Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English, 16-09-07

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Marathon cabinet meeting discusses TIF, second program review

[02] TIF-Helexpo announce PM's, party leaders' full schedule at Thessaloniki

[03] Tsipras tells Tusk Europe needs to promote growth, employment

[04] FM Kotzias: The Rhodes conference will bridge the European and Arab world

[05] FM Kotzias discusses Greek-Israeli relations, diaspora with WJC CEO

[06] German Interior Min statement on refugees relocation serves internal interests, Mouzalas says

[07] Number of refugee facilities to be upgraded or closed, migration minister's spox says

[08] Council of Europe official visits Eleonas refugee camp

[09] Lesvos mayor pleads with minister to transfer large number of refugees to mainland

[10] Interior minister promises to tackle runaway red tape by codifying Greek legislation, sources say

[11] Finance ministry sources deny press reports about new privatisation fund

[12] ND leader Mitsotakis calls on Tsipras to resign

[13] Danger-mongering a 'last-ditch refuge' for ND leader, government spokeswoman says

[14] Greece has paid Austria 110 mln euros in interest for bilateral aid loans

[15] Greek embassy in Baghdad upgrades its services; opens consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Embassy sec says

[16] PM Tsipras meets with Rio's Greek Olympic team

[17] More than 800 mln euros in deposits have returned to Greek banks

[18] Greek economy grew 0.2 pct in Q2, Eurostat

[19] Greek-Azeri Chamber expresses concern over DESFA-Socar deal

[20] Greek gov't not planning to raise special consumption tax on fuel

[21] Greece lost an estimated 4.9 bln euros in VAT revenues in 2014-Commission report

[22] Regular budget revenue down in August

[23] Praktiker Hellas reports 2.09 mln euros profit in 2015

[24] Eurosender says sales up around 70 pct during the summer in Greece

[25] Foreign investors raised participation in ASE capitalization in August

[26] Greek stocks end flat

[27] Greek bond market closing report

[28] ADEX closing report

[29] Greek volunteers celebrated at UNHCR event for winning Nansen refugee award

[30] Latest search will likely reveal more parts of Antikythera Mechanism, scientist tells ANA

[31] Hydrofoil with 123 passengers returns to Piraeus after mechanical failure

[32] Sailing boat skipper missing

[33] Phones down and power cuts in Volos during thunderstorm

[34] Light quake jolts Rhodes

[35] 900 kg of hashish found in abandoned boat

[36] Navarino Challenge to be held on Sept 9-11

[37] Rain on Wednesday

[38] The Tuesday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance Politics

[01] Marathon cabinet meeting discusses TIF, second program review

The government has already announced that Tsipras will present at TIF the next steps by the government for economic recovery and real growth with two milestones: exiting the aid program and productive reconstruction. Government sources said these meetings will continue in the next few days but details of the upcoming announcements will not be made public before Tsipras' speech in Thessaloniki.

Discussing the second program review, government sources said there are no concerns on the implementation of all the prior actions required for the disbursement of the loan sub-tranche which is expected to take place at the end of September or start of October. The government is also focusing on the second program review which will start immediately after the aforementioned period and will include the issue of Greek debt relief.

The cabinet also discussed the upcoming conference of European Mediterranean countries, to which the government is attaching great weight, as a means of promoting cooperation. The government wants the Mediterranean viewpoint to enter the European agenda for a new European vision and hopes this conference will be the first step towards a more drastic intervention in European politics that will stop inequalities between the north and the periphery. Also hopes at promoting wider cooperation in the refugee crisis and promoting social convergence and cohesion.

The meeting also focused on issues concerning the Education ministry and the start of the new school year, while State Minister Nikos Pappas briefed the cabinet about his meeting with the temporary winners of the TV licensing tender.

[02] TIF-Helexpo announce PM's, party leaders' full schedule at Thessaloniki

On Sunday (Sept. 11), Tsipras will hold a press conference at Vellidis, at 13:00. The TIF-Helexpo presser presented the meetings and press conferences of political party leaders and parties scheduled during the one-week event in Thessaloniki which starts this Saturday.

New Democracy (ND) leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis will speak to representatives of business associations on September 17, at Vellidis center, at 20:00. On September 18, Mitsotakis will hold a press conference in the same venue at 13:00.

For the leaders of other parties, the schedule is as follows (all times local):

September 12

- Centrists' Union president Vasilis Leventis will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at noon.

- PASOK president Fofi Gennimata and DIMAR president Thanasis Theoharopoulos will meet with the management of TIF-Helexpo at 16:00 and hold a joint press conference at Vellidis center at 20:00.

September 13

- Popular Unity president Panagiotis Lafazanis will hold a press conference at Vellidis conference center, at 12:30.

September 14

- Independent Greeks (ANEL) president Panos Kammenos will hold a press conference at Vellidis conference center, at noon.

- Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis will hold a press conference at the Kiosk 8, at 14:00.

- Plefsi Eleftherias leader Zoe Konstantopoulou will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at 17:00.

- Communist Party (KKE) general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas will meet with the management of TIF-Helexpo, at 18:00.

September 15

- Communist Party (KKE) general secretary Dimitris Koutsoumbas will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at noon.

- Green Ecologists will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at 13:30.

- Independent MP Haris Theoharis and officials of his party, Dimokratiki Efthini, will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at 16:00.

- Officials from Golden Dawn will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at 18:00.

September 16

- National Unity secretary Takis Baltakos will hold a press conference at Kiosk 8, at noon.

[03] Tsipras tells Tusk Europe needs to promote growth, employment

Tusk called Tsipras as part of his contacts with EU leaders ahead of the unofficial European Council meeting in Bratislava on September 16.

According to the prime minister's office, Tsipras told Tusk it is necessary to increase the funds available through the "Juncker package" and allow for greater fiscal flexibility, by making some exceptions from the Stability and Growth Pact that will improve social cohesion and promote employment.

Tsipras also told Tusk the need to promote a comprehensive policy on migration and asylum to better manage the increased refugee and migration flows of the past two years, as well as strengthen the EU's international role in dealing with security challenges in the region with diplomatic initiatives and closer cooperation between relevant authorities.

[04] FM Kotzias: The Rhodes conference will bridge the European and Arab world

"For the first time in many decades we will discuss the relations between southeast Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, without Israel, Palestine or Turkey being the focus of the debate," Kotzias said.

"The conference was welcomed by all participants and especially the Arab countries which expressed strong interest," he added.

The Greek minister explained that security is not defined as "military", but as "the creation of different networks - from energy to infrastructure - that stabilize the wider region as well as political initiatives and joint actions."

"Our aim is to establish the Rhodes Conference. The institutionalization of the previous initiative of the head of the Greek diplomacy, the quadripartite Cooperation of Thessaloniki with our northern neighboring countries- Albania, Bulgaria, FYROM- which was held last April is progressing and, as Kotzias announced, it will be repeated in October in Thessaloniki, as well as the Athens Conference on the Cultural and Religious Communities Protection which took place last October and will be repeated in 2017.

The full interview is available in Greek at AMNA's website.

[05] FM Kotzias discusses Greek-Israeli relations, diaspora with WJC CEO

During the meeting they discussed the close relationship between Greece and Israel as well as the Greek and Jewish diaspora. They also touched on developments in the Eastern Mediterranean and ways to broaden scope for further bilateral cooperation.

[06] German Interior Min statement on refugees relocation serves internal interests, Mouzalas says

Thomas de Maizi?re on Sunday suggested that Germany could send migrants back to Greece in statements to a German newspaper.

"The issue has taken excessive dimensions. But such statements do not help," Mouzalas underlined adding that this statement served internal interests ahead of the German elections.

The Greek minister spoke of the "very positive role" played by Germany and Chancellor Angela Merkel and added: "There was a European agreement from the past, when refugee flows were 5,000-10,000 annually, when an undocumented migrant was arrested and sent back to the EU member state in which he first arrived. This member state was usually Greece or Italy. This is not applied any more because it was unfair. This could be applied when there were 5,000-10,000 migrants a year. When there are 850,000, it does not make sense."

"The European Commission and the European Councils," he added "decided to establish a Commission that will examine a new way that will be based on distribution."

"You cannot speak of readmission to a country with 60,000 refugees. The 60,000 refugees correspond to 580,000 in Germany. And you cannot talk about these things when you have promised and have voted that 30,000 refugees should have been relocated from Greece to Europe in 2016 and only 3,500 relocations have been carried out yet." said Mouzalas.

[07] Number of refugee facilities to be upgraded or closed, migration minister's spox says

Speaking at a meeting of the regional municipalities union, Alexandridis listed the camps and facilities due to close, naming the Karamanli camp in Sindos, the Iliadis warehouses in Kalohori, the Frakapor camp in Sindos, the Fessa camp in Oreokastro, the Sinatex camp in Lagada and the camp in Vagiohori.

The refugee centre at the Alexil plant at Derveni will continue operating until next Easter, while camps in Nea Kavala and Herso in Kilkis are set to close, he said.

Those due for an upgrade include the camp at Diavata, the Softex factory facility, the Pavlos Melas municipality camp and that at Vasilika. Work has already begun in improvements at Horigi in Kilkis, and the facilities at Alexandria and Veria, Yiannitsa Pellas, Iraklis Farm in Pieria and Petra in Olympus. Work has already begun on refugee camps in Serres and Drama.

Alexandridis reported that the number of refugees in Central Macedonia was now reduced to 16,000 from an original 23,000.

[08] Council of Europe official visits Eleonas refugee camp

Frecon, accompanied by Attica prefect Rena Dourou and Athens mayor Giorgos Kaminis, spoke with refugees and volunteers. After the visit, he said he will speak with other European countries so that they comprehend the problem, which is that Greece and Italy have received so far the brunt of refugee flows.

"We understand the pressure that exists on this issue," he added.

[09] Lesvos mayor pleads with minister to transfer large number of refugees to mainland

"We were witnesses to extensive fights inside the first reception center in Moria, with dozens of injured [migrants] and images that were broadcasted by many media, which are unfair considering the burden we've been called to carry all this time," Spyros Galinos said.

He also said that the local community is worried about the continuous increase in the number of refugees and migrants who are living on Lesvos, adding that the infrastructure available has been operating beyond its capacity for days.

[10] Interior minister promises to tackle runaway red tape by codifying Greek legislation, sources say

Kouroumblis asked for a coordinated effort by all ministerial officials involved to help tackle the "endemic problem" of bureaucracy that "has plagued the country since the days of Socrates".

Alternate Interior and Administrative Reconstruction Minister Christoforos Vernardakis said it was a "complicated plan with many overlaps, which therefore requires the coordination of agencies."

Codification of legislation is the process of collecting, simplifying and clarifying the law, usually by subject, to form a legal code, i.e. a codex (book) of law. It will also incorporate conclusions in matters of jurisprudence reached by national and European courts.

Participating in the meeting were a number of ministry general secretaries, the Parliament general secretary Constantinos Athanasiou, representatives of the legal profession and other ministry staff.

[11] Finance ministry sources deny press reports about new privatisation fund

The discussion on the membership of the supervisory board and the assessment of the proposals of the two sides is still continuing, while announcement of the final decision is pending, the same sources said.

According to a Reuters report on Tuesday, however, a French finance ministry official had confirmed the report first published by the Greek newspaper "Kathimerini", according to which the job is to go to senior French government official Jacques Le Pape. The "Kathimerini" report was later confirmed by a spokeswoman for French Finance Minister Michel Sapin, according to Reuters.

During bailout talks held in the summer of 2015, Greece agreed to set up a new privatisation fund to speed up sales of state assets and to appoint a five-member supervisory board to oversee the new fund. Greece's creditors will nominate two members of the board and Athens the remaining three, while both sides have veto rights.

[12] ND leader Mitsotakis calls on Tsipras to resign

Mitsotakis accused Tsipras of mocking the citizens, stressing that once again he does not meet the commitments of the memorandum that he has signed. "Any delay in the disbursement of the 2.8 billion euro sub-tranche would inevitably lead to the imposition of new measures. A large part of the citizens cannot pay the taxes and often lacks the necessary," he explained.

Moreover, he noted that the state owes more than 7 billion euros to the private sector adding that a significant amount of the sub-tranche will be used to cover part of that debt in order to avoid the closing down of other companies and the increase in unemployment.

The leader of the main opposition stressed that the prime minister is personally responsible for the situation of the economy and the deterioration of the Greek citizens' every day life.

"There is no room for another perpetual negotiation by an incompetent and obsessive government. If he cannot respond to his responsibilities, he would rather resign. No more time can be lost. He will be held accountable," he underlined.

[13] Danger-mongering a 'last-ditch refuge' for ND leader, government spokeswoman says

"Danger-mongering has become [his] last-ditch refuge," Gerovasili said, in reply to yet another call made by the main opposition leader, urging Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to resign, noting that Mitsotakis had done the same for the conclusion of the first review of Greece's programme.

"Unfortunately for him, the negotiation is proceeding normally and the citizens refuse to take him seriously. For this reason, we urge him to seek some other way to extricate his party from the deep political morass in which it is trapped."

[14] Greece has paid Austria 110 mln euros in interest for bilateral aid loans

Austria received 110 million euros in interest from Greece until mid-2016 on direct loans totaling 1.557 billion euros, given by Vienna to the country under its bailout program, according to figures released by the Austrian parliament's budgetary committee on Tuesday.

According to the data, Austria's participation in European aid programs reached 3.9 billion euros in cash and 9.9 billion euros in guarantees for loans which had been given through the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF).

[15] Greek embassy in Baghdad upgrades its services; opens consulate in Erbil, Iraqi Embassy sec says

The optimism is justified by the fact that the Iraqi army, with the help of the international coalition, has recaptured most of the territory of the ISIS and it is expected that Mosul, the last stronghold of the Islamic State Iraq, will have been recaptured by the end of the year.

In an attempt to return to normality, Baghdad seeks to restore relations with its Arab neighbours, and with the two non-Arab regional powers, Turkey and Iran, with which it has significant trade relations. "Good relations with everyone," the Iraqi diplomat stressed adding that his country is in a phase of reconstruction, as ISIS leaves behind a number of totally destroyed cities. "Foreign investors and construction companies are welcome to contribute to this effort," he underlined.

Swadi considers "significant" the relationship of Iraq with Greece, which have long lasting friendly ties and the latest developments confirm this.

Athens has expanded the services of its embassy in Baghdad with the possibility of issuing visas and opens a Consulate General in Erbil, capital of Kurdistan region in northern Iraq, which most likely will be inaugurated later this year by the Greek Foreign Minister and is expected to further strengthen the trade ties of the two countries. Greek energy and construction companies have started to establish in areas where peace and stability have been restored.

The trade balance between Greece and Iraq amounts 4 billion euros annually, mainly due to imports of crude oil from Iraq, which is transported by sea.

Meanwhile, Baghdad is ready to sign a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) that the two countries have agreed on.

The full interview is available in Greek at AMNA's website.

[16] PM Tsipras meets with Rio's Greek Olympic team

The athletes were accompanied by the head of the Greek delegation, Isidoros Kouvelos, the president of the Hellenic Olympic Committee, Spyros Kapralos, the general secretary of the Greek Olympic Committee, Manolis Katsiadakis, and the delegation's deputy chief, Manolis Kolymbadis.

Deputy Minister of Sports Stavros Kontonis welcomed the athletes at the entrance of Maximos Mansion.

Financial News

[17] More than 800 mln euros in deposits have returned to Greek banks

According to exclusive information obtained by AMNA from domestic banking sources, these money was cash held by households. They attributed the return of 800 million euros to banks to a decision taken by Finance Minister Eucledes Tsakalotos allowing depositors to withdraw money without the limitation of 420 euros per week, as new deposits were considered as new money which is not subject to any limitation. The new money is automatically recognized by banks' IT systems. The same decision allows depositors to withdraw cash up to 840 euros every two weeks, or an early (part of whole) repayment of a loan.

Domestic banking sources said that the return of more than 800 million euros in deposits to Greek banks -the Bank of Greece is expected to release official figures soon- was a boosting injection which combined with a resolution of non-performing loans, would allow the funding of the real economy and enterprises. Repayment of state arrears to the private sector is also expected to boost liquidity in the market. Finance ministry sources told AMNA that from the 2.8-bln-euro sub-tranche, a sum of around 1.7 billion earmarked for the repayment of state arrears to the private sector, was expected to be disbursed regardless of the implementation of the 15 landmark-tail of the first review of the Greek programme.

[18] Greek economy grew 0.2 pct in Q2, Eurostat

The Greek economy grew by 0.2 pct in the second quarter of the year, compared with the previous quarter, Eurostat said on Tuesday.

The EU executive's statistics service, in a report released here, said that the GDP in the Eurozone grew by 0.3 pct in the March-June period and by 0.4 pct in the EU-28.

However, compared with the second quarter of 2015, the Greek GDP contracted by 0.9 pct, while in the Eurozone and the EU-28 the GDP grew by 1.6 pct and 1.8 pct, respectively.

Economic growth was mostly based on household consumption, which grew by 0.2 pct in the Eurozone and by 0.4 pct in the EU (after increases of 0.6 pct and 0.7 pct in the first quarters of 2015, respectively).

Romania (1.5 pct), Hungary (1.0 pct), Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia (0.9 pct) recorded the highest GDP growth rates.

[19] Greek-Azeri Chamber expresses concern over DESFA-Socar deal

In an announcement, the Chamber stressed that a possible annulment of the agreement "will surely hurt the business interests of both countries. Any delay or unilateral amendment of the agreement by the Greek government which could lead to its annulment will surely burden significantly the positive business environment that the Chamber has created with its operations and activities in promoting business relations between the two countries".

The Chamber called the Greek government to open a strong dialogue as soon as possible with Socar to bridge the gap over DESFA. "Completion of the purchase will contribute to give the green light by the government of Azerbaijan to the powerful business groups of the country to invest in Greece," the Chamber said.

[20] Greek gov't not planning to raise special consumption tax on fuel

In comments made to public broadcaster ERT , Skourletis said that budget revenues were moving within targets adding that August figures would be boosted by an increased tourist product.

Skourletis stressed that Public Power Corporation has arranged arrears worth 1.0 billion euros and added that the government wanted that a 17 pct of PPC to be transferred to the exploitation fund of state assets from Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund. The minister said that the head of HRADF should be conformed with government policy. Commenting on DESFA, Skourletis said negotiations were currently underway to sell a 17 pct of DESFA to a non-producer company, while he added that the price of 400 million euros was low since an evaluation of DESFA exceeded 2.0 billion euros.

[21] Greece lost an estimated 4.9 bln euros in VAT revenues in 2014-Commission report

The loss in state revenues from the VAT in Greece is estimated to have been reduced to 4.92 billion euros in 2014, versus 6.34 billion in 2013, a European Commission report revealed on Tuesday.

The report relates to the gap between expected and actual revenue from VAT (the so-called "VAT gap") in EU member-states.

According to the Commission, the Greek state should have collected about 17.6 billion euros in 2014, but instead raised 12.7 billion. This means it lost about 28 percent of the VAT revenues it should have collected. In 2013, the state should have raised about 18.9 billion euros from VAT but collected about 12.6 billion, corresponding to a loss of about 33.5 percent of expected revenues.

At an EU level, the loss of VAT revenue is estimated to have dropped to 159.5 billion euros in 2014, or 14 percent, compared to about 162 billion in 2013.

The country with the highest VAT revenue loss was Romania with 37.9 percent and the lowest was recorded in Sweden with 1.2 percent loss.

[22] Regular budget revenue down in August

Finance ministry sources, told AMNA that the sum of the first tranche of a special property tax ENFIA scheduled to be paid in September amounted to 738 million euros.

Regular budget net revenue was 3.804 billion euros in August, down from a budget target of 3.869 billion euros, while compared with August 2015 (3.829 billion euros) there was a decline of 25 million.

The ministry sources said that the following factors should be taken into account regarding the August budget revenue figures:

-Regular budget, pre-return, revenue was 4.083 billion euros, down from a budget target of 4.178 billion, a decline of 2.3 pct (the target included payment of the first tranche of a special property tax ENFIA).

-Compared with August 2015 there is an increase of 1.0 pct despite the fact that August 2015 was the first month of collecting taxes.

-Tax return in August this year amounted to 278 million euros, down 31 million compared with the monthly target of 309 million euros. This sum included tax returns from special funding.

[23] Praktiker Hellas reports 2.09 mln euros profit in 2015

In an announcement, the company said its turnover totaled 167.01 million euros, up 3.8 pct compared with 2014, while financial cost dropped 36 pct and profits reached 2.09 million euros after a 2.14 million euros loss recorded in 2014 because of property value write offs.

The company said its workforce totaled 1,400 and noted that its high liquidity was offering Praktiker Hellas the ability to self-fund its investments. The company said it was examining plans to further expand its branch network and to strengthen its presence in significant cities around the country. In this framework, Praktiker Hellas said it planned to open two new stores in Attica and Thessaloniki.

Yiannis Selalmazidis, managing director of Praktiker Hellas, commenting on the results said that 2015 was a significant year for the company as it sealed the dynamic course of the company despite adverse conditions prevailing in the market. "The course of our company is directly linked with the positive financial condition, with the constant improvement of product range and services, and with the further strengthening of its network ahead of the celebration of its 25th birthday in Greece. We continue with optimism and adherence to the growth plans of our company".

[24] Eurosender says sales up around 70 pct during the summer in Greece

"The market of cheap air tickets, the need for a comfortable and "light" trip -during arrival and departure- and the cheap baggage sending packages were the basic factors for the increase of sales in Greece," Eurosender said. "For us, it its always more obvious that cheap transport services have found the right timing in the market as an added value service in a market of cheap air tickets and generally, in holiday packages and last minute tickets," Constantinos Dimitrakis, managing director of Eurosender in Greece said.

The company said sales grew by around 70 pct during the summer. The main nationalities using the baggage sending service to Greece are Germans, Italians and British, Eurosender said.

[25] Foreign investors raised participation in ASE capitalization in August

Foreign investors were net buyers with capital inflows of 293.59 million euros, while Greek investors were net sellers with capital outflows of 293.6 million. Foreign investors accounted for 57.2 pct of all market transactions in August, from 55 pct in July, down from 66.2 pct in August 2015.

The value of transactions in August totaled 847 million euros, down 1.6 pct from July and down 6.2 pct from August 2015. Average daily turnover was 38.5 million euros, down from 41 million in July and 43 million in August last year.

The number of active investor codes was 10,078 in August, from 13,398 in July and 21,016 in August 2015. The market's capitalization was 37.75 billion euros at the end of August, from 35.43 billion in July and 29.9 billion in August 2015.

[26] Greek stocks end flat

OTE (3.20 pct), Jumbo (1.66 pct) and Hellenic Exchanges (1.60 pct) scored the biggest percentage gains among blue chip stocks, while Metka (2.79 pct), PPC (2.65 pct) and Ellaktor (2.33 pct) suffered heavy losses.

Among market sectors, Telecoms (3.20 pct), Financial Services (1.76 pct) and Commerce (1.43 pct) scored big gains, while Chemicals (2.53 pct) and Utilities (1.73 pct) suffered losses. Piraeus Bank and National Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day.

Broadly, decliners led advancers by 44 to 37 with another 21 issues unchanged. Audiovisual (9.72 pct), Newsphone Hellas (9.22 pct) and G.E. Demetriou (8.70 pct) were top gainers, while Levenderis (30 pct), Alpha Astika (14.76 pct) and Forthnet (8.89 pct) were top losers.

[27] Greek bond market closing report

In interbank markets, interest rates were mixed. The 12-month rate fell to -0.054 pct from -0.053 pct, the nine-month rate rose to -0.123 pct from -0.125 pct, the six-month rate rose to -0.197 pct from -0.198 pct, the three-month rate rose to -0.303 pct from -0.305 pct and the one-month rate was -0.372 pct.

[28] ADEX closing report

General News

[29] Greek volunteers celebrated at UNHCR event for winning Nansen refugee award

Konstantinos Mitragas on behalf of the Hellenic Rescue Team (HRT) and Efi Latsoudi from "PIKPA village", a community-run accommodation area on the Greek island of Lesvos were both chosen for their volunteer work during the 2015 refugee crisis. The HRT for their round-the-clock efforts to save refugees and migrants in distress from the sea, and Efi Latsoudi for her compassion and care for the most vulnerable refugees and migrants arriving on the island of Lesvos, the agency said.

Commenting on the award, Philippe Leclerc, the UNHCR director in Greece, said that by choosing these two volunteers, the agency wanted to "honour the entire Greek community which has been an island of tolerance and reception in Europe, at the time when many other European countries have not shown the same behavior."

"Thanks to Greece and the volunteers who welcomed and rescued refugees on the coast, Europe's honour was respected," he added.

Leclerc also noted that awarding the Greek volunteers has a special significance, as the award bears the name of Norwegian Fridtjof Nansen, who served as the League's first High Commissioner for Refugees from 1920-1930, helping in the exchange of populations between Greece and Turkey in 1922.

UNHCR's Nansen Refugee Award honours extraordinary service to the forcibly displaced, and names Eleanor Roosevelt, Gra?a Machel and Luciano Pavarotti among its laureates. The 2016 ceremony will be held on 3 October in Geneva, Switzerland. Speakers and performers at the event will include Senegalese singer, Baaba Maal; World Poetry Slam Champion of 2015, Emi Mahmoud; professional dance collaboration, the Grey People, and Lyse Doucet, the BBC's Chief International Correspondent.

[30] Latest search will likely reveal more parts of Antikythera Mechanism, scientist tells ANA

"I believe that the archaeologists that are back there at this moment will find more sections of the Mechanism, as they did a short while ago. The fact that they recently found a spear nearly on the surface of the seabed means the shipwreck has not been looted and this is very important," Prof. Mousas said.

Mousas, who helped set up and organise the exhibition of what has been described as the "world's oldest analog computer", said the exhibition in Moscow will include two replicas of the Mechanism, one life size and a second that is four times larger, showing details of the clockwork interior. The exhibition will also show copies of ancient astronomical instruments and a room with seven computers with interactive models, one of which was also availabe as an app on Android.

Mousas said the parts of the mechanism relating to the movement of the sun and moon had been almost fully recreated but there was currently only one gear for the movement of the planets.

"I consider that it is that for Jupiter. In reality it is two gears, one 'female' and an ordinary one, the 'gearbox' for Jupiter in other words, which showed its positions. We present this very well in Moscow," he said.

In addition to finding more gears, Mousas said that more than 70 pct of the instrument's copper manual might also be found on the seabed. He noted that this was written on pages of copper in small and very finely wrought letters that had helped archaeologists date the artifact to between 150 and 100 B.C. The ship that carried it had probably sunk between 80 and 62 B.C. he added.

He speculated that the remaining gears would track the movements of the rest of the planets known at that time - including Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Venus and Mars - based on the sections of the manual already found.

The latest discoveries relating to the inner workings of the mechanism pointed to the ancient Greeks having a quite sophisticated understanding of the laws of physics and scientific theory, as well as quite accurate theories concerning the periodicity of the planets, he said.

The exhibition in Moscow will be inaugurated by Culture and Sports Minister Aristidis Baltas and is held as part of Greece-Russia Year 2016, under the auspices of President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos. It will run until November 6.

[31] Hydrofoil with 123 passengers returns to Piraeus after mechanical failure

The Flying Dolphin was conducting the Piraeus-Poros-Hydra-Spetses-Porto Heli route. Its passengers will be sent to their destinations with other vessels of the company, while the hydrofoil will remain docked until the problem is fixed.

[32] Sailing boat skipper missing

When the two other persons that were on the sailing boat realised that the skipper did not appear they called the coast guard.

The incident took place in the Pagasetic Gulf off the coasts of Trikeri island.

The search continues in the sea region south of the port of Trikeri.

[33] Phones down and power cuts in Volos during thunderstorm

The 40-minute storm flooded streets at the suburb of Neapoli and on the road in front of the cement factory AGET-Heracles, where cars had to carefully navigate through pools of water.

Volos' center and its eastern section was left without phone lines for four hours, while the suburbs and villages of Anavros, Nea Dimitriada, Asteria, Agria, Lehonia and other villages of southern Pelion experienced power cuts. Dozens of traffic lights in the city broke down, exacerbating traffic.

[34] Light quake jolts Rhodes

According to the Geodynamics Institute of Athens' Observatory the quake's epicentre was located 31 km southwest of Rhodes.

No damages or injuries were reported.

[35] 900 kg of hashish found in abandoned boat

Police has launched a manhunt to locate the dinghy driver.

Sports

[36] Navarino Challenge to be held on Sept 9-11

In "Navarino Challenge" each year participate people of all ages. The non-competitive event aims to raise awareness about the benefits of healthy living, exercise and the Mediterranean diet as well as the issue of childhood obesity through its numerous sports activities.

This year's event's schedule is as rich as it gets, with 18 non-competitive activities addressed to all family, highlighting the values of exercise and nutrition and raising awareness on childhood obesity, a serious medical condition affecting a child's health or well being. The schedule also includes activities such as running, swimming and SUP for everyone, while participants will have the chance to watch a demonstration race with Optimist and Laser boats in Pylos port.

Weather forecast

[37] Rain on Wednesday

[38] The Tuesday edition of Athens' newspapers at a glance

ESTIA: Institutionalization of lawlessness

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: Distress signal for revenues

IMERISSIA: Concern over revenues

KATHIMERINI: Arrears on the rise

KONTRA NEWS: Civil war at TV channels

TA NEA: What will happen with the 2.8 billion euros

NAFTEMPORIKI: More than 90 billion euro debt to Tax Bureau

36, TSOCHA ST. ATHENS 115 21 GREECE * TEL: 210 64.00.560-63 * FAX: 210 64.00.581-2 INTERNET ADDRESS: http://www.ana.gr * e-mail: anabul@ana gr * GENERAL DIRECTOR: MICHALIS PSILOS

Athens News Agency: Daily News Bulletin in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article