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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-11-22Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM in Dominican Rep. for SI sessionsSANTO DOMINGO (ANA-MPA / V. Mourtis) -- Prime Minister George Papandreou, in his capacity as Socialist International (SI) president, arrived here on Sunday to preside over the organisation's three-day series of meetings, set to begin in the evening and continue until Tuesday.The meetings are expected to host discussions on a final proposal by the SI regarding the climate change issue and the environment, which will be tabled at the upcoming Copenhagen summit, along with positions on the global economic crisis, the gap between north and south and worldwide efforts at more disarmament. [02] Final stretch of ND leadership raceThe three-way race to succeed Costas Karamanlis at the helm of main opposition New Democracy (ND) party entered into the last week before the Nov. 29 election next weekend, with all three candidates touring the country and giving speakding to crowds of supporters.Former minister Antonis Samaras spoke to an audience in the central Greece city of Larissa on Sunday, while former minister Dora Bakoyannis spoke in Thessaloniki, whereas Thessaloniki Prefect Panagiotis Psomiadis toured the Thrace province. Speaking in Thessaloniki, Bakoyannis, the up-until-recently foreign minister, honed in on ruling PASOK, charging that less than 50 days after the election it has lost control in all sectors, "from Brussels all the way to the port of the Piraeus". "PASOK is good only in its communications in easy words. The government is proceeding without a plan, a compass, and without knowing what it wants; PASOK will pay for its unreliability and its incompetence," the former foreign minister characteristically said. Meanwhile, in a reply to high-profile criticism against her, Bakoyannis, the daughter of ex-prime minister Constantine Mitsotakis, said she never advised Karamanlis to hold a snap election on Oct. 4, yet when elections were proclaimed she said fully waged a campaign battle and did not hide. Speaking from Larissa, Samaras, an ex-culture minister in the last Karamanlis government and a one-time founder of his own political party (Political Spring) in the 1990s, referred to what he called the triptych of "unity, organisation and ideology" as the backbone of a reborn New Democracy. "I want to proceed with something from scratch. The battle does not end on the 29th (of November), but instead, begins on the 30th, because opposed to ND is PASOK," he said. In referring to the disastrous election result of Oct. 4, Samaras underlined: "PASOK did not rise; it was our own (voters) who left us and stayed home. We need to give them our apology..." he said. Finally, Psomiadis visited the town of Xanthi on Saturday, followed by Komotini and in Alexandroupolis in the evening, where he spoke to party cadres and supporters. [03] 2 H1N1-related deaths reported; victims plagued by severe health problemsAnother two H1N1-related deaths were reported in Greece over the weekend, with victims in both cases suffering from serious pre-existing conditions, health officials said.In the first instance, a 16-year-old teen tested positive for "new flu" in Thessaloniki suffered severe respiratory and multiple organ failure while being treated in a local hospital. Additionally, a 70-year-old man, also in Thessaloniki, also succumbed to a severe form of pneumonia in a local hospital's ICU. He was also earlier diagnosed with H1N1. [04] Greek-owned vessel eludes piratesThe Greek coast guard command on Sunday clarified that a Greek-managed bulk carrier was attacked by armed pirates off the coast of Yemen on Nov. 16 although attempts to board the vessel were unsuccessful.The vessel, identified as the Red Sea Spirit, reportedly eluded two pirate speedboats after its skipper took evasive measures at sea. According to the shipping company Secure Hold, the Panamanian-flagged vessel is continuing its course for Karachi, Pakistan. [05] Beachgoers take advantage of ideal weatherBrilliant sunny weather and unseasonably high temperatures brought out beachgoers, swimmers and sailboaters alike on Sunday, November 22, 2009, in numerous coastal Athens beaches. The beach at Faliro was no exception, with calm waters and pleasant breeze in the Saronic Gulf also producing ideal sailing conditions. ANA-MPA / SIMELA PANTZARTZI.[06] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesEconomic policy following the tabling of the draft 2010 budget, developments in the ND leadership race and instances of H1N1 flu mostly dominated the headlines in Sunday's newspapers.ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "End of illegal double bonuses - Pension at 67 for anyone hired after 2002". APOGEVMATINI: "Everything changing in building cooperatives." AVGI: "Recipe for recession -- Budget" AVRIANI: "Government freeing up 'closed professions' " ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Rendezvous at the tax office - 3.5 billion euros foreseen as additional tax revenue for 2010". ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Participation brings about new president - New opinion poll on New Democracy leadership race". ETHNOS: "Flu out of control as vaccination of health professionals coming amid obstacles". EPOCHI (Weekly): "Economy: From the tunnel to ICU." FREE SUNDAY: "What's changing in public sector, taxes". KATHIMERINI: "Timidness and vaccilation as markets, EU watch - Nervousness from lack of economic strategic planning intensifies". RIZOSPASTIS: "Everybody out for communist labour union rally on Nov. 24". LOGOS: "Economy's collapse brings new taxes". PARON (Weekly): "(PASOK) Party against government! Revolt by MPs and cadres". PROTO THEMA (Weekly): "Tax dodgers directly to jail - Failing to pay VAT a felony". VETO: "Ms 'E' in handcuffs - Message by government after adventurous arrest of 'Eleftherotypia' co-owner". VIMA: "Debate! - Dora Bakoyannis and Antonis Samaras -- 20 common questions - 40 different answers". VRADYNI: "Properties with hidden benefits, bargains". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |