A young student from Shropshire, has received a 2026 Outstanding Young Citizen Award for his tireless support for Healing Paws Animal Rescue, based on Zakynthos.

The award was presented to Telford College Student, Mitchell Knight this week, by Shropshire’s High Sheriff. Mitchell has dedicated around ten years, visiting Zakynthos, and supporting the animal welfare charity, that his aunt first introduced him to back in 2016, whilst on holiday.

Mitchell’s family first discovered Healing Paws Animal Rescue after his aunt found a stray dog, and insisted on finding it a home, and they visited Healing Paws Animal Rescue after seeing information about the Animal Rescue charity.

During his ten years of supporting Healing Paws Animal Rescue, Mitchell has visited once a year, not only working at the shelter, but his family has assisted with bringing 16 dogs, for rehoming, back to the UK. He’s even done a skydive to raise £700 for the charity! He said: "We will either help in their shelters, cleaning up or building new ones and taking food, treats and toys over."

Mitchell told the BBC, "It's probably the best thing I've done so far."

Congratulations to Mitchell from all of us at Zakynthos Informer!

SOURCE, including photo: BBC News, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cly0x1x8drzo

In the lead up to the new 2026 tourist season, Zakynthos is awaiting an update about the tender for the proposed Navagio “Shipwreck” Rescue Project. This project would include extending the beach and maintaining the ship Panagiotis. This project has been suggested to ensure the safety of anyone accessing the beach and again shipwreck.

A statement from the Mayor Georgios Stasinopoulos, stated: “From the communication we have with the HRADF, because we had visited the previous period with the Member of Parliament, the tender will be ready in the next period, so that the contractor can be found and the procedures can begin. It is approximately 8.5 million euros and concerns both the marine area and the area where the ship is located,”

He went on to say: “Tourist access will be very safe [and] regarding road safety at the upper access point, the study is ready and has been submitted to the Region. It has been sent to the Forestry Office to give its opinion on the permit and we are waiting for the approvals in the near future so that they can proceed with the process and we can have the contractor to begin road safety access to the viewing point.”  Mayor Stasinopoulos, explained that work has already been done in the previous year by the Navagio viewpoint, including an effort to make sure that visitors are safe on the cliffs.

“What has been done is very important, but also with the completion of the other projects that we will do, such as the widening of the road, the asphalting, the barriers that will be installed, the spaces for cars and buses to turn, certainly, the access of tourists will be at a very good level of security. This is our goal.”

Cyprus on Edge: How a Regional War Is Reaching the Island
Cyprus is not at war. Yet in recent days, the island has found itself uncomfortably close to the front lines of a rapidly escalating regional conflict.
The tension follows a reported drone strike targeting facilities at RAF Akrotiri, part of the British Sovereign Base Areas on the southern coast of the island. RAF Akrotiri is one of two military areas the United Kingdom retains on Cypriot soil under long-standing agreements. While no casualties were reported, the incident marked a significant moment: a direct strike on Western military infrastructure located in Cyprus.
The event has intensified concerns that the widening confrontation between Iran and a coalition that includes the United States and Israel could spill further into the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus: Not a Combatant, But Not Untouched
The government of the Cyprus has moved quickly to clarify its position. Officials stress that the Republic is not participating in military operations and has not engaged in hostilities against any state. Nicosia describes the situation as a defensive security challenge rather than an act of war involving Cyprus itself.
However, geography and geopolitics complicate that distinction. Cyprus lies at a strategic crossroads between Europe and the Middle East. The British bases — including Akrotiri — have long served as logistical and operational hubs for missions in the region. That strategic value now appears to carry heightened risk.
Military Reinforcement and Regional Signaling
Following the reported drone activity, the United Kingdom strengthened defensive measures around its bases, deploying additional air defense assets and naval support to the region. These steps were described as precautionary, aimed at protecting personnel and infrastructure.
Meanwhile, Greece has also increased its defensive posture in coordination with Cyprus, reinforcing its broader security partnership with the island. Other European partners are closely monitoring developments, as instability in the Eastern Mediterranean has direct implications for European security and energy routes.
The presence of foreign military forces on Cypriot territory has once again become a subject of domestic debate. Some political voices argue that the island’s association with Western military operations makes it vulnerable to retaliatory action. Others maintain that strategic alliances provide essential deterrence in an increasingly unstable region.
Public Anxiety and Political Debate
For residents living near the British bases, the tension is not abstract. Reports of drone activity and air defense responses have fueled concern, particularly in communities close to Akrotiri. Temporary security measures and heightened military visibility have made the broader geopolitical crisis feel immediate and personal.
At the political level, Cyprus faces a delicate balancing act. The country is a member of the European Union but maintains a long-standing policy of avoiding direct entanglement in military conflicts. Preserving that stance while hosting foreign sovereign military facilities presents a diplomatic and security challenge.
A Wider Conflict Casting a Long Shadow
The current crisis underscores a broader reality: even states not formally involved in a conflict can feel its impact when strategic infrastructure is located on their territory. Cyprus is not firing missiles, nor has it declared hostilities. Yet its strategic geography and its alliances position it within the operational radius of a conflict unfolding hundreds of kilometers away.
For now, officials in Nicosia continue to emphasize de-escalation and defensive preparedness. Whether the island remains on the periphery of the confrontation — or becomes more directly entangled — will depend largely on how the wider regional standoff evolves in the coming weeks.
What is clear is that Cyprus, long valued for its stability in a turbulent neighborhood, is once again navigating the pressures of geography in a time of war.
 

Each spring, Greece becomes the center of one of Europe’s most demanding multinational air exercises. Iniochos 2026 once again demonstrates the country’s growing strategic role in regional security, bringing together advanced aircraft, complex operational scenarios, and international cooperation under one demanding training framework.
Hosted by the Hellenic Air Force and centered at Andravida Air Base, the exercise has evolved into a high-intensity training event designed to simulate the modern battlefield. What began years ago as a national drill has matured into a sophisticated multinational exercise, drawing participants and observers from across Europe and beyond.

A Complex, Multi-Domain Exercise.
Iniochos 2026 is structured in three phases: preparation, execution, and redeployment. During the main operational period, participating units conduct daily Composite Air Operations (COMAO), integrating fighter aircraft, surveillance platforms, helicopters, naval units, and ground forces into realistic combat scenarios.
The Hellenic Air Force fields its most advanced assets, including the Dassault Rafale and upgraded F-16 Viper fighters. These aircraft operate in demanding mission sets that include air superiority, strike coordination, suppression of enemy air defenses, and close air support.
Crucially, the exercise is not confined to the air domain. Elements of the Hellenic Army and Hellenic Navy contribute to joint scenarios, reflecting the modern requirement for seamless coordination across services.
​For more information, times and schedules click on the link below.
www.haf.gr/en/news/haf-news/
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