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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-11-27Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Watchdog authority irked by city cameras in playgroundsThe autonomous Hellenic Data Protection Authority (HDPA) has rejected a bid by the City of Athens to install non-audio surveillance cameras in its 147 playgrounds that operate on a 24-hour basis.The independent watchdog for the protection of personal data had given permission for the installation of cameras on a trial basis in 10 of the playgrounds to operate only during nighttime, under the precondition that the municipality would proceed with maintenance work on fences, provide adequate lighting and sufficient security. The independent authority will issue a new ruling after a comparative study is submitted by the municipality. HDPA members conveyed an opinion claiming that the operation of cameras in playgrounds violates the right to privacy and "can have a negative effect on children by imposing on them the belief that camera surveillance is an acceptable practice." [02] Greek bond market closing report(ANA-MPA) -- The yield spread between the 10-year Greek and German benchmark bonds shrank to 193 basis points, after hitting an intra-day high of 215 bps, in the Greek electronic secondary bond market on Friday.The Greek bond yielded 5.11 pct and the German Bund 3.18 pct. Turnover was a strong 2.0 billion euros. In interbank markets, interest rates were largely unchanged. The 12-month Euribor rate was 1.23 pct, the six-month rate 0.66 pct, the three-month rate 0.71 pct and the one-month rate 0.43 pct. [03] Tripartite agreement for Prespes Lake preservationThe leaders of Greece, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (fYRoM) and Albania on Friday agreed to sign a tripartite agreement in early February for the greater environmental protection of the ecologically significant Prespes Lake region shared by all three countries.The announcement came after meetings in a lake-side village on the Greek side by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and his counterparts from Albania and fYRoM, Sali Berisha and Nikola Gruevski, respectively. All three sides also promised to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation in water management, the taking of anti-pollution and soil erosion prevention measures, as well as to promote the viable management of biodiversity in the verdant region. All three premiers also voiced their support for an international agreement at the upcoming Copenhagen summit. The agreement is expected to be signed on Feb. 2, 2010. [04] Stocks end 1.44% higherStocks ended higher at the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, recovering a small part of Thursday's sharp losses. The composite index of the market rose 1.44 pct to end at 2,257.43 points, with turnover a heavy 388.9 million euros.Most sectors moved upwards, with the Telecoms (3.88 pct), Media (3.16 pct) and Food/Beverage (2.84 pct) scoring the biggest percentage gains of the day, while Insurance (2.94 pct), Technology (1.98 pct) and Travel (0.95 pct) suffered losses. The FTSE 20 index rose 1.79 pct, the FTSE 40 index ended 1.58 pct higher and the FTSE 80 index rose 0.80 pct. Broadly, advancers led decliners by 124 to 80 with another 46 issues unchanged. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |