The Greek government gives strictly controlled information about the attitudes of the supervisors. They are not currently satisfied with the pace of implementation of the recovery program and require bold costs cuts and implementation of the planned reforms.

Six policemen were hospitalized after a secret operation to capture a local racketeer who "protected" the nightclubs in the Athens suburb of Oropos.

Prime Minister George Papandreou met the leaders of professional organizations to hear their demands before the traditional International Fair in Thessaloniki. The impressions from the meeting could be summarized in the saying "Dogs bark but the caravan goes on."

The merger of the two financial institutions is followed by rumours of merger between the National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank, telecommunication giants admit they are preparing to merge too.

Asked by GRReproter, "What are the consequences of the merger on your representations in Bulgaria and the other countries in the region?" the co-CEO of the new banking consortium Dimitris Mantsounis (Alpha Bank) stressed that the banks have no intention to reduce their presence on the local banking market.

Spiros Latsis (EFG Eurobank) and Yannis Kostopoulos (Alpha Bank) manage banks that are not just their profitable business but part of the family heritage, for which they are responsible, which they protect and even have increased over the year. Their merger means that the country is in serious danger indeed.

In the wooded mountains of northern Greece, in rain and fog, the threat of wolves and bears, armed with knives, baskets and ... a guide for mushrooms, hundreds of people are looking for rare treasures.