Greece and Israel have signed a defence deal in Athens for the acquisition of PULS precision rocket system, according to Israel’s defence ministry.
The agreement, worth about $757.8 million, will see the Greek military receive the Precise & Universal Launching System (PULS), produced by Elbit Systems.
The system has a reported range of up to 300 kilometres and is expected to strengthen Greece’s defensive capabilities, particularly to protect its northeastern borders and Aegean islands. Parts of the system will also be manufactured locally in Greece.
Delivery and installation are scheduled to be completed within four years, followed by a decade-long support and maintenance phase.
The deal reflects growing economic and diplomatic ties between the two countries, which have also expanded cooperation through joint military exercises and training programs. Both nations operate a pilot training centre in southwestern Greece.
Meanwhile, Greece remains in talks with Israel over a proposed missile defence system, known as “Achilles Shield,” which would be modelled on Israel’s Iron Dome and could cost around €3 billion.
US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States would target every bridge and power plant in Iran if the regime does not accept a ceasefire deal by 8pm Tuesday, Washington time.
Speaking at a press conference, Trump said that Iran “could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.”
Iran state media reported that Iran has rejected a proposed 45-day ceasefire.
In addition to his warning, Trump criticised Australia and other allies over what he described as a lack of support in the early stages of the conflict.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has pledged retaliation following the death of its intelligence chief, Major General Majid Khademi, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Monday.
According to Fars News Agency, four additional Iranian officers were killed during an operation aimed at intercepting US aircraft.
Trump, senior administration and military leaders have been engaged in extended discussions about efforts to rescue two personnel who were on board an F-15 Eagle shot down over Iran.
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 the most beloved symbols of Greek Orthodox Easter: tsoureki.
For SoulChef, tsoureki is more than a sweet bread. It is the scent of spring, the warmth of the kitchen, and the joy of sharing. Through three variations — traditional, vegan and gluten-free — she brings this timeless Easter staple to every table.
The Easter Tsoureki Trilogy
1. Traditional Tsoureki – With ‘Strings’ & Aromas
Ingredients
2 kg strong flour (bread flour)
140 g fresh yeast
600 g sugar
6 eggs
250 g clarified butter
1 cup lukewarm milk
Mahlépi, mastic, cardamom, orange zest
Method
Prepare a starter (sourdough-style base).
Beat eggs with sugar and spices in warm milk.
Combine with flour to form dough.
Slowly add melted butter at the end, folding by hand.
Allow dough to rise before shaping and baking.
2. Vegan ‘Bread of Love’ (Lenten Tsoureki)
Ingredients
1 kg strong flour
140 g yeast
1½ cups orange juice
300 g sugar
150 g sunflower oil
Mahlépi, mastic, cardamom, orange zest
Method
Mix orange juice with baking soda.
Combine with remaining ingredients.
Knead until smooth.
Let rise, shape and bake.
3. ‘Free’ Tsoureki (Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
500 g gluten-free flour
100 g sugar
2 sachets dry yeast
150 ml milk (or plant-based)
100 g butter or margarine
3 eggs
Spices
Method
Mix ingredients into a soft dough.
Shape using oiled hands or place in tins.
Bake at 160°C.
Cover immediately after baking.
A Message from SoulChef
Tsoureki is more than a recipe — it is a gesture of love. The scent alone can fill a home with warmth and memory. Make it with a smile. Cooking is the most beautiful way to say ‘I love you.’ Happy Easter to all.
Not many young women have as much going on as Aleesha Naxakis does. Honest. ambitious, driven, creative and fiery would be some of the words to describe her, and even they aren’t enough.
The Greek Herald got a moment to catch up on her story – and what a remarkable one it is!
Aleesha is a proud second-generation Australian with roots stretching across Greece – from Crete and Kalamata to Lyfkada and Amaliada. Growing up, she was immersed in her family’s culture, with evenings spent at Greek and Cypriot community clubs where her father Michael Naxakis, a talented bouzouki player, shared his music.
As the eldest of five children from Roselands, Aleesha’s life has always revolved around family, community, and creativity. Today, she channels that energy into running her own businesses as a PR consultant and children’s entertainer.
Pageantry was uncharted territory for Aleesha, but curiosity and a love of new experiences pushed her to step onto the stage.
“Galaxy is the first pageant I’ve ever done,” she says. “I’ve always wondered about the pageant system, so I decided to take the leap with Australia Galaxy Pageants.”
The journey, she says, has been just as rewarding as the competition itself. Planning her wardrobe, working with her coach, connecting with her community through volunteering, and raising over $1,500 for batyr, a youth mental health organisation, have all been highlights of the journey.
With the main event set at Bankstown Sports Club in early May, Aleesha is especially excited for the support of friends and family and the chance to meet fellow contestants from across the country.
Winning the title of Miss Roselands Galaxy was surreal.
“It felt like ‘game on’. Since then, I’ve been doing everything I can to aim for the national title. If I win, I’ll represent Australia in the international competition in the US. But even if I don’t, this experience has already been a huge win for me,” she says.
Right now, Aleesha is focused on the final touches of her wardrobe, volunteering wherever she can – including at Foodbank – and creating a recycled outfit for the Eco Fashion component of the competition, themed this year around denim and diamonds.
Looking ahead, Aleesha’s ambitions extend beyond the pageant stage. She hopes to travel the world, representing Australia and Greece, and use her platform to raise awareness for causes that matter to her.
“I want to grow into the happiest, healthiest, fittest, and most calm version of myself, while continuing to develop my businesses, my platform, and my family,” she says.
Beneath the confidence and drive, Aleesha is refreshingly candid about herself.
“I can be shy, a little awkward, and sometimes feel out of place. Not many people know that, but the pageants have helped me find my inner confidence, and I’m excited to see where it takes me,” she says.
Aleesha’s story is one of culture, courage, and personal growth – a journey that’s just beginning, on stage and in life.
A world-first Australian study has found that one in five maternal deaths in the five years after childbirth are preventable, highlighting major gaps in postnatal care.
Led by Dr Louise Makarious, the research analysed over 1.7 million births in NSW and is the first to examine maternal deaths from suicide, accidental poisoning and undetermined causes beyond the first year after childbirth. It found these causes account for a significant share of maternal deaths – 26% within the first year, 23% within two years, and 22% within five years.
The study shows that risks to mothers persist well beyond the commonly measured 12-month period, with younger mothers, first-time mothers, First Nations women, and those in disadvantaged or remote communities most at risk.
Despite improvements in physical health-related maternal deaths, mental health-related deaths have remained unchanged. Alarmingly, most women who died had not accessed mental health services in the year prior, pointing to major barriers such as cost, access, stigma and location.
Researchers are calling for extended postnatal support, including ongoing mental health screening, better clinician training, and improved access to services, including telehealth, to prevent avoidable deaths.
Parents are rallying to save the KU Kira Child Care Centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, after Sydney Water confirmed it will not renew the lease on the Paddington site, forcing the long-running centre to close by December.
Leading the community outcry is parent Nick Koutsoukos, who warned the decision would be deeply disruptive for families already struggling to access childcare in the area.
The not-for-profit centre, which has operated for 35 years, is set to shut despite ongoing demand and long waiting lists across the eastern suburbs.
Koutsoukos told The Daily Telegraph the move was short-sighted, saying: “It’s madness when you’ve got a purpose-built, operating centre and they’re just looking at it from a property perspective without any concern for the community.”
He added: “This has serviced thousands of families in the local community over the course of decades. It’s a real loss.”
Parents say the closure could leave dozens of families without care, with some facing waitlists of up to two years at nearby centres.
“People are really considering what their options are and facing the fact that they might just not have childcare when the centre closes,” Koutsoukos said.
In response, families and community members have launched a petition to NSW Parliament and written to senior government figures, calling for an urgent intervention to halt the sale and secure the centre’s future.
A spokesperson for Sydney Water defended the decision, stating: “As a state-owned corporation, providing childcare to the broader community falls outside Sydney Water’s core business. We are therefore required to ensure ratepayer-funded assets are used efficiently and in line with our primary objectives.”
Parents, however, argue the move contradicts broader government commitments to expand access to affordable early childhood education, with some calling for a collaborative solution to keep the centre operating.
A major new phase of restoration is underway at the ancient Theatre A of Larissa, one of the largest Hellenistic monuments in Greece, the Culture Ministry has announced.
The works will focus on the theatre’s marble stage, aiming to improve its structural stability, architectural integrity and functionality, while also enhancing its capacity to host performances through the restoration of the proskenion (stage front).
The project, already in progress, is valued at around €7 million and is funded by national and EU structural funds.
In a statement, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni underlined the monument’s significance, noting that the 11,000-seat theatre was built in the Hellenistic period on the city’s fortified acropolis and remained in use until the early 4th century AD. She also highlighted that, following restoration works completed three years ago, the theatre hosted performances for the first time in nearly 2,000 years.
The current restoration phase includes the full reconstruction of the proskenion, installation of new marble elements, reinforcement of structural components such as beams and columns, and the conservation of ancient fragments using modern techniques. The aim is to ensure long-term preservation while showcasing the monument’s architectural value.
Dating back to the early 3rd century BC, the theatre, located on Frourio Hill, operated for approximately six centuries. During the Roman period, it was converted into an arena, resulting in structural changes including the removal of front seating rows and the addition of a protective barrier around the orchestra.
Greece’s Culture Ministry is moving forward with plans to open two organized underwater archaeological sites in the Fourni island group in the northern Aegean. The locations, Akra Fygou and Vathylakas, will soon be accessible to divers under regulated conditions, according to ekathimerini.com
Authorities are currently developing a framework to ensure visitor safety, safeguard ancient remains, and manage recreational diving activity. The goal is to balance public access with the protection of valuable underwater heritage.
Ongoing underwater excavations since 2014 have revealed 62 shipwrecks in the area, dating from as early as the 6th century BC through to the interwar period. These findings underline Fourni’s long-standing importance as a maritime crossroads.
The planned sites will include clearly mapped diving routes and controlled entry systems to prevent damage and overcrowding. By organizing access in this way, officials hope to preserve the integrity of the wrecks while allowing visitors to experience them responsibly.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to combine cultural preservation with sustainable tourism. By opening these sites, Greece aims to highlight one of the Aegean’s richest concentrations of shipwrecks, spanning from the Archaic and Roman eras to more recent history, while also supporting local economic development through specialized diving tourism.
As cooler weather sets in, most Australian states and territories are preparing to switch off daylight saving time.
In 2026, daylight saving ends on Sunday, April 5. At 3am, clocks will be turned back one hour to 2am, giving residents in participating regions an extra hour of sleep.
According to abc.net.au, this adjustment applies to:
Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Meanwhile, Queensland, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory do not observe daylight saving and will remain unchanged.
The timing follows a consistent national pattern, with daylight saving always ending on the first Sunday of April. This year, the date coincides with Easter Sunday. Although legislation does not clearly explain why Sunday was chosen, it is generally believed the weekend timing helps reduce disruption to businesses, schools, and daily routines.
Daylight saving will return later in the year, beginning again on Sunday, October 4, 2026.
Globally, daylight saving schedules vary. In the United States, it starts on the second Sunday of March and ends on the first Sunday of November. In the United Kingdom, it begins on the last Sunday of March and concludes on the last Sunday of October.
Because of these differences, searching for daylight saving dates online can sometimes produce varying results depending on the country referenced.
In the sunlit hills of Arcadia, the village of Lasta sits largely abandoned. Once home to around 300 residents, it now has just three. Crumbling stone houses and empty paths tell a story repeated across Greece, according to abc.net.au
“The villages, they are becoming ghost towns,” says Lambros Papalambros to abc, recalling a place that was once “full of life.”
Across the country, more than a hundred villages face similar decline. This local crisis reflects a broader national trend: Greece’s population is shrinking rapidly. Low birth rates, economic hardship, and decades of emigration are accelerating the loss. Projections suggest the population could fall by 20% by 2050, creating deep strain on the workforce, healthcare, and pensions.
“It’s an existential problem,” says demographer Alexandra Tragaki.
The roots of this crisis stretch back years. Economic turmoil after the 2009 debt crisis drove hundreds of thousands-mostly young people-abroad. Many have not returned. Those who stayed often delay starting families, prioritizing stability after years of uncertainty.
“With what we went through during our twenties, we really want to make sure we have a very stable life situation before starting a family,” says Klairi Sacha.
In rural areas, the consequences are stark. Some villages have no children left at all. Schools are closing, services disappearing, and entire communities aging into silence.
“The old people are dying, the young people don’t marry, and they leave,” one resident explains.
Despite government incentives and grassroots efforts to reverse the trend, there is no simple solution. As one official admits, “If we had some kind of magic remedy… we would have done it.”
