Honestly, if you’re looking at news in Greece today, things feel a bit like a pressure cooker. We’ve got farmers threatening to march their tractors into the heart of Athens, a massive legal scandal finally reaching a verdict, and a government investigation basically admitting that the country’s aviation systems are held together by "outdated tech." It’s a lot to process, even for a country that’s used to a little drama.
The Airspace Chaos: It Wasn’t a Cyberattack After All
Remember that massive flight disruption on January 4th? Everyone was whispering about hackers or some high-level cyber interference. Well, the official probe just dropped, and it turns out the truth is much less "James Bond" and much more "it’s just old."
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) chief, Giorgos Saounatsos, has officially resigned. Why? Because the investigation confirmed that a major radio frequency failure—which literally cleared the Greek skies and diverted dozens of flights across Europe—was caused by infrastructure that the manufacturer doesn't even support anymore. We are talking about voice and telecom systems that are, quite frankly, ancient.
The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport is now scrambling. They’re recommending an immediate jump to Voice over IP (VoIP) tech and buying about 500 new transceivers. While they’re calling it a "low-risk" incident in terms of safety, anyone who was stuck in a terminal in Budapest or Rome because their flight to Athens was diverted might disagree.
Farmers vs. Mitsotakis: The 48-Hour Ultimatum
If you’re driving through the Greek countryside right now, you’ve probably seen the tractors. News in Greece today is dominated by the standoff between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and the agricultural sector.
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The government just issued a 48-hour ultimatum. Basically, the message is: "Get off the roads or we’re sending in the police."
- The Stick: Police action is officially on the table for Thursday if blockades aren't lifted.
- The Carrot: Mitsotakis offered some of the lowest electricity tariffs in Europe for "consistent" farmers and tax exemptions on diesel.
- The Conflict: Many farmer groups aren't buying it. They’re planning a tractor march on Athens to show they mean business.
It’s a tough spot. The government says they’ve "exhausted the economy’s tolerance," but the farmers feel like they’re being squeezed by rising costs and EU trade deals, like the Mercosur agreement that’s set to be signed later this week.
The Novartis Verdict: A Scandal Finally Ends
On the legal front, a massive chapter in Greek politics just closed. Two formerly "protected witnesses" in the Novartis bribery case were found guilty of false testimony.
This case has been a political grenade for years. These witnesses had accused ten major political figures—including former PM Antonis Samaras and Bank of Greece governor Yannis Stournaras—of taking bribes from the pharmaceutical giant. The court just ruled those claims were knowingly untrue. Samaras is calling it a "conspiracy," while others are just relieved to see the end of a very divisive era.
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Archaeological Finds in Rafina
Not all the news in Greece today is about protests and politics. Archaeologists just uncovered a Bronze Age burial site in Rafina, eastern Attica. They found a six-foot-long pithos (a giant jar) containing the bones of two people.
What’s really cool is what was inside with them:
- A copper awl.
- Obsidian points.
- Ceramic vessels.
- A large ritual pit nearby with traces of fire and a bull's skull.
It’s a vivid reminder that while we’re arguing about tractor blockades and radio frequencies, there’s literally thousands of years of history sitting right under our feet.
The Economic Outlook for 2026
Despite the current friction, the numbers look surprisingly decent. Greece is projecting a 2.4% GDP growth for 2026, which is actually double the Eurozone average.
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Tourism is still the engine, but investment is expected to jump by over 10%. Unemployment is also on track to hit 8.6%, the lowest it’s been since the crisis started years ago. Of course, there’s a catch. Inflation is sticking around (projected at 2.3%), and the "tight" labor market means hotels and construction sites are still struggling to find workers.
What You Should Do Next
If you're traveling or doing business in Greece right now, here is the ground-level advice:
- Check Flight Status: While the CAA is "upgrading," the system is still sensitive. Keep an eye on Aegean or Olympic apps for real-time radio-related delays.
- Avoid Main Arteries: If the farmers follow through with their Athens march, Expect major delays on the national roads (Ethniki Odos) over the next 48 to 72 hours.
- Ukrainian Residents: If you are under temporary protection, your permits have been automatically extended until March 4, 2027. You don't need to do anything right now unless you're planning to travel abroad after February 16th.
- Winter Travel: If you’re heading to the mountains like Arachova, it’s cold—temps are hitting 3°C to 11°C. Pack layers.
The situation is moving fast, especially with the Thursday deadline for the farm blockades. Keep an eye on local English-language outlets like Greek Reporter or Kathimerini for the specific hour-by-hour updates on road closures.