Tempi Railway Disaster – Karonis Report Sparks Political Clash

  • The long-awaited Karonis report on the Tempi rail tragedy has been released, reigniting political tensions.
  • The report, by Prof. Dimitris Karonis (NTUA), attributes the explosion to the ignition of silicone oils under extreme heat—ruling out explosives or illegal cargo.
  • Government claims the findings “debunk” conspiracy theories and vindicate their handling of the disaster.
  • Opposition parties, including PASOK and SYRIZA, reject the report as biased and misleading; families of victims also criticize its conclusions as speculative.
  • A new criminal dossier has been submitted to Parliament after a lawsuit by 370 citizens, targeting the Prime Minister and past/present transport ministers under Article 86.

Kasos Earthquake – Strong Quake, Minimal Impact

  • A 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck south of Kasos in the early hours of Wednesday.
  • The quake was felt across Crete, Rhodes, Kos, and as far as Cyprus and North Africa.
  • No injuries or damages have been reported.
  • Experts cite the 64 km depth as key to the low impact; aftershocks are expected to be weak.
  • Authorities emphasize there is no link to recent seismic activity in Santorini or Turkey.

Illegal Vehicle Use – Tax Authority Cracks Down

  • The Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is targeting vehicles falsely declared as immobilized to evade taxes.
  • Toll cameras will identify illegally used cars; data will be cross-referenced with the tax registry.
  • From September 30, toll companies must submit license plate data daily or weekly.
  • Owners face €10,000 fines, full tax repayment, and penalties if caught.
  • Repeat offenders within five years risk a €30,000 fine and a 3-year license suspension.

Cardless Banking – ATMs Go Digital

  • Greek banks are transitioning to cardless ATMs that operate via smartphones.
  • Users authenticate via Face ID, fingerprint, or passcode; transactions are done through digital wallets (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Wallet).
  • Features include cash withdrawal, balance check, payments, and transfers.
  • This is part of a broader shift toward secure, digital-first banking.

Cocaine in Banana Shipment – Major Drug Bust in Thessaloniki

  • Authorities seized €1.6 million worth of cocaine hidden in a banana container from Ecuador.
  • 58 kilos of cocaine were found in 50 packages concealed within the container’s refrigeration units.
  • The bust was carried out by the Port Authority’s narcotics team with X-ray support from Thessaloniki customs.
  • A GPS tracking device was also discovered, likely for cargo monitoring.
  • This follows a similar case in November 2024 in Piraeus, where cocaine valued at €4.1 million was found in a shipment from Panama.