Athens News Agency: News in English, 00-08-06

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] 250 Migrants - Landing - Crete

[02] Public transport-Fare Increases

[03] Greek Team-Sydney Olympics-Doping

[04] Terrorism-Newspaper

[05] Papantoniou-Interview

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

[07] Weather Forecast-Monday

[01] 250 Migrants - Landing - Crete

Roughly 250 migrants, of unknown nationality, were detected and detained as they were being unloaded off a 30-metre wooded vessel on a deserted islet off Crete, the Greek coast guard announced on Sunday.

According to reports, two patrol boats had shadowed the vessel -- identified only as the "Barbados" -- since it entered Greek territorial waters in the early morning. It was later towed to the harbour of Ierapetra.

The islet was listed as 'Koufonisi', southeast of Crete proper.

Greece has seen a surge in the number of mostly Third World migrants attempting to reach its borders and shores over the past few years, either to remain in the country or as part of their attempts to reach another European Union destination.

[02] Public transport-Fare Increases

Public transport fares in Attica are to rise on Monday.

The new ticket price for blue buses and trollies is 150 drachmas from 120 drachmas. Fares for the old metro line will rise to 200 drachmas.

A monthly bus pass for all forms of public transport will rise to 12,000 drachmas from 10,000 drachmas; and for buses and trollies to 6,000 drachmas from 5,000 drachmas.

Fares on the newly built metro system will remain unchanged at 250 drachmas.

[03] Greek Team-Sydney Olympics-Doping

Two members of Greece's team for the Sydney Olympic Games have failed a doping test and registered positive, sources said on Sunday.

One is a male cyclist and the other a female track and field athlete, the same sources said.

[04] Terrorism-Newspaper

The government is seeking to grant the police and judiciary wider powers in handling terrorism cases, the Sunday Vima newspaper said.

The powers are contained in a bill to be submitted to parliament shortly that will scrap measures construed as protecting terrorism suspects, according to the newspaper.

[05] Papantoniou-Interview

National Economy and Finance Minister Yiannos Papantoniou is to order tight national budgets for years to come, allowing no slackening of policy.

Papantoniou told the Sunday Eleftherotypia newspaper in an interview that the budgets, aimed at maintaining low inflation, would show a restrained incomes policy.

[06] Foreign Exchange Rates-Monday

Following are indicative rates released by the central bank for the next working day.

Mondays rates (buying)

Euro 334.383

U.S. dollar 369.579

German mark 170.967

[07] Weather Forecast-Monday

Sunny weather is forecast throughout Greece on Monday, turning cloudy in the north from early evening.

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