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Saturday, 21 December 2024
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-06-24Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Mitsotakis calls for calm and restraint after result of British referendumNew Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis called for calm and restraint after the result of the British referendum on Friday, adding it is a very difficult day for Europe.Mitsotakis, who is visiting the island of Syros, said the result of the vote will clearly be respected but noted it also "forces everyone to look in the mirror" and see why the vision of European integration does not seem to attract European citizens anymore. "We should turn this major challenge into an opportunity for Europe. Europe needs today more than ever, a new political narrative, which will be able to rejoin the idea of European integration to the daily life of citizens," he said, adding this is the only way to bridge the gap between European and national policies and citizens who feel that the European project does not concern them anymore to the extent that concerned them in the past. [02] PM concludes meetings with party leaders on election law, constitutionPrime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Friday continued a round of meetings with opposition party leaders to discuss possible changes to election law and the constitution, though the talk in the wake of the British referendum result was all Brexit.Meeting the head of the Potami party Stavros Theodorakis as he arrived at the Maximos Mansion for the meeting, Tsipras said the referendum result was a "shock" and the response in the next days will be critical, since it will be a milestone. "Either we will move quickly and decisively to correct the mistakes, to regain the trust of the citizens or the 'jumper' will start to unravel and that will be very bad for all of us," he said. Replying, Theodorakis said this was a "last chance" for all sides to consider their responsibility for the situation, noting that many sides had a share in this, with populism on one side and a hard bureaucratic centre on the other. "We must all reconsider some things because we probably won't get many other opportunities. Brexit did not, unfortunately, fall from the sky," he said. The prime minister's meeting with Centrists' Union leader Vassilis Leventis also kicked off on Brexit note, with Leventis saying that the British referendum should not have been held. "Europe needs all the states," he said, while Tsipras expressed hope that Europe will handle the shock "in the best possible way." "I believe that what is needed is to try and make Europe bigger and more serious," Leventis said. "And better," Tsipras replied. Emerging from his meeting with the prime minister, Leventis said his party is in favour of abolishing the "bonus" seats for the first party in elections but disagrees with the carving up of larger constituencies. He also asked that the 3 pct 'minimum' of the nationwide vote for entering Parliament remain, abolition of the state deputy ticket and a reduction of the number of MPs from 300 to 200. With respect to the constitution, the head of the Centrists' Union said this "shouldn't be tampered with too much," but agreed to removal of the law on parliamentary immunity and protection of ministers from prosecution. In an announcement after his meeting with Tsipras, Potami's leader said his party was open to dialogue on changing election law even though the government had not presented a comprehensive proposal but only sounded out the common ground. Theodorakis said he had presented his party's own proposal to Tsipras while noting that "there was no convergence because there was no specific proposal." Potami's leader said his party was in favour of the 3 pct minimum, to breaking up large constituencies, reducing but not abolishing the bonus for the first party and allowing expatriates to vote. On revising the constitution, Theodorakis said it was an opportunity to determine the articles that that must change and said that Potami wanted a revision of article 16 to allow the foundation or private universities. [03] 'Suntan' by Argyris Dimitropoulos wins top prize at Edinburgh Film FestivalThe film 'Suntan' directed by Argyris Papadimitropoulos and shot entirely on the island of Antiparos won the prize for Best International Feature Film at the 70th Edinburgh Film Festival on Friday. The film, which premiered at Rotterdam, is Papadimitropoulos' third feature film after "Bank Bang" and "Wasted Youth".According to the International jury - producer and actor Sadie Frost, actor Angus Macfadyen and Screen International editor Matt Mueller - 'Suntan' was the film that "resonated" with them. "It's a compelling and unflinching portrait of one man's journey from infatuation to desperation, marked out by a truly great performance from its lead actor Efthymis Papadimitriou," Mueller said. Papadimitropoulos said that he "couldn't be happier" with the jury's decision and talked about his days as a student in the UK in the late 90s, when "the films awarded by the Edinburgh International Film Festival dominated our talks." "We only had to see on a poster that a film had been awarded at Ediburgh in order to go and see it. How could I know back then that 15 years later I would have the honour of receiving such a prize. I can't wait to print new posters," he said. 'Suntan' is a story about Kostis, a 42-year-old doctor that arrives on the small island to take over the local clinic and finds his quiet life on the island completely disrupted when he meets a group of young tourists and falls in love with 19-year-old Anna, played by Elli Triggou.= [04] ANEL leader Kammenos: 'Europe cannot be unified by force'Europe cannot be unified by force, ANEL leader Panos Kammenos said on Friday in response to the results of the British referendum, adding that only dialog and justice can keep the continent united."If we want a united Europe, we have to decide we'll be united everywhere," Kamenos, who is also defence minister, said. "May the message that comes from England be a message which will indicate that the only way to have a united Europe is to have a fair approach towards all countries, to respect the decision of the people, and for allies not be transformed into creditors that blackmail," he added. [05] Greek stocks plunge 13.42 pct after turmoil caused by British referendum voteGreek stocks suffered one their biggest single-day losses in the Athens Stock Exchange on Friday, as the market was caught in the global turmoil caused by a UK vote to leave the EU. The market fell to its lowest levels in the last four months, with bank shares taking the biggest hit, while Greek bond yields soared with the 10-year bond yielding more than 9.0 pct. The market's capitalisation dropped by 5.5 billion euros in one day. The composite index plunged 13.42 pct to end at 534.78 points, to levels last seen in early March. The fall was the third largest daily fall since 1987. The index ended the week with a net loss of 8.83 pct, and stands 15.30 pct down so far this year. The Large Cap index dropped 15.85 pct and the Mid Cap index ended 9.75 pct lower. Turnover was a heavy 161.671 million euros in volume of 300,490,431.All blue chip stocks ended lower, led by Eurobank (30 pct), Alpha Bank (29.66 pct), Piraeus Bank (29.60 pct), National Bank (29.45 pct), Ellaktor (18.79 pct), PPC (16.33 pct), Viohalco (16.3 pct) and Hellenic Exchanges (14.59 pct). All sectors ended lower, led by Banks (29.68 pct), Financial Services (17.73 pct) and Commerce (13.84 pct). National Bank and Piraeus Bank were the most heavily traded securities of the day. Broadly, decliners led advancers by 105 to 11 with another 10 issues unchanged. Akritas (14.08 pct), Trastor (11.93 pct) and Alumil (10.57 pct) were top gainers, while Eurobank (30 pct), Newsphone (29.86 pct) and Alpha Bank (29.66 pct) were top losers. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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