Macedonian Press Agency: News in English, 05-06-23

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From: The Macedonian Press Agency at http://www.mpa.gr and http://www.hri.org/MPA.

CONTENTS

[01] NATIONAL SHOPPING HOURS

[02] MANOLIS ANAGNOSTAKIS DIES AT THE AGE OF 80

[03] A TOTAL OF 241 PEOPLE DROWNED IN GREEK WATERS LAST YEAR

[04] OLYMPIC AIRLINES STRIKE

[01] NATIONAL SHOPPING HOURS

The government decided that stores in Greece will be open until 9 pm on week days and until 8 pm on Saturdays. However, Minister of Development Dimitris Sioufas clarified after the governmental committee meeting under Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis that local trade associations in cooperation with the prefectures can set different shopping hours.

The storeowners who wish to exceed the shopping hours set will be able to do so without suffering any sanctions.

Mr. Sioufas stated that wages will rise and job positions will increase while he assured that sales will also increase.

Prefects across Greece express different opinions about the shopping-hours issue.

Meanwhile, the General Confederation of Professional Small Business Owners and Traders will hold a protest on July 6.

[02] MANOLIS ANAGNOSTAKIS DIES AT THE AGE OF 80

Poet Manolis Anagnostakis died in an Athens Hospital at the age of 80 from cardio-respiratory problems.

Manolis Anagnostakis was from Thessaloniki and had been jailed and exiled to Makronisos, while he had also received a death sentence for being a member of the Left. He was a radiologist and one of the greatest Greek poets.

His poems have been translated into English, French, German and Italian, while many of them were set to music by Mikis Theodorakis, Thanos Mikroutsikos, Angeliki Ionatou and Michalis Grigoriou.

[03] A TOTAL OF 241 PEOPLE DROWNED IN GREEK WATERS LAST YEAR

According to figures provided by the Greek Merchant Marine Ministry, a total of 241 people drowned in Greek waters last year. Specifically, 174 men, 65 women and 2 children, while 159 of them were Greek nationals, 59 foreigners and 23 are still unidentified.

To avoid similar sad incidents this summer, the Merchant Marine Ministry reminds the public of certain basic life-saving rules.

Swimmers should stay close to the coast and prefer to swim with a company.

Also, they should wait 3-4 hours after eating before going for a swim and avoid alcoholic drinks. They should not go diving in rocky areas, swim in areas with signs warning of polluted waters or during bad weather conditions with heavy seas and strong currents.

Parents should not leave their children unattended close or in the water and should not think that water wings are absolutely safe. They should also teach their children that they should never swim alone and not force them to go in the water if they are afraid.

[04] OLYMPIC AIRLINES STRIKE

The strike decided last night and held today by 250 Olympic Airlines employees under specific time working contract, demanding to become permanent employees, had as a result the cancellation of all domestic OA flights.

An Olympic Airlines announcement characterized the decision to hold a strike as illegal, in violation of the working contract and blackmail.

About 100 OA flights will be cancelled tomorrow as a result of the participation of the company employees in the General Confederation of Labor Unions strike.

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