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Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 11-11-29Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>Tuesday, 29 November 2011 Issue No: 3943CONTENTS
[01] OECD: Greek GDP to contract by 6.1% in 2011; small growth in 2013Greek GDP is expected to drop by 6.1 percent in 2011 and 3 percent in 2012, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development announced on Monday during the unveiling of its regular interim report.The organisations foresees a return to growth, given as a paltry 0.5 percent in 2013, mostly calculated on promised and widespread reforms, increased consumption, better competitiveness and increased investments. The deficit next year is forecast at 7 percent of GDP, down from 9 percent in 2011, although the assessment does not take into account any debt swap. Unemployment is expected to reach 16.6 percent in 2011, up from 12.5 percent in 2010. More ominously, this figure is expected to reach 18.5 percent in 2012 and 18.7 percent in 2013. Conversely, weak economic demand and high joblessness are expected to keep inflation low: 1.1 percent in 2012; 0.2 in 2013 and 3 percent for 2011. [02] Administrative Reform minister on pre-pension status and civil servants' reserveAdministrative Reform Minister Dimitris Reppas, in letters he addressed to all the members of the government, requests from all ministers "their personal interest" for the completion of the procedure concerning the pre-pension status and the reserve of civil servants.Reppas informs the ministers that the time limit on the signing of ascertaining acts on pre-pension layoff expired on Monday. Reppas also issued a new circular in which he stresses the need for the observation of the expiry dates for the issuing of ascertaining acts on the starting of pre-pension layoff. [03] ND MPs on economic crisis; electionsFeuding within PASOK and lack of communication between PASOK and Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.O.S) ministers participating in the transitional government are holding back the new Papademos government, New Democracy (ND) party political planning secretary MP Maximos Harakopoulos stressed on Monday.Speaking on public radio and television, Harakopoulos pointed out that developments are going "too fast" and the government should move swiftly toward the implementation of the Oct. 26 agreement followed by general elections. Referring to the issues of the labour reserve measure and the deregulation of the taxi sector, he said ND has expressed opposition to the policies decided by the previous Papandreou government and about to be implemented by the present one. He stressed that ND has expressed its positions clearly and insists on them. "We are experiencing a major crisis," ND MP Costis Hatzidakis added, noting that there are two likely scenarios, namely, that "control has been lost and this means that we will fall apart" or "negotiation is underway and each party will try to set its own terms with Germany being in the most advantageous position considering that it is the strongest player due to its competitive economy." He added that participation in the Papademos government does not mean that ND has forgotten everything it has professed. He added that improvements and changes will be made after elections are held to ensure greater progress. [04] Evros River fence to be completed by mid-2012A wire fence to be constructed along the Evros River border with Turkey will be completed by mid-2012, deputy citizens protection minister Manolis Othonas said during a visit on Sunday to the Border Guard Station in Ferres.Othonas, who visited the land section of the Greek-Turkish frontier where the fence is to be constructed, said that the ministry's priority is for the contractor of the project to set itself up in the area in the coming weeks, in order for the project to be completed in 5 months' time. He said that completion of the fence will enable enhancement of the guarding operation, which will possibly be reinforced with patrol boats as well, aiming at a substantial improvement in the monitoring of the border. [05] AMNA work stoppages on MondayA work stoppage will be taking place at AMNA (ANA-MPA) on Monday, 28 November, from 12:00 noon to 16:00 and from 17:00 to midnight against the government's measures of reserve labour and uniform salary scale, which also affect the news agency.During the work stoppages news items and information will not be broadcast by the Agency and the ANA-MPA's website will not be updated. Financial News [06] Foreign Exchange rates - TuesdayReference buying rates per euro released by the European Central Bank:U.S. dollar 1.354 Pound sterling 0.871 Danish kroner 7.549 Swedish kroner 9.398 Japanese yen 105.38 Swiss franc 1.249 Norwegian kroner 7.953 Canadian dollar 1.400 Australian dollar 1.363 General News [07] Theatrical producer Vangelis Livadas dies in fireTheatrical producer Vangelis Livadas died in a fire that broke out in his 3rd-storey apartment in the Athens coastal suburb of Glyfada on Sunday.According to the Fire Brigade the cause of the blaze was a heating ventilator that fell over and the sheets took fire. The wife of the 90-year-old producer, actress Smaroula Giouli, was also in the house at the time, and has been hospitalised in a state of shock and suffering from respiratory problems, probably caused in her attempt to save her husband, who had mobility problems. The woman initially did not want to abandon her dead husband and her house, but was finally taken to hospital. Vangelis Livadas was born in Athens. His first work as a theatrical producer was in 1958 and since then he made over 360 theatrical productions that included ancient Greek theatre, classical theatre, operettas, musicals and revues. Livadas was married to noted Greek actress Smaroula Giouli. [08] Film director Katsouridis diesWell-known Greek Cypriot director and photography director Dinos Katsouridis died early Monday at the age of 84 in an Athens hospital, after a bout with cancer.Katsouridis was born in 1927 in Nicosia, Cyprus, and in the mid-'50s cane to Athens to attend Medical School, but was won over by the newly-established Stavrakou School, becoming a student in the directors' department, where six months later he taught as a professor of photography. His first professional work with the cinema was as assistant director in Grigoris Grigoriou's film "Pikro Psomi" (Bitter Bread". In the following eight years he worked with the Finos Film company as operator and stage photographer on a total of 21 films. He directed his first film in 1960, which was followed by a plethora of films that made his name a household word in Greece. [09] Businessman Lanaras dies at age 54Businessman Thomas Lanaras, owner of the Lanakam S.A. textiles company and former president and CEO of the Klonatex Group died on Sunday afternoon at the age of 54 after a bout with cancer.Lanaras, who was born into a family of industrialists, studied Business Administration at La Verne University in California and had an MBA in economics from Northeastern University in Boston. [10] Police arrests 66 suspects for robberiesA theft ring that was acting in train stations was dismantled by Athens police on Saturday.Police arrested 66 individuals, 58 foreign nationals and the other 8 locals, who are responsible for at least 147 thefts and robberies. The foreign nationals are from countries of Northern Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East. In the last six months, ring members stole 101 wallets and other objects, and committed 18 robberies against people inside and outside railway stations and 28 burglaries from cars. A police search in 12 apartment in the centre of Athens revealed a huge number of jewelry, cellphones, electronic devices and other objects as well as travel document of dubious legitimacy, 53.8 grams of cannabis and 5,275 euros in cash. The suspects were sent before a prosecutor and police are continuing the investigation. [11] Illegal migrant smugglers arrested in NW GreeceTwo Albanian nationals, aged 23 and 40, were arrested near the village of Soulopoulo, Ioannina prefecture in northwest Greece, accused of transporting illegal migrants, while an accomplice is still wanted, it was announced on Monday.Police chased a private vehicle after its driver failed to stop for a routine check and sped off. The car overturned and the driver managed to flee the scene of the accident. Three Albanian nationals, aged 20, 23 and 32, who lacked legal documents were found trapped inside the car and were subsequently arrested. A second car that acted as a "lookout" was spotted at the Vrossina Bridge and its driver and co-driver, aged 44 and 23 respectively, were arrested. Both cars were confiscated and all suspects will be led before a prosecutor in Ioannina. [12] Minors' ring carrying out thefts dismantledA ring composed of four minors, aged between 13 and 15 that was dismantled in Salamina, carried out thefts in homes and shops and in certain cases caused extensive damage and started fires.Investigations revealed that the perpetrators, who are expected to be brought before a minors' prosecutor, had stolen things from five homes and five shops over the past month, as well as money from a church. In many cases, the minors started fires and caused damage to cover their traces. [13] Passerby shot by accidentA passerby was injured early Monday in the Athens district of Patissia from a ricocheting bullet during an argument that was underway. The ex- husband of a woman and her current partner were arguing when the latter shot the ex-husband, injuring him in the abdomen and the leg. However one bullet ricocheted and lightly injured a passerby in the hand.The injured ex-husband was hospitalised and is reported out of danger while the passerby, after receiving first aid. left the hospital. The perpetrator fled the scene and is wanted by police. [14] The Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe crisis in the eurozone, the reserve labour measure and the cuts in pensions starting from Jan. 1, mostly dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers.ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Confusion with the reserve labour". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Hidden cuts in salaries and pensions via Tax Bureau". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Fifth cut in 900,000 pensions". ETHNOS: "They are again pruning lump sum retirement benefits and auxiliary pensions" ESTIA: "Eurozone dissolving". IMERISSIA: "Eurozone in a vortex". NAFTEMPORIKI: "German- French plan for two-speed eurozone". TA NEA: "Knife to pensions ". VRADYNI: "Five-month work in Local Administration for 57,400 unemployed". 36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: ILIAS MATSIKAS Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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