Samaras and Venizelos to talk

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos are to hold their first meeting of the New Year on Tuesday, just over a week before the troika is due to return to Athens and with a growing number of issues troubling their two-party government. Among the matters to be discussed by the two men are complaints about a new 25-euro charge for patients who are treated at public hospitals

Protest dive.

A 60-year-old woman threw herself into the water during the traditional religious ceremony celebrating Epiphany on the Dodecanese island of Rhodes yesterday, allegedly in protest at the financial problems she and her family were facing. According to reports, the woman, who was standing near the area reserved for officials during the ceremony at the port of Mandraki, fell into the water fully clothed when the island’s bishop, who was blessing the waters, threw the crucifix into the sea.

Uni sweep.

Five people were arrested on Sunday after a police sweep at the Aristotle University in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. The arrests were conducted both on the educational facility’s campus and outside it. Two Greek men and a foreign national, aged 19, 36 and 46, were facing charges over drug possession, while a 36-year-old foreign national was taken into custody after being found in possession of a folding knife. A third foreign national, aged 26, was arrested over previous convictions as well as for failing to present a valid residence permit.

Climber found.

A 37-year-old climber was found safe and sound in the mountains of Nafpaktia in western Greece yesterday. Several searches had been organized after the man had been reported missing on Sunday afternoon. Volunteers, policemen, firemen and members of the EMAK special rescue unit participated in the rescue effort, which ended at 4 a.m. yesterday, when the man was located near a river in the area of Ambelakiotissa.

ATMs targeted.

Four ATMs were firebombed by unknown assailants early yesterday morning in the port city of Piraeus. According to police reports, the arson attacks caused extensive damage to the cash dispensers located on Aetolikou and Olynthou streets. Authorities were also investigating two arson attacks that caused major damage to two vehicles parked outside the Peace and Friendship Stadium in Neo Faliro on the same day.