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Selective implementation of laws is one of Greece's chronic failings, creating inequalities and undermining aspirations for a law-abiding state.

The government's decision to finally implement a smoking ban in enclosed public spaces (one of the toughest laws in Europe) marks a significant step, not just for the obvious health reasons.

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas has confirmed a series of measure to help people who suffered injuries and lost their homes in last summer's deadly wildfires in east Attica, confirming pledges made on Monday by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who attended a memorial service in the seaside town of Mati on Tuesday, the anniversary of the event.

As part of a government crackdown, police will play an active role in enforcing Greece's much-flouted anti-smoking law, while a hotline will also be set up so that members of the public can report violations.

The Governments of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Northern Macedonia will sign a protocol on cooperation in the fight against human trafficking in Ohrid.

The document provides for cooperation on the support and protection of victims of human trafficking and the exchange of experience between the competent institutions of the two countries.

Turkish authorities confiscated about $271 million in fake U.S. $100 banknotes in a raid on an Istanbul printing press - the country's biggest counterfeit currency seizure in recent years, Hürriyet daily reported on July 22.

The European Union describes wildfires as "a serious and increasing threat" across the continent.
Most alarmingly, forest blazes are growing in intensity, especially in southern countries such as Greece, Spain, France, Italy and Portugal but also in Scandinavia.

A photojournalist holds a picture he took a year ago showing a woman walking in front of burnt cars after the deadly forest fire in Mati, east of Athens on July 24, 2018, as a man walks with his bicycle at the same location. A year after the deadly fire, Mati remains a ghost village. [Yannis Kolesidis, EPA]

It will be sunny today, with some clouds in the afternoon, the National Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (NIMH) reported.

Today, inspectors of the Food Safety Agency and the Sofia Inspectorate have observed whether the producers and salesmen were following the rules on the Dolni Bogrov market. The violations which were found are not related to the sale of domestic pigs and pigmeat products.

The speech by new House speaker Konstantinos Tasoulas underscored the desire for a different style of political discourse, beyond statements and counter-statements, beyond instant reactions on social media, unconditional attacks against political opponents, told-you-so quips and all such byproducts of the crisis.