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Kostas Raptis is a reporter living in Heraklion, Crete, where he covers the fast-moving world of AI and smart technology. He first discovered the island in 2016 and never quite forgot it—finally making the move in 2022. Now based in the city he once only dreamed of calling home, Kostas brings a curious eye and a human touch to the stories shaping our digital future.

About Kostas Raptis

Kostas Raptis is a reporter living in Heraklion, Crete, where he covers the fast-moving world of AI and smart technology. He first discovered the island in 2016 and never quite forgot it—finally making the move in 2022. Now based in the city he once only dreamed of calling home, Kostas brings a curious eye and a human touch to the stories shaping our digital future.

Greece Extends Deadline for 22-Airport Concession as Investor Interest Grows

2026-07-06 by Kostas Raptis

Greece Regional Airport Concession deadline AI illustration

The deadline to express interest in the 40-year concession of 22 regional Greek airports moved from June 30 to August 20.

Got an Old Mattress or Garden Waste? Here’s How to Get Rid of It in Heraklion

2026-07-04 by Kostas Raptis

waste app Heraklion

The Municipality of Heraklion has launched a dedicated web application for reporting bulky items and green waste.

Hersonissos to Open New Vocational High School with Tourism Studies

2026-07-03 by Kostas Raptis

tourism studies AI illustration

A new vocational high school in Hersonissos will offer tourism, business, IT and agri-food studies, helping prepare local students for careers in Crete’s growing economy.

Greece Launches the New VisitGreece.gr With AI Features and a Digital Tourism Makeover

2026-07-01 by Kostas Raptis

VisitGreece.gr digital museum

Greece’s new VisitGreece.gr officially launches with AI-powered travel planning, a companion app, and a digital museum.

Connexus Unveils ‘ConnexAI’ Suite

2026-06-29 by Kostas Raptis

Connexus ConnexAI

Can a blend of ConnexAI tools and traditional 24/7 human consultants actually change the way corporate travel is managed in Greater China?

Heraklion Upgrades Road Safety with New Smart Pedestrian Crossings

2026-06-29 by Kostas Raptis

Heraklion smart pedestrian crossings

Heraklion is betting on technology to fix its traffic woes, with 27 new raised crossings and 24 smart pedestrian crossings now in progress, on a €2.7 million budget.

Greece Has New Deadlines for Ski Resort Upgrades

2026-06-23 by Kostas Raptis

skis in the mountains

In Greece, investment projects related to ski resort upgrades funded by the NextGeneration EU program now have a definitive final deadline of June 30, 2026.

Direct Flights Link Alexandroupoli and Heraklion for the Summer Season

2026-06-23 by Kostas Raptis

SKY express

Seasonal air link between Alexandroupoli and Heraklion returns. Plus: New plans to connect Thrace, Lesvos, and Crete by 2027.

Rhodes Unveils Ancient Shipyards and Secret Palace Grounds Closed to the Public for 75 Years

2026-06-18 by Kostas Raptis

Pervola archaeological site

The massive restoration integrates Hellenistic naval shipyards, monumental Roman streets, Knightly mints, and Ottoman architecture directly with the Medieval Gardens of the Palace of the Grand Master.

Police Arrested Three Taxi Drivers in Lasithi

2026-06-16 by Kostas Raptis

undercover police AI illustration

Three taxi drivers in Lasithi were arrested after attempting to overcharge undercover Greek police officers posing as English-speaking tourists.

Crete Launches €1.9M Drone and Satellite Control Program Against Mosquitoes

2026-06-15 by Kostas Raptis

€1.9 million high-tech mosquito eradication AI illustration

Crete launches a €1.9 million high-tech mosquito eradication contract utilizing drones, satellites, and GIS mapping.

EU Finalizes Landmark Air Passenger Rights Reform After 12-Year Standby

2026-06-15 by Kostas Raptis

EU air passenger rights reform

The EU has finalized a major overhaul of air passenger rights, banning hidden fees for name changes and family seating while preserving classic flight delay compensation.

Chania Tourist Police Crack Down on Illegal Beach Masseurs and Unlicensed Vendors

2026-06-13 by Kostas Raptis

Chania tourist police

The Chania Tourist Police launched a targeted sweep on Crete beaches, arresting four individuals for unlicensed vending and unsanitary beach massages.

Police Heavy-Handedness Terrifies Children and Enrages Chania Community

2026-06-13 by Kostas Raptis

Gemini AI Apokoronas police incident

Greek police face severe backlash after launching an aggressive, high-intensity traffic sweep directly outside a primary school festival in Vryses, Crete.

F-35 Flight Simulator Lands in Heraklion’s Freedom Square

2026-06-12 by Kostas Raptis

F-35 simulator Heraklion

Residents and visitors in Heraklion will have the chance to try an F-35 flight simulator in Freedom Square on June 13 as part of a public educational initiative supported by the Municipality of Heraklion.

Hersonissos Signs €560,000 Infrastructure Contract to Repair 2020 Storm Damage

2026-06-04 by Kostas Raptis

Hersonissos road repairs

Hersonissos Municipality has finally signed a €560,000 contract to fix the collapsed retaining walls and broken roads left behind by the severe floods of October and November… 2020.

New Greek Law Deploys Drones to Police Public Beaches

2026-06-03 by Kostas Raptis

beach drone surveillance Greece

Greece introduces drone and satellite surveillance to monitor beaches under a new omnibus bill restructuring shoreline business limits and public access.

Porto Carras Opens for Summer 2026 and Bets on Wine, Food, and Space

2026-06-02 by Kostas Raptis

Porto Carras Grand Resort

Porto Carras Grand Resort has reopened for the 2026 season, bringing new restaurants, vineyard experiences, wellness facilities, and family-friendly activities to one of Greece’s largest resort estates in Halkidiki.

Cretalive Reports Greece’s Real Estate Market Runs on Three Different Speeds as Tech-Upgrades Outpace Location

2026-06-01 by Kostas Raptis

Greece real estate

For decades, the golden rule of real estate was an uncreative mantra repeated by every broker from Chania to Thessaloniki: location, location, location. But according to a comprehensive market synthesis published by Cretalive, that old rule is officially dead. In today’s market, an elite address means absolutely nothing if the building’s energy certificate resembles a […]

Heraklion Mayor Says Crete Is Catching Up on Decades of Delays

2026-05-30 by Kostas Raptis

Alexis Kalokairinos at ECONOMIST forum

At the Economist conference in Chania, Heraklion Mayor Alexis Kalokairinos addressed long-standing infrastructure gaps and local government reforms needed to support Crete’s future development.

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Why We Embrace AI

At Argophilia, we believe in using every tool at our disposal to bring you the stories that matter. You may notice a certain precision in our data analysis, a specific flair in our visuals, or a rapid turnaround on complex topics. That is no accident—it is the result of our rampant use of artificial intelligence.

We use Gemini to help synthesize data, structure our reporting, and ensure our news remains as sharp as the reality we cover. When it comes to our imagery, we rely on the creative power of Midjourney and NightCafe, unless otherwise noted in our editorial credits.

We are not apologetic for this. In a fast-moving world, these tools allow us to focus on what really counts: investigating the issues, giving a voice to the marginalized, and maintaining the journalistic integrity you expect from us. We see AI not as a replacement for human judgment, but as an engine that amplifies our ability to inform, analyze, and tell the truth about our island and beyond.

We are writers and journalists first—but we are proud to be tech-enabled ones, too.

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Stories of Interest

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Free Tourism Studies in Crete: Enrollments Now Open for 2026-2027

2026-07-07 By Argophilia Travel News

The SAEK Tourism of Crete offers free vocational training in hospitality, management, culinary arts, and pastry.

Bramiana fire

Firefighters Keep Watch After Ierapetra Blaze Threatens Greenhouses

2026-07-07 By Iorgos Pappas

A wildfire broke out on Monday morning near agricultural greenhouses in Bramiana, Ierapetra, triggering a 112 emergency alert.

Malevizi Festival

Malevizi Festival Returns in September With Free Concerts, Local Culture, and Traditional Dances

2026-07-07 By Arthur Butler

The Malevizi Festival returns to Gazi from Sept 4-6, 2026, with live music, local culture, and free evening concerts.

Cretan farmer giant potato featured image

Giant Potato Found in Crete Could Challenge Guinness World Record If It Passes Inspection

2026-07-07 By Iorgos Pappas

Local reports from Neo Chorio, Apokoronas, claim a farmer unearthed a 6.15kg potato which would surpass the current Guinness World Record for the world’s heaviest potato.

flowers Rethymno AI generated image

Rethymno Celebrates the Citizens Who Make the City Bloom

2026-07-07 By Victoria Udrea

Rethymno celebrates residents, schools, and volunteers who beautify the city with gardens, balconies, and rooftop greenery during the annual Greening Our Garden competition.

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