Compact version |
|
Monday, 23 December 2024 | ||
|
Athens News Agency: News in English (PM), 99-09-23Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr>NEWS IN ENGLISHAthens, Greece, 23/09/1999 (ANA)MAIN HEADLINES
NEWS IN DETAILCrete police re-enact child murdersPolice led a Cretan man suspected of killing his three sons to spite his ex- wife through a re-enactment of the crime early on Thursday. Georgios Metaxakis is accused of drowning three of his four children - aged from two to 10 - in the Almyros River. Security was tight during the re-enactment with Metaxakis wearing a bullet-proof vest as relatives of the children have vowed revenge. Metaxakis claims his two older sons - 10 and four - fell into the river and in his attempts to save them he dragged in the two- year-old. But Metaxakis's daughter says her father led the three boys away from the car in which she had been left bound and gagged. On his return, he drove the car to the local police station and left her in it there, apparently with a note confessing to his crime. Government slams opposition Government spokesman Dimitris Reppas on Thursday lashed out at conservative opposition New Democracy (ND), saying the stance it was pursuing on both the recent earthquake and developments on the Athens Stock Exchange was irresponsible. Reppas was answering reporters' questions in relation to a request by New Democracy leader Costas Karamanlis for a discussion at political party leader level on the September 7 earthquake. "The government has every reason to hold this discussion because it can show significant achievements," Reppas said, adding that it had repeatedly been said the discussion would be held when the assembly was in full session and not during the summer session. New Democracy wants political purchase on an issue which is not providing it, he said. "Initially, the party had approached the issue of the quake in a responsible manner; now it is acting irresponsibly." He made similar comments about the opposition's stance on developments on the Athens Stock Exchange, saying New Democracy aimed at continuing to fuel an "absurd" discussion which could cause problems for the stock market. Greece rejects U.S. State Dept claims Greece on Thursday rejected claims in a U.S. State Department report that it was suppressing the religious freedoms of the Moslem minority in Trace. "These claims do not hold," government spokesman Dimitris Reppas said. "Greek Moslems have the same rights as the rest of us... the conditions under which the Greek Moslems live are an example for minorities in other countries," he said. Responding to a question about the transfer of competency for Moslem minority issues from the foreign ministry to the interior ministry, Reppas said that the issues related to the Moslem minority were issues related to Greek citizens. "It is an internal issue for the country and not a matter for foreign policy," he said. Taxman nets actress Vanna Barba Greek actress Vanna Barba has failed to declare income amounting to 44 million drachmas ($U.S. 145,000), Greece's tax authorities said on Thursday. Barba, who is best known abroad for her role as a prostitute in the Oscar-winning foreign film "Mediterraneo", failed to issue receipts for income she received for two television serials, the audit revealed. Barba is the latest household name to be snared in the Greek tax department's campaign to stamp out tax evasion by releasing the names of high profile tax dodgers. Ugandan president to visit The president of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Keguta Museveni, will begin an official visit to Greece on the invitation of President Costis Stephanopoulos on September 29. Museveni's visit will last through to Ocotber 1. Black Sea environment ministers meet Environment ministers from Black Sea Economic Cooperation Council countries begin meeting in Thessaloniki on Thursday to discuss monitoring pollution and evaluating environmental risk in the region. Participating are ministers from Greece, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania, Bulgaria, Albania, Russia and Moldavia. Deputy Environment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister Theodoros Koliopanos is to chair the session. Turkish national gets 37 months jail A Kos court on Thursday sentenced a Turkish national to 37 months' jail for attempting to bring 33 illegal immigrants into the country. Serkan Duzvasti was arrested on September 18, along with Tolga Cikikci, also Turkish. Cikikci, who is a minor under Greek law, is to be deported. WEATHERMostly fair weather will prevail throughout Greece today. Winds northerly, light to moderate, turning strong in the Aegean Sea. Athens will be sunny with few clouds and temperatures between 20-32C. Same in Thessaloniki with temperatures from 17-29C.FOREIGN EXCHANGEThursday's rates (buying) U.S. dollar 308.423 Pound sterling 503.757 Japanese yen (100) 295.408 French franc 49.456 German mark 165.870 Italian lira (100) 16.755 Irish Punt 411.920 Belgian franc 8.042 Finnish mark 54.562 Dutch guilder 147.213 Danish kr. 43.656 Austrian sch. 23.576 Spanish peseta 1.949 Swedish kr. 37.631 Norwegian kr. 39.432 Swiss franc 202.393 Port. Escudo 1.618 Can. dollar 209.649 Aus. dollar 201.019 Cyprus pound 561.472 Euro 324.414(M.P.) Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |