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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 13-01-31Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Education minister presents higher education streamlining planAMNA -- A federated university is to be established in Athens under the title "Adamantios Korais," as provided for in the tertiary education streamlining plan "Athena," presented on Thursday by Education Minister Constantinos Arvanitopoulos.The new institution is to include the Agricultural University, Panteion University, the University of Piraeus and Charokopeio University, which are however to retain their independence. "Adamantios Korais" will be run by a Board of Directors, to be formed by the current administrations of the five universities, which will continue to exist. Similarly, a federated Institute of Technology (TEI) is also to be established and operate in Athens, as an umbrella institute to include the Athens TEI, Piraeus TEI, and the Higher School of Pedagogy and Technological Education (ASPAITE).amna The creation of the new federated higher education institutions will see the amalgamation or absorption of 94 university and TEI departments. As a result, the list of educational departments, used by candidates for admission to tertiary education, will now contain a total of 386 departments and/or faculties, compared to 480 so far. At the same time, the number of cities where various departments are located is being reduced to 51 from 63. The twelve cities to be deprived of TEI and/or university departments are: Ierapetra, Ag. Nikolaos (Crete), Aigio, Amaliada, Lefkada, Argostoli, Nafpaktos, Leivadia, Moudania, Veria, Edessa and Naousa.amna [02] PASOK leader meets SPD leader in BerlinAMNA -- PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, head of one of the junior parties in Greece's coalition government, on Thursday met the head of Germany's social-democratic SPD party Peer Steinbrueck in Berlin. He received assurances of SPD's political support and a promise that they will undertake specific initiatives to encourage German investors to become active in Greece.After the meeting, Venizelos commented on Steinbrueck's position that Greece belonged in the European Union and the Eurozone, stressing the importance of this message for facilitating the country's return to borrowing from the markets and the recovery of growth in the Greek economy.amna The foremost duty of all Europeans, he added, "was to help political stability and social cohesion in Greece," assuaging the concerns of Greek society and preventing the rise of the far-right and neo-Nazi forces.amna [03] Natural spas in Greece receive official certification"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419; AMNA -- The hot springs "Yaltra Aedipsos" and "Hanopoulos" - both located in the western prefecture of Arta - received official recognition by the recently activated Committee for the Protection of Natural Spa Resources, it was announced on Thursday.In a previous decision the committee had recognized the natural thermal spas of "Loutraki-Pozar" in Aridea, "Souroti" and "Thermi" in Thessaloniki, "Kanistra" in Halkidiki, and "Paranesti" in Drama, all situated in northern Greece, as well as, "Kallithea" on the island of Rhodes and "Loutraki-Perahora" in Corinth, southwest Greece.amna [04] Farmers continue 'guerrilla' tactics with police at Nikaia"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419; AMNA -- Farmers continued efforts to outwit police and shift their protest to the Patras-Athens-Thessaloniki national highway on Thursday, if necessary on foot."Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419; Creating a diversion, they once again attempted to reach the PATHE on foot, leaving their tractors parked on the old Athens-Thessaloniki national road at the Nikaia junction. Their attempt failed, however, as a strong police force mobilised to stop them, resulting is some minor scuffles and use of teargas.amna "Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419; Meanwhile, Larissa farmers meeting at Platykambos have decided to reinforce the road block at Nikaia and have already started to head to the area on their tractors and farm machinery, having accepted the framework of demands being made by the farmers already at the roadblocks. They are expected to hold a joint meeting at which further demands will be added. [05] Greek gov't says overdue debt repayment progressing smoothlyAMNA -- The Greek government has paid 1.0 billion euros in overdue debt to the private sector so far, from a total sum of 9.2 billion euros and was expected to pay another 3.0 billion euros in February, Finance Alternate Minister Christos Staikouras said on Thursday.The Finance ministry's timetable envisages payments up to 3.5 billion euros by the end of March, 5.0 billion euros in the first half of 2013, 6.5 billion euros in the first three quarters and 8.0 billion euros by the end of year.amna Ministry officials said that payment of 8.0 billion euros will mean the full repayment of overdue debt to the private sector, as the government will also impose a haircut of an average 3.5 pct on all state debt. The officials said that a haircut on state suppliers in the health sector could range from 2-15 pct.amna The ministry said that overdue debt repayment was moving according to schedule. [06] Retail sales volume down 16.8 pct in Nov"Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419; AMNA -- Greek retail sales volume dropped 16.8 pct in November 2012, offering evidence of a further deterioration of the retail sector in the country as households cut further their consumer spending, even food from supermarkets."Tahoma","sans-serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419; Hellenic Statistical Authority, in a report published on Thursday, said that the volume of sales in furniture/electrical appliances/home equipment dropped 29.1 pct in November, clothing/footwear fell 21.2 pct, pharmaceuticals/cosmetics fell 20.2 pct, fuel/lubricants were 16.6 pct lower, supermarkets fell 13.3 pct, bookstore ended 13.3 pct down, tobacco fell 6.5 pct and department stores fell 2.2 pct.amna mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#0F1419;mso-ansi-language:EN-US; The statistics service said that the retail sales volume index was down 8.9 pct in November 2011. The retail sales turnover index fell 16.6 pct in November, compared with the same month in 2011, after a decline of 6.4 pct recorded in November 2011.amna Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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