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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

A firefighter pumps water from a parking garage after flooding caused by heavy rain in the Glyfada district of Athens on Thursday. Photo: AP

European Union

Storm unleashes half a year’s rain on Athens, leaving devastation in its wake

Top expert confirms the Greek capital received 40 per cent of its annual rainfall in under 24 hours, leaving two dead and hundreds of homes flooded.

22 Jan 2026 - 9:53PM

Israel

Israel’s rising air defence sales become its ‘most potent’ foreign policy weapon

26 Dec 2025 - 2:34PM

Middle East

Iran and Gaza plan to top agenda for Netanyahu-Trump meeting

23 Dec 2025 - 1:18PM

European Union

Greek minister takes over as Eurogroup president, marking historic turnaround

Kyriakos Pierrakakis’ election to head Eurogroup underscores Greece’s remarkable economic performance.

12 Dec 2025 - 1:19PM

Greek Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis. Photo: Reuters

Trip Inspiration

Travel like Gen Z and try shoulder-season escapes from Seoul to Santorini

That sweet spot – when the tourist crowds have yet to descend or they have just left – is what travellers are now searching for.

25 Nov 2025 - 4:23PM

SCMP Highlights

Japanese official’s ‘bow’; China’s soybean dilemma: SCMP daily highlights

From Tokyo complaining over an official’s apparent bow to Beijing’s soybean dilemma, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

20 Nov 2025 - 9:15PM

US-China relations

China accuses US of undermining ties with Greece in envoy’s Piraeus port remarks

Washington’s ambassador under fire after urging Athens to sell the ancient port operated by Chinese shipping giant Cosco.

20 Nov 2025 - 4:08PMvideocam

US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle’s remarks about the Chinese presence at Piraeus port have attracted criticism from Beijing. Photo: Reuters

Ukraine war

Greece and Ukraine sign US gas supply deal amid Russian attacks

Greece will supply natural gas to war-battered Ukraine, via pipelines from the northern Greek port of Alexandroupolis to the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

17 Nov 2025 - 11:18AM

United States

US designates 4 left-wing groups in Europe as terrorists

Designation hits groups in Germany, Greece, and Italy, with Rubio warning that Washington would target other groups around the world.

14 Nov 2025 - 2:17PM

Hong Kong society

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: boccia player who won Paralympic gold after 20 years

After being introduced to the sport at 13, John Loung competed for two decades before striking gold at the Paris games last year.

20 Oct 2025 - 7:23PM

Paralympian John Loung has spent more than two decades mastering boccia. Photo: Kong Yat-pang

Cyprus

Turkish Cypriots elect pro-talks leader, renewing hope for Cyprus unity

Tufan Erhurman wins in a landslide, campaigning on a return to negotiating a two-zone federation after an eight-year stalemate.

20 Oct 2025 - 11:15AM

Supporters of newly elected leader Tufan Erhurman celebrate after winning the leadership election in the Turkish occupied northern part of Cyprus’ divided capital Nicosia on Sunday. Photo: AP

European Union

Greece passes 13-hour workday law, sparking union fury and protests

The new law allows longer shifts in the private sector with higher pay, but critics worry about exploitation despite government assurances.

16 Oct 2025 - 8:25PM

China consumption

China sees uptick in ‘super golden week’ spending amid record travel surge

China’s transport hubs handled a record 2.4 billion trips during the extended holiday, though consumers favoured value-for-money deals.

9 Oct 2025 - 4:05PM

Israel-Gaza war

Thunberg deported from Israel, as Gaza activists allege mistreatment

Some activists from the flotilla alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, an allegation Israel denied.

7 Oct 2025 - 2:01AM

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, centre, before her deportation at an Israeli airport. Photo: Israel Foreign Ministry / Reuters

Israel-Gaza war

Some Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel

Israel’s Foreign Ministry refuted the claims as ‘brazen lies’, stating all detainees’ legal rights were ‘fully upheld’.

6 Oct 2025 - 10:58AM

Global Sumud Flotilla activists are welcomed after arriving at Fiumicino Airport on a Turkish Airlines flight in Rome on Saturday. Many activists remain in prison. Photo: EPA / Telenews

My Life

Can a psychic reading change your life? He thinks so

Angus Donald’s reporting took him from Hong Kong to Kabul. When he finally slowed down, he found love because of a psychic.

9 Oct 2025 - 11:34AM

Israel-Gaza war

Italy sends navy ship to protect Gaza-bound flotilla after drone attack

Rome has condemned the attack and is seeking assurances from Israel that the flotilla will safely reach the embattled Palestinian territory.

24 Sep 2025 - 7:33PM

Diplomacy

Opinion | Focusing on pageantry, the West misses the point of China’s diplomacy

The West must realise the real contest is not about pageantry but which power can create space for others to feel secure, dignified, heard.

19 Sep 2025 - 9:30AMvideocam

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh hold a trilateral meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on September 2. Photo: Xinhua

China-EU relations

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

17 Sep 2025 - 5:01PMvideocam

Food and Drinks

Things nut looking good for growers of Greece’s tastiest pistachios

On the Greek island of Aegina, climate change, property development and a lack of young farmers threaten an old tradition.

14 Sep 2025 - 3:15PM

China's military weapons

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

4 Sep 2025 - 10:45PMvideocam

Military personnel take part in a parade in Beijing on Wednesday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. Photo: AP

Trip Inspiration

8 sustainable getaways: are these the world’s most eco-friendly destinations?

Singapore, Copenhagen, Bhutan and others put the planet and local communities first.

25 Aug 2025 - 6:00PM

Sunbathers near the Royal Library in Copenhagen, beside a harbour that is clean enough to swim in. Photo: Getty Images

Hong Kong economy

Opinion | Trump isn’t the first leader to be paranoid about economic data

From the Soviet Union to Greece, statisticians have been punished for bad news while in colonial Hong Kong, a dearth of data exacted a price.

22 Aug 2025 - 8:30PM

China trade

Europe’s scorching heatwave sees demand for Chinese air conditioners sizzle

Europeans are outpacing most of the world in embracing relatively affordable and easy-to-install China-made cooling units, customs data shows.

22 Aug 2025 - 4:00PM

SCMP Highlights

Trump and Putin meet in Alaska, hospital scandal in China: 5 weekend reads

From Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska to Chinese vertical soap operas, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

18 Aug 2025 - 1:13PM

Donald Trump shakes hand with Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Photo: Reuters

China-EU relations

How Chinese investors quietly transformed Athens – one visa at a time

Chinese citizens hold nearly half of first-time visas linked to property purchases – and over 60 per cent of renewals.

16 Aug 2025 - 4:00PM

Residential buildings in Athens, Greece. Photo: Getty Images

Natural disasters

Europe wildfires kill at least 3 and displace thousands amid heatwave

Firefighting resources are stretched thin in many countries after weeks of temperature spikes across the Mediterranean region.

14 Aug 2025 - 6:13AM

European Union

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

12 Aug 2025 - 9:03PM

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Greece

Storm unleashes half a year’s rain on Athens, leaving devastation in its wake

Top expert confirms the Greek capital received 40 per cent of its annual rainfall in under 24 hours, leaving two dead and hundreds of homes flooded.

Israel’s rising air defence sales become its ‘most potent’ foreign policy weapon

Iran and Gaza plan to top agenda for Netanyahu-Trump meeting

Greek minister takes over as Eurogroup president, marking historic turnaround

Kyriakos Pierrakakis’ election to head Eurogroup underscores Greece’s remarkable economic performance.

Travel like Gen Z and try shoulder-season escapes from Seoul to Santorini

That sweet spot – when the tourist crowds have yet to descend or they have just left – is what travellers are now searching for.

Japanese official’s ‘bow’; China’s soybean dilemma: SCMP daily highlights

From Tokyo complaining over an official’s apparent bow to Beijing’s soybean dilemma, here’s a round-up from today’s coverage.

China accuses US of undermining ties with Greece in envoy’s Piraeus port remarks

Washington’s ambassador under fire after urging Athens to sell the ancient port operated by Chinese shipping giant Cosco.

Greece and Ukraine sign US gas supply deal amid Russian attacks

Greece will supply natural gas to war-battered Ukraine, via pipelines from the northern Greek port of Alexandroupolis to the Ukrainian port of Odesa.

US designates 4 left-wing groups in Europe as terrorists

Designation hits groups in Germany, Greece, and Italy, with Rubio warning that Washington would target other groups around the world.

Spirit of Hong Kong Awards: boccia player who won Paralympic gold after 20 years

After being introduced to the sport at 13, John Loung competed for two decades before striking gold at the Paris games last year.

Turkish Cypriots elect pro-talks leader, renewing hope for Cyprus unity

Tufan Erhurman wins in a landslide, campaigning on a return to negotiating a two-zone federation after an eight-year stalemate.

Greece passes 13-hour workday law, sparking union fury and protests

The new law allows longer shifts in the private sector with higher pay, but critics worry about exploitation despite government assurances.

China sees uptick in ‘super golden week’ spending amid record travel surge

China’s transport hubs handled a record 2.4 billion trips during the extended holiday, though consumers favoured value-for-money deals.

Thunberg deported from Israel, as Gaza activists allege mistreatment

Some activists from the flotilla alleged sleep deprivation, lack of water and food, as well as some being beaten, an allegation Israel denied.

Some Gaza flotilla activists allege mistreatment while being detained in Israel

Israel’s Foreign Ministry refuted the claims as ‘brazen lies’, stating all detainees’ legal rights were ‘fully upheld’.

Can a psychic reading change your life? He thinks so

Angus Donald’s reporting took him from Hong Kong to Kabul. When he finally slowed down, he found love because of a psychic.

Italy sends navy ship to protect Gaza-bound flotilla after drone attack

Rome has condemned the attack and is seeking assurances from Israel that the flotilla will safely reach the embattled Palestinian territory.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Opinion | Focusing on pageantry, the West misses the point of China’s diplomacy

The West must realise the real contest is not about pageantry but which power can create space for others to feel secure, dignified, heard.

Flagging imbalances in China, EU chamber urges course correction in 5-year plan

Exhorting the need for a ‘new, productive development model’, latest chamber position paper airs members’ grievances.

Things nut looking good for growers of Greece’s tastiest pistachios

On the Greek island of Aegina, climate change, property development and a lack of young farmers threaten an old tradition.

Western leaders parse China military parade displaying national pride

US President Donald Trump says America deserves more credit for helping China gain its freedom.

8 sustainable getaways: are these the world’s most eco-friendly destinations?

Singapore, Copenhagen, Bhutan and others put the planet and local communities first.

Opinion | Trump isn’t the first leader to be paranoid about economic data

From the Soviet Union to Greece, statisticians have been punished for bad news while in colonial Hong Kong, a dearth of data exacted a price.

Europe’s scorching heatwave sees demand for Chinese air conditioners sizzle

Europeans are outpacing most of the world in embracing relatively affordable and easy-to-install China-made cooling units, customs data shows.

Trump and Putin meet in Alaska, hospital scandal in China: 5 weekend reads

From Trump and Putin’s meeting in Alaska to Chinese vertical soap operas, here are five stories you may have missed over the weekend.

How Chinese investors quietly transformed Athens – one visa at a time

Chinese citizens hold nearly half of first-time visas linked to property purchases – and over 60 per cent of renewals.

Europe wildfires kill at least 3 and displace thousands amid heatwave

Firefighting resources are stretched thin in many countries after weeks of temperature spikes across the Mediterranean region.

Europe’s ‘out of control’ wildfires hit tourism spots, forests

Europe battles record wildfires as a heatwave scorches Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Turkey, threatening towns, tourism, and ecosystems.

Opinion | Focusing on pageantry, the West misses the point of China’s diplomacy