Mount Sinai Delegation to Cairo
- A Greek delegation led by Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis travels to Cairo on Wednesday to address a court ruling affecting the Saint Catherine’s Monastery at Mount Sinai.
- The May 28 ruling raised fears of property seizures and monk evictions, prompting strong reactions from Greece.
- PM Mitsotakis and President el-Sisi held talks; both governments reaffirmed the monastery’s protected religious status.
- Egypt’s Foreign Ministry clarified that the ruling targets remote protected areas, not the monastery itself.
- The Greek mission aims to finalize legal protections and ensure continued Orthodox stewardship of the monastery.
University Security Measures Tightened
- PM Mitsotakis met with university rectors Monday to address campus lawlessness.
- Future financial and institutional support will depend on progress in campus safety enforcement.
- Rectors must update security plans by July and fully utilize the €10 million allocated for safety.
- Education Ministry proposals include:
- Disciplinary councils and faster rulings (within 2 months),
- Student suspensions up to 24 months, and
- Automatic expulsion after criminal convictions.
- New penalties include restricted access via student ID, criminal charges for violence, and financial restitution for damages.
New Road Traffic Code Targets Fatalities
- The Greek government submitted a new Road Traffic Code to Parliament to combat high road death rates (665 in 2024).
- Automated enforcement of traffic violations to begin in September 2025 through gov.gr.
- Stricter mobile phone use penalties:
- €350 fine for 1st offense,
- €2,000 fine and 1-year license suspension after 3rd.
- Helmet laws expanded to penalize motorcycle passengers, not just riders.
- Speed limit changes:
- 30 km/h in residential zones,
- 50 km/h on main roads,
- Proposed 140 km/h on highways (under review).
- DUI-related fatalities could lead to 10-year prison terms without parole.
- Street racing fines rise to €8,000 and long-term license suspensions for repeat offenders.
Tourist Accidents in Corfu and Corinth
- Corfu: A 35-year-old Welsh tourist was seriously injured after falling onto rocks at Canal d’Amour.
- Rescued by fellow tourists using a raft, he was taken to the hospital by emergency responders.
- Corinth Canal: A French tourist was found dead aboard a sailing yacht.
- No signs of foul play; autopsy pending, and investigation underway by Coast Guard and police.
New Quit-Smoking Hotline Launched
- Greece’s National Public Health Organization launched a smoking cessation hotline at 1135.
- Available Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., staffed by trained professionals.
- Part of the National Action Plan Against Smoking, aligned with WHO’s global tobacco control goals.
- 38% of Greek adults use tobacco; over 50% want to quit, but only 30% tried in the past year.
- Smoking causes 8 million deaths annually, including 1.3 million from second-hand smoke.Officials emphasize equal access to support services as key to reducing tobacco use in Greece.
