Central Greece

Regional Governor Rena Dourou has declared a state of emergency for Western and Eastern Attica as two wildfires encircled the Greek capital, forcing hundreds to flee their homes.

The first fire broke out in a pine forest near the seaside settlement of Kineta 50 kilometers (30 miles) west of Athens between the capital and Corinth.

A husband and wife, aged 62 and 58 respectively, have been arrested in Anavyssos, eastern Attica, as they were allegedly preparing to illegally sell a number of historical items for 200,000 euros.

The number of people in Greece believed to have contracted West Nile virus, which is carried by infected mosquitoes, has risen to 12, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KEELPNO) said on Wednesday in its weekly epidemiological data posted on its website.

Heavy rainfall on Sunday evening caused serious problems in Attica, prompting Traffic Police to close off flooded roads and leading to several calls to the fire service to pump out flooded homes and basements.

Among the roads closed by the authorities were a section of Pireos Street as well as a stretch of the Athens-Corinth national highway.

A 64-year-old seasonal employee of the Athens Municipality was remanded in custody on Wednesday on charges of setting fires at children's camps in Athens and the wider Attica region.

The suspect, who was arrested last week, is accused of starting four fires at camps in the period from June 23 to 29.

Aldridge EDC, Duet Group and the consortium of Pimco with Qualco and Oaktree have submitted binding offers for Attica Bank's portfolio containing 700.5 million euros of nonperforming exposures. Sources say the offers range between 60 and 75 million euros.

A Health Ministry decision on Friday lifted a ban on public swimming in the sea off several kilometers of Attica coastline, stretching from Piraeus to beyond Glyfada, imposed last fall following the Agia Zoni II oil tanker sinking off Salamina.

Migrants rioted at a reception center in Oinofyta, north of Attica, on Monday night, setting fires to protest their transfer there from temporary accommodation in Attica hotels.

Delphi was always a good place to go to be forewarned of the challenges the future might hold. This year's annual Delphi Economic Forum should have helped crystallize in Greek decision-makers' minds the two main tests they will have to overcome going forward. The first is to negotiate the final stretch of the third program successfully.

The Finance Ministry is drafting a plan for the sale of land which has been encroached on to the perpetrators, aiming to bolster state revenues for the 2018-19 period.

It has already set up a committee to examine the terms and conditions for the acquisition of land by trespassers.