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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-10-12Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Wednesday, 12 October 2016 Issue No: 5266CONTENTS
[01] Tsipras' message to Turkey from Egypt: 'respect for international law a prerequisite for stability'CAIRO (ANA/ N. Lionakis)Achieving stability in the region demanded respect for international law, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said in an indirect message to Turkey, after the 4th Greece-Cyprus-Egypt trilateral summit held in Cairo on Tuesday. "[This] is a self-evident prerequisite for ensuring stability in our region and the only possible basis for developing relations of friendship between all our countries," Tsipras noted, after his meeting with Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The Greek prime minister said that trilateral cooperation with Cyprus and Egypt was a strategic choice made by the Greek government in order to promote peace, security, stability and growth in the fragile region of the eastern Mediterranean. A large part the talks during the summit focused on regional developments, the need to respect international law and cultivate good neighbourhood relationships, he said. "Recently, it is extremely worrying that voices are being heard in our region that move in the opposite direction and even raise issues that dispute fundamental international treaties. I believe that the reply to any such dispute must be joint, absolutely clear and completely firm, both on the part of the international community and on the part of all the neighbouring countries, whose only goal is to preserve stability, security and cooperation in the region," Tsipras said. In other statements after the trilateral summit, he noted that the countries of the region that shared a desire for regional stability and prosperity must work together. The meeting had also underscored the principle of good neighbourhood as the basis of cooperation, in the context of an intensifying multiple-level crisis in the region, he added, with the three sides agreeing to work together to promote each other's positions at international organisations. Tsipras referred to the necessity for a just and viable solution to the Cyprus problem that benefited all Cypriots, expressing Athens' support for the significant effort during the talks now underway on this issue. He said the meeting had also noted the necessity for a ceasefire in Syria and repeated the importance of a solution to the Palestinian problem. Before the start of the trilateral summit, Tsipras said the three leaders had planted three olive trees in a symbolic gesture indicating their joint commitment and their joint aims. In joint statements afterward, they said their meeting had discussed and agreed on deeper cooperation in the sectors of trade, infrastructure, energy, tourism, agriculture, technology, cooperation between ports and security. This included the prospect of closer cooperation in transporting natural gas from Egypt and Cyprus gas fields to Europe, delineating their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) and cooperation in renewable energy, with regular meetings between the ministers involved. The three also adopted a joint statement of intent for environmental protection, maritime transport and port development. The discussion had also covered regional developments in Syria, Yemen and Libya, with the three sides agreeing that there must be coordinated efforts by moderate forces, and the handling of refugee and migration flows. Tsipras urged a cohesive regional strategy on migration, which will replace the dangerous trafficking routes in the Mediterranean with legal and controlled routes to Europe. The meeting ended with the adoption by the three leaders of the Cairo Declaration, which affirmed that their trilateral cooperation promotes implementation of international law and reinforces security, peace and stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. "Europe's security depends on the security and stability of its neighbours; and there cannot be security in the Mediterranean without cooperation with Egypt," Tsipras commented, noting that an activation of the EU-Egypt Council on a regular basis can be important for both sides. "Our meeting reflects an agreement of views, especially with regard to the qualitative change and the leap in bilateral cooperation, strengthening the already strong partnership relation in various sectors," el Sisi commented. Anastasiades said the summit had been absolutely successful in achieving its goals, which were to further deepen, consolidate and expand the trilateral mechanism through specific actions. He also repeated that the three countries faced common problems and challenges and that their cooperation was not aimed against any third country. The Cypriot president said he looked forward to the 5th trilateral summit between them, which will be held in Nicosia next year. [02] EuroParliament approves proposal for increased EU funding of Greek projects until June 2019BRUSSELS (ANA-Manolis Spinthourakis)The Regional Development commission of the European Parliament approved a legislative proposal for the continuation of increased European contribution in the funding of projects in Greece until June 30, 2019. European deputies also approved a special decree, according to which the EU will cover up to 85 pct of project costs in Cyprus, until 2020. "The aim of this legislative proposal we voted today is to help member-states that have been hit mostly by an economic crisis to carry one with completion of projects and programs in their countries," Iskra Michailova, president of the Regional Development commission said. [03] Government meeting agrees on measures to help alleviate impact of refugee crisis on SamosMinisters and local authority officials met at the Maximos Mansion on Tuesday to discuss the refugee and migration crisis, focusing on the Aegean island of Samos. They agreed on the need to decongest reception centres on the island and improve conditions at the open hospitality facilities, especially for vulnerable groups and unaccompanied minors. The meeting was chaired by Minister of State responsible for coordinating government work Alekos Flambouraris.They also agreed on the need to speed up the procedures of asylum and refugee committees, while reinforcing the local Asylum Service with additional staff, whose numbers will increase from three in June to 28 in November. Lastly, they agreed on the necessity to set up a closed reception facility on the island. Regarding the last issue, local officials proposed that the closed facility be set up within the Reception and Identification Centre but Alternate Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas disagreed with the suggestion on security grounds. The meeting agreed that the flow of migrants and refugees from Turkey should continue to be monitored even more closely and that non-governmental organisation should only undertake action after consulting with Mouzalas and with the agreement of regional and municipal authorities. Finally, they decided that there should be special measures for the relief of Samos residents, to help them cope with the financial and social repercussions of the refugee crisis, to be made more specific in a meeting between local authority officials, Samos MP Dimitris Sevastakis and Deputy Economy Minister Alexis Charitsis. Officials attending the meeting, in addition to Flambouraris and Mouzalas, included Alternate Defence Minister Dimitris Vitsas, Alternate Labour and Social Solidarity Minister Theano Fotiou, Deputy Economy Minister for NSRF issues Alexis Charitsis, Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Terens Quick, the head of Mouzalas' office Pavlos Adaktylidis, North Aegean Region Authority head Christina Kalogirou, Samos MP Dimitris Sevastakis, Samos Mayor Michalis Angelopoulos, Samos Deputy Mayor Paraskevas Papageorgiou and the president of Samos' Harbour Fund Elissaios Mavratziotis. [04] President Pavlopoulos receives visiting Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir MetaPresident of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos received the visiting Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta at the presidential mansion on Tuesday. During their discussion, Pavlopoulos noted that the peaceful, creative and sincere co-existence of two peoples was based on respect for history and international law.The president called on Albania to respect the rights of its ethnic Greek minority and urged a solution for the still outstanding issue of arranging a proper burial for Greek soldiers fallen in battle on Albanian soil during the Greco-Italian war of 1940. "They must find their graves. It is demanded by history, demanded by international law but chiefly by common humanity," Pavlopoulos pointed out. Greece had proved its sincere desire for coexistence with Albania, Pavlopoulos noted, during a difficult time for the neighbouring country when many Albanians had needed to come to Greece as legal immigrants, while a sizeable Albanian community still remained in Greece. It had demonstrated respect for the human rights of those coming to Greece from other countries, in the same way that it expected respect for the Greek minority in Albania, in line with international law, he added. Meta thanked the president for his warm welcome and invited him to visit Albania. "We must be prepared to build exemplary relations with Greece," he said, while asking Greece to support Albania's efforts to join the European Union. "Our relations must be brotherly, as relations between Greeks and Albanians are today, not just in Albania but also here in Greece. These very close relations that have developed over the past 26 years oblige us to radiate only positive energy, and to approach the problems we have inherited calmly and in a constructive way, in accordance with European standards and values," he said. [05] Tsipras to meet Albanian Parliament Speaker on WednesdayPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras will receive on Wednesday the visiting Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta at Maximos Mansion, at 10:00.[06] Cyprus' AKEL party leader and delegation to visit AthensThe general secretary of Cyprus' AKEL party, Andros Kyrprianos, and party officials will hold a three-day visit to Athens as of Wednesday.The delegation will meet on Wednesday with parliament president Nikos Voutsis, the leader of PASOK Fofi Gennimata and the leader of Potami, Stavros Theodorakis. On Thursday, the delegation will meet President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the leader of ANEL and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, New Democracy's Vice-president Kostis Hatzidakis and the general secretary of the Communist Party, Dimitris Koutsoumbas. They will also attend the opening of SYRIZA's party conference. On Friday, the delegation will meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and later in the day Kyprianos will hold a press conference at the House of Cyprus. [07] Greek Finance ministry has strengthened legal weaponry against tax evasion, Alexiadis saysGreek Finance ministry has strengthened its legal weaponry against tax evasion with a new legal framework offering the possibility of automated exchange of information between services for all taxpayers included in foreign lists, Finance Alternate Minister Tryfon Alexiadis said on Tuesday.In an interview with Praktoreio 104.9 Fm radio station, Alexiadis said: "From now on we will expect more new lists," adding that: "With a new legal framework, tax agencies in countries we cooperate -not only on European level- automatically send their data to our tax agencies for control. From there onwards economic prosecutors take charge". "We will do what our predecessor did not. The lists will not "travel" via any ministerial office, no one, not Mr. Tsakalotos, or Mr Pitsilis, or myself, know where these lists are," the minister said. "The Finance ministry supports every stage of control, the new list will be related with other lists and all control procedures will move forward. After completion of controls we will call taxpayers," Alexiadis said, adding that those who have paid their taxes having nothing to fear, although others will have to pay fines envisaged by the law. He noted that all citizens must participate in a battle against tax evasion, smuggling and corruption. [08] Greek authorities receive new list of 475 Greeks with overseas accountsA new list of 475 Greeks with bank accounts in foreign banks was sent to the International Financial Relations department of the Greek Finance Ministry from the Finance ministry of the German state of Rhineland Westphalia.Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday during the debate in Parliament announced the existence of this new list. Financial prosecutors have already received the list and will begin the necessary investigations. It includes data from the accounts of a central European bank since 2010 and according to sources it includes prominent businessmen. The next steps are the following: - At first, Greek authorities will cross-examine the new list with other lists of overseas accounts. - At a second stage, the authorities will begin the necessary audits by cross-referencing tax statements and declared incomes over the previous years. - It is estimated that the first results of the investigation will be available in around one month. [09] About 1,200 unaccompanied children refugees remain in unsuitable venues, says ministerAbout 1,200 unaccompanied children refugees remain in hotspots, accommodation centers and even police stations around Greece, waiting for a spot to open in specially built venues, Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Yiannis Mouzalas said on Tuesday during a press conference in Athens.Mouzalas was presenting a new center purposely built for minors in the area of Peania in eastern Attica which he said forms part of the solution. "We are very concerned about protecting those children and our weakness often makes us buckle," Mouzalas told journalists. "There are children we cannot accommodate yet. This is something that is burdening us. We're making a great effort. We know we have a lot of work to do, we try hard, we cannot say when and how we'll achieve it, but we will achieve it," he added. The center in Peania was created by the migration and labour ministries, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NGO Doctors of the World. It is funded by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs According to the minister, the government is also considering opening accommodation spaces in former orphanages, old schools and "safe places" inside existing centers. "This will take us about a year," he said. [10] Number of migrants and refugees trapped on Greek islands exceeds 11,000499 migrants and refugees arrived to the northern Aegean islands in the last five days (from October 6 to October 11).299 persons arrived to Samos, 86 migrants and refugees arrived on Lesvos and 114 on Chios. According to up to date figures, the number of migrants and refugees that sought asylum in Greece reached 11,104. It is the first time after the EU-Turkey agreement that the number of migrants and refugees trapped on the Greek island exceeds 11,000. [11] Greek asylum service rejects four more applications by Turkish soldiersGreece rejected the asylum requests of another four Turkish military officials on Tuesday, who were among the eight men who crossed into the country after the failed coup attempt in Turkey last July, the asylum service told Athens-Macedonian News Agency.Three more applications were rejected earlier this summer, which means seven out of a total of eight applications have been turned down, while one is still being discussed. "Four negative decisions in the first degree were served this morning as well as two rejections for medical therapy requests," the asylum service told ANA. The decisions were served at the police station located near the Olympic village where the Turkish soldiers are being detained. The soldiers' lawyer, Stavroula Tomara, told ANA all of her clients will appeal the decisions and criticized the asylum service for not taking into account a request to allow the applications to be examined in another EU member-state, in accordance with the Dublin Regulation III. [12] Construction of Votanikos mosque to strengthen Greece's image, says ministerThe construction of the mosque in Votanikos will strengthen Greece's international image abroad and will ensure religious activity in the best terms, Deputy Foreign Ministry Yiannis Amanatidis told Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Tuesday."The construction of the mosque will ensure in the best terms the religious activity and this constitutes the responsibility and the concern of the Greek state, guaranteeing the right of all Greek citizens to exercise their religious duties, regardless of religion and always in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution regarding freedom of religion," the ministry said. [13] Appointments of privatisation 'hyper-fund' supervisory board published in government gazetteThe appointments by order of Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos of the first Supervisory Board of Greece's new privatisation fund - the Hellenic Holdings and Properaties Company SA - were published in the Government Gazette on Tuesday.The five members of the Supervisory Board will be Georgios Staboulis, Georgios-Spiros Tavlas, Olga Haritou, Jacques Le Pape and David Vegara. Also attached were the CVs of the five board members. According to sources, Le Pape will serve as chairman of the Supervisory Board and will be elected, along with his deputy, at the its first session. During Monday's Eurogroup, Eurozone finance ministers asked that the appointment of the new privatisation's fund board be treated as a priority issue, so that the fund will be fully operational before the end of 2016, in the framework of the second review of the third Greek bailout programme. Financial News [14] Fitch Ratings sees improved relations between Greece and its creditors, 1.8 pct growth in 2017The Eurogroup's decision to disburse bailout funding to Greece indicated improved relations with its creditors, Fitch Ratings said in a press release on Tuesday. The 1.7 billion euros due to be disbursed for arrears clearance later in October supported forecasts for a "moderate pick-up of GDP" in the current year, followed in 1.8 pct growth in 2017, the rating agency said.At the same time, the decision also indicated the "continuing challenges to programme implementation," Fitch noted and warned that the "risk that the programme goes off track remains high". "Progress in meeting the milestones has been slower than expected, even though they are less demanding than the earlier measures required under the first programme review, such as pension and income tax reform. We think this reflects the Greek government's competing policy priorities and relatively weak domestic political ownership of the programme." "The majority of the milestones were legislated over the last month, in a single bill, with the earlier delay underlining the government's slim majority and ideological opposition in parliament to some programme reforms," the press release said. Fitch Ratings said that labour market reform would probably prove the toughest component of the second programme review and predicted that the negotiations on this might slip into next year, while noting that the prospect of debt relief could play a key role as primary budget surplus targets became harder to meet: "The prospect of government debt relief could become an important driver of programme compliance if it incentivises the Greek authorities to meet programme conditions. However, we think it could have the opposite effect if the Greek government and population come to view substantial debt relief as distant or unlikely." [15] More German enterprises expected to show investment interest in Greece in 2017More German enterprises are expected to come to Greece for commercial and investment cooperations in 2017, particularly in the sectors of tourism, food manufacturing, IT & communications and services, on the preconditions that political, economic and tax stability prevailed in the country and that specific counter-incentives will be scrapped, Matthias Hoffmann, director of Northern Greece department of the German-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry said on Tuesday.In an interview with ANA, Hoffmann said that the number of German businessmen contacting the Northern Greece department of the Chamber, seeking to examine potential cooperations, has increased significantly in the second half of 2016, compared with the same period last year, when concern over a poll, the imposition of capital controls and fears of a Grexit had almost frozen such contacts. "There is interest from German enterprises on the Greek market. What we do not want to see, on investment level, is a repeat of what happened with photovoltaic enterprises which were burdened at a later stage. The state must ahdere to its pledges towards investors, by implementing and not amending laws. Additionally, improving a national regulatory framework on investments and funding opportunities from European programs could have a positive impact, along with political and tax stability," he noted. "Investment interest is focused on sectors, such as tourism, food manufacturing and IT & communications. This interest could start initially through small investments and through Greek-German joint ventures. For example, investments on energy saving in hotels could be offset in two to four years. In general, there is investment interest as long as a good climate was safeguarded for foreign investments and investors. Until this happens, I think that German businessmen will wait," Hoffmann said. The German-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry has launched a www.pro-greece.com platform to help promote business cooperation between the two countries. "There's mobility lately as several Greek enterprises offered their products. It was difficult to promote marketing in Germany with Grexit still on the table. Lately, however, investment interest restarted," Hoffmann said, noting that around 1,000 enterprises participated in the platform in May 2016. He noted that German enterprises are seeking cooperations also in other sectors, such as services (architecture) given the fact that there was a large number of specialized workers who have studied in Germany and were affluent in German language. The German-Greek Chamber in Thessaloniki organized a seminar on energy saving and renewable energy sources in the tourism sector in Greece. During the seminar, seven German enterprises (GeoClimaDesign AG, PBW, Spenso GmbH, Steinel Vertrieb GmbH, Ship & Industrie Service UG, Terra Tec-Geotermie GmbH and MELA Industrieprodukte GmbH), will have more than 100 B2B meetings with Greek enterprises. "The meetings are carefully planned to have focused contacts, with around 20 Greek enterprises," Hoffmann said. [16] Deadline for binding bids in ADMIE stake sale extended until Oct. 19Power utility PPC said the deadline for the submission for binding bids for the purchase of a 24 percent stake in the Greek grid operator ADMIE is extended for a week, to "allow more time for potential investors to make their bids".The deadline, which would expire on Wednesday, has now been reset for October 19, the company said. Three companies have been shortlisted after the first round: Italy's Terna, China's State Grid International Development, and France's RTE. [17] Milder recession expected in 2016, slower growth for 2017, says think tankRecession in Greece will be milder than originally predicted this year and growth in 2017 will be slower than that forecast by the government and Greece's creditors, the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), a Greek think tank, said in his tri-monthly report on the economy on Tuesday.IOBE said Greek GDP will shrink by 0.5 percent in 2016 versus a forecast for a one percent recession, mainly due to a rebound in private consumption in the second half of the year and an increase in investments. For next year, the foundation sees a 1.5-2.0 percent growth as a result of an increase in private consumption and a gradual drop in unemployment, a boost in investments and the expected settlement of non-performing loans (NPLs). Concerning unemployment, IOBE expects it to drop to 22.5 percent next year. [18] Greece seeks close cooperation with S. Korea in tourismAlternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura met a 10-member delegation of South Korean journalists that visited Greece at an invitation of the ministry as part of the programme to attract tourists from new and dynamic markets.Kountoura said that Greece is seeking close cooperation with South Korea in the tourism sector adding that the Greek Tourism Organisation participated for the first time in the international travel fair KOFTA held in Seoul. She underlined that the ministry is proceeding with targeted actions in order to sign strategic agreements that will boost tourist arrivals from South Korea over the next few days. Kountoura also referred to the efforts being made to launch direct flight from Athens to Seoul as of 2017. [19] Quest Holdings sets up real estate investment subsidiaryQuest Holdings SA announced the set up of a subsidiary company "BriQ Properties Real Estate Investment Company", following a decision taken by a general shareholders meeting in June 1 and a regular general shareholders' meeting of Unisystems SA in June 9.All property assets and cash worth 27,777,167 euros of Unisystems will be transfered to BriQ Properties and will be used as initial equity capital of the new company. BriQ Properties will seek approval from all related supervisory authorities. [20] Passenger traffic in four Greek airports up 5.3 pct in May-Sept, G4S saysPassenger traffic in four large Greek airports grew 5.3 pct during the summer season from May to September, G4S Greece said on Tuesday.G4S said passenger traffic in the airports of Athens, Heraklion, Chania and Kos began growing from the middle of the summer season as traffic growth in May and June was slow. Dimitris Antoniou, of G4A Airports, said a growth rate of 2.2 pct in June reached 7.2 pct in July and this trend continued in the following months, climaxing in September with a growth rate of 7.9 pct. Heraklion airport recorded the biggest percentage increase (11.1 pct), totaling 2,699,213 passengers in the five-month period, followed by the Chania airprot with an 8.0 pct increase, surpassing one million passengers. Kos airport recorded a 12.8 pct decline in traffic, while the Athens International Airport recorded a 5.0 pct increase totaling 3,479,266 passengers. Antoniou said that more than 8.0 million passengers travelled through the four airports without any serious problem or any delays during passenger control. G4S is the largest private security services company in Greece with a workforce of 2,500, with activities in 35 Greek cities. The parent company, with an annual turnover of 9.0 billion euros, is the second largest employer in the world with more than 620,000 workers in 120 countries. [21] 32nd International Tourism Exhibition 'Philoxenia'The 32nd International Tourism Exhibition 'Philoxenia' will take place in Thessaloniki from November 18 to November 20 in parallel with the international hotel equipment exhibition 'Hotelia.'"It is the first time that the 13 regions of the country participate in the exhibition. In this year's Philoxenia all the touristic places of Greece will be presented," the managing director of TIF-Helexpo Kyriakos Pozrikidis said. More than 120 prominent foreign professionals of the tourism sector will be hosted as part of the "Philoxenia hosted buyers" programme. During the international tourism conference "[Re]Branding Destinations: Image making" will present a series of destinations and develop branding strategy techniques. The conference focuses on the appropriate methods and tools to promote a destination according to the modern demands. Other events include "Philoxenia Happenings" that will present different areas of Greece through music, gastronomy and culture. It will also include a seminar on "Outbound tourism from China: (almost) everything you ever wanted to know" as well as a seminar on Google "Grow Greek Tourism Online." [22] 3rd Microbreweries and Premium Beers fair in AthensThe 3rd Microbreweries and Premium Beers fair is organized in Zappeion Hall October 15-16 bringing together more than 40 breweries from Greece and abroad.The beer fair, supporting the beer culture in Greece, will host the chef of Food Mafia restaurant, Elias Skoulas, who will present to visitors of the fair the latest "street food" creations from the menu of his new restaurant "Burgers & Buns", expected to open in Athens in December. Visitors will be offered a special beer test glass to use testing the vast variety of beers to be presented in the fair. The organizers of the fair invited two famous international beer journalists-connoisseurs, Adrian Tierney-Jones from England and Maurizio Maestrelli from Italy. The two journalists will discuss with Greek brewers and will participate in a round table meeting on Sunday 16 October on the microbrewery business. [23] Greek stocks end up on TuesdayGreek stocks moved slightly higher in the Athens Stock Exchange on Tuesday, pushing the composite index of the market above the 590-point level during the session to end at its highest levels since June 23. The index rose 0.35 pct to end at 585.30 points, off the day's highs of 591.27 points. The Large Cap index rose 0.26 pct and the Mid Cap index rose 1.62 pct. Turnover was an improved 42.596 million euros in volume of 65,454,568 shares.Metka (3.51 pct), Jumbo (3.07 pct) and PPC (2.61 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains of the day among blue chip stocks, while Piraeus Bank (2.0 pct), Ellaktor (1.53 pct) and GEK Terna (1.46 pct) suffered heavy losses. Among market sectors, Personal Products (3.03 pct), Industrial Products (1.56 pct) and Telecoms (1.51 pct) scored big gains, while Constructions (0.78 pct) and Banks (0.64 pct) suffered losses. Piraeus Bank and National Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 46 to 41 with another 36 issues unchanged. Motodynamic (15.87 pct), Frigoglass (15.69 pct) and Forthnet (10.45 pct) were top gainers, while Dionic (19.57 pct), Progressive (18 pct) and Euromedica (14.29 pct) were top losers. [24] Greek bond market closing reportThe yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds was almost unchanged at 8.23 pct in the domestic electronic secondary bond market on Tuesday, with the Greek bond yielding 8.19 pct and the German Bund yielding 0.04 pct. Turnover was a thin 4.0 million euros, two sell orders.In interbank markets, interest rates were mixed. The 12-month rate fell to -0.066 pct from -0.064 pct, the nine-month rate was -0.132 pct, the six-month rate fell to -0.203 pct from -0.202 pct, the three-month rate fell to -0.306 pct from -0.304 pct and the one-month rate was -0.371 pct. [25] ADEX closing reportThe October contract on the FTSE/ASE Large Cap index was trading at a discount of 0.19 pct in the Athens Derivatives Exchange on Tuesday. Volume on the Big Cap index totaled 4,157 contracts with 6,742 open positions in the market. Volume in futures contracts on equities totaled 26,338 contracts with investment interest focusing on National Bank's contracts (6,780), followed by Alpha Bank (5,537), Piraeus Bank (4,417), Eurobank (5,420), MIG (420), OTE (1,276), PPC (365), OPAP (275), Mytilineos (961), Hellenic Petroleum (235), Metka (232), Ellaktor (109).General News [26] Israel-Greece meeting on Nanotechnology and Bio-Nano on Oct 25-27The second Israel-Greece meeting on Nanotechnology and Bio-Nano is organised by the Institute of Electronic Structure and Laser (IESL) of the Research and Technology Institute (ITE) in Heraklion, Crete, from 25 to 27 October, in collaboration with the Ben Gurion University, Negev, and the Weizmann Institute of Science.The meeting aims at informing on recent developments in the fields of nanotechnology and bionanotechnology in both countries. It also aims to strengthen bilateral relations and interactions between the scientific communities of Greece and Israel, through joint research projects, workshops, seminars, conferences and summer schools. The first Israel-Greece meeting on Nanotechnology and Bio-Nano was successfully held in 2014 at the Weizmann Institute in Israel. [27] Nicotine affects the neural network, PhD Charalambos Sigalas tells ANAThe nicotine of the cigarette, including the electronic cigarette, has negative effects on the brain and the cognitive abilities of adolescents and adults, a postdoctoral researcher at the Biomedical Research Foundation (BRFAA) of the Academy of Athens Charalambos Sigalas said in an interview with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency.Apart from other already known health problems such as lung cancer or cardiovascular disease, it is less well known that nicotine is a toxic substance that damages the brain at different levels: molecular, cellular and organic. According to Sigalas, parts of the brain of smokers have been found to be smaller than non-smokers, and also nicotine negatively affects memory, learning and attention, with any consequences this may have on the performance of students in school. Especially in teenagers, he said, studies have shown reduced learning performance of students who smoke, compared with non-smokers. "Nicotine enters the bloodstream through the lungs and reaches the brain, it is incorporated into a group of proteins, the nicotinic receptors, thus deregulating the functions of the neural network (brain cells)," he explained. One can avoid other harmful substances of the cigarette, such as tar, with the electronic cigarette, but cannot avoid the nicotine. As he said, "it is wrong to believe that the exposure to nicotine by the electronic cigarette is much lower than tobacco cigarettes." Sigalas noted that it is highly difficult to estimate the accurate exposure to nicotine, but since it is addictive "it is a legal drug" and, given that there are so many smokers, it "is a very big problem for public health." This concerns passive smokers as well. "Since there is exposure to nicotine, even passive, it has exactly the same effect," he said. [28] The never ending fantasy in the world of Christos Petrides art exhibited at Benaki Museum of Pireaus StrIf we choose to judge the value of a work of art in terms of pleasure, of the playful interaction with the spectator, the psychic and mental enjoyment of art as explained by the Kantian term of "disinterestedness", then the exhibition hosted at Benaki Museum of Piraeus Str in memory of the prematurely lost artist Christos Petrides constitutes a stunning example of the entertaining and liberating powers of art and the fantastic worlds that only art could establish.The merit of Petrides' art is exactly this playful and liberating feeling his works emanate. Inside the pictures emerges a personal, but readily assimilated by everyone, world, which provokes a blissful sentiment to the spectator, projecting him to a space that transcends reality. Yet this ontogenesis, the creation of new chains of meanings, this new material of images, is rapidly accepted as the instauration of imagination and child-game action, cast aside in the everyday experience by the compelling social behaviour. In fact, the works of Petrides, full of game-like displacements of forms and perspectives, these worlds inhabited by animals and toy-like objects (even when he paints the Absolute vodka bottle, or the Lacoste crocodile, or a tanker), the multicolour surfaces, covered by a pointillisme that magnifies the illusionary dimension of the theme. Even the simplicity of the forms, and its incompleteness, reenact the child's experience by implying the object by its schema, as in Kant's "schematism" and thus multiplying the possibilities of its meanings, since the mere scheme could be afterwards deployed in multifarious other forms. The bright colours and the repeating, ludic, pictorial patterns, such as an encoding of figures, constitute a perpetuated story-telling game, since these work as the codes of a "functional assimilation" in the game, the mental elements which must be familiarized with in order to be repeated in the process. Petrides' worlds are alluring to the end. Their force springs from the successful interaction they achieve between the personal vision of the artist and the personal views of the spectators, a perfect conjugation of their imaginations on a common ground, in their fantasies and in the ever-lasting yearning of the humans for playing, that although is subdued with age by the social constrains, nonetheless is never absolutely quenched or dried. -George-Byron Davos [29] Photographic exhibition at NAM marks 72nd anniversary of Athens' liberation from GermansThe National Archaeological Museum (NAM) is holding a photographic exhibition based on its rich archive on the work done by the museum to conceal and protect its antiquities on the eve of the occupation, as part of the events to mark the 72nd anniversary of Athens' liberation from the Germans.The exhibition, titled "Athens Free, October 12 1944", will open on Wednesday at the museum caf? and will include 30-minute tours between 11:00 and 13:00 for groups of up to 40 people. On the same day, the museum will hold tours led by archaeologists in the rooms used to hide antiquities during WWII. The tours, which will have a maximum of 40 visitors each, will take place between 11:00 and 12:00. The event is co-organized by the Hellenic Parliament Foundation for Parliamentarism and Democracy, the Prefecture of Attica, the municipality of Athens, public TV channel ERT and the General State Archives. For more information on the tours, call 213 214489. Those who want to participate in will have to state their name at the ticket desk. [30] EuroVR annual conference on virtual and augmented reality to be held in Athens on Nov. 22-24The non-profit European Association for Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality - EuroVR will hold its annual conference in Athens on November 22-24. The "EuroVR Conference 2016" is the sector's 14th annual conference and will be carried out in cooperation with the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) Institute of Communications and Computer Systems.Alongside the conference, there will be an exhibition where companies active in the sector will present their products and services. Radical developments in Virtual, Augmented and Mixed Reality are expected to transform the ways in which people communicate, travel, have fun and consumer over the coming decades. [31] "Bike Friendly Hotel" programme to be officially launched in DecemberThe Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature (EEPF) and NATTOUR have joined forces and launched the "Bike Friendly Hotel" programme.Hotels included in the programme should meet the basic criteria set out including one night stays, secure overnight bike storage, the provision of regional cycling maps, bike repair kits for minor repairs and maintenance, washing/drying facilities for clothes and gear, recommended bike repair and rental shops. A lot of hotels in Chalkidiki, Crete, Evia, Kos, Mtsovo, Pilio and Messinia have already expressed their interest in participating in the programme. Two hotels of Porto Carras complex in Chalkidiki, the Meliton Beach and Sithonia Beach have been awarded with the label while another 20 hotels have submitted applications. The programme will be officially launched in December 2016 and it will be presented in the international fair World Travel Market, to be held in London (7-9 November 2016). [32] Beer lovers to gather at Zappeion for Zythognosia exhibitionThe Zappeion Mansion will be the checkpoint for beer lovers. The Microbreweries and Premium Beers exhibition that supports and promotes the beer culture will present the Greek brewers products.The Zythognosia Exhibition will be held on 15 and 16 October and will be open from 12 noon until 9 at night with 10 euro entrance for both days. The visitors will taste over 100 different beers from Greece and abroad while 40 Greek breweries participate in the event. [33] Quake measuring 4.3 on Richter scale shakes western GreeceA light earthquake hit the Patras region at 14:50 on Tuesday, with the tremor felt in nearby Nafpaktos, Messolonghi, Agrinio and other parts of western Greece.According to the Geodynamic Institute of the Athens Observatory, the quake measured 4.3 on the Richter scale and its epicentre was located between Nafpaktos and Antirrio. The EuroMediterranean Seismology Centre gave a 4.5 Richter magnitude and placed the epicentre 18 kilometres north of Patras. [34] Whirlwind hits ZakynthosA whirlwind, the fourth in a few weeks, hit the island of Zakynthos on Tuesday morning raising concerns to the residents.Trees fell and electricity was cut off while a landslide interrupted the traffic in the provincial road network. [35] No trolley buses from 12:00 to 17:00 on Wednesday due to strikeNo trolley buses will be running in Athens between 12:00 and 17:00 on Wednesday, due to strike action by staff at ILPAP, the Athens trolley bus state transport company. The ILPAP staff union called the strike in order to hold a third general meeting of union members, to approve the annual financial report and elect the members of an elections' committee.Weather forecast [36] Rain on WednesdayRain and westerly winds are forecast for Wednesday. Wind velocity will reach 6 on the Beaufort scale. Rain in the northern and western parts of the country with temperatures ranging from 12C to 26C. Cloudy in the eastern parts with temperatures between 15C and 26C. Clouds and rain over the Aegean islands and Crete, 18C-29C. Partly cloudy in Athens, 16C-26C. Rain in Thessaloniki, 14C-18C.[37] The Tuesday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceDIMOKRATIA: Neither names nor addressesELEFTHEROS TYPOS: Zero EKAS pension benefit as of 2017 ESTIA: Corruption fast track ETHNOS: Many petrol stations are cheating consumers IMERISSIA: Lower salaries NAFTEMPORIKI: Trust in installments KATHIMERINI: Eurogroup delays the disbursement of the loan sub-tranche RIZOSPASTIS: Large scandals are the measures that will abolish labour rights 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 210 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 210 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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