NEWS

In Brief

DESERTIFICATION THREAT

Kilkis in N. Greece added to list of areas at risk of lacking water More areas of Greece than previously thought are in danger of suffering from desertification due to forecast temperature rises over the next 50 years, scientists revealed at a conference in Thessaloniki yesterday. Kilkis in northern Greece is one of the areas that had not previously been thought to be at risk but scientists from Thessaloniki’s Aristotle University said that it is likely to be hit by a lack of water. The worst-affected areas are likely to be Thessaly in central Greece and the island of Crete. Other areas in danger include the islands of Naxos and Lesvos. GANG BUSTED Five suspects wanted for 28 robberies that netted some 2 million euros Police have arrested five suspects accused of taking part in a gang that held up 28 banks and post offices across Athens in the last three years, earning them more than 2 million euros. Police said they are searching for another five men in connection to the robberies. Among their biggest heists was the robbery of a National Bank branch on Syngrou Avenue that gleaned them 367,000 euros, while in another theft at a ATEbank in Rendi, southern Athens, they took just over half a million euros. POSTAL STRIKE Post offices closed for the day Post offices around Greece will be closed today due to a 24-hour strike by postal workers in protest at a range of issues, including the hiring of more permanent staff without an interview process and the return of the money their pension fund invested in a structured bond. Questions for Kedikoglou Main opposition party PASOK and Synaspismos Left Coalition yesterday asked for Supreme Court President Romylos Kedikoglou to appear before the parliamentary transparency committee to answer questions about the investigation into trial fixing. The opposition MPs, who submitted a written request, said the pace of the probe was too slow. Serbian minister Foreign Affairs Minister Dora Bakoyannis met with her Serbian peer Vuk Jeremic in Athens yesterday where they held talks on international issues affecting the two nations, including Kosovo. «At this stage it is absolutely necessary to achieve consensus and responsibility from everyone and to avoid one-sided actions that will threaten the result of the political procedure and destabilize the area,» she said. Bakoyannis also said that Greece supports Serbia entering the EU and NATO. Prison smugglers Four men and one woman have been arrested after allegedly trying to smuggle heroin into Hania prison on Crete, police said yesterday. The woman was caught trying to pass a gram of heroin, hidden in a package, to an inmate during visiting hours. Officers searched the package and found another 3.5 grams of the drug inside that was allegedly destined for another prisoner. The woman allegedly got hold of the drugs from an acquaintance of a third prisoner. All three inmates and the alleged drug dealer were arrested. Railway cancellations There will be several changes to the Proastiakos suburban railway timetable today due to engineering work. The 6.14 and 6.43 a.m. trains from Piraeus to Athens International Airport will be canceled. Trains will not leave from the airport to Piraeus at 7.20, 7.50 and 9.20 a.m. either. The 5.30 and 8.11 a.m. trains from Corinth to Piraeus have been canceled, as has the 5.43 a.m. train in the other direction. For more information, commuters should call 210.52.72.000 Eye in the sky Scientists at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki have bought two remote-controlled helicopters to help them monitor the state of wetlands in Greece that are not easily accessible on foot. The university said yesterday that it had spent 150,000 euros on the high-tech helicopters, which measure almost 2 meters in length. The technology will be used to monitor and collect data on wetlands that Greece has agreed to protect in accordance with the Ramsar Convention. Food confiscated The Athens prefecture said yesterday it has confiscated 2.3 tons of food products from restaurants, tavernas and butchers since March. Most of the food violations related to frozen food being kept in unsuitable conditions and packaging lacking proper labels.

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