In Brief
Ailing archbishop
Christodoulos may commence with chemotherapy after condition worsens Archbishop Christodoulos could receive chemotherapy treatment by injection today as his condition has worsened. The head of the Church of Greece is suffering from liver cancer and the apparent deterioration in his condition has prompted his potential successors to begin forming alliances in the hope of succeeding him, sources said. There were several discussions between bishops on the sidelines of yesterday’s Holy Synod meeting. Cleaner Athens Campaign to keep city trash-free launched with multilingual leaflets The City of Athens launched yesterday a campaign to keep the capital clean. Pamphlets in six languages, including English, that offer tips on how to dispose of trash are being handed out to businesses in the city. The leaflets also list all the current regulations and possible fines for violations. Among the practical advice offered to residents is the recommendation that they place their rubbish in durable plastic bags rather than supermarket bags. People who have large items to dispose of, such as furniture, should call the citizens’ helpline on 195 so they can arrange a pickup with their local municipal department. Santorini wreck Oil spill off island ‘has been cleared’ Louis Hellenic Cruises, the operator of the Sea Diamond ferry that sunk off Santorini, said it has successfully completed a cleanup operation of the coastal area near the site of the accident that took place in April. Some 1,600 people, mostly American tourists, were evacuated from the ship, but two French passengers were never found and are presumed drowned. The cleanup operation left the beaches in a cleaner state than before the accident took place, the company said in a statement. Fraudster found A 59-year-old man believed to have swindled hundreds of euros from the parents of foreign kindergarten pupils in Kavala has been traced, police said yesterday. According to officers, the alleged fraudster acquired the parents’ telephone numbers by pretending to be a municipal official. The suspect told the parents that the municipality wanted to offer the children 1,700 euros’ worth of books as a Christmas gift but that each family had to pay a 250-euro deposit. He faces a string of fraud charges. Billboard crackdown The Ombudsman yesterday called on authorities to impose fines on firms found to have erected illegal billboards on roadsides, charging that such activities are a potentially dangerous distraction for motorists. Already there have been 154 cases of legal action against offenders, the Ombudsman office noted. Heart clinics Fewer people would die of heart attacks in Greece if the cardiological units of state hospitals were better staffed and organized, a group of medics said yesterday. Attica needs at least four or five 24-hour clinics if it is to adequately deal with emergency cases, the doctors agreed. Trains canceled The Hellenic Railways Organization (OSE) said yesterday that, due to emergency engineering works, service will be suspended on the Proastiakos suburban railway between Piraeus and Nerantziotissa stations from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The work is due to be completed by Sunday. The suspension affects the 4062 train that leaves Piraeus at 10.08 p.m. and the 4063 train that leaves Nerantziotissa at 11.14 p.m. Bank raid Two robbers, one brandishing a gun, burst into a branch of the Postal Savings Bank in Thessaloniki’s Evosmos district yesterday morning, fleeing with more than 32,000 euros. The thieves made their getaway on a motorcycle after the raid, which did not result in any injuries. People skills Being a good manager need not be a difficult task, according to Greek-Australian corporate psychologist Katina Cremona who has spoken to Kathmerini English Edition about her new book, which offers «eight tools for the savvy leader.» (Page 6) Euroleague basketball Aris missed an opportunity to secure a place in the next round of the Euroleague yesterday after losing 69-72 to Lietuvos Rytas.
