In Brief
ND OLIVE BRANCH?
Samaras gives Bakoyannis’s brother environment post New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras yesterday put Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the brother of Dora Bakoyannis, in charge of the party’s environmental policy. Most commentators are interpreting the move, which means that Mitsotakis effectively becomes shadow environment minister, as one designed to show that there is no bad blood between Samaras and his erstwhile leadership opponent, Bakoyannis. However, this effort was to some extent overshadowed by a row that broke out between Bakoyannis’s father, Constantine Mitsotakis, and former Transport Minister Costas Markopoulos, a close associate of Samaras, after the latter criticized the former over negative comments he made about ex-Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis. SHIP RELEASED Pirates free Greek vessel Somali pirates have released a Greek-owned ship and its 21 crew members, including 14 Filipinos, after more than a month in captivity, the Philippine government and the ship’s owner said yesterday. The embassy of the Philippines in Nairobi reported that the MV Delvina, seized on November 5, was heading to Mombasa with its crew, who were safe and in good health. «All the crew are reported unharmed and are well despite their 43-day ordeal,» the ship’s owner, Meadway Shipping & Trading Inc, said in a statement in Athens. The company did not give any other details about the ship’s release, including whether a ransom was paid. (AP) Baby injured A five-month old baby boy was admitted to a hospital in Athens yesterday after suffering injuries that were probably a result of abuse, doctors said. The child had several bruises and was suffering from brain hemorrhaging. Piraeus trash Piraeus refuse collectors began a 48-hour strike yesterday and are threatening to continue their action in protest at a move by Mayor Panayiotis Fassoulas to restructure some of the municipality’s services. The strikers said this would lead to their department being split in two. Mushroom poisoning Two men aged 30 and 45 have been hospitalized in Hania, Crete, after eating poisonous mushrooms, it was revealed yesterday. The 45-year-old suffered multiple organ failure and was placed in an intensive care unit but his friend had only kidney problems. Both men are Romanian nationals who work on the island. Wrong formula The National Organization for Medicines (EOF) warned consumers yesterday that it has been informed by Swiss authorities that a batch of the baby formula Sanutri Natur Preterm has been found to contain the E-Coli bacteria. EOF said the batch of the Swiss-made formula in question expires on January 21, 2010. Hania rape A 24-year-old Moroccan man is to face a prosecutor in Hania, Crete, on Tuesday on suspicion of raping a 17-year-old girl from Bulgaria who suffers from learning disabilities, authorities said. A forensic expert confirmed on Thursday that the unnamed teenager had been sexually assaulted and the suspect was arrested after being identified by his alleged victim.
