Piraeus

A 30-year-old Syrian national was being treated for serious burns at a hospital in Nikaia, near Piraeus, after he allegedly poured flammable liquid over himself before settling himself alight in the early hours of Tuesday.

The motives behind the incident, which occurred in Keratsini, remained unclear.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Piraeus Mayor Yiannis Moralis will attend the official premier of noted Greek composer Giorgos Hatzinasios’ opera “El Greco”, which on Tuesday at Piraeus’ recently renovated neo-classical Municipal Theatre.

Cosco Pacific is said to be in pole position ahead of the tender for the privatization of Piraeus Port Authority (OLP).

The new terms provide for the preferred bidder to get 51 percent of the company, expanding to 67 percent if they implement investments of 350 million euros in the first four years.

The trial of Golden Dawn leaders and members at Korydallos Prison was adjourned on Friday, just a few hours after resuming, after defense lawyers protested against upheaval caused on the premises by anti-establishment protesters who burst into the makeshift courtroom.

The resumption on Friday of the trial of Golden Dawn leaders and members at Korydallos Prison was marred by upheaval after anti-establishment protesters being escorted to an adjacent courtroom for a trial of alleged members of the Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire guerrilla group burst into the premises of the GD trial.

Greece is in advanced discussions with China's Cosco to boost their cooperation in the country's biggest port Piraeus, the Greek defence minister said on Friday.

Cosco, which currently manages two container piers at Piraeus Port, is also interested in acquiring a majority stake. Athens has put the port up for sale.

By Agnes Lovasz and Paul Tugwell

Greece will continue with efforts to privatize the country's largest port and regional airports as it seeks ways to attract investment for other state assets, Economy Minister George Stathakis said, in a government concession in talks with its creditors.

Greece has asked three firms to submit binding bids by September for a majority stake in the country's biggest port, Piraeus (OLPr.AT), a senior privatization official told Reuters on Thursday, unblocking a major asset sale.

Anti-terrorist squad officers on Wednesday arrested a 24-year-old Albanian in connection with a plot to smuggle a gun into Korydallos Prison, western Athens.

In the first sign of friction between coalition partners SYRIZA and Independent Greeks (ANEL), MPs of the populist right-wing party late Tuesday voted against an amendment regarding the construction of an mosque in the western Athens neighborhood of Votanikos.