Public sphere

The government and troubled Public Power Corporation are working on a plan for the privatization of the distribution network.

That is the most important asset of PPC after the Independent Power Transmission Operator (ADMIE), as it has guaranteed and regulated revenues that will definitely attract investors and is expected to be sold quickly, unlike the coal-fired plants.

Costas Bakoyannis, who is running for Athens mayor in the upcoming municipal elections, spoke against the construction of high-rise buildings around the Acropolis Hill on Wednesday, adding his voice to that of local residents who have opened a relevant petition on the Avaaz platform.

Local residents protesting the construction of 10-story buildings around the Acropolis hill in Athens have so far collected more than 4,100 signatures on the Avaaz petition platform.

The Hellenic Society of Environment and Culture said it is "unacceptable" that tall buildings be allowed to spoil the view of the Acropolis.

Greece's foreign ministry expressed its condolences over the deadly bus crash in North Macedonia on Wednesday night that killed 14 people and injured dozens more.

"Deeply saddened by tragic road accident on the Skopje-Tetovo highway. Our thoughts go out to the victims' families and loved ones," the ministry said in a tweet.

Police said on Thursday the metro station on Syntagma square will close as of 4.30 p.m., ahead of a planned protest rally against the Prespes accord which is being discussed in Parliament.

The train will pass through the station without stopping.

The state will provide BGN 20 million to transform a 13-storey building on the premises of Aleksandrovska University Hospital into a national children's hospital, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said at the beginning of the weekly government meeting.

Greek pensioners hold a banner that reads 'We're reclaiming what we lost' at an anti-austerity protest in central Athens on Saturday.

Security police on Friday arrested a man in northern Athens for whom they had information that he was impersonating a police officer.

Officers who searched the suspect's house in Neo Psyhico discovered a police hat, a leather wallet with a police badge inside and photos of the suspect dressed in police uniform.

The government has approved the draft of a population and housing census act for 2021, reports BNR. 

Backed-up traffic is seen on an Athens thoroughfare on Wednesday as a 24-hour strike affected public transport in the Greek capital, which was left without any metro, electric railway, tram or trolley bus services, while the downtown area was blocked off by protest marches.