In Brief
CITIZENS’ CARD
Privacy watchdog expresses concern about new scheme The Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) has expressed serious concern about the government’s plans to create a «citizens’ card» aimed at facilitating everyday transactions with the public sector by the end of next year. First of all, the authority noted, such an initiative should not have been introduced via a ministerial decision but by means of a new law. The HDPA fears that such a card would violate personal privacy laws by allowing public service officials to access electronic files containing details of citizens’ transactions. ZAGREB HOOLIGANS Bus with PAOK fans attacked Three Greek soccer fans were reportedly injured yesterday when Croatian hooligans attacked their coach in Zagreb ahead of PAOK’s decisive Europa League match against Dinamo Zagreb. Police in the Croatian capital said that a group of about 30 people, apparently Dinamo fans, threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the bus. One Greek fan was reportedly taken to the hospital after the incident. Meanwhile, in Thessaloniki, an explosive device went off at the entrance to a PAOK supporters’ club in the Ambelokipi neighborhood. The blast smashed the windows but did not result in any injuries. Ex-minister sues Former Labor Minister Savvas Tsitouridis yesterday launched legal action against PASOK MP Christos Protopappas, who is heading a parliamentary committee investigating the purchase of a structured government bond by four pension funds at an allegedly inflated price. Tsitouridis, who has been implicated in the deal but denies any wrongdoing, is suing Protopappas for abuse of authority and slander. The former minister is accusing the PASOK deputy of misrepresenting evidence seen by the committee to make Tsitouridis appear guilty. Lavrio blast Three people suffered minor injuries in an explosion at a Public Power Corporation (PPC) electricity substation in Lavrio, southeast of Athens, yesterday. All three workers suffered eye injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Bomb hoax An Olympic Air aircraft scheduled to fly to Athens from Sofia on Monday afternoon was grounded at the Bulgarian capital’s airport for several hours after an anonymous caller phoned in a bomb threat. Police searched the aircraft but found no suspicious devices. After receiving the all-clear from authorities following a three-hour delay, the aircraft flew to Athens. Turkish frigate A Turkish navy frigate entered Greek territorial waters in the Aegean early yesterday, the National Defense General Staff (GEETHA) said. According GEETHA officials, the Salih Reis was first spotted south of the island of Rhodes shortly after dawn. The vessel moved westward and reached the coast of Kea before returning to the central Aegean, the officials said.
