Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-25

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

CONTENTS

[01] Freighter runs aground on islet off Lesvos

[02] Antiquities arrests

[03] Geroulanos on tourism

[04] Museums reopen

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Freighter runs aground on islet off Lesvos

The vessel, that had sailed from Russia travelling to Beirut, is carrying 3,300 tons of barley and according to Mytilene port officials it has a controlled inflow of water.

Harbour vessels have gone to the scene, while a frogman is expected to make an assessment of the damage so that the vessel can be towed.

The conditions leading to the naval accident are still unknown.

[02] Antiquities arrests

The deacon was arrested on Saturday after the Swiss collector was found at Thessaloniki's Macedonia airport with human bones in his luggage as he was preparing to fly to Germany.

A police investigation turned up approximately 200 bones in a silver reliquary in the collector's luggage, which were seized, and an examination of the bones found them to be well-preserved and scented with myrrh, while the name of a Saint was written on each.

The bones and reliquary were picked up by the collector from the deacon at Sidirokastro, in order to hand them over to a high-ranking cleric of the German Church, according to the collector in questioning by police.

A search of the deacon's home on Monday by Thessaloniki Security police turned up 10 narcotic pills, 505 bones and 15 skulls on which names of saints were written, as well as a 19th century Byzantine icon, a 19th century Byzantine cross, two Byzantine rings, and five ancient and Byzantine coins which are protected under antiquities laws.

The two men were arrested on charges of violation of the law on antiquities, the law on desecration of the dead, of grand theft, of accepting and disposal of the product of a crime, and on drug charges.

The investigation is continuing into the activities of the two detainees and the origin of the bones, which are being examined by an Archaeology Service anthropologist.

The two were taken before a Thessaloniki prosecutor.

[03] Geroulanos on tourism

Geroulanos mentioned facilitating the issuing of visas, the decreasing of airport duties and efforts to lift the cabotage.

"We are putting order in the way with which hirings at museums take place. It is a shame for foreigners to find museums and archaeological sites closed," he added.

On the question of the wave of young scientists and worthy people departing, the minister underlined that their staying in Greece is such an important matter as the settlement of our economic issues is.

[04] Museums reopen

The Archaeological Museum of Philippi is housed in a 1962 building which was closed to the public in the mid '90s for restoration works. The project cost 760,000 euros and was financed by "Interreg IIIA/ Greece-Bulgaria" community initiative programme.

On display are archaeological findings that present the region's history from the Prehistoric Times to the end of the ancient world.

The two-storey Archaeological Museum of Thassos is located in Limenas and consists of two sections, one built in 1932 and a recent wing that was completed in 2000. The museum remained closed during the extension works and only a small section of the building opened to the public in 2004. The extension project was financed by the 3rd Community Support Framework with over one million euros.

Touring its 16 halls visitors can learn about the northern Aegean island's history starting from the Prehistoric Times up to the Byzantine Era.

[05] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The new harsher austerity measures expected to be imposed on the recommendation of the EU-ECB-IMF troika, the denationalisation programme to be approved on Tuesday by the Inner Cabinet focusing on contracts for ports and airports, and rumors that former prime minister Costas Karamanlis will be expelled from main opposition New Democracy (ND), mostly dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "The new social security system is full of bombs - EU and IMF demand measures without exemptions".

APOGEVMATINI: "Ridicule and callousness - They even abolished the pensions for widows".

AVRIANI: "Main opposition New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras ousts Costas Karamanlis and changes the emblem of the party in order to stop the continuous loss of voters".

ELEFTHEROS: "Labour Minister Andreas Loverdos ready to abolish widows' pensions - He puts the blame on the foreigners while the 'massacre' is foreseen in his bill".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Plan for splintering of the centre-right into three pieces - The media and former ND deputy and Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis are ruling PASOK party's allies".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Revolver against pensions and lay-offs - Commission demands even more onerous conditions".

ESTIA: "We are heading towards a new impasse - Politicians continue to make the same mistakes".

ETHNOS: "Under pressure again over social security - Brussels and IMF raise issue of speeding up changes".

IMERISSIA: "Rapid assignment of contracts for ports and airports".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Recourse to markets in order to raise 4.8 billion euros".

TA NEA: �The 'troika' has sent a letter calling for 40 years of work for full pension".

VRADYNI: "The great ridicule - Even harsher changes in the social security system".

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