In Brief
FINAL FOUR
Athens ready to host Europe’s top basketball event on May 4-6 Greek officials said yesterday that Athens is ready to host the Euroleague Basketball Final Four on May 4-6. «Preparations for the event are proceeding very well,» said Sports Minister Giorgos Orfanos during a press conference at Athens City Hall. «The Final Four is an opportunity for fans across Europe, and especially here in Athens, to fully enjoy their passion for basketball,» said Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu. He added that Panathinaikos will become the first Greek basketball team to face NBA opposition in the USA. Exhibition matches against the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets are due to take place on October 11 and 13. CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW MPs accept some 50 proposals Parliament yesterday voted to approve 43 of the government’s 46 proposals on a review of the Constitution, which will take place after the next general elections. Deputies also approved six of PASOK’s 29 proposals. MPs will debate these suggestions, which included changing Article 16 to allow private universities, once Parliament reconvenes after the elections. Inmate suicide Justice Minister Anastassis Papaligouras has ordered an investigation into the apparent suicide of a 16-year-old inmate at Korydallos Prison. The Polish teenager was being held at the prison for minors in Avlona but was transferred to Korydallos so he could receive psychological treatment. He allegedly hanged himself using a bedsheet and left a suicide note. Arson attacks Unidentified arsonists destroyed at least 11 traffic surveillance cameras in separate attacks around Athens early yesterday. No one was injured in the attacks. The assailants disabled the cameras by dousing ground-level circuit boxes with petrol and setting them alight, police said. Artifacts haul Four men are being questioned in connection with Monday’s large antiquities haul in the small town of Elassona, northern Greece, police in Thessaloniki said yesterday. The men, aged between 47 and 57, face charges of trafficking in antiquities after allegedly attempting to sell five ancient silver coins to an undercover policeman for 2,500 euros a piece, officers said. A raid on the suspects’ homes unearthed dozens of ancient artifacts. Grenade blast A hand grenade that exploded in a central Thessaloniki district early yesterday damaged six parked cars but caused no injuries, police said. Officers were yesterday seeking the perpetrators of the attack, whose motive was unclear.
