UNESCO & Nature Protection: Greece has added the wider Mount Olympus area to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, bringing the country to 21 sites and boosting conservation duties for a Mediterranean biodiversity hotspot. Tourism Pressure: Balos Beach in Crete has gone viral for being overwhelmed by mass tourism, with authorities reportedly considering visitor caps to protect the fragile environment. Marine Pollution: A new report highlights “marine landfills” in Greece’s seas, where plastic and other waste keep returning to the seabed despite clean-up efforts. Climate & Heat Impacts: Albania’s Tirana Zoo is struggling with extreme heat, water shortages, and limited shade, showing how climate stress hits wildlife and people at the same time. Energy Transition for Islands: The EU and EIB approved a €2.3bn programme to decarbonise Greece’s islands, funding grid interconnections, renewables, storage, and electric transport. Weather Watch: Greece is moving from summer heat toward cooler conditions, with rain and isolated thunderstorms expected in parts of the country. Local Mobility: Athens police launched “Traffic Commander,” using AI, cameras, drones and staff to tackle congestion as schools reopen. Disaster Response: An open-deck ferry sank off Sifnos; the crew was rescued and officials say there was no fuel onboard, reducing pollution risk.