They are synonymous with corruption, their journalists are poorly paid, and the published information - soaked from bias and anti-Americanism. They are controlled by a small group of people, who inherited their money from shipping, banking and petrol.

Teachers and doctors together were on strike today to attempt to stop the merger of schools, staff and salaries cuts. The rally, which began in front of the university in downtown Athens, gathered teachers from public schools, but their colleagues from private schools supported them with their presence too. To the rally of the teachers joined the doctors who are on strike for similar reasons and in support of the public character of state hospitals and the free medical treatment for patients, but less strikers than expected were at the demonstration.

The Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented to journalists a research outlining the basic problems of the Greek economy and giving concrete proposals for changes of the economic policy that will achieve better results in a shorter time.

The protests of Keratea residents against the construction of a landfill turned the area into a battleground. The police believe that the clashes involved hunters, members of special forces, former policemen and Albanian citizens, and fear of attacks by armed groups.

The Greek Prime Minister criticized the credit rating agencies and stressed that they make and implement their decisions not giving account to anyone.

While those employed in the public service are worried what will be their new job and what additional benefits will be partially cut, the union of private-sector employees (GSEE) told Mega TV that the unemployed will reach 1 3 million people by the end of 2011.

The new package of government guarantees in the amount of 30 billion euros is to compensate the banks as their access to free funding from the capital markets was cut a year ago following the economic fiasco of Greece.