Dozens of coastal and island municipalities have expressed their strong opposition to the proposed legislative changes in the aquaculture sector in a joint statement addressed to the leadership of the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.The initiative is co-signed by the mayors of Aegina (Ioannis Zorbas), Epidaurus (Anastasios Chronis), Corinth (Nikolaos Stavrelis), Agistri (Dimitrios Anastasiou), Ermionida (Ioannis Georgopoulos), Northern Kynouria (Georgios Kampylis), Southern Kynouria (Emmanouil Dolianitis), Nafplio (Dimitrios Orfanos), Poros (Georgios Koutouzis), Spetses (Eugenia Fragia), Salamis (Georgios Panagopoulos), Troizinia– Methana (Anastasios Mougios), Hydra (Georgios Koukoudakis), and Eretria (Nikolaos Gournis), while the initial position paper was endorsed by 26 member municipalities of the Blue Municipalities Network and 11 municipalities of the Argosaronic region. At the heart of the problem lies the environmental impact on the marine environment and the coastline, which is exacerbated by an outdated regulatory framework. Currently, in Greece, facilities are permitted to be built as close as 50 meters from the shoreline, whereas in other countries the corresponding distance limits are drastically stricter, extending up to two nautical miles. At the same time, municipalities are pointing out serious flaws in the proposed regulations. Specifically, they argue that the maximum fine of 30,000 euros does not serve as a deterrent for large-scale businesses, while facilities that have degraded a marine area are allowed to relocate to another coastal community instead of having their license suspended or revoked. Finally, they are calling for strict and proportionate penalties, full restoration of the marine and terrestrial environment, shorter deadlines for removal, and an immediate working meeting with political leaders.

A “perfect storm” of conditions threatens the Greek agri-food sector’s leading export product, which is none other than the table olive. For the first time in a decade of continuous growth in table olive exports, a decline was recorded in the first half of 2026, with forecasts for the full year not looking optimistic. Tariffs in the U.S. and, above all, the turmoil caused by the successive changes in the Trump administration’s tariff policy—turmoil that has even led to order cancellations. At the same time, the inflation crisis and the decline in purchasing power affecting the European Union are leading to a drop in orders from major markets, with Germany being the most notable example.

One of the “hot potatoes” that the next government—to be formed following the 2027 elections—will have to address is undoubtedly the need to adjust objective property values. Given that the objective value system is used to tax both property ownership (e.g., ENFIA, Real Estate Tax, etc.) and property transactions (real estate transfer tax, notary fees, brokerage fees, cadastral fee), it is obvious that any revaluation will act as a significant cost burden on both property owners and buyers. The problem is exacerbated, first, by the sharp rise in market prices that has occurred since 2021—when the last adjustment took place—and second, because that very process took on a political character. Specifically, the magnitude of the zone price increases was deliberately limited precisely to avoid placing an excessive burden on citizens. For example, in Halandri, the average assessed value for a 30- year-old apartment currently stands at 1,170 euros per square meter (based on the values established in 2021), whereas the sales price had already reached 2,400 euros per square meter in 2021 and is currently estimated at 3,000 euros per square meter. Similarly, in Alimos, the assessed value for a 30-year-old apartment is 1,160 euros per square meter, while the actual selling price had already reached 2,500 euros per square meter as of 2021 and today stands at 2,800–3,000 euros per square meter. Meanwhile, even though it is now 2026, Greece remains one of the very few markets in the developed world where there is no reliable and unbiased method for measuring residential sales prices, rendering even artificial intelligence tools “useless.”

Starting next season, new airlines will be landing at the country’s largest airport. Although this year’s summer season—which, as a reminder, officially ends on October 24—has not yet concluded, airlines are already planning their schedules for 2027. To that end, two new carriers have been announced so far for “Eleftherios Venizelos,” which continues to attract the attention of the aviation industry thanks to the strong tourism demand the country is experiencing. Alaska Airlines was the first to kick off the wave of new airlines arriving next year; it is joining the Greece-U.S. route, adding Seattle to the map of direct connections for the first time. A few days ago, Condor followed suit, adding Athens to its European route network. The German airline is preparing to make its debut in the Greek capital starting in the spring of 2027. Specifically, it announced its expansion to Athens, launching a new direct flight from Frankfurt to “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport. The new Frankfurt-Athens route will begin on April 28, 2027, and will operate daily throughout the summer season. The Greek capital is one of three new European cities that Condor is adding to its network this spring, along with Florence and Stockholm. It should be noted that this year, nine new airlines have been added to “Eleftherios Venizelos” Airport, all of which have begun operating in Athens for the first time.

Caviar has long been the ultimate symbol of wealth, a delicacy for refined palates associated exclusively with formal receptions, oligarchs, and haute cuisine restaurants. Today, however, this luxurious delicacy appears to be undergoing an unprecedented identity crisis. The rapid rise of new direct-toconsumer (DTC) brands has completely upended the rules of the market, offering caviar at prices so affordable they would enrage traditional connoisseurs. With trendy pastel packaging, promo codes, free shipping, and clever discounts, caviar is gradually transforming from a rare luxury into an everyday treat for millennials. Following bans on wild sturgeon fishing in the Caspian Sea, the industry turned to aquaculture, with China’s massive fish farms now flooding the international market. Major producers, such as the Chinese company Kaluga Queen, now supply both emerging DTC companies and top Michelin-starred restaurants. In fact, the shift in the product’s positioning and image has attracted an entirely new audience, primarily women aged 25 to 45, who now view caviar as a small personal treat.

For decades, there was an unwritten social contract between the generations. Parents worked their whole lives, denied themselves pleasures, saved money, and bought real estate to pass on to their children. Today, however, it seems that this mindset is changing. More and more retirees are part of a global phenomenon that has been dubbed “ski” (an acronym for “Spending Kid’s Inheritance”), which challenges the traditional transfer of assets from one generation to the next. According to a survey by Standard Life, one in seven parents in the United Kingdom (15%) now openly states that their priority for their retirement years is their own well-being rather than saving for their heirs. This shift, of course, is no accident. It also has to do with the way we now manage our finances. The guaranteed pensions of the past are gradually giving way to private pension plans and funds that retirees themselves can use as they see fit. At the same time, the data paint an interesting picture. Despite the difficulties faced by some older adults, many retirees view their pension as a stable income that allows them to live comfortably, while younger people struggle with their own daily expenses. Parents need to be honest with their children so that they do not count on an inheritance that may never materialize.

While demand for travel remains strong, airlines are deciding to limit the capacity of their flights. The reason is none other than cost. According to Reuters, American Airlines estimates that the latest rise in fuel prices will add about $1 billion to its fourth-quarter expenses. At United Airlines, some flights scheduled for December have already been canceled. The average price of jet fuel for the full year is estimated at $152 per barrel, nearly 70% higher than the $90 per barrel in 2025. This is also taking a toll on profitability. IATA forecasts net profits of $23 billion for the industry in 2026, down from $45 billion in 2025, with the net margin falling to 2% from 4.2%. Willie Walsh, IATA’s director general, notes that airlines are passing on part of the increase to passengers, but are still absorbing a significant portion of it in their financial results.

Frequent warnings from companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI about the existential risks of artificial intelligence may reflect genuine concerns about the future of humanity. At the same time, however, they may conceal a more practical fear: the threat that China poses to the business models of American giants. The financial markets’ fear of the enormous amounts of capital borrowed by American tech companies is nothing new. In recent weeks, however, concern has escalated rapidly due to a sudden surge in doomsday scenarios from industry insiders themselves. At the same time, Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, published a lengthy essay emphasizing the need to slow the pace of AI model development—a view shared by OpenAI’s Sam Altman and Elon Musk. These successive warnings seem to have taken everyone by surprise, including the Trump administration, which announced that it intends to appoint a new “AI czar” and create a special “AI task force.” The real fears center on financial data.

After years of largely unsuccessful efforts to wean European drivers off internal combustion engines, electric car sales are now accelerating due to a different catalyst: the sharp rise in fuel prices caused by geopolitical turmoil. Registrations of all-electric cars in Europe rose by 52% in August compared with a year earlier. Germany, the region’s largest auto market, recorded an increase of about 75%, while sales in France more than doubled. All-electric vehicles now accounted for 29% of new car deliveries in August. European consumers’ shift toward electric vehicles has already changed the market landscape. By the end of August, more than one in three cars sold in Europe was rechargeable, compared to just over one in four a year earlier. The picture is similar across Europe, where rising fuel prices are putting a strain on households already struggling with the cost of living.

Energy prices have been the scourge of bond markets this year, but now investors are worried that the next surge in inflation will come from food. Specifically, they foresee the risk of further increases in the cost of staple foods due to the threat of El Niño, fertilizer shortages, attacks on shipping, and the consequences of the heat wave and wildfires in Europe this summer. Many bond investors, however, are unwilling to take on this risk, especially given recent signs of economic resilience in the face of global headwinds.