 |
Compact version |
|
 |
        |
|
 |
||
|
Sunday, 22 December 2024
|
||
 |
 |
|
|
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-12-29Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PM Karamanlis briefed by Education Min.Education sector reform issues dominated a meeting between Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis with Education Minister Evripidis Stylianidis on Monday. In statements afterwards, Stylianidis stressed that the talks focused on the course of education sector reforms, pointing out that public dialogue on the new quality lyceum level secondary education and a new admission system to tertiary education institutions will get underway early in the coming year. "The dialogue will be exhaustive", he said, adding that "the government is unbiased and open to all proposals." Stylianidis also said that institutional initiatives will be undertaken as soon as a comprehensive proposal is put together.Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis [02] Ferry collides at Kassos island dockThe ferry 'Marina' rammed into the dock on Kassos island on Monday morning. The ship had safely disembarked the few passengers it was carrying and was ready to set sail when it was struck by large waves caused by high winds prevailing in the area.The vessel suffered material damages, but no injuries were reported among the approximately 20 passengers and 45-member crew. The ferry was currently sailing 5.5 nautical miles off Kassos port. The captain has requested the Merchant Marine ministry's permission to either return to Rhodes or head on to Pireaus port for inspection. The vessel was was serving the Rhodes-Kassos-Santorini-Milos-Pireaus itinerary. [03] Protests in Athens against Israeli attacksDemonstrations in protest of the Israeli air raids in the Gaza Strip have been called for Monday evening in Athens by the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance, the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) and the Stop the War Alliance.The KKE's demonstratin is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. outside the War Museum in downtown Athens, after which protectors will march to the US and Israeli Embassies, while SYRIZA is organizing a demonstration at 6:30 p.m. outside the Israeli Embassy. The Stop the War Alliance is also holding a demonstration outside the Israeli Embassy earlier in the afternoon, at 4:00 p.m. [04] 4.8R jolts SamothraceÁ light earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale jolted the northern Greek island of Samothrace in the first hours of Monday.The quake was recorded at 00:48 a.m., with its epicenter in the sea east of the island. According to local authorities, no damage or injuries were reported. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo [05] Heavy winter arrives in GreeceGreece was in the grips of stinging cold, snow and sleet, with snow chains required along most parts of the road network in the north of the country.Cloud with snow flurries were forecast for Monday in Thessaloniki, the eastern-central mainland (Sterea), the Peloponnese, the Cyclades and Crete, with a further drop in tenperatures and northeasterly winds of 4-6 beaufort. Rain and sleet is forecast for Tuesday in the southern part of the country, with local snowfall in the rest of Greece. The weather conditions are expected to ease up on the mainland on Tuesday afternoon, while the rest of the country will see a small further drop in temperatures, and frost in the west and north. Temperatures are expected to rise slightly on Wednesday, as snowfall will ease up and be contained to northern Crete. On Thursday, New Year's Day, snow flurries or sleet are forecast for the Cyclades and northern Crete, mainly during the early morning hours, while the weather will be clear throughout the rest of the country, with a small rise in temperatures. Snow chains were needed on Monday on the roads leading to the ski centers in Central and Western Macedonia, as frost followed the snowfall of the recent days, with temperatures dropping below 0 C on Sunday night. Snow chains are also necessary for vehicles along the entire rural road network in Grevena and Kozani prefectures, where snow has reached from between 15 to 50 centimeters, and also along the 29th to the 39th kilometer of the Kozani-Veria highway via Kastania. In Kastoria prefecture, snow chains are required from the 22nd to the 28th kilometer of the Kastoria-Florina highway via Vitsi, from the 22nd to the 35th kilometer of the Kastoria-Amyntaio highway via Kleisoura, and from the 25th to the 50th kilometer of the Kastoria-Ioannina nighway via Nestorio. In Florina prefecture, snow chains are necessary from the 18th to the 30th kilometer of the Florina-Kastoria provincial road, via Vitsi, and along the Aetos-Nymfaio and Amyntaio-Kastoria stretches. Traffic along the Egnatia Highway is problem free and no snow tires are required. In Central Macedonia, snow chains are required on the road accesses to and from the ski centers of Elatochori and Mt. Vorras, and on the Livadia-Kastaneri provincial road in Kilkis prefecture. Early in the morning, temperatures plunged to -9 C at the Tria-Pente Pigadia ski center in Naoussa prefecture, -4 C in Grevena and Kozani, -3 C in Kastoria, and -2 C in Edessa. Caption: ANA-MPA file photo [06] Athens Stock Exchange : RiseEquity prices were rising at the opening of trade on Monday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), with the basic share price index up 0.53 percent, standing at 1,731.86 points at 10:45 a.m., and turnover at 10.3 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving mostly upward, with the biggest gains in Mass Media, up 2.02 percent; Telecoms, up 1.38 percent; and Banks, up 1.30 percent. The biggest losses were in Insurance, down 10.77 percent; Health, down 7.04 percent; and Travel & Recreation, down 0.39 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was up 0.89 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 1.05 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 0.24 percent. Of the stocks moved, 52 were up, 31 were down, and 23 were unchanged. [07] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesThe Monday edition of Athens' dailies at a glanceThe massacre in Gaza and concern over the economy in the midst of the global crisis dominated the headlines on Monday in Athens' newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "After submitting their retirement applications, when will the retirees receive their pension? - The state's largest social security fund (IKA) sets firm timetable". APOGEVMATINI: "The drums of war - Shock and awe all over the world over the massacre in the Middle East". AVRIANI: "Global outcry against the massacre of Palestinians - Americans' stance was outrageous: They called the Hamas fighters 'thugs'." CHORA: "Massacre in Gaza - New bloodbath in Palestine". ELEFTHERI ORA: "Gaza strip another Auswich". ELEFTHEROS: "Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis' would-be-successors' plans - How they're preparing for the showdown". ELETHEROS TYPOS: "Massacre in Gaza Strip on Christmas eve". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Bloodbath in Gaza ". ESTIA: "Serious worry for 2009 - 2008's major political mistakes". ETHNOS: "Expensiveness' raid from New Year's Day - New burden for consumers in the midst of the crisis". TA NEA: "Unarmed population's slaughter with the US and Europe as spectators - The most deadly attack in the last 40 years". VRADYNI: "Crucification instead of Hosanna - Hundreds of dead in Gaza after Israel's merciless air raids". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
|
All Rights Reserved.