A health inspectors’ report into the operations of the Athens Old Age Home in Ambelokipi is expected to be submitted to a prosecutor today, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Solidarity Giorgos Constantopoulos said yesterday, adding that the results of inspections on 14 other homes would be revealed directly afterward. A probe was launched last week after an inspection at the Ambelokipi home found that residents had been subjected to clinical medicine trials without their written consent.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that there had been “positive developments with the matter of the Aegean continental shelf.” Speaking at the World Newspaper Congress in Istanbul, Erdogan said he believed Greece and Turkey could “overcome their difficulties, if there is mutual good will and political initiative.” Greek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Giorgos Koumoutsakos responded: “The will of both sides for improvement... in relations has been established. In this spirit and within this framework, let us hope for positive developments.”

Athens taxi fares yesterday increased by an average of 4.6 percent following an agreement between taxi drivers and government officials. Regular fares went up from 26 to 28 cents per kilometer. Meanwhile, the special airport and harbour charges have gone up 50 percent. The price of calling a radio taxi has increased by 20 cents while the price of booking a taxi for a later time or date increased by 30 cents.

The leaders of Greece’s main political parties have agreed to participate in a television debate next Tuesday, June 8, at 9 p.m. which is aimed at clarifying their European policies ahead of the June 13 European Parliamentary elections, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos announced yesterday.

Two robbers netted around 100,000 euros in a raid on a branch of the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) yesterday afternoon in the Athenian suburb of Ilion, police said.

Traffic will be subject to disruptions on the stretch of the Athens-Lamia National Road between the Varibobi and Kifissia junctions following the launch of resurfacing works yesterday that will end in mid-July.

Athens police were yesterday seeking two men who fired shots at officers in the car park of a supermarket in the suburb of Ekali before fleeing in a truck. Officers had approached the truck to conduct an inspection when the shot was fired. Following a car chase, the two men abandoned the vehicle and disappeared on foot.

A European Commission report made public yesterday deemed 99.9 percent of Greek beaches clean enough for swimming. This compares to an EU average of 98.6 percent, according to the report.

Renowned heart surgeon Sir Magdi Yacoub will run the health clinic in Ancient Olympia during the shot put competition on August 18, Athens 2004 organizing committee chief Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki said yesterday after meeting the London-based, Egyptian doctor in Athens.

Contract workers will tomorrow join a 24-hour strike which has been organized by the General Confederation of Greek Labor. The workers, who are seeking permanency, are to stage a rally at the central Pedion tou Areos park at 11 a.m. Teachers are also to protest outside the Education Ministry at 12.30 p.m. And municipal employees are to march to the Interior Ministry at 10 a.m.

A 24-hour strike by sailors on salvage vessels and tugboats, starting at 6 a.m. tomorrow, is expected to cause problems for other ships sailing into the country’s harbors.