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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-13Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Tsipras condemns Orlando mass shootingPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras condemned on Monday the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that killed 50 people and injured at least 53, saying thoughts and prayers are with the relatives of the victims."Our thoughts today are with the relatives of the victims of the shocking and appalling Orlando massacre," he tweeted. "We strongly condemn acts based on racism, homophobia and hatred. We strive for a society that is based on the acceptance of diversity." [02] Greek, French State ministers discuss bilateral economic issues in ParisPARIS (ANA-MPA/O. Tsipira) – Relations between Greece and France, particularly in the economic sector were discussed in a meeting between State Minister Nikos Pappas and French counterpart Harlem Desir in Paris.The two men discussed economic issues as part of the "Strategic Partnership for the Future" signed during the visit of President Francois Hollande in Athens last October, a press release by the French foreign ministry said. They also discussed French technical support for the implementation of Greece's third bailout program and for a "European answer" to the issue of refugee flows. Pappas is accompanied in Paris by the general secretary of Information and Communication, Eleftherios Kretsos. [03] Migrants on board wooden boat off Crete ask to be sent to ItalyThe migrants that were on board a 25-metre wooden vessel that sent an SOS on Monday while sailing southweast of Crete in Libya's waters asked to be sent to Italy.A freighter that is currently in the area said that the vessel in not in danger for the time being, however, the approximately 200 migrants that are on board ask to be sent to Italy. Deliberations among the involved services are underway provided that the incident is taking place in Libya's waters. [04] Authorities to use drones to locate illegal buildings, says ministerGreece's problem with unauthorized buildings will be dealt with by using drones and high precision satellite imaging, Alternate Minister for the Environment Yiannis Tsironis said on Monday."Control mechanisms will be strengthened by electronic means, such as drones and high precision satellite imaging," Tsironis said, speaking at a press conference in Thessaloniki where he presented the main points of the new draft bill being prepared by the ministry. He said the bill be posted for public consultation around July 15, so that it can be voted on in September. "As soon as the law is voted and because we'll need the drones in the next fire-fighting season, we'll have these instruments next year," he added. [05] Railway workers' strike to affect services throughout Greece from TuesdayRepeated three-hour work stoppages by railway staff on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are expected to seriously disrupt rail services throughout the country during the week, with multiple cancellations and changes to scheduled train journeys, including services to Athens International Airport.The disruption will continue into the following week as well, with more work stoppages planned on Tuesday week and a 24-hour strike on Wednesday, June 22. The staff have announced three work stoppages a day on June 14-16 and on June 21, from 5:00-8:00 in the morning, from 13:00-16:00 in the afternoon and from 21:00-24:00 at night. The strike will affect the country's entire railway network, including the Proastiakos suburban railway serving Athens, the airport and going as far as Kiato in the Peloponnese. The strike will also affect the buses from Kiato station to Patras. The strikes are being held in protest against plans to privatise the trains operator TRAINOSE and the Hellenic Company for Rolling Stock Maintenance SA and peak on June 22, when a deadline for submitting binding offers in tenders for the two companies expires, and plans to transfer the Greek Railways Organisation (OSE) to a new privatisation agency. TRAINOSE has already stopped booking tickets for the trains and routes affected by the strike action. [06] PM Tsipras chairs meeting on strategy for equitable growth, to be unveiled on ThursdayPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Monday chaired a government meeting with close aides to discuss the government's planning for achieving equitable growth, in the aftermath of concluding the Greek programme review.The government is now in the process of unfolding its strategy for the period after the review is completed, focusing on three main areas: growth, social policy and institutional reforms, such as changing election law and revising the Constitution. The prime minister intends to unveil the government's planning for growth with social justice at an event taking place at the Acropolis Museum on Thursday, which will focus on the following three aspects: a reorganisation of production, an "unblocking" major projects and using financing tools (Juncker package, EU funds, public investments programme, developmental law, developmental bank, Black Sea Trade and Development Bank) to attract investments and support small- and medium-sized enterprises. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |