Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-03-26

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

CONTENTS

[01] White House event for Greek Independence Day

[02] EU axes early pensions for women

[03] Bourse opening: Strong rise

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] White House event for Greek Independence Day

President Obama hosted several distinguished Greek-American and Greek officials at the White House's East Room, including Archbishop of America Demetrios and Hellenic American Union (HAU) president Chris Spyrou.

Following celebratory remarks by Demetrios, Obama expressed his congratulations and best wishes to expatriate Greeks and Greece on the occasion of its March 25, 1821 Independence Day, which marked the first successful uprising against dour Ottoman rule in the Balkans.

Caption: A smiling US President Barack Obama (at the podium) speaks during a ceremony honoring Greek Independence Day, held at the White House's East Room on Wednesday, March 25, 2009. US Vice President Joe Biden (R) was also on hand, as was Hellenic American Union (HAU) president and veteran New Hampshire political leader Chris Spyrou (L-foreground). ANA-MPA / DIMITRIS PANAGOS.

[02] EU axes early pensions for women

According to the Euro-court's ruling, Greek legislation afforded more favourable conditions for women, especially mothers, in comparison with male colleagues but without addressing problems that women were likely to encounter during their professional careers.

It found that the provisions of the Greek civil and military pensions code did not offset the disadvantages to which the careers of female civil servants and military personnel are exposed by helping them with their professional life.

Greece had argued that the pension rules were a social measure to compensate for disadvantages suffered by women because of the often shorter duration of their working life.

Caption: Scene from the official inauguration of the new building of European Court of Justice in Luxembourg last December. ANA-MPA/EPA

[03] Bourse opening: Strong rise

Individual sector indices were moving upward nearly across the board, with the only losses in Foods and Beverages, down 1.70 percent.

The biggest gains were in Insurance, up 4.13 percent; Banks, up 2.53 percent; Chemicals, up 1.97 percent; and Public Utilities, up 1.92 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 1.01 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was up 1.22 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.55 percent.

Of the stocks moved, 67 were up, 14 were down, and 20 were unchanged.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Economic measures being mulled by the government after the European Commission's recommendations and a European Court decision for equal retirement age for men and women in the public sector dominated Thursday's headlines in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The changes taking place in social insurance. The decision to equate age limits for men-women".

APOGEVMATINI: "Rallying around the prime minister. Top members of the government and New Democracy put an end to disinformation regarding the departure of [Prime Minister] Costas Karamanlis.".

AVRIANI: "What Alafouzos was carrying in his yacht and how he tricked the coast guard and police with forgeries and scams? Guess how many billions the cargo he was carrying must have been worth".

CHORA: "The looting brought the debt. Europeans hold Greek governments responsible".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Ten commandments from the European Commission and if we don't follow them by October they will strip us bare".

ELEFTHEROS: "'Tear down' the myths of the post-junta period. Demand by [PASOK MP] Mihalis Chrysohoidis in 'shock' interview with Eleftheros".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Pensions 'in limbo' for 236,000 women in the public sector. Concern over changes imposed by Euro-court".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "A 3.4-billion-euro noose for two years. New package of 'guaranteed result' measures mulled by economic team".

ESTIA: "The recovery coming faster. Massive reserves of the free-market economy".

ETHNOS: "Six month Golgotha for Karamanlis. After the euro-ultimatum for new measures by October".

TA NEA: "Pension at 65 impacts 140,000 women. Euro-court's decision today".

VRADYNI: "Now starts the hard part. Five-year austerity with clear timeframe imposed by Brussels".

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