Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis ordered an investigation yesterday into a collision between two cargo carriers that took place earlier in the day near the port of Thessaloniki. There were no reports of injuries or damage. The Bulgarian-flagged Geo Milev crashed into the Panama-flagged MSC Helena about 3 nautical miles out of the northern city’s port. It was the second collision to take place in the port area in the last four days. On Wednesday, a Cypriot captain was killed when his vessel sunk after striking another cargo carrier.

Firefighters received tens of calls of help for flooding from residents in the broader Attica area after heavy rainfall on Saturday. Homes and roads flooded on the nearby island of Salamina, Spata, Pallini and Elefsina. In Kato Patissia, Athens, the heavy rainfall resulted in a garden wall collapsing onto nearby parked cars. There were no reports of injuries. The first snow of the year fell on Saturday in the mountainous regions of northern Greece’s Florina and Kastoria. Weather experts expect conditions to start improving as of this afternoon.

Two armed men held up a service station in Lamia, central Greece, late on Saturday and made away with 5,000 euros in cash, according to authorities. Police said the men approached the service station’s attendant and fired several shots into the air and demanded he hand over the money. The employee, however, refused to do so and was attacked by the assailants with a garden tool they found in the service station before escaping on foot with the money.

Stelios Haji-Ioannou tells Kathimerini English Edition why he is upbeat about his no-frills cruise venture in Greece and expands on his business philosophy.

Greek cruises for ordinary folks...