Welcome, 77 artists, 40 different points of Attica welcomes you by singing Erotokritos an epic romance written at 1713 by Vitsentzos Kornaros
Thursday, June 12, 2014
First Greek Manga Dedicated to Thessaloniki’s History
Greek former finance minister appears before judge to answer charges on Swiss banking list
Falcao's absence spoils Colombia World Cup return
Greek former economy czar questioned on Swiss list
Santorini Arts Factory Aims to Boost Island’s Culture
Greek Bond Crisis Exacerbated By Twitter, Google [STUDY]
Amount of recycled waste edges up to 442,000 tons
To Potami party moves congress to Lavrio
Greece, Kuwait mark 50 years of friendship with deals
BC-SOC--WCup Glance
%byline(By The Associated Press%)
All Times GMT FIRST ROUND GROUP A W L T GF GA Pts Brazil 0 0 0 0 0 0 Cameroon 0 0 0 0 0 0 Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mexico 0 0 0 0 0 0 Thursday, June 12 At Sao PauloBrazil vs. Croatia, 2000 GMT
Friday, June 13 At Natal, BrazilMexico vs. Cameroon, 1600 GMT
Tuesday, June 17 At Fortaleza, BrazilBrazil vs. Mexico, 1900 GMT
Wednesday, June 18 At Manaus, BrazilCroatia vs. Cameroon, 2200 GMT
Monday, June 23 At Brasilia, BrazilBrazil vs. Cameroon, 2000 GMT
At Recife, BrazilCroatia vs. Mexico, 2000 GMT
GROUP B W L T GF GA Pts Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chile 0 0 0 0 0 0 Netherlands 0 0 0 0 0 0 Spain 0 0 0 0 0 0 Friday, June 13 At Salvador, BrazilSpain vs. Netherlands, 1900 GMT
At Cuiaba, BrazilChile vs. Australia, 2200 GMT
Wednesday, June 18 At Rio de JaneiroSpain vs. Chile, 1900 GMT
At Porto Alegre, BrazilNetherlands vs. Australia, 1600 GMT
Monday, June 23 At Curitiba, BrazilSpain vs. Australia, 1600 GMT
At Sao PauloNetherlands vs. Chile, 1600 GMT
GROUP C W L T GF GA Pts Colombia 0 0 0 0 0 0 Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ivory Coast 0 0 0 0 0 0 Japan 0 0 0 0 0 0 Saturday, June 14 At Belo Horizonte, BrazilColombia vs. Greece, 1600 GMT
At Recife, BrazilIvory Coast vs. Japan, 0100 GMT Sunday
Thursday, June 19At Brasilia, Brazil
Colombia vs. Ivory Coast, 1600 GMT
At Natal, BrazilGreece vs. Japan, 2200 GMT
Tuesday, June 24 At Cuiaba, BrazilColombia vs. Japan, 2000 GMT
At Fortaleza, BrazilGreece vs. Ivory Coast, 2000 GMT
GROUP D W L T GF GA Pts Costa Rica 0 0 0 0 0 0 England 0 0 0 0 0 0 Italy 0 0 0 0 0 0 Uruguay 0 0 0 0 0 0 Saturday, June 14 At Fortaleza, BrazilUruguay vs. Costa Rica, 1900 GMT
At Manaus, BrazilEngland vs. Italy, 2200 GMT
Thursday, June 19 At Sao PauloUruguay vs. England, 1900 GMT
Friday, June 20 At Recife, BrazilCosta Rica vs. Italy, 1600 GMT
Tuesday, June 24 At Natal, BrazilUruguay vs. Italy, 1600 GMT
At Belo Horizonte, BrazilCosta Rica vs. England, 1600 GMT
GROUP E W L T GF GA Pts Ecuador 0 0 0 0 0 0 France 0 0 0 0 0 0 Honduras 0 0 0 0 0 0 Switzerland 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sunday, June 15 At Brasilia, BrazilSwitzerland vs. Ecuador, 1600 GMT
At Porto Alegre, BrazilFrance vs. Honduras, 1900 GMT
Friday, June 20 At Salvador, BrazilSwitzerland vs. France, 1900 GMT
At Curitiba, BrazilEcuador vs. Honduras, 2200 GMT
Wednesday, June 25 At Manaus, BrazilSwitzerland vs. Honduras, 2000 GMT
At Rio de JaneiroEcuador vs. France, 2000 GMT
GROUP F W L T GF GA Pts Argentina 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina 0 0 0 0 0 0 Iran 0 0 0 0 0 0 Nigeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 Sunday, June 15 At Rio de JaneiroArgentina vs. Bosnia-Herzegovina, 2200 GMT
Monday, June 16 At Curitiba, BrazilIran vs. Nigeria, 1900 GMT
Saturday, June 21 At Belo Horizonte, BrazilArgentina vs. Iran, 1600 GMT
At Cuiaba, BrazilBosnia-Herzegovina vs. Nigeria, 1600 GMT
Wednesday, June 25 At Porto Alegre, BrazilArgentina vs. Nigeria, 1600 GMT
At Salvador, BrazilBosnia-Herzegovina vs. Iran, 1600 GMT
GROUP G W L T GF GA Pts Germany 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ghana 0 0 0 0 0 0 Portugal 0 0 0 0 0 0 United States 0 0 0 0 0 0 Monday, June 16 At Salvador, BrazilGermany vs. Portugal, 1600 GMT
At Natal, BrazilGhana vs. United States, 2200 GMT
Saturday, June 21 At Fortaleza, BrazilGermany vs. Ghana, 1900 GMT
Sunday, June 22At Manaus, Brazil
Portugal vs. United States, 2200 GMT<
Thursday, June 26
At Recife, BrazilGermany vs. United States, 1600 GMT
At Brasilia, BrazilPortugal vs. Ghana, 1600 GMT
GROUP H W L T GF GA Pts Algeria 0 0 0 0 0 0 Belgium 0 0 0 0 0 0 Russia 0 0 0 0 0 0 South Korea 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tuesday, June 17 At Belo Horizonte, BrazilBelgium vs. Algeria, 1600 GMT
At Cuiaba, BrazilRussia vs. South Korea, 2200 GMT
Sunday, June 22 At Rio de JaneiroBelgium vs. Russia, 1600 GMT
At Porto Alegre, BrazilAlgeria vs. South Korea, 1900 GMT
Thursday, June 26 At Sao PauloBelgium vs. South Korea, 2000 GMT
At Curitiba, BrazilAlgeria vs. Russia, 2000 GMT
SECOND ROUND Saturday, June 28 Game 49 At Belo Horizonte, BrazilGroup A winner vs. Group B second place, 1600 GMT
Game 50 At Rio de JaneiroGroup C winner vs. Group D second place, 2000 GMT
Sunday, June 29 Game 51 At Fortaleza, BrazilGroup B winner vs. Group A second place, 1600 GMT
Game 52 At Recife, BrazilGroup D winner vs. Group C second place, 2000 GMT
Monday, June 30 Game 53 At Brasilia, BrazilGroup E winner vs. Group F second place, 1600 GMT
Game 54 At Porto Alegre, BrazilGroup G winner vs. Group H second place, 2000 GMT
Tuesday, July 1 Game 55 At Sao PauloGroup F winner vs. Group E second place, 1600 GMT
Game 56 At Salvador, BrazilGroup H winner vs. Group G second place, 2100 GMT
QUARTERFINALS Friday, July 4 Game 57 At Fortaleza, BrazilGame 49 winner vs. Game 50 winner, 2000 GMT
Game 58 At Rio de JaneiroGame 53 winner vs. Game 54 winner, 1600 GMT
Saturday, July 5 Game 59 At Salvador, BrazilGame 51 winner vs. Game 52 winner, 2100 GMT
Game 60 At Brasilia, BrazilGame 55 winner vs. Game 56 winner, 1600 GMT
SEMIFINALS Tuesday, July 8 At Belo Horizonte, BrazilGame 57 winner vs. Game 58 winner, 2000 GMT
Wednesday, July 9 At Sao PauloGame 59 winner vs. Game 60 winner, 2000 GMT
THIRD PLACE Saturday, July 12 At Brasilia, BrazilSemifinal losers, 2000 GMT
CHAMPIONSHIP Sunday, July 13 At Rio de JaneiroSemifinal winners, 1900 GMT
News Topics: 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, International soccer, Men's soccer, Soccer, Sports, Events, Men's sportsPeople, Places and Companies: Brazil, Salvador, Recife, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, France, Nigeria, Spain, Japan, Croatia, Switzerland, Algeria, Germany, South Korea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, West Africa, United States, Cameroon, Australia, Brasilia, Portugal, Russia, Belgium, Greece, Sao Paulo, Ecuador, Honduras, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Iran, South America, Latin America and Caribbean, Western Europe, Europe, Africa, East Asia, Asia, Eastern Europe, North Africa, North America, Oceania, Central America, Middle East
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Colombia Vs Greece : Preview, Lineups, Predictions and TV Details
Greece's Alpha Bank close to buying Citi's Greek retail ops: sources
Greece Achieves 711 mln Primary Budget Surplus
American Mark Geiger to referee Greece’s opening match
Factbox
Greece seeking ways to fight anti-Semitism, ADL says
Greece out to clip Colombia's attacking wings
Greek farm worker shooting trial cites dog killing
At trial of Greek foreman accused of shooting farm workers, allegations of dog killings
Mission to boldly go where no Greek has gone before
Osborne to give Bank of England new mortgage powers, and clamp down on market abuse business live
Rolling coverage of finance and business news through the day
Bank of England to get power to set loan-to-value caps on mortgages
Summary: New criminal powers to prevent City traders rigging the markets
5.08pm BST
Breaking news tonight: the Chancellor of the Exchequer is to give the Bank of England new powers to control the housing market.
The Bank will be given the powers to cap the size of mortgages relative to borrowers' income and relative to the value of the homes they want to buy.
George Osborne is to give the Bank of England new powers to set a cap on mortgages set as a ratio of income or value.
Osborne to allow BoE to cap loan-to-income plus kick up backside for councils on brownfield sites. Here endeth pre-briefing of #mansionhouse
George Osborne will use his Mansion House speech to give City regulators the power to cap risky mortgage loans in a bid to allay fears of a growing housing bubble.
In a dramatic move, the chancellor plans to allow the Bank of England to limit mortgage loans that could undermine the financial stability of the UK housing market.
Our economic plan has brought stability and security and Im not going to let anything undermine that.
So I am acting against future risks in the housing market by today giving the Bank of England new powers to intervene and control the size of mortgages compared to family incomes and house values and Im also taking new steps so we build many more homes in our towns and cities.
4.59pm BST
A quick recap:
It will make it clear to traders that if you abuse those rules you will end up in prison.
4.42pm BST
With the Brent crude oil price hovering around $112 per barrel, a three-month high, City traders are wondering what impact the Iraq insurgency will have on the economy.
If oil prices move higher, they'll put a brake on economic growth and also drive up inflation, as Chris Beauchamp of IG explains:
Traders have seen the words Iraq and civil war in headlines and duly sent oil prices flying today. So far, the direct impact of the fall of Mosul and Tikrit has been limited in production terms, but it is a situation that will bear close attention.
The longer-term worry is the impact of higher oil prices on inflation readings for major economies it might finally deliver the higher price growth that Mario Draghi wants, but with inflation edging up in the US there will be concerns that CPI growth might get out of hand and force the Federal Reserve to take action.
4.22pm BST
A couple more photos from Athens, showing how riot police treated cleaning staff after the supreme court suspended an earlier ruling that they should get their jobs back.
3.59pm BST
In Greece, the cleaning workers who refused to accept being laid off by the government last year have suffered a defeat in the courts, and at the hands of riot police.
The Greek Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Greek government today, and suspended a ruling from a lower court that the workers -- who were dismissed last year -- should be rehired.
According to reports, at least three women were injured as riot police tried to remove protesting cleaners who had gathered in front of the ministry's entrance after the announcement of the decision.
Shocking video illustrating police brutality in #Greece: Riot policeman beats in the head unarmed woman. Pls RT. https://t.co/qQUiWcjZsY
MTR @Inflammatory_ Mr @Vkikilias [Minister of Public Order] what's you're position abt metal-enhanced gloves? pic.twitter.com/LiHXytUvEs #Greece
Laid-off cleaner protesting for months now, confronting policeman. Guts a whole country doesn't have v @JohnKemmos: pic.twitter.com/ufoJM4lSYc
#greece Laid-off cleaners: today's photo of photojournalist Tat. Bolari outside FinMin TR @Gath___: pic.twitter.com/K8tSl5G8gH #katharistries
3.26pm BST
Now here's a surprise....Portugal's government has turned down the final slice of its bailout, worth 2.6bn, rather than implement new austerity measures.
Portugal has decided to forego the last payment of its international bailout from creditors after the rejection of a series of austerity measures by the country's constitutional court, the finance minister said on Thursday.
"The government thinks that it is not the time to make decisions about substitute measures, a decision which has the consequence that we will not receive the last tranche of the programme," Finance Minister Maria Luis Albuquerque told journalists.
#Portugal decided not to receive last tranche of #bailout, FinMin says no plans to reopen programme - #EC to comment soon #eurozone
3.01pm BST
Twitter's share price is now up 3%, as Wall Street investors digest Ali Rowghani's departure as COO.
Investors now like $TWTR shakeup. Up 3%. 24% bounce from $29.51 low back in early May. Is worst over or will $TWTR slip back towards $30?
2.48pm BST
Shares on Wall Street have dipped in early trading, with the Dow Jones industrial average falling around 0.2%.
But Twitter's shares are bucking the trend, rising by 1%. Shortly before the market opened, its chief operating officer Ali Rowghani announced he was leaving.
Goodbye Twitter. It's been an amazing ride, and I will cherish the memories.
Why Twitters COO had to resign, in one chart http://t.co/FkTfFvoP8w pic.twitter.com/WiTUBnYkaI
2.10pm BST
Torbjorn Kjus, oil analyst at DNB Markets in Norway, also believes the oil price could spike if the situation in Iraq worsens.
Kjus told the WSJ:
"It's purely a fear-factor hitting right now.
"Right now it's $2 up, and it could easily go up more than that based on developments" [such as a move of violence southward].
Oil prices at these levels are going to become problematic in weak economies.
The price of a barrel of Brent crude oil passes US $112 which in these odd times will please the #ECB if sustained #inflation #Iraq
1.56pm BST
Some mixed-looking US economic data has been released, but it's not as bad as it first appeared.
US retail sales rose by just 0.3% in May, just half as much as expected. But April's initial reading of 0.1% has been revised up to a healthier-looking 0.5%.
Ian Shepherdson on retail sales: In one line: Much less disappointing than it appears, thanks to upward revisions.
Decent jobless claims and revised sales = good to meh
1.19pm BST
Perhaps the solution to preventing manipulation of the FX market is simply to stop using a one minute window at 4pm to set the daily currency rates.
Mark Taylor, the dean of Warwick Business School, believes traders would be incapable of influencing a larger window, given the size of the market.
If we really want to make sure the foreign exchange reference rate isnt rigged, we need to remove the incentives to cheat. At the moment the foreign exchange benchmark the daily London 4pm fix is made by taking the average of trades 30 seconds before and after 4pm, so if some large trades worth billions of dollars each are sent through it can move the rate a small amount and that could be worth millions of dollars to the traders.
One solution would be to take away the temptation by taking the average over an hour - so 30 minutes either side of 4pm rather than 30 seconds. Its a simple, workable solution because it would be a lot harder, if not impossible, to move a market as big as the FX market for an hour. Removing the incentive is much better than regulation because of the global, decentralised nature of the foreign exchange market.
1.06pm BST
UK prosecutors are likely to take a "highly aggressive approach" with suspected wrong-doers in the financial markets, once the new criminal powers planned by the government are available.
The number of prosecutions achieved by the regulators with their new powers will be seen as the yardstick of their success. This will put them under a huge amount of pressure to achieve results and almost guarantees a highly aggressive approach.
The SFOs Director, David Green, has said he expects to be judged by the results of the agencys prosecutions of those involved in Libor and now the same will be true for future foreign exchange manipulation.
Yet more criminal sanctions from the UK government suggest a wholesale move towards the US-style of enforcement for financial offences, but it remains difficult to see how such an offence will be proved beyond all doubt. The threat of prison is used with great effect in the US but it is questionable how many convictions will be achieved as a result of this style of enforcement in the UK."
12.44pm BST
George Osborne's plan to bring in new criminal sanctions for market abuse may sound good, but will they work?
The CBI, which represents British businesses, says it's important to send a signal to the City - but more important to actually change its character (a point the Robin Hood campaign made earlier)
Rebuilding trust in banking is critical to underpinning the economic recovery and to the UKs long-term growth, so it makes sense for the regulatory focus to be firmly on conduct.
We need to send out a strong signal against wrongdoing and beefing up regulators tools to combat market abuse will help to do this.
12.11pm BST
Here's a chart showing how the price of Brent crude has jumped to a three-month high this morning of $112 per barrel, driven by the escalating situation in Iraq (see 10.17am for more details).
Cheery stuff. Map of iraq showing Isis gains. pic.twitter.com/uQPQNtVUZq
"I would entirely ascribe this move to the insurrection in the north of Iraq ... The fear is that it will cause a threat to Iraqi oil exports
"If this conflict knocked out Iraq as an exporter, that would have significant impact on prices ... How high could they go? It depends on what happens."
11.41am BST
Vince Cable's warning about Britain's house price boom (see 11.16am) comes as figures published by the Council of Mortgage Lenders showed how borrowers are stretching their salaries to raise enough money to get on the housing ladder.
In April, first-time buyers across the UK took on mortgages that were 3.42 times their salary, and worth 83% of the value of the property they were buying.
Only in December 2013 have first-time buyer income multiples been higher, although as the property market reached its last peak they were up at 3.39 times salary.
The average size of a first-time buyer mortgage reached its highest level on record, rising to £121,500, from £118,750 in March. At the same time the typical income of a first-time buyer household increased to £37,000, from £35,704 in March, which was also the highest average income on record.
The most recent data for London showed first-time buyers were taking out mortgages worth 3.83 times their salaries. Deposits from parents and the fact that buyers in the capital are slightly older, at an average of 32 when they take their first loan, versus 29 across the UK, meant that loan to values in London are lower, at 75%.
11.33am BST
In other news, Intel has lost its appeal against the 1.06bn fine handed down by the EU in 2009 for anti-competitive conduct.
Brussels' competition chief Neelie Kroes insists the chip-maker got its just desserts:
It was never a pleasure to fine companies as EU competition referee, but rules are rules. Am pleased the court upheld our 1bn Intel fine
11.16am BST
Is George Osborne also planning to announce new measures to rein in the housing market, in tonight's Mansion House?
Business secretary Vince Cable appeared to drop some hints this morning, telling Radio 4 listeners that banks must be put under more pressure not to "throw petrol on the fire" of the house price boom.
"Most of us who have been through various housing booms in the past have recognised that a kind of stable level is three or three-and-a-half times
"I was appalled when I discovered that banks were lending five times.
V Cable saying banks should not lend more than 3.5 times income odd: point of Bank of Eng reforms was to remove politics from such decisions
10.38am BST
Back to the UK government's market abuse clampdown.... and campaigners for a fairer tax system don't believe it will change the City's priorities.
David Hillman, spokesperson for the Robin Hood Tax campaign, says:
"It's better late than never for the Government to get a grip on this scandal, which shows once again that our supposedly reformed financial sector is still a law unto itself.
"But while the review may tackle this particular malaise it won't tackle City culture which continues to put a fast buck ahead of its obligations to society.
10.31am BST
The escalating situation in Iraq (see last post) has also driven the cost of US crude oil up this morning.
US crude touched $105.4 per barrel this morning, the first time it's broken above the $105 mark since March. You've got to go back nine months for a higher price.
London-based Brent crude for July delivery surged $1.09, or 1.1%, to $111.04 a barrel. If Brent settles at this point, it will be the highest level for a front-running contract since March 3, when the front-running contract settled at $111.20 a barrel.
Oil prices shot up in March on rising tensions over Russia and the Ukraine.
10.17am BST
Over in the City, the sight of insurgents taking control of Iraqi cities has pushed the oil price up by 1%, to a three month high.
Oil prices are pushing higher off the back of unrest in Iraq and although the situation is some distance from the oil fields, the reality is that a $20/barrel spike in crude prices could well prove sufficient to derail the global economic recovery.
Ultimately with markets so toppy and repeatedly looking for a reason to sell, this could all make a lot of sense.
The apparent unravelling of the post-2003 settlement in Iraq has sent oil prices surging for the second time in a week; a signal of how sensitive investors are to the prospect of higher oil prices that could act as a dramatic drag on global growth.
For now, it seems the selling is confined to the more skittish market participants, but if the index moves much lower the quiet retreat could turn into an increasingly panicky rout.
9.39am BST
With over three trillion pounds worth of foreign exchange trading each day, how could a few rogue City traders possibly rig it?
The key is that benchmarks are calculated at a certain time every day, to give a snapshot of what various assets are worth.
The traders at the bank have to take hedging positions, they place trades in the market, they share some information with colleagues or people at other banks to try and avoid risks around when those trades are completed.
And that's when it all gets tricky - it's that half-hour period. What have they discussed with each other?
Until that were done, it would be impossible to regulate this market completely.
9.08am BST
Full details of the government's markets review are online here.
It explains how the existing law against Libor-rigging would be extended to cover market rates, and also tries to justify opting out of the EU's own market-rigging rules.
9.03am BST
More reaction to the news that the chancellor wants to clean up the City (by mid-2015, anyway)
In a shock move, George Osborne to make criminal activity in the City a crime. After a 12 month consultation.
Apparently "Rigging foreign exchange, bond & commodity markets" is NOT a Criminal Offence Today... No that's for shoplifting & petty theft
8.58am BST
George Osborne will also announce tonight that the UK will opt out of a European directive, which sets out specific rules to make market abuse a criminal offence.
Not for the first time, Britain wants to go it alone (the Treasury argues that this means we can get criminal sanctions in place sooner, but it will also keep the City at arms length from Brussels).
"The key task ... will be ensuring that we have a system that is robust and punishes any wrongdoing while being sensitive to the need to continue to attract global banks and investors to the UK."
8.42am BST
While ITV's Joel Hills is suspicious that the chancellor has at least one eye on the next election, by announcing this new clampdown tonight :
Allegations that traders within banks colluded to manipulate foreign-exchange rates in currency deals are being looked at by the authorities in the UK and abroad. The investigations are ongoing, the outcomes uncertain but the mood in the City is, let's say, "not optimistic".
The Chancellor is expected to say he is acting to protect "the integrity of the City" but some will also see this as an attempt to protect himself from accusations of failure to act should hefty fines start being imposed on banks in the run-up to the general election.
8.34am BST
This is the fourth time that the government has taken aim at the City, says Sky's Mark Kleinman.
In the wake of the Libor-rigging inquiry, which has seen a handful of banks fined with more to come, the Chancellor believes there is further political capital to be generated from trying to stamp out errant behaviour.
His crosshairs are focused on the foreign exchange and commodity markets, where arcane price-setting mechanisms based on cosy huddles of bankers predominate.
Potentially more troubling for the Chancellor is that he will require widespread international backing to impose an effective clampdown on trading practices.
He may find that without it, his latest attempt to regulate the banking sector looks like little more than tinkering around the edges.
8.27am BST
Dr Gerard Lyons, economic advisor to Boris Johnson, has welcome George Osborne's market review.
He's also struck by the change in Britain's approach to the City since the financial crisis struck.
In recent years regulatory pendulum swung from 1 extreme of light regulation before crisis & now continues to head towards other extreme.
Good that #osborne unveiling a fair & effective markets review at #MansionHouse tonight. UK ensuring need for fair open transparent markets.
Scale of daily FX turnout has to raise question why so big? DAILY turnover $5.3 trillion ANNUAL global trade $18 trillion #MansionHouse
Scale of some markets hard to get your head around: outstanding derivates $763 trillion, Daily FX $5.3 TRN. Effective regulation essential.
8.13am BST
Andrea Leadsom, economic secretary to the Treasury, has confirmed this morning that the government is determined to clean up the financial markets.
It will make it clear to traders that if you abuse those rules you will end up in prison.
The problem is there are a small group of people who need to understand that rigging benchmarks is unacceptable.
7.57am BST
Lots of coverage of the chancellor's upcoming Mansion House speech in the papers.
The Independent reckons that Osborne's review could result in long stretches for rogue traders convicted of rigging the markets.
Tougher penalties, including jail sentences of up to seven years, will be extended to other parts of the financial services sector in an attempt to prevent more scandals.
Cathy Jamieson MP, the shadow financial secretary, said: "This review is too little, too late. We pressed ministers to regulate commodities markets and the full array of financial benchmarks back in 2012, but the chancellor failed to act."
With the FCA and other regulators investigating the FX markets amid rigging allegations, Mr Osborne is anxious to show he is taking firm action as an election looms in 2015.
Central to his plans is a new fair and efficient markets review which will be led by Minouche Shafik, the new BoE deputy governor for markets and banking, along with Martin Wheatley, FCA chief, and Charles Roxburgh, director-general, financial services at the Treasury
George Osborne is to reject Brussels efforts to clamp down on rogue bankers and introduce new UK rules designed to criminalize those who manipulate Londons key markets instead.
7.49am BST
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of the financial markets, the global economy, the eurozone and business.
Criminal offences for manipulating these global markets, which are based in London, will be among measures considered in a year-long review being launched by the chancellor, which was immediately criticised by Labour for being too late.
It follows steps in 2012 to allow prison sentences of up to seven years for anyone involved in rigging the key interest rate benchmark Libor.
"The integrity of the City matters to the economy of Britain.
"Markets here set the interest rates for people's mortgages, the exchange rates for our exports and holidays, and the commodity prices for the goods we buy. I am going to deal with abuses, tackle the unacceptable behaviour of the few and ensure that markets are fair for the many who depend on them."
Continue reading...Cyprus: Greek Cypriot Population Decreases
Greek central bank sees end to 6-year recession
First Quarter Unemployment 2014, Stable at 27.8%
Finance Ministry’s Cleaners in Availability until September
ADL Upset Samaras Named Voridis Health Chief
Reduction of Greek Houses Prices Second Worldwide
Legion of Honor Bestowed On D-Day Veteran
ADL Ired Samaras Named Former LAOS Extremist Voridis Health Minister
Again testing his relations with Jewish organizations, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' naming of far right-winger Makis Voridis as Health Minister in another Cabinet shakeup has riled the U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League (ADL).
The post ADL Ired Samaras Named Former LAOS Extremist Voridis Health Minister appeared first on The National Herald.
High Court Nixes Cleaning Ladies Rehire
Greece's highest court has overturned a ruling by a lower court that the government had no right to fire 397 Finance Ministry cleaning ladies and that they should be rehired.
The post High Court Nixes Cleaning Ladies Rehire appeared first on The National Herald.
Visit Greece backs environmental initiative
Greece-Colombia Preview
Greece is the top European destination for 2014, Lonely Planet says
Exhibit on Greek god Poseidon dives into new territory
Greece fourth in school bullying, EU study shows
Supreme Court rules against Finance Ministry cleaners
A new team at the helm
US referee Mark Geiger gets Colombia-Greece duty
Colombia faces a World Cup without 'El Tigre;' will Greece benefit in Group C opener?
Colombia's 16-year wait for a return to the World Cup was miserable enough for its supporters. Now they're coming to terms with a few setbacks before Columbia's Group C opener Saturday against Greece, including the loss of Radamel Falcao.
The star forward was cut from the squad last week after failing to recover in time from a serious knee injury. While Colombia has other attacking options, Falcao's exclusion is a psychological blow.
Coach Jose Pekerman described it as his "saddest day" since taking charge of "Los Cafeteros" when he dropped Falcao along with first-choice center back Luis Perea, who was carrying a thigh injury. Then, midfielder Aldo Ramirez was sent home with a foot injury sustained in a training session last week, days after Pekerman announced his final squad.
Falcao, nicknamed "El Tigre," will be sorely missed. The 28-year-old striker, who joined Monaco from Atletico Madrid, tore left knee ligaments in a French Cup game in January. He was key to Colombia's successful qualifying campaign, scoring nine goals — a record for the country.
Despite all the bad news, the squad remains optimistic about its chances in a group that also includes Ivory Coast and Japan. Colombia's main playmaker, James Rodriguez, points out that even without Falcao the team has a strong strike force which includes Carlos Bacca, Teofilo "Teo" Gutierrez and Jackson Martinez.
"The responsibility is weighing on us even more without Falcao, but we're not alone," the 22-year-old Rodriguez said. "The attack isn't going to change. It's the same. Apart from Falcao, we have Teo, Jackson and Bacca."
The Greece team considers its opener with Colombia at Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte as the toughest match in the group, and is showing little sign of relief over Falcao's absence.
"Our aim is to get out the group," defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos said. "That would be a very big achievement for us ... the first match is the one that gives you strength or disappointment."
Greece broke a three-game scoring drought with a 2-1 win over Bolivia in friendly played in New York last week. Goal scorer Costas Katsouranis said the result showed his team was improving despite some trouble with finishing chances.
"I think we will be better against Colombia," he said. "For sure, there will be difficult conditions. It's hot and it's humid, so it's hard to know how that will affect us."
It's also unclear how Greece's late arrival in Brazil might affect the team's preparations for the first match. Greece arrived a day late after a flight cancellation in the United States, and FIFA had to step in to help the team reach its base in Aracaju.
"We had some problems during our arrival here, but now everything is perfect," Greece midfielder Yiannis Maniatis said.
Coach Fernando Santos acknowledges that Greece isn't a high-scoring team, but is confident the goals will come when needed.
"What I'm happy about is that we're creating more chances," Santos said. "We're in a group where any of the teams could qualify, but I do believe we will make it through."
Santos believes striker Kostas Mitroglou will be ready despite his lack of game time since moving to England at the start of the year to join Fulham, which has been relegated from the Premier League. Santos also selected veteran players, including 2004 European Championship winners Katsouranis and captain Giorgos Karagounis.
Colombia, playing in its first World Cup since 1998, is keen to make up for lost time. But the South Americans are aware that Greece has the propensity to surprise in international tournaments, like it did at Euro 2004.
"Greece is a difficult rival," right back Santiago Arias said. "We have to concentrate on our lines ... We have everything we need to have a good World Cup."
___
Associated Press writer Derek Gatopoulos and Demetris Nellas contributed to this report from Athens, Greece.
News Topics: Sports, 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Athlete injuries, Men's soccer, Men's sports, Professional soccer, International soccer, Soccer, Events, Athlete healthPeople, Places and Companies: Jose Pekerman, Aldo Ramirez, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Fernando Santos, Giorgos Karagounis, Greece, Brazil, Colombia, Western Europe, Europe, South America, Latin America and Caribbean
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.