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Wednesday, 4 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-05-21Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Finland wins 51st Eurovision song contest in AthensFinland won the 51st Eurovision song contest held at the Athens Olympic Stadium complex on Saturday night with the Lordi band singing "Hard Rock Allelujah" and garnering 292 telephone votes from 38 countries. The event was hosted by pop heartthrob Sakis Rouvas and Greek-American model, reporter and actress Maria Menounos. Russia won second place in the contest with the song "Never let you go" with 248 votes, while Bosnia-Herzegovina won third place with its "Hari Mata Hari" band singing the song "Layla" and gaining 229 votes. Greece won the ninth position with popular Cyprus-born singer Anna Vissi singing the song "Everything", with music composed by Nikos Karvelas and lyrics prepared by herself.It was the first time that Finland ever won first place in the Eurovision song contest, which Ireland has won seven times, while Britain, Luxembourg and France have each won the contest five times. The final phase of the contest, the semifinal had taken place on Thursday, was held with the participation of 24 countries and was watched by over 100 million television viewers. Greece hosted this year's contest after winning in last year's event with the song "My number one", sang by Elena Paparizou. [02] President Karolos Papoulias attends events marking union of Eptanisa islands with GreecePresident Karolos Papoulias on Sunday attended events held in Corfu, marking the 142nd anniversary of the union of the Eptanisa islands, located in the Ionian Sea, with Greece. Local inhabitants gave a warm welcome to President Papoulias who laid a wreath at a the monument commemorating the Union and then watched a school and military parade.President Papoulias expressed his respect for all who fell during the struggle, while speaking during a luncheon given in his honour by Corfu Mayor Yiannis Trepeklis he said that the day could provide the reason for us to "consider that national independence and dignity require constant vigilance by all." The government was represented at the celebrations by Deputy Finance and Economy Minister Antonis Bezas, while also present were military leadership representatives and the Parliamentary deputies and the authorities of the island. [03] PASOK party leader criticises government from SantoriniMain opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou, speaking at a meeting of the local cooperatives union on the fashionable island of Santorini on Saturday, criticised the government for abandoning rural areas and cutting back on funds earmarked for their development, while also stressing that sea routes have been abolished, a development harming the producers of farm products.Papandreou further said that the ruling New Democracy party is unaware of the problems of the times and is unable to plan and programme their solution, stressing that the government should stand by the people and solve problems and not take power for the sake of power. The PASOK party leader also accused the government of saying one thing before the elections and doing something else after the elections, while calling on citizens to contribute with their proposals to the preparation of PASOK's new programme. Papandreou said that the greatest reform being prepared by PASOK concerns local administration with which the central administration will walk hand-in-hand and will be providing it with funds and responsibilities. Lastly, Papandreou said that in the next national elections the people must send ND back to the benches of the opposition and bring PASOK to power to enable the country to forge ahead. [04] KKE leader refers to local elections in KarditsaCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, speaking in the city of Karditsa in central Greece on Saturday, called on citizens to change the correlation of forces in local bodies, municipalities and prefectures and to downgrade the positions of the mainstream New Democracy and PASOK parties in the upcoming municipal and prefectural elections in October.She said that the aim is to raise a wall against the new anti-popular options that are coming, adding that if this does not happen a new serious obtacle will be created both at general political level and in the local administration sector. Papariga further said that the new local authorities that will emerge will prove to be far worse than before, while a large sector of working people will behave as referees in the competition between ND and PASOK. She also stressed that never in comparison with the past has the municipality and the prefecture been so narrowly, clearly and directly a part of exercising general policy in the state and political system of power. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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