How the world sees Greece
Greek Reporter | Albanians Giving Up On Greece Too Greek Reporter Albania With Greece already undergoing an exodus of professionals and its young to escape a crushing economic crisis that has shut out their future, prospects are so bleak that even Albanian immigrants who used to get into the country by any means ... |
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NPR | Will New Democracy Become New Greece? Greek Reporter Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras hinted to his party faithful at the close of New Democracy's weekend conference on June 30 that he may be ready to change more than just its identity, but its name, to New Greece. Samaras used the term nearly 20 ... Commitment to euro not in question 'Greekovery' (A Rebound In The Greek Economy) Remains Elusive, Despite ... Greek PM calls for unity after reshuffle |
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Kathimerini | Greece collects 59 medals in Med Games Kathimerini In the event which Greece was originally to organize at Volos and Larissa, before it decided to pull out of hosting it, the country's representatives in the sporting field did more than was expected of them. Greece collected a total of 15 gold medals ... |
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NPR | Prime Minister's 'Loose Cannon' Style Divides Greece NPR Antonis Samaras became prime minister of Greece a year ago, when the world assumed his country, battered by debt and austerity, would exit the eurozone. European leaders were openly relieved that Samaras' conservative, pro-bailout New Democracy ... More Austerity Seen Coming For Greece 'Greekovery' (A Rebound In The Greek Economy) Remains Elusive, Despite ... |
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ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia formally becomes the 28th member of the European Union on Monday, the bloc's first addition since Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. Croatia is becoming a member after a decade of negotiation, and marks a historic turning point for the country which went through a civil war after declaring independence from the former Yugoslavia in 1991.
WHAT DOES CROATIA HOPE TO GAIN WITH EU ENTRY?
— Some 11.7 billion euros ($15.2 billion) in EU investment funds promised over the next seven years, if the Croats can devise acceptable programs for their use. Access to the much larger EU markets. Possibility of finding jobs in some EU states, although many have already established restrictions for Croatian citizens. Less expensive study opportunities for Croatian students in EU schools and universities.
WHAT IS THE EU GETTING FROM CROATIA'S ENTRY?
— More stability in the Balkans. A slightly larger market for EU goods. Less hassle at the borders for EU citizens traveling to Croatia. Easier and less bureaucratic purchase of property by EU citizens in Croatia.
FACTS ABOUT CROATIA
— The horseshoe-shaped country is in the Balkan peninsula, along the Adriatic coast. The country has 4.2 million people, mostly Roman Catholics, and is considered one of the most Catholic nations in Europe. It borders Bosnia, Serbia, Hungary Slovenia, Italy and Montenegro. Serbs, who are Orthodox Christians, are the biggest minority.
HISTORY
— Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia 22 years ago. It was part of the Austro-Hungarian empire, before joining a union with Serbia and Slovenia in 1918, under the rule of a Serbian royal family. This country broke up in World War II with German occupation, when Croatia became a Nazi puppet state; tens of thousands of Jews, Serbs and anti-fascist Croats were killed in concentration camps. After the war Croatia became part of communist-led Yugoslavia, which broke up in the early 1990s' in a civil war.
STATEHOOD
— Croatia declared independence in 1991, triggering a rebellion by minority Croatian Serbs and an onslaught by the Serb-led Yugoslav army. About a third of the country's territory was occupied by the Serbs, and many areas were reduced to rubble before a U.N. peacekeeping force moved in. The war ended in 1995, when Croatia retook territories in an offensive.
CROATIA TODAY
— Croatia is known mostly for its stunning Adriatic coast. The island of Hvar became a fashionable destination which has welcomed international stars like Beyonce or Tom Cruise. The walled city of Dubrovnik is protected as a UNESCO heritage site and a favorite destination for cruise ships. North toward Italy is the Istria peninsula, well known for its wine, cheese and leisurely lifestyle.
ECONOMY
— Croatia has been in recession for the past five years and unemployment is around 20 percent. One of the biggest problems is corruption: Transparency International ranked Croatia below Rwanda, Jordan and Cuba in its graft index for 2012. But Croatia's economy is not big enough to seriously jeopardize the EU, as was the case with Greece or Spain.
ANYTHING TO LOSE WITH THE EU ENTRY?
— Many in Croatia fear that EU's market will be too competitive for Croatian companies and that many will not survive. Opening the EU market will lead to customs restrictions on trade with other Balkan states which have been Croatia's main markets. Croatian fishermen are afraid they will lose the battle against better-equipped Italians or Slovenes who now have free access to the Croatian part of the Adriatic sea. People fear prices will go up once Croatia adopts the euro, which is several years away.
WHAT IS CROATIA KNOWN FOR?
Croats claim they invented the bow tie. They say it originated during the Prussian wars of the 17th century among Croatian mercenaries who wore scarves around their necks.
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Associated Press reporter Jovana Gec contributed.
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Press TV | Syria refugees sheltered in Greece facing difficult situation: Report Press TV According to the report published by the Washington Post earlier this month, most of the Syrian refugees sheltered in Greece are facing problems with regard to food, medicine or other aid. “People arrive in Europe and they get treated worse than your ... Syrian refugees find little help in Greece |
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Newly Appointed Greek Minister of Health Raises Jewish Concerns Arutz Sheva The League has previously voiced concern about government appointments of individuals, including Georgiadis, who had made anti-Semitic remarks and urged the Greek government to resolve differences within its coalition and swiftly pass new anti-racism ... |
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Chobani Kicks Off Second Creative Agency Review This Year AdAge.com Chobani, which is the top-selling Greek brand in the U.S., had moved the account to Boston-based independent agency Boathouse in February after a short stint with Leo Burnett, New York. Boathouse will not be considered in the review, according to a ... |
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ZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia's ravishing coast of more than 1,000 islands is a favorite destination for Europeans and travelers from further away. Croatia draws much of its income from tourism and hopes to earn more once the country formally enters the European Union on July 1.
WHAT ARE CROATIA'S TOP DESTINATIONS?
Croatia's coast features dozens of small towns with narrow, winding streets, small churches and historic monuments. The most famous is Dubrovnik, in the south Adriatic near the border with Montenegro. The medieval walled city is a favorite spot for cruisers who are sailing the Adriatic. The city was bombed during the war in 1991, and is a UNESCO world heritage site. Up north is the Istrian peninsula with its famous wine and goat cheese, while in the middle are the islands: The party island of Hvar, visited by Tom Cruise and Beyonce, among others, or Vis, which was off limits during communist era as a military base.
WHAT WILL CHANGE WITH THE EU ENTRY?
Croatia has drawn many EU citizens in the past, who are attracted by its unspoiled nature, rich vegetation, good roads and closeness to Hungary, Slovakia or the Czech Republic. Croatian officials are hoping that the EU entry will make access even easier for EU citizens, who will no longer have to deal with customs clearance. Croatia will not be using the euro currency immediately.
WILL THERE BE A DOWNSIDE?
As an EU country, Croatia will have to introduce visas for the citizens of non-EU states, such as Russia and Ukraine, which is likely to scare them away from Croatia, perhaps toward Montenegro to the south, already a favorite destination for rich Russians. Croatian officials have traveled to Russia and Ukraine for talks with tour operators there in an effort to work around the problem.
HOW TO BEST ENJOY CROATIA?
Unlike Greece or Turkey, Croatia does not have that many all-inclusive, resort-type hotels and relies mostly on smaller four-star accommodation and private rooms for rent. The Croatian coast is mostly rocky with crystal blue sea and a prevailing scent of pine trees. The best way to enjoy it is to rent a sail boat, find a secluded beach, sip wine and nibble on typical hard cheese and dry ham under the shadow of pine trees.
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Greek Reporter | Summer Coffee in Greece: Frappe Vs. Freddo Variations Greek Reporter Summer has already arrived in Greece; the sun is shining, the days are growing longer, the beaches are full of people looking for some fun and relaxation, and the cafes offer some of the most praised beverages against the hot weather. Cold variations ... |
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NPR | Samaras' 'Loose Canon' Style Divides Greece NPR Antonis Samaras became prime minister of Greece a year ago, when the world assumed his country, battered by debt and austerity, would exit the eurozone. European leaders were openly relieved that Samaras' conservative, pro-bailout New Democracy ... |
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Straits Times | Out of work Greek state TV staff take over the show FRANCE 24 Out of work Greek state TV staff take over the show. An ERT journalist works in a newsroom at the public broadcaster's headquarters in an Athens suburb on June 28, 2013. Since Greece's government abruptly pulled the plug on state broadcaster ERT, the ... Out of a job, Greek state TV staff take over the show Jobless Greek state TV staff take over the show |
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Holidaymakers should not be lulled into a false sense of security by new data roaming limits – outside the EU charges are hefty
Holidaymakers using their mobile phones in the European Union no longer need to fear sky-high bills on their return, thanks to a new cap on roaming charges which comes into force tomorrow. However, in other popular holiday destinations browsing just five web pages could cost as much as £8.
From 1 July 2013, British travellers in the EU will pay a maximum of €0.24 (20p) a minute to make a call, or €0.07 (6p) a minute to receive one, while sending a text message will cost €0.08 (7p). The cost of downloading one megabyte of data will be capped at €0.45 (38p), and no user can be charged more than €50 (£43) in one billing period for data usage.
Roaming charges have been falling for travellers within the EU since 2009, and are set to fall again in July 2014, with the European Commission working on scrapping these completely.
The new price cap is good news for those planning on taking their phone to Croatia, which joins the EU on 1 July.However, it won't apply to popular holiday destinations outside the EU such as Turkey, Northern Cyprus and Egypt. Charges vary for Switzerland, although, says Kate Murphy at Moneysupermarket.com, most of the networks will apply the same charges for Switzerland as other countries in the EU.
If you are travelling beyond the EU charges can be hefty, as Katy Rose, 29, a marketing director from Mulwell Hill, north London, discovered.
She arrived home to a £240 bill for a four-day stay in Israel. "On landing I received a text from Vodafone saying that as I was signed up to its euro passport I was entitled to make unlimited calls and send unlimited texts for £3 per day – but the text said 'Welcome to Greece'.
"Obviously, I was pleased as I thought I could use the deal. I briefly questioned whether Israel was included – but was genuinely unsure."
On receiving the bill she called Vodafone to explain the confusion. "It said I should have disregarded the text, and offered me £40 off my bill," she says.
However, after The Observer intervened Vodafone had a change of heart. A spokesperson said: "We can't understand why a 'Welcome to Greece' message would have been sent to Katy unless the phone wasn't on flight mode as the plane flew over Greece. As a gesture of goodwill we will reduce her call charges to the £3 a day she expected."
For travellers outside the EU it's important to check the charges for your destination before you get there. Orange charges £8 per MB of data outside the EU – the equivalent of browsing five web pages or sending around 40 emails without attachments – compared to just 42p for countries within. All networks, except EE and T-Mobile, enforce an automatic cap on data usage worldwide of between £40 and £49, according to comparison site uSwitch.com.
However, users can opt out. "With data charges so high outside the EU, users may hit the cap very quickly and opt out, leaving them vulnerable to huge bills," says Ernest Doku at uSwitch.
EE and T-Mobile customers must buy a "booster" to access the internet abroad. Phone users should receive a warning text wherever they are in the world from providers when they are nearing €50 (£43) of spend.
Data roaming charges vary widely. For example, O2 charges £6 per MB outside the EU, while Vodafone charges £3 per MB, and 3 splits charges into bands depending on which country you're visiting – for example, it costs £6 per MB in Canada compared with £3 per MB in the US. But simply downloading a couple of web pages and updating your Facebook status will cost you almost £5, regardless of which network you are on, says Murphy.
Dominic Baliszewski, telecoms expert at broadbandchoices.co.uk, says: "How quickly you use data will depend on how you're surfing, and mobile sites tend to be less data demanding than full desktop sites. The most data-hungry websites will be image heavy – such as social media sites and photo blogs like tumblr. However, video sites are the worst offenders – streaming a three-minute funny cat video whilst on holiday in Brazil could easily cost a not-so-funny £49."
Turning to call charges, Murphy warns that these can also differ dramatically, as they depend on your network and the country you're in. For example, with Orange, a call from Turkey to the UK would cost £1.30 per minute compared to £1.75 per minute if calling from Egypt. Meanwhile, a call to the UK from the Bahamas with T-Mobile will cost a hefty £2.50 per min.
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International Business Times | More Austerity Seen Coming For Greece Greek Reporter The newspaper Kathimerini said it had seen a revised memorandum between Greece and the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) which calls for new austerity measures unless revenues can be ... 'Greekovery' (A Rebound In The Greek Economy) Remains Elusive, Despite ... Troika due back in Athens, with mixed agenda |
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