Olympiacos, Greece’s reigning champions, are set to join Europe’s football elite in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League League Phase. After Bodø/Glimt’s failure to defeat Lazio in their Europa League quarter-final, Olympiacos are virtually assured a spot among the 36 teams, with only improbable scenarios involving Rangers or an unexpected Champions League winner standing in their way.
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On Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025, over 92,000 vehicles streamed out of Attica as Greeks began their Easter holiday travels. With minor delays on key routes like Athens and Kifisou Avenues, the exodus surpassed last year’s figures, signaling a bustling start to the festive season. Authorities expect the final wave of travelers to depart Friday morning.
Athens public transportation services will operate on modified schedules from Holy Friday, April 18, through Wednesday, April 23, due to the Easter holiday. Changes include earlier last train and tram departures on Holy Saturday, adjusted bus and trolley timetables, and potential additional routes to major travel hubs. Passengers are advised to plan ahead.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis traveled to Tinos by ferry on Maundy Thursday to spend the Easter holidays with his family. Engaging casually with fellow passengers, he continues his tradition of celebrating on the Cycladic island.
Two earthquakes, measuring 2.8 and 3.2 on the Richter scale, struck the Argosaronic Gulf on Holy Thursday evening, with epicenters near Hydra and Poros. Both were felt in Attica.
Coral Marine, under Motor Oil Group, delivered Greece’s first marine biofuel to Celestyal Discovery at Lavrio Port, using a blend of used cooking oil and fossil fuel to reduce CO₂ emissions by about 21%.
A private ambulance crashed into a lighting pole in Athens’ Pangrati district on Holy Thursday, injuring four, including two pedestrians. The collision at Vasileos Konstantinou Avenue caused the pole to collapse, with three victims taken to Evangelismos Hospital and one to NIMTS. Traffic was disrupted as EKAB responded swiftly to the scene.
On April 17, 2025, Greece commemorates Colonel Dimitrios Psarros, commander of the 5/42 Evzone Regiment, executed in 1944 for resisting alignment with the communist-led EAM/ELAS during the Axis occupation. A patriot who fought in multiple wars, Psarros’ legacy highlights the complexities of the Greek resistance.
Two years after a devastating 2023 wildfire threatened Greece’s last black vulture colony in the Dadia-Lefkimi-Soufli Forest National Park, the majestic birds have made a remarkable comeback. The latest census by OFYPEKA reveals a record 41 breeding pairs, the highest in 30 years, surpassing pre-fire numbers. Conservation efforts, including artificial nests and food provisions, have fueled this resurgence, offering hope for the black vulture’s future in Southeastern Europe.
A tragic crash at the Polymylos toll booth on Greece’s Egnatia Odos highway claimed two lives, with security footage revealing critical details. The video shows a Ukrainian truck driver speeding into two slow-moving cars, killing a Greek couple from Switzerland in a fiery collision. Facing felony charges, including negligent homicide, the driver awaits his hearing as the investigation continues.
As Greece observes Holy Week, store hours adjust for Easter traditions. On Holy Thursday, shops stay open until 9:00 PM, while Good Friday sees a half-day schedule starting at 1:00 PM. Holy Saturday limits retail to 3:00 PM, with supermarkets like Lidl open until 9:00 PM. Plan your shopping to celebrate a joyous Kali Anastasi!
Germany’s top administrative court has ruled that deporting two asylum seekers back to Greece does not violate human rights, despite concerns over poor living conditions for refugees there. The court found that young, able-bodied men are unlikely to face extreme hardship, prompting criticism from refugee advocates who warn of homelessness and lack of support in Greece.
A new ELSTAT survey reveals that one in four Greeks faces poverty, with 14% unable to access basic goods and services. Children, women, and single-parent families are hit hardest, while 56.5% struggle to replace furniture and 42.8% can’t pay rent or bills. As deprivation rises, urgent action is needed to address Greece’s growing economic divide.
Greece is commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide with a series of events in Athens, including memorial services, wreath-laying ceremonies, and a central political gathering. Organized by the Armenian National Committee of Greece and the Region of Attica, the events honor the 1.5 million victims and highlight the enduring ties between the Greek and Armenian communities.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the No. 3 seed, battled past Sebastian Korda 7-6 (4), 6-4 to reach the Barcelona Open quarter-finals for the fifth consecutive year. In a serve-dominated clay-court clash, Tsitsipas capitalized on a first-set tiebreak and an early second-set break to secure victory, avenging a prior loss to Korda. He now faces No. 7 seed Arthur Fils at Real Club de Tenis Barcelona.
In a rare interview during Holy Week, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens described Donald Trump’s presidency as a “positive development,” urging global leaders to support reform while avoiding war.
Major news organizations, including Reuters, AP, DW, and Al Jazeera, inaccurately reported that a Greek…
Hundreds of passengers faced significant inconvenience on Holy Wednesday when the ferry “Achaios” suffered a mechanical failure before departing Piraeus for Aegina and Agkistri. Carrying 628 passengers, 97 vehicles, and 28 motorcycles, the ship remains docked as authorities investigate, with passengers being transferred to another vessel.
Greece’s National Security Council, chaired by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, is meeting today to address the future of the Great Sea Interconnector, a delayed electricity project linking Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. Facing growing opposition from Turkey, which calls the initiative “provocative,” the project’s future hangs in the balance.
Greece has submitted plans to the EU to organize maritime activities like fishing, tourism, and offshore energy after delays that led to an EU Court of Justice ruling against it for violating regulations