EU to use base in Larissa
A military base in Larissa, central Greece, is to be used as a coordination center for a European Union humanitarian effort in Central African Republic, sources said yesterday. A French major general will be put in charge of the operation, while a Greek brigadier will act as chief of staff. The use of the base, which serves as a combined air operations center by NATO, is due to be officially confirmed today. Almost one million people, or a quarter of the population, have been displaced in Central African Republic, a former French colony, by clashes that began when mostly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power in a coup in March. Christian self-defense groups have since taken up arms against them and the United Nations estimates that tit-for-tat violence has claimed more than 2,000 lives.
Tax evasion.
Three people were detained yesterday in Sparta, in the Peloponnese, for debts to the state totalling 1.3 million euros. A 65-year-old was arrested for tax debts worth 438,269 euros, a 68-year-old for an unpaid tax bill of 442,808 euros and a 70-year-old was detained over 438,274 euros in outstanding debts.
ELVO protests.
Employees of the Thessaloniki-based Hellenic Vehicle Industry (ELVO) are planning a series of protests ahead of a court appearance scheduled for Monday when their appeal against the planned liquidation of the company is to be heard. A delegation of ELVO workers is to meet with Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris at 10 a.m. today before holding a protest at 11 a.m. and a press conference at noon.
Free tuition.
A pilot scheme is to be launched next month offering teenagers from poor families free private tutoring and young, unemployed teachers part-time work, government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou told Parliament yesterday. The program, which will be available for high school pupils, is to be funded through the National Strategic Reference Framework (ESPA). Kedikoglou did not say how much the scheme would cost or what teachers would earn but said that the tutoring would initially be available to children from households that are at the risk of poverty. The after-school classes will be taught at the children’s schools and there will be no more than 10 pupils in each group. The staff that will be hired for the project will be unemployed teachers aged under 30 or teachers who are long-term unemployed.