EU probes Greece on recycling projects Politico (August 25) The European Union is investigating potential misuse of at least €11.9 million of EU funds in a recycling project in Greece, as the country's notorious struggle to meet Brussels' waste management standards shows no sign of ending. The probe follows EU-commissioned reports by Greek auditors that found irregularities with how much the project cost and how it’s run. One of the reports, seen by POLITICO, found several problems with the way the recycling centers operate, including a total lack of controls over what happens to the waste that is collected. read more
Beach on a budget: Greeks settle for day trips, priced out of iconic destinations Associated Press (August 26) Bus coupon in hand, Diamantoula Vassiliou headed for the sea, determined to make the most of her brief beach excursion. The Athens resident was among thousands who took a four-hour tour this month to Avlaki Beach, one hour north of Greece’s capital, many hauling plastic coolers and homemade lunches — the accoutrements of summer holidays in leaner times. “We come here because there’s no money,” said Vassiliou, for whom day trips have replaced weeklong vacations for four years. read more
Greece needs two million workers by 2035 Ekathimerini (August 24) Greece will need more than two million workers by 2035, according to a European study that highlights the dual challenge and opportunity facing the country’s economy. The demand stems from both mass retirements and the creation of new positions, with 646,000 jobs requiring high specialization. Experts warn that the coming labor shortages, if unaddressed, could strain growth. They urge policies to promote female and older worker participation, attract migrants and returning expatriates, and close persistent skills gaps. read more
France finish EuroBasket prep unbeaten with win over Giannis' Greece FIBA (August 24) France used a strong third-quarter performance to beat a Giannis Antetokounmpo-led Greece side 92-77 in Athens. The result concludes a flawless preparation window for France ahead of FIBA EuroBasket 2025, as this latest win secures a 5-0 record, one of only three teams to finish the warm-ups undefeated, alongside Serbia and Finland. read more
Cyprus Ranks Last in EU for Sustainable Development Solutions The National Herald (August 26) Cyprus finished at the bottom of 27 European Union member states, and 56th globally out of 167 counties in the latest Sustainable Development Report (SDR), released by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The report looks at how countries fare in development that meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to cope and Cyprus was dead last in the EU despite rising 4.3 percent since 2015. Earlier this year, the European Sustainable Development Report (ESDR) also ranked Cyprus near the bottom, 32nd out of 34 countries with a score of 62.7, said the Cyprus Mail about the findings. read more
Total lunar eclipse visible from Cyprus on September 7th Parikiaki (August 26) Total Lunar Eclipse on the evening of Sunday September 7th 2025, will be entirely visible from Cyprus during it’s main stages, Troodos Observatory notes, announcing that an eclipse observation event will take place at the observatory. Events will be posted on www.troodosobservatory.com and on social media. On September 7th, the Moon will rise at 18:59 whilst the early penumbral eclipse stage is underway. This stage is hardly visible to the unaided eye. At 19:28 the Moon begins to enter the Earth’s shadow, signaling the start of the partial eclipse stage. read more
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