Wildfire Crisis in Crete: Greek firefighters kept battling a major blaze near Rethymno, with conditions improving but “hotspots” still active; about 4,500 hectares were scorched and strong winds kept operations difficult, while fires also burned on Paros, Kalymnos and Andros. Evacuations & Emergency Measures: Authorities declared a state of emergency in Agios Vasileios, evacuating around 8,000 residents and tourists as gusts reached up to 125 km/h and aerial firefighting was hampered by near-zero visibility. EU Support for Greece: A DG ECHO pre-positioning programme will deploy a specialised national forest firefighting module to Greece from 1 August to 15 September, with the first 40-firefighter contingent already en route and rotations planned. Tourism Access & Warnings: With wildfire risk still “very high” in parts of Greece and the Aegean, officials urged holidaymakers to stay alert and follow evacuation guidance. Education & Mobility: Greece approved seven foreign universities to open international branch campuses for 2026–27, including US, UK, France and Cyprus institutions, after a contentious parliamentary vote. Crime & Justice: A Scottish gangland figure, Steven Lyons, appeared in a Spanish court via video link as part of an organised crime case tied to Spain and linked extradition steps involving Greece.