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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-08-20Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] High seas chase leads to interception of illegal migrantsThe coast guard detained a total of 43 illegal immigrants -- 34 men and nine women -- following the early morning high seas chase of a speedboat that attempted to land the illegals on a beach in central Greece.According to authorities, the speedboat was spotted just after midnight on Thursday headed for Aghiokambos, on the Aegean coast of Larissa prefecture. Patrol boats followed the vessel as it veered back into the Aegean, where the migrant smuggler pilot offloaded the illegals off the northern end of Skopelos island. The illegals hail from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Somalia, reports state. Additionally, police said a ring composed of Iraqi nationals reportedly waited to ferry the illegals inland with trucks after they had disembarked on the mainland. The migrant smuggler fled the scene and a search was ongoing in the specific sea region. [02] Gov't on elections, SiemensThe government on Thursday again flatly dismissed press speculation concerning early elections, pointing out that a government is elected for four years in Greece, a response to a recurrent demand by the main opposition for immediate elections.Asked about main opposition PASOK party's demand, government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros reminded that the constitution is quite clear on when general elections are held and under what conditions. "PASOK, if it persists (in its demand), will be judged by Greek citizens for its behaviour ... we will not participate in such charades. We do not have the intention of allowing PASOK to drag the country into a lengthy pre-election period," he said. Antonaros clarified that since the two largest parties in Parliament, ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK, agree on the re-election (by Parliament) of Karolos Papoulias, "it would be a travesty and violation of the constitution for anyone to try and cause (early) elections when there is consensus for the candidate for president of the republic." Asked about the simmering Siemens bribery and kickbacks affair, Antonaros sharply criticised PASOK and its leadership for requesting information on alleged payouts from the German attorney representing Michalis Christoforakos, the one-time CEO of Siemens Hellas currently jailed in Munich. "...Mr. G.A. Papandreou, the president of PASOK, decided, for his own reasons, to become an interlocutor with a defendant ... Ask him (Papandreou) and his party why this was done and what he expects from this," the spokesman charged, adding: "It is unheard of for the leader of the main opposition party to begin a dialogue with a defendant ... It is unprecedented in international judicial circles. Let PASOK search elsewhere and find such an example," he concluded. [03] Bourse continues rally on Thur.Stocks prices continued their rally this week on Thursday at the Athens Stock Exchange, with the composite index of the market closing up 2.09 pct to end at 2,399.40 points. Turnover was a low 188.1 million euros, of which 8.9 million were block trades.Sector indices moved mostly upwards with Constructions (4.77 pct), Telecoms (4.39 pct) and Raw Materials (4.13 pct) posting the biggest percentage gains of the day. Foods-Beverages (1.37 pct) was the biggest sector loser of the day. The FTSE 20 index was up by 2.54 pct up, the FTSE 40 index gained 1.75 pct and the FTSE 80 picked up 1.51 percent. From the stocks moved, 158 ended up, 59 declined and 38 remained unchanged. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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