Markets plunge as oil dips below $50; Euro drops on Greece

NEW YORK (AP) — The ongoing slump in the price of oil is starting to become a headache for the stock market.

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Incredible Photo Montage Shows The Greek Island Of Ikaria Being Pummeled By An Intense Lightning Storm

In the distance, under an intense lighting storm, you can just barely see the Greek island of Ikaria in this image. The image above is a composite of multiple shots that photographer, Chris Kotsiopoulo, took during a thunderstorm storm in June 2011. While they didn't all happen at the same time, you can see how intense the storm was and how completely covered in lighting strikes this little island is. The storm shot was a lucky coincidence Kotsiopoulo stumbled upon while photographing a total lunar eclipse. Over the course of the storm, more than 100 lightning bolts illuminated the little island. This shot is made from 70 different photos, to show a time-lapse of the storm in one, mind-blowing image. As you can see from the image, many of the strikes reached the ground. This type of lightning is known as cloud-t0-ground lightning, one of the rarest types of lighting, and the most deadly, since it strikes the Earth — and the humans on it. A single lightning bolt carries approximately 5 billion Joules of energy, which means this storm generated about 500 billion Joules — the same amount of energy stored in 3800 gallons of gasoline. Here's a time lapse video of part of the storm: "Photographing lightning is a unique challenge for many photographers but your life is worth much more than even the best photo," Kotsiopoulos writes in his description of his "Lightning" timelapse video available on Vimeo. If you want to photograph lightning like Kotsiopoulos, he advises, "If the storm is near you, set the camera to take continuous shots with an intervalometer and then seek shelter inside a car or a building." You can check out more of Kotsiopoulos's work on Greek Sky.SEE ALSO: IKARIA, GREECE: The Oldest People On Earth Reveal The Secrets To Living Past 100 CHECK OUT: You Won't Believe This Astronaut's Vine Of A Lightning Storm From Space Join the conversation about this story »

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A Wine to Pair with Kataifi

Vietti Moscato d’Asti, 2014 Wonderfully syrupy and gooey, kataifi is among the most popular Greek desserts.  Here is a wine that partners with it ideally! This wine has just recently switched over to the 2014 vintage, and it is a fresh, sinfully sweet treat. Moscato may not be everyone’s cup of tea, so to speak, […] The post A Wine to Pair with Kataifi appeared first on The National Herald.

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German Vice Chancellor Gabriel: Germany Wants Greece in the Eurozone

The German government’s desire for Greece’s Eurozone membership expressed the country’s Vice Chancellor and Economic Affairs Minister, Sigmar Gabriel, in his recent interview to German newspaper “Hanoversche Allgemeine Zeitung,” adding that the Eurozone expects that the agreements between the two sides are implemented. The Vice Chancellor’s interview came as a response to a recent “Der Spiegel” article, which speculated that the German government is preparing for a possible Greek exit from the European monetary union. Gabriel highlighted that there are no such secret plans, while he repeated his call for the Greek government to stick with its agreed commitments. “The aim of the German government, the European Union and Athens’ government itself is to keep Greece in the Eurozone. There were and there are no other plans on the contrary,” underlined Gabriel, noting that the Eurozone has become more stable in recent years. “Therefore, there cannot be any blackmailing and we expect from the future Greek government – whoever its leader might be – to comply with the agreements concluded with the EU,” he said. In the event that Greece leaves the Euro, it will be unable to pay its debts, which will then burden Germany, warned CDU’s (Christian Democratic Union) Christian Baeumler in response to the “Der Spiegel” report, which caused major reactions within the country. SPD (Social Democratic Party of Germany), the leader of which is Gabriel, heavily criticized those rumors and accused the conservatives of the German coalition government for the “Der Spiegel” leak. On its behalf, German leftish party Die Linke personally accused Chancellor Angela Merkel of an attempt to destabilize Greece ahead of the January 25 critical general elections, by resorting to such a public extortion. At the same time, German newspaper “Die Welt” claimed in a report that Greece currently holds an advantage over Germany, arguing that a new debt haircut is now more possible than ever before, while adding that a Grexit would be inevitable in case Greek main opposition SYRIZA comes to power after the snap elections and freezes the austerity measures as promised. As such, the German government is indirectly involved in Greece’s domestic affairs, something that will further support SYRIZA’s cause, while potentially lead to a bank run and further alienate the Greek political elite, which may then increase the pressure in Europe.

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Greece vs Europe: who will blink first?

There is a whiff of 1914 to the latest Balkan showdown. Everybody thinks everybody else is bluffing, all of them betting that a calamitous chain reaction will be averted. In Germany, Der Spiegel reports that Angela Merkel thinks Greece can be ejected ...

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Talk of Greek departure from the euro returns, with analysts warning of complacency

Talk of Greece crashing out of the euro is back.

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The Guardian view on the euro: running out of road

The single currency remains in a debt crisis. In deflationary times, this will require a novel solution: honestyThe one thing that can be said with certainty about these debts, Keynes said of the reparations imposed on Germany at Versailles, is that they will not be repaid. He was correct, of course, and the world would soon learn the catastrophic cost of demanding that a country should pay the unpayable. A parallel is apparent with the obligations hung around the neck of the Mediterranean economies by the eurozone’s creditors, most importantly Germany itself. The emergency election in Greece, triggered by the prime minister’s failure to get his choice of president endorsed, is only the first of several 2015 crunch points at which the unsustainable may cease to be sustained. In the autumn, it will be Portugal and then Spain’s turn to put to the electoral test the purchase of respectable financial standing with interminable austerity.Anyone who wanted the single currency to survive – which remarkably, perhaps, still includes not only most eurozone governments but also most of its people – should be keen to keep open every feasible course through such choppy waters. But instead of signalling flexibility, Berlin is posturing as tough, with Der Spiegel reporting that Chancellor Angela Merkel and her finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble are “no longer afraid” of forcing Greece out of the club. Even if, as is possible, Mrs Merkel is merely seeking to warn Greeks off the anti-austerity leftists of Syriza, this represents a considerable hardening of the position. Official words about the expectation that Greece will remain in the euro and repay its debt remove none of the sting: Berlin is semi-publicly flirting with an idea which not long ago was utterly unthinkable. Continue reading...

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Turkey Approves Construction Of First New Church In Nearly A Century

Turkey is getting a brand new church for the first time in nearly a century. The $1.5 million Virgin Mary Syriac church will be built in the Istanbul suburb of Yesilkoy, Daily Sabah reports. A government source told the AFP that this is the first church that the government has allowed Christians to build from the ground up since the republic formed in 1923, though other churches have been restored and reopened. Yesilkoy already has a Greek Orthodox, Armenian and Catholic church. The construction project will be funded by the Syriac community. The Syriac Orthodox Church is considered to be one of the oldest Christian denominations. Part of the church’s liturgy is said in an ancient Aramaic dialect believed to be closely related to the language spoken by Christ. Syrian Orthodox churches can be found all over the world. There are now only 25,000 Syrian Christians in Turkey, according to The Daily Sabah. Turkey is officially a secular country, but about 99 percent of its 76 million residents are Muslims. Less than 100,000 are Christian. The country’s Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu met with the country’s religious leaders on Friday. He insisted that the ruling AKP party “does not discriminate between our citizens” and that “the principle of equal citizenship continues to be our characteristic trait." Turkey has in fact become a refuge for Christians fleeing persecution by the Islamic State in nearby Syria and Iraq, Reuters reports. But secular critics of the AKP have accused President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of trying to strengthen Islam’s influence -- particularly through changes to religious education in schools.

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Is Europe Ready for Greek Crisis 2.0?

Some analysts and politicians say Greece 2.0 wouldn't be as rough on the eurozone as the original Greek crisis and default in 2010-2012. They claim ...

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Two killed in bombing of Greek tanker as Libyan chaos escalates

The chaos afflicting Libya escalated Monday after the internationally recognized government conceded that it had bombed a Greek-owned oil tanker ...

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Greece’s Relationship With Eurozone Is Tested by Election

As a caustic campaign in Greece revives fears that the country could leave the euro, European officials are taking an increasingly hard line toward Athens.

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Terrorist Xeros Back to Prison, Second Hideout Discovered Near Athens

Terrorist Christodoulos Xeros returned to Korydallos prison after the mutual approval of prosecutor and attorney following his typical – as he declined to cooperate – testimony. At the same time, Greek Police discovered a second hideout of the former “November 17” member, apart from the one in Anavyssos that was revealed on Saturday, along with his arrest. Xeros’ second hideout is located in Loutraki, near Athens, Greece . Xeros, 12 years after his arrest as a major “November 17” member is now facing further charges as the head of a “so far unnamed” terrorist organization and returns to Korydallos prison as a convict of “November 17” but also charged for the Anavyssos case, where heavy weaponry and plans for the new attack against the Korydallos prison, under the codename “Gorgopotamos,” were discovered. The sentenced to six life terms plus 25 years imprisonment for his participation in “November 17” terrorist organization in fact refused to give an apology to the judge, saying that he refuses to participate in the process and that he is not interested in answering the prosecutor’s questions. Xeros’ statement, which he requested to be taken as his testimony, was the following: “Our country is under the foreign occupation of the Troika and Merkel, and I consider resistance as my obligation. Those mechanisms supporting the occupation forces and their local collaborators have no authority to question me. Instead, as part of the mechanism, you are the ones who should apologize to the people and history.” In Xeros’ second hideout, which was rented under the fake name of the terrorist’s female associate, whose ID was also discovered in the first hideout, policemen discovered heavy explosive material as well as two stolen vehicles (a van and a jeep) that would allegedly be used during the hit to Korydallos prison.

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Cypriot President: No to Dialogue as Long as Turkey Violates Cyprus’ Sovereignty

Cyprus’ President Nicos Anastasiades has ruled out his country’s participation in talks with the Turkish-Cypriot side as long as the Republic of Cyprus is subjected to the violation of its sovereignty rights. Furthermore, the Cypriot President also underlined that the Cyprus problem cannot be solved under such conditions. In a written statement, issued after today’s meeting with the political parties leaders’ council, Anastasiades clarified that the meeting was centered on the ongoing unacceptable violations of Cyprus’ sovereignty by Turkey, the issued NAVTEX and the presence of seismic vessel “Barbaros” within the Republic’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) since October 2014. Anastasiades reiterated the repeated, stable position of the Greek-Cypriot side that can be summarized as follows: “As long as the violation of Cyprus’ sovereignty rights continues, my participation in the pre-set dialogue to solve the Cyprus problem is impossible.” “I repeated the basic law principle that the country’s natural wealth belongs to the state, while responsible for its administration, in favor of the country’s legal citizens, is the government. Therefore, actions challenging the sovereignty of the Republic of Cyprus under the pretext of protecting the rights of Turkish-Cypriots are not only contrary to international law, but also invalid,” said the Cypriot President in his written statement. “It is also clear that the participation of Turkish-Cypriots in issues related to the management and exploitation of the country’s natural wealth presumes the solution of the Cyprus problem based on what has been agreed so far. It is equally understandable that all pending issues could be discussed during the final stage of negotiations when maps concerning territorial adjustments are submitted and dialogue would be in the final course towards a solution,” he added. Finally, Anastasiades repeated that the island’s natural wealth is the strongest incentive for a meaningful dialogue, if threats or blackmail are kept away in order to find a commonly accepted solution on the Cyprus problem as soon as possible, which would benefit both Greek and Turkish Cypriots, as well as the neighboring countries, including Turkey.

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Euro sinks to nine-year low against dollar

Eurozone beset by fears of deflation and a Greek exit is in sharp contrast with soaring US economyThe euro sank to a nine-year low against the dollar on Monday as the beleagured eurozone, dogged by fears of deflation and a Greek exit from the currency bloc, was throw into sharp contrast with a soaring US economy.In a busy day of trading the single currency dipped below $1.19 to a level not seen since December 2005, before recovering slightly. Continue reading...

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Greek vote will supply shock, but not awe

The Greek general election on Jan. 25 looks like a referendum on Greece's membership in the euro. If the Greeks vote for radical left-wing Syriza and ...

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Grexit: three reasons it should not be treated lightly

Greeks are being urged to vote for mainstream party to avoid EU exit, but if it becomes reality markets won’t be relaxedThe attempts by the eurozone’s big beasts to bully Greeks into voting the “right” way in their general election have begun. Der Spiegel magazine reported at the weekend that the German government believes the eurozone could cope with a Greek exit from the single currency and that such an outcome would be almost inevitable if the “anti-austerity” Syriza party wins on 25 January.Inevitably, this was followed on Monday by a soft statement from the German government that nothing much has changed. But this was not quite a denial of the Spiegel story. The threat from Berlin seems reasonably clear: German chancellor Angela Merkel will not tolerate Syriza’s demand to write off a chunk of debt and Greeks who want to stay in the euro (which is said to be the majority) should vote for a mainstream party. Continue reading...

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Greek Authorities Condemn 'Unprovoked' Bombing of Tanker Moored off Libya Coast

Greece has condemned an airstrike on a Greek-operated oil tanker moored off the Libyan coast that killed two of its crew members. Araevo, which is ...

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Merkel faces growing dilemma over Greece

Chancellor Angela Merkel’s conservative coalition partner on Monday warned the German government against meddling in the Greek elections, as debate intensified in Berlin about how to respond to the prospect of a new populist government in Athens.

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Greece’s Euro Membership ‘Irrevocable,’ EU Commission Stresses

Greece’s membership in the Eurozone is “irrevocable,” European Commission spokeswoman Annika Breidthardt said on Monday, amid press speculation of a possible “Grexit” that would leave the country outside the euro area. According to Breidthardt, the EU treaty clearly states that “euro membership is irrevocable,” and she declined to comment on a “Der Spiegel” report regarding the possibility of a Greek exit from the Eurozone. She referred to a statement by European Commissioner Pierre Moscovici on December 29, noting that the Commission was awaiting for the results of the Greek elections. “Now, the only statement that matters is the statement that the Greek voters will make on January 25,” she said. “The euro is here to stay. The euro has proved its resilience,” she added, noting that the Eurozone was continuing to expand with the addition of Lithuania as its newest member this year. In Germany, according to Athens-Macedonian News Agency, German Finance Ministry spokeswoman Marianne Kothe expressed the German government’s conviction that Greece will continue to service its loans, in spite of the upcoming elections. She repeated a statement made by German government spokesman Georg Streiter on Sunday, that the German government “expects Greece to continue to comply with its obligations,” and that any new government arising from the elections “has to abide by the contractual obligations of the previous government.” She said that the issue of a possible default was not raised in any way at this time and that discussion of a possible Greek exit from the Eurozone was thus purely hypothetical. At the same time, when asked whether the Eurozone would be able to cope with a Greek departure, Kothe noted that the euro area now had new mechanisms that could contain any threat of contagion. She noted that the world had “moved on” since 2012 and effective measures had been set up precisely for the purpose of stabilizing the Eurozone and arresting some forms of contagion. Greek affairs and speculation about a possible Grexit continued to occupy the international media, especially in Germany following the “Der Spiegel” article citing sources in the German government that the euro could now cope with such an event. German newspaper “Bild” took up the theme on Monday, with an article claiming that concerns over a new crisis in Greece had knocked the euro to its lowest point in the last nine years. Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” devoted two articles to Greek elections, including an interview with left-leaning economist and SYRIZA MP candidate Yanis Varoufakis calling for an end to “external interference” in the Greek pre-election campaign. He said that Greece needed additional time to pay off its debt, once its economy had started to grow, while insisting that the country must stay in the euro area, even though the euro’s design had been initially flawed. Articles on the Greek elections were also run by the Italian version of the “Huffington Post,” the online version of “Il Sole 24 Ore” and again in “La Repubblica’s” online version, which ran an article saying that a SYRIZA victory continued to spook financial markets. (source: ana-mpa)

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Athens Stock Exchange Falls More Than 5% Amid Election Fear

The Athens Stock Exchange (ASE) general index closed at 789.20 points, shedding 5.63% from Friday’s 836.24 points, a sign of investors’ jitters three weeks away from a snap election that has raised fear about the future of Greece’s economy and whether the country will remain in the Eurozone. The large-cap FTSE/ATHEX 25 index contracted 5.70% to end at 252.70 points, though small-caps dropped no more than 0.23%. In total, 22 stocks reported gains, 93 sustained losses and 14 remained unchanged. Turnover amounted to 60.6 million euros, against last Friday’s 29.3 million.

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Why this Greek drama won't be like the last one

Get ready for another Greek debt crisis in Europe. But don't worry--this one will be different.

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Is Greece heading for the "Grexit"?

Fears of financial contagion in Europe are flaring ahead of elections in Greece later this month that some observers think could lead to the country quitting the currency union. Heightening those concerns is the significant popular support behind Syriza, a ...

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Bad news: Greek drama. Good news: A new script

Get ready for another Greek debt crisis in Europe. But don't worry--this one will be different.

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Greece should not play chicken with euro

Despite market calm, stakes remain high in snap election

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Why this Greek crisis is different

Get ready for another Greek debt crisis in Europe. But don't worry——this one will be different.

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Libyan air force strikes oil tanker off coast

Daniel J. GraeberTRIPOLI, Libya, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- A Greek-flagged vessel chartered to carry oil to Libyan power stations was hit by a rocket, leaving two members dead, insurers said Monday.

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Equity falls worldwide as oil price takes new plunge

Global equity markets have taken a tumble, led by declines in energy stocks amid sliding oil prices. US crude dropped to a five-and-a-half year low, while European stocks were also pressured by worries about Greece.

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Dow plunges as oil dips below $50, sinking energy stocks

NEW YORK (AP) — US stocks fell sharply Monday, led by declines in energy stocks as the price of oil plunged again. The euro sank to a nine-year low against the dollar as new doubts surfaced about Greece's future in the common currency bloc.

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FOREX-Euro at near 9-year low on Greek worry, policy-easing bet

(Adds comment and updated prices; changes dateline, previous LONDON). * Euro falls as low as $1.18605, then steadies. * Euro hurt by Greek ...

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Why Europe Still Can't Afford a Greek Exit

Why should the rest of Europe cling to Greece when polls suggest that Greek voters are about to elect a new government that could push the country ...

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MarketsGreek stocks heading towards fresh low

He expects concerns over a Grexit - or "ReGrexit" - to heighten in the next few weeks as the Greek public prepares to go to the ballot box. He says:.

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EU Commissioner to Greek President: The Most Critical Years Since the Establishment of EU

The critical challenges the European Union is currently facing as well as the importance of the role he has undertaken were centered in the meeting between the European Union Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship under the Juncker Commission, Dimitris Avramopoulos, and the President of the Hellenic Republic, Karolos Papoulias, earlier today. “The mission we are called to complete in the name of our homeland and in the name of Europe, which is also ahead of major challenges, is of great significance. These are probably the most important five years since the establishment of the European Community, primary, and the European Union, later, while many things are at stake and I must tell you that the political character that has been given from EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker himself has inspired us all and we are determined to complete it with safety and certainty in a brand new future,” Avramopoulos said. On his behalf, the Greek President congratulated Avramopoulos as it is their first meeting since he was appointed EU Commissioner, adding that his role “is of great significance both for Greece and the European Union.” Currently, the major issues Europe is facing are “the economy, unemployment and immigration. To these, we should add the issue of Europe’s security, as it is on top of interest to all European countries,” Avramopoulos replied. Finally, Papoulias highlighted that the new year brought heavy workload and Avramopoulos answered that “we are used to it, we never laid back in our life, as we work since childhood.”

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European stocks drop sharply as oil prices tank, Greece uncertainty lingers

LONDON (MarketWatch) — European stocks tumbled Monday, burdened by oil’s relentless slide and political uncertainty in Greece. Across the region, almost all indexes were down more than 1%, with southern European stocks leading declines. Investors and ...

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National Bank of Greece (NBG) Stock Falls Today as Germany Reportedly Considers Greek Eurozone Exit

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Shares of National Bank of Greece  fell 9.24% to $1.67 in afternoon trading Monday after a report in a German magazine claimed Germany would let Greece leave the Eurozone. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble think Greece's departure from the economic and monetary union would be "manageable," according to German magazine Der ...

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'Grexit' is back: A Greek exit from the euro raises fears of fiscal contagion

Mario Draghi’s July 2012 pledge to do “whatever it takes” to keep the euro intact has kept speculators at bay for almost three years. Bond yields fell from Dublin to Athens, giving governments room to cut budgets and start revamping their economies. While... ...

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European stocks sink on Greek turmoil, euro at nine-year low

European stocks tumbled Monday on renewed fears of a Greek exit from the eurozone and the euro struck a nine-year low against the dollar as the ECB appeared on course to further prop up the single currency. London's benchmark FTSE 100 index shed 2 percent compared with Friday's close to end the day at 6,417.16 points, while Frankfurt's DAX 30 dropped 2.99 percent to 9,473.16 points.

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Athens condemns Libya tanker bombing that killed two sailors

The Greek government condemned on Monday the bombing of a Greek-owned tanker at the Libyan port of Derna that left two sailors, a Greek and a Romanian, dead. “The Greek government will proceed to all of the necessary representations to the Libyan authorit... ...

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14 Overrated Tourist Attractions Around The World — And Where To Go Instead

English writer G.K. Chesterton said that the traveler sees what he sees, while a tourist only sees what he came to see. And sometimes, those tourist attractions aren’t worth seeing at all. Inspired by this Reddit list of overrated tourist destinations, we wanted to round up some of the biggest tourist let-downs in the world, and suggest some alternative places to go instead. We're not saying you should never visit the Great Pyramids in Cairo or view the art in the Louvre. We're just saying that you should also get off the beaten path — it will lead you to something even better.   Instead of seeing NYC from the top of the Empire State Building, go to the Top of the Rock Waiting to get to the top of the Empire State Building is a pain. It’s expensive, there are long lines, and the views of New York City are only so-so. A better option is to go to the Top of the Rock in Midtown. Sure it’s just as expensive, but your view will include the iconic Empire State Building (which you miss by going to the Empire State Building itself) as well as views of Central Park.  Instead of touring the ruins of Pompeii, visit the lesser-known ancient Roman city Herculaneum Because Pompeii has become so massively well-known, it's always crowded with tourists and many of its frescoes have been removed to be housed in museums around the world. Herculaneum was also buried in the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, but unlike Pompeii, Herculaneum retained many of its wooded objects like building beams, beds, doors, and even food. Plus it was a wealthier town than Pompeii and there are more lavish homes and frescoes to view. Instead of seeing the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, spot the real celebs where they actually hang out The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a rude awakening for tourists — the street is dirty, littered, and not at all glamorous. A better option (if you can afford it) is to go to the real locations where celebrities hang out. Beacher’s Madhouse, the restaurant Nobu, and the Staples Center are all good options. If you’re on a budget, go hiking at Runyan Canyon where many celebs go to walk their pets and burn off some calories. Instead of taking a tourist shot at the Great Pyramids, drive to the Pyramid Fields of Dahshur The Great Pyramids of Cairo may be the most well-known pyramids in the world, but that doesn't mean they're the best. In fact, they can be so overrun with tourists and the view marred by modern Cairo that some say it's not even worth visiting. If you love history but hate the crowds, head to the Pyramid Fields at Dahshur. It's not a far drive from Cairo, but far enough where not many tourists venture out. Plus, the pyramids there are just as awe-inspiring as those in Cairo — perhaps more so. Instead of braving the heat in Athens, take a trip to one of Greece’s gorgeous islands After you visit the Acropolis in Athens, give yourself a palate cleanser from the heat and scaffolding by exploring the beautiful and exotic Greek islands.  We especially recommend Rhodes, which has gorgeous beaches as well as its medieval Old Town, the Temple of Apollo, the Acropolis of Lindos, the Governor’s Palace, and more. For history buffs, Rhodes is unmissable. Instead of walking around Stonehenge with all the tourists, go out of your way to see the Callanish Standing Stones Stonehenge has long been made into a tourist must-see, but the endless crowds and designated walkway can make it seem less than extraordinary. For a dramatic alternative, Scotland’s Isle of Lewis has its own standing stones that are breathtaking as well as less visited. Plus, you can get a lot closer to the Callanish Standing Stones than at Stonehenge.  Instead of battling crowds ogling the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris, see the impressionist works at the Musée d’Orsay The Louvre is spectacular yet overwhelming, and the same can be said for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. The tiny work of art is constantly surrounded by tourists trying to snap a picture of the famous painting. Instead, head to the train-station-turned-museum Musée d’Orsay. It has gorgeous impressionist works and is one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris. Fans of Paul Cezanne and Vincent van Gogh will love this museum. Instead of making a wish at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, meander over to the Piazza Navona While the Trevi Fountain may be beautiful, it’s overrun with people, which makes it next to impossible to appreciate the grandeur of the fountain. When you’re sick of trying to take a picture there, go to the Piazza Navona, which is not only less crowded, but it also has a pretty fountain with sculptures by famed Italian sculptor Bernini. Instead of downing a pint at the Guinness Factory in Dublin, spend an evening in a genuine Dublin pub The Guinness Factory tour may sound like a good idea, but for all your trouble you’re rewarded with a single pint of Guinness and a sub-par view of Dublin. Skip the tour and get directly to the Guinness at a nearby Dublin pub. A historic option like The Brazen Head (Dublin’s oldest pub) will not only give you a more genuine Irish experience, but it’ll also get you buzzed a lot faster. Instead of wandering through Times Square, head uptown to Museum Mile While most tourists come to New York City and head directly for Times Square, it’s incredibly disappointing. Times Square is dirty, crowded, expensive, and overwhelming — walk through it once and you’ll never want to go back. A much lovelier walk can be had on New York’s Museum Mile on 5th Avenue. It stretches from 82nd to 104th street with well-known museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. You'll also get gorgeous views of Central Park. Instead of staying at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas like everyone else, check out a resort in the Exumas  Everyone stays at Atlantis Resort, but hardly anyone seems to actually enjoy it. The rooms need updating, the food is expensive, and the attractions are only so-so. Honestly, anywhere else in the Bahamas is better. Try a resort on a smaller island in the Exumas which is more low-key with its pristine coastlines and cool attractions like the "domesticated" swimming pigs that live on Big Major's Spot. Instead of staring up at Mount Rushmore from a tiny viewing platform, take a drive through South Dakota's Badlands National Park Mount Rushmore is an American cultural icon, but standing on a viewing platform and looking up at the real thing may make the presidents' heads look rather tiny — and disappointing. Instead, go to South Dakota's Badlands National Park. With nearly 243,000 acres of protected land, visitors can view the incredible rock formations and wildlife you can't see anywhere else in the world, including mountain goats, rabbits, bobcats, antelope, and even bison.  Instead of seeing the Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen, walk over to the nearby Gefion Fountain The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen is a major tourist attraction on the Langelinie waterfront despite its diminutive size. There's a more interesting attraction close by, however — the Gefion Fountain. Sculptor Anders Bungdaard designed the fountain showing Norse Goddess Gefion who was offered as much land in Sweden as she could plow. So she turned her sons into oxen and plowed enough land to create Zealand, the island where Copenhagen is located. Gefion was pretty badass and her fountain is, too. Instead of going to a wax museum, go literally anywhere else The world is a huge place with plenty to see and experience. Why would you waste your time looking at wax replicas of famous people? If you don’t believe me, go once and you’ll never want to go again.SEE ALSO: The 14 Worst Tourist Traps In New York City — And Where To Go Instead DON'T FORGET: Follow Business Insider's Life on Facebook! Join the conversation about this story »

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What Italian Firefighters Saw Inside ‘Norman Atlantic’

An unshaped mass of ironware witnessed the first Italian firefighters who managed to access one of “Norman Atlantic’s” garages yesterday. The ferry, which is currently tied to the port of Brindisi, was accessed by firefighters and specialists during the weekend, although some of its areas remain inaccessible. “There were some photos taken but nobody can say if there are dead people in the burned vehicles, while we estimate that the identification of possible corpses will be extremely difficult,” said to Greek newspaper “To Vima” officials who are closely looking at the progress of the research operation. But the research had to be suspended today due to the heavy winds blowing in the area, while only one echelon of Italian specialists reached the ship’s pier and undertook an external investigation, as it was risky to get on board. The investigation inside “Norman Atlantic,” which was planned to be completed today, will be concluded when the weather conditions improve. As pointed out by the firefighters on board the ship, there are still fires burning that could not be extinguished due to the strong wind (burning vehicle tires, trucks transporting oil etc). Also, the ship has an inclination of about seven to eight degrees and it is likely that this inclination might grow because of the water being thrown to extinguish the fires. It should be noted that when the ship arrived in Brindisi, temperatures inside exceeded 180 degrees Celsius. At the same time, the relatives of those missing (15 according to latest information emerging from the Italian authorities) are anxiously waiting developments regarding the fate of their beloved ones, while many Greeks have travelled to Brindisi in order to learn more about their missing family members. What they currently request from the authorities is to accelerate the research process within the ferry boat. Among those 15 missing, eight are believed to be Greek citizens, while the final number of confirmed dead is nine, three of whom are Greek. Those rescued are 453.

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Greece euro exit 'would mean EU incompetence'

With less than a month left before elections in Greece, the poll that is expected to largely determine the country's further membership in the euro currency area, experts argue if Greek exit is now a reality. Dimitri Mardas, from Aristotle University of ...

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On the Cusp of a Historic Change

Greece is on the cusp of a historic change. SYRIZA is no longer just a hope for Greece and the Greek people. It is also an expectation of a change of course for the whole of Europe. Because Europe will not come out of the crisis without a policy change, and the victory of SYRIZA in the 25th of January elections will strengthen the forces of change. Because the dead end in Greece is the dead end of today's Europe. On January 25th, the Greek people are called to make history with their vote, to trail a space of change and hope of all people across Europe by condemning the failed memoranda of austerity, proving that when people want to, when they dare, and when they overcome fear, then things can change. The expectations alone of political change in Greece, has already begun to change things in Europe. 2015 is not 2012 SYRIZA is not an ogre, or a big threat to Europe, but the voice of reason. It's the alarm clock which will lift Europe from its lethargy and sleepwalking. This is why SYRIZA is no longer treated as a major threat like it was in 2012, but as a challenge to change. By all? Not by all. A small minority, centered on the conservative leadership of the German government and a part of the populist press, insists on rehashing old wives' tales and Grexit stories. Just like Mr. Samaras in Greece, they can no longer convince anyone. Now that the Greek people have experienced his government, they know how to tell the lies from the truth. Mr. Samaras offers no other program except continuing with the failed MOU of austerity. It has committed itself and others to new wage and pension cuts, new tax increases, in the framework of accumulated income cuts and over- taxation of six whole years. He asks Greek citizens to vote for him so that he can implement the new memorandum. It is precisely because he has committed to austerity, that he interprets the rejection of this failed and destructive policy as a supposedly unilateral action. He is essentially hiding that Greece as a Eurozone member is committed to targets and not to the political means by which those targets are achieved. For this reason, and unlike the ruling party of Nea Dimokratia, SYRIZA has committed to the Greek people to apply from the first days of its' administration a specific, cost-efficient and fiscally balanced program, "The Thessaloniki Program" regardless of our negotiation with our lenders. With targeted actions to stem the humanitarian crisis. With fiscal justice, so that the financial oligarchy that has been left untouched by the four years of the crisis will finally have to pay. With a plan to relaunch the economy, combat the unprecedented unemployment rate and return to growth. With sweeping reforms in the modus operandi of the state and the public sector, because our aim is not to return to 2009, but to change everything that led the country to the brink of an economic, but also moral, bankruptcy. Clientelism, a state that is hostile to its' citizens; tax evasion; tax avoidance; "black" money; fuel and tobacco smuggling; are just a few aspects of a power system that ruled the country for many years. This system led the country to despair and now continues to govern in the name of national emergency and fear of the crisis. In reality though, this is not fear of the crisis but fear of change. The fear and the guilt of the establishment which led the Greek people to an unprecedented tragedy. And to those responsible for all this, if they know anything about ancient Greek tragedy, they have every reason to fear because after hubris comes nemesis and catharsis! Βut the Greek and European people have nothing to fear. Because SYRIZA does not want the collapse but the rescue of the euro. And saving the euro is impossible for the Member States when public debt is out of control. The debt problem is not only Greek but European. And Europe collectively owes a discussion as well as seeking a sustainable European solution. SYRIZA and the European Left argue that in the framework of a European agreement, the largest part of the public debt's nominal value has to be written off, a moratorium on its repayment has to be imposed, and a growth clause for servicing the remaining debt has to be introduced, in order to use spare resources towards growth. We claim repayment conditions which don't lead towards a country suffocating in recession and do not drive people to despair and poverty. With his position that Greece's debt is sustainable, Mr. Samaras harms Greece. He doesn't just lower the bar for negotiation, but refuses negotiation altogether. If one admits that the debt is sustainable and the memorandum is "a success story," what is there to negotiate? Today we can discern two diametrically opposed strategies on Europe's future. On the one hand we have a view headed by Mr. Schauble, that regardless of whether the laws and principles that we have agreed on work, we should continue to implement them. On the other, is the strategy of "whatever it takes," -- which was first said by the head of the ECB -- to save the euro. In reality, the forthcoming Greek elections are a collusion of these two different strategies. I believe the latter will prevail for an extra reason. Because Greece is the country of Sophocles, who with "Antigone" has taught us that there are moments where the supreme law is justice. This post originally appeared on HuffPost Greece and was translated into English.

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Is Another Euro Crisis at Hand?

If you have any spare cash laying around and need of a vacation, Chevy Chase would probably recommend that you go to Europe. The euro currency has dipped to a nine-year low against the dollar. That is good for tourists going to Europe, but is not good for European economic prospects in the long term. Why? Recently, Mario Draghi, the president of the European Central Bank and probably the most powerful man in Europe, hinted that he was about to effectively print lots of money, hoping to jolt the sclerotic European economy back to prosperity. Europe's abysmal economic performance has led to excessive fears of deflation--that is, the falling of prices. But you say, wouldn't falling prices benefit European consumers? Yes but the ECB cares less about citizens and more about businesses that don't want the prices of their products to decline. A U.S. or British style "quantitative easing" by the ECB would allegedly goose the sluggish European economy back to life and increase prices, thus alleviating the fears of price deflation. After all, isn't the United States' economy finally experiencing recovery after years of massive money printing by the U.S. Federal Reserve? Wouldn't that be a good thing for Europe too? Central bankers of rich European nations, such as Germany, don't really agree--and correctly so. They fear that their economies will suffer to compensate for the deadwood still in the economic system from financially irresponsible countries, such as Greece, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, etc. All of these nations have been on critically needed austerity programs to get their economy-dragging huge debts down. The fear in Europe is that in Greece, a far left populist party, Syriza, may win the upcoming election and halt the austerity program that was required by international lenders when they last bailed Greece out of its financial irresponsibility. So in compensating for these countries' prior financial profligacy, which has dragged economic growth in Europe because of huge amounts of accumulated debt, Draghi wants to take the irresponsibility to the European-wide level by a massive printing of money. The United States has been urging Europe to undertake such a quantitative easing for a while now, but Germany has been rightly reluctant. Germany, always fearful of inflation after its experience with hyper-inflation during the interwar period, is fearful of money printing. But didn't money printing turn the U.S. economy around? After the financial crisis, borrowers in the United States have reduced debt, which may be helping economic growth rates. However, the growth in the U.S. economy could also be artificial. Any time money is printed on a mass scale, as it has been in the United States and Britain, it can create a sense of false prosperity. Such artificial prosperity has occurred a couple of times recently in the United States. In the 1990s, Alan Greenspan, the Federal Reserve chairman appointed by President Ronald Reagan, turned on the money spigot. The money flowed into new Internet companies, causing the dot.com bubble, which burst around the new millennium, causing a recession. To right this downturn, Greenspan and his successor, Ben Bernanke, started the money printing presses again. Much of the money flowed into the U.S. housing industry, creating a bubble that popped in 2008, leading to the worst worldwide financial and economic meltdown since the Great Depression. To "save" the U.S. and world economies, Bernanke then printed money like no one else in history. That's where we are today. Americans--and Europeans--should be wary of where all that money has gone. This time, where is the bubble of artificial prosperity that will come crashing down? In recent times, the U.S. economy has been on one Fed-induced sugar high after another. Europe should pay attention to the U.S. record and continue with the German-enforced austerity that will be bring about long-term European prosperity once the irresponsible countries have been forced to get their financial houses in order. Unfortunately, Europe will probably not continue on a financially more responsible course because, by all outward appearances, the U.S. economy is beginning to grow nicely. If Greece does elect Syriza, abandon its required austerity program, and exit the Euro currency, the entire currency could come apart, with a rump group of responsible nations forming their own currency union. Such a crisis may cause central banks all over Europe to print money to "save" the system--as was done in the United States. A better course of action is to delay gratification, continue belt-tightening austerity, and lay the groundwork for long-term legitimate economic growth. Unfortunately, this is unlikely to happen, because governments in Europe and America are so accustomed to intervening in economies to alleviate short-term pain. It's too easy to just turn on the printing presses.

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France, Germany Push Athens on Bailout

France and Germany stepped up pressure on Greece to meet the terms of bailout programs, returning to the brinkmanship of the eurozone debt crisis as the 19-nation currency dropped to a nine-year low.

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France eyes end to Russia sanctions, rules out Libya intervention

French President François Hollande has touched on sanctions against Russia, the unrest in Libya and Greece’s looming snap election in a wide-ranging interview with France Inter radio.

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Greek-American Mortocyclist Killed in Tragic Crash in New Jersey

BAYONNE, NJ – Dimitrios Frangakis was killed while riding his motorcycle at the intersection of Route 440 and Goldsborough Drive around 11:35 PM on January 2.  A North Bergen man, Eliades Roque,  29-years-old,   has been charged with leaving the scene of the crash Bayonne Police Lt. Joseph Scerbo said Roque is accused of being the […] The post Greek-American Mortocyclist Killed in Tragic Crash in New Jersey appeared first on The National Herald.

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The real risk of Greek election

The outcome of the Greek election could reframe the euro-zone crisis in terms of debt relief and have global repercussions, says Dan Steinbock.

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Euro sinks to 9-year low over Greece doubts while stock markets mostly slide

Source: www.chicagotribune.com - Monday, January 05, 2015 The euro sank to a nine-year low Monday as new doubts surfaced about Greece's future in the common currency bloc. Global stock markets mostly fell, as did oil prices.All Related | More on Euro

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Greek FinMin to Issue Treasury Bills Worth 1.25 Billion Euros

The Greek Finance Ministry will try to earn some 1.25 billion euros by issuing six-month treasury bills by Wednesday, January 7, according to a Public Debt Management Agency (PDMA) announcement. As it is stated in the announcement, “on Wednesday, January 7, 2015, an Auction of Treasury Bills will be held with a 26-week duration, in a dematerialized form, amounting to EUR 1.25 billion, maturing on July 10, 2015.” Friday, January 9, has been set as a settlement date, while it is noted that the bills’ interest rates are calculated with an ACT/360 timebase. No commission will be paid for the treasury bills and the auction will take place with competitive offers from Primary Market Dealers on the Electronic Secondary Securities Market (HDAT), in accordance with the procedure provided for in their Management. Furthermore, according to the Rules of Primary Dealers, there is a possibility of non-competitive offers during auction day but also during the next day (January 8) until 00:00. The non-competitive offers will be satisfied at the cut-off price, up to a total of 30% of the auctioned amount for each of the above two cases.

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Greek Orthodox expanding the faith in UAE

ABU DHABI // Greek Orthodox Christians are building a church in Mussaffah to accommodate the hundreds of worshippers living in the capital. In addition to the 700 Abu Dhabi families registered with the church, Father Stephanos Neaimeh believed there were ...

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Euro exit reports fan concerns among traders

The return of the prospect of a Greek exit from the eurozone according to foreign reports and the continuing fragmentation of the local political landscape led to a mini sell-off on Monday, with a relatively increased trading volume. The Athens Exchange (... ...

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