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How the world sees Greece
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Greek Students Win CERN Competition
On the occasion of CERN’s 60th anniversary this year, the laboratory launched a competition entitled “Beam line for schools.” According to the initiative high-school students had to run an experiment in the same way that CERN’s researchers do. “When we first had the idea of offering a beam line to schools, I never expected such a fantastic range of proposals from around the world,” said Christoph Rembser, coordinator of the initiative. The participants, with fewer than 1,000 words, had to explain why they wanted to visit CERN, what they hoped to learn from their experience and make proposals on how they would use the particle beam for their experiment. They also had to present their written proposal in a creative and entertaining video. The winners of the competition were the 12 “Odysseus’ Comrades” from Varvakios Pilot school in Athens, Greece. The Greek students‘ proposal was to look at the decay of charged pions (particles containing a quark and an antiquark) in order to investigate the weak force, one of the four fundamental forces of nature. Andreas Valadakis, teacher of the Greek team said: “At first it was very hard to find an experiment to propose for the competition. But if there is an obstacle, it is always a good start to look at history. So we studied the history of CERN, and that lead us to the proposal of studying a peculiar property of weak force.”
Say Opa! at Greek Fest in Hammond, Ind.
Get your Greek on at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox's festival the weekend of June 6-8. Cover bands, Greek bouzouki music and Greek dancing await you, and some of the best Greek food in the region. Experience souvlaki (shish kebab), saganaki (flaming cheese ...
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Santos: Greece need their pressing game back
The 59-year-old believes his side have shown good progress in their World Cup warm-up games but has urged them to return to their very best when on the defensive Fernando Santos has called on Greece to recapture their pressing game ahead of the World Cup ...
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Greece PD investigating bank robbery
WROC-TVGreece PD investigating bank robberyRochester Democrat and Chronicle(Photo: Greece PD). CONNECTTWEETLINKEDINCOMMENTEMAILMORE. Two men robbed the Chase Bank at 2900 Dewey Ave. in Greece at approximately 11 a.m. Saturday and left with an undisclosed amount of money, according to Greece police. No one ...Greece Police Investigate Robbery at Chase BankWROC-TVall 3 news articles »
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DIMAR Leader Hands in his Resignation to the Party’s Central Committee
Greece ‘s Democratic Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis handed in his resignation to the party’s Central Committee that convenes on Saturday under the shadow of the heavy defeat in the euroelections and asked from all the party members to safeguard the unity in order the party to continue with coordination. Kouvelis also proposed a party’s Congress to take place in autumn and until then DIMAR’s Central Committee to decide on the party’s political direction. For this reason, he proposed DIMAR to contribute into the creation of a new authority block with active participation in the effort towards the forming of the centre-left and with the participation of main opposition SYRIZA, if and when it clarifies its European course. The DIMAR leader also ruled out the possibility of cooperation with New Democracy adding that he will approach PASOK, ELIA and POTAMI and other independent progressive movements and personalities in the area of Ecology in order to secure the strong presence of the democratic socialism in the political developments. “The Cassandras have anticipated the end of DIMAR. But they will be proved again wrong. The Democratic Left will be present in the developments and will heal its wounds. It will contribute in the country’s revival through progressive governmental solutions” concluded Kouvelis. (source: ana-mpa)
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Large Increase in Prices of Greek Hotels
Despite the Greek hoteliers assurances that the prices of hotel accommodation won’t increase more than 3% to 5%, trivago figures show that in many areas the hotel prices have doubled. According to trivago figures the hotel prices have risen compared to June 2013 with the highest increase being recorded in the island of Santorini. In Imerovigli village, a favorite destination for the international jet set, hotel prices have increased by 95% compared to June 2013. The average nightly rate for June stands at 501 euros, while last year the average nightly rate was at 257 euros. In the village of Firostefani, prices have increased by 51% compared to June 2013 with an overnight stay standing at 289 euros compared to 192 in June 2013. In Fira prices have increased by 77% while in Oia there is a rise of 10%. Mykonos, a popular summer destination both for Greeks and foreigners, has also presented a rise in hotel prices. The average nightly rate has increased by 46% with an overnight stay reaching 184 euros compared to 162 last year. The increased tourist arrivals in the island of Rhodes, have brought a rise of 7% in hotel prices. The average nightly rate is standing at 75 euros. An increase of almost 21% has also been recorded in Crete and specifically in Rethymno. The prices are reaching 109 euros compared with 90 last year. Finally, Athens which is a stopover destination for many tourists who visit Greece has presented an increase of 35% in its hotel prices.
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Protests Outside German Embassy on Distomo Massacre
Seventy years have passed since the massacre of 218 inhabitants of the village Distomo by the Nazi troops on June 10, 1944. The Distomo massacre is considered one of the largest civilian massacres in Greece by the German occupying forces. The Hamburg-based lawyers group “AK Distomo Action Group” and the National Council for the Reclamation of Germany’s Debts to Greece held on Saturday at 11 a.m a rally in Syntagma Square and then a protest march to the German Embassy located in Kolonaki, central Athens. After the end of the protest outside the German Embassy, members of the “AK Distomo Action Group” and the National Council for the Reclamation of Germanys Debts to Greece will travel to Distomo to participate in commemorative events which will take place on Tuesday June 10. The events include a memorial service for the victims of the massacre, a ceremony at the mausoleum of Distomo and a joint press conference of the two groups. On June 10, 1944, Waffen-SS troops executed 218 people including women and children in the small Greek village of Distomo near Delphi as part of a “retaliation measure” for a partisan attack upon the unit. The survivors said that SS forces “bayoneted babies in their cribs, stabbed pregnant women, and beheaded the village priest.”
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Boston Good Bye for Met. Cleopas
BOSTON, MA – The faithful of the Annunciation Cathedral of Boston and the Greek-American community in general bid farewell to Metropolitan Cleopas of Sweden and All Scandinavia on June 1. Cleopas served the cathedral for five years as its presiding priest, and is now on his way to Sweden. He officiated at the Divine Liturgy […]
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Greece 2-1 Bolivia: Fernando Santos' side finally taste victory before heading to Brazil
Panagiotis Kone ended Greece's nearly four-game goalless streak in the first half and the Europeans beat Bolivia 2-1 Friday night, their last friendly before heading to Brazil for the World Cup. Kone's goal in the 21st minute was Greece's first in 358 ...
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Get Us To The Greek: Field Museum Announces Historic Ancient Greece Exhibit
Get Us To The Greek: Field Museum Announces Historic Ancient Greece ExhibitChicagoistGreek history, culture, and especially cuisine are anything but “all Greek” to Chicago. Since Greek immigrants started arriving in town in 1840, it's been a part of the city's own identity. From dolmades, spanakopita and the simple, aromatic beauty of ...
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16 Veggies and Fruits You Should Grill
Grilled hamburgers and hotdogs scream summer, but did you know that you can fire up your backyard barbecue for much more than just meat? Grilling provides a smoky twist to seasonal produce—zucchini, asparagus, and even fruits such as watermelon and peaches. Read on for 16 foods that taste amazing grilled, plus healthy grilling recipes for…
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Greece: In the absence of light, darkness grows
the email address you provided does not seem to be valid. Ten days have passed since the European Parliament elections and New Democracy’s top-ranking committee has just held a meeting to assess the poll results. One can only look upon the panel’s ...
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Road to the World Cup : Greece wins 2-0 against Bolivia
The GuardianRoad to the World Cup : Greece wins 2-0 against BoliviaSILive.comThe game is really played by the starting squad of Greece. Giorgos Samaris, whose height naturally channels the eye to him, keeps you focusing on him with his play. He is outstanding. Aggressive and fast, he challenges the Bolivia squad to keep up with ...Greece: World Cup 2014 team guideThe GuardianGreece Beats Bolivia 2-1 in World Cup PrepGreek ReporterBolivia vs. Greece: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and PreviewBleacher ReportMajor League Soccer -Just Football.com -Soccerwayall 33 news articles »
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20 Beach Reads You Should Pick Up This Summer
Amazon has come out with its latest batch of editors' picks for summer beach reads.
As usual, the books span genres, from military crime thrillers to a poignant story of two teens with cancer falling in love. There’s truly something for everyone on this list.
You won't be able to put these books down.
“All Fall Down: A Novel” by Jennifer Weiner: A poignant story that follows an ordinary woman who sinks into addiction, Allison struggles to be a wife, mother, and daughter while her dependence on prescription pills worsens beyond her control.
“And the Mountains Echoed” by Khaled Hosseini: From the author of "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" comes the tale of an Afghanistan family torn apart. After a father sells his daughter, she and her brother struggle for half a century to reunite across Kabul, Paris, San Francisco, and Greece.
“I Am Pilgrim: A Thriller” by Terry Hayes: This book tells the story of a former head of a secret U.S. government organization trying to stop a terrorist attack that is only all-too-believable in this day in age. It races across Paris, Switzerland, Afghanistan, Syria, and Turkey for a twisting, smart, and nail-biting chase.
“Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery” by Robert Kolker: The true-life search for a serial killer that targeted call girls on Long Island, this book explores the unsolved murders, the underbelly of the Internet, and gives empathetic and detailed portraits of the victims based on hundreds of hours of interviews with their family and friends.
“My Salinger Year” by Joanna Rakoff: Rakoff’s beautifully written memoir recounts her post-graduate year in the late ‘90s working at a literary agency in New York that represented J.D. Salinger. After she starts responding to the author’s fan mail, she finds herself being drawn more into their devotion and discovers her own artistic voice by acting as Salinger’s.
“One Plus One: A Novel” by Jojo Moyes: Jess is a single parent struggling to take care of her 10-year-old daughter and her teenage stepson. But on their way to a Math Olympiad that could change her daughter’s future, Jess’s car breaks down. After a chance meeting, she is forced to rely on Ed, an ex-software engineer who has been accused of insider trading, to take them the rest of the way.
“One Summer: America, 1927” by Bill Bryson: 1927 was the year of Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic, the beginnings of Babe Ruth’s home run record, a sensational murder trial, a massive flood, and Al Capone tightening his grip on the illegal booze trade. This book captures the personalities and events of 1927.
“The Blessings” by Elise Juska: The Blessings are a close-knit Irish Catholic family living in Philadelphia. Told from the perspectives of multiple family members, readers jump back and forth through the four generations of the extended family after the tragic death of one of its members rocks the large clan to its core.
“The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green: 16-year-old Hazel Grace Lancaster is a three-year stage IV-cancer survivor. When she meets Augustus Waters in a cancer survivor support group, her perspective on life and all that she can accomplish changes dramatically. Prepare to laugh and cry as you read this bittersweet novel about their falling in love.
“The Lowland (Vintage Contemporaries)” by Jhumpa Lahiri: Two brothers living in Calcutta could not be more different: Udayan is idealistic and involved in India’s 1960s rebellion, whereas Subhash is cautious, reliable, and serious. But when Udayan dies due to political violence, Subhash steps in and marries his dead brother’s pregnant wife — an act that will reverberate through the family for the next 70 years.
"The Matchmaker” by Elin Hilderbrand: 48-year-old Dabney Kimball Beech is a matchmaker who has never been wrong about romance, except when it comes to herself. When reporter Clendenin Hughes returns to Nantucket after 27 years away, Dabney is forced to share some painful secrets with her husband and daughter, and try to find the perfect match for the ones she loves.
“The One & Only: A Novel” by Emily Giffin: Shea Rigsby loves football, and her career at a sports writer. But after the unexpected death of someone close to her, she starts questioning everything about her job, boyfriend, and friendships — even falling for an unexpected father figure in the process.
“The Queen of the Tearling: A Novel” by Erika Johansen: 19-year-old Princess Kelsea Raleigh Glynn sets out with her Queen’s Guard back to the castle of her birth to ascend the throne with the Tearling sapphire — a jewel of magical power. Though she is not alone in vying for the throne of Tearling, she must reclaim the kingdom to bring an end to the Red Queen’s dark magic and a vicious slave trade.
“The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra” by Helen Rappaport: Perhaps the most photographed and talked about young royals of the 20th century, the Romanov sisters — Olga, Tatiana, Maria, and Anastasia — had a tragic end in a basement at Ekaterinburg in 1918. This book looks at their diaries and letters to capture their young lives against the backdrop of Imperial Russia.
“The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair: A Novel” by Joël Dicker: Trying to save his career as an author, Marcus Goldman visits his literary hero Harry Quebert. But when the corpse of a girl who disappeared 33 years ago is discovered on Quebert’s property, he becomes the prime suspect in her murder. Goldman tasks himself with discovering what really happened that fateful summer of 1975.
“The Vacationers: A Novel” by Emma Straub: A two-week family vacation to Mallorca, Spain promises tapas and relaxation. Instead, the dysfunctional Post family and their friends bring along their secrets — all of which come to a head over the course of 14 days.
“Top Secret Twenty-One: A Stephanie Plum Novel” by Janet Evanovich: The next installment of the Stephanie Plum series, Plum is struggling to bring in a used-car dealer after he jumps bail, but bodies are mysteriously piling up in his wake. To make matters worse, her friend (sometimes with benefits) Ranger is the target of an assassination plot.
“War of the Whales: A True Story” by J. Horwitz: A real-life thriller, this is the story of the legal drama that waged between the U.S. military and two activists who stood up to the U.S. Navy's use of a submarine detection system that flooded the ocean basins with high-intensity sound, driving whales in masses onto beaches. It’s a gripping story of the struggle between American national security and safeguarding our environment.
“We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart: Cadence Sinclair Easton is a part of an old-money family that spends every summer on a private island off of Cape Cod. But after Cadence mysteriously washes up on shore with amnesia, she spends the next two years and the course of the book trying to piece together what happened to her, her cousins, and her family. Even the most jaded readers will be shocked by the ending.
“Written in My Own Heart's Blood: A Novel” by Diana Gabaldon: A new installment in the Outlander series, the novel jumps back and forth between 1778 and twentieth-century Scotland. Kidnappings, war, and family secrets rage on as the Fraser family struggles to pull itself back together.
To see additional Amazon picks for summer reading, click here.
SEE ALSO: Even More New Books You Need To Read This Summer
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World Cup Group C: Martin Keown's guide to Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and ...
Daily MailWorld Cup Group C: Martin Keown's guide to Colombia, Greece, Ivory Coast and ...Daily MailHere, Sportsmail columnist and former England defender Martin Keown takes a look at Group C. High life: Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba provides the main goal threat for Ivory Coast. Group C. Colombia. Greece. Ivory Coast. Japan. Keown's prediction.and more »
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Plane Problems Ground Greek Soccer Team in N.J.
Greece's departure for its World Cup training base in Brazil was delayed after its flight was canceled in New Jersey "due to a technical problem."
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Greece Advertises For Tax Chief
Greece's hunt for a new tax collection chief to replace Haris Theoharis after his abrupt resignation went to the Internet, with an ad on the government's portal opengov.gr.
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Greece optimistic about World Cup chances
Greece optimistic about World Cup chancesSoutheast European TimesTen years after stunning the international sports establishment by winning the UEFA Euro 2004 championship with a victory against host Portugal, and 20 years after its inauspicious World Cup debut, Greece is back on world football's biggest stage.World Cup 2014 betting: odds on Greece, long shots to win Group CSB NationWorld Cup Profile: GreeceKickOffGreece seek to chart new territory past group stageThe Globe and MailA Different Leagueall 28 news articles »
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Athens: souvlaki and political graffiti
What always amuses me about Greek air stewardesses is how they give you the absolute worst-case scenario disaster-related safety information and leave out the “Please make sure your seatbelt is securely fastened” spiel. This nation of cynics doesn’t ...
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Greece 2-1 Bolivia: Santos' side claim first win in five games
Panagiotis Kone netted his country's first goal in 357 minutes of action before Kostas Katsouranis added the decisive second, as World Cup finalists received a timely boost Greece broke their goal drought in fine style, earning a 2-1 friendly victory over ...
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Juice Night Out: Risque puppets or Greek cuisine
Juice Night Out: Risque puppets or Greek cuisineDesMoinesRegister.comEnjoy gyros, souvlaki (shish kabobs) dolmathes (stuffed grape leaves) and more at the 36th annual Greek Food Fair at Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, 35th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. For $15, you get a complete meal, or you can buy food items ...
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The Samaras Reshuffle Shuffles Along, Bakoyianni On Board
A long pending Cabinet shakeup by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is reportedly set to take place, and a former minister, Dora Bakoyianni may be in line for either Finance Minister or as a European Commissioner. The two, who had barely spoken since she returned to the party two years ago after leaving to form her own party when she lost a battle to Samaras to be New Democracy’ leader, met on June 6 to talk about the possibilities. Besides a raft of new ministers he wants to put in place in the wake of being beaten in the European Parliament elections by the major opposition Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA), Samaras needs a replacement for General Secretary of Revenues Haris Theoharis, who quit after being blistered publicly by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras. Stournaras reportedly will be replaced as well, although he could be appointed Governor of the Bank of Greece to replace Giorgos Provopoulos, whose term is up this month. Samaras said to be considering giving the finance job to Bakoyianni, who has no background in economics, although it was reported she could be named the country’s representative on the European Commission. Bakoyianni had quit New Democracy in a huff and formed her own party, which got almost no public support, and returned to the fold although she had been buried and left out of the Cabinet in the Samaras Administration, in which he appointed a number of PASOK Socialists who joined a coalition to give him enough votes to control Parliament. The shuffle, which has been put off several times, and now may take place on June 9, although that’s not certain. The Finance Minister’s job is the highest profile spot and led Stournaras to tangle frequently with the country’s international lenders, the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB). The newspaper Kathimerini said that Samaras is planning only some tweaking and not a major shakeup and that Defense Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, State Minister Dimitris Stamatis, Tourism Minister Olga Kefaloyianni, Infrastructure Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis, Environment Minister Yiannis Maniatis, Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and possibly Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis are either expected to keep their current positions or retain a place in the cabinet. It had been reported Georgiadis was going to be ousted though. Stournaras on June 6 went after SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras for referring to the finance minister in an interview with French daily Le Monde as being “imposed by Berlin,” referring to Germany, which is the biggest contributor to 240 billion euros ($327 billion) in two Troika bailouts, but which insisted on harsh austerity measures in return. “It is a shame that he attacks the Greek finance minister in an interview with a foreign newspaper using such language,” said Stournaras. “He is consciously doing harm to his country.” SYRIZA poked fun at the government over the departure of Theoharis, who took a position that was created on demand of the Troika and had a five-year term. Theoharis denied he was squeezed out but SYRIZA didn’t believe that, saying it was a cover story. “He could not tear up the memorandums, so he tore up Theoharis,” said SYRIZA spokesman Panos Skourletis in reference to a speech Samaras made before the May 25 European Parliament elections, during which he claimed to be “tearing up” Greece’s bailout agreements on a daily basis. Theoharis insisted that he had not done anything wrong during his 18 months in the position. “I did my job better than anyone else has during the last few decades and better than anyone could have done under the circumstances.” But he didn’t say why he quit though.
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Greece Wanted Cell Phone Records
The world’s second-biggest mobile phone company Vodafone said governments around the world wanted a look at cell phone records of users, including in Greece.
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Cabinet Reshuffle Coming, Samaras May Elevate Bakoyianni
ATHENS - Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is shaking up his Cabinet shakeup, looking not just for a new Finance Minister, but a new tax chief, and trying to decide where to put a former minister, Dora Bakoyianni, whom he had beaten in the race for the party leadership.
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WORLD CUP DIGEST on JUNE 7
by
Associated Press
WORLD CUP DIGEST on JUNE 7
Associated Press - 7 June 2014 04:00-04:00
SOC--WCUP-SAO PAULO STADIUM
SAO PAULO (AP) Brazilian officials have authorized the use of temporary stands at the stadium hosting the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo next week. SENT. By Tales Azzoni. 523 words.
SOC--WCUP-JAPAN-ZAMBIA
TAMPA, Florida — Keisuke Honda had two goals and Yoshito Okubo scored in the 91st minute, giving Japan a 4-3 victory over Zambia in its final warm-up for the World Cup on Friday. SENT. By Fred Goodall. 425 words.
SOC--WCUP-PORTUGAL-MEXICO
FOXBOROUGH, Massachussets — Portugal won a World Cup tuneup without star Cristiano Ronaldo. He'll be needed more once soccer's biggest tournament starts. SENT. By Howard Ulman. 543 words.
SOC--WCUP-FRANCE-RIBERY OUT
PARIS — France's World Cup ambitions are dealt a significant blow just three days before the team's departure for Brazil, with winger Franck Ribery forced to pull out of the tournament after failing to overcome a back injury that has bothered him for several weeks. By Jerome Pugmire. SENT: 774 words. Photos.
SOC--BRAZIL-SERBIA
SAO PAULO — Striker Fred scores early in the second half to help Brazil defeat Serbia 1-0 in its final warmup before the World Cup. Brazil was struggling and fans were jeering the squad when Fred found the net from inside the area in the 58th minute. By Tales Azzoni. SENT: 350 words. Photos.
SOC--GERMANY-ARMENIA
MAINZ, Germany — Germany thrashes Armenia 6-1 in its last friendly match before the World Cup but influential midfielder Marco Reus' participation in the tournament was left hanging in the balance after limping off with an ankle injury. SENT: 426 words. Photos.
SOC--WCUP-ENGLAND-OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN
MIAMI SHORES, Florida — England coach Roy Hodgson will take the decision on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's World Cup participation right down to the FIFA deadline. By Rob Harris. SENT: 326 words. Photos.
SOC--WCUP-SPAIN
WASHINGTON — Coach Vicente del Bosque says defending World Cup champion Spain will include Diego Costa in the team to face El Salvador on Saturday, in its last tuneup game before heading to Brazil. By Luis Alonso Lugo. SENT: 200 words.
SOC--WCUP-PRANDELLI UNCONCERNED
MANGARATIBA, Brazil — Italy coach Cesare Prandelli doesn't appear the least bit concerned over the Azzurri's poor run-up to the World Cup. The four-time champions arrived in Brazil after seven games without a win. "When you know what to do, it puts you in a state of great optimism," Prandelli said. By Andrew Dampf. SENT: 404 words. Photos.
WITH:
— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCUP-NETHERLANDS. By Mike Corder. SENT: 328 words. Photos.
— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCUP-BRAZIL TO CROATIA. SENT: 363 words. Photo.
— JACKSONVILLE, Florida — SOC--WCUP-NIGERIA-US. By Mark Long. SENT: 736 words. Photos.
— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCuP--SLUM SOCCER-PHOTO ESSAY. By Jenny Barchfield. SENT: 292 words. Photos
— RIO DE JANEIRO — SOC--WCUP-HAVELANGE. SENT: 240 words.
— SAO PAULO — SOC--WCUP-STRIKE THREATS. By Stan Lehman. SENT: 981 words. Photos.
— CURITIBA, Brazil — SOC--WCUP-CURITIBA-STRIKING WORKERS. SENT: 126 words,
— MOSCOW — SOC--RUSSIA-MOROCCO. SENT: 305 words. Photos.
— MONACO — SOC--MONACO-JARDIM. SENT: 107 words.
— GLASGOW, Scotland — SOC--CELTIC-COACH. SENT: 282 words. Photos.
— NYON, Switzerland — SOC--UEFA-RED STAR BELGRADE. SENT: 272 words
— NYON, Switzerland — SOC--UEFA-TURKEY-MATCH-FIXING. SENT: 158 words.
— VALENCIA, Spain — SOC--VALENCIA-SALE. SENT: 133 words.
— MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay — SOC--WCUP-URUGUAY-SUAREZ. SENT. 207 words.
— BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — SOC--WCUP-ARGENTINA-DOG FANS. SENT. 132 words.
— SALVADOR, Brazil — SOC--WCUP-CROATIA-AUSTRALIA. SENT. 130 words.
— CHESTER, Pennsylvania — SOC--COSTA RICA-IRELAND. SENT. 257 words.
— HARRISON, New Jersey — SOC--WCUP-GREECE-BOLIVIA. SENT. 536 words.
— BUENOS AIRES — SOC--COLOMBIA-JORDAN. SENT. 130 words.
News Topics: 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Men's soccer, Athlete injuries, Professional soccer, Soccer, Events, Men's sports, Sports, Athlete health, International soccerPeople, Places and Companies: Keisuke Honda, Yoshito Okubo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Franck Ribery, Marco Reus, Marco Arturo Ramirez, Roy Hodgson, Cesare Prandelli, Brazil, Spain, France, Monaco, Germany, Florida, Argentina, South America, Latin America and Caribbean, Western Europe, Europe, United States, North America
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Earthquake 4.3 mb, 5 km NNW of Skopelos, Greece
An earthquake with magnitude 4.3 mg has occurred in 5 km NNW of Skopelos, Greece, on Friday. No damages or injuries were reported, Alonnisos’s fire department said. The quake hit at at 15.21 local time (GMT 12.21) at a depth of 5 klm. The vibration was also felt in Athens. Earthquakes have historically caused widespread damage across central and southern Greece, the island of Crete, Cyprus, Sicily and other neighboring regions. In January, a series of strong earthquakes on the western island of Kefalonia damaged hundreds of homes and injured more than a dozen people.
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Vodafone Says Greece Sought Phone Records
The world’s second-biggest mobile phone company Vodafone revealed in a privacy report information that governments -including in Greece – regularly requested data about the company’s users for law enforcement and national security purposes. It showed that Italy, one of the countries in which Vodafone operates, made the most requests for communication data, while in Greece there had been over 8,000 requests in 2013 made by Greek authorities. It wasn’t revealed what kind of information the government was seeking, who was being spied on, or if Vodafone granted access to the users information and phone call records. According to the report published in the British newspaper The Guardian, governments of different countries have direct access to customers’ data, a fact that has become hotly debated since the revelations by Edward J. Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor, about the spying activities by American and British intelligence agencies. “For governments to access phone calls at the flick of a switch is unprecedented and terrifying,” said the Liberty Director, Shami Chakrabarti. “Snowden revealed the Internet was already treated as fair game. Bluster that all is well is wearing pretty thin, our analogue laws need a digital overhaul.” Vodafone runs mobile and some broadband operations in 27 countries and works with partners in 49 more. In the report the company stated that it had received thousands of requests from 29 countries in the 12 months through March 31. But the report also said that governments in certain countries had direct access to its networks without having to use legal warrants, compared to Albania, Egypt, Hungary, India, Malta, Qatar, Romania, South Africa and Turkey, where the disclosure of any information related to wiretapping or interception is illegal.
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Greek Islands of the Saronic Gulf
The majority of tourists in Greece visit Athens and the islands of Cyclades. However the Aegean, the heart of the Greek world, has many more islands to be discovered. Hydra, Poros, Aegina and Spetses are beautiful islands in the Saronic Gulf, that on a clear day, can be seen by the Temple of Poseidon in Sounio. These islands, close to the country’s capital are ideal destinations for short excursions. Visitors can reach the islands whether by ferryboat, cruise ship or hydrofoil. Ferries leave from Piraeus several times daily, and most of these islands can be reached under three hours, except Spetses which is four hours away. The travel time is cut down by half with a hydrofoil, but the sea might be choppy and the routes are often cancelled. The most popular of such excursions is an all-inclusive cruise to three islands: Aegina, Hydra and Poros, visited in a single day….. Poros is the first port of call. It was built around several hills and its most famous landmark is a clock tower with the distinctive colors of blue and white, placed in a hill. From the top of the tower it is possible to observe the activities of people down on the streets of the island. Another place worth visiting is the monastery of Zoodochos Pigi. Hydra is the next island stop. Hydra is a cosmopolitan island and the best place for souvenir shopping. In the 1960′s and 1970′s it was a jet-set destination and even today many celebrities and artists are visiting the island. The town of Hydra is picturesque, with old white washed buildings, cobbled streets full of chic boutiques, restaurants and bars. Cars are banned on the island. Aegina, the largest island of the three, is the final destination. In northeast of Aegina town there is the famous Temple of Aphaia, built between 510 and 480 BC. The temple was dedicated to the goddess of wisdom and light, Aphaia. It is built at the highest point of the island overlooking a breathtaking view of the sea. Aegina is also famous for the rich production of pistachio nuts. Spetses is a little farther away and although not included in the one day tour, it is a beautiful island worth visiting. Spetses is opposite Epidaurus, and is also a very cosmopolitan island with luxurious hotels. The town’s central square is festooned with lights and the main means of transport are horse-drawn carriages.
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One of the World’s Most Impressive Pools Built in Tinos
A villa that is being built on the Greek island of Tinos, will have one of the world’s most impressive pools. The house which is located on a slope, has been fully incorporated into the landscape, while the pool will be used as a natural way of architectural camouflage and will be placed on the roof of the villa. The pool will be located on the edge of the cliff and extended beyond it, while it will not have any frame in order to create the illusion that it is a natural continuation of the sea. According to the architectural designs, it will work as a type of camouflage for the house. In fact when looking from above, one will only be able to see the pool which will blend in with the natural landscape. During the day, the water will reflect the surrounding environment, and during the night it will reflect the Greece ‘s starry sky. Villa Mirage, is a project by Kois Associates Architects, which will span on one level and has a surface of 198 square meters. It will offer its residents a panoramic view of the landscape as well as the seascape.
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Greece Thrills Diaspora with 2-1 Win in Jersey
HARRISON, NJ – The crowd that watched Greece defeat Bolivia 2 -1 last night wasn’t huge – 11,024 people in a Red Bull Arena that seats 25,000 – but the ones donning Hellenic blue and white were loud, and passionate from start to finish. Greece, spurred by continuous chants of Hellas! Hellas! that sent chills […]
The post Greece Thrills Diaspora with 2-1 Win in Jersey appeared first on The National Herald.
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A Greek Half-Naked Bike Ride
More than 2,000 bicyclists took part in the 7th World Naked Bike Ride here on June 6, although it was more modest than its title with many people dressed instead.
The post A Greek Half-Naked Bike Ride appeared first on The National Herald.
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Governments Want Vodafone Records
Vodafone, which has unparalleled global reach for a cellphone company and operates in Greece, said six countries have demanded direct access to its network.
The post Governments Want Vodafone Records appeared first on The National Herald.
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US Soccer Takes On Nigeria
The U.S. soccer team will use a match against Nigeria on June 7 night to get better prepared for its World Cup opener against Ghana on June 16.
The post US Soccer Takes On Nigeria appeared first on The National Herald.
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NBC's 'Today' show to feature Ann Arbor's Ya'ssoo Greek Festival
BU TodayNBC's 'Today' show to feature Ann Arbor's Ya'ssoo Greek FestivalMLive.comThe "Today" show regularly features different events from around the country, Ya'ssoo Greek Festival Marketing Director Artemis Alex said, and this weekend it will highlight an Ann Arbor tradition that attracted nearly 7,000 guests last year. Ya'ssoo ...Eat, Dance, Play at Arlington Greek FestivalBU TodayGreek Fest kicks off this weekendWNDU-TVAuthentic Experiences at 41st Annual Greek FestivalBinghamton HomepageNorwich Bulletin -HamletHuball 22 news articles »
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Greece's Departure for World Cup Delayed
Greece's Departure for World Cup DelayedABC NewsGreece's departure for its World Cup training base in Brazil has been delayed after its flight was cancelled in the United States. The Greek Football Association says "due to a technical problem of the navigation system of the airplane the flight of ...and more »
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Greece sought Vodafone customers' details, telecom company says
Greek authorities have made more than 8,000 requests for customers’ details from Vodafone, the world’s second-largest mobile phone company revealed on Friday.
Vodafone said in a new report that government agencies in six unidentified countries use its net... ...
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This column will change your life: near enemies
'Hatred, it won't surprise you to learn, is the far enemy of love. Near enemies are much sneakier and harder to spot'
It's widely accepted, these days, that there's plenty of wisdom to be found in Buddhism, even if you're a hardcore atheist with a Richard Dawkins ankle tattoo who'd never be caught taking life advice from any other religion. (Can you imagine the damage to mindfulness meditation's reputation if word got out that it's been part of Christian, Muslim and Jewish traditions for centuries?) Yet one of the most insightful bits of Buddhist psychology has yet to reach a widespread modern audience: the notion of the "near enemy". According to this way of thinking, for every desirable habit or state of mind, there's a "far enemy", which is its obvious antithesis. Thus hatred, it won't surprise you to learn, is the far enemy of love. Near enemies, on the other hand, are much sneakier and harder to spot, because they so closely resemble the thing they're the enemy of. Needy, possessive co-dependency can look and feel a lot like love, when really it corrodes it.
This is best thought of as a metaphor, of course: Buddhist mythology is full of malicious demons disguising themselves as decent sorts, and clearly emotions can't really be devious or sneaky. But it's a metaphor that works surprisingly well in numerous contexts. It's great to cultivate an attitude of easy-going acceptance, for instance but not if it curdles into resignation or indifference, which looks similar but is in fact entirely opposed. (Ancient Greek Stoicism is one thing; stiff upper-lipped, repressed British stoicism another.) A further example: psychology studies remind us that being overly materialistic is a recipe for misery. Yet all too often the proposed solutions involve spending lots of money on memorable experiences, or becoming obsessively minimalist and purging your possessions both of which, though they appear anti-materialist, are just different versions of a fixation on money and stuff.
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Greece vs. Bolivia 2014 Score Prompts Soccer Friendly Tonight June 6
ST LOUIS (LALATE) – Greece vs. Bolivia 2014 (en vivo live score results below) prompts a soccer international friendly tonight. Greece is heading into the World Cup in June. This marks the squad’s last match before Brazil. Tonight’s Greece vs.
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Greece vs Bolivia Friendly: Live Stream, TV Channel, Where to Watch, Start ...
Greece vs Bolivia Friendly: Live Stream, TV Channel, Where to Watch, Start ...The Epoch TimesThe Greek National Team starters pose for a team picture before an international friendly match against Nigeria at PPL Park on June 3, 2014 in Chester, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) ...
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Football: Greece down Bolivia 2-1 in World Cup tune-up
AsiaOneFootball: Greece down Bolivia 2-1 in World Cup tune-upAsiaOneAlejandro Chumacero #13 of Bolivia holds back Vasilis Torosidis #15 of Greece during the second half of an international friendly match at Red Bull Arena on June 6, 2014 in Harrison, New Jersey. AFP. Saturday, Jun 07, 2014. HARRISON, United States ...
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Boyfriend held after Irish woman found dead in Athens, Greece
Irish ExaminerBoyfriend held after Irish woman found dead in Athens, GreeceBBC NewsThe body of the 48-year-old, who is thought to have been from Northern Ireland, was discovered in a flat in the Amepolkipoi area of Athens. Her remains had been there for 20 days. The case is now in the hands of the Greek prosecutor. The Irish ...'NI woman' murdered in GreeceU.TVall 8 news articles »
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Greece heads to World Cup after morale boosting Bolivia win
KathimeriniGreece heads to World Cup after morale boosting Bolivia winKathimeriniPanayiotis Kone ended Greece's nearly four-game goalless streak in the first half and the Europeans beat Bolivia 2-1 on Friday night at New Jersey, in its last friendly before heading to Brazil for the World Cup. Kone's goal in the 21st minute was ...
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Greece edges Bolivia 2-1 in World Cup warm-up
Major League SoccerGreece edges Bolivia 2-1 in World Cup warm-upUSA TODAYHARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Panagiotis Kone ended Greece's nearly four-game goalless streak in the first half and the Europeans beat Bolivia 2-1 Friday night, their last friendly before heading to Brazil for the World Cup. Kone's goal in the 21st minute was ...Greece 2, Bolivia 1 | Road to Brazil Match RecapMajor League SoccerInternational Friendly: Greece 2 Bolivia 1SoccerwayGreece edges Bolivia 2-1 in World Cup prepThe West Australianall 52 news articles »
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Snakes and ladders
by
Dan Alexe
Finding a consensus candidate who would be able to patch together a working Commission has always been a huge exercise in barter. The betting season is now open, after the Council’s refusal to automatically accept one of the candidates proposed by the Parliament. Basically, the Council would have to settle on the name of the Commission boss at the summit that will close at the end of this month the Greek presidency.
After all the posturing, say internal sources, Cameron would after all be ready to accept Jean-Claude Juncker in return for the guarantee that a Brit will be Secretary-General of the Commission and that England gets the Trade, or Internal Market portfolio. Until now, the position of Secretary-General was held by Catherine Day, the tough Irishwoman, Barroso’s éminence grise. Cameron has in mind for this Robert Madelin, Director General for Communications and Technology.
This is one of the most powerful jobs, in which practically any project or initiative can be blocked or promoted.
As Commissioner, London’s candidate was, until recently, Andrew Mitchell, formerly Government Chief Whip in the House of Commons, until he resigned after losing the confidence of his colleagues following a not very dignified altercation with police. It is now again Andrew Lansley, Cameron’s former patron in the Tories’ research department.
The mood is that if the Commission president isn’t Juncker, then anybody would do, except for Martin Schulz. Hostility to Schulz seems to be the only point on which there is unanimity in the capitals. One scenario would be to ask the EPP to propose someone else, possibly the French Michel Barnier, placed second best after Juncker in the internal EPP race. One thing is certain: at the mini-summit that followed the EU elections, François Hollande made it very clear that the often heard name of Christine Lagarde was totally unacceptable to France: a former finance minister close to ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy, Christine Lagarde is under investigation in her own country in the “Tapie affair”, over her role in a 2008 arbitration that awarded a massive 400 million euros state payout to controversial businessman Bernard Tapie. She was not yet charged, but appeared already in a French court… The case is tacitly kept on hold, as France doesn’t want a second diplomatic disaster after the "DSK affair” (Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former IMF chief), but Lagarde would clearly be a liability.
Italy seems to hesitate between Enrico Letta and Massimo D’Alema. Holland has Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the current finance minister and Eurogroup temporary boss to propose.
Belgian Karel De Gucht would like to stay on the job, but he is unlikely to be maintained; even his fellow Flemish Liberal Guy Verhofstadt is not certain to be proposed by his government, although he is also the candidate of the ALDE group in the Parliament for the presidency of the Commission. Those who seem assured to stay are the Austrian Johannes Hahn (now Regional Policy), the Croat Neven Mimica (now Consumer Protection) and possibly the Romanian Dacian Cioloș for a second mandate as Agriculture Commissioner.
Sweden seems to hesitate between the eternal Carl Bildt and Gunilla Carlsson, a former Minister for International Development Cooperation. Germans have the not very German-sounding David McAllister, the premier of Lower Saxony.
Hints from Spain are that that Miguel Arias Cañete will be proposed for Trade, a position that UK also covets. Cañete is burdened, moreover, by a controversy surrounding some sexist, macho-like remarks he made in a TV program.
A question of high concern is what will happen with the highly visible job at the helm of EU’s diplomacy, that is: who will be High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. After the Ashton disaster, capitals might want to nominate someone really competent for the job. The Danish are extremely interested in this, and the names of Helle Thorning Schmidt and Anders Fogh Rasmussen circulate.
The most confusing signals come from Poland. After a period in which it became almost assured that the present foreign minister Radosław Sikorski was certain to replace Ashton as chief of EU’s diplomacy came the cold shower of some remarks made by prime minister Donald Tusk, about Poland having also other priorities. “We would like to get a post in a place, which is key from Poland’s point of view, but also from a European one. We are also thinking of energy or competition,” said Tusk.
It is exactly in oder to avoid such damaging horse-dealing that the Americans insisted in spring to have the NATO top job going to a non-EU politician. Candid Jens Stoltenberg from Norway had the job practically imposed upon him. So desperate were the Americans to avoid European haggling around NATO that they would have given the job even to someone from Iceland, although that icy rock is governed by politicians who push locals to refuse to pay their debts.
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Ancient Greek motifs getting a fresh look from home decorators
Ancient Greek motifs getting a fresh look from home decoratorsThe Denver PostThe Perseus console from Currey & Company is a sleek, silver-leafed iron piece with a Greek key border. (www.allmodern.com ). At Arhaus, scroll and floral wood carvings frame the Clara mirror, while the Adele dining chair, upholstered in velvet ...
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Latin American fans cross the Amazon jungle and bike all the way to Brazil for the World Cup
by
Associated Press
Latin Americans journey to Brazil World Cup
by LUIS ANDRES HENAO and EVA VERGARA, Associated Press - 7 June 2014 00:02-04:00
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Planes, trains and automobiles? That's not all. With Latin American soccer fans eager to witness the sport's biggest event in their home hemisphere, travelers are taking to bikes, buses, boats and at least one homebuilt trailer.
Held every four years, the World Cup hasn't been in the Americas since 1994, when the United States played host. After Brazil, the games go to the other side of the globe, to Russia and then Qatar. For many, this is a once in a lifetime chance to cheer their national teams in person.
Cristian Uribarri and four friends are traveling from Chile in a wood-framed, aluminum-sided trailer he built from scratch.
"Going to Brazil is such a unique opportunity," said Uribarri, 35. "Russia would be impossible. Besides, it's too cold. And Qatar is one of the most expensive places on Earth. My wife is putting up with all of this because it's my only chance."
The shiny contraption they call their "Lunar Vehicle" has air conditioning, a stove, an LCD TV, a Playstation and a queen-sized mattress. The group pooled $3,200 in savings between them, and will take turns driving the pick-up that pulls the trailer. Using the mini-home on wheels will save them on lodging and meals. Everything else will be charged on their credit cards.
Some travelers hope they don't bust their budget before they even reach the games in Brazil.
Juan Luis Sube, an environmental engineer from Mexico, is making his way south by bicycle, having left Guadalajara with two friends in early December.
"We left home carrying $3,500 dollars each and we're already running out of money," the 29-year-old Sube said as he pedaled near the majestic Iguazu Falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil.
Sube, Angel Martinez, 26, and Hector Lujan, 25, quit their jobs to make the 5,900-mile (9,500-kilometer) journey through 14 countries. They're hoping to reach Sao Paulo to pick up some donated tickets, and then make it to Recife in time to see Mexico play Croatia.
"We're driven by the desire to be a part of this 'fiesta futbolera' and by our pride in our Mexico team," Sube said. "We want to show that Mexicans can do great things."
Edwis Perez of Colombia says his journey to the World Cup will allow him to check off two of the 100 items he put on a bucket list some 20 years ago.
"In that list I had: 'Attend a World Cup' and 'Get to see the Amazon jungle.' I'm doing both now," said Perez, a 40-year-old engineer. He plans to fly to the Colombian city of Leticia, take boats to the riverside host city of Manaus, and then catch another plane to Belo Horizonte to watch Colombia play Greece on June 14.
Brazilian fans are claiming the most tickets to the monthlong tournament, scoring more than a million in FIFA's allocation. U.S. fans are next with 187,063 tickets, followed by Germany with 56,885 and England at 56,219. Argentina comes in fifth with 55,524 treasured tickets.
Many Argentines complained their country, neighboring Brazil, deserved a larger share. But even without tickets, tens of thousands of Argentines are expected to journey to Rio de Janeiro to either find tickets on site or, at least, join other fans before a big TV screen on Copacabana Beach.
One Argentine family, the Bianchis of Entre Rios, will squeeze into a 1971 convertible Mercedes motorhome, covered with large white and blue national flags and an image of their beloved Argentine pope. Whether or not they find tickets is beside the point.
"Obviously the tournament is very important, but sometimes the pre-party and everything that goes along with uniting so many countries can be much more important still," said Fabian Bianchi, 50, a public administrator traveling with his brother and three children. "I'm really excited, even more so because we're doing it as a family."
The World Cup transcends all ages, nationalities and cultural and geographical barriers. For Chilean Cecilia Aguilar, a 64-year-old human resources specialist, it's a way to honor her son, who died in a car accident two years ago.
"My son was a huge fan of 'La Roja,' (Chile's national team). And I want to be there for him," said Aguilar, who jumped at the chance to travel with her colleagues in a rented recreational vehicle. "I'm going to Brazil and my son's soul is coming with me."
"I know my son is in heaven having a great laugh at this crazy old woman," she added. "And it gives me a huge boost. I feel young and full of energy for this adventure."
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Associated Press writers Ricardo Zuniga in Mexico, Gonzalo Solano in Ecuador, Jairo Anchique in Colombia and Vicente Panetta and Paul Byrne in Argentina, contributed to this report.
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Henao on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisAndresHenao
Vergara on Twitter: https://twitter.com/evergaraap
News Topics: General news, Sports, 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Soccer, International soccer, Events, Men's soccer, Men's sportsPeople, Places and Companies: Chile, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Latin America and Caribbean, Qatar, South America, North America, Central America, Middle East
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Vodafone wades into surveillance debate, puts spotlight on legal differences
by
Associated Press
Cellphone operator wades into surveillance debate
by PETER SVENSSON, Associated Press - 7 June 2014 00:15-04:00
NEW YORK (AP) — Wireless carrier Vodafone Group PLC is performing a tricky balancing maneuver by publishing a report on government surveillance of its subscribers in 29 countries — a release that reveals more than first meets the eye.
In the report published Friday, Vodafone, which has unparalleled global reach for a cellphone company, said six countries have demanded direct access to its network. That cuts Vodafone's employees out of the surveillance process, removing one of the hurdles that can curb government overreach.
Vodafone would not say which countries have established these direct links. But in an exhaustively researched appendix to the report, the U.K.-based company sheds light on the legal frameworks that surround government interception in the 29 countries. The appendix reveals that six countries — Albania, Egypt, Hungary, Ireland, Qatar and Turkey — have provisions that allow authorities to request unfettered access.
In two other countries, India and the U.K., legal provisions are unclear as to whether government officials are allowed to have direct access, according to the report.
The report is remarkable not so much for what it reveals about the extent of law enforcement and intelligence agency surveillance, but for the comparisons it enables across countries. The report also highlights six countries for which Vodafone was unable to disclose any statistics on warrants from the government or other requests: Romania, Qatar, Egypt, India, South Africa and Turkey.
By contrast, Vodafone's report is almost superfluous for some Western European countries, like Germany, where the government already publishes statistics on how many requests it sends phone companies.
Wiretapping of phones and accessing of call records for law-enforcement purposes is a decades-old and accepted practice even in the most open democracies. With backing from courts, police can request cooperation from phone companies to access communications.
But in developing countries like Congo, Ghana and Lesotho, Vodafone doesn't have the capability to support wiretapping, since governments haven't requested it.
By making its report public, together with a disclosure of requests for information, Vodafone is entering the international debate about balancing the rights of privacy against security. Rather than being stuck with responsibility and backlash when citizens realize their data has been scooped up without their knowledge, Vodafone decided it was time to push for a debate.
Vodafone's report comes one year after former NSA systems analyst Edward Snowden revealed that U.S. and other countries' intelligence agencies indiscriminately gather and store huge amounts of data from phone calls and Internet communications.
"Companies are recognizing they have a responsibility to disclose government access," Daniel Castro, senior analyst for the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington. "This is new."
Vodafone's report is also seen by some as an effort to turn the page on the company's embarrassing role in the protests that toppled Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak in 2011. As the protests raged, the government forced Vodafone to bombard its Egyptian subscribers with propaganda text messages. The company said it had no choice but to comply, but was severely criticized for its actions.
"They took a hard lesson there," said Cynthia Wong, a senior internet researcher at Human Rights Watch. "Even if the government is the ultimate problem, they realized they needed to take steps to mitigate harm to their users."
Civil liberties advocates applauded Vodafone for releasing the report and cracking open the debate, even as they expressed alarm at the infringements into civil liberties.
"For governments to access phone calls at the flick of a switch is unprecedented and terrifying," said Shami Chakrabarti, director of the human rights group Liberty, adding that the Snowden revelations showed the Internet was already being treated as "fair game."
"Bluster that all is well is wearing pretty thin —our analog laws need a digital overhaul," she said.
Civil liberties advocates weren't the only ones applauding Vodafone's actions. Norway's Telenor Group, which also has operations across Eastern Europe and Asia, offered support, noting governments have the ultimate responsibility to act.
In the U.S., Snowden's revelations focused particular attention on the role of Western technology and telecommunications firms, which stand accused of facilitating the mass surveillance by giving spies unrestricted access to their networks. Several Silicon Valley companies have since attempted to restore consumers' trust by publishing data on government surveillance.
The study comes at a time when other businesses are calling for a revamp of laws too outdated to stand up to the quickly changing telecommunications universe.
Executives in Silicon Valley, for example, have stepped up pressure on President Barack Obama to curb the U.S. government surveillance programs that collect information off the Internet.
Twitter Inc., LinkedIn Corp., AOL Inc., Google Inc., Apple Inc., Yahoo Inc., Facebook Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are pushing for tighter controls over electronic espionage — fearing that eavesdropping threatens the technology industry's financial livelihood.
"They want their customers to be able to trust them to store their data in a private and secure manner," Castro said.
The countries included in the report are: Albania, Australia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Congo, Egypt, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Kenya, Lesotho, Malta, Mozambique, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, South Africa, Spain, Tanzania, Turkey and the U.K.
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Associated Press Writers Danica Kirka and Raphael Satter in London and Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report.
News Topics: Business, General news, Technology, Human rights and civil liberties, Government surveillance, Mobile telecommunications services, Government and politics, Telecommunications regulation, Information technology, Social issues, Social affairs, Political issues, Telecommunications services, Telecommunications, Industries, Industry regulation, Government business and finance, Government regulationsPeople, Places and Companies: Vodafone Group Plc, Twitter Inc, Linkedin Corp, Aol Inc, Google Inc, Apple Inc, Facebook Inc, Microsoft Corp, Edward Snowden, Hosni Mubarak, Barack Obama, United Kingdom, Egypt, United States, Middle East, Ghana, Lesotho, Qatar, East Africa, Western Europe, Europe, North Africa, Africa, North America, West Africa, Southern Africa, Turkey
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Jelavic goal gives Croatia 1-0 win over Australia in World Cup warm-up
by
Associated Press
Croatia edges Australia in World Cup warm-up
Associated Press - 6 June 2014 21:17-04:00
SALVADOR, Brazil (AP) — Forward Nikica Jelavic scored in the 58th minute to give Croatia a 1-0 win over Australia in the teams' final warm-up match before the World Cup.
The Hull striker was given plenty of room after receiving a pass inside the box and rocketed the ball from close range past Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan.
There were no real scoring opportunities for either side in the first half.
Croatia has several injury concerns with Greece-based defender Danijel Pranjic replaced with an apparent ankle injury. And Eduardo da Silva suffered an injury to his right leg and was substituted off in the 79th minute.
Croatia plays Brazil to open the World Cup on June 12. Australia plays Chile in its opening Group B match the following day.
News Topics: Sports, 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Athlete injuries, Men's soccer, Soccer, International soccer, Events, Athlete health, Men's sportsPeople, Places and Companies: Nikica Jelavic, Australia, Salvador, Brazil, Oceania, South America, Latin America and Caribbean
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Two Greek Places Among Top 50 Secret European Travel Destinations
Greek ReporterTwo Greek Places Among Top 50 Secret European Travel DestinationsGreek ReporterIthaca Lonely Planet, the largest travel guide-book publisher in the world has included two Greek destinations in its new guide with the top 50 secret places in Europe. The guide presents popular and lesser known locations in Europe that are worth ...
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Saturday, June 14
by
Associated Press
Saturday, June 14
by The Associated Press, Associated Press - 6 June 2014 19:06-04:00
Today is Saturday, June 14, the 165th day of 2014. There are 200 days left in the year.
Highlights in history on this date:
1497 - Juan Borgia, the son of pope Alexander VI, is murdered, allegedly by his power-hungry brother Cesare.
1645 - Parliamentarian New Model Army under Oliver Cromwell routs Royalists at Naseby in England, deciding the Civil War.
1898 - Anglo-French Convention defines boundaries in Nigeria and Gold Coast.
1923 - Aleksandur Stamboliysky, popular Bulgarian political leader, is assassinated after a military coup.
1940 - German forces occupy Paris.
1941 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt orders freezing of German and Italian assets in United States.
1949 - Vietnamese state is established at Saigon under former emperor Bao Dai.
1959 - United States agrees to provide Greece with nuclear information and supply ballistic rockets.
1962 - European Space Research Organization is established in Paris.
1967 - U.S. Mariner spacecraft is launched toward Venus to discover if the planet can support life.
1975 - Soviet Union launches its second spacecraft in six days toward Venus for October rendezvous designed to land one or two capsules on planet.
1980 - United States rejects European call for participation of Palestine Liberation Organization in Middle East peace talks.
1982 - Argentine forces on the Falkland Islands surrender to the British, ending a 10-week war.
1987 - Pope John Paul II ends weeklong pilgrimage to his native Poland with stern lecture about human rights to nation's Communist leadership.
1991 - U.S. soldiers begin withdrawing from Dohuk in northern Iraq.
1992 - Serbs allegedly pile Bosnian prisoners into a bus near Sarajevo and then fire on it with anti-tank weapons and small arms, killing 47.
1993 - Prince Norodom Sihanouk is reinstated as Cambodian head of state.
1993 - Tansu Ciller becomes Turkey's first female prime minister after being elected leader of the center-right True Path Party.
1994 - Iraq's trade minister warns that farmers who do not sell their grain harvests to the state will have their hands cut off.
1995 - Chechen rebels take 1,500 hostages and seize government buildings in a well-planned attack on Budyonnovsk, a southern Russia town. At least 95 are killed in the raid.
1997 - Pol Pot is reported in Cambodia to be fleeing from the Khmer Rouge guerrillas he once commanded.
1999 - NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo discover the first mass grave, believed to contain 81 bodies, as Serb troops withdraw leaving the houses of ethnic Albanians in flames.
2000 - In the biggest step toward peace since the end of the war, the leaders of North and South Korea sign an agreement to work for reconciliation and reunification.
2001 - Yugoslavia approves Slobodan Milosevic's extradition to The Hague, Netherlands, to face trial before a U.N. tribunal for crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Kosovo conflict between 1998-99. 800,000 ethnic Albanians were driven out by Serb forces.
2002 - A car bomb explodes outside the U.S. consulate in the city of Karachi, Pakistan, killing 12 people and wounding more than 50 others.
2003 - East Timor approves a $1.5 billion natural gas development plan for a pipeline to be built. It will be the largest source of income for impoverished East Timor.
2004 - A car bomb shatters a convoy carrying Westerners in central Baghdad, killing at least 12, including three General Electric employees, and wounding at least 60.
2005 - President Thabo Mbeki fires his deputy and heir apparent who was implicated in a corruption scandal, throwing open the question of who will become the next leader of South Africa when Mbeki steps down in 2009.
2006 - More than 1,000 Indonesian villagers are forced to flee Mount Merapi's slopes after searing hot gas and debris erupts from the volcano.
2007 - Hamas fighters take over two security command centers and vanquish the rival Fatah's movement in the Gaza Strip, prompting beleaguered Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to dissolve the Hamas-Fatah unity government.
2008 - More than 600 prisoners escape during a brazen Taliban bomb and rocket attack on the main prison in southern Afghanistan that knocked down the front gate and demolished a prison floor. At least nine police are killed.
2009 - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu endorses a Palestinian state beside Israel, reversing himself in the face of U.S. pressure but attaching conditions such as demilitarization that Palestinians swiftly reject.
2010 - Iraq's new parliament convenes for just under 20 minutes in what is little more than a symbolic inaugural session because of unresolved differences over key government positions — a precarious political limbo three months after inconclusive elections.
2011 - Russia's top investigative body says that a judge's former assistant is unable to present convincing evidence that the judge was pressured by his superiors in the trial of jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
2012 — A rock star welcome greets Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi as she embarks on her first trip to Europe in 24 years, but after a whirlwind of standing ovations, receptions and speeches it all became too much as the 66-year-old Nobel Laureate falls ill during a news conference in Switzerland.
2013 — Hezbollah's leader vows that his militants will keep fighting in Syria "wherever needed" after the U.S. agreed to arm the rebels in the civil war, setting up a proxy fighting between Iran and the West.
Today's Birthdays:
Harriet Beecher Stowe, U.S. writer (1811-1896); John Bartlett, English writer/editor of "Familiar Quotations" (1820-1905); Gene Barry, U.S. actor (1923--); Ernesto "Che" Guevara, Argentine-born revolutionary (1928-1967); Jerzy Kosinski, Polish-born writer (1933-1991); Donald Trump, U.S. businessman/TV personality (1946--); Boy George, British pop singer (1961--); Yasmine Bleeth, U.S. actress (1968--); Steffi Graf, German tennis champion (1969--).
Thought For Today:
Initiative is doing the right thing without being told — Victor Hugo, French writer (1802-1885).
News Topics: General news, Bombings, War and unrest, Government and politics, Territorial disputes, Pipeline construction, Venus, Heavy construction industry, Construction and engineering, Industrial products and services, Industries, Business, Planets, Astronomy, SciencePeople, Places and Companies: Pope John Paul II, Norodom Sihanouk, Slobodan Milosevic, Thabo Mbeki, Mahmoud Abbas, Benjamin Netanyahu, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Aung San Suu Kyi, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Gene Barry, Donald Trump, Boy George, Yasmine Bleeth, Victor Hugo, Palestinian territories, Israel, United States, Kosovo, Middle East, Paris, Southeast Asia, Iraq, North America, Eastern Europe, Europe, France, Western Europe, Asia
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