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

Monday, August 11, 2014

Russian imports ban: EU props peach, nectarine growers

The European Commission has promised funding for EU growers of peaches and nectarines hit simultaneously by Russia's ban on food imports from Western nations as well as poor weather. Worst hit are orchardists in Greece.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.dw.de

Raspberry Greek Yogurt Popsicles

Raspberry Greek Yogurt Pops. Weezy and I made these weeks ago, when my heartburn was at an all-time high. These were a lifesaver at night for me.


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80(ish)--- Greek Yogurt, Blueberry, and Chia Seed Protein Pancakes

Not with processed protein powders, but with Greek yogurt and chia seeds! These pancakes turn out ultra fluffy and so delicious! And each one has 5 ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.eat8020.com

President of Greek Ecologists Arrested

The president of the Ecologists Party of Greece, Dimosthenis Vergis, was arrested on Monday morning in the area of Exarcheia in downtown Athens. Vergis was sentenced to 37 years and six months imprisonment without parole by the Three Member Criminal Court for the encroachment of 452,000-square-meter property in Agios Stefanos, northern Attica. The property, with an estimated cost of over 8 million euros, was part of the local forest land belonging to the Greek State and the Athens Water Supply and Sewerage Company (EYDAP), even though the accused argues that the state had no claim over the land. The court found that Vergis created “non-existent property rights” and forged documents to prove that the property was not in fact part of the forest land.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Tons of Fresh Fruit Destroyed due to Russian Embargo

Dozens of refrigerated trucks, filled with thousands of tons of unsold peaches and nectarines produced in Greece, have started making their way back to the northern Greek regions of Imathia and Pella, having fallen “victims” of the Russian embargo. “Some 70 trucks, each with about 20 tons of capacity, destined for Russia, departed from Veria customs office in the last few days,” Christos Giannakakis, head of the Imathia association of agricultural co-operatives told ANA-MPA on Monday. “One of them came back two days ago and another two that went only as far as Romania returned yesterday. It is easier for trucks that have not crossed the EU borders to return home,” he added. Most problems have been reported with shipments that have reached the Russian borders as a result of custom procedures for the re-import of fruits to the EU, as well as, long distances. Some of those shipments “have been on the road for about 10 days –whatever that may mean for a sensitive product which for a large part of the journey is carried on rather bumpy roads. We expect those trucks to start coming back tomorrow,” he said. Exporters from the northern Greek regions of Imathia, Pella, Kozani and Florina will hold a meeting on Monday afternoon to coordinate their actions and demands, and discuss the Russian embargo impact, the producers’ compensation, as well as the withdrawal, the drawing up of an inventory and the destruction of the fruits. Their conclusions and decisions were to be submitted to Rural Development Minister Giorgos Karasmanis during a meeting originally scheduled for Tuesday at 2:00PM. According to Giannakakis, the meeting has been postponed and has not been rescheduled so far.


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Greece on threshold of growth, OECD says

The recovery of the Greek economy is continuing and even starting to gain strength, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said on Monday. According to the latest data, the OECD’s composite leading indicators (CLI) for the Greek ... ...


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Dramatic Academy features Greek theme

Posted Aug. 11, 2014, at 3:26 p.m. • “Adventures with Aesop” by Alekzander Sayers, directed by Alekzander Sayers and starring Tiny Thespians, age 4 to 6, Evan Babcock, Zach Babcock, Charlotte Hautala, Maise McCarthy, Paige Richard, Jadyn Spearin and Lucy Valentine.


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Parma winger Ninis set for return to Greece

La Gazzetta dello Sport report that Parma will allow Ninis to return to Greece this season, with a number of top division sides interested in his services.


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Deputy FM Kourkoulas' statements following the emergency meeting on Greek exports to Russia

Below is the text of Deputy Foreign Minister Dimitris Kourkoulas' statements to journalists following today's emergency meeting on Greek exports to ...


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Maria Callas' Personal Items Destroyed by Termites and Rats

Greek news · Cyprus · Entertainment · Life · Sports · Opinion · Timeline View · GreekReporter.com · Greece · USA · Hollywood · Australia · Canada · EU ...


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Boxing clever: world sudoku championships puts puzzlers on cloud nine

British team lament 'a total nightmare' on home turf as the world's best sudoku players descend on a suburban Surrey hotelIn an ornately decorated conference room in Croydon, 180 heads are bowed. "Everyone's got a script?" the invigilator asks. "You may begin now." As booklets are turned over in unison and concentrated silence fills the room, interrupted only by the frantic scratching of pencils, one thing becomes clear: sudoku is very a solemn business.This is the ninth world sudoku championships, this year being held in the UK for the first time. Teams of four from 34 different countries, from China to South Korea, Greece to the USA, have travelled thousands of miles to a suburban hotel in Surrey to compete for the glory of the title of world sudoku champion. Continue reading...


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5 Tips For Writing A Powerful Speech

As a public speaker, there's nothing worse than delivering a lifeless, yawn-inducing speech. You always want to leave your audience feeling enlightened, hopeful, and inspired — but that's no easy feat. Here are the five steps to writing a powerful speech that will move your listeners: 1. Consider the audience's needs. The first rule of great speechmaking: consider the audience. "A great speechmaker possesses great tact," says Nick Morgan, speech coach and author of "Power Cues: The Subtle Science of Leading Groups, Persuading Others, and Maximizing Your Personal Impact." "You have to be prepared to speak to a particular audience on a particular occasion. Ultimately, then, a great speech is only partially about you. It's also about the audience and the occasion." Ask yourself: Who is this audience? What does it want? What does it fear? Why has it invited me to speak? What aspect of my message is most relevant to it? "And then ponder the occasion," he says. "What's happening right now that will be on the minds of everyone in the room? What should I not talk about? What does that audience need to hear?" 2. Catch the audience's attention. You need a great hook. "The idea is to frame the talk in the first one to three minutes, in a way that draws the audience in but doesn't simply give them an agenda," Morgan says. "That's boring. No one pays attention during the presentation of the agenda slide, so don't do it." Instead, tell a compelling story — one that shows (rather than tells) the topic you're going to be discussing.  3. Hold the audience's attention for the next 15 minutes. Yes, the very beginning of the presentation is crucial, and your ending can make or break it, too, but everything in between is just as important — and it's imperative that you hold your audience's attention throughout.  Take time to carefully think about how you'll accomplish that. "There's only one way that works reliably, and that involves asking yourself one simple question: What's the problem the audience has for which the information I'm ready to talk about is the answer?" Morgan says. 4. Offer a solution to their problem. Write a speech that addresses the problem and solution. "It's an ancient formula for persuading somebody of something," he says. "Unless you don't want to be persuasive, it's the best structure for a speech. The Greeks invented it more than 2,000 years ago, and it worked well for them. It will work well for you today." 5. Provide a call to action. The best way to finish is to give your audience something to do, Morgan says. Why? "Because you've just forced normally active people to be passive for the better part of an hour, and it's time to let them absorb your message actively. In this way, they'll better remember — and even act on — what you've been talking about." He says the best action step he ever saw was at a charitable event, where the speaker asked everyone to reach into their pockets and grab their loose change. "He said, 'Now hold it out at arm's length.' Once everyone was doing so, he added, 'Now, throw it on the floor.' There were 5,000 people or more in the audience, and the sound was amazing. What's more, the speaker had runners collect the money, and that audience raised literally thousands of dollars for AIDS in one or two moments." Find something relevant and connected closely to your message. Ask yourself, "What's the next thing I would want my audience to do after the speech is over?" Then, get them to do that, or motivate them to take a step toward that. "The point is that what people do they believe. So if you get them to act, that will reinforce their belief in your message," Morgan says. "The step should be simple, it should only take a few minutes, and it must be relevant to your message," he concludes.  Want your business advice featured in Instant MBA? Submit your tips to tipoftheday@businessinsider.com. Be sure to include your name, your job title, and a photo of yourself in your email.SEE ALSO: The 6 Worst Ways To End A Speech Join the conversation about this story »


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Gov’t defends shelving of Farmakonisi probe

Merchant Marine Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis on Monday issued an angry response to criticism by Europe’s top human rights official over a decision by a Greek prosecutor to shelve a probe into the deaths of 11 immigrants during a controversial coast gua... ...


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Gov't seeks to soften blow of Russian food embargo

Government officials were seeking ways on Monday to minimize the impact of a Russian food embargo by attempting to secure reassurances from Brussels that Greek producers will be compensated for their losses while also preparing to branch out into other ex... ...


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Banks to trim assets, especially abroad, to boost capital bases

The European Commission’s restructuring plans for Greek banks provide for a drastic scaling back of their activities abroad as well as reductions in the number of branches and staff at home. The plans for banks National (NBG) and Piraeus were given the gr... ...


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Stocks stage unconvincing recovery

In line with other emerging markets, Greek stocks staged a recovery on Monday, ending a rare series of 10 losing sessions, but buyers’ initial zeal fizzled out toward the end of the session. The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed 1.73 percent hi... ...


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Property tax mess puts rebates off

Property owners in Greece will not receive any income tax rebates due until the resolution of the new single property ownership tax (ENFIA) issue, which caused an uproar last week due to erroneous data having been used in the calculations. The Finance Min... ...


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Ten-Year-Old Killed Doing Water Sports in Mykonos

A ten-year-old Greek boy was killed while on a banana boat ride at the beach of Kalo Livadi in Mykonos, Greece, on Monday evening. According to Greek Coast Guard, the boy was riding the inflatable banana boat when he slipped and fell into the sea. Early information says that the speed boat towing the inflatable game turned back to locate the boy and appears to have hit him, killing him instantly, while other information says that the boy was hit by a different boat. A lifeguard was present on site but was unable to save the boy. Police arrested the owner of the water sports company owning the ride and the operator of the speedboat.


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NYT: In Greece, Migrants Are Desperate to Flee Again

The men ended up here because Greece, through its border with Turkey, is easier for unauthorized immigrants to reach than most of the rest of ...


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EU research to make sense of Big Data

by  NEOnline A new technology developed by researchers funded by the European Union could revolutionise the way we process data – Big Data. With a whopping €6.5m of EU funding invested in this innovative initiative, the CEEDs project is comprised of 16 partners in nine countries (Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and the UK).  According to a European Commission press release published on August 11, the researchers within CEEDs have figured out a way to allow the human mind to generate new ideas more efficiently by transposing big data into an interactive environment. To do this, they built a so-called eXperience Induction Machine (XIM) that uses virtual reality to enable a user to “step inside” large datasets. Set up at the Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, this immersive multi-modal environment contains a panoply of sensors that allows the system to present the information in the right way to the user, constantly tailored according to their reactions as they examine the data. These reactions – such as gestures, eye movements or heart rate – are monitored by the system and used to adapt the way in which the data is presented, according to the Commission’s press release.  Jonathan Freeman, Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths, University of London and coordinator of CEEDs, explains: “The system acknowledges when participants are getting fatigued or overloaded with information.  And it adapts accordingly. It either simplifies the visualisations so as to reduce the cognitive load, thus keeping the user less stressed and more able to focus.  Or it will guide the person to areas of the data representation that are not as heavy in information.” The real-life application of this project is striking. For instance, it could help students study more efficiently or reporters cross-check sources more quickly.  After all, data is everywhere. Data is being gathered by machines like satellites and videos and datasets range from climate information and purchase transaction records to GPS signals. With so much data, today’s challenge is about what to do with it.  Possible applications for CEEDs range from inspection of satellite imagery and oil prospecting, to astronomy, economics and historical research.  “Anywhere where there’s a wealth of data that either requires a lot of time or an incredible effort, there is potential,” adds Professor Freeman. “We are seeing that it’s physically impossible for people to analyse all the data in front of them, simply because of the time it takes. Any system that can speed it up and make it more efficient is of huge value.” The CEEDs team is currently in discussions with museums in the Netherlands and the UK and the United States, as well as public, charity and commercial organisations. For example, one of the applications is the visualisation of soil quality and climate in Africa in order to assist local farmers in optimising crop yields, according to the Commission’s press release.  “Big data doesn't have to be scary,” said European Commission Vice-President Neelie Kroes, who is responsible for the EU’s Digital Agenda. “Projects like this enable us to take control of data and deal with it so we can get down to solving problems. Leaders need to embrace big data.” CEEDs' effectiveness will be validated through studies involving stakeholders from science, history and design. The consortium envisages genuine benefits from the CEEDs system. Think, for example, of a young pupil using CEEDs being able to see complex patterns in an astronomy data set, patterns which without CEEDs would only be perceptible to an experienced professor. By unleashing the power of the subconscious, CEEDs will make fundamental contributions to human experience. When we look back to life before CEEDs, we may liken our experience to living with our eyes closed.


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A Year After Systematic Segregation Was Revealed, More Women Than Ever Are Rushing Alabama's Sororities

One year after the University of Alabama's student newspaper revealed that many of the school's sororities were actively keeping minority students from joining, more women than ever have signed up to go through UA's rush process this week. A report from UA students Abbey Crain and Matt Ford in The Crimson White last year uncovered a system-wide segregation in the school's sororities, which had only admitted one black student in 50 years. A week after The Crimson White's article, the UA administration mandated that the sororities go through "continuous open bidding" — an informal rush process that eventually led to 21 minority women joining predominantly white Greek houses, according to a recent report in Marie Claire. Details from the Marie Claire story paint a picture of an openly racist sorority system that was deeply afraid of allowing minority women to join their houses. One Kappa Delta sister recalled a revealing moment when a black student was accidentally seated in the sorority's high-interest room, called "Rush-to-Pledge": "This past year, a black girl ended up in the Rush-to-Pledge room ... Someone messed up and seated her in the wrong spot … so you can imagine the sad hilarity of watching a bunch of really privileged white girls freaking out. They were like, 'Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God! What are we going to do? She can't think we actually like her!' So they were like, 'Nobody talk to her. … She's gotta know that she's not welcome. She's gotta know this isn't going to work out.'" However, even after revelations such as these, more women than ever have signed up this year — with likely more than 2,250 female students participating in rush. AL.com reports that this is the most women to participate in UA history and probably the largest rush group of any college ever. Read more about University of Alabama's sorority rush week at AL.com SEE ALSO: A Misguided Fraternity Movement Is Revealing The Worst Aspects Of Frat Boy Culture FOLLOW US! Check Out BI Colleges On Facebook Join the conversation about this story »


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Home news Greek Scientist in Spain's Council of Elders

... Hungary · Italy · Russia · Serbia · Spain · Sweden · Switzerland · Turkey · United Kingdom · Home news Greek Scientist in Spain's Council of Elders ...


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52-year-old Brit Arrested in Crete for Taking Pictures of a Minor

A 52-year-old British tourist is being held by Greek Police following a complaint by a father, in Hersonisos, Crete, who realized that the foreigner was taking pictures of his little girl on the beach. The minor’s father noticed that the British man was photographing the child while she was playing in the sand and when he approached the tourist the latter rushed to disappear. The man reported the incident to the police who later found the 52-year-old and took him to the police station. According to information, police found dozens of photographs in his camera, mainly of underage girls playing carefree on the beaches of Crete and the case is being thoroughly investigated. Crete, along with other Greek islands, suffer from raping incidents and other forms of abuse due to tourists’ excessive drinking. Malia and Hersonissos, on the popular northern coast of the Greek island, have attracted an increasing number of booze-fuelled package tours, crammed with young people seeking a week away from the constraints of parental control. A Foreign Office report published last month showed that the number of British citizens arrested in 15 popular foreign resorts between 2006-07 had increased by more than 15% to 4,603, with many cases due to “excessive drinking.” Britain’s ambassador in Athens recently flew to the island of Zakynthos to reassure local officials cracking down on binge drinking. Meanwhile, the consulate is trying to get across the dangers of bad behavior with a poster campaign. For the resort towns, the money British tourists spend is offset by the added costs of public policing and the strains on health services caused by alcohol abuse and unsafe sex. Much of the problem has been blamed on the growing number of cheap flights and the prevalence of “happy hour” deals in bars organized by British tour operators.


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Greece First in Antibiotics Use in Europe

According to recent data by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Greece comes first in antibiotics consumption in the European Union. Kathimerini newspaper, citing data published by the British Telegraph, says that Greeks consume about 35.1 million doses of antibiotics per year. Greece is followed by Cyprus, Romania, Belgium and France. The use of multiple medications makes viruses and bacteria more resistant. Medicine overuse is attributed to bribery from pharmaceutical companies and staff shortages. According to former president of the hospital doctors union D. Varnavas, when doctors work 30 to 36 hours continuously, they are more careless in what they prescribe, while shortages in several drugs, force doctors to prescribe whatever is available. The doctors point out that hospital-acquired infections are part of the problem. Patients have to stay longer in the hospital and as a result the resistant strains of bacteria are spreading more easily. It is estimated that the resistance of viruses such as pneumonia has risen by 25% within 15 years.


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Clinical Operations Manager

Clinical Operations Manager, (COM) - Greece-CLI003391 Description MSD is a global healthcare leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription ...


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Greece affected by EU quota cuts to combat overfishing

The European Commission has cut this year’s fishing quotas for 10 member countries to compensate for overfishing in 2013 as it seeks to regenerate Europe’s depleted fish stocks. “If we want to be serious in our fight against overfishing, we need to apply ... ...


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Vergis, quirky leader of tiny party, arrested

Dimosthenis Vergis, the eccentric leader of the Greek Ecologists party, was arrested in the central Athens neighborhood of Exarchia on Monday having been convicted in absentia for fraud in June. The 73-year-old had been sentenced to 37.5 years in jail for... ...


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Colombia defender Pablo Armero on verge of completing move to AC Milan

by  Associated Press AC Milan on verge of signing Pablo Armero Associated Press - 11 August 2014 13:08-04:00 MILAN (AP) — Colombia international Pablo Armero is on the verge of completing a move to AC Milan, with the deal subject to a medical. Armero flew into Milan on Monday and the club says he will undergo tests over the next two days. The 27-year-old defender says "I am coming into a great squad, I want to earn my place here and do well." Armero played in all four of Colombia's matches at the World Cup and scored his country's first goal in the opening match against Greece. Armero moved from Udinese to Napoli on loan in January 2013, with the two clubs agreeing a co-ownership deal that summer. He spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham before Udinese bought out Napoli's share of the player in June. News Topics: Sports, Soccer, Men's soccer, Men's sports, Professional soccer People, Places and Companies: Pablo Armero, Milan, Italy, Western Europe, Europe Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Man questioned in Larissa over 5.25 mln in debts to state

A 42-year-old man was being questioned by police in Larissa, central Greece, on Monday in connection with outstanding debts to the state worth more than 5 million euros. The self-employed professional, who owes a total of 5.25 million euros in tax arrears... ...


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Update on CCF's trial – Sessions 99th-109th (Greece)

In between those sessions the nationwide hunger strike of the prisoners in Greece against the bill for the creation of maximum security prisons took ...


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Lindsay Lohan Engaged? Mean Girls Star Mixes Fun and Speculation on Greek Vacation; Lindsay ...

Lindsay Lohan engaged or just having fun with the paparazzi? The Mean Girls star is in Greece and playing in more than sand. Everyone seems to be ...


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Greek market moves up

Greek equities were battered on Friday as Athens SE plunged 4% closing below 1,050 points adversely affected by Russia's countermeasures against ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT english.capital.gr

Apollonia Grill Serves Up Modern Greek Cuisine

And what is a Greek restaurant without a good Greek salad? This one hits the mark with a clean presentation of feta, cucumbers, pepperoncini and ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT sarasotamagazine.com

Financial Scam against IKA State Fund

Greek Financial Police has completed an investigation regarding a scam against the State and social security fund IKA, resulting in damages to the tune of 12.8 million euros. Suspects are facing felony charges of fraud, forgery, violating tax legislation and embezzling funds from the State, amongst others. The investigation revealed that 18 people were involved in the social security scam. It has been estimated that between 2010 and 2013 the State and IKA suffered damages amounting to 7.8 and 5 million euros respectively by the activities of a ring that set up dummy companies faking social security payments for employees so that the real employers did not have any obligation to insure them. However the dummy companies paid none of the social security dues they had accrued. Through a labyrinthine network of overlapping insurance paths, they used five dummy companies to lift the obligation of social security payments for employees of a number of real firms, mostly gyms and cleaning crews. At the heart of the scam is a 54-year-old accountant. The police investigation also revealed that the implicated companies were not only content with scamming the State and insurance funds, as they did not pay their employees their wages and benefits. Additionally, the employees have lost the insurance stamps they accumulated during the 3-year-period the scam took place, leaving many of them in a difficult situation.


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Secure Property agrees to acquire A GLA17, 756 SQM warehouse in Athens

... located in the West Attica Industrial Area, Greece, from G.E. DIMITRIOU A.E.E., a Greek company listed in Athens Stock Exchange (the ''Seller'').


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Government of Greece to Launch New Licensing Round and Announces Proposal for Significant ...

The government of Greece seeks landmark agreements for the award of the first new oil and gas exploration leases in the country for nearly 20 years.


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The Remains Of Athens' Olympic Games

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the 2004 Summer Olympics, a reminder for Greece , a nation $465 billion in debt today, of its less austere days.


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The Mystery of Ancient Amphipolis

Excavations conducted in a tomb in Casta, in ancient Amphipolis, have raised questions. The area is being guarded by the police while the Greek Ministry of Culture and Sports is monitoring ongoing developments. Archaeologists are wondering if they have discovered an ancient royal tomb. According to data presented by the department head of ancient monuments in northern Greece, Catherine Peristeri, excavations in Casta mound have revealed a unique world monument due to its size reaching a height of 3 meters and a total length of 497 meters. The tomb dates back to 325-300 BC and reportedly bears the signature of famous ancient architect Dinocrates, a close friend of Alexander the Great. According to Peristeri, major historical events had taken place in the area of Amphiboles during that period. Major generals and admirals of Alexander the Great are associated with the area,  and it is there that in 311 BC Cassander exiled and then killed the wife of Alexander the Great, Roxanne, and his son, Alexander the Fourth. The tomb consists of foundations, supporting columns, a top part and decorations of white marble from Thassos.  It was destroyed during the Roman period and many architectural elements disappeared, some of which were discovered during excavations in the area where the famous Lion of Amphipolis is located. Excavations in the mound of Amphipolis first started in the 1960s. Many have claimed that the tomb belongs to Alexander the Great. However, archaeologists and experts say that although the monument is really important, it is not attributed to him.


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10.5 Billion Euros Owed to Insurance Funds

Latest data released by the Ministry of Labor show that debts towards the insurance funds in Greece amount to 10.5 billion euros. The funds that are damaged the most are IKA-ETAM, self-employment fund OAEE and farmer pension fund OGA. The greater part of the debt was generated prior to 2009 and is attributed to a small number of debtors. According to the Ministry, 833 debtors are responsible for about 27% of the debt. About 66% of debtors owe less than 20,000 euros each. Despite the continuous increase of debts, only a small number of debtors seem willing to settle their debts. So far, there have been only 16,084 settlements for debts totaling 587 million euros. Meanwhile, the Ministry has expressed concern about various loopholes that allow employers to avoid paying insurance contributions, such as the creation of fake subsidiary companies and the appointment of elderly people without any assets at the helm of companies. It is estimated that the Greek state has lost about 50 million euros from insurance contribution evasion, which has been observed mostly in the restaurant, cleaning, metal and telecommunications industries.


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10.5 Billion Euros Owed to Insurance Funds

Latest data released by the Ministry of Labor show that debts towards the insurance funds in Greece amount to 10.5 billion euros. The funds that are damaged the most are IKA-ETAM, self-employment fund OAEE and farmer pension fund OGA. The greater part of the debt was generated prior to 2009 and is attributed to a small number of debtors. According to the Ministry, 833 debtors are responsible for about 27% of the debt. About 66% of debtors owe less than 20,000 euros each. Despite the continuous increase of debts, only a small number of debtors seem willing to settle their debts. So far, there have been only 16,084 settlements for debts totaling 587 million euros. Meanwhile, the Ministry has expressed concern about various loopholes that allow employers to avoid paying insurance contributions, such as the creation of fake subsidiary companies and the appointment of elderly people without any assets at the helm of companies. It is estimated that the Greek state has lost about 50 million euros from insurance contribution evasion, which has been observed mostly in the restaurant, cleaning, metal and telecommunications industries.


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In-House Checks for Tax Evaders

In a continuous effort to fight tax evasion, Greece is adopting the US model as the State Legal Council has ruled in-house checks or checks in offices and businesses constitutional. Tax officers will have the authority to search for money or other valuables in the premises of the suspected tax evaders. Greek daily newspaper Ethnos reported that tax officers will now be able to proceed in investigations similar to the ones conducted by the IRS in the USA without the prosecutor’s presence. Furthermore, the State Legal Council has given the “green light” for tax investigators to confiscate money or other valuables. This ruling was voted with a marginal majority of 14 to 10 by the Plenary of the State Legal Council, after a relevant request from the Finance Ministry. After giving its own interpretation to the existing law, the Plenary came to the conclusion that “tax checks that are directly related to the collection of taxes and other state arrears are allowed without the presence of a judicial authority official, as long as there is a prosecutor order for the in-house check.” This measure will help the government collect taxes from tax evaders; a major issue the Finance Ministry is trying to tackle. The General Secretariat of Public Revenue recently presented a strategic plan for the 2014-2017 period that envisages actions aimed at boosting timely payment by taxpayers, reducing old tax debt and the size of black economy, combating tax-evasion, containing corruption and enhancing the skills of the tax administration workforce. The plan foresees the collection of 2 billion euros from old tax debt, 25% of new overdue tax debt, 30.9 billion euros in pre-return taxes by tax agencies and 12.1 billion euros in pre-return taxes by customs offices. The plan also foresees widespread tax controls of large enterprises and wealthy individuals, along with measures aimed to boost the efficiency of the tax administration, such as updating IT infrastructure, locating and combating corruption and promoting a code of ethics, improving methods of forced debt collection and the efficiency of tax controls. The Public Revenue office says it has completed 181 tax controls on wealthy individuals and businesses so far this year and has imposed fines totaling more than 45 million euros.


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Greece accuses Turkey of exploiting Russian EU food ban

EurActiv Greece reports. Russia President Vladimir Putin last week banned fruit and vegetable imports from the EU – and all food imports from the US ...


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Trader's Recap: National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG), Oracle Corporation (NYSE:ORCL ...

On 5 AUG National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG) said that shares of National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG) were the target of a large decrease ...


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Stock Highlights : National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG), International Game (NYSE:IGT ...

National Bank of Greece (ADR) (NYSE:NBG), the top lender in Greece, is unloading assets to boost its balance sheet ahead of the European bank ...


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Immigrants Lives Are Worthless in Greece

Between being pushed back toward Turkey, allowed to drown, and shot at by employers, illegal immigrants in Greece don't have a chance. The post Immigrants Lives Are Worthless in Greece appeared first on The National Herald.


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Didier Drogba's international retirement met with surprise, no tribute in Ivory Coast

by  Associated Press Surprised Ivorian FA delays Drogba tribute by GERALD IMRAY, Associated Press - 11 August 2014 10:33-04:00 After 12 years of service and a record 65 goals in 104 games, Didier Drogba's international retirement from the Ivory Coast team at the age of 36 has been met with "surprise" by the country's federation, which said it wants to talk with the veteran striker over his decision. Instead of expressing gratitude to its leading scorer of all time, the Ivory Coast Football Federation responded to Drogba's announcement with a statement saying it was taken off guard and hadn't been informed. "The Ivorian Football Federation intends to make immediate contact (with Drogba) to determine the underlying reasons for this decision before giving its official position on the end of the international career of the player Didier Drogba," FIF President Sidy Diallo said, delaying a tribute to one of its best-ever players. Drogba announced his decision on Friday after representing his country since 2002 and captaining the national team for the last eight years. His final game was the last-minute loss to Greece at the World Cup in Brazil which denied the Ivorians a place in the second round for the first time. Drogba played in all three of Ivory Coast's World Cup appearances, in 2006, 2010 and this year. And although he couldn't inspire the Ivorians to a major title during his time with the team — losing two African Cup finals — Drogba was undoubtedly one of the West Africa nation's greatest players. "It is with much sadness that I have decided to retire from international football," Drogba said on his personal website. "These past 12 years in the national team have been full of emotions. From my first call up to my last match I have always tried to give my best for my country." Drogba's role with the national team had changed over the last 18 months, and he was used off the bench at the 2013 African Cup of Nations and at this summer's World Cup in Brazil. Yet the Ivorian federation said his decision to quit was a "surprise" and he still had an "important role" in the team under new coach Herve Renard, citing qualifiers starting next month for the 2015 African Cup of Nations in Morocco in January and February. Drogba's career with Ivory Coast never matched the highs he reached in club football, where he won three Premier League titles and the Champions League with Chelsea. He couldn't end a long trophy drought for the Ivory Coast, which is yet to add to its lone African title in 1992. Drogba missed a penalty in a shootout loss to Egypt in the 2006 Cup of Nations final, and failed with another spot-kick in open play before the Ivorians lost to Zambia in the final in another shootout six years later. In his retirement announcement, Drogba said "all my goals, all my caps, all our victories" were for the fans. He also thanked teammates and welcomed new coach Renard, who was appointed to replace Sabri Lamouchi last month following the World Cup. News Topics: Sports, 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, Men's soccer, Professional soccer, Soccer, Events, Men's sports, International soccer People, Places and Companies: Didier Drogba, Ivory Coast, Africa, West Africa Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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ECB funding to Greek banks drops slightly in July

ATHENS Aug 11 (Reuters) - European Central Bank (ECB) funding to Greek banks fell in July by 330 million euros, Greek central bank data showed ...


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Bessemer's Bright Star hosts Taste of New Orleans 2014 with Commander's Palace chef Tory ...

Dinner guests also may order such traditional Bright Star dishes as seafood gumbo ($4.95 a cup, $6.95 a bowl), Greek salad ($6.75), Greek-style ...


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Chios: the most amazing, yet least-known Greek island of them all?

Chios is said to be the birthplace of the Ancient Greek poet Homer, author of poems the Iliad and the odyssey. Legend has it that Homer sat on the ...


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Battle on the beach: Greece moves to open coast for development

Greece has pristine beaches, blue seas, and plenty of sunshine. But this picture-perfect image could be under threat. In a country where holidaymakers contribute to 16% of GDP, the government is banking on its tourist industry to help bolster the economic ...


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