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Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros

Friday, May 8, 2015

Tsipras Draws Red Lines, Says He Won’t Break

While saying he wants a compromise with international lenders as Greece is going broke, Prime Minister and Radical Left SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said he won't renege anymore on campaign promises, especially on pensions and labor reforms. The post Tsipras Draws Red Lines, Says He Won’t Break appeared first on The National Herald.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

World Press View: Why Isn’t There Deal Yet For Greece?

Why haven't months of negotiations between Greece and its international lenders produced a deal or a way to untangle the Gordian Knot. The post World Press View: Why Isn’t There Deal Yet For Greece? appeared first on The National Herald.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.thenationalherald.com

Two young Greek women shortlisted in competition for world-changing ideas

Two young Greek women have made the short list for Microsoft’s YouthSpark Challenge for Change thanks to their ideas for initiatives that could improve society.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Albania objects to plans for hydrocarbons research

The Albanian Foreign Ministry on Friday handed a warning regarding Greece’s plans to search for hydrocarbon reserves in the Ionian Sea to the country’s ambassador in Tirana, Leonidas Rokanas.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Euro drop saw Greek exports soar in March

Exports excluding fuel products recorded an impressive performance in March thanks to the major drop in the euro’s exchange rates.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

US urges Athens to focus on TAP, not Turkish Stream

Washington increased the pressure on Athens on Friday to concentrate on the completion of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) rather than devote efforts toward the extension of the planned Turkish Stream pipeline so it runs through Greece.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Small PPC plan is abandoned

The French model will be used for the liberalization of the Greek electrical energy market, according to a speech by Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis at the European Business Summit in Brussels on Thursday.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Greek PM to call European officials in bid to create forward momentum

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is expected to get on the phone over the weekend and speak to a number of euro-area leaders ahead of Monday’s Eurogroup after saying on Friday that Europe has to show strong political will for there to be an agreement between Greece and its lenders soon.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Erdogan says Greek mosque would lead to Halki opening

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has reportedly said he is prepared to reopen the Greek Orthodox Seminary of Halki off the coast of Istanbul if Greece opens a mosque in Thessaloniki.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Cash lottery for card users on 22 islands

The government is planning to offer a cash return incentive for Greeks who as of July 1 use debit or credit cards on certain islands for purchases above a threshold of 50 or 70 euros.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Greeks reluctant to buy a home

Demand in the local housing market has dropped to almost zero and many Greeks are avoiding property purchases due to the high taxation involved, according to a survey carried out by the University of Macedonia for Skai TV.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Crisis wipes out a quarter of Greece’s SMEs

From the start of the recession in 2008 up to 2014 more than 200,000 small and medium-sized enterprises are estimated to have shut down, which means that a quarter of this sector has been wiped out, according to commerce register figures.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

USA Worried Over Russian-Funded “Turk Stream” Gas Pipeline in Greece

US State Department envoy for energy affairs Amos J. Hochstein, suggested to the Greek government not to give in to pressure by Russia regarding Moscow’s gas pipeline project during a meeting with Greek foreign minister Nikos Kotzias, in Athens on Friday. Struggling for revenues, crisis-stricken Greece has been looking for new sources of income and the construction of “Turk Stream” gas pipeline could bring up to 5.0 billion euros to the country. USA encouraged Greece to support the rival Western-backed plan that would bring natural gas supplies from the city of Azerbaijan to Europe through the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) crossing through Turkey, Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea instead of the Turk Stream which would transport Russian natural. Speaking to the press after his meeting with Nikos Kotzias, Amos Hochstein said: “What we agreed on is that it’s important to focus on what projects are on the table today and that is TAP, that will interconnect to the Azerbaijani pipeline. That is what’s on the table for Greece today.” “Turk Stream doesn’t exist. There is no consortium to build it, there is no agreement to build it. So let’s put that to the side, and wait until there’s some movement on that and see if that’s relevant or not relevant and in the meantime focus on what’s important — the pipeline we already agreed to, that Greece already agreed to,” the US envoy added. Greece’s Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis presented Greece’s position in a statement that followed after the talks: “There is no reason why Russia should not be a supplier of gas into the region and the U.S. does not challenge that in any way, but having other sources of gas would help prices, reliability of supply and and it will also help take the political element out of the supply system.” The United States is concerned that Greek consideration of an extension of a “Turkstream” pipeline across Greece will not increase energy diversification, may be of concern to EU competition authorities, and is not a long-term solution to Greece’s energy needs. During his Athens visit, Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. Department of State Amos J. Hochstein held  discussions with Minister of State Nikos Pappas, Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Kotzias, Minister of Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Panagiotis Lafazanis, and energy company officials.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

​US urges Greece to reject Turkish Stream, focus on Western-backed project

Greece should consider joining the TAP, which will link Europe to natural gas supplies from Azerbaijan via Turkey, Greece, Albania and the Adriatic ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT rt.com

Greek government expects a "positive signal' at Monday's Eurogroup

The government expects a "positive signal' to emerge from Monday's Eurogroup, one that recognises the progress made in the talks between Greece and its creditors, sources said after the end of a meeting chaired by Prime ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.enikos.gr

Greek reform not going fast or far enough

"Progress would be that the Greek government decides to adopt a series of reforms that make the Greek economy stronger," he said. "So far, things ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT uk.reuters.com

Greece draws battle lines over war reparations from Germany

Eleni Sfoundouris, 83, is a survivor of one of the worst atrocities committed during the World War Two Nazi occupation of Greece: the Distomo ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.euronews.com

Opinion: The myth of the lazy Greek

“The Greek worker should find a job instead of loitering on the seaside.” “Why should industrious northern Europeans subsidize the indolence of their ...


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Greek Orthodox patriarch praises religious freedoms

Bartholomew I, the Istanbul-based Fener Greek Orthodox Patriarch, extolled religious freedoms in Turkey and thanked local authorities and the ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.dailysabah.com

ATHEX: Stocks rise almost 2 pct this week

Stocks were almost equally split between gainers and losers in the Greek bourse’s last session of the week as the drop posted by the banks index was to a large extent offset by increases for other blue chips such as Coca-Cola HBC and OPAP, as well as mid-caps.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

AmCham organizes Greek specialty food mission to NYC

The American Hellenic Chamber of Commerce is organizing the Trade USA 2015 Specialty Food Mission from June 26 to July 2 in New York in the context of the 2015 Summer Fancy Food Show.


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Varoufakis’ Documents Trouble Eurozone Officials

The reform plans and growth predictions that were distributed to Greece’s partners within the Eurozone by Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis are troubling the officials involved in the discussions between Greece and its international lenders, reported Wall Street Journal. The officials claim that the documents contained significant differences compared to what had been discussed in Brussels and show that Varoufakis is still complicating the process of reaching a final agreement. “The 36-page document, entitled “Greece’s recovery: A blueprint” and seen by the Wall Street Journal, was presented by Mr. Varoufakis to his counterparts in Paris and Rome, as well as senior officials in Brussels while touring European capitals over the last week, according to four European officials,” noted the newspaper. The 36-page document focuses on the Greek economy’s future and how Greece will be able to return to growth. “Perhaps it is time to visualize a recovering Greece before we unlock the present impasse,” noted the document. “While some of the reforms the document outlines are the same ones agreed in the ongoing negotiations — such as the creation of a fully independent tax commissioner — the paper also differs in several areas from what is currently being discussed between technical experts representing Greece and the institutions overseeing its bailout,” wrote Wall Street Journal. Furthermore, the document predicts Greece’s economy will grow just 0.1% this year, below the 0.5% forecast this week by the European Commission. In the talks in Brussels, Greek officials have been pushing for a higher growth estimate than the one published by the commission, according to the article. “The problem is that Varoufakis doesn’t seem totally in line with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras,” said another official. However, the Greek Finance Ministry released an official statement as a response to the Wall Street Journal article, speaking about leaks that are systematically aiming to distort the Greek positions.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

The Greek Founder of the Turkish Red Crescent

There a few people in Greece nowadays who know that one of the founders of the Ottoman and later Turkish Red Crescent was Greek and his name was Marko Pasha (Markos Apostolidis Pitsipios). In fact, his name is still used to this day by Turkish people who use the expression “tell your sorrows to Marko Pasha” in their everyday lives. On the occasion of tomorrow’s World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day Apostolidis’ great-granddaughter, Despina Anata, spoke with the Greek news agency ANA-MPA. “Markos Apostolidis, whose real surname was Pitsipios, was the grandfather of my mother. Since I was young my mother used to always talk about him, saying that he was a great man and a doctor and he was the founder of the Red Crescent.” “His name is even used today in Turkey as a saying: ‘Tell your sorrows to Marko Pasha.’ This expression stuck, because Marko Pasha was a very patient doctor. He used to listen to his patients’ problems for hours with great patience, and always tried to find a cure for their condition but also to reassure and calm them. His fame spread and so when someone had no one to talk to about his problems, they always thought of Marko Pasha,” said Despina Anata. Markos Apostolidis Pitsipios was born in 1824, on the island of Syros to a rich family. He moved to Istanbul with his family where he studied at the Medical Military Faculty. In 1861 the Sultan Abdulaziz named him chief doctor in the palace and he was also named as director of the Medical school.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Google Drops Anchor in Nikos Kavvadias’ Exotic Poetic Ports

Google search engine gleefully blurs the lines between reality and fiction presenting a new map that gives web users around the world the opportunity to roam free on the exotic ports and sea tales that are mentioned in the books of the Greek sailor-poet Nikos Kavvadias. By using a new application of Google maps you can now turn into a true adventurer visiting the approximately one hundred places that are described in his poems. Because an unknown devotee of Nikos Kavvadias pinned all the world map areas that are referred to in his poems. By clicking on the pins, not only can you visit these areas but you can also read Kavvadias” verses linked to each region. The Greek poet and writer, who used his adventures around the world as a sailor as strong metaphors for an unconventional getaway from reality, was born on January 11, 1910 in the small town of Ussuriysky in Russia. He was the second child of Charilaos and Dorothea Kavvadias, whose origins can be found on the Greek island of Cephalonia. He left his last breath on February 10, 1975, inside a clinic in Athens, on land and not at sea that he so much craved in his life. You can find the map here


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Consumer Prices Fall for 26th Consecutive Month in Greece

Prices of consumer goods dropped for the 26th consecutive month in Greece as deflation continues, according to figures by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) issued on Friday. Greek consumer prices fell 2.1 percent in April compared to the same month last year. Prices dropped 1.8 percent in April, compared to a 1.9 percent fall in March. In 2014 prices dropped 1.3 percent compared to 2013. The General Index in April showed a 0.5 percent increase compared to March. The Average Index of the twelve-month period May 2014-April 2015 showed a 1.6 percent decline compared to the same period 2013-2014. More specifically, prices in shoes and clothing dropped 2 percent, real estate prices dropped 6.8 percent, household goods and services showed a 1.8 percent decline in price, health service prices fell 2.1 percent, transportation prices showed a 4 percent decrease, prices for recreation and cultural activities fell 1.8 percent, education prices dropped 3.1 percent, “hotel-cafe-restaurant” prices dropped 0.5 percent, while “other goods and services” such as personal items or car insurance dropped 3.3 percent.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Tsipras sees 'happy ending' for Greece in crisis talks as €750m repayment nears

Greece's embattled prime minister, Alexis Tsipras, has insisted he is confident of a “happy ending” to the country's debt crisis, as his government ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.theguardian.com

These 19 photos people's most valuable earthly possessions will make you feel lots of feelings

Think fast: What's the most valuable thing that you own? What would you grab first if your house was on fire? More than likely, the thing you're thinking of is high in emotional (not monetary) value. For a project called "What We Really Value," credit comparison site TotallyMoney.com asked 50 photographers in 20 different countries to give photographic answers to these very questions. The resulting images and quotes will make you think long and hard about your own valuables. Here, we highlight a few that struck a chord with us. SEE ALSO: 31 stunning photos from Sony's World Photography Awards SEE ALSO: These Incredible Works Of Art Were All Created With Apple Products MY GRANDFATHER'S COFFEE CUP: "This is the cup my grandfather used to drink his coffee from every morning. Now I do the same." — Nikos, Pastra, Greece A HAND-ME-DOWN MIT: "I grew up playing softball with this glove, which was given to me by my father. Today, my own son uses it." — Dyana, Wisconsin   A SYMBOL OF FREEDOM: "I can go virtually anywhere with [this]. Without it I am trapped." — Whitney, Stone Mountain, Georgia See the rest of the story at Business Insider


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Varoufakis says certain of deal though not before Monday's Eurogroup

Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis expressed his certainty that Greece would reach an agreement with its creditors on a new financing program that replaces the one that expires in June. Although he implied that ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.enikos.gr

Which Greek God/Goddess are you?

Instead, take our quiz to find out what Greek feast suits your inner God or Goddness - and then head down to your local Lidl store with your shopping ...


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Greece's Yanis Varoufakis says certain of reaching deal over Greek crisis

MADRID: Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Friday he was certain Greece would reach an agreement with its creditors on a new ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT economictimes.indiatimes.com

Local Around Town: 57th Annual Memphis Greek Festival

The 57th annual Memphis Greek Festival takes place this weekend at the ... "We just love people coming out and celebrating being Greek!" It takes a ...


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Debt crisis: Greece out of time and out of money yet remains defiant

THE Greek government has ruled out reforms to its pension or labour system, a move that in effect bankrupts the country and could send it crashing ...


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US urges Greece to resist Russian gas pipeline

The US is urging Greece to embrace a Western-backed project that would link Europe to natural gas supplies in Azerbaijan, rather than agree to a gas ...


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Tsipras Asks Creditors for Political Courage Over Greece

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said Friday there are no more technical reasons to withhold aid from Greece. The country's creditors are not convinced.


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Local food lovers have three big treats coming up

Greek food is taking center stage at a number of unlikely locations around Athens this month.


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Officials suggest some progress on Greek debt talks

The chairman of euro zone finance ministers also said talks were making progress, though not enough for a deal on Monday. With Greece's cash reserves dwindling, EU officials said there was no breakthrough in talks with the IMF, the European Commission and ...


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About 170 migrants picked up in Mediterranean off Greece

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say about 170 migrants in a wooden boat trying to reach European shores illegally have been located off southern Greece and are being transferred to a tugboat that will carry them to a safe port.


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Eurogroup might issue "anodyne" statement on Greece on Monday -official

BRUSSELS May 8 Euro zone finance ministers might issue a statement on Greece after their talks on Monday, but if they do, it is likely to be ...


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Merkel spoke to Greece's Tsipras on Weds-German gov't spokeswoman

BERLIN May 8 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras spoke to each other on Wednesday, a spokeswoman for ...


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Greece wants to be 'pluralistic energy hub,' Lafazanis says after talks with US energy envoy

Greece wants to become a "pluralistic energy hub in the region" with a multi-level and independent energy policy based exclusively on national ...


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Syriza MP Lapavitsas: Our choice is to let the Greek people decide if…

Syriza MP and economist Costas Lapavitsas said that there will be no agreement between the Greek government and European partners in the coming months. Lapavitsas notes on Action 24 that ‘any agreement must be compatible with our program, otherwise there will be ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT en.enikos.gr

Turkey ready to open Halki Seminary in return for a mosque in Greece: report

President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan has reportedly expressed Turkey’s readiness to re-open the Halki Seminary in the Adalar district of Istanbul in return for Greece allowing a mosque to function in Thessaloniki


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Turkey ready to open Halki Seminary in return for a mosque in Greece: report

President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan has reportedly expressed Turkey’s readiness to re-open the Halki Seminary in the Adalar district of Istanbul in return for Greece allowing a mosque to function in Thessaloniki


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Greek start-ups find fertile ground at SXSW festival

The idea for Gridmates came to Koutitas (photo) two years ago while he was watching a show on Greek TV about families living without electricity in ...


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Greek meet: Meaty aromas waft around 57th Greek Festival

The smoky and savory aromas that started floating from the Annual Greek Festival on Friday morning had their origins on Wednesday in a crowded ...


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UN racism expert voices concern at Nazi-inspired Greek party

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A senior United Nations racism expert has expressed concern at the continued racist discourse and incitement to violence by Greece's Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn party, whose leadership is on trial for allegedly running a criminal organization.


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US Open – US Jobs and Greece in Focus

It has been an incredible day in the markets and the excitement is far from over as we await the release of the April US jobs report and people prepare ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.marketpulse.com

Greece debt: What's it like to live under threat of default?

Sitting on his neighbour's steps in the sunshine, 68-year-old Ted Pantelidis does not look too stressed. But ask the right questions, and the level of ...


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

Another Bright Idea To Solve Greece That Won't Work

So it is with this idea that perhaps Greece could issue a temporary currency, or special bonds, a bit like California's IOU bonds of a couple of years ago ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.forbes.com

Market Report: Bond yields rise and Greece failing

It could be that at last bond markets are beginning to discount the growing likelihood that Greece will default on its debt and that the Greek banks will ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT news.goldseek.com