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Tuesday, 16 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-04-08Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Greek NGO worker Lerounis released by Afghan Taliban 8 months after abductionANA-MPA/Afghan Taliban militants have released Greek NGO worker Athanassios Lerounis eight months after kidnapping him in the Chitral region in northern Pakistan near the border with Afghanistan, a Pakistani official announced on Thursday.Lerounis, chairman of the Greek Volunteers, was kidnapped outside his museum in the remote Kalash valley last September, while his guard was fatally shot. He had been working on a cultural project in the area since 2001. [02] Study: Internet-unsavvy MPsOnline communication between the members of the Greek parliament and their constituents is "unsatisfactory" based on a study conducted by Athens' Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences on Nov. 24-Dec. 15, 2009 and updated in March 2010.According to the study, two out of three MPs have their own website, the use of email is very limited (7.3 pct) and online communication is unsatisfactory, lacking dialogue with the citizens. Also, blogging is limited (9.6 pct), one in four MPs has a facebook account and leading political figures refuse to adopt online political communication. Furthermore, only one in four websites that belong to MPs are regularly updated to refer to current political events, while the way political positions are being presented is not characterized as satisfactory, with the majority of those websites functioning as bulletin boards. [03] GDP 0.8 pct downBRUSSELS (ANA-MPA - V. Demiris) Greek GDP fell -0.8 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with the third quarter, according to second estimates released by Eurostat in Brussels on Wednesday. In the same period, Euro area and EU27 GDP rose 0.1 percent.The growth rate in Greece in the fourth quarter of 2009 when compared with the fourth quarter of 2008 was -2.5 percent of GDP (down from -2.6 percent in first estimates published on March 4). In the same space of time, Euro area GDP declined 2.2 percent (2.1 percent in the first estimates) and EU27 GDP declined 2.3 percent. [04] ASE opening: PlungeEquity prices were plunging at the opening of trade on Thursday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), influenced by the widening of the Greek bond spread to an all-time high of 403 basis points, with the basic share price index down 4.18 percent, standing at 1,904.53 points at 11:30 a.m., and turnover at 64.547 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving downward across the board, with the biggest losses in Banks, down 4.45 percent; and Health, down 4.11 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 4.68 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 3.66 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 1.54 percent. Of the stocks traded, 10 were up, 92 were down, and 14 were unchanged. [05] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Thursday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe skyrocketing of the Greek bond spreads and the arrangements for legitimising illegally enclosed semi-balconies, dominated the headlines on Thursday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "All the arrangements and fines for illegal garages, basements, semi-enclosed balconies, and attics (whose usage has been altered without a relevant building licence)". APOGEVMATINI: "Return to main opposition New Democracy's policy - Government fully adopts the measures it had condemned when it was the main opposition party". AVGHI: "Employment collapsing". AVRIANI: "Greece needs to generate 150 billion euros in two years to avoid bankruptcy". ELEFTHEROS: "All the arrangement for the semi-balconies - Those who pay the fine will 'save' (legitimise) them for the next forty years". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Confession and panic - Government unable to rise to the occasion". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "What you will pay for the legalisation of semi-balconies, basements, attics". ESTIA: "Who are raising the interest rates - The Government's actions are senseless". ETHNOS: "If you pay...you can save it - The final decisions on semi-balconies and changes of usage". KATHIMERINI: "Borrowing potential is marginal -Spread reaches new record high". LOGOS: "Taxation and expenses under the microscope....at Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou's meeting with IMF team of experts - Greek economy on a tightrope". IMERISSIA: "Shock and awe over the bonds and shares - Endless pressure on the Greek economy". NAFTEMPORIKI: "In search of those 'guilty' over the borrowing problems". NIKI: "Fast rhythm in a slow orchestra - Maximos mansion (government headquarters) puts gag on leaks that nourish speculators RIZOSPASTIS: "NATO puts in question the Greek borders in the Aegean Sea - Dangerous developments". TA NEA: "Semi-balconies - Two-speed taxes". TO VIMA: "Town planning amnesty with 5%-15% penalty - Heavy fines for those who do not pay - Government says the money will go (into a 'green' fund) for the creation of public and recreation areas". VRADYNI: "Witch-hunt - In search of a government cadre responsible for the spreads' skyrocketing". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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