Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-06-01

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

CONTENTS

[01] First 6 Greeks from Gaza Freedom Flotilla return to Athens

[02] Russian websites urge travelers to choose destinations in Greece

[03] ASE opening: Decline

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] First 6 Greeks from Gaza Freedom Flotilla return to Athens

Israel on Tuesday jailed or deported hundreds of activists aboard the six-ship flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, which was raided by Israeli commandos in the pre-dawn hours of Monday, resulting in at least nine deaths.

Two Greek ships were participating in the flotilla.

The six returning Greeks were reported to be well in health.

[02] Russian websites urge travelers to choose destinations in Greece

One of the oldest such sites, www.Greek.ru, which according to its creator Roman Simkin is the most popular Russian-language site on Greece, tallies some 5,000 visitors daily (according to Google Analytics).

"We are the most independent net portal on Greece -- without state support and sponsors," Simkin said in an interview with ANA-MPA.

Simkin decided, after a visit to Greece nine years ago, to create a "little Greece" on the internet, in the Russian language.

"When we started up the site 9 years ago, Russian tourism to Greece was still in its first stages. In Greece at the time, they didn't believe that the Russian tourist would be the most faithful and good-paying visitor. Today, I believe adamantly that Greek.ru has contributed to Russians seriously considering Greece for their holidays".

The website, apart from rich historical material from Ancient to Modern Greece, Greek news in Russian and a plethora of other informational elements, also contains a number of travel texts by Russian bloggers on their visits to Greece.

"These texts, on our blog, are the best advertisement of your country, because they are always real, truthful and also describe the sentimental relationship of the traveler with Greece -- his/her love affair with Greece. This is so because, usually, the travel texts are written by inspired people," Simkin added.

He also said that, together with the Greek-related news from the Russian media, the site also uploads exclusive news from Greek.ru's correspondents in many parts of Greece.

Among the most popular webpages of the portal is the "Learn Greek" section.

Two smaller but equally popular portals on Greece are www.lovegreece.ru and www.russiangreece.gr.

[03] ASE opening: Decline

Individual sector indices were moving mostly downward, with the biggest gains in Food and Beverages, up 1.12 percent; and Chemicals, up 0.61 percent.

The biggest losses were in Health, down 3.19 percent; and Telecoms, down 2.67 percent.

The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 1.57 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 2.07 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was up 0.87 ercent.

Of the stocks traded, 10 were up, 75 were down, and 14 were unchanged.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The Israeli attack against the humanitarian aid flotilla to Gaza and the international community's condemnation, the developments in the Siemens slush funds case and the huge drop in earnings up to in excess of 70 percent in Athens Stock Exchange-listed stocks in 2010 Q1, mostly dominated the headlines on Tuesday in Athens' headlines.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: 'Inhuman response to humanitarian aid! - Nine (officially confirmed) victims the result of Israel's barbarous attack against the ships of peace".

APOGEVMATINI: "Murder in cold blood - 19 (unconfirmed estimations) dead and over 60 injured the result of the unprecedented Israeli operation against international humanitarian aid flotilla heading to Gaza".

AVGHI: "Crime against humanity".

AVRIANI: "The country's salvation and the honour of the political world in justice's hands".

ELEFTHEROS: "Judges' clash saves Mantelis? (former PASOK government Transport Minister who has admitted to have received money from SIEMENS and is facing charges on the issue)".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Hawks and islamists behind the activists' massacre - 19 dead, 60 injured".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "State 'piracy' - Israeli commandos' murderous attack against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla".

ESTIA: "Vicious cycle of taxes and loans - The state lends its debtors".

ETHNOS: "Outcry over the bloody raid".

IMERISSIA: "Finance Ministry will not return VAT - Extraordinary measures in order to rescue the revenues".

KATHIMERINI: "International outcry over Israel's extreme violence".

LOGOS: "They painted with blood the Freedom Flotilla - Rage in Athens over the bloody attack".

NAFTEMPORIKI: "ASE stock revenues drop to record lowest level".

NIKI: "Catharsis in political life with three new (parliamentary) fact-finding commissions".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Israel is a murderer-country - Escalation of imperialistic aggression in Eastern Mediterranean".

TA NEA: "International outcry - Goliath smashed David".

TO VIMA: "We cannot bear this social security system - Extraordinary meeting at Maximos mansion (government headquarters)".

VRADYNI: "Massacre in international waters - International outcry against the Israeli attack".

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