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Friday, September 12, 2014

S&P upgrades Greek credit rating as fiscal conditions improve

Standard & Poor’s raised Greece’s credit rating one notch on Friday, from B- to B, acknowledging the fiscal endeavors made by the country. It maintained Greece’s outlook as stable. "We expect recovering real and nominal GDP will enable Greece to operate a... ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Massive drop in heating oil consumption last year

Greek households reduced their heating oil consumption by 46.1 percent in 2013 compared to 2012 due to the hike in the special consumption tax, according to data from the Hellenic Statistical Authority’s Family Budgets Survey. The ELSTAT survey also showe... ...


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Athens provides political support for ISIS fight

Greece said Friday that it is willing to provide non-military backing to the group of countries that is willing to take on the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL. “We welcome and express our political support for the creation of a global alliance o... ...


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Greek Man Sentenced to Eight Years Imprisonment for Fraud

A Greek man was sentenced to eight years imprisonment on Tuesday in Boston for defrauding developers of 7.9 million dollars, part of which came from a West Springfield financial adviser who stole the money from his clients. The 49-year-old Evripedes ...


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Media: Greece, new upheaval at state broadcaster NERIT

(ANSAmed) - ATHENS, SEPTEMBER 12 - A day after the managing director of state broadcaster NERIT and his deputy resigned abruptly from their ...


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In Greece, a Run With Some History

The ultra marathon runner Dean Karnazes will join participants of all ages and abilities for the Navarino Challenge, a series of runs through olive ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT intransit.blogs.nytimes.com

S&P Ups Greece Crediting Rating, Still 'Junk'

S&P said in a statement that the outlook for Greece is stable, with progress in fiscal consolidation and “political resolve to continue with structural and ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT blogs.barrons.com

Free document shredding events at CNB

14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and at the CNB Greece-Latta & Long Pond Bank Office, 3204 Latta Road on Sunday, Sept. 28 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m..


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Heroes of the Moment: The Greek-Americans in WWI

“Has a philosopher like you failed to discover that our country is more to be valued and higher and holier far than mother or father or any ancestor, and more to be regarded in the eyes of the gods and of men of understanding?”, said Socrates (469-391 ...


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Archaeologists making their way into third and final vault of Amphipolis tomb

Excavations at an ancient tomb discovered in August in Amphipolis, northern Greece, on Friday stirred more speculation into who may have been buried there as archaeologists worked to gain entry into a third chamber, revealed behind two life-sized marble s... ...


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Eurogroup chief says troika all-clear must precede next decisions about Greek economy

Greece will have to get the troika review due to begin at the end of the month out of the way before it and its lenders can begin assessing issues such as a third bailout and debt relief, Eurogroup chief Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Friday after a meeting of ... ...


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Boston's Museum of Fine Arts Rethinks Its Greek Classics

What's the way to see classical art—by the year or by the theme? For a century, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts has chronologically organized its collection of ancient Greek art, dated largely between the 6th and 4th centuries B.C. But on Tuesday, the ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT online.wsj.com

Greece insists on war reparations

Greece made clear Friday that the country has not given up its claim to World War II reparations from Germany, adding however that officials are anticipating two reports on the matter. “We are, for the time being, awaiting the conclusions of the cross-par... ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.ekathimerini.com

Italy, Greece approve TAP environmental studies

by  Kostis Geropoulos On 12 September, Italy’s Minister of Environment Gianluca Galletti signed the Decree of environmental compatibility of the project submitted by Trans Adriatic Pipeline AG (TAP) for the Italian section of the pipeline, concluding another major milestone for the project, TAP said. The final EIA report is in full accordance with both Italian and EU legislation and follows the international requirements of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), TAP said in a press release. Also on September 12, Greece’s Environment, Energy and Climate Change Minister Yiannis Maniatis approved the environmental conditions (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - ESIA) for the construction of TAP in Greece. The decision concerns the Greek section of the pipeline - 543 kilometres from Kipoi of Evros to the Greek-Albanian border in the area of Ieropigis in Northern Kastoria, the Greek government said on its website. Regarding Italy’s approval of the EIA, TAP said in the press release that it comes after extensive engagement with all those involved including regular discussion with local communities, public consultation and close cooperation with those national and regional authorities involved in the process. “TAP is committed to responsibly deliver a world-class project in Italy and will continue to work closely and collaboratively with all those involved,” the consortium said. TAP will transport natural gas from the giant Shah Deniz II field in Azerbaijan to Europe. The approximately 870 kilometre long pipeline will connect with the Trans Anatolian Pipeline (TANAP) near the Turkish-Greek border at Kipoi, cross Greece and Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Southern Italy.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.neurope.eu

Eurogroup Asks Greece To Complete All Memorandum Obligations

The 17 members of the Eurozone Finance Ministers participating in today’s informal Eurogroup meeting in Milan, asked Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis to implement the commitments arising from the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Troika. The Eurogroup members asked Hardouvelis to expedite the implementation of all pending commitments and not just the ones related to the financial sector. Eurozone Finance Ministers emphatically asked the Greek delegation to implement the Greek program by the end of January 2015. Simply put, the European partners have requested Greece to rapidly implement not only the prerequisites of the current assessment (expected to start in September and estimated to be completed in October) but also those that have been agreed and scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2014. According to information from the Finance Ministry, the Troika is going to return to Athens at the end of September. At today’s Eurogroup meeting, according to Greek newspaper “Proto Thema,” Hardouvelis intervened during the discussion on the structural reforms and stated that Greece is among the first countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the implementation of reforms, while he further noted that the adoption of structural reforms is needed to support society and this would only be achieved if Greek people improve their standard of living.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Poll: New Standards In Political Controversy

A poll conducted by Metron Analysis reveals major twists and sets new standards in political controversy. A part of the survey conducted by Greek newspaper “Parapolitika,” was presented today at the Parapolitika 90.1 FM radio station. According to the poll, on the question regarding the election of the President of the Hellenic Republic, 54% of respondents said that they prefer him to be elected by the current Parliament, while 41% wants early parliamentary elections to be held before that. On the question how will Greece exit from the crisis, 84% of respondents said that a change in the political system is necessary, representing the vast majority of voters from all political parties, while only 8% of them requested a change in the policies implemented. Also, 68% of them gave a negative assessment of the government, against 26% who had a favorable opinion. 68% of respondents assess opposition party SYRIZA negatively, against 22% who had a favorable view. 44% of citizens believe that the situation in the economy will be worse in the following year, 29% it will remain the same, while 25% believes it will improve. Finally, 38% of respondents believe that the coalition government of Antonis Samaras can handle the issue of negotiating the country’s debt, while 25% believe that a new SYRIZA government would handle this issue better.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Greek stocks post weekly losses of 3 percent

Hopes of the Greek benchmark extending its four-week rising streak were crushed on Friday as the session’s stock decline sealed a week of losses that came to 2.99 percent for the main index, while daily turnover averaged 21 percent below last week’s. The ... ...


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Potami leader says party open to cooperation after next elections

Stavros Theodorakis, the leader of centrist To Potami, said on Friday that his party is prepared to work with whoever wins the next general elections. “We are open to having discussions, when the time is right, with whoever the Greek people decide should ... ...


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Court gives Greek gov’t two months to restore army wages

The Council of State on Friday gave the government two months to abide by a previous ruling ordering it to restore armed forces and police wages to the same level as in 2012, when they were cut by 10 percent. The coalition has so far failed to adopt the r... ...


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Greek president warns of Europe's ‘lost generation’

Greek President Karolos Papoulias on Friday warned of the risks of a “lost generation” due to unemployment in Europe, which is being dealt with in too “relaxed and ineffective” a manner. Papoulias was speaking at the Bellevue Palace in Berlin at an event ... ...


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Greek Sovereign Rating Raised to B by S&P on Budget Improvement

Greece’s credit rating was raised one level by Standard & Poor’s, which cited a better fiscal outlook for the country that sparked Europe’s debt crisis even as gross domestic product struggles.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.bloomberg.com

Possible Merger of Athens and Thessaloniki Water Utilities

Water utilities of the two largest cities in Greece may merge. Athens Water Supply & Sewage Co. (EYDAP) and Thessaloniki Water Supply & Sewage Co. (EYATH) may become one company after efforts for their privatization were halted by legal obstacles and local opposition. According to a government official, the merger would create a company with a market value of almost 1.4 billion dollars that would be able to attract capital and carry out larger investments. However, the official said that no final decision has been made yet. The move follows a Greek constitutional court ruling in May that canceled the transfer of the government’s stake in EYDAP to the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF), deeming it “unconstitutional.” An unofficial referendum in Thessaloniki and 10 municipalities on May 18 showed that locals were opposing to the sale of EYATH, forcing HRADF to review its plans. The merger would create synergies and is part of the government’s plan for managing water supply and infrastructure in Greece, the government official said. He also noted that EYDAP’s know-how and personnel will help EYATH carry out infrastructure projects. The Greek state is the biggest shareholder in both water companies while Paulson & Co. bought a 9.9% stake in EYDAP in May. EYDAP has a market value of 914 million euros ($1.2 billion) and EYATH almost 152 million euros.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Greece's credit rating lifted at S&P

"Risks to fiscal consolidation in Greece have abated," says S&P, upgrading the country's credit rating to B from B-. S&P expects the economy to ...


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S&P Upgrades Greece from 'B-' to 'B'; Risks to Fiscal Consolidation Have Faded

The upgrade reflects our view that risks to fiscal consolidation in Greece have abated. We forecast that, from next year, the Greek economy will emerge ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.streetinsider.com

Stavros Flatley's Greek Cuisine

Comedy dance duo Stavros Flatley show off their Greek-inspired cooking in the latest round of Who's Doing The Dishes? Preheat oven to 180C. Lay onion, celery, carrots and bay leaves into roasting dish and place lamb shanks on top, coat in the olive oil and ...


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Greek debt upgraded to 'B' by S&P; Recovery 'weak'

Greece's credit rating was upgraded by Standard & Poor's on Friday and the ratings agency forecast its economy would start growing again next year.


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Suicide Rates in Greece Decrease

According to the Suicide Network Records of NGO Klimaka’s Prevention Center, Greece has recorded a decrease in its suicide rate in the first quarter of 2014. On the occasion of World Suicide Prevention Day on September 10, new information regarding ...


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Thessaloniki to Host World Rowing Coastal Championships

Thessaloniki, northern Greece, will be hosting one of the most important and prestigious sports events, the 2014 World Rowing Coastal Championships. The event, which has been organized by the Greek Rowing Federation and the Thessaloniki Metropolitan Development Agency, is expected to last three days, from October 17 to 19. Over the last decade, coastal rowing was included in the official categories of the World Rowing Federation. The sport has been increasingly growing, since it is attractive and exciting to watch. It is estimated that more than 500 athletes from at least 23 countries have agreed to participate in this year’s championships. According to the organization team, the coastal venue will be open on Thursday, October 16, for training, while the races have been scheduled to start on Friday, October 17, at 9am. The closing will take place on Saturday, October 18, at 6pm. Finally on Sunday, October 19, spectators will have the chance to enjoy races by “unusual crew members.”


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S&P raises Greece by one notch in latest ratings boost

ATHENS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's raised Greece's credit rating by one notch on Friday, the latest ratings boost for the debt-laden country, and said it expected Athens to continue reporting budget surpluses before interest payments in the next ...


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

S&P Upgrades Greece Debt Rating

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded its debt rating for Greece, citing progress in the nation's fiscal reform efforts and its potential return to economic growth. The firm now puts its long-term sovereign credit rating for Greece at B—five ...


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Greece Makes Budget Progress

Greece has made its second successful return to the bond markets as the government said it it was beating a key bailout budget target. The post Greece Makes Budget Progress appeared first on The National Herald.


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S&P: Greece Rating Upgraded, To Emerge From Recession In 2015

WASHINGTON (MNI) - Rating agency Standard & Poor's Friday upgraded Greece's sovereign credit rating to 'B' from 'B-', with a stable outlook, lauding the progress made by the government in tackling the nation's fiscal woes and predicting that the euro area ...


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S&P raises sovereign credit rating on Greece

Sept 12 (Reuters) - Standard & Poor's raised its long-term sovereign credit rating on Greece to 'B' from 'B-', saying risks to fiscal consolidation in the country have abated. The ratings services said it expects the Greek economy to emerge next year from ...


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Four World Cup Greeks Still in Search of a Team

  Four Greek players who have participated in World Cups (2010 or 2014) have just one day left to decide the next stop in their career. The official deadline for free agent transfers (players whose contracts have expired and don’t belong to a team) is today and these are our four protagonists: Giorgos Karagounis The contract of the Greek captain, with 139 games under his belt, expired in June after two years in the Premier League wearing the Fulham jersey. According to rumors, Panathinaikos, for whom he had been an emblematic figure during seasons 1998-2003 and 2007-2012 approached him for a last-minute contract but their offer was not good enough. Karagounis still has a lot to offer even at the age of 37 and that was apparent during the World Cup in Brazil a few months ago, where he accumulated more kilometers per minute than anyone else. Kostas Katsouranis The most controversial figure in Greek football has one day left before he decides in which club to continue next year. The Greek international was sent off during Greece’s game against Japan in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, turning the entire nation against him. Although his personality is smashed down by the media, it turns out that most of his teammates look up to him. After all, he’s one of the best all-around footballers Greece has seen in years. Eight years have passed since he last wore the yellow and black kit of AEK Athens and it seems he’ll be doing the same this year to help them return to the first division. Sotiris Ninis The two greatest talents of the 00′s for the midfield position have been Sotiris Ninis and Giannis Fetfatzidis. The latter has a promising career ahead of him at Genoa, in Italy, but the former struggled to unwrap his charisma at Italian side Parma who eventually released him. He was once dubbed the Greek Messi, as he wowed crowds with his earlier performances, especially the two against AS Roma for the UEFA Europa League in 2012. After knee and ab surgeries, he will need to climb a mountain to get back to the state he once was, but even at this level, he still has enough offers to choose from. The only problem is that none of these offers are from top-notch teams. Michalis Sifakis Being named Greek Super League’s best goalkeeper in 2010 and 2011 seems so far away for Michalis Sifakis. He carried the Greek national team to the quarter-finals of the Euro 2012 until the elimination by Germany and grabbed a strong contract with Belgian side Charleroi. After missing out most of the season, he then signed for Atromitos of Athens in 2013, which seemed like a healthy place to restart his career. However, mid-season in, he lost his starting place to Luigi Cennamo and therefore decided to terminate his contract a few months ago. He is still in search of a club.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

New Museum of Pella Hosts Wealth of Macedonian Empire

The Archaeological Museum of Pella was inaugurated on September 5 by Culture and Sports Minister Kostas Tasoulas with the exhibit “Macedonian Treasures” that will run until September 30, 2015. The exhibition showcases valuable artifacts from excavations in the area, including royal tombs and the Aegae palace (present-day Vergina), capital of Macedonia’s kingdom, and discoveries from Archontiko (which predated Pella during the 7th and 6th centuries BC, or Archaic times), including gold wreaths, gold masks, jewellery, weapons, sculptures, alabaster objects and vases, among others. Tasoulas said the archaeological excavations in Pella and Imathia, the prefectures in northern Greece associated with the Macedonian Empire and Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), are funded by the EU-based National Strategic Reference Program with 35 million euros. A comprehensive program with cultural tours and reconstruction of the palace complex at Aegae belonging to Philip II (382-336 BC), Alexander’s father, has also been submitted to the same program for funding. Some of the exhibits were included in shows at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford and the Louvre in Paris in 2011. Angeliki Kottaridi, director of the local ephorate of antiquities, said that the museum wants to “give a complete picture of the civilization in the heart of Macedonia in Archaic and early Classical times, a time when the greatest changes were taking place and the Macedonians were beginning to establish their kingdom.” The “Lady of Aegae” celebrates Euridice, wife and queen of Amyntas I (530-495 BC), high priestess of the Macedonians. She was also the mother of three kings, including Philip II. A mannequin with gold jewellery and pins decorating her dress are on show, as are Macedonian warriors’ armors and gold funerary masks (for males and females). Among other exhibits, are vessels, including bronze and alabaster ones, decorative ostrich eggs and faience. The exhibits of Pella are permanently housed on the museum’s ground floor.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com

Greece makes further progress on budget front

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece has made its second successful return to the bond markets as the government revealed Friday that it was beating a key bailout budget target — and by a big margin.


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Greece beating budget target as it taps bond market investors for more money

ATHENS, Greece - Greece has made its second successful return to the bond markets as the government revealed Friday that it was beating a key bailout budget target — and by a big margin.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT ca.finance.yahoo.com

Greek high school prevented from opening on Gökçeada

The Greek minority high school that was not allowed to be opened on Gökçeada bt the Education Ministry on the grounds that the school building was ...


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Going Greek: Which Will You Choose?

For eligible men at Washington College, fraternity rush is right around the corner with Fall rush events beginning this week. Any male that has been at ...


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Greek community generates hazing awareness on campus

While most Greek aspects are positive, new sorority and fraternity members can experience some form of hazing to be initiated. UCA's website defines ...


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Body Beautiful exhibition in Bendigo revisits ancient Greece

XENOPHANES, the pre-Socratic philosopher from Colophon, mused that if we didn't have honey we could consider figs the sweetest of foods.


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Greece's Cyclades islands explored on board the MS Galileo

FORTY years ago my wife visited the Greek islands as part of a 20-something's Contiki tour of Europe. She fell in love with the bright beaches, the sun ...


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Turkey, Greece to meet again over Aegean problems

Turkey and Greece have improved their political and economic relations in recent years, but have not to found a formula to end the Aegean problem.


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.hurriyetdailynews.com

Traders Recap- Motorola Solutions Inc (NYSE:MSI), National Bank of Greece (ADR) (NYSE:NBG ...

Las Vegas, NV – 12September, 2014– (TechSonian) – Motorola Solutions Inc (NYSE:MSI) apprisethat the Santander 2014 ISAF Olympic World ...


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Hot Alert : NovaBay Pharmaceuticals (NYSEMKT:NBY), National Bank of Greece (NYSE:NBG ...

On last trading day National Bank of Greece SA (NYSE:NBG) remains unchanged to close at $3.31. NBG is -48.92% away from its 52 week high and is ...


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ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's finance ministry states ...

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's finance ministry states the nation 's budgetary rank is much better than expected . It states that its surplus, once ...


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Greek Anti-Racism Bill: “Who Defines What’s Insulting?”

Greece's new anti-racism law was aimed at the Golden Dawn extremists, but critics say there's a gray area over the definition of "insulting" language. The post Greek Anti-Racism Bill: “Who Defines What’s Insulting?” appeared first on The National Herald.


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The Australians who go to war for the Israeli and Greek armies

When Adam Greene*, a Melbourne accountant, volunteered for 15 months of military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) he was well aware he ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.smh.com.au

Government interference cited as Nerit chairman and deputy resign

Nerit, the new Greek state broadcaster that the government set up to replace what it said was its corrupt and wasteful predecessor ERT, has been ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.enetenglish.gr

Greek budget reports 1.951 bln euros primary surplus in January

Greek state budget presented a primary surplus of 1.951 billion euros in the January-August period this year, Finance Alternate Minister Christos ...


READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT english.capital.gr