News archive of August 2018

Supreme Court prosecutor Xeni Dimitriou appealed on Friday against the early release from prison of the former managing director of power supplier Energa, Aristides Floros, for health reasons, after questions were raised about the medical certificate that diagnosed him with a disability.

Police on the island of Zakynthos announced on Friday they had seized 14,760 ampules of laughing gas (nitrous oxide) during a raid in a warehouse in the area of Ammoudi.

Authorities arrested the warehouse owner, a Greek national, who was found during the raid.

A 55-year-old teacher was arrested on the island of Zakynthos on Friday over charges of sexual harassment of minors and is being held at the local police station.

According to police sources, the man, a Greek national, is accused of harassing children inside and outside of school. The children reported him to their parents who in turn appealed to the authorities.

Running through Sunday, September 2, in the town of Ermoupoli, the Rebetiko Festival is dedicated to one of the masters of the genre also known as "Greece's blues," and a native of the island, Markos Vamvakaris (1905-1972). Other than celebrating the roots of rebetiko and showcasing the artists who have evolved it to this day, the event also aims at preserving the local folk music of Syros.

Local purveyors of gypsy jazz Gadjo Dilo take the stage at Gazarte's roof stage on Saturday, September 1, for a concert of classic numbers from Italy and France, as well as original work stemming from its albums "Manouche De Grec" and "Manouche De Grec Vol II." Doors open at 9 p.m.

AFP - Two people were injured during a stabbing incident at Amsterdam's busy Central Station on Friday morning before the alleged attacker was shot and wounded, Dutch police said.

"A suspect has been shot after a stabbing incident at Amsterdam Central Station," Dutch police said on Twitter, indicating that the station had been evacuated and closed off to all rail traffic.

President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the World Trade Organization (WTO), claiming it treats his country unfairly.

"If they don't shape up, I would withdraw from the WTO," Mr Trump said in an interview with Bloomberg News.

The WTO was established to provide rules for global trade and resolve disputes between countries.

Local act Banda Valeu, a collective of musicians that share a passion for Brazilian music in its original version but also with an improvisational twist, performs at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center on Saturday, September 1, in a concert that is part of a series of events organized by the SNFCC dedicated to the sounds of Brazil.

BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Union's chief executive said on Friday the bloc was set to end the practice of switching between summer and winter time after a survey found most EU citizens against the practice.

Hundreds of different beers, food from around the world and workshops, including for on cocktails with beer, make up this year's Thessaloniki Beer Festival, running through Sunday, September 2. There will also be music and other fun at the event, which takes place in the courtyard of the Helexpo fairgrounds from 12 noon to 12 midnight.