NEWS

In Brief

TUNNEL VISION

A new section of the Egnatia Highway opens to traffic A 9-kilometer stretch of the Egnatia Highway, between the Ioannina and Dodoni junctions in northwestern Greece, was inaugurated yesterday by Public Works Minister Giorgos Souflias. The section included the 3.5-kilometer Dodoni tunnel (photo) and was built at a cost of 105 million euros. The highway – which will span northern Greece from east to west – is set for completion in 2008. LANDMARK DECISION Green light for Athens bus tour The Athens Urban Transport Organization (OASA) will run a new bus line from Thursday called «Athens Landmarks» that will involve 20 stops at the city’s main sites. The bus, bearing the number 400, will cater for the city’s visitors and will operate until the end of September. It will run every 30 minutes and the 5-euro ticket can be bought by passengers on board the bus. Trafficking ring Attica police arrested yesterday four Iranians, aged between 22 and 31, on suspicion of having smuggled 12 illegal immigrants into the country from Turkey and then held them hostage until they paid up to 4,000 euros each, officers said. Police freed seven of the migrants from an Athens apartment. Officers were also looking for another Iranian and an Afghan in connection with the incident. Not peachy Farmers in northern Greece are threatening to cut off the country’s peach supply if their price demands are not met. The farmers are demanding 0.23 euros per kilo for their product from industrial fruit packagers who are counteroffering 0.18 euros. The farmers are due to make a final decision this evening. Car chase A car chase in Grevena, northern Greece, early yesterday ended with the arrest of three men accused of helping transport into Greece six illegal immigrants from Albania. Police stopped the three men, traveling in two separate cars next to each other, after they picked up the illegal immigrants from the Florina region close to the Albanian border. The illegal immigrants were also detained. Hot coffee The Development Ministry said yesterday that it was recalling a Chinese-made brand of espresso coffee maker after it was found that the lid would lift up whenever the machine was in operation. The ministry said that 960 of the Domani brand coffee machines had been sold in Greece and that customers should return them. Salmonella strikes The Hellenic Food Authority (EFET), said yesterday that it was ordering the withdrawal of 16-gram sachets of linden (Tilia platyphyllos) made by Fino and imported from Bulgaria. The food safety watchdog said tests on this particular brand of herb had revealed traces of salmonella. Bridge work Engineers will begin repairs on the Petrou Ralli Avenue and Treis Gefyres bridges on Kifissos Avenue, in the direction of Lamia, at 10 p.m. tomorrow until 6 a.m. the following day, the Public Works Ministry said. The work will last until Friday and the ministry advised drivers to use caution and comply with signs displayed by traffic police. Flash flood A sudden storm hit some parts of northern Greece late on Thursday, causing electricity blackouts and flooding tens of houses in the city of Kozani. The fire brigade received 35 calls for assistance from homes that had flooded in Kozani. No major damage was reported in any of the other areas.

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