In Brief
JERUSALEM PATRIARCH
Theophilos to be enthroned despite Israeli insistence on non-recognition The new Greek Orthodox patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos, is to be enthroned in the Holy City today in the presence of Greek President Karolos Papoulias and high-ranking Jordanian and Palestinian government officials. The Israeli government will be boycotting the ceremony. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has sent a letter to Theophilos, maintaining that the latter’s predecessor – the disgraced Irenaios – is still the official patriarch. TELEVISION QUALITY Gov’t spokesman calls for better regulation to improve standards On the occasion of yesterday’s World Television Day, government spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos said that Greece has not done enough to properly regulate the sector since private television was introduced 16 years ago. «We are a European country which has not managed to… put rules in place which would help the mass media be better,» he said. WEATHER ALERT Temperatures expected to plummet The National Meteorological Service (EMY) warned yesterday that the weather would worsen around the country today, starting in western Greece and then spreading. Low temperatures and high winds are expected until Thursday, EMY said. Trolley stoppage Workers on trolley buses begin three days of work stoppages today. Today and on Thursday there will be no trolley service between 7 and 9 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. as well as 7 and 9 p.m. On Wednesday there will be a stoppage from 1 to 4 p.m. Panteion probe The trial of 18 people in connection with the alleged mismanagement of nearly 8 million euros of funds at Athens’s prestigious Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences was yesterday set for December 5. The 18 – who include two former rectors and two former vice rectors, as well as other university staff – face charges of fraud, embezzlement, making false statements and dereliction of duty while serving as a civil servant. Hospital thief Thessaloniki police yesterday warned patients to pay close attention to their valuables after a 31-year-old woman being treated in one of the city’s hospitals was robbed of her wallet. A 21-year-old woman was arrested after she was spotted trying to withdraw cash using the patient’s credit cards, police said. Patients were advised to give their valuables to relatives for safekeeping or put them in the hospital safe. Hunter arrested A Cypriot hunter has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after he allegedly fired two shots at British UN peacekeepers in the divided island’s buffer zone, authorities said yesterday. The 22-year-old is being questioned for shooting at the two after he refused to submit to a routine search while hunting inside the buffer zone near the capital Nicosia on Sunday, said police. (AFP) Flagging cabs Taxi drivers and Transport Ministry officials failed to reach an agreement yesterday to increase cab fares. The taxi drivers have asked to put up their prices due to rises in the cost of fuel. «We are trying to find the golden mean,» said Transport Minister Michalis Liapis, adding that a decision would be made within the next three weeks so that any new fares would be effective from the New Year. Bike rides Cyclists are now allowed to take their bicycles onto the Athens-to-Piraeus electric railway during off-peak hours, the Athens Urban Transport Organization said yesterday. Bikes can be taken onto the last carriage of each train, using the last door, between 9.30 a.m. and noon, and from 6.30 p.m. until the service stops running. There are no time restrictions on the weekend. Only two bicycles will be allowed onto each train. Chattering children Parents of children attending four kindergartens in Thessaloniki kept the youngsters from school yesterday due to the lack of heating in the building. Authorities attributed the problem to a delay in the buildings’ connection to the local natural gas network that is expected to be completed today.
