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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Hundreds of passengers remain stranded on Greek ferry

The mother of Nicholas Channing-Williams, 37, a British horse rider who was taking a trip with his Greek fiancĂ©e, Regina Theoffili, 33, said she had ...


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Weather hampers Greek ferry rescue

One reported dead after fire breaks out on Mediterranean ship


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500 trapped in Greek ferry fire

A ferry carrying nearly 500 people caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu early on Sunday, trapping passengers on the top decks as gale-force winds ...


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Burning ferry to be towed to Italy as rescue airlifts continue

A ferry which set on fire during its journey from Greece to Italy is to be towed to Italy's mainland. One person has died, with hundreds more are still stranded on the ship in the Adriatic Sea.


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Greek Parliament vote could bring back euro crisis as elections loom

ATHENS — The long-dormant euro crisis could come roaring back to life Monday with a vote in the Greek Parliament that is expected to bring down the pro-austerity government and open the way for a radical leftist party to take power for the first time in the history of the European Union.Read full article


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All Saints Church in PA Adds to Resplendent History

CANONSBURG, PA – Rev. Father George L. Livanos could not have felt more blessed after the weekend of November 7-9, 2014 as he participated in the Consecration of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church in Canonsburg, PA where he has served as Parish Priest for 25 years,” Irene Douglas, Consecration co-Chair, shared with TNH. “I am […] The post All Saints Church in PA Adds to Resplendent History appeared first on The National Herald.


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The Arithmetic Ahead of Monday’s Final Greek Presidential Ballot

Only a few hours ahead of the third, critical ballot for the election of the new President of the Hellenic Republic — to be held tomorrow at noon — within a fluid political climate and with an increasing number of government MPs estimating (even if they don’t publicly express it) that the country is already heading to snap general elections, the last public appearance of Greek Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras’ at the Maximos Mansion is expected to have an impact. Chances that this last interview could possibly make an admirable reverse are estimated to be low, but Maximos Mansion isn’t giving up the fight of attracting the additional 12 votes needed for the election of the new Greek President. The government is looking for the 12 MP’s votes from the remaining 12 independent MPs that have not voted in favor of the presidential candidate Stavros Dimas, during the previous two ballots and also among the parliamentary groups of opposition parties Democratic Left (DIMAR) and Independent Greeks (ANEL). In detail, among the 12 appearing to be more easily persuaded into voting for Stavros Dimas are former ANEL MP Vassilis Kapernaros, Niki Founta, who only recently left DIMAR’s parliamentary group before the second ballot, and former New Democracy minister Byron Polydoras. Among the remaining 12 who appear “tough” and determined not to vote for the new Greek President are: Petros Tatsopoulos, Mimis Androulakis, Odysseas Voudouris, Chryssoula Giatagana, Theodoros Parastatidis, Rachel Makri, Paris Moutsinas, Theodora Tzakri and Markos Bolaris. The only sure thing, is that without the additional votes from the parliamentary groups of DIMAR (currently consisting of nine MPs) or ANEL (currently consisting of 12 MPs) there is no chance the coalition government will manage to gather the needed 180 votes. Although on DIMAR’s end, after the departure of Niki Founta, there are still two MPs who could potentially be added to the majority to elect the President. The so-called “proposal of eight,” to find a consensual solution to elect the President was signed by Thomas Psyrras, who despite rumors remains with DIMAR and voted “present” in both previous rounds. Mr. Psyrras is rumored to be open to the possibility of a new initiative of the Prime Minister, the same goes for Nikos Tsoukalis.


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Rescue effort after ferry catches fire between Italy and Albania

Bad weather hampers operation and one man dies after falling into the sea moments before he and his wife were to be rescuedItalian and Greek crews are working to rescue hundreds of people trapped on a burning ferry between Italy and Albania.At least one person died and two were injured in the incident, and the Italian defence ministry said 161 of the 478 people on the ferry had been rescued, more than 14 hours after the fire erupted. Continue reading...


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One dead, hundreds trapped on burning Greek ferry

Italian and Greek rescue crews are battling gale-force winds and massive waves as they struggle to evacuate hundreds of people trapped on the ...


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Mother waits for ferry briton news

"People in Greece are saying that their communications have been cut off, so as not to hamper rescue operations which I can fully understand," she ...


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At least one person killed in ferry fire off Greece

(CNN) — At least one person died after a fire erupted on a ferry with hundreds of people on board off the coast of Greece, the country's Merchant ...


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Neo-Nazis desecrate Jewish cemetery in Greece

Members of Greece's Jewish community were shocked last Wednesday to discover that a former Jewish cemetery had been desecrated by neo-Nazis.


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Norman Atlantic ferry fire off Greece leaves 1 dead

The fire aboard a Greek passenger fire that killed one person and left hundreds of people trapped on the burning vessel has been extinguished, Italy's coast guard told CBC News. Italian and Greek rescue crews battled gale-force winds and massive waves ...


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Briton on fire ferry contacts mother

A British woman says she is anxiously waiting for news from her son who is caught on a stricken ferry off Greece.


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One dead as 466 passengers airlifted from burning ferry off Greek coast

Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels struggled to reach the crippled ferry originally, battered by 90 kilometre per hour (55 mph) winds that ...


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Greek Parliament Prepares for Final Presidential Vote

Alexis Tsipras, opposition leader and head of radical leftist Syriza party, arrives for the second of three rounds of a presidential vote at the Greek ...


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Greek presidential election exposes real threat to democracy

Owen Jones’s excellent article on the political situation in Greece was, sadly, too optimistic (Greece’s radical left could kill off austerity in the EU, 22 December). The prospect of the first “radical leftwing” government assuming power in the EU is, I fear, only a remote possibility, not because Syriza’s policies do not attract sufficient support in Greece but because austerity in Europe is now clearly judged to be much more important than democracy; the chances of an imminent general election taking place in Greece are remote. Only if Greek MPs fail to elect the government candidate as president will an election be called, and as the Greek prime minister equates this failure with “political turmoil”, everything possible is being done to ensure the candidate becomes the new head of state (Greek election uncertainty fuels concern over eurozone stability, 18 December).Bribes of €2m-€3m are being offered to ensure votes are cast “correctly”; seven leaders of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party are being allowed to participate in the election, even though they have been imprisoned for using their fascist group “as a front to run a criminal organisation”; and, as Jones reported, veiled threats are being made, to Greek politicians and people, by the president of the European commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. The fact that the likely victor of the election is a party committed to ending austerity and to ruling Greece on behalf of its people, not its banks and financial interests, explains why, in Jones’s words, “a democratic challenge to economic madness” is being “strangled to death”. Continue reading...


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1 dead, hundred still stranded in Greek ferry disaster as choppy seas hamper evacuation

ATHENS, Greece - A fire erupted on a ferry carrying 478 people from Greece to Italy on Sunday, leaving one person dead and trapping hundreds on top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered evacuation. The Italian Navy said that the victim and an ...


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Two Britons on board ferry which caught fire near Greek island

Two Britons are believed to have been aboard a stricken ferry that caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu, according to the UK's ambassador to ...


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One passenger dead and another injured as hundreds of passengers remain trapped on blazing ferry off Corfu with bad weather and gale-force winds hampering rescue efforts

One person has died and another injured while trying to escape the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, which caught alight as it travelled from the Greek port of Patras to Ancona in Italy earlier today.


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Rescue Effort Under Way for Ferry on Fire Off Greek Coast

Rescuers working in rough weather off the west coast of Greece had saved 161 people by early evening. There were still 317 people on board at nightfall local time.


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One Person Reported Dead In Ferry Fire Off Greece

There are more than 500 people on the ferry, and most are trapped as rescue workers battle rough waters. One person died and another is injured, the ...


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Hundreds trapped as ferry catches fire near Greece (PHOTOS)

A fire broke out on a ferry off the Greek island of Corfu early Sunday, trapping passengers as rescuers worked to free them.


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Airlift begins for hundreds trapped on burning Italian ferry 0

It was travelling from Patras in western Greece to the Italian city of Ancona. Lagkadianos said 56 people had been successfully transferred from the ...


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Italy, Greece scramble to rescue 470 from burning ferry

Heavy winds are slowing an operation to rescue passengers and crew from a ferry that caught fire while crossing the Adriatic Sea from Greece to Italy.


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Greece's PM calls for consensus ahead of final presidential vote

Greece's prime minister has urged wavering MPs to back his party's candidate for president in Monday's final round of voting, warning that the country ...


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Airlift under way for hundreds trapped on burning ferry off Greece

ATHENS (Reuters) - Italian and Greek helicopter crews prepared to work through the night to airlift passengers in pairs off a burning ferry adrift in the Adriatic Sea, battling darkness and bad weather that hampered rescue efforts by other ships throughout Sunday.


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Samaras calls for consensus ahead of vote

Greek PM urges wavering MPs to back party’s candidate for president


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Passenger ferry catches fire, hundreds onboard

Source: www.stuff.co.nz - Sunday, December 28, 2014 Hundreds of passengers were trapped on a burning car ferry off Greece, pleading to be rescued by a flotilla of nearby ships that battled storm conditions in open water to try to reach them.All Related | More on Greece


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Greece Ferry Fire: Two Brits Aboard Stricken Ship

The mother of a British man caught on a stricken ferry in seas off Greece says he begged his friends on the mainland not to tell her a fire had broken out on board because he didn't want to worry her. Nick Channing-Williams, 37, is one of two British nationals believed to have boarded the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, which began burning in waters off the Greek island of Corfu today. The fire ...


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Italy, Greek Rescue Teams Struggle to Evacuate Ferry Passengers

Italian and Greek rescue teams, battling high winds and rough seas, struggled to evacuate passengers aboard a ferry that caught fire off the Greek ...


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UPDATE: 1 dead, 1 injured in Greek ferry disaster; hundred still stranded

Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels struggled to reach the stricken ferry, battered by 90 kilometre per hour winds that sent it up toward the ...


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Anti-austerity camp scents blood as Greeks lurch towards snap poll

Greek lawmakers will attempt on Monday for a third and final time to elect a new president and avoid a snap election that could propel the anti-austerity Syriza party to power.


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One death confirmed in rescue attempt from Greek ferry blaze

One person has reportedly died and another has been injured as emergency services battled against abysmal weather to rescue people from a burning ferry near a Greek island. 18 Germans are among the stranded passengers.


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At Least 1 Dead In Greek Ferry Disaster, Italian Official Reports

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — An Italian Coast Guard official says one person died while attempting to escape from a blazing ferry stranded in the Adriatic Sea, and another was injured. Giovanni Pettorino told Italy's Sky TG24 TV that the victim, along with the injured person, was being transported by Italian rescuers to Italy Sunday evening. Hundreds remained trapped on smoke-filled top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered evacuation. Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels struggled to reach the crippled ferry originally, battered by 90 kilometer per hour (55 mph) winds that pushed it toward the Albanian coast. Nearby merchant ships lined up to form a barrier to protect the ferry from towering waves and facilitate rescue.


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Listen: Passengers from troubled ferry call TV channel in Greece

Two Britons are believed to have been aboard a stricken ferry that caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu, according to the UK's ambassador to Greece. Greek and Italian rescue helicopters and vessels have struggled to reach the ferry, battered by 55 mph ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.telegraph.co.uk

Greek ferry fire kills 1, traps hundreds

A ferry carrying about 470 people caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu early Sunday, trapping passengers on the top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered the evacuation. An Italian Coast Guard official says one person died while ...


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Greek leftists widen lead over ruling conservatives

The survey by Public Issue for "Efimerida ton Syntaktwn" newspaper showed Syriza leading with 11 percentage points over Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' New Democracy party. Greece's main opposition, the anti-bailout Syriza party, has widened its lead over ...


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Greece ferry fire: One dies trying to escape blaze while hundreds remain trapped on board

ATHENS, Greece — An Italian Coast Guard official says one person died while attempting to escape from a blazing ferry stranded in the Adriatic Sea, and another was injured. Giovanni Pettorino told Italy’s Sky TG24 TV that the victim, along with the ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT news.nationalpost.com

1 dead, hundreds stranded in Greek ferry disaster

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A fire erupted on a ferry carrying 478 people from Greece to Italy on Sunday, leaving one person dead and trapping hundreds on top decks as gale-force winds and choppy seas hampered evacuation.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT hosted2.ap.org

Opposition Parties React to PM Samaras’ Last Interview Before Third Presidential Ballot

Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ seems to have instigated fierce criticism after yesterday’s interview on public TV, NERIT. “In a last attempt to avoid the perceived appeal to the polls the Prime Minister, via this interview, resorted to another alarmist adventurism,” main opposition party, SYRIZA, highlighted in its press release, at the same time accusing Mr. Samaras of being obsessed with power. Citing the Greek monk and scholar of the 18th century, Caesarius Daponte, the Independent Greeks (ANEL) commenting on Mr. Samaras latest public appearance underlined that “too much pain can drive you insane.” “Those who speak of consensus, either now investing in fear (the government) or after the elections, while cultivating false hopes (the main opposition), actually have one goal: To trap the people to the same EU one-way streets of the capital and the long-lasting memorandums. Opposing to blackmailing and illusions people need a strong KKE” refers to press release of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE). “The emergence of alarmism as a key political weapon by the government cannot obscure the reality. On the contrary it harms the country,” underlines Democratic Left (DIMAR), explaining that “the greatest danger to society and the economy are the policies that have irreparably wounded social cohesion and maintained the recessionary suffocation.” “The people were expecting the Prime Minister to take some new initiative to break the deadlock. Unfortunately, Mr. Samaras appeared in the role of the opposition in today’s opposition” said the newly launched To Potami in its statement, commenting on the Greek Premiers’ interview.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

AP NewsAlert

Italy: 1 person dead, another injured in fire disaster on ferry bound from Greece to Italy


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Norman Atlantic ferry burns off Greece as storms hamper rescue. 1 dead

Italian officials say one person is dead and another injured in a fire disaster on a ferry bound from Greece to Italy. They did not reveal any more details about the person or how they died. Air crews began lifting passengers off the ferry adrift in the ...


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High Winds Slow Rescue Operation for Hundreds Trapped on Burning Ferry

The fire broke out while the Italian ship traveled in Greek waters in the Adriatic Sea


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Hundreds Being Evacuated From Burning Ferry In Adriatic Sea

Source: www.npr.org - Sunday, December 28, 2014 Hundreds Being Evacuated From Burning Ferry In Adriatic Sea December 28, 2014 8:44 AM ET Scott Neuman Twitter The Norman Atlantic ferry is seen in a photo taken in September. The vessel is the subject of a rescue in the Adriatic Sea. Paolo Gangemi/Reuters/Landov Gale-force winds and rough seas were hampering an effort to evacuate nearly 500 passengers and crew from a ferry that caught fire off the Greek island of Corfu early this morning, Italian media reports. Ships and helicopters were trying to get everyone off of the Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic as the vessel burned and began listing dangerously in a sign it is taking on water. So far, there are no reports of deaths or injuries and 170 people are reported to be safely aboard rescue boats, leaving hundreds still on the ship. Greek, Italian and Albanian rescuers were reportedly taking part in the operation taking place about 40 miles from Corfu in the Strait of Otranto that separates Italy and Albania and the Adriatic and Ionian seas. The BBC reports: "Around 35 passengers were transferred to a nearby Greek ferry by lifeboat, Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said. "'This is a complicated rescue mission... The visibility is poor and the weather conditions are difficult, but we are confident because there are a good number of ships in the area,' he said." The Associated Press, citing local authorities, says the fire broke out on the car deck of the ferry en routAll Related


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Hundreds still trapped after fire breaks out on Greek ferry

Greek authorities said around 150 people out of the 478 on board had been rescued, but severe weather conditions were affecting the operation.


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Rescuers rush to ferry burning in the Adriatic Sea

Brooks HaysCORFU, Greece, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Rescue operations are underway in the Adriatic Sea, as a hundreds of passengers remain trapped aboard a burning ferry off the coast of Greece.


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Money Week: Greek Athex Index the 6th Worst Investment of 2014

Greek stocks ranked as the world’s sixth worst investment, according to the British leading financial magazine, Money Week. According to the annual list ranking the worst investments of the ending year, the Greek Athex index lost some 24.44% of their value in 2014. Describing the downfall of the Greek stocks, the British magazine, underlines that from March’s peak of 1,379 the country’s main stock exchange has plunged over 27% reaching 17-month lows. After ratings agency Fitch issued a warning about the Greek banks — that were at the time awaiting their evaluation from the country’s lenders — over a 10% was wiped off Greek stocks in just a few days in October. In addition, the political instability took off a further 20% in one week in December, in what was seen as the biggest collapse in the Athens stock market in 27 years, since 1987. “Many (investors) fear that the political challenges in Greece could lead to its ultimate exit from the monetary union and default,” analyst at private bank Brown Brothers Harriman said, while fears that Greece is dragging the rest of Europe down were also expressed. Despite all the above, the British financial magazine sees the Greek main opposition party, SYRIZA, currently leading all polls, as the only winner, as it appeals to Greeks who feel victimized by “foreign” austerity and wants to renegotiate the country’s bailout package. Regarding the next day scenarios, Money Week underlines that it would either find Greece in a Grexit or the country will achieve the much-needed political stability and stick to its bailout commitments. Although, there are also some pessimistic voices, such as economist’s Paul Krugman, who foresees a Eurozone collapse.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Santa Run Organized in Chania and Ioannina

For the fourth consecutive year the association “Santa Run,” in collaboration with the Regional Government of Crete, the Municipality of Chania and the Cultural Corporation of the Municipality, organized the 4th Santa Run, for the financial support of KIFA AMEA, ELEPAP, KIFAP and ORIZONTAS, dealing with children experiencing serious health problems. Despite the unsettled weather, participation this year exceeded all expectations. People of all ages, including families with babies in strollers holding red balloons and whistles in their mouths did the city tour. All along the route some 15 music producers from Chania, played music for the participants, while shopkeepers offered them sweets and chocolates and alcohol free beers. This years Santa Run was held for the first time at noon. As an idea it was first implemented in Chania, in 2011 and in the first year of the event some 400 Santa Clauses participated. In 2012 they rose to 1,500 and in 2013 to 3,000, despite the extremely adverse weather conditions. The Chania Santa Run festival is different from the rest of its kind held around the world, as it is in fact a parody of the famous Santa Run. Participants just enjoy a walk around the city and many treats, while there is no official timing or placements. Furthermore, on Saturday, several Santa Clauses ran in the streets of Ioannina in the first ever Santa Run to take place in the city of western Greece. Despite the bitter cold, men and women of all ages participated in the event and offered 10 euros each to the Municipality which aims to raise money for the commission of a Braille system writing machine for the blind and the purchase of instruments for athletes with disabilities.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Bid to tow burning ferry to safety: Greece

An operation is underway to rescue 478 people from a burning ferry off the Greek Island of Corfu. Source: AAP. 29 Dec 2014 - 1:12 AM UPDATED 52 ...


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