Two youths wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus, walk in front of Athens Academy Greece, Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021. The rate of death related to COVID-19 in Greece has reached its highest level in six months as roughly one-third of the country's population remains unvaccinated. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
ATHENS – A near decade-long economic and austerity crisis, followed by the COVID-19 pandemic is seeking Greece’s population continue to decline, with more deaths than births, a trend expected to worsen over the next 20 years.
Analysts said that was exacerbated by the exodus of more than 450,000 working-class people who gave up trying to find work during the crisis and moved elsewhere, most saying they would never return.
Prime Minister and New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis is trying to lure them back with a range of lures but predictions continue that the population will keep falling, putting a strain on the social security system.
Researchers and scientists at a conference on demographic trends organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI) at the French Institute in Athens said the government has to react.
“Those who are in favor of population growth cannot be against migration,” said Christos Bagavos, a Professor at Panteion University. “The demographic crisis is not a matter of low fertility, but of the number of people who are of reproductive age,” he said, referring to the drop in women aged 15-49.
He was also referring to Greece, which has been holding up to 100,000 refugees and migrants, now pledging to keep out anyone who tries to enter the country, Turkey allowing human traffickers to keep sending them.
That violates an essentially-suspended 2016 swap deal with the European Union under which Turkey, holding 4.4 million people who fled war and economic hardship in their countries, is supposed to contain them in return for money, visa-free travel for Turkish citizens in the EU and a faster track into the bloc.
OSLO, Norway — A gunman opened fire in Oslo's night-life district early Saturday, killing two people and leaving 10 seriously wounded in what police are investigating as a possible terrorist attack during the Norwegian capital's annual Pride festival.
FALMOUTH, MA – The police in Falmouth have identified the victim in an accident involving a car plunging into the ocean on February 20, NBC10 Boston reported.
PHILADELPHIA – The Federation of Hellenic Societies of Philadelphia and Greater Delaware Valley announced that the Evzones, the Presidential Guard of Greece will be participating in the Philadelphia Greek Independence Day Parade on March 20.
O oceanic you sing and sail
White on your body and yellow on your chimeneas
For you're tired of the filthy waters of the harbors
You who loved the distant Sporades
You who lifted the tallest flags
You who sail clear through the most dangerous caves
Hail to you who let yourself be charmed by the sirens
Hail to you for never having been afraid of the Symplegades
(Andreas Empeirikos)
What traveler has not been fascinated by the Greek islands, drawn by the Sirens’ song of a traveler’s dreams?
TNH and our video show ‘Mission’ marked the change of the season by transporting viewers into the heart of summer.
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