Latest news with #Cypriot-born
Irish Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Mitsotakis basks in Trump's praise as Greek exporters fear US tariff ‘butterfly effect'
While prime minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis may be basking in Donald Trump 's reported comment, 'I know him. He's a good man,' Greek exporters to the US are increasingly worried at the 'butterfly effect' of tariffs on olives, olive oil and feta cheese. One family-run company, based in the Peloponnese, exports 95 per cent of its olive oil to the US, while another, in central Greece, sends 50 per cent of its table olives to that country. As for feta, 1,200 farmers depend on the co-operative dairy in Kalavryta, a mountain village in eastern Greece, just one of the many producers throughout Greece that export this unique cheese type to the US. A statement by Mitsotakis that won Trump's apparent approval was that Europe is in a 'win-win' situation if negotiations over tariffs can be fruitful. Trump's response was that 'a deal will be made'. Mitsotakis made his remarks in early April, before the likelihood of a trade war between the US and Europe increased exponentially. 'Greece has a strategic partnership with the US,' said the prime minister, who regards Greece as a potential bridge between the US and Europe, while stressing Greece's position in the 'economic corridor' between Europe and the East. READ MORE Greece may be 'small potatoes' in terms of its trade balance with the US but, in a trade war between the US and China , the very considerable Chinese investment in Greece will surely affect Trump's thinking, especially when it is generally interpreted as China's entrée into the eastern Mediterranean region. Cypriot-born Christopher Pissarides, professor of economics at the London School of Economics and 2010 Nobel prizewinner, thinks China can survive a trade war with the US, but that Europe definitely can not. The 'Pissarides Commission', which he chaired, charged with devising an economic growth programme for Greece in 2020, argued that 'maintaining high growth rates over the medium term depends on implementing structural reforms within a continuous transformation process'. This has not happened. Pissarides attributes this to insufficient foreign investment. Furthermore, programmes for growth have not been implemented, due mainly to inertia in the public sector, lack of education reform at school and university levels, and the emigration of talented youngsters to better-paid jobs and start-up prospects abroad. [ Despite the disparities and anomalies, Greece remains a very beautiful country Opens in new window ] Greece's GDP is at the same level as in 2010, at the beginning of the financial crisis. While the minimum wage has increased this year to €880 gross per month (up from €830), which will benefit 1.6 million workers (one third of them in the private sector), Greece still ranks 11 out of 22 countries that maintain a minimum wage. Very few wage-earners approve of the government's economic policies. Pisssarides, when he spoke at the Delphi Economic Forum in April, was particularly critical of the mentality of what he calls 'picking the low-lying fruit' – that is, being content with small returns and modest forecasts. In a comment that would alarm many Greeks, he said: 'Greeks like small shops, small businesses – this is a mentality that needs to change.' This emphasis on taking enterprise out of the family and into a larger marketplace is very similar to what has happened in tourism, where the local, personal cachet of 'what makes Greece Greek' – its people and their culture – is being replaced by the impersonal and hybrid. A local example: in the village where I live in Corfu, the local monastery sold a large amount of land for the building of a row of 'luxury' houses. The name of the development, looking across the coast to Albania? The brilliantly original 'Sea View Villas'. The advent of the (mostly British) purchasers of these houses will, socially, culturally and economically transform the village into a sort of 'Sidcup-on-sea'. But Pissarides himself draws the line at tourism development: 'You don't want the islands packed with gigantic hotels.' This, however, goes in the face of current tourism development; as I mentioned last month, some islands are in danger of turning into concrete havens for the very rich, at the cost of the quality of life for the islanders, as, literally, the fabric of their island is eroded. [ Old-fashioned Greece has no chance of becoming truly developed Opens in new window ] What may be more disturbing, for tourists seeking the 'real Greece', is the recent announcement by the Square Lime boutique hotel group that it should be offering 'authentic experiences'. This suggests that what is currently on offer is 'inauthentic' – not the 'real thing'. The photograph accompanying this announcement in Kathimerini newspaper shows a Square Lime hotel in Naxos featuring a small swimming pool and a row of sunloungers, with one Judas tree in the background. No sea, no village, no 'authentic' food or drink. The group, which generated revenue of €48 million last year, offers 'meaningful hospitality, measured in emotions, in unspoilt destinations'. How the company can describe Ios, Santorini or Mykonos, where it operates, as 'unspoilt' requires the logic of a Donald Trump to defy reality.
Euronews
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Dubai's InClassica International Music Festival returns with composer Alexey Shor at centre stage
ADVERTISEMENT The 14th annual edition of the InClassica International Music Festival runs from April 6-21, dedicated to composer-in-residence Alexey Shor, whose 55th birthday is celebrated throughout the festival programming. The series of concerts at Dubai Opera form the world's biggest classical music observatory, where exceptional young talent meets some of the genre's most established and famous musicians. Shor is joined on stage by 13 talented soloists, two symphony orchestras and five conductors from around the globe, performing his compositions alongside the likes of Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. A total of 16 concerts will play out across the two-week festival, featuring the Franz Schubert Filharmonia from Spain and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, as well performances from renowned Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovich, Cypriot-born British pianist and conductor Marios Papadopoulos and conductor Tomàs Grau, from Barcelona. From maths prodigy to maestro Alexey Shor InClassica For Shor, originally from Ukraine, the festival is an opportunity not only to hear his work performed live but to introduce new audiences to the world of classical music. 'As far as I know, there's never been anything like this in Dubai,' he says. 'InClassica is the biggest musical event in the Middle East ever and I'm sure that in every audience, there will be lots of people enjoying their first classical concert.' Unlike many of the young virtuosos in the lineup, Shor didn't start composing until his late thirties, after a successful career in finance. 'As a child, I was somewhat of a math prodigy and I went on to work as a mathematician, first in academia and later in finance,' he says. 'I would have never guessed 20 years ago that I'd be where I am with music, but here we are.' His unexpected pivot to the arts has not only redefined his life but also brought his compositions to stages around the world. His works - often lyrical, catchy and engaging - have become staples in international concert halls and music festivals. This year, that legacy takes centre stage in Dubai, offering audiences a deep dive into his distinctive musical voice. 'It's an honour to celebrate my birthday during the festival,' says Shor. 'I'm grateful for the opportunity to meet amazing performers who become friends over the years and hear new interpretations of my music.' Where classical tradition meets contemporary emotion Marios Papadopoulos InClassica Shor's music offers an accessible entry point to classical traditions, creating pieces audiences can appreciate and remember. "His music is far from avant-garde," Papadopoulos says. "It's melodic, something you can whistle as you leave the concert hall. These are tunes that connect with people, that speak a universal language beyond complex musical theory." By strategically programming Shor's compositions alongside masterworks by Beethoven and Brahms, the festival creates a dynamic musical dialogue that speaks to varied audiences. ADVERTISEMENT "We live in multicultural societies," Papadopoulos says. "Diversity isn't just important - it's essential. "Music speaks to people at various levels. My purpose isn't just to play notes, but to touch souls, to translate complex emotions into a language everyone can understand. 'Music is my oxygen, my way of communicating what words cannot express. When an audience feels deeply, when they are moved beyond mere listening, that's when true connection happens. If I can make you shed a tear, I've done my job.' Notes between friends Daniel Lozakovich InClassica That spirit of emotional honesty and connection carries through to the performers, many of whom see the festival as more than just a professional engagement. ADVERTISEMENT For established artists like Lozakovich, who gave his first live concert at just nine years old, InClassica offers more than a stage - it's a space for meaningful exchange. Now 24, the violinist sees the festival as a rare opportunity to engage with world-class talent from every corner of the globe. 'Collaboration is the most important thing,' he says. 'That's how you understand what it means to share and connect. In music, when that connection happens, it's a powerful heart-to-heart. 'Right now, music is needed more than ever, especially in countries or places where it's still new. It brings people together in a way few things can.' ADVERTISEMENT Taking classical music to the streets Tomàs Grau InClassica For Grau, the music director of the Franz Schubert Filharmonia, InClassica is just the beginning of a larger movement - one that brings classical music out of traditional venues and into everyday life, making it something everyone can experience and enjoy. 'Studying music is so important for children as it helps develop both sides of the brain,' says Grau. 'Even if they don't grow up to become professional musicians, we are building the audience of the future, which is very important for society.' Away from the Dubai Opera stage, the orchestra aims to take chamber music to the streets of Barcelona and beyond. 'We believe in bringing music directly to people, performing in town squares and outdoor spaces to show that classical music isn't an elite art form, but a living, breathing expression of human creativity,' says Grau. ADVERTISEMENT 'By playing contemporary pieces with traditional instruments, we want to break down barriers and show that musicians are just passionate people who love sharing music with everyone."
