A 60% spike in Candidozyma auris cases across Europe has put Greek healthcare facilities on red alert, warns Matina Pagoni, vice president of the Hellenic Nurses’ Association. This hospital-acquired fungus, resistant to antifungals and antiseptics, thrives in ICUs and threatens immunocompromised patients. With 1,346 EU cases reported in 2023 alone—Greece among the top five affected nations—experts call for rigorous hand hygiene to stem the spread.
Ferry departures from Piraeus, Lavrio and Rafina were suspended on Friday morning after authorities imposed a sailing ban due to gale-force winds, with conditions in the Aegean reaching up to 9 Beaufort. Authorities are set to review the ban at 10 a.m.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has announced a VAT reduction for all islands with fewer than 20,000 residents, calling it a “correction of a great injustice.” The measures, taking effect in January, will benefit Limnos, Agios Efstratios, and other small Aegean communities, alongside property tax relief for villages under 1,500 residents.
A Greek hiker has died in a tragic incident in northern Greece after being charged by a bear and falling into a ravine. The chilling encounter, captured on his phone, shows 61-year-old Christos Stavrianidis calling desperately for help moments before his fatal plunge in Fraktos forest.
A sudden cold front has swept across Greece, bringing chilly temperatures and powerful winds. Nevrokopi recorded a low of 8°C, while Volos faced damage from fallen trees due to gusts on Wednesday night. Strong northerly winds, reaching up to 9 Beaufort in the Aegean, have heightened fire risks in regions like Attica and Crete, with temperatures expected to drop further on Thursday.
The General Confederation of Workers of Greece (GSEE) has called a 24-hour nationwide strike on October 1, protesting government labour reforms on working hours and demanding the return of free collective bargaining. The union warns that Greek employees, already working the longest hours in the EU, are facing worsening burnout and unacceptable conditions.
Tensions between Greece and Turkey have flared anew in the Aegean as Ankara escalates its revisionist claims, challenging Greece’s maritime rights and demanding the demilitarization of Greek islands from Thasos to Kastellorizo. Turkey’s issuance of a navtex for Piri Reis surveys, coupled with Greece’s surprise military exercise, has heightened friction ahead of a potential Mitsotakis-Erdoğan meeting at the UN. Athens, unwavering, insists on its rights under international law, while parallel talks with Libya on maritime zones signal Greece’s broader diplomatic push.
In 2025, Greece faces a surge in West Nile virus cases, with 83 domestic infections reported by September 17, according to EODY. Seven fatalities have occurred, primarily among those over 65 with severe neurological symptoms. Cases span 37 municipalities, prompting nationwide calls for mosquito protection measures as the virus continues to spread across Europe.
Greece is actively contributing to the European Union’s push for digital sovereignty, taking part in high-level talks in Vienna that focus on technological independence, innovation, and safeguarding democracy against threats such as misinformation and deep fakes.
On 17 September, Greece honours Saint Sophia and her daughters — Faith, Hope and Love — at Thessaloniki’s historic Church of Saint Sophia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its Byzantine mosaics and centuries of cultural and religious history.
A 3.9-magnitude earthquake struck Kefalonia, Greece, at 09:44 AM EEST on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. The quake, centered 11 km west-northwest of Alsos, had a depth of 10.6 km, according to the Athens Geodynamic Institute. Minor aftershocks of around 2.0 magnitude followed, with no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
On Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Greece will see cloudy skies with scattered showers and possible thunderstorms, particularly in eastern Macedonia and Thrace, according to the Hellenic National Meteorological Service. While northern regions brace for rain, Attica and the islands, including Crete and the Cyclades, will enjoy mostly clear skies. Temperatures will reach up to 33°C in Athens and 31°C in Thessaloniki, with northerly winds blowing at 3-6 Beaufort across the seas.
An innovative camera system in Greece’s Tempi tunnel has revealed alarming driving habits, with seven in ten drivers exceeding the 80 km/h limit. The pilot project, the first of its kind in the country, shows average speeds reaching 108 km/h and highlights the urgent need for improved road safety measures.
One year after Greek music icon Marinella suffered a stroke on stage at the Herodeion, tenor Mario Frangoulis shared a poignant update on her condition. “Things haven’t changed much,” he told *Buongiorno*, reflecting on her ongoing recovery. Frangoulis, a close collaborator, urged fans to remember Marinella’s vibrant spirit, saying, “She was full of strength and love for music. Let’s cherish her as she was.”
Novak Djokovic has officially begun a new chapter in Greece, making his first public appearance in Athens after relocating with his family. The 24-time Grand Slam champion was seen with his son Stefan at Greece’s Davis Cup tie against Brazil, as the family settles into life in the southern suburbs and the children begin school in Athens.
Over three days, Attica Traffic Police conducted 14,078 vehicle checks to enforce Greece’s new Road Traffic Code, uncovering 2,643 violations. From September 12-15, officers targeted drunk driving and other infractions like speeding and mobile phone use, arresting six drivers and immobilizing 389 vehicles.
In a sombre turn of events, Thessaloniki’s Thermaic Gulf became the scene of two grim discoveries on Monday, September 15. The Coast Guard recovered the bodies of two young men within hours of each other, one near Aristotelous Square and another earlier that morning. The unidentified men, aged 20-30, were taken to local hospitals as authorities launched investigations to uncover the circumstances behind these tragic incidents.
Greek pole vault star Emmanuel “Manolo” Karalis claimed silver at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, completing his career medal collection. Already an Olympic and European medalist, the 25-year-old now stands firmly among the sport’s global elite.
Athens has partnered with Google’s Global Fishing Watch to revolutionize marine surveillance in the Aegean Sea, focusing on protecting new marine parks in the Ionian and Cyclades. Using advanced satellite technology, the initiative targets illegal fishing and environmental violations, while enhancing Greece’s ability to monitor its territorial waters. The collaboration, signed in November 2024, also holds potential for addressing migration flows and bolstering national security.
Two Greek ships, the Oxygen and Ilektra, set sail from Syros to join the international Global Sumud Flotilla, delivering humanitarian aid to famine-hit Gaza. Hundreds gathered to see them off, showing solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and growing humanitarian crisis.
On the Greek island of Tinos, more than a thousand private chapels are lovingly maintained by families across generations. These small, whitewashed stone churches serve as sites of faith, community, and tradition, hosting annual festivals that honor saints and the Virgin Mary. For locals, the chapels are not just places of worship—they are treasured heirlooms that connect past and present, family and community.
A 28-year-old Greek influencer was arrested in Rhodes on September 15, 2025, for possessing pink cocaine, uncovered during a police search prompted by a car rental dispute. The vehicle, rented by her mother, contained 9.27 grams of the drug, four electronic scales, and €100. The influencer, facing drug trafficking charges, claims the cocaine was for personal use due to a five-year addiction, as she heads to court today.
Panathinaikos BC has arrived in Melbourne to compete in the “Pavlos Giannakopoulos” tournament, marking the first time the event is held outside Greece. Welcomed warmly by the local Greek community, the team will face Partizan Belgrade and the Adelaide 36ers in what promises to be both a sporting spectacle and a celebration of Hellenic pride abroad.
A 3.9-magnitude earthquake struck Amorgos early Monday, centered 14 km south-southwest of Arkesini, echoing February’s seismic unrest. Efthymios Lekkas, OASP president, reassured residents, stating such quakes are expected and not alarming, with potential for tremors up to 5.0 magnitude in the region.
Archimandrite Symeon Papadopoulos has been elected the new abbot of St Catherine’s Monastery on Mount Sinai, succeeding Archbishop Damianos after 52 years. He will soon be ordained as Archbishop of Sinai, Faran, and Raitho, pending final approval.
In a heart-wrenching incident on Greece’s Olympia Odos highway, a 70-year-old woman drove nearly a kilometer in the wrong direction, leading to a catastrophic collision that claimed two lives. The fiery crash near Panagopoula left one driver trapped and burned in her vehicle, while a passenger from the other car succumbed to injuries hours later. Eyewitnesses desperately honked to warn her, but tragedy struck nonetheless.
Greece’s UN envoy, Ambassador Aglaia Balta, voiced strong concern over the Israeli strike on Doha, calling it a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. Speaking at an emergency UN Security Council meeting, she stressed Qatar’s key role in mediating ceasefire talks and urged renewed commitment to diplomacy and a two-state solution.
The abbot of Greece’s ancient Mega Spilaio Monastery in Kalavryta and five associates, including his monk aide, were remanded in custody late Thursday after a grueling 12-hour apology session in Corinth court. Charged with forming a criminal syndicate to traffic two invaluable Gospels and 17 icons for €200,000, the suspects face felony counts of embezzlement and artifact smuggling. The abbot’s claim that the relics were his grandmother’s inheritance drew skepticism, as a GADA task force probes their true origins from the 10th-century site. In a bid for renewal, Metropolitan Ieronymos will personally officiate Sunday’s Holy Cross Liturgy, urging prayers for the scandal-plagued monastery.
A 3.7-magnitude earthquake struck Thebes at dawn on Friday, marking the third tremor in three days across Central Greece. Following recent quakes in Evia and Attica, the early-morning tremor heightened concern among residents, though no damage or injuries have been reported.
In a unfolding financial scandal in Thessaloniki, three Greek police officers have been released without conditions after facing an investigating magistrate over a €715,000 deficit in police funds. The shortfall, discovered after a colleague’s suicide in October 2022, was linked to mismanagement by a Security Directorate officer who allegedly used the money for gambling. Seven officers, accused of informally providing funds to cover the deficit, face charges including breach of duty and embezzlement. The accused claim they acted in good faith to meet urgent operational needs, as the investigation continues to probe financial oversight within Greece’s police force.
