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Thursday, 21 November 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-01-22Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Freezing of bank accounts in Siemens caseSpecial investigator Nikos Zagorianos on Thursday ordered the freezing of the bank accounts, deeds and securities of 34 people allegedly involved in the Siemens "slush fund" case.The order, which concerns present and former Siemens employees, top Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation (OTE) officials, executives and stockbrokers, was issued in accordance with the law on money laundering, which includes people charged or suspected of perpetrating this specific offence. Zagorianos is expected to take a similar decision in the coming days for other people as well those examined as suspects, while an injunction on property cannot be ruled out, if acquisition is linked to the case. Suspects and witnesses begin receiving subpoenas to come forward to testify in the near future, as the investigator will start the preparation of indictments, regardless of the outcome of the appeal made to the Swiss authorities on the opening of specific bank accounts. [02] KKE on economic crisis, farmersCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga addressed a rally in an indoor arena in Athens on Thursday evening, where she criticised the government, main opposition PASOK , the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) party and trade union leaderships of playing a disgraceful role.Papariga extended her solidarity for farmers' mobilisations and called on all working people to stand by the actions, while referring to the economic crisis she attributed it to the crisis of capitalism and noted that what is most important now is for working people to be in a position of confrontation. Focusing on the two mainstream parties, Papariga said that, with different phrases and slogans, they are saying the same thing: that the greatest possible cooperation between social partners must be achieved, of all the producing forces, to enable the crisis to pass as smoothly as possible. [03] Gov't unveils 500-mln ag packageAgricultural Development Minister Sotiris Hatzigakis on Thursday unveiled a new 500-million-euro package for Greek farmers, who have turned out in protest to block the country's national highways, demanding support for their income.He stressed that the government's financial team, acting on direct orders from the prime minister, had made this additional money available straight away and that, with the 500 million euros already given to farmers in the form of interest-free loans, the total financial support awarded to farmers by the state came to one billion. Hatzigakis said the government had been as generous as the country's fiscal situation allowed and that the cash injection would significantly relieve the difficulties faced by Greece's farming community following the collapse of global prices for food. The announcements included: Subsidies amounting to 75 million euros for cotton (up to 40 euros per 1000 square metres); An increase of up to 40 percent in refunds of special consumption tax for diesel, available only to those who have farming as their main occupation, reaching a total of 120 million euros; Total compensation amounting to 100 million euros for corn and cereals crops; Compensation for damage to oil and olive crops of 50 million euros; Subsidies of 100 million euros for tree and asparagus crops. In addition to the above, which will be paid out via the Greek Agricultural Insurance Organisation ELGA, there will be additional emergency relief payments totaling 75 million euros for cotton, tobacco, cereal and oil producers. Hatzigakis stated that he will continue dialogue with farmers in order to resolve all their problems and demands. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |