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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.

Germany and London Move Closer with a Future High-Speed Link

2025-12-06 by Kostas Raptis

train tracks

DB and Eurostar sign an MoU to explore a direct high-speed connection between Germany and London, aiming for launch in the early 2030s.

RevitUp.direct Unveils Cyprus’ First Destination-Scale AI Chatbot for Famagusta

2025-12-04 by Kostas Raptis

RevitUp AI travel assistant

A breakthrough moment for Mediterranean tourism innovation RevitUp.direct proudly announces the launch of the groundbreaking AI Digital Assistant developed for the Famagusta Tourism Development & Promotion Company — the first destination-wide AI chatbot ever deployed in Cyprus, marking a decisive step into the next era of intelligent travel experiences. The new assistant is available through […]

6,000 A320 Airplanes Need a Patch Because of UV Rays

2025-12-02 by Kostas Raptis

airlines

Airbus A320 jets worldwide need a software fix after sunlight corrupted flight-control data. Passengers get chaos, but no compensation.

Cretan Farmer Blockades Force KTEL to Rewrite Reality

2025-12-01 by Kostas Raptis

bus stop

Cretan farmer blockades hit KTEL routes, forcing early departures and pure road chaos.

Safety Review Pushes Drastic Measures for Krasi’s Plane Tree

2025-12-01 by Kostas Raptis

plane tree of Krasi

Krasi’s ancient plane tree may undergo drastic pruning after a new study cites safety risks.

Heraklion Airport Bomb Scare Handled Swiftly

2025-12-01 by Kostas Raptis

Heraklion Airport handled an early bomb alert with calm precision; the flight to Athens departed safely.

Full security protocols followed after a bomb threat at Heraklion Airport; nothing suspicious found.

Golden Visa Applications Dropped Sharply in 2025

2025-11-30 by Kostas Raptis

Golden Visa Greece

Golden Visa applications in Greece fell sharply in 2025 as approvals surged and a large backlog remains.

Crete Prepares for the Loudest Motorcade of the Season

2025-11-30 by Kostas Raptis

Heraklion taxi drivers

Heraklion taxi drivers launch a fiery 48-hour strike over “pirate taxis,” protesting rare but infuriating illegal rides across Crete.

Heraklion Airport Main Runway Shuts Down January 19–26

2025-11-30 by Kostas Raptis

Heraklion Airport runway

Heraklion Airport closes its main runway 19–26 January 2026 for safety upgrades; flights shift to the smaller runway.

A Stronger Grid for Crete

2025-11-28 by Kostas Raptis

Crete–Attica power link

The Crete–Attica power link promises €5B in savings by 2035, cleaner air, and more stable energy for tourism.

What Crete’s Delayed Energy Shift Means for Homes, Hotels, and Tourism

2025-11-27 by Kostas Raptis

Crete-Attica interconnection delay

Crete’s major energy interconnection enters commercial operation in 2026, but oil units must remain active, affecting homes, hotels, and tourism development.

Paros Airport Upgrade Hits the Usual Greek Infrastructure Wall

2025-11-25 by Kostas Raptis

Paros Airport

Paros Airport receives €3 million to restart stalled works, but major delays and a €45M funding gap push the full upgrade far into the next decade.

Crete Faces EU Pressure Over Kasteli Airport’s Missing Rail Link

2025-11-18 by Kostas Raptis

rail link

Haris Mamoulakis warns that Crete’s new Kasteli Airport may open as the EU’s only major hub without a rail link.

Winter 2025/26: Greece’s Airlines Are Not Just Optimistic — They Are Aggressively Confident

2025-11-14 by Kostas Raptis

Greece Winter Tourism Surges

INSETE data shows 6.33 million winter seats to Greece for 2025/26 (+11.8%) with bookings up 6.8%.

Santorini Authenticity Year Marketing Costs Revealed

2025-11-13 by Kostas Raptis

Santorini authenticity digital campaign

Santorini’s €1 million-plus digital campaign reveal shows how “authenticity” is sold — budget, reality, and what visitors experience.

Hotels Across Greece Turn to Solar Energy

2025-11-13 by Kostas Raptis

Greek hotels solar energy

Greek hotels are turning to solar energy to beat rising power costs and meet eco-tourism demand. Experts predict 40% will be partly solar-powered by 2026.

Rhodes International Airport Expansion Nears Completion

2025-11-12 by Kostas Raptis

Rhodes International Airport Expansion

Rhodes airport upgrades reach final phase as runway reconstruction and capacity expansion shape the island’s shoulder-season growth.

Cyprus’ Nicosia–Troodos Highway Still Under Construction

2025-11-12 by Kostas Raptis

Astromeritis-Evrychou motorway Cyprus

Planned in 1973, the Nicosia–Troodos highway is still unfinished. Officials now promise completion by 2026 — whatever that means.

Heraklion’s Alikarnassos Bridge Repairs on Pause. Again.

2025-11-12 by Kostas Raptis

Alikarnassos Bridge damage

Heraklion’s Alikarnassos bridge remains in limbo as the €10 million project awaits a green light from the bureaucracy.

Cretan Olive Growers Urged to Harvest Early

2025-11-10 by Kostas Raptis

olive harvest

Olive fly conditions prompt early harvest warning across Heraklion region.

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Stories of Interest

Maria Kozyraki

Demolitions of Illegal Structures Set to Begin Along Crete’s Coastline

2026-01-05 By Iorgos Pappas

After years of delays, reviews, and dormant paperwork, the state is finally moving forward with the demolition of illegal structures along Crete’s coastline. In early January, the Decentralized Administration of Crete signed a works contract that clears the way for the execution of final demolition orders affecting beaches, the foreshore, forest land, and reforestation zones […]

Kastelli Airport 65% complete hero image

Kastelli Airport Nears Completion, Says Every Update Since Forever

2026-01-05 By Kostas Raptis

Kastelli Airport is “65% complete” again. Delays, timelines, optimism, and Crete’s legendary siga-siga culture collide.

gunfire in Crete

Why Crete Is Not All Random Bullets and Vendetta

2026-01-01 By Kostas Raptis

Crete’s reputation often suffers from isolated incidents amplified into myths, but the island is safer than headlines suggest.

burning olive wood

Why Crete Smells Like Burned Olive Wood in Winter (And Why That’s Normal)

2026-01-01 By Mihaela Lica Butler

From October to May, winter in Crete smells of burning olive wood. It looks illegal, feels confusing, and is completely normal — if you understand the island.

Crete culture

Crete Plans €2 Million in Culture and Sports as Infrastructure Falls Behind

2025-12-29 By Manuel Santos

Crete announces a €2.06 million cultural and sports programme for 2026, even as water shortages, infrastructure strain, and airport delays raise hard questions.

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