The Justice Ministry submitted to parliament yesterday an amendment bill on domestic violence and pedophilia. Forced sexual acts and physical beating of children as a means of punishment may be now considered as crimes of domestic violence and will carry stiffer sentences, according to the bill. Regarding pedophilia, the bill outlines that guilty parties who have abused a relationship of trust can receive a sentence of up to 20 years.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will hold talks with a range of unionists throughout next week ahead of his keynote economic policy speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) next month. Meanwhile, the Panhellenic Confederation of Police Officers (POASY) called on all its members to take part in a protest when TIF opens on September 9. POASY said the government has not fulfilled promises to raise policemen’s basic salary by 140 euros a month as well as recognizing their jobs as hazardous.

Greek teams had mixed fortunes in the draw for the first round proper of the UEFA Cup. Panathinaikos will play little-known Metalurg Zaporizhya from Ukraine, Iraklis will clash with Wisla Krakow of Poland, Skoda Xanthi will meet Romanian side Dinamo Bucharest and Atromitos will face holders FC Sevilla of Spain. Cypriot surprise package Ethnikos Achnas has landed France’s Lens. The matches will take place on September 14 and 28. Winners of the two-leg ties qualify to the group stage.

Greece’s second-round knock-out fixture with China in the World Basketball Championship in Japan tomorrow has been rescheduled from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m. Greek time.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis met with Russia’s Ambassador to Greece Andrei Vdovin ahead of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Greece on September 4. Putin is expected to visit Greece for talks concerning the construction of the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline. Bulgarian Premier Sergei Stanishev is also likely to join in the talks.

A 14-year-old girl disappeared from her home in Koukaki, central Athens, a week ago and has not been seen by her family since, authorities said yesterday. The police and the Child’s Smile organization asked for anyone with information on the whereabouts of Eliza Nanousi to contact them. The teenager is 1.58 meters tall and has long brown hair. The Child’s Smile can be contacted on its 24-hour hotline by dialing 1056.

A McDonalds store in Palaio Faliron in southern Athens suffered minor damage early yesterday when unknown men threw homemade fire bombs at the fast food restaurant, police said. The men smashed the front window and threw in two bottles containing flammable liquid, setting the store on fire shortly after 4 a.m.

About 10 unknown men attacked the AEK fan club in Aegaleo, western Athens, yesterday causing minor damages, police said. The group threw stones and Molotov cocktails at the club before escaping on foot, police added.

Police said yesterday that they have broken up a gang of three thieves, aged 31, 32 and 34, thought to be responsible for about 100 robberies in Athens and Piraeus. The men, who are Georgian nationals, were caught by police as they were leaving an apartment building in Nea Ionia in northern Athens. The suspects had allegedly just robbed homes in the apartment block.

Greece’s newly appointed ambassador to Australia, Giorgos Zois, handed his credentials to Government General Michael Jeffrey in Canberra yesterday.