Athens News Agency: News in English, 03-08-08

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] New U.S Consul General in Thessaloniki

[02] Noted Greek writer Samarakis dies at 84

[03] Drivers face fines for speaking on cell phone while driving

[04] Inflation drops to 3.6 pct in July

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in last-minute surge

[07] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

[01] New U.S Consul General in Thessaloniki

A diplomat with experience in Greek and Balkan affairs has been appointed as the new U.S. Consul General in Thessaloniki, replacing John Koening who has been transferred to Brussels.

Alec Mally, who is due to officially assume his new duties in the coming days, arrived in Thessaloniki from Pristina where he served these past two years as attache of the American diplomatic mission.

Earlier he was the head of the U.S. State Department's Greece Bureau, while in the past he also worked at the Political and Economic Department of his country's embassy in Athens.

During the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Mally served in the State Department's South-Central Europe Bureau as head of the working group which dealt with economic issues of the region.

The new consul is married with Greek actress Ioanna Gavakou.

[02] Noted Greek writer Samarakis dies at 84

Renowned Greek author Antonis Samarakis died on Friday at his holiday home in Pylos, the Peloponnese at the age of 84.

Born in Athens in 1919, Samarakis was a law school graduate and participated in the Resistance during the German occupation.

Widely read by Greek teenagers, he was honored with many distinctions for two of his books, the collection of short stories ''Arnoume'' (I Deny) and the novel ''Lathos'' (Mistake), while his early works have been translated into 30 languages, turned into films by French directors and into TV series in American television.

He was a member of UNICEF and Greece's first goodwill ambassador for the children of the world.

[03] Drivers face fines for speaking on cell phone while driving

Apart from parking and speeding fines, drivers now face the likelihood of getting a ticket for speaking on their mobile phone while driving.

Since last Thursday, police have embarked on a campaign in the Athens region to stop the ''drive-and-speak-on-the-phone'' habit of modern Athenians, and according to officials, as many as 423 fines were imposed in only one day in central Athens roads. The fine for speaking on the phone while driving is 31 euros.

[04] Inflation drops to 3.6 pct in July

Consumer price inflation was at 3.6 percent year on year in July 2003 against the same month of 2002, down from 3.8 percent year on year in June 2003, the Greek National Statistics Service (GNSS) said on Friday.

The GNSS attributed July's figure versus the same month a year earlier mainly to a rise of 7.4 percent in foodstuffs and non-alcoholic beverages in products including cereals, dairy products, fresh fruits and vegetables, mineral water, and soft drinks.

In addition, prices in the hotels, cafes and restaurants category increased by 4.5 percent; and education fees also rose by 4.5 percent, the GNSS said in a statement.

In addition, the consumer price index for July 2003 posted a 1.9 percent decline month on month from June.

The harmonised consumer price index in July rose by 3.5 percent versus the same month of 2002.

Harmonised inflation fell by 2.1 percent in July against June this year, the statement said.

[05] Foreign Exchange Rates - Monday

Reference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank

U.S. dollar 1.141

Pound sterling 0.708

Danish kroner 7.494

Swedish kroner 9.275

Japanese yen 135.9

Swiss franc 1.549

Norwegian kroner 8.227

Cyprus pound 0.591

Canadian dollar 1.594

Australian dollar 1.752

[06] Athens Bourse Close: Stocks rise in last-minute surge

The Athens bourse finished higher on Friday in a burst of trade in the last 10 minutes after three declining sessions.

The general share index gained 0.67 percent to end at 2,147.14 points. Turnover was 193.2 million euros.

The FTSE/ASE-20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks ended 0.81 percent up; the FTSE/ASE-40 for medium capitalisation paper 0.29 percent lower; and the FTSE/ASE-80 for small cap equities finished with gains of 0.59 percent.

Of stocks traded, advances led declines at 177 to 134 with 52 issues remaining unchanged.

Piraeus Port Authority made its trading debut on the bourse to finish with gains of 31.14 percent at 11.54 euros.

On a weekly basis, the general share index lost 1.29 percent.

[07] Weather Forecast: Scattered cloud on Saturday

Scattered cloud is forecast in all parts of the country, with isolated storms or showers likely on the mainland from late afternoon. Winds northerly, light to strong, turning gale force in parts of the Aegean. In the north, temperatures will range from 18C to 34C; on the mainland from 20C to 35C; and in the islands from 22C to 33C. Temperatures in Athens between 25C and 33C; and in Thessaloniki from 23C to 33C.

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