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How the world sees Greece
Tuesday, June 24, 2014
World Cup 2014: Greece vs. Ivory Coast live stream, kickoff time
Irish IndependentWorld Cup 2014: Greece vs. Ivory Coast live stream, kickoff timeal.comGreece will kick off against Ivory Coast at 4 p.m. EST/3 p.m. CT in a crucial match for both countries. Ivory Coast is currently second in the group with three points and is in good position to advance with either a win or draw against Greece. Greece ...Greece v Ivory Coast: World Cup 2014 – live!The GuardianGreece vs. Ivory Coast: World Cup 2014 Live BlogNew York TimesWorld Cup pre-game: Ivory Coast vs. GreeceCBC.caSB Nation -Daily Mailall 1,027 news articles »
Live Commentary: Greece 0-0 Ivory Coast
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the World Cup Group C clash between Greece and the Ivory Coast. A huge match for both sides in Fortaleza as they can still progress into the second round, but they need to secure a positive result in this ...
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Drogba starts for Ivory Coast against Greece
FORTALEZA, Brazil (AP) — Didier Drogba is starting for the Ivory Coast in their final group game against Greece, while Yaya and Kolo Toure were also included despite the recent death of their brother Ibrahim.
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Heatwave Expected in Greece
Greek National meteorological Service has warned that a heat wave is expected to hit Greece this week and in many areas temperature is forecast to exceed 35 °C. The heat wave will initially hit Western Greece, with temperatures rising to 34°C. On Wednesday temperatures are expected to reach 36°C-38 °C and on Thursday the heat wave will spread to the southern and eastern Greece with temperatures reaching 39°C in some areas. Athens Municipality will provide to its citizens several air-conditioned halls across the city from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Air-conditioned halls will be operating at Municipal “Friendship Clubs” for the elderly in the neighborhoods of Agios Pavlos, Koukaki, Neos Kosmos, Kato Petralona, Kolokinthou, Agios Eleftherios and Ampelokipi. Greek authorities advise citizens to limit outdoor activities and sun exposure during the hot hours of the day. The director of the National Meteorological Center, Chryssoula Petrou told the Athens Macedonian News Agency that high temperatures will start to fall from Saturday, when northerly winds are expected to cool down heat-stricken areas.
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Salaries of Judges to Pre-Crisis Level
The cuts in the salaries of judges were deemed unconstitutional on the principle of proportionality and the constitutional rule of equality and thus their salaries will return to pre-crisis levels. According to a report by the General Accounting Office of the Greek Finance Ministry, the adjustment of the salaries of the judges as well as the retroactive payment of salaries and pensions will amount to 170 million euros. The Greek government imposed cuts in the salaries of judges on August 1, 2012 as part of the country’s commitments to its foreign lenders. Out of the 170 million euros, about 49.4 millions will be used for the adjustment of judges salaries to the levels before August 2012 while 20.16 million euros will be used for the adjustment of their pensions. People of Greece who are suffering recession, and see their salaries and pensions cuts are afraid that this decision will pave the way for the increase of parliamentary salaries. However the government spokeswoman, Sophia Voultepsi announced that the adjustment of salaries won’t apply to MPs.
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Heatwave Expected in Greece
Greek National meteorological Service has warned that a heat wave is expected to hit Greece this week and in many areas temperature is forecast to exceed 35 °C. The heat wave will initially hit Western Greece, with temperatures rising to 34°C. On Wednesday temperatures are expected to reach 36°C-38 °C and on Thursday the heat wave will spread to the southern and eastern Greece with temperatures reaching 39°C in some areas. Athens Municipality will provide to its citizens several air-conditioned halls across the city from 10am to 6pm on Wednesday and Thursday. Air-conditioned halls will be operating at Municipal “Friendship Clubs” for the elderly in the neighborhoods of Agios Pavlos, Koukaki, Neos Kosmos, Kato Petralona, Kolokinthou, Agios Eleftherios and Ampelokipi. Greek authorities advise citizens to limit outdoor activities and sun exposure during the hot hours of the day. The director of the National Meteorological Center, Chryssoula Petrou told the Athens Macedonian News Agency that high temperatures will start to fall from Saturday, when northerly winds are expected to cool down heat-stricken areas.
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Millions of Euros from Criminal Activities Returned to the State
The proceeds of criminal activities against the Greek State, which roughly reach 33.8 million euros, have been deposited in a special Bank of Greece (BoG) account, based on figures presented on Tuesday to the parliamentary standing committee on economic affairs, by Greek Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras. A rider tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis and Staikouras defines the amounts deposited in the special bank account as state budget revenues that can be allocated to fund various programs or actions in the sectors of education, research, health or social solidarity. The rider provides that four times a year, in the beginning of each quarter, the ministries of education, labour, social insurance and health can submit detailed proposals to the State Accounting Office, including cost analysis, for the funding of relevant programs.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com |
Salaries of Judges to Pre-Crisis Level
The cuts in the salaries of judges were deemed unconstitutional on the principle of proportionality and the constitutional rule of equality and thus their salaries will return to pre-crisis levels. According to a report by the General Accounting Office of the Greek Finance Ministry, the adjustment of the salaries of the judges as well as the retroactive payment of salaries and pensions will amount to 170 million euros. The Greek government imposed cuts in the salaries of judges on August 1, 2012 as part of the country’s commitments to its foreign lenders. Out of the 170 million euros, about 49.4 millions will be used for the adjustment of judges salaries to the levels before August 2012 while 20.16 million euros will be used for the adjustment of their pensions. People of Greece who are suffering recession, and see their salaries and pensions cuts are afraid that this decision will pave the way for the increase of parliamentary salaries. However the government spokeswoman, Sophia Voultepsi announced that the adjustment of salaries won’t apply to MPs.
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT greece.greekreporter.com |
Detailed Plans for the Ellinikon Development Project
Lamda Development, the company that bought the land of the old Athens airport, presented the plans for the architectural project in the coastal area of Ellinikon on Tuesday, June 24. The company’s CEO Odysseas Athanasiou stated that construction work of the project will begin in 2016. According to estimations of Lamda Development and the two foreign associate companies, Fosun from China and Al Maabar from Abu Dhabi, 3 billion euros will be invested during the first three years of the project’s construction. Seventy percent will come from investors’ capital and the remainingst 30% from bank loans. In addition, the investment will create more than 50,000 work positions, while maintenance costs are estimated at about 10 to 12 million euros per year. The ambitious project indicates the creation of a park 15 times bigger than the National Garden. It also envisages the building of two hotels of about 2,500 beds and a shopping mall, sports facilities at the naval club, and housing developments – including a high-end ‘landmark’ architectural building for luxury apartments but also detached houses and apartments. The metropolitan park will have multiple entrances from surrounding municipalities, while the “historic” buildings of the former airport will be retained and highlighted. There will be Olympic Games facilities and buildings such as the exhibition center and a national aviation museum, while the former runways will be converted to paths for walking and recreation. The green spaces will feature vegetation typical of the Attic landscape, which is expected to improve the area’s microclimate and quality of local life. In conclusion, Odysseas Athanasiou stated that the creation of a new world destination will redefine Athens as a tourist attraction and international business and entertainment center. “Marina Residential Tower,” for example, one of the tourist infrastructures, is designed to draw one million additional tourists every year in the Greek capital. Lamda Development also guarantees that it will implement principles of sustainable development and environmental certification standards in all facilities and works carried out.
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Debtors owing emergency property tax to face fines
Property owners who have failed to pay any installments of the emergency property tax (EETA) that is levied via electricity bills face the risk of being classified as debtors to the state and fined accordingly, Greece’s largest power company said on Tuesd... ...
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Ivory Coast president to double player bonuses with win over Greece
Yahoo Sports (blog)Ivory Coast president to double player bonuses with win over GreeceYahoo Sports (blog)He also instructed me to inform you that the bonus match against Greece will be doubled.” The Elephants finished third in their respective groups at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, losing the all-important second match of the tournament that dug the hole ...and more »
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Ivory Coast president to double player bonuses with win over Greece
Yahoo Sports (blog)Ivory Coast president to double player bonuses with win over GreeceYahoo Sports (blog)He also instructed me to inform you that the bonus match against Greece will be doubled.” The Elephants finished third in their respective groups at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, losing the all-important second match of the tournament that dug the hole ...and more »
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The Magic of Greece
While living in Greece I had the great fortune of filming 70 travel segments for my show Hellenic Weekly. This was an unforgettable experience for me, and how I truly discovered the magic of Greece. This summer I want to suggest spending your vacation in ...
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Chobani and Fage sued over sugar content claims and ‘Greekness’ of product
Two New York men are suing some of the largest producers of Greek yogurt in the U.S., accusing them of deceptive advertising. According to the New York Post, Barry Stoltz and Allan Chang are suing Chobani and Fage in separate class action lawsuits ...
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Artists Taking on the Role of Maria Callas
Many world-renowned stars have expressed their interest in portraying the opera legend Maria Callas, a strong woman with a broken heart, who fell in love with Aristotle Onassis. So, after Marina Abramovic, another strong woman and great artist will star in a film acting in seven operatic deaths of Maria Callas (including the real incident, in her apartment in Paris.) Meryl Streep is working on a film about the famous opera singer, focusing on her relationship with Onassis. The film will be entitled “Master Class” and it is based on a theatrical play of the same title by Terrence McNally. It will be directed by Mike Nichols and it will focus on the life story of famous Greek opera singer, Maria Callas, inspired by her master class lectures at Julliard, in New York in 1971. Filming will begin in 2014 and the movie will be shown on U.S. network HBO. Meanwhile, Faye Dunaway has also been involved in a similar project which has stopped filming for some time and currently there is no scheduled shooting for the time being. Recently, also, Paz Vega, portrayed the role of Maria Callas in the film “Grace of Monaco,” starring Nicole Kidman. However, the most powerful woman of modern art, Marina Abramovic with millions of fans and sworn enemies is preparing her own project about Maria Callas as she stated in a recent interview in Athens. Abramovic always admired Callas, not just as an opera singer but as a personality in general. Her project, which she will be working on for the next three years, is a film with seven different directors, such as Roman Polanski, Pedro Almodovar, and a Greek director who lives in London but his name has not yet been announced. The subject is the death of Maria Callas. The art film will be entitled “7 deaths of Marina Abramovic,” and each part will show a woman dying a tragic death, for example by poison, knife, drowning, or even fire. When thinking of an operatic death, the mind usually goes to Maria Callas. That is why Abramovic chose to have the opera singer witness the deaths in her bathroom mirror, in her apartment in Paris, right before her death by cardiac arrest. According to the artist, she will have to travel to Greece in order to visit various archaeological sites and other points of interest for the film, while she also stressed that she is seeking funding for the film.
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Primary Surplus Almost Four Times the Target Amount
Greek authorities on Tuesday reported a primary surplus of 707 million euros in the first five months of 2014. The Ministry of Finance, in a report on the final figures of budget execution, said that the state budget reported a deficit of 1,990 billion euros in the January-May period, down from the deficit of 3,843 billion euros of last year and from an updated budget target for a deficit of 2,559 billion euros. The budget showed a primary surplus of 707 million euros from a primary deficit of 970 million euros that was a year ago and from a budget target of a primary surplus of 208 million euros. Net state budget revenues totalled 19,600 billion euros, up 0.2 pct from budget targets, while net regular budget revenues totalled 17,300 billion euros, up 0.3 pct compared with budget targets. Tax revenues amounted to 16,060 billion euros, up 0.9 pct from target. State budget spending totalled 21,590 billion euros, down 529 million euros compared with the target. Regular budget spending amounted to 19,810 billion euros, down 641 million from budget target reflecting a decline in primary spending by 459 million euros. Regular Greece ‘s budget spending was down 9.4 pct compared to the same period last year. (source: ana-mpa)
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Homer’s Odyssey And Iliad in LEGO
It is not only the Greeks that have been taught and are aware of Homer’s works. The famous epics of the ancient Greek poet are part of the international cultural heritage. The Virtual LEGO Users Group, a group of adult fans of LEGO, recreated Odyssey and Iliad using LEGO bricks. In a spectacular setting the heroes of the Homeric epics on sea and land battles take shape at Blickworld, a LEGO fan exposition in Chicago. The amazing creation represents Odysseus’s journey who started from Ithaca for the Trojan War and his long way home after the fall of Troy. Achilles, the main character of Iliad, Patroclus as well as other heroes are also represented in this recreation of about 20 square meters. The video below gives you an in-depth look at VirtuaLUG’s recreation of Homer’s Odyssey and Iliad.
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Thessaloniki Linked to San Francisco via “Google I/O”
This year Greece will take part for the first time in the yearly Google Conference, “Google I/O”. On the June 25 and 26 at 6.30 pm, Google web developers will be linking Thessaloniki, northern Greece and another 100 cities around the world to San Francisco, USA. “Google I/O” Conference will be transmitted live via satellite in big screens, placed in various locations at the city of Thessaloniki. Journalists and other participants will have the chance to ask questions to Google’s executives, live simply by registering an online application at the GDG Thess webpage. Every year, the company’s executives are discussing future plans to approximately 8,000 web developers in San Francisco and millions of online users around the world, participating in “Google I/O extended”. “It’s an honor for us”, stated the founder of the Thessaloniki web programmers union “Google Developers Group” adding that “there are 250 programmers unions all over the world participating in the event, but not many have their own ambassador in San Francisco.” The event will include sessions about Google applications such as Google Maps and Street View, along with some innovative new products. Admission is free not only for web developers, but also for the rest of the online audience.
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Complaints flood in to rights centers
Seven special advice centers for non-European Union nationals living in Greece, set up in as many Greek cities by a partnership of five organizations that deal with civil rights, received 500 complaints from non-EU citizens within less than a month.
Among... ...
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Police publishes photograph of suspected pedophile
The Greek Police on Tuesday released the name and photograph of a 52-year-old man accused of sexually abusing minors.
The suspect was arrested in Ptolemaida, northern Greece, on June 2 and faces a long list of charges, including making sexual advances to ... ...
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Greece in the last chance saloon against Ivory Coast
Greece and Ivory Coast are both appearing at their third World Cup and neither has ever reached the second round, but that could change today when they meet for the first time in their final Group C clash. The Ivorians have the better chance of going ...
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Lamouchi remains silent on Drogba
Ivory Coast boss Sabri Lamouchi refuses to say whether Didier Drogba will be in the starting line-up for the World Cup match against Greece.
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McDonalds Lost The Greek Market. Is Starbucks Next?
McDonalds Lost The Greek Market. Is Starbucks Next?ForbesLaunched in 2008 in Larisa—a northern Greek city where coffee drinking is a daily ritual— Mikel replicated Starbucks' “third place” model in many respects: comfortable stores in central locations, a variety of coffee and juice drinks, and well ...
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Idomeneus review – whip-smart questioning of Greek tragedy
Idomeneus review – whip-smart questioning of Greek tragedyThe GuardianWe tend to think about Greek tragedies hurtling towards their inevitable conclusion. The protagonist cannot escape his or her fate. Electra is always doomed to kill her mother. The outcome of the story is fixed, it cannot be changed. Or can it? Perhaps ...
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Greece v Ivory Coast: match previewPublish Date: Jun 24, 2014
New VisionGreece v Ivory Coast: match previewPublish Date: Jun 24, 2014New VisionHis record for his country is unrivalled with 63 goals in 103 appearances and, even if unlikely to complete a full 90 minutes, his presence would be an intimidating sight for Greece. Although Drogba's relegation to the bench has been blamed on his ...
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Ivory Coast vs Greece World Cup 2014 match preview: African nation looking to ...
The IndependentIvory Coast vs Greece World Cup 2014 match preview: African nation looking to ...The IndependentIvory Coast sit second in Group C and will guarantee their progress to the last 16 if they beat Greece. A draw would be enough too provided that third-placed Japan did not beat Colombia by a two-goal margin or more. Greece, for their part, could yet ...
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Which channel is Greece vs Ivory Coast on? All you need to know ahead of the ...
Mirror.co.ukWhich channel is Greece vs Ivory Coast on? All you need to know ahead of the ...Mirror.co.ukIvory Coast will look to fend off Greece to ensure they advance from Group C. Greece sit bottom of Group C but would still qualify if they beat Sabri Lamouchi's side and in-form Colombia avoid defeat against Japan. Ivory Coast on the other hand should ...
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Shocking footage of Greek restaurant brawl shows chairs and tables being used ...
Shocking footage of Greek restaurant brawl shows chairs and tables being used ...Mirror.co.ukDiners at a quiet Greek restaurant were forced to duck for cover as a mass brawl erupted when two enraged groups of men threw tables and chairs at each other. The video, which is believed to have happened in the Stalactites restaurant in Melbourne, was ...You And The Internet Will Never Forget This Gnarly Restaurant BrawlHuffington Postall 2 news articles »
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S&P's Kraemer: euro zone has much to do to cut debt, boost growth
By Marius Zaharia and Jemima Kelly LONDON (Reuters) - Euro zone countries still have much work to do to cut debt and boost growth and their credit ratings are unlikely to rise until they get their economies into better shape, a senior Standard & Poor’s official said on Tuesday. S&P's head of sovereign ratings for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Moritz Kraemer, told Reuters in an interview that he saw a "calm period ahead" for ratings actions in Europe. "There is no need to raise the ratings until the (economic) fundamentals improve." Kraemer said the countries that had made most progress in cutting debts included Ireland and Spain, and both had seen their ratings upgraded. Kraemer said the return to debt markets of Cyprus, which was bailed out just a year ago, and Greece had little impact on their ratings.
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Greece vs Ivory Coast – What we can expect – Preview and prediction
Greece vs Ivory Coast - What we can expect - Preview and prediction
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Lavrentiadis Released on 500,000 Euro Bail
Lavrentis Lavrentiadis remanded in custody for the Proton Bank scandal in Greece, was released on a 500,000 euro bail. He was accused of money laundering and embezzlement of 701 million euro from Proton Bank through unsecured loans to companies and bank accounts of his interests. He was kept in custody since 2012. The Athens Court of Appeals, approved his application and released him from detention on a 500,000 bail. Most of the time he had been held in Korydallos Prison hospital due to health problems. Lavrentiadis suffers from psychological problems as well. Lavrentiadis is also a suspect to the case of attempted murder of a businessman. He is allegedly responsible for the issuing of loans to the businessman worth 100 million euros by Hellenic Postbank without following any risk assessment procedures. These felony charges were the reason for which the Court of Appeals had decided to extend his detention period to two years, although it was originally set by the law to 18 months.
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Julio Iglesias Performing in Mykonos for Whopping 335,000 Euros
Julio Iglesias, the Latino artist with the most record sales worldwide (over 300 million), probably didn’t think he would be performing in a country that has been plagued by an economic crisis for almost 5 years. However, the Greek island of Mykonos in Greece has once again managed to achieve the impossible. Usually, big concerts featuring international music celebrities take place in huge stadiums or other designated venues. In Mykonos those rules don’t apply. In fact, Julio Iglesias will be singing on a ten meter iron pontoon which belongs to a beach bar-restaurant called Nammos. Nammos’ reputation has spread worldwide in recent years, mostly due to the fact that its owners are able to book internationally renowned artists each year. Julio Iglesias will be arriving at the small airport of Mykonos in late July in order to perform at Nammos restaurant, located at Psarou Beach on the Cycladic island of Mykonos on July 30, for a whopping 335,000 euros! The official contract which was published today by the Greek online newspaper protothema.gr, reports that the total amount of 335,000 euros will include the payment for Julio Iglesias and his associates, as well as their flight, accommodation, and transportation expenses. In addition, it was announced that Antonis Remos, a famous Greek singer, will also be performing along with Iglesias, and he is planning on singing four duets with the internationally acclaimed singer. In total, Nammos’ owner will spend around half a million euros for this event, including the payment for the Greek artist. Moreover, rumor has it that Australian pop singer, Kylie Minogue, is expect to perform in Psarou Beach along with Amr Diab this summer. The total cost of the concert is expected to exceed one million euros.
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WWII grenade found in Siatista school courtyard
An old hand grenade was discovered in the courtyard of a high school in Siatista, in Kozani, northern Greece, late on Monday.
A team of military bomb disposal experts were dispatched to the scene and subsequently detonated the weapon.
Reports suggested th... ...
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Top tax collector in Greece faces task of restoring confidence
KathimeriniTop tax collector in Greece faces task of restoring confidenceKathimeriniHer appointment comes against the backdrop of record- low euro-area interest rates and a flood of funds into Greece from yield-hungry investors, taking market pressure off the government for a much-needed economic overhaul. “Domestic reforms still need ...Greece appoints lawyer as top tax officialReutersall 8 news articles »
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World Cup day 13: Italy and Uruguay in winner-takes-all clash
Costa Rica will be joined in the Last 16 by either Italy or Uruguay who go head-to-head in Natal with the winner progressing. Elsewhere, Japan, Ivory Coast and Greece are still in the mix to qualify from Group C.
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Starbucks testing Greek yogurt smoothies in push beyond coffee
Fort Mills TimesStarbucks testing Greek yogurt smoothies in push beyond coffeeThe Detroit NewsStarbucks Corp., which started selling handmade sodas in the southern U.S. Tuesday, is now testing three flavors of Greek yogurt smoothies as it continues trying to broaden its appeal beyond coffee. The sweet greens, mango carrot and strawberry drinks ...Evolution Fresh at the Forefront of Customer Wellness TrendsWall Street Journalall 5 news articles »
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A Greek Taxing Woman Faces Task of Restoring Confidence
The Greek economy remains in the doldrums after six consecutive years of recession that wiped out about a quarter of total output and left more than half of the country’s youth without jobs.
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Why Costa Rica fans should root for Greece to beat the Ivory Coast on Tuesday
Why Costa Rica fans should root for Greece to beat the Ivory Coast on TuesdayTico TimesGreece. If Ivory Coast and Greece tie, then the African nation advances barring a miracle from Japan. The Japanese, while on the outside looking in, have a long-shot chance to finish second in the group and set up a date with Costa Rica. As group ...and more »
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Outrun the sun: a race around Mont Blanc
A relay race pitting two teams against each other, and the sun, around Mont Blanc could it possibly be completed between sunrise and sunset on the same day?
Only in the ultra-running community could the notion that two teams race each other, and the sun, the entire way around Mont Blanc between sunrise and sunset be viewed as a sensible suggestion. The route of Outrun the Sun is broadly that of the notorious Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (the UTMB) for which the course record is just over 20 hours. The teams lining up in the Alps last weekend had 15 hours, 41 minutes and 35 seconds to circumnavigate the tallest mountain in Western Europe.
There's a strange relationship between athletic achievement and global recognition. The world's most famous footballers even some athletes, such as Usain Bolt or Mo Farah are household names. Yet some of the most astonishing feats go virtually unreported. The great names of ultra running, who have performed feats worthy of a rather over-the-top Greek myth Kilian Jornet, Scott Jurek could walk unrecognised through pretty much any major city in the world.
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Rentals during the Summer Season in Greece
The phenomenon of illegal renting of summer houses in Greece, as a result of the the financial crisis, has decreased this year. This illegal practice by home owners, who found ways to avoid taxation has been reduced, after the State imposed heavy fines on violators. Home owners posted announcements for house rentals on the internet. This caused the strong reaction of hotel owners, who accused them for evading taxation. This had as a consequence the loss of public revenues, which amounted up to 1 billion euros last summer. This summer, things seem apparently better and real estate agents claim that most owners prefer to make an official statement of renting their property, except for the cases where rentals are being arranged among friends and acquaintances. This summer’s advantages include the expansion of rental period until October for villas, which was not the case in previous years. This is a strong proof that Greek tourism is doing better this year and the “bet” played by the tourist agents concerning profit per capita has been won. According to Themistoklis Bakas, head consultant of E-Real Estates, this summer’s prices are almost at the same levels as in 2013, with a 10 to 15 percent rise or fall depending on the region. However, compared to rent levels in 2008, the overall decrease is 30 to 50 percent. Rental offers are in high demand in October, when prices are decreased by 30 to 40 percent, compared to June. Mykonos, Santorini, Ionian Islands (Zakynthos, Corfu), Syvota, Chalkidiki and Milos are the Greek destinations where prices are higher during the tourism peak season months, July and August, when prices can reach on average or even surpass 3,000 euros. If someone wishes to spend his holidays in a villa, he can do a pedantic search on legal sites and discover luxurious villas in Greek islands and other popular Greek destinations with prices ranging around 100-120 euros per day, always depending on the season.
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Golden Dawn Nazi Pictures Arise
As Greece builds a case of running a criminal gang against the neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn, photos have surfaced showing its leaders giving Nazi salutes in front of a giant Swastika flag. Party leader Nikos Michaloliakos, who is detained in jail pending his trial, has denied Golden Dawn is influenced by Nazi methodology although prosecutors have built a 10,000-page case file and digital evidence showing otherwise, including testimony from former members who said he used Nazi methodology to run it. A series of photographs was published in the Efimerida ton Syntakton newspaper showing Michaloliakos, his second-in-command Christos Pappas and the party’s spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris performing the Nazi salute in front of Nazi flags, evidence that is expected to strengthen the case of magistrates leading a criminal investigation into GD. One of the photos shows a young Michaloliakos, who is in pre-trial custody in Attica’s Korydallos Prison, with his arm raised in a Nazi salute in front of a large swastika. Another photo shows Pappas, who is also in Korydallos, in a similar pose in front of a tombstone commemorating Nazi soldiers in a German military cemetery in the area of Rapentoza, Dionysos, near Mount Penteli, north of Athens. Another photograph shows Kasidiaris with a group of others also performing the Nazi salute while holding a flag emblazoned with a large swastika. All 18 of Golden Dawn’s lawmakers have been arrested as the government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras tries to dismantle the party, which has been charged with a number of criminal offenses, including attacks on immigrants. Golden Dawn wants all foreigners out of the country and remains third in popular support among Greeks.
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Retired Judges Pension Cuts Ruled Unconstitutional
Greece’ s Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ hopes for a burgeoning economic recovery have taken another hit from the courts with a ruling by the State Audit Council that retroactive pension cuts on judges, prosecutors and members of the State Legal Council were unconstitutional and in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. In a near-unanimous decision following a closed-door session on June 23, judges deemed that reductions from August 1, 2012 – imposed as part of the country’s commitments to foreign lenders – were against the constitutional principle of proportionality and the constitutional rule of equality. It is estimated that more than 150 million euros will have to be returned to retired judges – only if the government abides by the order as it has ignored others, including that cuts to the lump sums of pensioners was also unconstitutional. The Greek government also ignored a lower court order to rehire 397 cleaning ladies who were being let go under a so-called mobility scheme which has mostly targeted lower paid workers such as janitors, school nurses, crossing guards, teachers and municipal police while exempting Parliament workers, consultants, managers and the politically protected. The government, however, said it will obey another court order to restore – retroactively – and bring back permanently the previously-cut pay of members of the military, Coast Guard, police, emergency services personnel and uniformed workers who are a key constituency for Samaras’ New Democracy Conservatives. The government said it can’t follow court orders it believes would undermine economic recovery and the judicial actions have worried the country’s international lenders, the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) that is putting up 240 billion euros ($327 billion) in two bailouts. The Troika ordered big pay cuts, tax hikes, slashed pensions and worker firings, but the government has been selective about who is being affected.
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Greek Tourism Arrivals to Hit Record High in 2014
Greek revenues from tourism have increased more than 25 percent during the first four months of 2014, compared to last year. Both tourist arrivals and revenues are estimated to skyrocket this year in Greece. According to data released by the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises SETE, in 2013 the average amount spent per visit was 660 euros. This year the correspondent number is expected to exceed 700 euros. Arrivals are expected to jump to 19 million, or 21,2 million including cruise visitors. SETE also stated that Greek tourism revenues are expected to rise from 12.2 billion in 2013 to 13.5 billion euros in 2014. According to figures released by the Bank of Greece on Monday, tourist arrivals from January to April 2014 have followed an upward trend of 21.1 percent compared to the same months of 2013, exceeding 1.9 million visitors. Only in April, the number of tourists arriving in Greece increased to 728,000, namely a 30.6 percent increase compared to April 2014. Tourism is expected to give an important boost to Greek economy since it is one of its main cash earners. This year’s revenues, from January until April 2014, have shown an amazing increase of 27.8 percent, reaching up to 900.2 million euros. More specifically, in April 411.1 million euros were earned by tourism, indicating an astonishing 35.8 percent increase compared to April 2013. Data released by the Bank of Greece prove that the increase both in tourist arrivals and spending per trip are the reason for the tourism receipts increase. Average spending per trip has increased by 6.2 percent compared to 2013. The biggest increase, however, is observed on Britons holidays’ giveaway, since they have spent 50.5 percent more during their visits in January-April 2014 than during the correspondent months in 2013. The number of cruise ship visitors is expected to remain approximately the same as in 2013, since financial crisis related turmoil has led cruise companies to show a preference towards the U.S. and other travel destinations rather that Europe and the Mediterranean.
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Finance Ministry urges tax payers to meet June 30 deadline
The Finance Ministry issued a statement Tuesday calling on Greek tax payers to submit their income tax declarations by the scheduled June 30 deadline.
Failure to meet the deadline could lead to delays in the payment of the social dividend, the ministry sa... ...
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Ivory Coast to be cautious against Greece, Drogba mystery
Ivory Coast will take a "very cautious" approach in their World Cup clash with Greece on Tuesday, coach Sabri Lamouchi said, keeping his final lineup a mystery as the African team look to reach the tournament's knockout stage for the first time.
The Afric... ...
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Greece's NBG weighs up offers for private equity arm
LONDON/ATHENS (Reuters) - National Bank of Greece (NBG) is reviewing second-round bids for its London-headquartered private equity business and hopes to sell it by the end of September, the bank's deputy chief executive Petros Christodoulou told Reuters on Tuesday. We believe that this is an imminent thing," Christodoulou said in an interview. NBG is one of Greece's top four banks that were ...
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Greece on crossroads of international heroin trade
Greece is a central hub on the route connecting the main country where heroin is produced, Afghanistan, and its biggest markets in Western Europe, annual reports by Europol and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNDOC) have shown. It is estimat... ...
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National Bank of Greece mulls second round offers for p/e business
National Bank of Greece is reviewing second-round bids for its London-headquartered private equity business and hopes to sell it «imminently», the bank's deputy chief executive Petros Christodoulou told Reuters.
"We are now going through the second round ... ...
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African hopes slowly, surprisingly growing in Brazil; 4 out of 5 in contention for last 16
by
Associated Press
African hopes slowly growing at World Cup
by GERALD IMRAY, Associated Press - 24 June 2014 03:26-04:00
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — It looked like the same sad old story at the World Cup for Africa, the continent which still hasn't quite done it on the big stage.
Africa has never had a semifinalist — never mind a real contender for the title — and initially appeared out of its depth again at the start in Brazil.
Cameroon was terrible in the first round of matches, African champion Nigeria couldn't even beat Iran and Ghana lost to the United States. After some early promise, Algeria was overrun by Belgium, playing up to the football stereotype that African teams can be exciting but also careless and naive.
Even Ivory Coast, with world-class talent like Yaya Toure, Didier Drogba and Gervinho, couldn't put it together and initially struggled against Japan.
Pele's prediction years ago that, with a football obsession rivaling even Brazil's, Africa would emerge as the game's new force still appeared way off. It probably still is.
But with the exception of Cameroon, the Africans have shown grit and skill to fight back. Now there's a chance that four of their five teams will make the second round, something that has never happened before. Never has more than one African team advanced past the group stage.
Four years after hosting the World Cup, African players are ready to start having more of an impact on the tournament.
"It's something awesome for Africa," Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama said after his country beat Bosnia-Herzegovina to get back on track in Brazil. "Africa needed that win, something to boost the confidence back home."
Three of the countries — Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Algeria — are second in their groups heading to the final games and have good chances of qualifying, while Ghana has an outside shot. After a forgettable first round, Nigeria's win, Ghana's fighting 2-2 draw with Germany and Algeria's all-out attacking show in a 4-2 victory over South Korea has revived the Africans.
"Ghana really threw everything they had at us," Germany coach Joachim Loew said, praising the West Africans for their rapid counterattacks and underlining how African teams — often big, strong and fast — are capable of upsetting the rhythm of the best lineups in the world.
Just ask Argentina's World Cup holders, who lost to Cameroon in 1990. Or France's defending champions in 2002, beaten by Senegal.
Now if only for some consistency. If there's one thing African teams have struggled with, it's being able to build on their small successes at the World Cup.
Following Monday's loss to Brazil, Cameroon has won just one game in five World Cups since it broke through to reach the quarterfinals in 1990. Senegal was the second African country to make the last eight in 2002, and yet has failed to qualify for another World Cup. Ghana followed up its run to the quarters last time in South Africa with a surprise loss to the U.S. in its opener in Brazil.
The roller-coaster rides with rare, unexpected highs and plenty of lows are partly because it is never simple in African football, where organization can be shambolic and teams have all sorts of challenges to overcome — many their own making.
Cameroon's 2014 campaign has been disastrous from the moment the squad refused to board a plane for Brazil over a bonus dispute. Nigeria has also had issues over player payments and Ghana's buildup to its crucial final group game against Portugal is being overshadowed by British media linking the Ghana Football Association to an alleged match-fixing plan.
Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic decided to rant at Algerian reporters when his team had just beaten South Korea for its first win at the World Cup since 1982.
"You journalists have always criticized me," Halilhodzic said. "It's a pity for you. I'm sorry for you."
Yet the majority of African teams are still alive at the World Cup — unlike Spain and England — and their equations to make the second round aren't crazily difficult.
Ivory Coast should beat Group C strugglers Greece, but even a draw won't hold them back as long as Japan doesn't upset Colombia.
Nigeria plays Argentina last and will qualify with a point or even a loss if Bosnia beats or draws with Iran in the other Group F game.
Algeria can afford a draw against Russia if South Korea doesn't win against Group H leader Belgium. A win and the North Africans sail through.
Ghana's chances are a little more remote.
But three teams in the last 16 would finally signal some progress 24 years after Roger Milla and Cameroon danced their way to the quarterfinals in Italy, first prompting Pele and the world to take notice of African football.
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Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAP
News Topics: General news, Sports, 2014 FIFA World Cup, FIFA World Cup, International soccer, Men's soccer, Soccer, Events, Men's sportsPeople, Places and Companies: Didier Drogba, Vincent Enyeama, Joachim Low, Vahid Halilhodzic, Nigeria, Ghana, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Brazil, West Africa, South Korea, Africa, North Africa, South America, Latin America and Caribbean, East Asia, Asia
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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Greece vs. Ivory Coast: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, 2014 World Cup Preview
The Ivory Coast have been one of the brightest sides in the World Cup so far, but they still have work to do to cross the group-stage line. Their 2-1 loss to Columbia last week has blown Group C wide open, allowing Greece to sneak into the last 16 with a ...
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