Compact version |
|
Monday, 23 December 2024 | ||
|
Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-02-17Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Papandreou received by PresidentMain opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou was received on Tuesday by President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias, after which he told reporters that the country had an immediate need for a new government arising from the Greek people's decision.Speaking to the press after the one-hour meeting, which had been requested by the PASOK leader, Papandreou said he briefed the President in-depth on PASOK's proposals for the rejuvenation of the economy, protection of the weaker economic strata and the middle class, and the need for Greece to adopt a new developmental model, that of green growth. Papandreou said that the people needed a well-governed state, and not the present situation of lawlessness, corruption, wasteful spending of the public wealth, and clientele relations. "The Greek citizen needs to be certain that the state protects him," the PASOK leader said. He further said that the country was going through a deep political, economic and social crisis, "a crisis of values and credibility", warning that if the present situation was perpetuated the crisis would become deeper. Papandreou also briefed the President on his call for early elections and for common backing of Papoulias for a second term in the country's Presidency if Papoulias also desired that. Greeting Papandreou on arrival earlier, Papoulias said the country was going through a difficult period, as the Greek people were facing a very tough situation and the citizens were in a difficult position. Caption: President of Republic Karolos Papoulias(R) receives main opposition PASOK party leader George Papandreou(L) at the presidential mansion on Tuesday 17 February 2009. ANA-MPA/KATERINA MAVRONA [02] Papandreou chairs meeting on education, cultureMain opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou on Tuesday chaired a meeting of his party's education and culture affairs officials, in the first meeting to take place at PASOK's new headquarters on Ippokratous street in downtown Athens.Speaking during the meeting, Papandreou said that education and culture were central issues in the PASOK platform, noting that there were immense problems in all levels of education, with funding as the most pressing matter. Papandreou reiterated PASOK's commitment to earmark five percent of the budget expenditure to education and 2 percent to research, and the immediate channeling of an additional 1 billion euros in funds to education beginning in the first year of a PASOK government. Further, with respect to the global financial crisis, Papandreou said that even in periods of crisis money can be found to back the major priorities such as education and culture. [03] Male model implicated in cocaine trafficking handed over to Greece by Bulgarian authoritiesBulgarian police handed over to their Greek colleagues a 30-year-old male model allegedly involved in a cocaine trafficking ring that attempted unsuccessfully to smuggle into Greece over 4 kg of the drug last Saturday. The suspect was arrested at Sofia's airport where he was due to board an airplane to Dubai with a stopover in Istanbul, using someone else's passport. The ring was busted by police in Halkidiki, in the north of the country, acting on a tip-off. Two of its members were arrested after showing up to claim the drugs that had arrived from Colombia at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport. Both told police that the actual recipient of the drugs was a third person and named the model in question.[04] Athens Stock Exchange:PlungeEquity prices were plunging on Tuesday on the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE), influenced by the international money markets, with the basic share price index down 3.69 percent, standing at 1,629.17 points at 13:45 a.m., and turnover at 75.7 million euros.Individual sector indices were moving downward nearly across the board, with the only gains in Mass Media, up 0.82 percent. The biggest losses were in Food & Beverage, down 7.63 percent; Banks, down 4.97 percent; Telecoms, down 3.69 percent; Financial Services down 3.64 percent. The FTSE/ASE 20 index for blue chip and heavily traded stocks was down 3.83 percent, the FTSE/ASE MID 40 index was down 2.93 percent, and the FTSE/ASE-80 small cap index was down 1.76 percent. Of the stocks moved, 28 were up, 152 were down, and 33 were unchanged. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |