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Sunday, 22 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-07-31Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Crete to host thousands of Special Olympics participantsThe southern Aegean island of Crete will host 2,000 Special Olympics participants within the framework of the Host Town Programme, a few days before the opening of the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens to take place on June 25-July 4, 2011.The relevant agreement was sealed in a special event held in Iraklio in the presence of Deputy Defense Minister Ioannis Plakiotakis, representing the government, "Special Olympics Organizing Committee - Athens 2011" President Gianna Despotopoulou and representatives of hotel owners on Crete participating in the hospitality programme. The Special Olympics World Summer Games - Athens 2011 will draw 7,500 athletes from 185 countries, 2,500 coaches, 3,000 judges/referees, 25,000 volunteers, 40,000 family members and thousands of spectators, while the events will be covered by 3,000 journalists from all over the world. [02] Merchant Marine Min. on ship safetyGreeceâs Merchant Marine ministry on Friday strongly rejected a report by ADAC alleging that one in three passenger ferry ships did not meet international safety standards. In a statement, the ministry said it was examining all cases over the safety of ships operating in the countryâs coastal shipping industry and stressed that all ships were inspected by the ministryâs inspection agency and by foreign organizations and shipping registers. âWe cannot accept, however, that any private company evaluating the countryâs shipping industry,â it added.The statement said that one of the ships mentioned in ADACâs report, âSordinia Veraâ has been already withdrawn from operations. [03] Dendias tours Nafplion jailsJustice Minister Nikos Dendias toured on Friday the correctional facilities in Nafplion and Tiryntha, northeastern Peloponnese. Áfter the visit Dendias stressed "The prisons are facing problems, the large number of inmates being the biggest one. We are aware of the situation and we are making major efforts to deal with the problem. The correctional system of the country must be upgraded and become more humanized,"Responding to questions by reporters on main opposition PASOK criticism regarding the amendment on the government minister accountability law, Dendias stated "PASOK has entered an impasse and exerts criticism on everything without making any proposals. I believe that the draft plan of our proposals is serious and well-prepared including not only ruling New Democracy opinions but also those of other political parties. We have already stated that we are open and ready to discuss any proposal or useful opinion in order to re-establish the unity between the political world and society". Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of Tiryntha correctional facilities [04] Stocks end slightly higherGreek stocks ended slightly higher on Friday in the Athens Stock Exchange with the composite index of the market gaining 0.39 pct to end at 2,362.35 points. Turnover was 849.4 million euros of which 685.4 million were block trades.Sector indices moved mostly upward with the Telecommunications (3.38pct), Insurance (1.95pct) and Technology (1.47pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Constructions(2.69pct), Oil and Gas (2.21pct), Travel and Recreation(1.89pct) and Financial Services (1.79pct) suffered losses. The FTSE 20 index ended 0.38 pct up, the FTSE 40 index 0.70pct up and the FTSE 80 rose 0.14 percent. From the stocks moved, 103 ended up, 98 declined and 56 remained unchanged Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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