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Greece

The latest news, analysis and opinion on Greece. In-depth analysis, industry insights and expert opinion.

Capital

Athens

Head of State

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou

Head of Government

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis

Israel

Netanyahu casts Turkey as Israel’s new villain amid tough re-election fight

The Israeli PM has escalated tensions with Turkish President Erdogan over Syria in a bid to ‘unify’ his voter base around him.

20 Aug 2026 - 9:36AM

Travel

Are these Odyssey islands prepared for tourist surge in wake of new film?

18 Aug 2026 - 7:15AM

China’s internet censorship

China targets pseudo-history conspiracists who claim civilisations were stolen

14 Aug 2026 - 9:00AMvideocam

Aviation accidents

Bird remains found in engine after man nearly sucked out of plane window

A piece of the engine had broken off the aircraft and smashed the window, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

14 Aug 2026 - 4:30AM

An undated image shows the window on a Ryanair plane that was broken by a stray engine part shortly after take-off, causing a man’s head to be sucked into the hole. Photo: National Transportation Safety Board via AP

Electric & new energy vehicles

Driven off the road: Nio’s German car registrations down 90%

In contrast to its Chinese peers, Nio is struggling in Europe’s largest car market, registering just three cars last month and 18 this year.

11 Aug 2026 - 6:02PM

Hong Kong economy

Food Expo vendors hoping for tasty profits with items such as caviar sake gelato

Abalone for HK$1, handcrafted caviar mooncakes and discounted coffee and milk tea packs among products at next week’s Food Expo.

5 Aug 2026 - 11:33PM

From our archives

On This Day | ‘Stunning spectacle’: Rio Olympics kicks off in Brazil in 2016 – SCMP archive

The Summer Olympics, held 10 years ago today, were the first Olympic Games ever held in South America.

5 Aug 2026 - 11:30AM

The opening ceremony gave Brazilians a respite from months of bad publicity, a chance to belt out bossa nova and dance the samba as the 17-day party kicked off at the Maracana Stadium with a scaled-down but colourful, high-energy opening ceremony. Photo: AFP

Crime

Greek police arrest suspect after body of British woman found in suitcase

Afghan national in custody weeks after victim was discovered inside a derelict building in Athens.

3 Aug 2026 - 10:43AM

Climate change

2 crew members dead after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece

The crew members, from Greece, Denmark and the UK, had been battling a major wildfire west of Athens on Sunday when the crash happened.

3 Aug 2026 - 1:13AM

Climate change

Climate crisis: Hungary closes nuclear power plant, Greece wildfires spread

Sustained drought is affecting the lives of many, with so-called megafires among multiple consequences of the extreme weather.

2 Aug 2026 - 11:23PMvideocam

Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary on Friday with the partially dried-up Danube riverbed. Photo: Reuters

European Union

Hungary braces for nuclear plant shutdown as Danube hits record lows

The power plant, producing nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, uses river water to cool reactors but heatwaves have affected water levels.

31 Jul 2026 - 11:51PMvideocam

Firefighters battle a wildfire threatening to engulf a house in the Peloponnese region of Greece on Friday. Photo: EPA

Hong Kong sports

On This Day | Windsurfer wins Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold in 1996 – SCMP archive

On this day 30 years ago, Hong Kong won its first Olympic gold. It would take almost exactly 25 years to win another one.

29 Jul 2026 - 2:15PM

Extreme weather

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

28 Jul 2026 - 5:42AM

Nordic nations

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

26 Jul 2026 - 12:54PM

A tourist takes photos of Mount Nuolja, overlooking Abisko in northern Sweden, on August 26, 2021. Photo: AFP

Pets

As I see it | How the death of Argos, Odysseus’ faithful dog, still haunts us

The quiet, devastating reunion of master and dog, recently given the Hollywood treatment, remains one of the most poignant scenes in Western literature.

24 Jul 2026 - 8:30PM

Though Odysseus was moved by the reunion, he was in disguise and could offer no comfort to Argos. Photo by: Ivy Close Images / Universal Images Group via Getty Images

China education

Why a Chinese academic wants the public to take a test on foreign affairs

Tsinghua University scholar Yan Xuetong is challenging people to avoid social media sensationalism and sit a 60-minute exam.

24 Jul 2026 - 7:00PM

Defence

Greece to build ‘Achilles Shield’ defence dome with Israeli arms

The move is part of a US$4.8 billion spending spree that includes the purchase of Heron drones, Apache missiles and Victa stealth watercraft.

24 Jul 2026 - 1:03AM

China-EU relations

EU waters down Russia sanctions over fears China could seize key LNG assets

Bloc concludes banning Greek companies from transporting Russian gas to third countries may hand strategic shipping advantages to Beijing.

24 Jul 2026 - 1:44AMvideocam

The Sun Arrows tanker loads its cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the port of Prigorodnoye, Russia. The EU has watered down sanctions on Moscow amid fears that China could seize crucial LNG assets. Photo: AP

Crime

Man stabs tourists near Greece’s Acropolis

The assailant attacked two people, was detained at the scene and appeared to have been suffering from psychological problems.

21 Jul 2026 - 7:57PM

European Union

France and Germany reach nuclear deal as Europe builds up defences

France is the only nuclear power in the 27-member EU, while Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional military by 2039.

19 Jul 2026 - 6:32PM

China shipbuilding

Chinese shipbuilders snap up more supertanker orders amid Iran war turmoil

Industry data shows China’s shipyards secured 82 per cent of tanker orders placed this year, as measured by carrying capacity.

17 Jul 2026 - 11:00PM

Atrebates, a 319,000 dwt VLCC built by China State Shipbuilding Corp’s Beihai Shipbuilding in Qingdao, Shandong province, last year. Photo: Xinhua

European Union

4 Greek MPs charged over multimillion EU farm fraud scandal

European prosecutors say Greek state employees and politicians helped dozens of farmers scam the EU out of over US$22.5 million in subsidies.

16 Jul 2026 - 7:59PM

A farmer lets his sheep out from the pen on the island of Astypalaia, Greece, on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Aviation

Man nearly sucked out of ‘detached’ window on Ryanair flight

The man was pulled back inside by other passengers and has been hospitalised with friction burns but was otherwise in good condition.

10 Jul 2026 - 6:25PM

Terrorism

Greek anti-terror police arrest 3 after car blast kills 1

Leftist and anarchist groups often use improvised explosives to target political figures, banks and companies in Greece.

10 Jul 2026 - 6:03PM

Germany

Germany jails man 10 years for fatal attack on train conductor

The man had attacked the conductor after being found without a ticket, hitting the conductor so hard that he later died of brain haemorrhage.

9 Jul 2026 - 7:10PM

Erdal Calar, father of the dead train attendant Serkan Calar, holds a picture of the victim in the courtroom of the Regional Court of Zweibruecken, western Germany last month. Photo: AFP

Extreme weather

‘Help us’: wildfires ravage France, Spain, Portugal forests as mercury soars

The early fires have already devastated an area twice as big as Manhattan across the three nations. Blazes have also hit Greece.

5 Jul 2026 - 7:29PMvideocam

People watch as a firefighting plane tries to battle a wildfire by a motorway near Beziers, France, on Friday. Photo: Reuters

China exports

As Europe sizzles amid extreme heat, the hunt for China’s ACs remains elusive

While Europe sweats its way through torturous temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, China cannot get ACs transported over fast enough.

2 Jul 2026 - 6:55PMvideocam

Venezuelan crisis

In Venezuela, China’s oil-for-loan deals run into huge US-led debt restructuring

Beijing’s influence in Caracas seen fading, with Washington controlling Venezuela’s oil revenues and debt overhaul, potentially triggering a stand-off.

26 Jun 2026 - 9:00PMvideocam

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Greece

Netanyahu casts Turkey as Israel’s new villain amid tough re-election fight

The Israeli PM has escalated tensions with Turkish President Erdogan over Syria in a bid to ‘unify’ his voter base around him.

Are these Odyssey islands prepared for tourist surge in wake of new film?

China targets pseudo-history conspiracists who claim civilisations were stolen

Bird remains found in engine after man nearly sucked out of plane window

A piece of the engine had broken off the aircraft and smashed the window, forcing the pilot to make an emergency landing.

Driven off the road: Nio’s German car registrations down 90%

In contrast to its Chinese peers, Nio is struggling in Europe’s largest car market, registering just three cars last month and 18 this year.

Food Expo vendors hoping for tasty profits with items such as caviar sake gelato

Abalone for HK$1, handcrafted caviar mooncakes and discounted coffee and milk tea packs among products at next week’s Food Expo.

.css-1f6sr3w{color:#727272;}On This Day | ‘Stunning spectacle’: Rio Olympics kicks off in Brazil in 2016 – SCMP archive

The Summer Olympics, held 10 years ago today, were the first Olympic Games ever held in South America.

Greek police arrest suspect after body of British woman found in suitcase

Afghan national in custody weeks after victim was discovered inside a derelict building in Athens.

2 crew members dead after firefighting helicopters collide in Greece

The crew members, from Greece, Denmark and the UK, had been battling a major wildfire west of Athens on Sunday when the crash happened.

Climate crisis: Hungary closes nuclear power plant, Greece wildfires spread

Sustained drought is affecting the lives of many, with so-called megafires among multiple consequences of the extreme weather.

Hungary braces for nuclear plant shutdown as Danube hits record lows

The power plant, producing nearly half of Hungary’s electricity, uses river water to cool reactors but heatwaves have affected water levels.

On This Day | Windsurfer wins Hong Kong’s first Olympic gold in 1996 – SCMP archive

On this day 30 years ago, Hong Kong won its first Olympic gold. It would take almost exactly 25 years to win another one.

France and Spain race to curb wildfires before new heatwave arrives

Authorities have evacuated about 220,000 people, including tourists, in France, while in Spain around 100,000 have been told to seek shelter.

European heatwaves drive summer tourists to cooler north

The concept of ‘coolcations’ – holidays in a cooler clime – has been gathering pace in recent years and appears to have exploded in 2026.

.css-1pcrwvc{color:#2aa191;}As I see it | How the death of Argos, Odysseus’ faithful dog, still haunts us

The quiet, devastating reunion of master and dog, recently given the Hollywood treatment, remains one of the most poignant scenes in Western literature.

Why a Chinese academic wants the public to take a test on foreign affairs

Tsinghua University scholar Yan Xuetong is challenging people to avoid social media sensationalism and sit a 60-minute exam.

Greece to build ‘Achilles Shield’ defence dome with Israeli arms

The move is part of a US$4.8 billion spending spree that includes the purchase of Heron drones, Apache missiles and Victa stealth watercraft.

EU waters down Russia sanctions over fears China could seize key LNG assets

Bloc concludes banning Greek companies from transporting Russian gas to third countries may hand strategic shipping advantages to Beijing.

Man stabs tourists near Greece’s Acropolis

The assailant attacked two people, was detained at the scene and appeared to have been suffering from psychological problems.

France and Germany reach nuclear deal as Europe builds up defences

France is the only nuclear power in the 27-member EU, while Germany plans to build Europe’s strongest conventional military by 2039.

Chinese shipbuilders snap up more supertanker orders amid Iran war turmoil

Industry data shows China’s shipyards secured 82 per cent of tanker orders placed this year, as measured by carrying capacity.

4 Greek MPs charged over multimillion EU farm fraud scandal

European prosecutors say Greek state employees and politicians helped dozens of farmers scam the EU out of over US$22.5 million in subsidies.

Man nearly sucked out of ‘detached’ window on Ryanair flight

The man was pulled back inside by other passengers and has been hospitalised with friction burns but was otherwise in good condition.

Greek anti-terror police arrest 3 after car blast kills 1

Leftist and anarchist groups often use improvised explosives to target political figures, banks and companies in Greece.

Germany jails man 10 years for fatal attack on train conductor

The man had attacked the conductor after being found without a ticket, hitting the conductor so hard that he later died of brain haemorrhage.

‘Help us’: wildfires ravage France, Spain, Portugal forests as mercury soars

The early fires have already devastated an area twice as big as Manhattan across the three nations. Blazes have also hit Greece.

As Europe sizzles amid extreme heat, the hunt for China’s ACs remains elusive

While Europe sweats its way through torturous temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius, China cannot get ACs transported over fast enough.

In Venezuela, China’s oil-for-loan deals run into huge US-led debt restructuring

Beijing’s influence in Caracas seen fading, with Washington controlling Venezuela’s oil revenues and debt overhaul, potentially triggering a stand-off.

On This Day | ‘Stunning spectacle’: Rio Olympics kicks off in Brazil in 2016 – SCMP archive

As I see it | How the death of Argos, Odysseus’ faithful dog, still haunts us