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Tuesday, 26 November 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-04-20Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] High-level protection for Mount HymettusEnvironment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Tina Birbili on Monday unveiled a draft presidential decree designed to upgrade the environmental protection status of Mount Hymettus, the mountain range that flanks the Greek capital to the east. There will be a one-month period of public debate on the presidential order before it comes into force."We are establishing a very extensive zone of absolute protection of nature, within which all building will be absolutely forbidden and only public works for the protection of the ecosystem will be permitted," Birbili said during a press conference. The draft decree establishes five different protection zones for the mountain range, with zone A granting absolute environmental protection, zone B establishing a 'peripheral protection zone' and three additional zones relating to specific uses, such as parks, cemeteries and archaeological sites. She noted that Hymettus was a "ray of hope" for Attica and its protection was vital for all residents of the Attic basin, especially in the current difficult conditions created by climate change. The minister mentioned that the Mount Hymettus ecosystem was protected as a Natura 2000 area and would be included in an additional protective regime based on the Community's directive for birdlife within the next few weeks. She also described the presidential decree as a "forerunner and model" for the protection of Attica's mountains, not just as valuable ecosystems but also because of the irreplaceable ecological services they provide. [02] ASE opening: Small declineEquity prices were declining at the opening of trade on Tuesday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE),with the basic share price index down 0.04 percent, standing at 1,943.31 points at 11:30 a.m., and turnover at 21.204 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward with the biggest gains in Technology, up 1.31 percent; and Financial Services, up 0.74 percent. The biggest losses were in Commerce, down 3.79 percent; and Personal Goods, down 0.53 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 0.25 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 0.35 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.75 percent. Of the stocks traded, 42 were up, 39 were down, and 23 were unchanged. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |