Sep 26, 2026
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde personally intervened to prevent Greece from granting Binance an EU-wide MiCA license in late May, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Lagarde reportedly asked Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to reject the application over compliance concerns.
In northern Greece, cash-strapped farmers are turning to cut-price illegal pesticides smuggled by organized crime networks, despite growing evidence of health and environmental risks. The counterfeit agricultural chemicals are being distributed across Europe's farmland.
At least one person has died and 25 remain missing after a boat carrying migrants partially sank off the southern Greek island of Gavdos near Crete. Greek coast guard rescued 51 people, with survivors reporting approximately 77 people were aboard the vessel.
Denmark, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, and Greece agreed on a common model for deportation centers in non-EU countries where rejected asylum seekers would be sent. The countries aim to negotiate agreements with partner nations by early 2027, though specific host countries have not been disclosed.
Israel and Greece signed a €3 billion ($3.5 billion) defense agreement under which Israel will build a multi-layered air defense system for Greece. The deal, named Achilles Shield, represents the largest weapons agreement between the two Mediterranean countries.
Strong winds drove wildfires through the Halkidiki region of northern Greece on Thursday, forcing tourists and residents to flee villages by land and sea during peak holiday season. The blaze engulfed houses and trees near resort areas.
An EU naval mission led by Italy boarded a tanker from Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet' in international waters off Pantelleria, between Sicily and Tunisia, marking the second such operation in less than two weeks. The operation was conducted with support from Greek and Polish forces as part of arms and oil trafficking monitoring efforts.
Two to three firefighters died battling wildfires on the Greek island of Crete as southern Europe confronts an escalating wildfire crisis. In France, an uncontained blaze four times the size of Paris has generated rare fire-induced thunderstorms, marking what experts describe as a new era of megafires for the continent.
Greece vetoed the EU's 21st Russia sanctions package to shield Dynagas, a Greek LNG shipping company owned by George Prokopiou, from a proposed ban on transporting Russian LNG to third countries. Athens' objection delayed the package by at least a week after three days of failed negotiations.
Wildfires raging across southern Europe have forced thousands to evacuate, with over 10,000 people displaced in France's Pyrenees region alone. The blazes have scorched more than 20,000 hectares across France, Spain, Portugal, and Greece, prompting officials to ban spectators from a Tour de France stage.
Binance has formally withdrawn its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license application with Greece's Hellenic Capital Market Commission and will pursue authorization in a different EU jurisdiction before the July 1 deadline for unlicensed firms.
Binance, the world's largest crypto exchange, is reportedly set to lose permission to serve EU clients after its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license application in Greece faces rejection, according to Reuters citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Greek authorities found a Ukrainian attack sea drone carrying explosives in a cave on a tourist island and conducted a controlled blast to render it safe. Greece called the incident 'extremely serious' and lodged a formal protest, expressing concerns that Ukraine's campaign against Russia's shadow fleet tankers is spilling into the Mediterranean.
Israeli forces intercepted dozens of boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, detaining approximately 175 activists including at least six Australians in international waters near the Greek island of Crete.