Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-12

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

CONTENTS

[01] Greek inflation slows to 2% Dec.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Greek inflation slows to 2% Dec.

The service, in a monthly report, said the inflation rate, measured by the consumer price index, fell 0.5 pct in December from November, after recording a 0.4-pct increase in December 2007.

Commenting on these positive development, Manolis Kontopyrakis, NSS secretary-general, said the reasons behind the spectacular decline was mainly a 10-pct drop in petrol prices, an 18.6-pct fall in heating oil prices and limited rises in fruits, vegetables and super market prices.

The statistics service and the 2.0-pct inflation rate in December, reflected a 4.7-pct increase in education prices, a 3.9-pct rise in food/beverage prices, a 5.3-pct increase in the hotel-coffee-restaurant group, a 3.9-pct rise in healthcare prices and a 3.4 pct increase in the other goods and services group.

Greece's harmonised inflation rate in December was 2.2 pct. Kontopyrakis said he expected the consumer price index to remain at December's levels in January.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Last week's government reshuffle and policy guidelines set out by Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis, the economy, concern over the latest round of Turkish provocations in the eastern Aegean and the Israeli offensive in Gaza were the main front-page items in Monday's dailies.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Worry over Turkish provocations - Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) to convene today," chaired by the prime minister.

APOGEVMATINI: "Tax-free ceiling at 10,500 euros"; new FinMin Yiannis Papathanassiou planning corrective moves in taxation policy.

AVRIANI: "Papathanassiou putting end to SDOE (financial crimes squad) arbitrariness".

CHORA: "Political crossword puzzle - Reshuffle narrowed difference (main opposition PASOK's lead over ruling ND in opinion polls) to 3 percentage points - We've entered the second half (of the political match).

ELEFTHEROS: "Maximos Mansion (government headquarters) plans to 'annihilate' PASOK politically and head either to (early general) elections in the spring, or more forcefully, to the European Parliament elections".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Five days of hell in the Aegean" anticipated this week as Turkey deploys military aircraft, ships and submarines for air and sea exercise 'Cevik Pence' (Steel Pincers), from Monday to Friday in designated areas Limnos to Rhodes".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "With eyes fixed on elections - Opinion polls show PASOK-ND difference at 3 percentage points after reshuffle".

ESTIA: "The people want bold policy - Last chance for government".

ETHNOS: "Electoral 'tricks' by Karamanlis - Desperate attempt to change the (political) climate in two months".

TA NEA: "Thriller with arms from Greece for Israel, as the massacre continues in Gaza", claiming that two munitions transport shipments from the port of Astakos to an Israeli port are contained in a tender issued by the US.

VRADYNI: "The third phase of massacre - The Israelis invaded city of Gaza".

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