Greece

The ancient marble head of a youth was fitted into place Wednesday at a museum in Athens in a deal that Greek officials hope will serve as a model for returning other treasures. The one-year loan from the Vatican's Museo Gregoriano Etrusco could be used as a way to regain other iconic Parthenon sculptures that have been systematically removed from Greece in the past. Several European museums -- especially the British Museum in London -- hold Parthenon artifacts, and Greece has long campaigned for their return.

Two Albanians buoyed by a truck tire inner tube swam from Albania to the Greek island of Corfu through rough seas overnight and sought political asylum, police said Wednesday.

The prospect of a resolution to the Greek debt crisis, bolstered by Greek lawmakers' approval of a sweeping austerity plan, has buoyed investor spirits: After falling for much of the last two months, in part out of concern about Europe's debt troubles, the stock market rallied each day last week, with the Dow Jones industrial average jumping 5.4% to close within 228 points of its late April high. Still, important issues need to be resolved for the Greek aid package to go forward.

European finance officials put off a decision Monday on handing debt-laden Greece its next installment of emergency loans, increasing the pressure on Athens to enact new austerity measures and fueling market fears of a national default. Investors had hoped that officials meeting in Luxembourg would approve the payout of about $17 billion in rescue loans to Greece, which desperately needs the money to pay bills that come due next month. But after several hours of talks, finance ministers from the 17 countries that use the euro said early Monday they would release the funds only if Greek lawmakers approve a controversial program of tax hikes and spending cuts to slash the country's mammoth budget deficit.

The J. Paul Getty Museum will consider Greece's request to return four antiquities to the country after its new director takes up his position next year. The Greek Culture Ministry said it had received a letter to that effect from Michael Brand, who takes over as museum director in January. But the ministry said in a statement that it wasn't satisfied with the response and would continue to press its case for return, by legal means if necessary.

Jan Koller, the bald giant who plays forward for the Czech Republic, sat on the grass in Porto, Portugal, on Thursday, his boots off, his eyes glazed. He looked like Gulliver after being low-bridged by the Lilliputians, only these spoke Greek. What else can you say about the last play of Koller's last match of Euro 2004?

Many of Greece's most valued ancient statues are wearing chains and padded vests, ready for a rare outing. Culture Ministry officials demonstrated Thursday how more than 300 statues from the Acropolis are being packed for a move this fall to a new museum being built at the bottom of the hill.

My fascination with Greece began more than three years ago. I had dreamed of visiting ancient oracles and tried to imagine walking across the land of the gods in the footsteps of history. This year was my third visit. The moment I arrived on Greek soil on a tour, I felt comfortable. Even as a single female, I was at home with the land and its people. I had complete trust, whether with a tour or on my own. When it came time to leave, I left with sadness, but with the hope that I may return soon to be with the many friends I made.

Two ancient Greek artifacts that officials said had been smuggled out of the country came home Thursday as part of an agreement with the J. Paul Getty Museum. A 2,400-year-old, black limestone stele and a marble votive relief dating from about 490 BC went on display at Athens' National Archaeological Museum only hours after being flown in from L.A.

In a nation that has long prided itself on public protest, the convulsions of outrage have quieted for the moment. But anger still is simmering in the streets. Greeks are pledging to keep up strikes and street demonstrations against the government and the austerity measures it passed to secure $146 billion in international bailout cash. Their indignation is rooted not so much in the painful prospect of slashed pensions and salary cuts, which opinion polls indicate will be grudgingly accepted, as in a general sense of betrayal by politicians they regard as having glided through the crisis with impunity.