NEWS

In Brief

ATHENS BLAZE

Firefighters struggle to contain fire at record shop in the city center A fire broke out at a popular central Athens record store, Metropolis, early yesterday morning. It took 10 fire trucks along with 30 firefighters more than three hours to put out the blaze, which caused serious damage to the store. A security guard was briefly trapped inside but managed to escape unscathed. Fire officers say the blaze began in the basement and may have been caused by a short circuit. BUILDING BRIDGES New Greek-Turkish border crossing Transport Minister Michalis Liapis and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday agreed to launch a feasibility study into the possibility of building a new bridge on the border between the two countries over the Evros River, sources said. The agreement is due to be rubberstamped in late August when Premier Costas Karamanlis is due to make an historic official visit to Turkey. Liapis was in Turkey for the inauguration of the new train from Thessaloniki to Istanbul, nicknamed «the Friendship Express.» Rhodes outage Authorities on the Aegean island of Rhodes pleaded with locals to limit their use of electricity yesterday after a blowout at the local power plant led to blackouts in various parts of the island. FYROM arrest Border police in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) have arrested a 52-year-old Greek national on suspicion of crossing the border illegally and being involved in human trafficking, authorities said yesterday. The man, known only by the initials A.P., was caught on Wednesday trying to smuggle four people into FYROM, officers said. He has been remanded in custody for 30 days. Armed gang An armed gang held up two neighboring banks in Nea Philadelphia, northern Athens, yesterday. Two armed men robbed an Alpha Bank branch at 10.30 a.m., while further up the same street another two men held up an Emporiki branch at the same time. The four thieves made off with an unknown amount. Thessaloniki robbery Three armed men held up the office of a construction company in Thessaloniki yesterday, absconding with 15,000 euros, police said. Purse snatcher Police yesterday nabbed a 28-year-old woman for purse snatching in Glyfada, eastern Athens. The suspected thief allegedly worked with another two accomplices, who would divert their victims’ attention and then pinch their purses. Myconos nights Club owners at the popular resort island of Myconos have postponed a three-day strike against an «antiquated» weekday curfew law after the local mayor promised to ease closing hour restrictions, the union of Myconos entertainment centers said in a statement yesterday. Dozens of clubs and bars had threatened to turn off music after 11 p.m. from yesterday to tomorrow in protest of a law forcing them to close at 4 a.m. on weekdays. (AFP) Confusing lambs Veterinarians from the northwestern Greek prefecture of Ioannina said yesterday that live animal dealers are importing cheap lambs from Romania and labeling them as having come from Hungary, a European Union state. The European Commission has been informed so it can conduct the necessary checks. Bridge work Engineers will be carrying out repairs on the three bridges in Athens on Kifissos Avenue, in the direction toward Lamia, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. from tomorrow until Friday, the Public Works Ministry said. They will be working on the Treis Gefyres, Petrou Ralli and Lenorman bridges. Drivers are advised to use caution and comply with signs displayed by traffic police.

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