A virus responsible for triggering a series of heart inflammations this month — three of which were fatal — has been identified as the intestinal virus Coxsackie B, microbiologists at Thessaloniki University said yesterday. The virus, which provoked 46 cases of myocarditis and perimyocarditis since April 18, was identified after tests on samples from the three fatalities and others. Further tests will try to determine whether the virus differs to others in the enterovirus family. The government closed all educational establishments for three days last week to ease fears of an epidemic.

President Glafcos Clerides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash yesterday concluded a third round of talks with no sign of being any closer to reunifying the divided island by June. UN envoy Alvaro de Soto, the mediator, set off for New York to brief the Security Council. “Nothing has happened... things are becoming more difficult,” an official source said after yesterday’s meeting. A set of proposals submitted yesterday by Denktash was dismissed by Nicosia officials as “nothing new.” Clerides and Denktash will resume biweekly meetings on May 7.

A Greek court’s conviction of 12 Britons and two Dutch citizens on espionage-related charges on Saturday was justified in view of post-September 11 security concerns, government spokesman Christos Protopappas said yesterday. He added that “the trial was conducted with respect for the rights of the accused... and justice proved to be indulgent, with sentences suspended following appeal.” The convictions provoked furious reaction in Britain.

Preparing this year’s Easter feast will be less costly than last year, Development Minister Akis Tsochadzopoulos said yesterday, even as the National Consumers’ Union noted a reduction in consumer purchasing power. Overall, food will be 4.19 percent cheaper this Easter, Tsochadzopoulos said, adding that the slight rise in vegetable prices (due to imports) was becoming an isolated phenomenon. Lamb and goat prices are lower this year.

Deputy Transport Minister Spyros Vouyias will be the ruling PASOK party’s candidate for mayor of Thessaloniki, PASOK General Secretary Costas Laliotis said on Saturday. Vouyias gained 16 percent of the vote in Greece’s second largest city in elections four years ago, with the backing of the Left Coalition.

Leftist resistance hero Manolis Glezos will run as an independent candidate for the prefectures of Athens and Piraeus in October elections, he said yesterday. Glezos said he would step down and support the left if it backed another candidate. He said he would not cooperate with ruling party PASOK. Glezos and Lakis Santas, as teenagers, climbed the Acropolis and tore down the Nazi flag during the occupation.

Taxi fees will include an Easter gift of 0.80 euros for drivers from tomorrow, May 1 until Friday, May 10.

Plans to ensure the smooth functioning of Greek cities hosting the Olympic Games were the focus of yesterday’s meeting between Athens 2004 President Gianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki and Prime Minister Costas Simitis ahead of the next session of the Olympics interministerial committee on Monday, April 13.

The population of Greece today stands at 10.96 million — a rise of 6.9 percent since 1991 when it was 10.26 million, the National Statistical Service said yesterday.