Brussels - Italy, Spain and Greece are the worst countries in the European Union for breaking the bloc's laws on creating a single market, with Poland catching up fast, a study published by the European Commission in Brussels on Thursday showed.

Italy is currently facing legal action - known as "infringement proceedings" - from the commission in no fewer than 112 cases, the highest figure in the bloc, the EU executive's report said. Spain was second with 103 cases.

Greece came in third, with 91 cases, closely followed by Germany, with 90.

Athens  - Greek police defused a car bomb outside Citibank's headquarters in Athens on Wednesday, hours after gunmen shot at a private television station.

Reports said the stolen car was parked in the courtyard of Citibank's offices in the northern Athens suburb of Kifissia.

Ani-bomb forces defused the home-made device after a security guard called police after seeing three men leave the vehicle.

Jerusalem , Feb 18 : Archaeologists have found three fragments of a Greek inscription, believed to be part of the famous "Heliodoros stele", in an Israeli excavation, has shed light on ancient Jewish warriors.

The Heliodoros stele, dating back to 178 B. C. E. and consisting of 23 lines inscribed in limestone, is considered one of the most important ancient inscriptions found in Israel.

Athens  - Tens of thous

Munich - Anek Lines has begun servicing destinations in the Aegean Sea, according to the Greek ferry company's general agent in Munich.

The company now departs the Greek mainland port of Piraeus six times a week for the Cyclades islands of Naxos, Santorini and Paros, and five times a week for the islands of Lesbos and Chios in the north-east Aegean Sea.

Previously, Anek Lines operated only from the Italian cities of Venice and Ancona to ports in western Greece, and on routes between Piraeus and the Greek island of Crete.

Athens/Nicosia - The European Union's chief official for enlargement urged rival leaders on the divided Mediterranean island of Cyprus Friday to seize the unique chance for peace this year.

"There is a unique chance this year to reunite Cyprus and to bring an end this long-standing conflict on European soil," Olli Rehn, the European Union commissioner for enlargement, told journalists.

Speaking within a buffer zone that divides Cyprus' capital, Nicosia, Rehn said the EU was prepared to do everything possible to carry out a solution, adding "this chance must be taken and not missed."