home sits on a 2280-square-metre triple block with 81.5 metres of water frontage. Completed in 2023 by DB Build, it won the President’s Award at the 2024 Gold Coast Housing and Construction Awards.
Designed in a Tropical Colonial style by Sydney architects Hicks and Holmsted, the property features pitched roofs, French doors and expansive verandas.
“The overall effect is very much that of a private resort,” selling agent Gypsea Youngsmith said.
Photo: realestate.com.au
Itsines, who has more than 15 million social media followers, said working with a buyer’s agent helped secure the property after an initially difficult search.
An auction for the lease of a 450-square-metre section of “Fava” beach, one of the most well-known and heavily visited beaches in Sithonia, Halkidiki, is moving forward through the Rural Service, according to en.protothema.gr
The auction is scheduled to take place on March 16, 2026, in Thessaloniki, sparking strong reactions from local residents, business owners and community stakeholders.
The Sithonia Ecological Environmental Association has expressed concern that the move could place additional pressure on the already crowded coastal area and further reduce public access to open beach spaces.
As the association notes, “the beach ‘Fava’ is the largest beach in the area of Vourvourou, and is known throughout Greece for its beautiful and clear waters, as well as for its wonderful sandy beach.”
The group also points out that the number of accessible beaches in the region is already limited. A large portion of nearby Barra beach, for example, is currently used by rental boat operators for trailer parking and boat access.
“This particular beach is essentially the only free beach in the area, which to date has not been altered by the presence of canteens, sunbeds and umbrellas,” the association states.
According to the group, reserving part of Fava beach could significantly reduce free coastal areas and potentially lead to long-term environmental and tourism impacts for Vourvourou.
The association has called on regional authorities to intervene and highlight the potential risks of the auction, stressing the importance of protecting public access to beaches as a shared and increasingly limited resource.
Women across Australian sport are continuing to shape the future of the industry, not only through performances on the field but also through leadership and influence behind the scenes. As the profile of women’s sport continues to grow, recognition is increasingly being given to those whose work is advancing the game, building pathways and inspiring the next generation.
Code Sports’ annual Power 100 list highlights some of the most influential women contributing to Australian sport. The list celebrates both elite athletes and administrators whose achievements, leadership and advocacy are helping transform the sporting landscape. From record-breaking competitors to senior managers and mentors, their efforts are strengthening the foundations of sport ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Among those recognised in 2026 is AFL umpire Eleni Tee, who continues to break barriers in Australian rules football, according to TheDailyTelegraph.com
Returning from maternity leave last year, Tee made history as the first mother to officiate at AFL level. During the season she also reached the milestone of 100 AFL games as an umpire, while balancing her responsibilities as SANFL Umpires Coach.
Her presence and leadership within the umpiring ranks has helped open doors for more women pursuing officiating careers at the elite level.
Through her dedication and visibility in the sport, Tee is helping reshape perceptions within Australian football and paving the way for greater female representation in umpiring at the highest level.
Shoppers visiting major Australian supermarkets may have noticed that Greek yoghurt has become harder to find. The popular dairy product has been in limited supply at chains including Woolworths, Coles and Aldi for several months, according to abc.net.au
The shortage has particularly affected well-known brands such as Chobani and YoPro, especially their high-protein varieties. Supermarkets say the disruption is largely due to a surge in consumer demand.
One contributing factor has been viral social media recipes. Earlier this year, the “Japanese cheesecake” trend gained widespread attention online. The simple no-bake recipe, made by combining Biscoff biscuits with Greek yoghurt, quickly spread across platforms and encouraged many shoppers to buy the product.
The growing popularity of high-protein diets has also played a role. According to Aldi, the trend has increased demand not only for Greek yoghurt but also for other protein-rich foods.
“We’re seeing a growing demand for high-protein foods like Greek yoghurt and cottage cheese, driven by viral trends and dietary choices,” an Aldi spokesperson said.
Retailers note that many consumers are drawn to Greek yoghurt for its natural ingredients and nutritional value. A Chobani representative said the product remains popular with households because it is versatile and naturally high in protein.
“We’re seeing strong demand,” the spokesperson said.
Supermarkets say suppliers are already operating at full capacity, making it difficult to quickly increase production. Woolworths and Coles said they are working closely with suppliers to boost supply, but it remains unclear when stock levels will fully return to normal.
